20 - Ghosts of the Battlefield: Adults Love Numbers
Adults love numbers. When you tell them about a new friend, they never ask about the essentials. But are adults the only ones like that? I caught 100 Pokémon today. I blew a million won on my Autumn Tale account. I ranked in the top 100 in Resonance scenario mode. Kids love numbers too. Especially rankings—they set their blood boiling.
In that sense, the user named NoName left a singular, unchanging impression on everyone, no matter what varied reactions they sparked otherwise.
These are the numbers from running 23 games a day without fail—each lasting 20 minutes short, 40 to 50 long. Big numbers inspire awe and curiosity. Who the hell is this? Who's devoting their life to this stupid game? Who's treating a game that makes people rage after just two or three rounds like it's their whole existence? People witness the spectacle.
"Where do you wanna go for position? Any preference?"
"Where's best to end the game quick?"
"Bottom's probably best right now. I'm support as my main anyway."
"Cool, I'll take ADC then."
Sia stared at Nami, who was diligently reviewing the past six months' patch notes.
"How's it looking?"
"What?"
"You confident about Master?"
Sia didn't think she was bad at the game. At least not Bronze level. She'd carried plenty on her own, and she'd reviewed replays often back in the day. But when it came to confidently climbing to Master in a week with her? Sia couldn't say yes with full assurance.
Today was season open day one—a time when countless passionate LoL players steeled themselves for the year ahead. Ranks were chaotic, team luck swung wildly. If it were a duo with another Challenger, it'd be different, but Nami's skill was still an unknown.
"Eh, not really my vibe."
"Someone who vibes with it doesn't grind 8,000 games a year."
"Still confident."
There weren't even rice-farming side contents in LoL. What a mystery.
"How long you gonna watch? You don't need to check that deep in this bracket."
She was scrutinizing every buff, nerf, system change, and stat like a professor reviewing a thesis.
"Don't wanna lose 'cause I didn't know something. Feels unfair."
"Fair enough..."
Nami took games more seriously than expected. Hard to believe this was the same troll bouncing between Bronze 4 and 1.
"Pick turn's yours already! I'll build around whatever you take—hurry up."
Countdown started, and Nami pondered. As Sia said, this season's patches had boosted bottom lane influence big time. But not every ranged dealer benefited equally.
[Astria]
"Astria? That's the new champ from this January—sure you can play her? Win rate's 43% right now."
"Dead sure. Support Yuumi or Lulu."
Yuumi and Lulu were classic picks to babysit your ranged carry. Sia had been thinking Lux or Panthe for forced carry potential even from support, but first game—respect Nami's call.
"Your voice goes live on stream once game starts. Heads up."
"Seola?"
"Yeah, calling me? What's up—problem?"
"Nah, let's do this."
* * *
Ever felt like your body isn't yours? I get that a lot lately. Used to eat bugs raw without a second thought, but now spiders make me jump and my heart race. Each time, an inexplicable guilt washes over me. Where does it come from? Is it remorse for hijacking this body's original owner's life? Or just my brain's mismatch—old memories in a new form—manifesting as guilt?
Our brains fear change. Defense mechanisms kick in; we shut doors. That's why I couldn't talk to people at first. Brains unused to interaction don't grow. Knowledge from past-life memories alone stays shallow. But once the unfamiliar turns routine, the body rebels with dissonance.
Welcome to the battlefield.
That's why I hate games.
Long time no see. Crawling back in here?
"Alright, the collab everyone's been waiting for—NoName's Master climb starts now!"
Love the game that much? Because of you... every day... I felt like dying...
"Let's go, NoName! NoName? Nami?"
Die... yeah, die together! You were supposed to die with me seven years ago! Just stop breathing! Don't breathe!
I get missing Mom, but...
One more breath, and I'll choke you myself, you wretched thing. Die. You call yourself my daughter? Die.
So the hallucination with Arin wasn't just fatigue.
"Sorry, let's go."
"No time for leash—straight to lane."
"Won't talk much in-game. Mic off—sorry."
"Huh?"
She and her viewers sounded baffled, but what choice? I muted voice chat with Sia too. Now only the battlefield trumpets rang out. And one more thing.
"Haven't visited Mom lately. Really sorry. Asked Professor—I'll drop by tonight."
You need to die.
"Mom might not get it, but I'm her daughter... and not."
Die. Just die.
"I know you're not the type to say that, Seola. You're just my illusion."
...
"But showing as her means I miss her that much. Yeah, I miss gaming with Seola. Nami—with the name Mom gave—grew up tough alone. Grew 2cm taller?"
...
"Dunno. Why was I born with these memories? Thought it'd be better to die with Mom knowing nothing."
Then die.
"Can't. Mom would want this. I'll find who locked us in those capsules."
You got no power.
"Wrong—I'm strong. NoName, Estasha Latias de Kaizen, Yunakwon—we'll get stronger than Mom dreams. I'll avenge us."
...Don't lose the game, idiot.
Voice faded—anger eased?
Double Kill
'Astria'. New champ from January. Last survivor of Selena race—her family melted alive in a furnace for the Empire's star-destroyer weapon. She tried saving them, ended with just condensed cell-cores. Girl with a unique, grim backstory. Her damage mechanic? Alien to others—like Samira and Rengar fused.
Astria's attacks extend range and pierce armor, but drop her defenses. At 30% and 60% possession, skills gain buffs. Hit 100%? Lose 500 range, gain new weapon, ult Supernova. High-risk, high-reward. Shortest ADC range means passive laning risk, precise skill/movement counts in fights. To build range, ironically enter theirs—dangerous. But flips safe against non-target champs.
Sia milked Lulu's lane strength. Weathered Isreal and Zeres pressure with shields/skill pokes—despite bad matchup, neither backed off low-HP.
Enemy jungler top-side confirmed. Mid joins in 16+ seconds. I dash over minions—Isreal AA/Q, Zeres E counters. Tank AA, dodge predicted skills. Momentum mine—I mix AA/skills, they duel back.
Isreal blinks back for range edge; Zeres caught between me and Sia-from-bush. Zeres flashes/Q late—my empowered barrier reflects, hits backline Isreal too. 8 seconds to mid join—plenty.
Earlier Q dash chipped minions—level 6 hits perfect. One dash left. Possession ~95%. Champ dash adds 5%—spot on. High possession tanks defense—one skill kills me, but I charge.
Lulu ult pops two airborne—I buy turn, fire Astria ult Supernova. Star shards scatter zone-wide; I scoop 'em in 1 second—double kill rings out.
Late enemy mid dives with ults... I trade without dying, rebuild range, flash-kite away.
I won't lose. I'll get stronger.