Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Semifinals - 1
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The day after the Blue LUV team's match ended, the quarterfinals continued.
And after that, true chaos descended upon the tournament meta.
The 2-tank, 1-DPS, 3-healer combo that Lulu had pioneered first.
Then, to counter it, the two-sniper combo Lulu created.
And to counter that, the Doomfist-based combo Lulu came up with.
All of these clashed and countered each other.
Forcing every team to practice a dramatically increased number of comps, which made their heads hurt.
Especially with Doomfist—Lulu's super jump had left such a massive impact.
It became a hot topic across all sorts of communities, sparking full-on research.
This even caused a bizarre phenomenon where the scores of veteran Doomfist mains skyrocketed.
Doomfist had launched as an infamous, broken character.
But after multiple nerfs, it had been buried in a coffin.
Now, a single ray of hope shone down on it.
Doomfist artisans even showered praise on Lulu, calling her the miracle goddess who revived their dying main.
Anyway, that covers all the minor events after the quarterfinals.
But the true culprit behind this chaotic meta, Da-jeong, was—as always—
『There's a Genji on the right upper platform! I'll check it out!』
『Got it! Then we'll handle the main fight!』
Grinding scrims with her teammates to build her skills.
[Defeat]
『Agh, so close. If only I'd taken their Genji at the end...』
『Nah, it was my ult placement. Forgot they had Transcendence.』
『Kabi, kabi.』
But the chaotic meta also meant other teams were using her researched comps in diverse ways.
So the Blue LUV team's recent scrim win rate wasn't great.
Maybe around 40%?
- Opponent team's strong too ㄷㄷ
- Isn't that the top contender team?
- Even with Hanzo Ji-ah covering Genji well, they were insane ㅁㅊ
- Lulu did great though
The overwhelming presence from their quarterfinal debut had faded.
People started picking other teams as favorites.
The 'Mom Says Eat Dinner' team they'd just scrimmed against was a prime example.
『Maknae shredded them, but we couldn't capitalize... Tch.』
『Nah, I couldn't pressure their Genji properly, made the teamfight tough.』
『Hanzo's looking solid on Ji-ah though? Seems usable situationally.』
『Yeah, our maknae's got no weaknesses.』
『Ehehe...』
They kept stacking data as a team.
While also analyzing opponents.
Blue LUV poured everything into practice, rain or shine.
But practice alone couldn't fully cover their relative skill gap.
They had one total newbie.
And one returnee who was basically a newbie too.
『Ugh, lost again...』
『Now other teams are running our comps too, it's tough...』
『Yeah, tons of strong teams out there.』
- Close one
- Other teams have higher average tiers, can't be helped
- Breaking quarters is plenty good
- Blew all their aces already lol ;
With mounting losses.
And only three days until their next match.
Viewers watching figured this was their limit.
'No good. Wanted to save it for finals if possible, but...'
Around then, Da-jeong decided to plan her next move.
Truth be told, this comp was their ultimate ace—she hadn't wanted to use it in semis.
Ideally, they'd scrape through semis swapping comps around.
Then clinch finals with their final trump card.
But at this rate, semis looked iffy.
So they'd practice it now and push through semis at least.
Better to reach finals and lose than drop in semis.
『Great work today, everyone.』
『Good work, good work.』
『Ugh, my eyes are killing me...』
After all scrims wrapped.
They ran a few quick pubs to lighten the mood.
Then Blue LUV started their sign-off.
"Cherries, thanks for staying up late. See you tomorrow!"
- bb
- Wanna beg you not to go but can't hold you back...
- orz
- See ya tomorrow Lulu bb
After waving goodbye to viewers.
Confirming streams ended.
Da-jeong glanced around cautiously before speaking up.
『Um, everyone... Mind if I ask a favor?』
『Favor? What?』
『Maknae's request? We'd do anything.』
『Yeah, spill.』
Da-jeong rarely asked favors.
So when she did, everyone knew it was big.
They halted Discord exits, ears perked.
『I've got this powerful comp in mind. What if we practice it starting tomorrow?』
『What? Another one?』
『What's the comp?』
What, like some magic cat's pouch?
After showing three comps already, Da-jeong mentioning another stunned them.
Members gawked at the endless surprises.
『Details tomorrow, but... It'll need Chae-yoon unnie and Ji-ah unnie's okay. Different characters from what we've run.』
『Us?』
『M-Me too?』
The unexpected picks puzzled them.
Ji-ah especially—she'd only played the easiest, Mercy, as a newbie.
Sudden switch before semis?
She could try, but worries mounted.
Even on Mercy, she questioned her play.
Another hero now? No guarantees.
『Yeah. Thinking Chae-yoon unnie on Brigitte, Ji-ah unnie on Lucio.』
『Brigitte? I can, but check with Ji-ah unnie too?』
『Not forcing it. If you're in, we test it. If not, back to usual.』
Da-jeong knew it was a tough ask.
No pressure at all.
Only if they agreed would they practice her planned comp.
If not, revert.
Not a bad fallback.
With Da-jeong around, they could flex all three comps anyway.
Plus, scrims weren't stellar, but tourneys could differ.
Da-jeong trusted the team that much.
Still, she proposed it for surer wins.
『What do you say, Ji-ah? Wanna try?』
『...Yeah, I'll give it a shot.』
Kang Haneul asked on Ji-ah's behalf.
After long silence, Ji-ah nodded.
Sudden main swap worried her.
But dropping semis because she backed out? Unthinkable.
First tourney with members.
Maknae trusted her, believed she could pull it off.
Failing that? What kind of big sis?
『Kya, that's our big sis!』
『Unnie's awesome!』
『Thanks, unnie.』
『Nah, I should thank you.』
Amid cheers, Ji-ah calmly shook her head.
She knew.
Da-jeong bore the heaviest load.
Even in quarters, solo-swapped three heroes.
Today's scrim losses depressed everyone.
Da-jeong stepped up with hope.
So as big sis, push harder.
Once content just participating.
Now? Changed.
'I want to win. Together.'
That burning desire fueled her.
Three days later.
Semifinals day arrived.
Today's foe?
The top contender Blue LUV had suffered bitter scrim losses against recently.
'Mom Says Eat Dinner' team.
『Whew, nerves...!』
『We got this. Practiced hard.』
『Yeah, lose and so what? No regrets!』
『Agreed.』
『Fun match, everyone! Fighting!』
Blue LUV's Discord buzzed as always.
Ji-ah, usually calm, showed extra tension today.
Members rallied big sis each time.
【Twitch Hyper War Winter Tourney—semifinals curtain rises!】
【Personally hyped today. 'Mom Says Eat Dinner' are favorites, but Blue LUV ain't slouches either!】
【True! Blue LUV's crackshot Lulu is huge. Fun strats and comps won quarters—excited for more!】
As match loomed.
Casters hyped intros, strengths.
- Yaderu fighting!!!!!!!!!
- Blues can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!
- ㅎㅇㅌㅎㅇㅌ
- Let's goooooooo
Viewers echoed, cheering Blue LUV on.
Underdog status known.
But underdog upsets are tourney highlights.
Lulu especially fueled hopes, as casters noted.
【Coin toss gives 'Mom Says Eat Dinner' map pick! Eichenwalde first.】
【Their fave map! Sets tone for set 1 sweep!】
【Yes. Semis set 1 on Eichenwalde—let's go!】
Match starts.
Attackers 'Mom Says Eat Dinner': Reinhardt, Zarya, Genji, Pharah, Mercy, Genji comp.
【Classic 'Mom Says Eat Dinner'—Pharah and Genji!】
【Yup, their signature! Crushed most comps in scrims!】
【Indeed. Blue LUV might bring two-sniper or safe Genji one-DPS... Huh?】
Casters praised, predicted Blue LUV's comp.
Then trailed off at defenders' late pick.
Another curveball.
【Whoa? Lulu on Hanzo? Lilith McCree, Haneul Bom Ana?】
【Lulu's flexed Hanzo in scrims. Makes solid 2-tank 2-DPS 2-heal. McCree probs for Pharah.】
【Spot on. Pre-tourney solo queue: Lilith's #1 McCree, Haneul Bom's #1 Ana. Both can shine.】
- Super standard this time
- Thought it'd be wild
- Lulu Hanzo was solid, hyped
- Set 1, both playing textbook
- Boostio time?
Some grumbled at the tame picks.
But in 3-heal meta, standard clashes excited many.
Scrim-blind folks eyed Da-jeong's Hanzo especially.
『Lulu, prez'll nano you—shred 'em!』
『Set 1: Lulu princess meta!』
『Ehehe... I'll do my best.』
Blue LUV trusted Da-jeong's carry with Zarya's bubble and Ana's nano.
Resolve fired up.