Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Passed the 2nd Preliminary Round
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Of course, the symbolism carried by a group's 'leader' is something that can never be taken lightly.
That symbolism isn't just about rank or authority.
It's the expectations people pin on the leader, the order and atmosphere shaped by their mere presence, and all the natural flows that follow—
Everything bundled under the name of 'symbolism'.
That's precisely why the person in the leader's position is so crucial.
That seat could belong to a general on the battlefield,
or the king of a nation, or even the team lead pushing toward a small goal.
When the general falls, the battle crumbles. When the king falls, the nation wavers.
Even in something as trivial as a group project, no one wants to be team lead—that alone shows how heavy the role truly is.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Saintess Nice has killed Yeom Su-min! And here, one team's leader had fallen.
The leader is the team's core and symbol—though it varies by case (like the Nice Squad)—but when the team lead wobbles, the whole team usually shakes.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, having lost their leader, fell squarely into that 'usual' category.
Sky Block's 6x6 platforms mean that losing the central platform drops your win rate to under thirty percent in a flash.
The reason—
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Warning: Outer platforms will drop in 30 seconds! To prevent endless games, platforms collapse from the outer edges inward.
Eventually, only the center remains, so the team that seizes it first has the edge.
Ding! Ding!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Saintess Nice shouts, "I'm heading out!" ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Saintess Nice shouts, "I'm heading out!" After taking out the enemy mage, Saintess Nice spammed pings like she'd already locked onto her next target.
"Hah."
Suha Yam let out a hollow laugh at the sight.
'Didn't she say she wasn't feeling well...?'
She didn't pry, but lately, Suha had been burning up inside with worry for Min-ji.
The reason? Recent Min-ji was worlds away from the girl Suha knew.
Forgetting to log out was just a minor hiccup—something to chuckle off as 'Classic Min-ji'.
But the real issue came after.
The old Min-ji wouldn't shrink from a little viewer teasing.
She wasn't the type to tear up over a single enhancement failure (though it wasn't just one).
Even when hordes spewed hate, she'd laugh it off and flood them with memes for a reverse troll,
and brush off muscle-bound suitors with a cool 'Got a big dick?' (okay, maybe that was a bit much)—
a perfect 'tough on the outside, strong within' type.
— Viewer Sob sob...! She wasn't the type to bawl like that, all heartbroken and messy.
What on earth had happened to make her wail so pitifully?
Then a conversation popped into mind.
"Couldn't you just use my umbrella? I'd be grateful, but... you'd be exhausted."
The day they first did an offline stream together.
When Suha asked why she hadn't gone back despite leaving a note, Min-ji had replied:
"Um... I just really hate the rain."
"Scared of it? The rain?"
"Yeah."
Hates rain—that day, Suha figured she just despised it that much.
Umbrellas don't block every drop anyway.
Stuck around till it stopped because even a few drops bugged her? That was the thought back then.
Maybe partly to mess with her, too.
One day, without overthinking it, Suha cautiously asked her regular therapist about Min-ji's state.
She saw a counselor periodically—not for anything special.
For long-time streamers like Suha, the blues were as common as calluses on an athlete.
"Hmm, I'd need to see her myself to say for sure... but it's probably nothing major. Though... if severe, there could be a slight chance of post-traumatic stress disorder."
Hearing that, Suha became convinced Min-ji's rain phobia wasn't just preference.
"Post-traumatic stress disorder...? You mean, like, that PPAP thing?"
[...PTSD.]
"Sorry, occupational hazard... couldn't help it."
[...]
Post-traumatic stress disorder—PTSD for short.
"Even the sound of rain makes her tremble bit by bit, going outside makes breathing hard and she even pukes?"
"Yes, could it be...?"
"Then there's a real possibility. Mind if I see her in person?"
Of course, if Min-ji heard this, she'd just go 'Huh?' in disbelief.
Any bad rain memories belonged to the 'original' Lee Min-ji—not the current her.
Even if dragged by the hair and plied with warm tea, urged to spill her worries,
she'd only say, 'Uh... I'm really fine.'
The trauma was etched into her body from the start—untreatable.
Min-ji herself didn't fear rain so much as think, 'Ah, what a bitch.'
"Nah... actually, I think she's okay."
Suha figured Min-ji, who hated going out anyway, wouldn't come even if asked.
Forcing her on the therapist felt too nosy (it already was), so Suha stopped there.
But caring deeply meant plenty of worry.
Especially seeing her push herself today when she wasn't well—Suha's concern grew, but—
Ding! Ding! Ding!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Saintess Nice requests support! ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Saintess Nice requests support! ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Saintess Nice requests support! Maybe I worried for nothing?
After nuking the enemy mage from center, Min-ji fired her recharged rope straight to the bottom-right.
"Wha—what?"
Ding!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Saintess Nice requests support! Her bold move threw Suha at first, but soon the intent clicked.
"Oh, use [Drop]?"
Yep!
A thumbs-up emote confirmed it.
Interpreted as dragging the enemy brawler into a 2v1.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Warning: Outer platforms will drop in 5 seconds! Whoosh—snap!
Slipping inner before the outer dropped, the enemy brawler shifted one tile inward too.
Rumble...!
Platforms crumbled right after movement ended.
The 6x6 outer ring collapsed, shrinking the map to 4x4 instantly.
Now even Eder's distant character entered Suha's view.
The enemy brawler was one tile from Suha.
One rope use left—could close in, but no need to risk it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Suha Yam has activated a Drop card in sector E5. Platforms in sector E5 will drop in 30 seconds! Force the enemy to move—that's enough.
The brawler eyed his flashing platform, then glanced between Suha and Min-ji's tiles.
To avoid dropping with it, rope over he must.
But that means clashing with one of them.
Cool under pressure, analyzing sharply—
Min-ji would've gawked: 'Wait, these guys can think?'
Thanks to their 'Supreme One' team lead dueling melee as a ranged class, she'd underestimated their smarts.
Whoosh—snap!
The brawler's hesitation was brief.
Time was short, and no amount of thought solved it.
If just 'fight one of two, who?'—Suha, no question.
But 2v1, interference imminent.
Logical: pick the low-HP Min-ji, quick cleanup before gank.
'Come on...!'
The brawler watched from afar.
The duel between their godlike Supreme One and that murderous demon (Min-ji).
Stabbing their revered leader like shish kebab with one-handed sword, shattering his very concept!
Frolicking like a spooked colt—crude, but her prowess terrifying.
Yet blood-drunk (literal blood), unhinged moves—
Led to his miscalculation.
Bait with body, land at least one hit.
He predicted: step on his platform, she'd charge.
Qi gap favored him overwhelmingly.
Even if outmatched in skill—
Resolve to trade flesh for bone shot.
Pat-pat-pat!
As the brawler geared for counter, Saintess dashed.
'Huh? Dashing...? Where to?'
Rechecking view, he froze.
Min-ji turned tail, sprinting full tilt—toward Suha.
'Coward... and you call yourself a righteous knight!?'
Thoughts Min-ji would've scoffed at as bullshit.
He bolted after her.
Letting them link up spells doom.
Down one here to open a path.
Just as Min-ji neared Suha's platform—
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Cheon Mujin has activated a Control card in sector E4. All entry/exit to sector E4 is temporarily restricted. (30 seconds) The brawler (Cheon Mujin) played Control on his own sector.
Meant for after crossing to Suha's side post-kill, but desperate times.
Min-ji, caught off-guard? Staring blankly at the translucent barrier.
He smirked inwardly, prepping the finisher.
'That Qi level... one solid hit... no, two'll paste her.'
Confirming her Qi, calculating damage—
'Two? Or three...? Wait, why's it filling?'
Her Qi bar rising live—thanks to the bright yellow heal glow around her.
Saintess heal skill, caster across the platform: Suha.
"...Huh?"
So not fleeing.
...Went for heals?
Uh, yeah.
"Hey guys, can't the Control user turn it off themselves?"
Then I can't run either.
Oh? Can't?
Got it.
Fuck.
"D-don't come, you bitch!"
— Cheon Mujin Kwaaaagh! Stab! Stab! Slash!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Saintess Nice has killed Cheon Mujin! ———
In Sky Block, where every head counts, losing two sealed the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's fate.
Maybe doomed since their team lead dove into melee as a ranged class for roleplay.
Thus, the result—
Ias: Immortal Battlefield 2nd Preliminaries.
Nice Squad, passed.
And one more thing.
💬 Comments — Ice Turtle Dropping that highlight vid??? — Viewer Saintess Nice pulling off that tight rope angle? Fucking genius???? — Viewer Holy shit, White Dragon Pavilion's beast mode, dude absolutely smashes — Viewer Gathering those ghosts was straight-up innovative af — Viewer Did this chick always have this much brain? ⭐ Top Comment — Viewer White Dragon Pavilion win locked gg — Viewer Saintess Nice balling out too, might actually win if she keeps it up? ICK edit dropping on YouTube...!