NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18
An advertising shooting studio located in Ilsan, Gyeonggi-do.
Victory Jeon Wooseung was filming a commercial there.
The world’s most popular game’s number one professional player.
He was still writing the myth of an undefeated streak but had many things to attend to beyond gaming.
Because he was a superstar.
“Too bad.”
If he had played with Legend again after so long, it would have been immensely enjoyable.
However, his schedule for the next two weeks was entirely packed; there was no way he could commit to such a time-consuming content collaboration.
It was also impossible to ask someone to wait for two whole weeks.
Zzzing.
An alarm sounded from his briefly raised hand holding a phone.
[Tryit TV announces the start of a broadcast by Sol.]
[Aim for an undefeated streak of level 30! (One assistant available.)]
[Category: Teamfight Arena]
An assistant, huh.
It seemed as though he’d found someone to join him. But it irritated Victory somewhat, wondering who could possibly think they could replace him.
[Assistant?]
[Why ‘assistant’ instead of duet? Lol.]
[Is he still pretending to be a rookie here?]
[Reveal your identity, Masked Challenger!]
[Could it be… Victory?]
The sudden collaborative broadcast also left the audience with the same questions as the champion.
Who would be joining him in the broadcast?
─”Hello, it’s Team Proud’s Wild.”
[Wow.]
[Okay… pro level.]
[Networking skills.]
[We thought he was just a rookie, but turns out he’s a mad royal lineage.]
[Victory’s friend and Wild’s friend – insane.]
[They really stick with their own kind, huh.]
[If I make friends, can I aim for #1 too?]
[Making friends won’t make you #1—you need to be #1 for them to even consider you a friend.]
[Cruel.]
“Mr. Jun really does acknowledge others.”
When asked who could possibly restrain Victory, the first name that came to mind was Wild, Lee Jun, from Team Proud.
Regrettably, Wild had suffered complete defeats in major matches, handing over all trophies to Victory. However, Team Proud, led by Wild, was the only one to ever leave a dent in Victory’s spotless record, even if it was a set defeat or a few points earned.
Having achieved runner-up twice in the domestic league and once in the World Championship, Lee Jun was the personification of a living second-place legend.
Unfortunately, due to his coincidentally matching name (Lee Jun, or “22” in Korean), he was teased as “Joon-Joon.” However, no one could deny his greatness as a player. Victory was simply one step ahead.
Victory remembered something.
The days when the three of them frequently played the same game together.
“Let’s continue the shoot.”
At the director’s call, Jeon Wooseung had to turn off the broadcast and return to his own work.
“Really disappointing.”
But sooner or later, they’d all play together again.
Perhaps it would be at the very top of the Challenger rankings. The thought made Jeon Wooseung smile.
“What’s got you so cheerful? Did something good happen?”
“I think I’ll get a great present before the league starts.”
“You’ve won every tournament so far. You deserve the best treatment.”
It wasn’t about what the team would give.
An old friend was coming with a tremendous gift.
‘By now, they’ve probably figured out I’m a pro.’
The little game Victory and his viewers had been playing, keeping his pro identity hidden from Legend, was up.
Since Wild had openly revealed his affiliation with Team Proud, it seemed the game was over.
Victory was a little disappointed that he couldn’t surprise everyone by revealing his identity himself. Was there a better time for it?
—
“Team Proud? Is that like an agency?”
This was shallow knowledge at work.
So Ah hadn’t been involved in the gaming world for a long time. However, she had overheard children in a hospital waiting room saying, “Pros don’t rank highly,” “Because they focus so much on tournament preparation that they have no time for ranking.”
Hospital gossip aside, she hadn’t learned the full context.
However, the statement was accurate.
When discussing a pro’s career, their solo ranking usually doesn’t come up.
Tournaments are far more important.
Holding the top spot in solo rankings for a long time doesn’t mean much compared to tournament victories.
However, an exception applied currently.
Stove League.
The off-season gap between the conclusion of the world championships and the spring season of domestic leagues.
A time when pros also join the solo rankings and focus on climbing.
Not climbing the rankings during this period doesn’t directly affect evaluations, but these were people who loved gaming enough to go pro.
Mostly competitive individuals who thrive in their expertise.
Because it’s fun.
Therefore, a large majority of pros concentrate on climbing the ranks.
As a result, Victory ranked #1, Wild was #2, and 9 out of the top 10 were pros.
There was no denying the gap between those who played for fun and those who played as a profession.
However, So Ah, unaware of these behind-the-scenes details, drew a wrong conclusion.
“Since the rankings are high, they’re probably not pros but full-time broadcasters.”
Her resulting deduction:
“All three are broadcasters? This is getting interesting.”
It was truly exciting to see old friends active in the same domain.
[If Victory is from 2003 and Wild is from 1999, how are they all friends?]
[How old is the host?]
“What’s so important about that? In the gaming world, the best at what they do is the elder—so I’m the eldest here.”
—”Who cried while begging for help since they couldn’t carry alone?”
“That’s because this game is designed as a team-based system where solo carrying is difficult.”
—”Mm-hmm. But I think I might be much better at this team game.”
The top statement guaranteed to spark men’s pride and rivalry in any situation selected by Phobos.
“You’re bad at the game. I’m better.”
[The pride battle is heating up.]
[We probably need to figure out the hierarchy here.]
[Hey, you! Come with me to the rooftop!]
[Arena Bread? Time to go?]
Teamfight Arena’s 1v1 is undoubtedly an essential facet, though not the entire game. Good 1v1 combat gives significant advantages. Plus, the best part—it can settle things right now.
“So, how about a ranking showdown? The loser has to call the other ‘senpai’ for a day.”
—”Alright, let’s fight.”
Wild, captain of Team Proud—who was officially ranked #2 after coming 5th in the Spring season, runner-up in Summer, and runner-up in Worlds—versus the so-called rookie who had once been a legendary figure in Magical Fight and was acknowledged by both Victory and Wild— Sol.
The match of the century was about to begin.
“Wait, what is Arena Bread?”
Let’s clarify the rules a little.
—
Teamfight Arena includes several systems to prevent the game from dragging on unnecessarily.
A game that ends after 50 kills would be boring if one side simply fled or just camped to pass the time.
At the 5th minute, one of the four towers at the map edges activates, granting 500 gold and 50% of the current level’s experience to anyone occupying its point at the 10th minute.
At the 15th minute, the Arena Event starts, giving continuous gold and experience to those who control the Arena Point.
When controlled at the 20th minute, there’s 1000 gold per player and a level-up for each.
Finally, a Catastrophe Awakening Event at the 25th minute, but we’ll discuss that later.
The 1v1 event “Arena Bread” uses the Arena Event activated at the 15th minute.
—”We grind to exactly level 3 and fight in the Arena.”
In Custom Games, the Arena Event can be adjusted to start at the 5th minute rather than the 15th. This gives enough time for any champion and starting point to clear three neutral monster camps, leveling to 3, and reach the Arena Point within 5 minutes.
The rules are simple: whoever gets the first kill wins.
[Level up if you manage to stay on the point for 30 seconds at level 3, so keep that in mind.]
[Do you know that?]
[Looks like someone’s had Arena Bread before, huh?]
‘Either lose and win at level 3, or push for 30 seconds to win via level-up. Two possibilities.’
Having processed advice from the chat, Seol So Ah planned her winning strategy.
‘Let’s go for brute force.’
She picked her favorite champion so far, Illusionist.
Avoid everything, hit everything—how could anyone possibly lose?
Her opponent Wild, Lee Jun, selected…
[The Tin Can Repairman?]
[My conscience is shattered lol.]
[Not knowing it? Better learn fast.]
[Expected a brute force playstyle, but this is so beneath him lol.]
[Mystery quote: “I give everything in every fight.”]
[Rotten bait pick lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol]
An utterly baiting pick.
—
Teamfight Arena has various mechanisms in place to prevent the game from getting too loose.
In a game that requires 50 kills to finish, if one side keeps running away or hunkers down defensively to drag out the time, it wouldn’t be fun, would it?
At the 5th minute mark, one of the four tower caps at the map corners activates. At the 10th minute, if you control that point, you receive 500 gold per person and 50% of your current level’s experience points.
At the 15th minute, the Arena Event occurs, granting continuous gold and experience while standing on the Arena Point.
At the 20th minute, if you control the Arena Point, each person gains 1000 gold and levels up once.
At the 25th minute, the Catastrophic Awakening Event happens, but we’ll discuss that later.
The key mechanic for the 1v1 event called ‘Arena Bread’ is the Arena Event that activates at the 15th minute.
─”You both grind exactly to 3 levels and face off in the Arena.”
In custom games, you can change the Arena Event to start at the 5th minute instead of the 15th. This gives you just enough time for whichever champion you choose to clear three neutral monster camps, reach level 3 and get to the Arena Point by the 5th minute.
The moment the Arena Point activates at the 5th minute, the fight starts, and the first to secure a kill wins, a simple rule.
<3 levels with 30 seconds of standing on the point granting a level-up, so keep that in mind.>
[Do you even know this?]
[Looks like you’ve had some Arena Bread before lol.]
Just with that advice from the chat, So Ah was sketching out a winning strategy.
‘Let’s just crush with raw power.’
She picked her champion, Illusionist, whom she had been using most so far.
Avoid everything, hit everything—how could anyone possibly lose?
In response to her opponent Wild, Lee Jun, picked…
[The Tin Can Repairman?]
[My conscience is shattered lol.]
[Not knowing it? Better learn.]
[Not knowing it? Better learn.]
[Not knowing it? Better learn.]
[Such a cowardly pick lol.]
[??? : I put all my effort into every battle.]
[Nerf This Pick lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol]
It was a straight-up bait pick.