NOVEL NEXT Chapter 122
There are two ways to piss people off.
One is to start talking and then just stop. The second is…
This is exactly the situation that gamers in the Other World found themselves in.
The story of “Galaxy Craft,” which began with a trailer and ended with the Zergs’ campaign, was a magnificent political drama.
The problem was that nothing was really resolved.
Kenigan from the Zergs won, but the Protoss and Terran all retreated to their domains.
It could be said that the prologue had just ended, yet the game abruptly came to a close.
Gamers felt like they were going to lose their minds over the frustration, and they began to vent that frustration by chatting with fellow players like themselves.
[KeniganButtBounce]: Kenigan has become so brutal; he must have been brainwashed by someone.
[Entarona]: Isn’t that actually Kenigan’s true nature? He revealed his true self after becoming one of the Zergs.
[JimReinanMCharisma]: Whatever the case, Manx has to die.
[KeniganButtBounce]: That’s a given.
[Entarona]: Agreed.
As the story began to gain traction, Galaxy Craft became a consistent topic of conversation among gamers.
With continued interest, no matter how hard the game was, more and more people started to acclimate, and they accessed the mode that could be said to be the beginning and the end of Galaxy Craft’s end content.
“What is this? Battle.net?”
They logged into the land of endless combat and struggle, Battle.net.
“Can I really battle other gamers here? Let’s see what I’ve got!”
Users, having learned how to play from the campaign, eagerly accessed Battle.net.
Thus, the appetizing newbies were matched with other gamers or the AIs designed by the Irene School based on their rating scores.
“Kuueeeeeek!!! Syien—My Life for Aiou!”
“This guy!!! He’s a bit tough!!! But I’m tougher!!!”
The AIs matched with users fought according to their levels.
But they didn’t act mechanically like a computer; anyone could tell they were AIs.
Because this AI was very special.
The AIs used in Battle.net were the result of a sorcery called “Artificial Soul Magic,” crafted by Yuren and Irene, and were a true masterpiece.
This AI, known as “Spirit Worker” (named by Yuren), played the game like a human in a customized manner and provided hospitality gameplay that made gamers feel their behinds getting sore.
“Victory!”
“That’s right! I’m a genius!!!”
After a nail-biting fight, the user savored the joy of victory and felt like a hero of war.
It was a thrill that made them feel all-powerful, as if looking down upon the world.
Eager to feel that thrill again, they logged back into Battle.net, only to find the game had ended.
Thus, the gamers found themselves trapped in an unending hell of fun.
“Why do your eyes look like that?”
“I stayed up all night playing…”
“What game is it?”
“Well… it’s Galaxy Craft…”
As Galaxy Craft was released, students with dark circles under their eyes began to increase at the academy.
Gamers addicted to Galaxy Craft expressed the game’s fun through their bodies.
And…
“Is it really that fun? It looked hard.”
“What do you mean!!!! Galaxy Craft is super fun!!!! You should try it!! I’ll teach you at the game room!!!”
When a friend expressed curiosity about the game, the gamers’ eyes sparkled, engaging in evangelistic activities.
All games are fundamentally more enjoyable when played together.
Thanks to the friend’s enthusiastic persuasion, new users began to start the game out of curiosity.
They might not know the story of Galaxy Craft, but with the help of their friends, they quickly adapted.
And…
“Why do both of you look like that?”
“Well…”
“We stayed up all night gaming…”
Thus, the number of infected players started to increase, one by one.
As more and more gamers quietly but surely played the game, Galaxy Craft began to occupy more space in gaming rooms.
It also began to synergize with the culture of watching battles created by Legend Fighter and Dune.
“You have to go by Dropship there!!!”
“No! Why aren’t you building a base there?!”
There’s a saying that it’s more fun to give pointers from the sidelines than to actually play Go or Chess.
While it may take many forms, Galaxy Craft, being the same type of strategy simulation, was no different.
People enjoyed watching and providing tips on the expert battles, just like with Dune and Legend Fighter.
Up to this point, there was little difference from Dune and Legend Fighter.
However, little by little yet certainly, the number of people gathering around Galaxy Craft began to increase beyond that of Dune and Legend Fighter.
The reasons were twofold: one, Dune and Legend Fighter were older releases, but the biggest factor was the “Depth of Spectating.”
The genres of fighting games and FPS allowed for easy and intuitive understanding, but they also had limitations in strategy due to a restricted character set and too fast-paced gameplay, making it hard for users to grasp.
In contrast, Galaxy Craft had the downside of complicated rules, but once players crossed that barrier, a new world opened up.
From a vantage point, players could gaze upon a vast map.
Watching the game at a busy yet comprehensible pace, both spectators and gamers began to ponder and empathize with the strategies each player devised, letting them feel like sports directors themselves.
Experiencing a new kind of spectator enjoyment, people began to watch Galaxy Craft battles among experts, and as the audience grew, so did the experts’ desire to showcase their skills in gaming rooms.
They began creating and flaunting new and flashy strategies.
“Using four Zerglings and a Worker to rush in!?”
“Are you seriously relocating the Command Center from the start!?”
“I had no idea you could use the Shuttle like that!”
The enthusiastic reactions from gamers surely did not go unnoticed by the game room owners.
Recognizing the game’s popularity, the owners quickly downloaded Galaxy Craft and set up gaming stations.
Then they began holding small tournaments for promotion.
Since the Empire had held numerous gaming tournaments since Tetris, it became a common sight to see competitions held from small academy levels to large city-wide events. In this vibe, Galaxy Craft began to thrive even more.
And they were also part of it.
“Wow… Johan really knows how to handle Marines.”
Those who watched Johan’s controls at a gaming room in the Eastern city could hardly contain their admiration.
There’s a saying, “A large army doesn’t need military strategy.”
This phrase emphasizes the importance of numerical superiority in war, and in a strategy simulation like Galaxy Craft, numerical advantage is an undeniable factor.
However, Johan turned that numerical advantage upside down with his micro-control!?
Watching Zerglings and Hydras being toyed with by a single Marine, the crowd was left speechless by this absurd play.
“Isn’t that Kenigan? How can he use Zergs so well!?”
At that moment, in a gaming room in the Western city, a match was underway.
Even while fighting against the Terran and Protoss in a 2v1, Bean’s Zergs held their ground fiercely.
Bean, demonstrating the majesty of the Zergs from the campaign, toyed with Terran and Protoss alike.
Naturally, Zerg units are weaker individually than Terrans and Protoss due to their numbers.
But Bean made up for that lack of ability with nearly supernatural control of Mutalisks and Zerglings, along with strategies.
“Defeat!”
“Wow!!! How is this even possible!?”
“Bean! Stop playing like a noob!!!”
Despite achieving a flawless victory, Bean didn’t seem that happy.
Instead, he shouted while shotgunning the Crystal Ball.
“Not enough!!! To beat that guy, I need to be able to win even at a 3v1 advantage!!!”
“Who are you trying to fight? You’re already ranked number one in the West and your Battle.net tier is ‘Challenger!’”
Bean had already reached the pinnacle of Galaxy Craft, and his friend couldn’t understand why he was so desperate to get stronger.
Another friend jabbed him in the ribs, signaling him.
“Who else but that guy you lost to twice?”
“Oh… that person…”
Bean shouted, recalling his rival from the East.
“This time, I’ll definitely beat you… Johan!!!”
Bean vs Johan,
Though the tournament hadn’t started yet, their showdown had already begun.