Divine Encounter (4)

So far, the pattern in every game Nam Ha-neul had won had been the same.

1. Early game, Nam Ha-neul lands a double kill in lane using Focus.

2. She dominates lane with that double kill and her high Game-Physical stats.

3. She snowballs the gold lead into victory.

If step 1 succeeded, she won. If it failed, she lost. There might've been the occasional win thanks to good team RNG, but that was the general rule.

Nam Ha-neul's Osya and support Zenoa then headed toward Delro. Delro had excellent defenses but lacked ways to fight back when isolated, so there were no surprises.

Silver 1. Messages like victory reports popped up now and then in that tier.

"Hmm…."

"Hehe."

Nam Ha-neul flashed a smile, her heart fluttering at the thought of praise, while Hong Su-yeon stared at her for a long moment.

The viewers weren't fully praising Nam Ha-neul yet, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠plenty were shocked by the Game-Physical play reflecting Hiran's arrow.

And right on cue, a system message appeared. The reason? Hong Su-yeon's stream viewers had surpassed 10,000. Meeting the threshold triggered a long status window with rewards.

The status windows cascaded in a rush. Nam Ha-neul didn't have time to read them all, so she shoved them aside and focused on the game. Whether she understood or not, the power's ongoing effect kept activating.

16/2/7. An insane KDA sealed the first game's victory.

"Hmm, not bad?"

"R-Really…? Hehehe…."

With the reflection now fixed at a high probability, her Osya reflections succeeded nearly 70% of the time, showing impressive proficiency.

Hong Su-yeon stared intently at Nam Ha-neul, tilting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her head. She'd sensed a mid-game shift.

Almost 70%. More reflections, and proficiency spiked after taking down Hiran.

With stats over 100, in superhuman territory, Hong Su-yeon instantly clocked the status window anomaly.

"Nice. Physical's solid at least—pro, maybe plat level?"

"Hehehe, th-thank you."

"But everything else lags."

"S-Sorry."

Hong Su-yeon always said what needed saying, personal feelings aside. The game was physical-carry, so other aspects weren't fully tested, but glaring weaknesses showed.

"How long you been playing?"

"10… 10 years maybe…."

"…Yeah, that tracks."

"Wanna review the replay?"

"O-Okay…."

Nam Ha-neul hated replays—they were boring and pretentious. But she lacked the guts to defy Hong Su-yeon. And whenever the pro leaned in, she turned mute, nodding blankly.

Viewers found it hilarious by now.

During the feedback on the in-game replay, Nam Ha-neul clutched her forehead, head burning as she listened. The pressure of being with Hong Su-yeon eased into dizzy spins.

"Got it? One more?"

"Y-Yes… Yep!"

Hong Su-yeon felt she'd covered everything. But—Why do I wanna bully her more? The half-lidded eyes, pinched thighs fighting sleep—it intrigued her. So she rehashed points at length. No clue if Nam Ha-neul got it; the pained face was just cute.

"Ugh… C-Can we start now?"

"Yeah, let's go. Expectations high."

"Mmph, yep."

"Ooh."

Maybe the sweet reward for enduring pain? Nam Ha-neul beamed at the massive stat jumps.

"What's up suddenly?"

"Oh, n-nothing."

Problem was, she wasn't alone. But now with Intelligence at 48—near average—she mustered a decent excuse.

"J-Just… that thing you said earlier? Clicked now."

"Oh? Even better then."

"Ung."

Accepting the queued game, she broke a fresh sweat. Boring lectures were fine, but game time brought nerves.

"No Osya this time—something else?"

"…Huh?!"

Thunderbolt words. Play a different champion.

"B-But… um."

"You're not an Osya one-trick, right? Gotta see variety."

"Ah…."

No real counter. She'd played Osya a lot lately, but unconsciously. Normally, she flexed various champs across lanes—skill aside.

"Th-Then what—?"

"Beran. Try Beran."

Meteor Archer Beran. An ADC firing meteors that bounced off walls for bonus damage. Masters existed for a reason—perfect angle reads unlocked its potential.

"Beran…?"

It nullified her physical edge. High Game-Physical helped, but didn't master Beran. Hong Su-yeon intended that.

Judgment matters more, moment-to-moment. To climb higher.

Physical gods hit Challenger sometimes—like that famous Osya one-trick. But their judgment wasn't trash; basics were solid.

Physical was raw power, comprehension the knowledge to wield it, judgment the timing. Lacking one? No pro career. That separated pros from Challenger normies.

"C-Can I even do it?"

"I'm expecting you to."

"Urgh…."

"And… do well, and I'll give you a reward."

Hong Su-yeon patted her head. She could tell now.

Way too shy… skinship issues?

Trembling breaths, reddening ears whenever close. Not pro-fan nerves—pure social.

Nam Ha-neul flinched at the touch, shoulders jerking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as she bowed her head. Hong Su-yeon smiled, tapping satisfied.

Hong Su-yeon had never thought she liked girls. She'd dated guys in school. So why the fascination? Just fun to tease—that was it.

"O-Okay, I'll try!"

"Good."

Into the game. Nam Ha-neul on Beran, support Ringwatcher Ludheim. Enemies: Crystal Sniper Sharbel and Gale Herald Kiel.

Sharbel powered up on charged shots; Kiel CC-focused with knockups and disrupts.

"Matchup's even—no edges."

Lane war ensued.

Hong Su-yeon's prediction missed—Nam Ha-neul burst the enemy bot duo in seconds.