Chapter 17 - Headgear Event (3)
Headgear Event (3)
Translator : Elizabeth
The reason the supporter Sakiride was able to reach Rank 9 in the individual rankings was partly due to his physical mechanics, but mostly because of his ability to read the game state—specifically, his exceptionally brilliant briefing.
Whether they were a buff-oriented build or an attack-oriented build, there was one skill every Bard necessarily brought: 'Detection Sonic.'
Sakiride was famous for utilizing that skill—which could confirm the location of a single enemy—to its absolute limit, reducing the enemy Jungler’s influence to zero. By providing real-time briefings on the enemy Jungler’s position from the very start of the match, his teammates could counter enemy invades and notice sudden ambushes well in advance.
From the perspective of a Speed Swordswoman, who needed to snowball by relentlessly ambushing various frontlines, a Bard—especially a capable one like Sakiride—was an undeniably troublesome opponent.
However, that didn't mean he was invincible. Just as no one is perfect, he too had clear limitations.
First, obviously, even Detection Sonic had a cooldown. During that cooldown period after the skill was used, how the enemy Jungler moved was entirely within the realm of Sakiride’s speculation. If his guess proved wrong, his teammates would be the ones to suffer the consequences.
Second was the fact that his class was a supporter. Compared to a Jungler, who can intervene in any frontline at any time and finish a fight personally, a supporter was naturally limited in the amount of damage they could inflict during combat. Therefore, no matter how god-like his shot-calling was, the final execution rested in the hands of his teammates. If the teammates responsible for finishing the job lacked the ability, Sakiride’s shot-calling would inevitably lose its luster.
Although my current allies' tiers were very low... I didn't feel like I would lose in this situation. I had confidence in my own skill as well.
"Supporter-nim?"
<Yes, SION-nim, please speak.>
While navigating the Jungle, I first called the supporter, the Ironclad, via voice chat.
"Have you reached the Beach?"
<No, I’m currently heading there with the Spearman-nim.>
"...Good. Then, Supporter-nim, please enter the Beach one timing later than the Spearman-nim."
<One timing later?>
"Yes. A reasonable delay, based on your judgment."
I requested that the supporter enter the Beach a beat later than the Spearman, who was taking the role of the ranged dealer.
Sakiride is a veteran ranker. As knowledgeable as he is, there was no way he didn't know that a Speed Swordswoman is weak to early-game Jungle invasions. Therefore, there was a very high possibility he would decisively attempt an Invade with the enemy Jungler, the Ninja. After all, a Ninja wasn't a bad class for an early-game invasion.
However, if my supporter entered the frontline a beat late, and the report reached Sakiride’s ears that he wasn't visible on the Beach, it would become awkward for him to proceed with the Invade. If the supporter was protecting me in anticipation of a Jungle invasion, not only would the 2v1 numerical advantage disappear, but it would also be difficult to gain a significant profit.
Furthermore, if the allied Fighter on the Plain managed to join the Jungle quickly, they would be the ones in danger. Therefore, the mere fact that the Ironclad was out of sight would force Sakiride to hesitate on the Jungle invasion.
Yeah, he’ll have no choice. If you’re too smart, you fall into your own traps; being the suspicious type, he would undoubtedly choose to play it safe.
<Ah, yes, understood.>
"Yes. I’m counting on you."
Though he sounded bewildered, I nodded with satisfaction at the Ironclad’s confirmation.
"Next is..."
The countermeasures for the Invade seemed sufficient; now all that was left was to devise a strategy that would catch Sakiride off guard.
[An opponent is using Detection Sonic.][Your location has been exposed!]
"Ah."
And then, a holographic screen appeared before my eyes, announcing that Sakiride had used Detection Sonic on me. The bright red screen vanished after five seconds. With this, Sakiride would have reported to his teammates that I was just mindlessly farming in our Jungle.
"Good..."
Since Detection Sonic would be on cooldown for a while, it was time to roll the snowball. If I maximized the Speed Swordswoman’s advantage of speed and agility, I could attempt a play Sakiride wouldn't expect, even this early in the game. For instance, having the weak early-game Speed Swordswoman launch a surprise Jungle invasion of her own.
"Huh...?"
However, in the midst of that, the allied Fighter on the Plain called out to all of us via voice chat. The voice of the cat-beastman, sounding considerably flustered, pierced the ears of the entire team.
<What should I do nya......?>
02.
SION (Swordsman - Speed Sword)
"Wow, this is a B-Tube angle."
Sakiride, who had joined the event match purely thinking of an overwhelming stomp, was delighted to see Rank 7 Speed Swordswoman Gale on the enemy list. He had expected a one-sided game and planned to just record his own montage, but to encounter Gale of all people was an unexpected windfall.
Gale and her Speed Swordswoman build were currently the hottest topics, having crushed the streamer Harim in just 9 minutes with overwhelming skill. Encountering her 'by chance' in an event match hosted by a game store, rather than a ranked game—there was no better material for B-Tube.
Furthermore, was he not in the same physical space as her in reality? If he was lucky, he might even see the real-life face of the ranker shrouded in mystery.
‘Well... it’s bound to be a muscular dude.’
Sakiride let out a smirk. Gale’s customization was second to none... but given that female users were extremely rare in Legend Frontier, he assumed her real self was just another guy. It was so common for a player thought to be female to turn out to be male in the world of Legend Frontier that it wasn't even strange.
‘I want an interview, though.’
Regardless of gender, Sakiride simply wanted to meet Gale and get an interview. Gale never did personal broadcasts or B-Tube, and she hadn't posted a single guide after creating the notoriously difficult Speed Swordswoman build. If he met such a person in reality and interviewed her, the viral potential and views were guaranteed.
And if he was going to interview her, it would be better to do it after winning this event match in high spirits. Sakiride himself was a single-digit ranker just like Gale; he wasn't so lacking in competitive spirit as to lose on purpose just to get the interview faster.
Although his allies were all Diamond tier... since he was Sakiride, a master of reading the game state, everything would work out as long as his teammates followed his orders.
<Sakiride-nim!>
"Yes, what is it?"
Just then, the allied Fire Mage at the Beach called him.
<Just as you expected, the enemy supporter isn't visible! It looks like he went to the Jungle.>
The Mage reported that the enemy supporter, the Ironclad, was missing and had likely headed to the Jungle to follow Gale. Sakiride nodded with a smile at the welcome report.
"Yes, thank you for telling me."
His prediction was correct. Not going for the Invade had been the right decision.
The opponent was none other than Rank 7 Gale. The Queen of Speed who reached that position using only the Speed Swordswoman build—commonly known as a 'troll build.' There was no way she, the creator of the build, didn't know her own weakness to early-game invasions.
She would have prepared, and if they had invaded, Sakiride and his allied Jungler Ninja would have been the ones to suffer. In fact, she had prepared for the Invade by bringing the Ironclad, who should have been at the Beach, with her.
...Bringing the supporter suggested she judged it more important for her, the Jungler who must carry the game, to spend the early game safely even if it meant reducing the Beach presence to one person.
"Sol-ji-geum-nim?"
<Yes, please speak.>
"The enemy Jungler is just clearing her own Jungle, so don't worry and keep farming."
...Whether checking with Detection Sonic or hearing the report from the Fire Mage, Gale was making no unusual moves, simply clears monsters in her Jungle while preparing for an invasion. Therefore, Sakiride told his Jungler, 'Sol-ji-geum,' that there was no chance the enemy Jungler would counter-invade, so he could farm in peace.
<Ah! Yes! Thank you!>
Hearing that, the Ninja Sol-ji-geum seemed to relax, nodding and offering a bright thank you.
“Hmm...”
— Hu, hunya?!
……Having finished his briefings, Sakiride looked straight ahead. In the distance, the enemy Fighter in the form of a cat-beastman stood awkwardly.
"A Fighter, huh..."
Sakiride was currently supporting the Paladin on the Plain, rather than the Beach where supporters usually go. Considering the various reasons, such as Gale preparing for an Invade, Sakiride’s choice to leave the Beach for the Plain seemed like a brilliant move.
"I have to end this as quickly as possible..."
Once ten minutes passed and Gale finished her growth without incident, she would become incredibly difficult to stop. She would roam around at a speed impossible to track, plunging her rapier into the throats of the dealers for instant kills. At that point, Gale would be equivalent to an 8-ton truck accident; she would be very difficult to handle even for a supporter like Sakiride.
Therefore, Sakiride resolved to end the game around the 15-minute mark at the latest. Since this wasn't a Grand Master/Mythic ranked match and the teammates were Diamond, it would be hard to manage if the game dragged on past 15 minutes.
‘The Plain is better, after all.’
If the goal was to end the game quickly, it was better to make the Plain the main battlefield and push it fast, rather than scaling a ranged dealer trapped at the Beach. Compared to the Beach, where players often hid near towers for long, boring stand-offs, the Plain saw frequent skirmishes and kills because many melee dealers headed there. In short, the Plain had a very fast combat tempo, making it ideal for a quick settlement.
Actually, the strategy of a supporter sticking to the Plain to apply pressure was a tactic that occasionally appeared in Legend Frontier professional tournaments. Though, of course, one had to consider the composition and the opponent.
"Death God..."
For instance, if this strategy were used against Rank 1 'Death God' Alice, it would just result in being fodder for her Double Kill. On the Plain, she was an invincible force capable of a 1v4. Alternatively, if a ranged dealer came to the enemy Plain, it would result in a boring stalemate there as well, making the supporter's presence less impactful.
Perhaps because this was an event match, Sakiride felt comfortable adopting this strategy and coming to the Plain. ...Not that he was being irresponsible by neglecting the Beach. As expected, the enemy supporter Ironclad had headed to the Jungle with Gale, leaving the Beach in a 1v1 situation without a numerical disadvantage.
Furthermore, the Fire Mage on his Beach was a class with very strong early-game damage, capable of handling himself without a supporter's assistance. Also, the Beach was effectively inaccessible to the Jungler until Low Tide. He didn't need to worry about Gale’s surprise raids. From the moment the Ironclad headed to the Jungle to block an Invade, there was no need to worry much about the Beach.
"Let’s push this quickly before the Ironclad arrives, Sakiride-nim."
"Let's do that."
At the allied Paladin’s words, Sakiride nodded.
There was plenty of time. No matter how fast the Ironclad, who would have headed to the Jungle to block an Invade, rushed here after hearing the Fighter’s SOS, it would take at least tens of seconds. That was more than enough time for the Paladin and Sakiride to use their numerical advantage against the Fighter and seize control of the Plain.
— Th-this is bad nya......
“…….”
Moreover, the enemy Fighter looked incompetent even from her standing posture, making her feel like an incredibly easy target. He had a gut feeling that they wouldn't lose no matter what.
"Let’s get First Blood!"
Did the Paladin, fully armored in silver, feel it too? He quickly approached the enemy Fighter while she was fumbling.
"Genesis!"
He raised his massive hammer high and slammed it down toward the Fighter with all his might. It was a somewhat honest attack with no fake motions or complex movement... but the enemy Fighter was hit directly, not even thinking of dodging.
— Hunyaaaaaa!
As a Paladin whose every skill was powerful, the Fighter’s HP dropped significantly. Her body, having taken the damage, began to soar into the air as if she were on a trampoline.
...It was the 'Airborne' effect brought by Genesis. Airborne was a type of CC that prevented any action by launching the target into the sky. It was one of the strongest CC effects in Legend Frontier.
"Now!"
Sakiride didn't miss the opening and launched an attack. Musical notes materialized from the harp in his hand and flew like shuriken, embedding themselves firmly into the Fighter's abdomen.
— Hunyaaaaaaaaaaaaak!!
Since she was in the air, the Fighter couldn't even attempt to dodge. Being a 'Puncher' build Fighter with not much defense, her HP was already down into the Red Zone, near its limit.
"Hup!"
As a finishing blow, the Paladin swung his hammer violently from left to right. Struck in the temple, the Fighter instantly turned into particles of light and vanished into the void.
— …….
She hadn't even managed a single scream. Following that, the feminine mechanical voice that was always pleasant to hear echoed across the battlefield.
[First Blood!][Mimi has been slain by HeavyBrown!]
"...Nice."
Sakiride pumped his fist. A first kill obtained around the one-minute mark. Since bonus experience and gold were granted to the entire team, it was a spectacular start.
Furthermore, the enemy Fighter was extremely clumsy, as if she were a total newbie. If they focused on her, as someone likely to hand over easy kills, his team could achieve overgrowth while easily pushing the Plain. ...In many ways, things were looking positive.
‘Gale? What are you going to do now? What can someone as weak as you do in the early game?’
Having secured First Blood, Sakiride inwardly mocked Gale. Since ranker duels involved pride, he couldn't help but feel good about gaining the upper hand against a ranker’s team, even in an event match. Especially if it was Gale, the most scrutinized person at the moment.
……The B-Tube material was only increasing.
<Uh...... Sakiride-nim...?>
"Yes? What is it?"
While he was grinning over the first kill, the allied Fire Mage called him again. A hesitant voice flowed from the Mage.
<Um... the Ironclad suddenly appeared here......>
"Pardon?"
The Fire Mage, '18,' reported a scenario Sakiride had absolutely not anticipated in a serious voice.
"What did you say...?"
At the sudden, urgent news, Sakiride felt his eyes widen.
<It looks like he didn't go to the Jungle but just joined late on purpose. Even for me, a 2v1 is a bit much... and the enemy Spearman is really good too......>
"Wait, wait a minute, what does that mean?! The Ironclad didn't go to the Jungle?!"
<Yes, I don't know if he was hiding or just came late, but he joined in a sudden raid.>
"What on earth......"
Hearing the Fire Mage’s report, Sakiride couldn't hide his bewilderment.
‘The Ironclad didn't go to the Jungle?’
With that speed of joining, it meant he hadn't detoured through the Jungle as the Fire Mage suggested, but had simply been near the Beach and joined a bit late. Then he hadn't gone to prepare for an Invade? His prediction was wrong? A player of Gale's caliber didn't prepare for an Invade?
Why? Had she looked down on Sakiride? Or did she have the arrogant confidence that she could win even if they invaded? Or was it just a simple lag on the Ironclad's part?
"No."
……The headgear they were wearing was the latest VR Headgear 4.0+; there was no way there was lag. Then what reason could there be for a supporter to hesitate and join the Beach late?
"Don't tell me......"
After churning his brain rapidly, Sakiride arrived at a single possibility.
"A fake...?"
Could it be? A fake, a feint? Had she intentionally allowed the report that the Ironclad wasn't heading to the Beach to reach him, specifically to prevent an Invade? It wasn't that she hadn't prepared for a Jungle invasion, but that this was her preparation?
"Ah, what a headache..."
Sakiride clutched his throbbing forehead. He had too many thoughts at once, making his head spin. Of course, since he wasn't Gale or the Ironclad, he couldn't know the exact answer. But one thing was certain: Gale had succeeded in preventing their Jungle invasion without wasting personnel at the Beach. Simply by using the strategy of having the supporter join a bit late.
<Uh... Sakiride-nim...? I got hit by the Ironclad’s Airborne and I can’t hold out anymore... Aaaaaagh!!>
"18-nim? 18-nim? Wait, just play as safely as possible for now...!"
[18 has been slain by Who?]
“…….”
Meanwhile, the enemy Beach duo seemed to be quite skilled, as they killed the Fire Mage immediately upon gaining the numerical advantage. Since the suddenly joined Ironclad had immediately used Airborne, the Fire Mage likely had no way to react. Considering his tier was Diamond—where one might still be inexperienced with such unexpected raids—it was unavoidable.
The score was now 1-1. They had secured First Blood, but the score had returned to even in an instant. Their morale was dampened, and the enemies were surely fired up.
"Sigh..."
Sakiride let out a deep sigh. What was the reason he felt comfortable coming to the Plain? It was his certainty that the Ironclad would have headed to the Jungle to block an Invade. But that prediction had missed the mark entirely. As the one giving orders, and as someone who thought he was a step ahead of Gale, it was a blow to his pride.
‘...It’s fine. We still have the advantage on the Plain.’
But he soon calmed his mind and began to organize the current situation. Assuming Gale was growing normally without incident, she wouldn't have any real power before the 10-minute mark. That meant even if she came to the Plain to help the Fighter, she wouldn't be much help. In fact, if she was unlucky, she might hand a Double Kill to him and the Paladin.
‘It’s still perfectly fine.’
He felt annoyed about losing the initiative at the Beach, but they just had to push the Plain first. The Beach had almost zero influence before Low Tide anyway. They could still be considered to have a slight advantage.
[Sol-ji-geum has been slain by SION!]
……That is, if the news hadn't arrived that Gale had succeeded in killing their Jungler.
"Huh...?"
At the sudden news following right after, Sakiride's expression froze completely. The voice of Sol-ji-geum, slain by Gale, reached his ears.
<Seriously, Sakiride-nim?!>
His voice calling Sakiride was filled with grievance and resentment.
<Didn't you say the enemy Jungler was just clearing her own Jungle?!><Did you know the enemy Jungler is Rank 7 Gale?!>
"An ambush...?"
An ambush? Could it be that the early-game weak Speed Swordswoman had actually launched a counter-invade? Because she trusted her own skill and was certain she could chew up an enemy Ninja in a 1v1? What kind of insane confidence was that?
Wait, according to Detection Sonic, Gale was clearly clearing monsters leisurely in her own Jungle!
"...Is she really that fast?"
Could it be that Gale was so fast that she could cross into the enemy Jungle within the cooldown of 'Detection Sonic,' even in the early game? Was that speed possible at the very start of a match?
"What on earth......"
Looking at the score that had instantly reversed to 2-1, Sakiride muttered blankly.
SION: 1/0/0.
Furthermore, the completely unexpected Jungle invasion by Gale and the death of his allied Ninja.
— Gale? What are you going to do now? — What can someone as weak as you do in the early game?
“…….”
It felt like her answer to his questions.