He Who Would Wear the Crown Must Bear Its Weight (1)

Three days later, she fired up the stream, and somehow the viewer count had grown even more than before.

Yeah. I don't beat Ppase unless it's for content.

What Satan? The lazy fuck doesn't work out, so I just whipped him into shape after a long break.

Suggestions to beat viewers poured in, but what's in it for me? Obviously nothing. Matches with opponents showing no growth potential are just boring.

Black Bracket is instant rice you can eat easy. Below that's congee slop. Easy to eat anyway. To make bland congee tasty, add side dishes, soy sauce, tuna, whatever. But base is still bland congee. No real flavor.

A real streamer should play with viewers first, right? Resentful chats flood in.

Why cling to me when Tuhon is blowing up worldwide? Plenty to learn elsewhere. Grow like Ppase or snipe my mains. Only teach those who nail one.

Ignoring the uproar, she queues up. Moments later, a match pops.

Opponent's character: Michael, boxing-motif infighter heavy on hands, unlike Ren's foot-focused style. And his rank badge gleamed Golden Bracket. A resplendent golden crown displayed its glory.

Novice to Red no two-rank gaps. Red up to Golden no one-rank gaps. Red shouldn't match Golden normally. But Firepunch, Golden Bracket, matched me. Means my MMR's sky-high.

Opponent barely clinging to Golden Bracket.

People express personality differences in all sorts of ways. Studying, talking, angry or happy. Same in Tuhon.

"What the? El... P? Who's this? Some Red Bracket?"

A player with overinflated ego from blind faith in his physicals. Firepunch. Called Fire Fist or Spicy Fist by folks, known for fiery play and aggressive trash talk. Sometimes overly reckless. But he hit Golden Bracket, so everyone acknowledged it. His aggression uncontrollable but win-enabling. Still, brute force over brains made holding Golden tough. Korea's 100 Golden Bracket last place. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Constant demotion scares. But revives doggedly with hot fists, clinging to 100th. That was Firepunch, the fun guy.

"Who's ElP anyway? Just normal Red Bracket? Why match me? And wtf that character? Was there a girl like that?"

Viewers won't spoil the fun. Hurts more blind, truth stings after.

Viewers who looked up ElP join in, chat becomes chaos carnival.

Whales move like they were waiting.

"Aigoo, thanks for the mission. Gifting me 500k straight. Friend doesn't know my immortal legend?"

Unlike chaotic chat, Firepunch grins leisurely. Viewers get it. He's defended last place over 20 demotion defenses. Bounces back like a roly-poly. Indomitable fighter. That's Firepunch.

"Anyway, Red Bracket's free win. Gobble it and back to Golden... Season ends tomorrow, just farm points today."

"Why the fuss? Bad luck."

Endless chat taunts. Firepunch senses something off. But he ignores community, bans other channels, busy year-end drinks with bros. Total ElP ignorance.

"These fucks hyping like always...."

But Firepunch has pride. Aka ignores viewers dead or alive.

"Yell all you want. I listen?"

His thick skin has reason. Newbies spam demote, sing Roly-black-perfect. How not rage? Some cheer, but longer he clings, more evil betters on demote.

Loading ends, characters enter. Firepunch's Michael shadowboxes schwing schwing, then weird girl pops out. Back-turned girl tosses uniform hat, spins into beautiful dance.

"...Wtf. What character?"

"Ren? This character existed?"

Ren, released 5 years ago, never major tier. Top ranks never see Ren. Golden using Ren? Pre-ElP, trash suspected. Newbies don't even know Ren exists. Firepunch same.

"Don't know who this ElP you scream about is."

But opponent whoever, doesn't matter. Everyone non-Golden crumbles to his chain pressure. Even Princes. Folks call him Water King, but King is King. Red to Black huge gap. Two tiers below Golden Firepunch. Infinite desert night map worries, but Prince whatever.

"Prince, Duke. Know why cocky? Always stick out at start! Think they're hot shit!"

Michael starts with light left jab forward. Looks normal, infamous counter. Michael's bread-and-butter, Lightning Hook. 14-frame startup (0.23 sec), simple command. Guarded no big loss, spam-friendly. Poke wrong at start, wander KO. Perfect opener for aggression-loving Firepunch. Always landed on anyone so far. Block? Next set again. No loss for him.

"...Huh?"

Lightning Hook misses. Backdash? Glove grazes Ren's hand. Continues backdashing. At range, Ren does absurd.

Firepunch first time, some viewers know from vids.

Ren's unique shocking special: Sig-ni-cheo Pose.

"Wtf is this shit?!"

Michael steps low, The King dash, strong right uppercut. Dancing Ren eats it, flies skyward.

"Joking? Taunt? Wtf?"

Ren falls, Michael arms out. Pow. Pow. Crisp hits spin Ren to ground.

"Fucking taunt Golden barefaced?"

Michael closes on rising Ren. But Ren keeps distance. Backdash insanely fast, sidestep whiffs punches.

"Why keep slipping away?!"

Unexpected Red. Weird character. Cocky taunt. Demotion crisis. Perfect storm, Firepunch half loses reason.

Mission drops.

"Don't become fan? Wtf nonsense?"

Curious? Just watch Signature Pose. But who watches 2+ sec startup special? Firepunch never planned to let opponent breathe anyway.

"Whatever, victory 100k thanks in advance!! Kill this ElP whatever and eat good!!"