Chapter 164

CHAPTER 164

When Alpaca noticed the enemy jungler's pathing and informed Seo Jun, only for Seo Jun to tell him not to come—

The broadcast chat and online communities immediately exploded into debate.

Specifically, about what Seo Jun was trying to do.

Because what he was attempting sounded, frankly, ridiculous.

• Multitasking? LOL. Did he seriously pick Zen just for that?
• Multitasking is pushing it. He's probably just trying to stat-check them with mechanics.
• You say that like Wave is some Platinum or Diamond player. He's Challenger.
• "He's Challenger" lol. Cute. Our streamer is unranked.
• LMAOOOO

Unranked.

As in, literally no rank.

A newbie.

That's right.

Seo Jun was an A-rank player.

And also unranked.

Anyway.

As signs of an impending fight appeared in mid lane, the observer positioned the camera to simultaneously show both the approaching enemy jungler and Wave setting up his play.

“What do you think will happen?”

Arin asked.

Bangju answered.

“I think a fight is definitely about to happen.”

“Really?”

“Seo Jun looks like he's made up his mind. I think he'll test it at least once.”

“But is he really going to fight two people using two clones? Is that what he's aiming for?”

Nothing was certain yet.

Maybe Seo Jun was simply experimenting because the sensation felt interesting.

• Nah, he's just a complete attention seeker lol
• Tutorial incident, parachute incident, all evidence points to attention seeker
• Streamers are supposed to be attention seekers. He found his calling.
• How could mortals understand genius?
• Genius (can't parachute) (needs tutorial) lol

“Cough.”

One of the commentators almost burst out laughing while reading chat.

Laughing out of nowhere would draw attention.

In truth, everyone at the desk was reading the chat.

Which was exactly why everyone was suppressing their laughter.

The comments were particularly savage today.

• Just become the tournament clown already.
• If he loses this game too...
• Forget the game. If the jungler shows up and he loses right now, it'll be comedy gold.
• No seriously, how is he supposed to 2v2 with a clone? What are they gonna do? Stand side by side and take turns? "Your turn to hit him."

“Ha ha... Even so, everyone, we don't actually have proof that Seo Jun is trying that.”

Arin attempted to calm things down.

Then the fight started.

The shadow split apart.

• "Not trying it" my ass.
• He sent it to the jungler instantly.
• Meanwhile he's fighting Wave himself lol. That's some ridiculous confidence.
• Is this actually going to work?

“Ha ha ha...”

Even the caster had nothing left to say.

All that remained was to watch.

The observer shifted the camera higher, showing both battles diagonally at once.

Everything could be seen in a single frame.

Then—

• Huh?
• Wait, did he just deflect that arrow?
• Forget that, did you see him dodge the kama and stab at the same time?
• No, he's blocking arrows again!
• Wait, he's landing hits on Wave too?
• WHAT IS THIS?!

The moment combat began, the entire mood changed.

The instant Wave vanished, Seo Jun swapped places with his shadow.

Just like when Wave used Mark Pursuit, Seo Jun's perspective flipped.

The first thing he saw was the enemy jungler, 1898, and the surrounding terrain he had observed earlier.

Seo Jun immediately attacked the minion he had already selected beforehand.

The shadow had been positioned nearby.

He only needed to extend his arm.

“Ah!”

“I hit level six first.”

The moment the jungler arrived, Wave was forced to remain in lane and share experience from dying minions.

As a result, Seo Jun had reached level six.

Wave still needed another one or two minions.

1898 wasn't anywhere near level six yet, making him a non-factor.

Seo Jun immediately activated his ultimate.

He imagined the enemy's shadow becoming his own clone.

[Shadow Hijack]

According to the lore, it was the secret technique of Shadow Secret Art.

The moment Wave turned around, his shadow detached from him and took on a new form.

Silently.

Without a trace.

Without even its owner realizing.

Unless someone had a habit of constantly checking whether their shadow was still beneath their feet, noticing it was difficult.

Now that shadow belonged to Seo Jun.

He could manipulate it like another body.

Seo Jun immediately moved it.

The instant his eyes met Wave's as he turned around—

A blade pierced Wave's back.

Stab!

• OHHHHH!
• And the previous mark damage detonates too!
• He can just stack another mark afterward. Wave's almost dead lololol
• I believed all along!
• Everything was part of the plan!

“Ultimate-created shadows are way better, aren't they?”

At the same time, Seo Jun spun his body and knocked away an incoming arrow with his right-hand assassin blade.

He already knew the enemy jungler would attack.

And there were only so many positions he could attack from.

In that case, watching the shot and blocking it while rotating wasn't difficult.

As he moved, Seo Jun even spoke through the clone.

He could've just talked from here.

But this looked cooler.

“Phase 2, huh? So that really is the real body?”

Apparently 1898 had heard Wave's earlier comment.

As he released another arrow, he asked:

Fwoosh!

Clang!

Not happening.

“Yep. And escaping that way isn't happening either.”

Apparently 1898 had relaxed when Seo Jun stopped advancing toward him.

A mistake.

The positions had already been established.

Seo Jun now occupied a location where he could watch Wave while simultaneously dealing with the enemy jungler.

In simple terms, he had maneuvered behind the jungler.

A position from which he could fight 1898 while keeping an eye on the clone battling Wave.

Even while repositioning, Seo Jun repeatedly glanced backward to control the clone.

Clang! Clang!

• OHHHH!
• Wave dies if he gets hit once more, right?
• No but seriously, this is absurd. The streamer is literally fighting two people at once lololol

Of course, the clone's movements weren't exactly natural.

At best, they were efficient.

Only the minimum motions necessary to block attacks and retaliate.

The kama and assassin blade collided.

Clang! Clang!

At the same time, arrows flew from the left side of his vision.

Fwoosh!

Seo Jun's focus shifted.

Far.

Near.

Far again.

Near again.

To the viewers, it looked insane.

Yet—

• Even if it's confusing, it's still fun, right?
• Of course it's fun. Our streamer is literally beating a 2v1 with two bodies.
• Remember all those people flaming him earlier?
• Are people still hating? Our streamer is washed? Really? LOL

Then again, viewers had never truly understood Seo Jun's movements in the first place.

The simple fact that he was fighting two battles simultaneously was already ridiculous enough.

And while the viewers laughed themselves silly—

Seo Jun, unable to see any of it, had entered a state of absolute concentration.

Clang!

He pressured Wave while simultaneously knocking aside incoming arrows.

The fight wouldn't last much longer.

As an ultimate—or rather, a secret technique—the shadow lasted longer than the normal skill and allowed more position swaps.

But even then, it didn't exceed fifteen seconds.

Still feels a little restrictive.

At the moment, Seo Jun was relying purely on raw skill.

No tricks.

No special techniques.

Just rapid judgment and decisive execution.

But—

Handling two bodies at once inevitably divided his attention.

Which meant he couldn't fully exploit every variable available to him.

Because of that, the fight remained surprisingly even.

For now.

But it would end soon.

The moment an opening appeared, both sides would tear into it without mercy.

Fwoosh!

Seo Jun's arm swung downward.

Clang!

An arrow aimed at his thigh was knocked aside.

Clang!

At the same time, the sound of a kama blocking Seo Jun's attack echoed from farther away.

“Guys, this is the true meaning of offense and defense as one, right? Wow.”

Seo Jun hadn't forgotten he was live.

He remained committed to his profession.

• Why is he the one impressed by what he's doing? lol
• LOLOL It's not that offense and defense became one. He's attacking with one body and defending with the other. That's what offense-and-defense-as-one means now lololol
• Stop making jokes and focus on the game!
• Win this!
• Wait, shouldn't Fear Arrow be activating soon?
• Looks like the match is about to be decided.
• Wave, let's go!
• Go back to your own stream.
• Nah, the view is better here. Ban us if you're mad~

And then—

An opening appeared.

Now.

The eyes of all three players in mid lane focused on the exact same point.

A magical projectile from one of Wave's minions was flying forward.

Its destination:

A ranged minion on Seo Jun's side whose health was almost depleted.

The moment the projectile connected, experience would be awarded.

The moment they had all been waiting for.

[Fear Arrow]

Immediately, 1898's arrow began glowing.

Wave recalled his kama and retreated farther back.

Preparing his ultimate.

The instant everyone entered a state of extreme concentration, Seo Jun moved first.

He switched positions and appeared in front of Wave.

As if expecting exactly that, 1898 aimed at the distant Seo Jun and shouted:

“I'll cover you!”

Tali's ultimate, Executioner's Scythe, consumed one mark on an enemy hero.

It then charged power into the scythe for three seconds.

Once charged, it unleashed a powerful crescent-shaped wave of energy.

The drawback was that charging dramatically slowed movement and could be interrupted by attacks.

However, once the charge was complete and the energy settled into the kama, free movement became possible again.

He came himself because he intends to stop the charge. He must've abandoned clone control and decided to finish me personally.

Wave had not lost while fighting Seo Jun's clone.

In fact, he had successfully struck it twice with his kama.

Wave had been displaying the same level of extreme concentration as Seo Jun.

And after all, his opponent had only been a clone.

Those two hits created two marks on Seo Jun's clone.

Marks on enemy heroes could also be consumed for charging.

The mechanic existed specifically to prevent players from pre-charging without enemy heroes nearby.

So it was working exactly as intended.

One mark for the charge... and the remaining one...

Wave activated his skill.

He teleported to the location of the clone fighting 1898.

[Mark Pursuit]

“Why don't you just finish it like this?”

Wave taunted while looking directly at Seo Jun.

The ultimate-generated clone could still swap positions one more time.

Meaning Seo Jun could dive straight into the middle of them.

1898 already had his bow aimed at Seo Jun's clone.

Wave tightened his grip on the kama.

“Even if this ends here, the gank already failed. You know your top lane just died, right?”

“Heh. That's true.”

Wave grinned.

“But isn't it a waste? My health's practically gone.”

Now the decision belonged to Seo Jun.

If he used his final position swap and jumped into the middle of them, the fight would continue.

Otherwise, it would end here.

“... You're right.”

Seo Jun smirked.

Cracked his neck.

Stared forward briefly.

Then—

“Then let's try it.”

He switched positions.

Instantly.

Wave stood to his left.

The jungler stood to his right.

Both attacked simultaneously.

[Fear Arrow]

Five arrows spread outward like a net.

The kama followed immediately behind.

Seo Jun chose to block the kama instead of the arrows.

A deliberate choice.

He refused to give Wave another mark.

Got him.

Wave hid his excitement and swung with everything he had.

He clenched his teeth.

Discarded every unnecessary thought.

Future scenarios.

Drawing Seo Jun's attention.

Everything.

He focused solely on the fight unfolding right now.

And perhaps thanks to the arrows supporting him from behind—

For the first time, Wave was truly pushing Seo Jun back.

Then—

“Now!”

The moment 1898 shouted, Wave stopped attacking and tensed his arm.

Seo Jun's assassin blade shot toward his face.

But—

It stopped right in front of him.

The reason:

“Nice! Wave! Now!”

The jungler had forcibly widened the distance and moved beyond the range limit.

Which activated Fear Arrow's effect.

That was why they had forced Seo Jun to turn around.

Finally!

Wave immediately began charging.

One second.

He could kill Seo Jun.

This would be his first death.

Two seconds.

The light gathering around the kama stabilized.

The charge meter floating before Wave's eyes neared completion.

Three seconds.

Seo Jun's Fear status would soon end.

But by then the ultimate would already be ready.

If the ultimate landed, even Seo Jun would be left at death's door.

1898 moved closer.

If they continued the 2v1 like before, finishing Seo Jun afterward would be easy—

Stab!

“This isn't a 2v1.”

Seo Jun spoke.

As though he had read Wave's thoughts.

But the voice hadn't come from the front.

“Just like before.”

“Huh?”

Together with the startled voice of the approaching jungler, Seo Jun rose from Fear.

No way...

The interrupted charge.

The health bar reduced to near death.

The voice from behind.

All of it pointed to only one conclusion.

The thing Wave had overlooked.

He brought it back? Even while fighting like that?

Had he secretly installed an auto-pathing function into the clone?

“While turning around and drawing attention, it wasn't you who was distracting me, Mr. Wave.”

Seo Jun smiled.

And continued explaining through the clone until the very end.

He figured his opponent deserved to know.

The Seo Jun in front.

And the Seo Jun behind.

Both opened their mouths simultaneously.

Truthfully, he had simply wanted to try this.

“『Then let's finish this.』”

The shadows in front and behind thrust their assassin blades toward Wave at the same time.

• WAIT WHEN DID HE BRING IT OVER?!
• I've been staring at his stream the entire time! How did I miss that?!
• During the charge I genuinely thought the streamer was dead lololol
• Meanwhile we got a surround-sound death sentence LOL
• SURROUND SOUND EXECUTION LOLOLOLOL
• AHAHAHAHAHAHA

At the same time—

“WAAAAAH!!! THIS IS INSANE!”

Bangju roared at the top of his lungs.