One Round of <strong>A.S.</strong> with the Team (2)
As my team and I entered the Crystal Orb cafe, it was already packed with people enjoying their games. Most were playing strategy games, RPGs, or the usual sports titles.
It's been a while.
To be honest, I'd tested A.S. (Arena of Special) a few times, but I'd been so swamped that I hadn't really queued up properly with regular users.
Well, with my experience, I won't die at least...
The other two hesitated before sitting down. I placed my hand on the crystal orb with practiced ease. Melody grumbled a bit as she settled in.
"Senior Lewis, just one game, okay?"
"Yeah, just one. We've got tons to do."
Watching them log into the Use Map server, I smirked inwardly.
Just one? Gamers always say that until their fingers loosen up—two or three rounds minimum.
I hopped into the Use Map server smoothly myself. That's when I noticed a woman across from me, slouched in a ratty hood pulled low over her face.
"Phew, time to carry."
Her fingers danced over the crystal orb with pro-level finesse—she was clearly deep into the game.
Looks like she's grinding hard.
There weren't tons of us yet, but a few dedicated A.S. players dotted the place here and there.
For a game that's barely out, and just a Use Map at that.
Seeing a decent chunk of the Crystal Orb cafe crowd playing our game made me swell with quiet pride.
About 3% market share?
Sure, it might just be this one cafe, and excluding us three, that's only 3% in this huge space—but 3% Use Map share is huge.
"Senior, hurry up and log in."
At their nagging, I stopped scanning the room and nodded.
"Got it."
It was just a Use Map for now, but there was plenty to think about moving forward.
"Still..."
Click!
The moment I created the room, users and my two teammates piled in. I grinned and hit start.
"Games are fun, after all."
We kicked off the game proper amid their prodding. It devolved into the chaotic brawl typical of noobs, intense but ultimately one-sided.
Our team—my party included—crushed them, naturally.
I've got the mileage, after all.
In my past life, I'd been a die-hard LoL addict for years, living off it... by sacrificing college assignments as tribute.
And this time, I designed A.S.—no way I'd suck at my own game!
Devs who can't play get flamed.
We breezed through two quick wins and stood up, but Melody and Lumine Primal stayed glued to their seats.
I shot them a "why aren't you leaving?" look, and Melody pouted.
"...Just one more for real."
"No, we said one and done for work. We already did two—time to go."
"My head's not warmed up yet."
She snapped back curtly. I glanced at the results screen.
12/1/18
5/7/12
1/9/7
"...But we won."
I'd carried hard, yet she whined shamelessly despite the facts slapping her in the face.
"No, it doesn't feel clean since I didn't carry. Starting coding all unsatisfied like this? I'll stress-bug the hell out of it."
"......"
Classic gamer disease kicking in: shitting the bed then yelling "Queue till I carry!"
What a nightmare.
Our lead programmer showing early symptoms had me pinching my forehead, but truth be told, I was a bit reluctant to leave after just two.
"Fine, third game's the charm. Last one for real."
"Yes!"
Everyone agreed. I checked the time.
One more and it'll be lunch.
Perfect—game, eat, work. We set up the final room.
★ A.S. Pros Only! 5v5 ★
It's not even a week old—no real pros yet.
People flooded in instantly. Loading done, heroes spawned at base—and bam, all-chat lit up from the enemy side.
"...This fucker?"
My sanity snapped. Perfect provoke, hitting a gamer's reverse scale dead-on.
Words you never say to a gamer.
You suck at the game.
I fumed and checked their record.
"...Game addict psycho?"
How, when it's barely been out?! But true gamers answer trash talk with skill.
"Senior!"
"You're dead!"
Melody and Lumine yelled.
"Pick fast!"
"I'll crush that cocky bastard!"
Well...
I cracked my knuckles, gamer instincts surging past director mode.
"Let's do this for real."
**
In picks, I swapped last game's Fate's Card Sorcerer for another hero.
Clown Assassin
Koreans go nuts for assassins and stealth chars.
Clown Assassin could stealth and assassinate. Fragile body, but I'd mained it in my past life—max mastery.
Game start: I sent my hero to the jungle, not lane. Melody blinked in confusion.
"Senior, where you going? No lane?"
"Jungle."
"Why?"
"Solo farming monsters."
"From level 1? Possible?"
"Plenty. You hold mid."
"...Okay."
Mid jungle: neutral monsters everywhere, but solo level 1 clear? Near impossible unless specific hero.
Not impossible, though.
Normally, laners leash to enable early jungle. No jungle items yet.
And Use Map stage—no Smite spell.
But Clown Assassin? Different story.
Time spawns perfectly: pre-place three trap boxes. They tank and DPS monsters. Why it's solo-jungleable despite fragility.
Before first spawn, I dropped trap boxes at spawn points like clockwork.
Everyone'll copy it eventually.
Gamers trial-and-error for efficiency; jungler role will emerge.
"Lumine, top lane—pick Rock Giant or something."
"Boo. That's tanky and boring..."
Lumine pouted but obeyed—thanks to my prior carries. Rock Giant: ult-click tank, does its job.
Leave it be.
Mid lane was the issue. I started boxing farms, and sure enough, our 26-win taunter—cocky as hell—soloed mid.
Fair enough.
Mid's prime for showing off.
"Melody, max CC skill at 2."
"...Got it."
She followed eagerly—wants the win. Enemy pick: same as her, Rune Archmage.
Mirror match. Skill gap exposed raw.
And the gap showed. Melody's Rune Archmage bled trades, got bullied.
Rune Archmage.
Great hero: all targeted skills, strong lategame DPS, short CDs. But short range, weak if starved early.
Roamers poke around, but no ganks this early—ever.
Standard: farm safe to carry.
I hit 3 fast via jungle, then ganked her getting pummeled mid.
"Melody, take hits easy—play weak!"
"How?!"
"Like usual."
"......"
She glared, but as her hero backed under poke, enemy overextended—I stealthed behind.
Stealth broke: dagger in back. Passive: +30% backstab damage.
Stab! Slash!
Enemy HP vaporized.
Panicked chat, but key skills wasted on poke.
Fled, but my E—poison dagger—nailed the noggin.
Kill Bonus Acquired
This world's first "jungler" gank success.
Use Map, but kill gold still flows.
I pocketed it, vanished into woods with a smirk.
"Alright, cocky punk. Hell starts now."