Chapter 130

CHAPTER 130

Right before Seo Jun locked in Derek.

• Anyone curious what those two are talking about?
• As if they even have strategy LOL
• Seo Jun just crushes people with mechanics, and Woon-ho is bad anyway LOL

Meanwhile—

• Kael wasn't banned? That's some confidence.
• His opponent is a Challenger.
• The four-second Judgment Sword was crazier.
• LOL he only looked good because he was unranked. Even after yesterday's duel with Baramgeom, I don't think the opponent can underestimate him.
• But he still beat Baramgeom.
• And he did it fast.

Most viewers expected Seo Jun to choose Kael.

They weren't certain, but if Kael was available, surely he'd show it off.

• Oh?
• Maybe he specifically asked them not to ban it!

The moment viewers connected the logic that Seo Jun had asked Ha Woon-ho to leave Kael open because he wanted to participate in LoL—

Seo Jun and Ha Woon-ho finished talking, and Seo Jun's hand moved toward the champion selection interface.

[Derek the Escaped Convict]

Contrary to everyone's expectations, he picked a completely different champion.

• Derek???
• He actually picked Derek LOL
• What is this? Some prepared pick?
• 100% no LOL
• You never know. Kael was technically prepared too. He was studying weak points outside the game LOL

[The game is starting.]

The moment he spawned into Summoner's Rift, Seo Jun re-enabled the audio he had muted.

"Ah. Can everyone hear me?"

As he walked forward, he noticed numerous +1 notifications appearing.

Those reaction indicators probably wouldn't be visible during the actual LoL tournament.

Since this was only a scrim, it didn't matter.

[Let's just do a standard invade.]

Malrang, who had handled the draft, headed toward the jungle and spoke.

[Okay.]

[Let's all have fun.]

[Mr. Seo Jun! Please survive against the Challenger!]

Apparently the enemy team had also chosen a standard opening.

Nobody encountered each other.

While waiting in the jungle for the minions to spawn, Seo Jun examined his body.

"The chains are wrapped around my arms."

League wasn't a game that completely replaced the player's body.

Like the pre-game cosmetics, only essential elements changed.

Just as Kael had given him a sword, Derek wrapped his arms in countless layers of chains.

"How do basic attacks work?"

Using the chains wasn't actually Derek's normal attack.

• Just imagine it like using sword aura.
• It's basically similar.
• Watching Kael God ask basic questions like this LOL
• New viewers, especially Kael mains. Don't worry. He asks beginner questions, and then ten seconds later starts using veteran-level techniques.

Seo Jun imagined releasing energy from his hands.

The basic attacks of mage champions in League were generally based on magical power.

Interesting.

Seven years ago, Seo Jun had been unable to play mage champions.

The capsules back then could handle body movement, but prediction-based control had been difficult.

His thoughts hadn't translated smoothly into the game.

Skills activated.

But they reacted slightly late, like using an old computer.

That tiny delay would annoy any gamer.

I wanted to play mages back then. It's a shame.

A visual effect appeared in his palm as magical energy gathered.

Then a small blue sphere materialized.

"Oh? So that's how it feels."

When Seo Jun clenched his fist, the orb transmitted a sense of tension through his hand, like an arrow pulled taut on a bowstring.

After familiarizing himself with the subtle vibration and trembling sensation, he opened his hand.

The sphere shot forward.

A mage's basic attack.

Weaker than striking with a sword.

"Oh!"

Seo Jun's eyes curved with delight.

• If you're going to be that fascinated, at least study beforehand LOL
• No. This is what a real streamer does. Genuine reactions.
• LOL clearly he avoided practicing on purpose for authenticity.

The blue projectile cut through the brush and flew into empty space.

He fired several more attacks.

Then—

"Okay. How do skills work? Ah, the minions are here."

Since the lane phase was beginning, Seo Jun headed toward mid.

His opponent was already waiting.

"Hello. We already greeted each other earlier, right? I'm streamer Spon."

"Nice to meet you."

Spon's champion was Tube, the Dual Revolver Gunslinger.

As the name suggested, he carried two pistols.

Each basic attack fired twice in rapid succession.

If both shots landed, the damage exceeded that of ordinary champions.

If only one connected, however, the damage fell below half of a normal attack.

Like Kael, it was a high-difficulty champion heavily dependent on mechanics.

"Mr. Seo Jun, I'll be playing seriously. Do you think you can win?"

The chains wrapped around Seo Jun's arms moved.

Piuung!

Instead of answering, he opened and closed his hand.

A magic projectile flew forward.

The attack landed at the exact edge of its maximum range, striking Spon just before disappearing.

"Was that answer enough?"

• First blood in the psychological war LOL
• Our streamer attacks first.
• Wait, that actually hit?
• It landed right before the projectile disappeared.

Spon smiled.

Just like Seo Jun, he seemed to be enjoying himself.

That basic attack barely clipped me at max range. Was it luck? No way. Not after asking if that was enough of an answer.

When Spon stepped forward to land his own shots, Seo Jun immediately retreated.

He realized instantly that my attack range is longer than his.

Even though Spon hadn't counterattacked immediately, Seo Jun had already identified the range advantage and adjusted his movement accordingly.

Spon noticed that as well.

In a single exchange.

Seo Jun had already shown that he wasn't simply a talented Kael player.

"This is fun. Kiting has always been one of my strengths."

Simply put, kiting was distance control.

For ADCs, who fought primarily using long-range basic attacks, it was an essential skill.

Distance control was the most efficient way to maximize your advantages.

I hit you.

You can't hit me.

"I'm an ADC too, after all."

Seo Jun watched his opponent.

When Spon retreated, he advanced.

When Spon suddenly stepped forward, Seo Jun backed away.

It looked simple, but every movement carried the spacing instincts of a Challenger ADC.

And then—

Piuung!

Another orb flew out and struck Spon.

Just like before, it connected at the very edge of its range.

Almost identical to the first hit.

It was intentional.

• Let's not tell him.
• Learn it yourself.

"Hmm?"

Whether Spon was surprised or not, Seo Jun focused on the minions fighting in front of him.

As a minion's health approached zero, he fired an orb to secure the last hit and thought:

So all I have to do is imagine it?

Derek's skills revolved around creating magic circles.

After a short delay, those circles fired chains.

Seo Jun imagined the magic circle from the videos appearing directly beneath him.

The moment he did—

[Chain of Destruction]

Fwoosh!

The chains wrapped around his arms rattled.

Part of them vanished.

A magic circle appeared in front of him.

"Oh!"

• LOL he's impressed again.
• How many times is that now?
• Sword God (looks happier than ever playing a mage)
• Come to think of it, he really has only used swords until now LOL

The reason for Seo Jun's surprise wasn't complicated.

I didn't expect the response speed to be this fast.

Back in the day, he used physical motions to reinforce his visualizations.

Like when he stabbed his sword into the ground before using Judgment Sword.

Nowadays Judgment Sword activated simply through thought.

But before the rework, it had been a skillshot, and quickly visualizing the landing point had been important.

These days I only do that out of nostalgia.

For most people it was just roleplay.

Something stylish.

Something fun.

For the old Seo Jun, however, it had produced noticeable results.

Now he no longer needed those motions.

The skill activated instantly.

That was what surprised him.

Meanwhile, Spon watched the scene with a dumbfounded look and continued farming minions.

At the same time, he was looking for an opening.

Three seconds later—

The magic circle released a chain that shot forward in a straight line and impaled a minion.

• Three seconds is soooo long.
• LOL
• That skill is trash tier.

Chain of Destruction had a delay.

After creating the magic circle, the chain could fire anywhere from three to ten seconds later.

When creating the circle, the trajectory also had to be fixed in advance, making it difficult to hit opponents.

However, the longer the delay, the more damage the skill dealt.

Because of that, Derek players usually prepared ten-second circles in advance and ambushed opponents.

At Seo Jun's current level, he could maintain up to two circles simultaneously.

Prediction is everything.

This was different from predicting Kael's weak points.

This was a prediction shot.

You fired first.

Then prayed your opponent walked into it.

Chain of Destruction could even hit its own caster.

A skill capable of dragging an opponent in—

Or dragging yourself into disaster.

With this level of responsiveness, it's definitely usable.

Seo Jun created two magic circles behind him in midair.

One chain disappeared from each arm.

Red magic circles floated in the sky.

About two seconds passed.

Then Spon, who had been searching for an opening, dashed forward.

[Thunder Dash]

His feet slid across the ground.

Luke's mobility skill activated, allowing him to follow up with a burst of rapid-fire shots.

In an instant, Spon closed the distance.

Skills like Chain of Destruction aren't something you waste carelessly.

Once the path was set, it couldn't be recalled.

And if you used both circles at once, you would be left helpless for a while.

Spon exploited exactly that weakness.

Raising his guns, he prepared to unleash a barrage.

This is why you're still a beginner.

Thunder Dash wasn't complete until the attack connected.

But then—

Fwoosh!

A chain burst from the magic circle floating behind Seo Jun.

Not toward the minions.

Directly toward Spon's position.

It wasn't random?

Spon's eyes shook.

Three seconds earlier, the chain's fate had already been decided.

The chain shot forward at tremendous speed.

And when it struck Spon—

His health dropped by an amount that couldn't even be compared to a normal basic attack.

It was a direct hit from a fully prepared Chain of Destruction.