Season 3: Chapter 199: Shield-fast Archer Rush (2)
Cookie still did not appear in the third game, which would determine their advance or elimination. Joseon’s commander remained Best Yi Sun-Shin.
Unsurprisingly, public sentiment was not favorable.
[Breaking News: Best Yi Sun-Shin returns?!]
— Are they really not replacing her??
— Huh? So it wasn’t just an experiment?
— What’s up with Cookie?
Only a few people knew Cookie’s situation. Even the national team members didn’t know exactly what happened to Cookie.
The general viewers couldn't guess the reason for the replacement.
— Are they really pushing this through?
— I’m so anxious about this
— No matter how good she was in ranked matches, this is her first tournament and they’re in a dire situation. Can she handle it?
└ Agreed…
└ I think the same
└ The soldiers need to step up
To them, it seemed like Cookie or the think tank had stubbornly pushed for this decision. In reality, Joseon’s situation was the complete opposite. They also felt shocked by the current situation, especially because of the words they heard in the waiting room.
‘We’re going with this person next year too?’
‘What is happening…?’
‘Is Hui-Chul’s health really that bad?’
Not only did Cookie not return for the third game, but they also didn’t know what would happen in the future. Moreover, Best Yi Sun-Shin had confirmed that she would be the commander next year.
This was an unexpected major change for the national team that was just beginning to see the light.
‘We can’t let it end like this.’
Even with a new commander, they couldn’t back down now. They wouldn't have made it this far if they were the type to retreat in the face of adversity.
‘We have to synchronize together no matter what.’
‘Let’s think of her as Cookie and move forward.’
‘There’s no choice.’
The path before them was clear. They had to win with Best Yi Sun-Shin.
They were also well aware of the issues in the previous game. Their confusion stemmed from not fully trusting the commander’s orders, but they couldn’t have such doubts now. Whether they succeeded or failed, they had to follow this commander’s orders.
Perhaps because of that…
[Even mixing in shield-bearers…?]
[This is good! A new meta! The fast shield archer rush! Charge!]
A single shield-bearer awkwardly joined the fast archer rush.
‘A shield…? We’ve never practiced this.’
Pang had doubts about it, but closed his eyes tightly and ignored it.
‘Forget the small fry. Just focus on the big fish. Forget the small fry. Just focus on the big fish…’
He decided to stop thinking since he wasn’t the leader. This wasn’t a good mindset for a soldier.
‘Field judgment is important too…’
A commander couldn’t give orders for everything. Exceptional soldiers showed flexibility beyond orders. However, the commander and the national team’s judgments conflicted right now and they didn’t understand each other. At least, that had been the case in the second game.
‘Still… the commander’s judgment was often correct.’
Pang silently evaluated what was right and wrong. The commander’s judgment had often been right.
‘Moreover….’
What Almond said had also influenced him.
“It’ll be okay. That person is good.”
It was as if Almond knew something.
Although Pang had retorted annoyingly, he grew more certain after seeing Almond’s actions on the battlefield.
‘Perhaps Almond could act without hesitation because….’
To Almond, Best Yi Sun-Shin had something.
Pang decided to think this way. Whatever the reality, thinking this way would help him follow orders. And the commander’s orders were often correct.
‘The issue is time.’
The time given for them to execute those orders was very short. Unless they were tense and ready to act immediately on any command, they would miss the orders and another one would come before they could act.
He shouted to those following him, “Guys! This time! Don’t miss any orders! Just act like machines! Exclude field judgment for now!”
“Yes!”
“Bro, you’re not the leader~”
At Latte’s comment, Pang just raised his middle finger without any reply.
Soon, the shield-bearer and seven archers reached the point where the enemy’s wall could be seen.
***
Sa-Rang briefly took her eyes off production.
‘They’re almost there.’
One squad she sent out would soon reach their destination. Now, her victory plan would begin.
‘If we gain an advantage here, the next strategies will almost be confirmed. If the same mistakes happen again…’
What if the confusion from the second game or the variables in the battle turned into misfortune again?
‘It’s irreversible.’
Losing this battle wouldn’t make the game extremely disadvantageous. The issue was morale and trust in the commands. If they lost this battle, the soldiers involved would struggle to trust the orders.
Sa-Rang felt even more determined and put her heart and soul into this command.
“The time to execute the orders is too short. Moreover, the rationale is almost entirely different from Cookie’s… With the current level of trust, they can’t execute such orders immediately.”
She recalled the think tank’s analysis, which had been correct. They could follow Cookie’s orders well because they understood Cookie’s rationale. They didn’t mindlessly follow like moths to a flame.
The commands covered everything in this game and at least seventy percent of players relied on field judgment. Clearing their minds and following orders blindly would be disadvantageous. Who would win between soldiers controlled by a mouse click and those who devised strategies themselves?
‘Telling them to clear their minds and simply follow is dangerous… Let’s base it on the leader.’
First, she would give orders to the leader, who would execute them without hesitation. Then, the others would follow because they trusted their leader.
She had assigned Almond as the leader of the first attack for that reason. He carried out her orders without a moment’s hesitation and was the perfect demonstration instructor.
‘They’ve arrived.’
The attack squad had reached the ancient walls. They had to pass through the gate or climb the wall.
[Siege Ladder - 1%]
Soldiers could immediately build siege weapons from the second era, so they began building a siege ladder.
While it was being built, Sa-Rang glanced at production and returned to the notification.
[Siege Ladder - Complete]
She selected one soldier.
[Moggie]
[Designate Vanguard]
He was the shield-bearer.
More orders followed.
[Charge the wall]
[Place the ladder]
The shield-bearer immediately grabbed the ladder and ran to the front. The archers followed him.
Among them, Sa-Rang selected Almond.
[Almond]
Her message became a bit longer this time.
***
“Ah, Joseon is going in! They made a ladder!?”
“They’re really doing a rush with a ladder! Isn’t it very dangerous!?”
Despite the wall, the caster was amazed at their rush.
“Indeed, climbing the ladder leaves them very vulnerable. It’s very risky.”
Climbing the siege ladder exposed their heads to the enemy. If spotted, they would certainly die.
“Does Persia know? What’s the visibility situation? That’s important… It seems they’re aware.”
The observer switched to Persia’s view to check.
“Ah!”
Persia already had a soldier scouting from the wall.
“They’ll be discovered soon.”
The prophecy took less than two seconds to come true. A nearby scout gave the signal and the commander marked the spot for more troops to gather.
“Persian archers are rushing to the wall! The ladder is set!”
Thud.
The ladder had been set and the Joseon soldiers began climbing. The Persian archers could be seen rushing to the wall.
— Can they make it?
— Seems like they’ll be blocked
— This is impossible on this map
— Won’t they be shot from above?
“The numbers favor Joseon!”
“Yes. Persia wasn’t as prepared as we thought! Elepher looks shocked!”
— lol does he play with his face?
— Ah lol
— He’s really shocked
— His face 0_0
— What? lol
— He really didn’t expect this
Naturally, the Persian archers arrived much faster than Joseon. However, they had fewer numbers.
“There are only three Persian archers!”
Joseon had seven attackers and Persia only had three defenders.
“They probably planned to rush into the third era!”
— They were planning to rush there
— Did they completely ignore it?
— They had success with elephants lol
— If they ignored it, they should get hit~
“This isn’t just ignoring. It’s risking it all… Will they get punished!? Can Joseon do it?”
Blocking the ladder would stop the rush even with only three archers.
“One Almond can block twenty enemies at a siege ladder!”
“Yes! And there are three of them! It’s the Persian aces!”
The three rushing up were Persia’s three ace archers.
“Ah… Joseon has to get on top first!”
They would have no hope if Persia reached the top first.
“Climbing the ladder takes a long time!!”
It would take a long time to climb a ladder as high as a five to six story building. The biggest problem was their heads being exposed the entire time.
“The Persian archers have arrived!”
The Persian archers spotted the climbing Joseon soldiers.
Squeak.
The broadcast screen naturally zoomed in on the Persian archers drawing their bows. Shooting climbers gave them the advantage.
“Isn’t it unfair to attack while someone is transforming!?” OrangeKing protested, but those words didn’t reach the Persian archers.
— Is that transforming lol
— lol
— lol
— ??? Time! Tiiime!
***
The three Persian archers licked their lips and started shooting upon seeing the ladder.
‘They’re coming this way?’
It was a straightforward shot. Who would curve their shot when they could aim directly at the top of the ladder?
‘What?’
Thud!
However, the arrow had been blocked. By what?
Looking down, the Persian archers saw a shield instead of a head.
At the top of the ladder, Moggie received a command.
[Block]
Instead of blocking from the start, he blocked at the right moment and caught them off guard.
Thud! Thud!
He continued blocking all the arrows.
‘One shield covers seven…’
The ladder’s structure, thought to be a weakness, became a strength with the shield.
Kenin shouted, “Shoot curve shots! It’s a shield!”
Curve shots would miss the head, but hit the waist. They would need four hits to kill.
They had no choice and drew their bows.
Squeak.
Even this opportunity wasn’t a given.
[Now]
With the command, someone suddenly emerged from behind the shield.
‘That guy!?’
Almond drew his bow with his legs still fixed on the ladder. Shooting while almost vertical on the ladder was madness. Moreover, he fully charged his focus.
Such a feat was only possible due to the sacrifice from behind.
[Support the person in front]
Latte received this command.
“Ugh… I trust you, bro!”
He supported Almond’s weight with his head.
Almond responded to his trust, “Chikicha.”
Kenin’s vision turned white at those words. Then, his head exploded in a white burst.
Thud!
“That’s insane?!”
The others felt shocked, but Almond didn’t stop there.
[Suppress]
[Suppress]
The remaining two Persian archers received those commands.
Squeak.
However, Almond quickly fired two arrows almost simultaneously even faster than Persia’s rapid-fire and with godly accuracy.
Twip!
Thud!
Although he didn’t charge them, the arrows struck the archers’ arms and disrupted their aim.
“Shoot like me!”
“Are you crazy!?”
Despite saying that, Pang lifted his upper body.
Spam supported him from behind.
“Sir! I trust you!”
“Gulp,” Pang swallowed hard at the daunting task.
With allies in the way, a straight shot was impossible.
[Curve Shot]
Shooting a curve shot in this position was an extremely difficult command. He felt worried, but he had successfully done it before.
‘The same angle.’
The commander seemed to understand Pang’s capabilities since the enemy was perfectly within his target zone. The problem was his stance suspended in the air.
Pang considered the wall as the ground and steadied his breath.
‘Just like on the ground. Treat gravity as wind resistance.’
The enemies were picking up fallen bows, momentarily disappearing below the wall.
‘They’re coming.’
Two heads emerged. Which one…?
As he hesitated, the command became more specific.
Ping.
[Attack]
“Right!”
Pang widened his eyes and released the arrow. His arrow drew a familiar white arc, avoiding his allies’ backs and hitting the enemy’s neck.
“!”
It hit. A white explosion occurred and an enemy head vanished.
Simultaneously, Almond’s arrow took out the left side. The two enemy heads disappeared in an instant.
‘They’re gone?’
All the heads above the wall had disappeared.
Joseon had killed Persia’s three ace archers from the ladder. No other defenders remained on the wall.
“Waaahhhhh!”
A roar erupted from the Korean audience.
Pang shouted as well, “Raaah! Charge!!”