Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Hyper War Winter Tournament Finals - 3
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Sombra Variant 33.
The Blue LUV team, making full use of that composition, cleanly took the first set.
The team's morale soared accordingly.
But Da-jeong kept her cool composure all the way through.
She was still refusing to count her chickens before they hatched.
'They're not going to go down that easily.'
While waiting for the opposing team's strategy timeout to end.
Da-jeong stared at the monitor with sunken eyes, fidgeting with her hands.
Having a pro-level coaching staff was a massive advantage.
Especially in a best-of series where analyzing the opponent's strategies and forces was key.
So Da-jeong had no doubt they'd come back with a counter.
『The match will begin shortly! Blue LUV team, please prepare!』
『Got it!』
As soon as the strategy timeout ended and the tournament announcer's voice rang out.
The Blue LUV team finished their preparations and lightly shook out their hands.
The casters' commentary continued.
The game started, and a snow-covered base map unfolded before them.
『We're sticking with the same, right?』
『Yeah, no other options anyway.』
Starting on defense, the Blue LUV team predictably picked 33 and exited the base.
One might ask why they'd drop Sombra when they used her so well.
But in this case, it wasn't about not using Sombra.
It was that they couldn't.
Sombra's role in the fast-paced 33 tempo was to disrupt it.
Fill her ult quickly and unilaterally, then win teamfights with EMP.
This worked great when attacking, where pushing once could cap a point.
But on defense, where you had to hold off constant assaults against 33, you'd get overrun in a straight power struggle before EMP could fill.
In fact, in the first set, after switching to defense, Blue LUV had picked standard 33 over Sombra.
Luckily, the opponents, wary of Sombra, brought a vanilla comp, so 33's raw power won out...
But that also meant sharp-eyed viewers could spot the weakness of Sombra-variant 33.
【Oh?! The 'NyanTamon and Butlers' team picked Sombra this time!】
【Looks like they decided Sombra's great for attacking! Harbi's main D.Va player anyway, and with tons of Hyper War playtime, their hero pool's wide enough to make it viable!】
And sure enough.
This time, the attacking 'NyanTamon and Butlers' team picked Sombra.
The casters and viewers watching reacted with excitement.
Turning the opponent's secret weapon against them was cool enough.
But everyone wondered how the originators of 33, Blue LUV, would counter Sombra.
『Alright, let's do this!』
『Go, go!』
As the hyped-up 'NyanTamon and Butlers' team emerged into view.
Da-jeong, guarding the front, widened her eyes briefly before narrowing them again.
'...!'
The enemy D.Va player was nowhere to be seen.
That meant they'd picked Sombra just like her.
She'd suspected as much, but switching strategies after just one set to pick Sombra...
『Sisters! They've got Sombra! Probably flanking behind us!』
『Sombra too?!』
『They picked Sombra? Oh man, this is bad.』
Da-jeong's urgent call drew groans from the Blue LUV team.
And for good reason—they weren't exactly pros at handling Sombra either.
After all, Blue LUV were the first to use Sombra-variant 33.
They'd experienced plenty of hitting with it.
But getting hit by it? Not so much.
『I'll go hunt the flanking Sombra! Everyone else, just watch the front! They have to wait for Sombra's flank anyway, so stalemating is fine!』
『Okay, got it!』
At least someone knew how to counter Sombra in theory.
But theory aside, 33 relied on team coordination and mechanics to dominate.
At non-pro level, gaining an edge over Sombra-variant 33 was tough.
That's why Da-jeong had picked Sombra deliberately.
'First, find the Sombra.'
Knowing the likely flank routes.
Da-jeong left the main fight to her teammates.
And circled back to search for Sombra.
Of course, Sombra could stealth-move constantly.
For D.Va without reveal skills like Hanzo's Sonic Arrow, spotting her visually was impossible.
But there was a way to force her out.
Tatata-tang-!
【Whoa?! Lulu's firing into the air to find Sombra!】
【That's a prime Sombra flank spot! She's right next to her—Harbi's about to get caught!】
Exactly.
Use D.Va's wide shotgun spread and infinite ammo.
Blast everywhere, hit the passing Sombra, and land a lucky shot to break stealth.
Sombra's stealth hid her body.
But no invulnerability—so blind shots dispelled it.
Ziiing-
Caught in the pepper-like shotgun spray.
The nearby Sombra got hit, stealth broke with her voiceline, and she appeared.
『Hey! I'm spotted! D.Va's behind us!』
『No wonder she vanished.』
『She went straight for Sombra since our D.Va was missing. Lulu's insanely good...』
Still, Sombra's Translocator escape was so OP.
She survived and got away.
But the issue was, with Sombra sidelined briefly, D.Va could rejoin the main fight and win it.
『Sombra's out! Push now!』
『OK, let's go!』
『Got it, speed boost incoming!』
Da-jeong rejoined the team after chasing Sombra off.
With Lucio's speed buff, Blue LUV dove in.
Forced into a 5v6, the opponents had no choice but to retreat.
Thankfully, focus fire missed, no kills.
Drurruk-
『Sombra's behind!』
『I'm hacking! Can't barrier through this!』
『Ah...! I'm hacked this time?!』
Da-jeong chased one Sombra off once.
But Sombra could stealth-flank anywhere.
Impossible to catch them all.
Eventually, Sombra's backstabs plus the front push overwhelmed them.
Blue LUV tasted the same trouble 'NyanTamon and Butlers' had earlier.
Especially since Sombra's hacks targeted Reinhardt most.
Ra-hee on Rein was going insane.
Hacks every 10 seconds—no barrier, no shield, just a naked turtle getting pummeled. Staying sane was harder.
『My ult's almost up! Get ready to fight, guys!』
『Call when you ult! I'll dive right in!』
No kills, just stalemating.
Eventually, Sombra's ult filled first, just like when Da-jeong played it.
Without a counter, it'd be EMP'd and a first-set repeat.
Desperate for an out, Da-jeong yelled at Yuna.
『Yuki-chan! EMP's coming soon! Hide at the left healthpack!』
『Huh? M-me...?!』
Yuna wondered why not assassinate-priority Genji or squishy healers.
But Da-jeong kept calmly ordering.
『As long as you dodge EMP, we can handle it! As soon as you hear EMP, burst out, barrier up Lucretia sis, and save her! Self-destruct's soon anyway—just hold a bit!』
『O-okay. I'll try!』
Yuna quickly hid in the left room.
Perfectly timed, enemy Sombra tossed her Translocator high up.
Sombra teleports to the beacon, usually dropping from high for EMP.
Paaat-!
『EMPPPPPP!』
『Everyone except Lulu and Yuki got EMP'd! What now?!』
As expected.
Sombra appeared midair, arms wide, EMP exploding.
Everyone except Da-jeong at the second-floor right end and Yuna behind the wall was hacked—skills disabled.
And to top it off.
With barriers gone from EMP, enemy Reinhardt ulted Earthshatter.
Blue LUV's four members hit the deck in a spread eagle.
That instant.
Ziing-
Yuna's Zarya burst out, bubbled frontline Ra-hee.
She tanked the focused fire momentarily.
『She's trying to save Rein!』
『Nah, I'll charge in!』
But they were still skill-locked.
NyanTamon charged Reinhardt's Charge to pin and kill the defenseless target into the wall.
But the care for Ra-hee didn't stop.
Whiiiing-!
As NyanTamon's Reinhardt charged straight.
Da-jeong's D.Va from upstairs boosters down to block in front of downed Ra-hee like a wall.
『...?!』
Charge pins and damages only the first target hit into the wall.
NyanTamon had to drag the untargeted D.Va to the wall too.
『No, still doable! Just push main!』
『Focus Zarya first! Kill her and it's over!』
Harbi is Harbi > BlueLUV Yuki
Perfect counterplay.
But 'NyanTamon and Butlers' didn't flinch.
They quickly focused the forward Zarya saving Rein and took her down.
Da-jeong's Plan A—save Rein—succeeded perfectly.
But Plan B—Zarya survives, ults fast, wins the fight—failed.
【Ahh, Blue LUV! Perfect response, but just a bit short on sustain!】
【Zarya's death was huge! Even with care on Lucrezia's Reinhardt, the focus fire was too much to hold! So 'NyanTamon and Butlers' narrowly snag first point!】
Thanks to Da-jeong's calls, they found a path briefly.
But one step short, they lost the teamfight.
Ceding first point.
Then opponents stormed second fast.
Blue LUV lost the second set.