Season 3: Chapter 189: Well (3)
The first game ended with Joseon’s victory and concluded within the second era. This probably took the shortest time among Joseon’s games in the main tournament. Games in the main tournament rarely ended this quickly.
“V-Victory! Victoryyyy!”
“Woooaaahhh!”
“We won!? Already!?”
In the Korean team’s stands, viewers jumped up and down in disbelief. The Balloon Stars members hugged each other while cheering.
In contrast, the Persian audience went into a silent and stunned daze.
“Look at their faces!”
Even Bubblegum commented on their faces.
“They’re completely mentally broken!”
Miho felt shocked, covering her mouth as she saw their faces on the big screen. Even the opposing Korean side found it pitiful.
“Is it that bad after losing just one game?”
“It’s not just a loss,” Takoyaki corrected Miho, “Those three archers or whatever were wiped out earlier, weren’t they?”
The defeat itself tasted bitter, but they went into a daze for a different reason. Watching their last hope, Kenin, die in such a humiliating manner felt too shocking.
“When the team ace dies while flailing around like that, it’s a huge blow. And…”
Takoyaki pointed to Persia’s think tank.
“That shock isn’t just felt by the audience.”
“…!”
The camera didn’t show it, but the expressions of the Persian think tank looked undoubtedly bad. Even with their backs turned, their expressions were clear.
“This might make our next game easier.”
Takoyaki smiled as he watched Almond’s highlight reel continuously play on one of the screens. He could now see all the key points of the battles that he missed earlier.
“Almond! That guy learned well!”
When Almond first participated in the LIL tournament, he was an honest player who couldn’t think outside the box. Now, he fought cunningly like in the last scene with a perfect psychological victory against Kenin.
Ultimately, the game was a battle of wits between humans. Unpredictable variables always arose no matter how good one's aim or how quickly one made decisions.
Almond used those variables to his advantage.
“The next game should be doable.”
“Woooaaahhh! We’re going to the quarterfinals!?”
Miho grew excited and clapped her almond shaped clapper balloons enthusiastically.
Whack, whack, whack, whack!
“Ah! Ouch! Hey! Stop, stop hitting me!”
Bubblegum’s head became stuck between the almond clapper balloons in the front seat.
***
Persia felt immense shock at their defeat. It went beyond shock for their nation and grew into anger.
Not surprisingly, the Iranian community lit up on fire.
[Our pride has been thoroughly crushed]
[A single elephant is better than the Three Archers]
[Remove their elephant]
— How did they all die to that one Almond?
— They should be subjected to a lifelong Ramadan.
— Three Archers? More like three little pigs?
└ The wolf sought an honorable kill.
They didn’t hesitate to use the harshest insults within their cultural context. The players had high expectations, making such a defeat unacceptable.
[Prepare three hijabs.]
— Agreed
— Is that too much?
— Why bother with hijabs? Just send them to Allah.
— go circumcision
These posts were translated and appeared in the Korean community.
[Real-time Iranian reactions lol]
— Crazy lol
— They’re going to tear them off? lol
— Iranian bros are terrifying
— I wonder what three hijabs meant lol
— “go circumcision,” lol
The savage tone shocked the Korean community. The strong reactions quickly gathered comments and moved to the big board.
— Three little pigs is hilarious lol Do they not eat pigs?
└ Yeah, they can’t eat boars in the game either, so they switch to farming early.
└ Really? Are they stupid? They can’t eat the boars in the game?
└ No, that’s the game’s system. It’s the Persian civilization’s concept.
└ Oh… lol
— So they have honorable killings?
Korea laughed while Iran wept. The Korean community enjoyed a celebratory mood, especially on LIL Pro where Almond fans had gathered.
Big) Finally, Chikicha~!
— Wow
— Chikicha~
— Chikicha~
— Great
— Once this starts, it’s going to keep going lol
— Kenin is done
— But why did he suddenly shout chikicha? lol
— What’s with the sudden chikicha?
Although many welcomed the chikicha, they also grew curious about it. Almond only used it for minor acts of revenge. Kenin and Almond met for the first time today and hadn’t crossed paths in the game before. Viewers didn’t see any apparent reason for the chikicha.
Big) Evidence of Kenin’s bad manners during the handshake with Almond
This post quickly rose to the top and offered an explanation.
[Kenin squeezed Almond’s hand tightly while laughing. If you look closely, Almond was in a lot of pain because of his injured hand.]
— ???
— Huh?
— For real?
— Crazy guy
— “Prepare the hijabs”
Users learned that Kenin had deliberately squeezed Almond’s injured hand. Naturally, they reacted with pure anger.
— How could someone be like that?
— So that explains the chikicha…
— Did that bastard know? Crazy
— StrawberryShooter might bring a shovel if he finds out.
└ Scary
└ lol
└ This is a bit frightening;
— It’s amazing that Almond held back with just a chikicha
However, Almond hadn’t just taken it.
— But didn’t Almond win the grip fight later? Lol
Almond hadn’t lost the grip fight. Watching the video to the end made Kenin look like the victim.
└ Oh? For real
└ I didn’t know because I turned it off halfway after getting mad. Almond really wins lol What is this?
└ Kenin looks like he’s crying lol
└ Former athlete difference is real. Crushing the opponent with an injured hand?? Scary
Suddenly, Almond’s chikicha felt different.
— But… usually, if you win, it ends there, right? Why chikicha…
└ S-h-e-l-l-f-i-s-h! Nut!
└ Winning and then revenge is crazy lol
└ Oh… lol
└ That’s nuts.
└ ??? Just cut the video there.
Kenin’s act of provoking Almond’s injured hand worsened public opinion against him. Initially, users only teased Kenin. Now, Korean netizens seriously bashed him.
Big) Highlight of Persia’s Three Bugs
— lol
— Three bugs lol
— Why is the highlight of them dying? lol
— Three bugs LOL even the three little pigs look good now
— Perfectly ranked
Persia’s three archers now became the three bugs.
Big) This guy’s exit is artistic
Kenin’s final flailing moment had also been turned into a GIF and humorously spread.
— lol
— Crazy title lol
— Exiting artistically lol
Kenin also appeared flailing as he fell into a well.
Big) This guy’s exit is also into the well
— Falling into the well lol
— Ninja’s using ninjutsu~
— Kenin’s going to paradise today
└ Kenin’s back bent like a bow…
└ lol
— Crazy lol
— He was flailing for this…
This GIF kept getting reused.
Big) Who’s holding the bow and threatening him?
[(GIF) Why is he like this?]
The GIF showed Almond holding a bow and Kenin flailing, making it look like Almond was directing him with threats.
— If Almond holds the bow and threatens him, I get it.
— lol
-Who’s holding the bow and threatening him? lol
— “Bow threat” lol
— ??? Guys! Kenin learned how to dance!
└ lol
└ This is it lol
└ lol
└ Kenin is shuffling in lol
Someone later edited the GIF to show Kenin dancing in a club. It even had a version matching the chikicha~ chikicha~ rhythm.
— Now it looks like Almond is really directing him lol
— lol
— Kenin suddenly feels familiar…
— lol
— Kenin is getting the full LIL Pro experience today, lucky him
— ??? Hey, do that thing
These posts also spread to global communities, including Iran.
***
“Sigh.”
Q, the leader of Persia’s think tank team, sighed deeply as he put away his phone.
“Where’s the box for the player phones?”
“Here it is.”
Q tossed his phone into the box and told the other think tank members, “Put yours in here too.”
“…?”
“Hurry up.”
“Ah, yes!”
Thud, thud, thud.
Many phones filled the basket.
The Persian players returned to an atmosphere that felt like a funeral.
“...”
Even after gathering, none of the players could speak properly.
‘They all saw it.’
Q could tell. He had seen it too.
‘Is that really Kenin?’
‘I can’t believe it.’
Gamers who hadn’t seen it eventually watched the scene when they left their capsules. The scene of Kenin’s death replayed on the big screen as a highlight.
The players couldn’t avoid it. They could only whisper among themselves, but the atmosphere was palpable.
Even Kenin, their leading ace, closed his eyes sternly and couldn’t speak. It was unclear whether he was cooling down or meditating.
Commander Elepher looked the same. He silently prayed with his eyes closed to calm his mind.
Q couldn’t wait for their meditation to end.
“They had a forward barracks. Did you know?”
“...”
Elepher shook his head.
“No. I realized it later, but it was too late to turn back.”
“Right.”
Q nodded slowly. He didn’t mention the battle with Almond in the forest. That was a human disaster. Bringing it up wouldn’t change anything right now. Focusing on that would only lower the soldiers’ morale.
They needed to fix the big picture.
“The enemy will use a similar strategy again.”
Elepher finished his prayer and asked, “Why?”
“Because we showed no effective countermeasures.”
“...”
“Of course, it depends on the map. They’ll definitely do it again if it’s possible.”
Q spoke with confidence.
“Judging by how they deployed archers, they seem very confident in archery battles.”
The group fell silent and thought of the battle in the forest.
“But that’s just what they think. If we had one more defensive tower, defense would’ve been much easier. It’s a fine margin.”
The group nodded. Their turtling almost succeeded in many moments, but the defense line had crumbled.
“They believe that their archers are truly stronger. It’s hard to abandon a winning formula.”
Elepher agreed.
“Then, should we focus more on turtling on close-range maps?”
“Yes. Don’t skimp on investments. Joseon has never planned beyond the second era rush. If we think ahead, we die.”
“...”
Elepher nodded solemnly and stood up.
The break had ended.
“Players, take your positions!”
***
“Now, the second game begins. We hope Joseon wins smoothly with a two to zero victory just like against the Vikings!”
“Indeed. It seems easier than against the Vikings. They won the head-to-head archery battle, making the psychological battle much easier.”
“Correct. The Joseon soldiers should trust in their strength and win this match. Before that…”
The caster and OrangeKing exchanged glances and nodded.
“We have some news for the Joseon side.”
They tried to convey it casually to the viewers, but couldn’t treat it lightly.
“This time, a new commander will take the lead instead of Cookie.”
“Yes. They’re not just starting. They’ll play the entire game, right?”
“Ah, yes. That’s correct. There will be no substitutions.”
— ??
— Huh?
— What?
— ?????
— Really?
— What?
— That’s a bit arrogant, isn’t it?
— Wow
— What’s going on?
Question marks filled the chat as the screen clearly showed it.
[Cookie OUT]
[Best Yi Sun-Shin IN]