The Strongest Supporter
Big trouble, everyone! The Mir Guild has done it again! Deploying a supporter as a main weapon? Oh… I’m losing my mind over here.
After the first set ended, it was time for the analysis desk.
Analyst Jen made no effort to hide his excitement the moment the match concluded.
Victory was always righteous, but there were still matches where opinions on that victory split sharply. To Jen, this was one of those games.
“Analyst Jen, you look absolutely pumped.”
“Of course I’m pumped! I have to be! This isn’t simply a case of the Mir Guild adding another weapon to their arsenal. They’ve introduced an entirely new paradigm to the league!”
“Really…? It was an entertaining match, sure, but was it that big a deal?”
“Oh, dear god. Thank you for giving me the chance to explain this.”
To the average fan watching the broadcast, this match had simply been a showcase for Hwarang, who had stayed quiet for so long. After switching to the supporter role, he had been praised for his stability, yet many admitted he felt stifling to watch. The persistent complaints about “wasting Hwarang as a supporter” stemmed from exactly that frustration.
For those fans, Hwarang’s silver flash across the Rift today had punched a hole straight through their pent-up hearts.
But if that were all, Jen wouldn’t be this worked up.
To experts like Jen, this match had been pure shock.
On a simple level, it opened new horizons for the supporter role. On a larger scale, it offered a fresh perspective on the positions that had dominated the Rift for so long.
It was yet another innovation from Lee Shin.
“…That sounds incredibly grandiose. Please, continue.”
“Haha, it’s not grandiose at all. It’s something we all already know. Before we dive in, let’s talk about the basic mechanics of the Rift.”
On the Rift, hunters were restrained by control.
There were many reasons—making it enjoyable for ordinary people, making it look like a proper sport—but the hunters who appeared in these matches were significantly weakened.
The way to restore that power was by collecting “coins” from killing minions or jungle monsters.
“The buffs purchased with those coins return the players to their original monstrous selves. Sometimes they even become stronger. This is why the late game remains unpredictable.”
“Ah! So that’s why they funnel minions and monsters toward the damage dealers as the game progresses.”
“Exactly. In the end, the Rift is about killing the enemy and destroying the nexus. So, inversely, what about the supporter?”
“…They won’t collect many coins.”
“Precisely.”
Supporters inevitably received fewer resources. Their role was to sacrifice for the marksman’s growth, making them the position least able to display its original power.
That was why utility supports focused on buffs and crowd control had become the meta.
No need to look far back—the supporting style Sanwang displayed during League 3 and League 2 was exactly that.
“Securing vision, providing crowd control, assisting the marksman, and adding defensive capabilities. Utility is about performance rather than raw power.”
This was also why the “wasting Hwarang” debate had started.
The man who had once dominated the top lane—was it really right to use a high-ranking hunter in such a supporting role? Wasn’t it a waste?
Because it was Lee Shin, the man who had proven himself time and again with overflowing resources, everyone had kept quiet. But even among experts, using Hwarang as a supporter had been controversial.
Yet once again, Lee Shin had shown the doubters with an actual match just how powerful a top-tier supporter could be as a weapon.
“Guild Master Lee Shin thought in the complete opposite direction from existing guilds. Our power is reduced? Then let’s raise our base specs to the absolute limit.”
Top-tier defense and mobility. Add in Hwarang—Kim Yu-shin—who possessed world-class work rate. By using him as a supporter, they could minimize the gap during the early game when lane differences were smallest…
“And tear the Rift apart together with the jungler.”
“?!”
This wasn’t the concept of simply assisting the marksman.
It was supporting the early-game growth of top, mid, bot, and the entire team.
And then adjusting the flow of the game to their own taste.
“By beating the enemy down together with the jungler.”
“Good grief…”
“Amazing, right?”
“…I almost swore on air.”
“And that’s not even the best part. What’s truly insane is that this strategy is only possible for the Mir Guild, who possess Hwarang.”
“Why is that?”
“It’s simple. Besides Hwarang, who in the world can run at a speed comparable to the jungler?”
“Ah…”
A hunter with Hwarang’s defense, stamina, and endurance at a similar level?
There weren’t even five such people in the entire world. And if you narrowed it down to someone with good judgment, a sacrificial mindset, and specialization in mobility who could serve as a supporter?
“None. It doesn’t exist. In fact, Hwarang might be the most unique individual in the entire Mir Guild.”
It was as if an imaginary Lee Shin was speaking.
Growth? You think you can grow in front of us?
Before the enemy can even draw their sword, we’ll smash their skull in.
With the fastest and sturdiest shield in the world.
“The Royal Sword Guild must be deep in thought during this break. I wonder what kind of response Guardian will show us.”
“They have to show something. If they can’t, the match will end far more anticlimactically than expected.”
With those encouraging words, the analysis desk ended. Yet as everyone stood up, Jen secretly shook his head.
Why pull out that weapon at this exact timing? And against the Royal Sword Guild, who possessed Guardian—the so-called next-generation brain.
He’s certain.
Even if they know, they can’t stop it.
An unstoppable weapon. That was why it was the first option.
The tower has been destroyed.
“Aaaah… it broke.”
“The top tower falls! Once again, it’s the Royal Sword Guild who loses a tower first! In the end, they couldn’t find an answer!”
“Guardian did his best. He read Sanwang’s movements and defended the tower with the top laner, even calling in the supporter to match numbers. But what could they do? Baek Yeon-woo in front, Sanwang beside him, and Hwarang behind them!!”
“Using trees and shields to block the tower’s attacks while diving. He cleans up both of them perfectly, then neatly finishes off the supporter who came to help.”
“It’s Hwarang again! He lands a wide-area stun, tanks the tower’s attacks, and even survives! Does this make any sense? That’s straight-up broken!!”
Kim So-yeon was glued to the TV screen, eyes sparkling. Her father was shining inside it.
“Waaah. You’re so cool, Daddy!”
Daddy was running. The back that used to carry her now bore a shield larger than So-yeon herself, and the face that used to smile at her wore the coolest expression imaginable.
“It’s like a steel train. Super fast! It looks like he’s flying!”
What made Kim So-yeon happiest, though, was Sanwang beside her father.
The two of them racing through the jungle together.
It was just too cool! The sight of the stylish tree grandpa and the armored daddy running in perfect sync made little So-yeon feel like she was soaring through the sky.
“Pretty Uncle kept his promise. He’s the best.”
He had said he would make sure Daddy wouldn’t be lonely. He had promised to give Daddy friends. Lee Shin had kept that promise, and now friends were always by Daddy’s side.
Maybe that was why Daddy looked so happy.
Every time he met the tree grandpa’s eyes, his eyebrows would soften. So-yeon, who knew her daddy best, understood that expression meant he was in a good mood. He made the same face when he looked at her, too.
“Kim So-yeon, Mom told you to watch from further back.”
“Mom! Mom! Daddy’s so cool! He’s zooming around with Tree Grandpa, whoosh whoosh!”
“I get it, so move back and watch.”
“Mom! I said Daddy’s super cool!!”
“I heard you, now get back!”
“Hmph! I don’t care!!”
Stupid Mom. How could she move back when Daddy was being that awesome?
From the kitchen came Mom’s cry of “Oh my god, look at her, Kim So-yeon!!” but So-yeon held her ground and defended the TV.
“Daddy, fighting!!”
Perhaps in answer to little So-yeon’s earnest heart, Hwarang and Sanwang’s names once again shook the Rift.
“Hwarang and Sanwang duo invading the enemy jungle. They’re seizing vision and counter-jungling. The stumps and shields are sweeping everything!”
“They’re fast! Their speed is incredible. Is Guardian the target this time? They’re completely drying up the enemy jungle.”
“At the ten-minute mark, the top tower has already been taken down. The Hwarang and Sanwang duo have turned the enemy jungle into their own territory. The tempo is much faster than the previous game.”
“They already showed the answer. Look—they’re saying with their whole bodies, ‘You guys have no counter, do you?’”
It was said half-jokingly, but it was the truth.
As mentioned before, hunters who entered the Rift had all their abilities debuffed, making growth crucial.
Yet whenever these two had a spare moment, they swept through every lane and the jungle without leaving a single scrap. The jungle dried up, the lanes couldn’t push forward, and all growth was brought to a halt.
Above all, even if Guardian tried to stop Sanwang, Hwarang’s presence was simply too overwhelming. To stop him, they would have to risk collapsing their lanes to focus him or bring a supporter of similar level… but the latter was practically impossible.
Was there any tank who could run as well as Hwarang and remain as sturdy? In reality, the Royal Sword supporter was already panting, unable to keep up with the speed.
In the end, the only trump card Guardian could play was—
“Huh? Hey! That’s so cheap!!”
Where So-yeon’s finger pointed, the Light Sword had appeared. They were even calling in the mid laner to surround them.
“The Royal Sword Guild is surrounding them. They push forward with a three-versus-two numerical advantage.”
“They absolutely need to get something here. They must remember what kind of monster is growing in the mid lane that the Light Sword just abandoned!”
“In fact, Player Park Su-bin is already pressuring mid hard!”
“Royal Sword doesn’t waste time—they initiate on the two immediately!!”
“Hwarang and Sanwang are in danger!!”
“Nooo! Daddy!!”
So-yeon clasped her hands together, holding her breath as she cheered.
Once again, Hwarang answered his daughter’s heart.
He swatted away Guardian’s arrow flying from a blind spot. With a backstep, he deflected the Light Sword’s energy blade. He stomped the ground to endure the supporter’s gravity field, blocked the Guardian’s sword that had closed in, and even dismantled the dazzling swordplay of the Light Sword.
In that time, both Guardian and the Light Sword had to deal with Sanwang’s attacks. Branches and stems poured in from every direction. Wind spirits filled the sky, and water spirits exploded.
A fierce melee.
But one must not forget—there were two on one side, and three on the other.
“Despite the numerical disadvantage, Sanwang and Hwarang are holding! They’re fighting evenly!!”
“With Hwarang holding the front line and Sanwang pouring out spirits with everything he has, their firepower is incredible.”
“Looks like they’ve made their decision too. Meanwhile, Park Su-bin’s giant is hammering the mid tower.”
“They’re taking too much time. Even if they don’t get a kill, the Mir Guild comes out ahead here.”
“One hit, two hits. Mid tower. Mid tower. It falls in the end!!”
The tower has been destroyed.
The moment everyone heard the notification that the tower had fallen, the Royal Sword Guild, who had been on the offensive, quickly retreated. They were wary of Park Su-bin joining the fight.
However, Sanwang was not the type to simply wave goodbye.
Stumps and plants rose like spiderwebs around the retreating Royal Sword members.
In that moment, Hwarang nodded. His eyes were solemn, as if to say he was ready.
Sanwang nodded as well. The miniature deer on his shoulder, Vita, made its horns glow.
And at that instant, a stump appeared beneath the running Hwarang’s feet. Stumps, trees, and plants tangled together intricately, and when they finished forming—
A massive catapult had been created.
The moment Hwarang stepped onto the launch platform.
With a tremendous roar, the catapult fired!
“Whoa!! He’s flying!! Daddy’s flying!!”
“Kim So-yeon, your mother—”
“Mom, that’s not important! Look at the sky. Daddy’s flying!”
“Huh?”
Mom, who had been about to smack her disobedient daughter, also widened her eyes at the sight of her husband soaring from the screen.
How could anyone stay calm when their husband was shooting into the sky without limit?
Hwarang, having crossed the sky, looked down from an dizzying height. He could see Guardian and the Light Sword retreating while clearing Sanwang’s plant piles, along with the enemy supporter.
Target acquired.
He raised his shield downward.
And then.
He slammed it down.
“Daddy’s falling doooown!!”
“He’s falling!!”
So-yeon thought he was a star.
His wife thought he was a meteor.
Whatever it was, it was brilliantly radiant.
And soon it filled the world with silver light.
Kkaaaaaaaa—!!
Enemy slain.
DOUBLE KILL
TRIPLE KILL
UNSTOPPABLE
“Unstoppable…”
The strongest supporter on earth.
That was their daddy. In So-yeon’s eyes, there was only her father.
* * *
That was why they hadn’t noticed.
“How disappointing. Do we seem forgotten?”
“Hah, what a pain in the ass.”
“Oh my, ‘pain in the ass’? That’s such an ugly thing to say.”
Yu Ri-ra has slain Park Jae-seong.
“You didn’t forget about me, did you?”