Atakin's Bizarre Formation
Quite a crowd had gathered at Overlant Championship Park.
The once sparse stands filled with people, heating up the small arena.
The broadcast stream was the same.
Viewership, which usually topped out below 5,000, had swelled to nearly 10,000.
It was the matchup between the two most popular teams in the current Overlant Series Cup.
Saseong had drawn massive hype as the tournament's underdog centered around Siwoo, while Atakin boasted huge popularity with their roster of already buzzed-about super prospects.
"Who you think wins today?"
"Atakin, no question."
"Saseong looks solid too."
"You noob? How's Saseong gonna win?"
But even before kickoff, the winner was pegged as Atakin—their caliber was leagues above Saseong's.
After all, Saseong was just an underdog built around Siwoo.
But the Atakin players themselves didn't see it that way.
"No mirror match, probably."
"If they get momentum, they can snowball. Gotta be careful."
"Map and mode RNG's gonna play a big role too."
The higher the skill, the better the self-awareness—and the sharper the read on your own level versus the opponent's.
Atakin was a squad of top academy standouts.
They knew exactly what Lee Siwoo was capable of. He'd dismantled top academy league attackers and defenders alike.
"The rest are just scrubs though. Solo queue warrior level at best. Ratings ain't that high."
Kim Jin-su, Atakin's core attacker, chimed in.
"Their defender's at least high-end Grandmaster, but he basically bussed on Siwoo's carry. No need to sweat him."
"Skip the mirror, go standard comp and smash their main squad. Have the defender mark Siwoo. Minimize variables."
"Yeah. No point stirring shit. Pull Gun Kata and melee attacker for main squad wipe—sniper's got nothing then."
Atakin had Saseong's comp perfectly scouted. They'd watched every prelims and round-of-8 match, compiling the data.
Past teams failed to prep for Siwoo due to lack of footage.
"Alright, strat's locked. Flex off their picks."
"Copy."
Prep wrapped up. The central arena screen spun, locking in the casters.
Map: Mekatera City! Mode: Contention!
Aaah, Mekatera City Contention is brutal?! Ops-heavy map above all others!
Yep! Gotta hold main objective and Force Packs simultaneously—mobility's key! Gonna be a brain-burner!
Mekatera City—securing the central Force Pack is key.
But the mode? Contention, where you steal the main objective.
Hold the Force Pack? Objective gets snatched. Chase objective? Lose the pack—fights turn sour.
Game's gonna get messy.
Saseong grabs Operator as expected!
Atakin with Gun Kata and Shield Defender—what strat is this?!
Viewers scratched their heads at Atakin's picks. Unorthodox comp.
Shield Defender – Rifle Attacker – Sniper – Standard Healer – Shield Supporter
Same sturdy shield vibe as before!
Atakin went [Shield Defender – Gun Kata Attacker – Melee Attacker – Sniper Healer – Smoke Supporter]—kinda meh.
Melee attacker + Shield Defender + Gun Kata all at once?! Tough comp!
Healer role crucial—hence Sniper Healer for safe backline sustain!
Smoke Supporter to cap it off! Atakin locked in!
Weird enough that viewers clocked it instantly.
Atakin's comp is puzzling—what strat? Looks like perfect Saseong counter piece-by-piece... but overall directionless.
Shield + Smoke screams anti-Siwu, yet Gun Kata + Melee? Comp feels bland. Not a great pick.
Casters and analysts agreed.
TL;DR: Botched picks.
What're they thinking?
Siwoo narrowed his eyes.
Picks to mark him and smash the main squad. Looks perfect at a glance—but jack of all trades, master of none. Both half-assed?
"Their comp's weird. Jiyeon, your take?"
Siwoo asked. Couldn't parse Atakin's strat.
"...No clue. Never seen this comp."
Even Han Jiyeon was stumped.
First time seeing picks this botched.
Sure, Worlds or Masters post-season had troll picks... but nothing this neither-here-nor-there.
"Just raw talent showdown?"
"Pin Siwoo and smash with the rest?"
"That work? Feels like they underrate us."
"The hell? They crossed the line."
Park Jong-su and Han Jiyeon tilted their heads; Kim Jeong-in and Lee Jin-seong fumed.
Fair reaction.
Treating everyone but Siwoo like fodder.
"We're scrubs sure, but this? We're round-of-8 winners too!"
"I swallow a lot, but ignoring me from jump? Nah."
"Ready, Jeong-in Kim?"
"Locked in, Jin-seong Lee."
Kim Jeong-in and Lee Jin-seong were fired up especially. Already guilty/grateful for Siwoo's bus—now dissed too? Blood boiling.
"Guys, show 'em."
Siwoo smirked.
"Time to unseal."
"Slaughter prep? It's Jin-seong o'clock."
Park Jong-su couldn't stand their dramatics.
"Cut the bullshit, focus up."
"Haha! Our boys suck at the game but vibes on point."
Han Jiyeon just giggled it off.
Game on! Blue: Saseong. Red: Atakin!
The blue barrier dropped—match underway.
"Guys, standard play! Jeong-in, Jin-seong—central Force Pack. Rest to main objective point!"
"Got it."
"Siwoo, you're libero this time. Swing between objective and pack—support pls."
"Copy."
Han Jiyeon's callstorm hit; Saseong hustled to roles.
Tatada—!
Siwoo sprinted cracked asphalt, eyes narrowed.
Atakin ain't easy.
Pre-game scout showed stacked records.
Attacker duo vying for academy #1. Defender and supporter laying the table? Top academy too.
Championship contender—no surprise.
Leagues beyond prior foes like Rising or Madric.
But—
I'll win.
No worries.
Siwoo trusted himself.
Against anyone.
Attacker does job? Win. Even with skill gap— one carry flips it.
That's Overlant, attacker-carry game.
Winner's set.
Me.
Pajijik—!
Siwoo surged Force, wall-ran. Soles gripped, stabilizing high-speed climb.
Leapt ruined building. Arm extended—Grapple Hook fired.
Cheolkeong!
Body yanked forward. Siwoo scouted mid-swing.
"......"
Far off.
Atakin players visible.
Split three ways.
Shield Defender + Smoke Supporter one squad. Attacker duo another.
Sniper Healer claiming high ground to back both.
Cocky.
But meant they trusted their skill.
Kung.
Siwoo crested high ground. Whoosh—gale whipped bangs.
Siwoo mashed in-ear.
"They split two squads. Supporter + Defender one, attacker duo the other."
"Duo breach play? Copy, noted."
Han Jiyeon replied; Siwoo planted, scoped up.
First shot—no smoke harass worry. Mekatera City's high-ground heaven.
"......"
Siwoo held breath, waiting Atakin emergence.
But...
"......?"
Attacker duo MIA. Ignoring pack and objective? Off. Strat?
Then—
Main objective point: Atakin defender + supporter appeared.
No duo weird, but job's job.
Siwoo Force Enhanced round, squeezed trigger on scoped foe.
Taang—!
Force Enhanced round—flawless again!
Smoke Supporter deleted! Siwoo owns high ground?!
But...
Atakin Defender Lee Hyuk-gyu boosters up!
Shield Def with boosters? Dedicating to mark Siwoo?!
Shield-toting defender booster-jetted to high ground.
The team protector.
To tie down one sniper.