Triarchia was home to three distinct types of players.
There were those who could assess the entire battle at a mere glance, those who only grasped the situation after diving headfirst into the fray, and finally, those who remained oblivious until the very end of the conflict.
Yoo Seo-ha, the opponent, and Kang Nari each exemplified one of these types.
The Elf Archer fought valiantly.
They obliterated three Venom Sprayers and annihilated every single Ghoul.
The might of humanity, channeling such vast resources into their forces, proved immensely powerful.
Of course, this didn’t mean the opponent possessed the skill to deploy their funds effectively at the right moments.
Nonetheless, the opponent looked at the half-remaining Elf Archer and a realization dawned upon them.
‘At this rate, I’m bound to be completely shut down.’
“Wow! They’re retreating!”
– If the opponent had just spent their money well and kept their follow-up units coming, it might have been different, but since they didn’t, it’s only natural they’d be blocked.
“Did you predict all of this? Even factoring in the opponent’s skill?”
– No? I just knew because I saw it directly.
I kept watching the Ghost Ships in the opponent’s main expansion to see the intervals at which their follow-up units arrived.
“How on earth does someone see that while battling? Seo-ha, didn’t you only notice because you were observing?”
– Boss.
“Huh?”
– You’re adorable.
“……”
[How could a 2750-point player *not* be able to do that? Lolol]
[Their vision is just different]
[The crow-tit tries to follow the stork, blah blah blah~]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Wow, but they really do see the estimates perfectly, for real]
[No, no, it’s standard practice to build as many sprayers as priests when blocking infantry]
[So you’re saying Nari didn’t know that all this time and lost every single day???]
[Your eyes have been opened]
“It’s fine as long as I know now, isn’t it….”
– Anyway, we significantly reduced the number of Elf Archers.
Massive gain.
****
The situation was already considerably advantageous.
Yet, the game was far from completely won.
The opponent’s main expansion was already seeing a Grand Tribunal under construction.
This meant they hadn’t gone all-in.
Thus, Yoo Seo-ha remained vigilant.
Her caution stemmed less from trusting her own judgment and more from her distrust of Kang Nari’s execution.
“So, should I produce more Ghouls now to completely push the opponent out? Our advance is totally blocked because of their remaining forces.”
– No.
Just produce a small number of Necromancers to solidify your defense, then focus on making workers.
“Can we do that? We finally secured the 11 o’clock expansion, but we can’t even attach workers to it.”
– Getting Illusium from there is enough.
We’re not planning on dragging the game out for long.
Boss, are you confident you can convert all the Aether from three zones into production?
“No….”
– I thought so.
Aether was a common resource, while Illusium was a rare one.
Common to all races, Illusium was essential for advancing technology or training higher-tier units.
Undead, in particular, required a substantial amount of Illusium, making the acquisition of a third expansion critically important.
The 11 o’clock expansion was not for Aether, but for Illusium.
The conditions to elevate the quality of their forces were now met.
“But is it really okay to show them the Necromancers?”
– They’ll likely check our tech with a Grand Tribunal policy soon anyway, won’t they?
Ding! The moment she finished speaking, a shimmering effect appeared over Kang Nari’s main base.
The opponent had used an Electoral Office policy to scout her tech.
This revealed not only the Dark Magic Archives but also the upgrade of her main building, the ‘Corpse Repository,’ into a ‘Medium Mortuary.’
“Now that I think about it, with an infantry-focused build, the Central Electoral Office would be declared quickly… Of course, they’d use that maphack dust.”
– Don’t lie.
“Huh? Lie?”
– There’s no way you’d be thinking something like that, Boss.
[For real ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Why are you pretending to think? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Nari, your friend is currently occupying your brain]
[Let’s have guest commentators more often ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ This is so entertaining ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
“Seo-ha. Don’t you want to get paid for the day??”
– Huh.
“I’m the boss!! Act accordingly!!”
– Money is everything in this world….
– Kkora Chojumma (TL Note: A Korean slang term, ‘kkora chojumma,’ referring to a somewhat teasing nickname for a middle-aged woman streamer.) donated 10,000 won!
[Friend, don’t give in to money. Nari, don’t you dare keep this, give it to your friend ㄱ]
“Thank you for the donat… Ugh, what’s with that nickname?! Do you want a paid ban?!”
– Nari is Cute ㄱㅇㅇ (TL Note: ‘Gyeowo’ is a common Korean internet slang for ‘cute’.) donated 5,000 won!
[Your friend has better streaming sense than you, why don’t we just put them in your seat?]
“If you’re on my stream, you should only like me!! If you don’t want to watch me, go to another channel!”
[Nari, I told you to turn down your mic volume?]
[No jealousy ㄴ]
[Okay]
[Don’t say mean things like: ‘They’re better at Triarchia than you, they’re more fun than you, they’re younger and more vibrant’ ㄴㄴ]
[Bye bye bye bye]
[I’m leaving ㅂ]
“……Don’t actually leave, though.”
[Hah, sigh, a tsundere, how cute.]
[That was a bit much just now, I admit.]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Oh, so cringe…]
[She gets really cranky if she’s truly upset, so just one verse (TL Note: ‘1jeolman’ is Korean slang meaning ‘don’t overdo it’ or ‘know when to stop’.)]
[Today’s WWE is delicious ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
****
The broadcast was sailing smoothly.
Donations, which typically didn’t flow easily during gameplay, were coming in, and the viewers’ reactions were overwhelmingly positive.
This allowed Kang Nari to greet them in good spirits.
Her audience was already a loyal following, completely captivated by her.
Their teasing chat wasn’t malicious, but merely a playful way of interacting with her.
****
– Boss? Could you upgrade the Ghost Ship’s movement speed?
“Speed upgrade, yeah. Done.”
– The opponent is now highly likely to switch to higher-tier units.
Since they know we’re not going for Liches, it’s only natural, unless they’re a fool.
“Then they’ll focus on Battle Mages or Knights, so why are we upgrading Ghost Ship speed? They can’t attack air units.”
– You’ll see later.
Even Kang Nari had an inkling by this point.
Ghost Ship drops.
Originally, Ghost Ships only provided detection and supply capacity, but with an upgrade, they also served as transport ships that could carry units.
She surmised they were planning a surprise attack using this feature.
– You have that hidden expansion at 11 o’clock, right? Build a Dark Magic Archives there.
“Huh? Seo-ha, aren’t you mistaken? We already have that building in our main base.”
– We’re aiming to accelerate our attack timing by performing Necromancer upgrades simultaneously in two locations.
“Wow… So that’s why 11 o’clock?”
– Yes.
The opponent won’t even think to check there.
Normally, it would be difficult to run two upgrades due to a lack of Illusium, but since we’re currently extracting from three locations, it’s perfectly manageable.
Yoo Seo-ha’s subsequent instructions were quite shocking.
‘So this is how you can pull off a fake out,’ Kang Nari felt as if her eyes had been profoundly opened.
Consistently leveraging one’s advantages.
And preparing the most devastating attack for the opponent.
The current strategy meticulously adhered to these principles.
Soon after the building was completed at 11 o’clock, they used the pre-gathered resources to initiate the Necromancer upgrade.
Specifically, the ‘Vengeful Spirit Collector.’
Necromancers equipped with the Vengeful Spirit Collector….
Could consume resources to rebirth themselves as Grim Reapers.
The Grim Reaper’s most significant characteristic was its ability to shroud its body in vengeful spirits upon attacking, granting it concealment.
Although it rendered them immobile, they became immune to all attacks unless their location was specifically detected.
This unique trait meant that the less prepared an opponent was, the greater the impact would be.
****
– Produce a few Necromancers at 11 o’clock as well.
As soon as the upgrade is complete, they’ll go straight for the attack.
“…Could it be that the reason they’re deliberately leaving the opponent in my main expansion is…?”
– If they departed from the main base, it would give the opponent time to react.
We’re intentionally showing them ‘I’m not attacking~’ to make it obvious, right?
Luring them into complacency?
Goosebumps prickled Kang Nari’s skin.
If she were in the opponent’s shoes, what would she think?
She would undoubtedly fall for it completely.
After all, if the movements were so obvious, wouldn’t it naturally lead to complacency?
[Wow ㅋㅋ They’re just toying with the opponent on the palm of their hand]
[Was 2000 points this easy?]
[The strategizing is truly art ㄹㅇ]
[What kind of place is 2750 points….]
[The game is already won?]
First, deploy the Reapers in a surprise attack to inflict damage, then send in the Necromancers produced from the main base as follow-up to overwhelm them.
That was Yoo Seo-ha’s envisioned victory plan.
In the main base, forces began to steadily accumulate.
Seeing no particular movement from Kang Nari, the opponent began to move to secure a second expansion, aiming to widen the resource gap.
This was good news.
It meant the opponent’s defensive forces would be reduced.
****
– You saw the workers heading out with the Ghost Ships, right?
They’ll probably be taking the 3 o’clock expansion, but you don’t need to worry about it.
They’ll be isolated once we clear their main expansion anyway.
“Ah, the upgrade is done. Should I evolve them from 11 o’clock right away?”
– Yes.
And send all the Ghost Ships you’ve produced so far towards 12 o’clock.
The speed upgrade is finished, correct?
“Yeah. Got it. But I didn’t get the transport upgrade? ……Did I make a mistake?”
– No? You’re doing great.
Still, let’s gather the Ghost Ships at 12 o’clock.
They’re our insurance.
At the 11 o’clock expansion, three Grim Reapers finally emerged, rending the darkness.
Kang Nari sent them all to the opponent’s main expansion.
Normally, humanity would have built ‘Ballista Siege Towers’ with detection capabilities, but the opponent had already confirmed that Kang Nari wasn’t going for Liches.
There was no reason for them to allocate resources to defensive towers that could only attack air units.
As expected, there were Knights and Mages, but no units with detection capabilities.
Through the wide-open main expansion, the Grim Reapers, exuding an ominous aura, revealed themselves.
[Eun-hoo’s Dad] : ?
After a long period of gameplay, the first chat message from the opponent appeared.
They were flustered by the Reapers appearing so early, completely escaping their tightly controlled vision.
The opponent urgently recalled the forces from Kang Nari’s main expansion and frantically began constructing Ballista Siege Towers.
Dwarf workers scattered in a rush, building more than three siege towers in every direction.
Of course, it was a futile struggle.
That is, if Kang Nari wasn’t the owner of the Reapers.
****
– Main force, depart from the main base! Reapers, don’t clump together, spread out! The opponent will use a Grand Tribunal policy to detect you.
They mustn’t all die at once!
“A-Alright!”
Ultimately, the opponent’s only means of attacking the Reapers was to lift their concealment using a Grand Tribunal policy.
However, a drawback of the Electoral Office policy was its cooldown period.
Unless all Reapers were destroyed at once, they were bound to inflict damage.
However….
“Ugh…!”
[This is driving me crazy, seriously.]
[Wow, f*ck, the control]
[Nari, you’re going to lose a game you’ve already won]
[My eyes are rotting, ughhhh]
[Grinding teeth grinding teeth grinding teeth grinding teeth]
[If you lose this, seriously prepare to get absolutely reamed ㅇㅇ I’m just saying]
Was the nickname ‘cursed hands’ for Kang Nari just a coincidence?
Two Reapers were detected simultaneously and fell helplessly to the Battle Mages’ fireballs.
Only one remained.
With just one, it was impossible to hinder the construction of the siege towers.
“Uwaaah! I messed up!!”
– It’s okay, calm down.
I never trusted you in the first place, Boss.
“Seo-ha…?”
– Move all the Ghost Ships gathered at 12 o’clock to the opponent’s main base.
The drop fake.
That was the insurance prepared for Kang Nari’s mistakes.
Ten or so Ghost Ships, with their speed upgrade complete, rushing towards the main base?
Anyone would feel their heart drop at the thought of a drop and move their forces back to their main base.
[Eun-hoo’s Dad] : Ah
[Eun-hoo’s Dad] : Wait a minute
Indeed, the opponent’s forces hastily abandoned the Reaper and rushed back to their main base.
Damage to the main base was a far more significant threat than the meager damage a single Reaper could inflict.
The unfortunate truth was….
Those Ghost Ships were completely empty, carrying nothing.
– Now, just break their main expansion with the follow-up forces.
GG.
“Huh… So you only upgraded the speed for this?…”
– Of course.
You want me to trust your Reaper control, Boss?
“……”
Even with the playful teasing, she couldn’t retort as before.
Her heart was pounding fiercely.
Dozens of Necromancers surged into the deserted main expansion.
Innumerable Bone Arrows rained down on the opponent’s Grand Tribunal, workers, and half-built siege towers.
In the blink of an eye, the opponent’s main expansion was utterly devastated.
Kang Nari began to truly grasp her victory.
[Eun-hoo’s Dad] : It was a fake??
[Eun-hoo’s Dad] : Seriously ㅋㅋㅋ
[Eun-hoo’s Dad] : I’m speechless
She stared blankly at her forces annihilating the opponent’s main expansion.
Having just destroyed the Grand Tribunal, if she now turned her forces towards the additional expansion at 3 o’clock, the opponent’s chances of victory would become absolutely zero.
She had won.
By her own hand.
Against an opponent over 2,000 points.
Could she really win even without talent for control?
Just with this kind of psychological warfare and macro-management?
What Yoo Seo-ha had just instructed her to do involved no control difficulties whatsoever.
The essence of the current game revolved around manipulating the opponent’s thoughts and exploiting their weaknesses.
Of course, she knew very well that achieving such a level was not easy.
However, there was a vast difference between something utterly impossible and something that, with effort, could be partially emulated.
At least for Kang Nari, that was the case.
“Seo-ha… you’re incredibly… incredibly good.”
– Huh? Only now?
“No. It’s just, I’m realizing it anew.”
When she saw Yoo Seo-ha again, she felt she wouldn’t be able to look at her in the same way.
Someone with unparalleled talent in a field invariably shines.
Thus, Yoo Seo-ha, whom she had felt closer to today after becoming friends, now seemed a little more distant.
Was this how an ordinary person felt when looking at a genius, encountering a wall?
It felt as if they belonged to an entirely different species.
Precisely, she was immersed in such thoughts until she heard Yoo Seo-ha’s urgent voice through the headset.
– Boss!! This is the most crucial moment, so focus!!
“Huh?? What else is left?!”
– Yes! You must type what I say into the chat immediately!
“Chat? O-Okay, I understand! What should I type?!”
– First, let’s start with, ‘Is an early all-in all you know how to do?’
“Is… an… early… all-in… Huh? Wait, this is,”
[ChaeGoNari >_<] : Is an early all-in all you know how to do
[Eun-hoo’s Dad] : ??
[Eun-hoo’s Dad] : You’ve been quiet all this time
[Eun-hoo’s Dad] : And now you win with a cheap rush (TL Note: ‘Gaenalbil’ is a Korean slang term for a ‘cheesy build’ or ‘all-in rush’ that is considered cheap or unfair.) and you’re chat rushing??
– Next, ‘A 2-base Council Hall build is at least a decade old; how old are you, perhaps?’ would be good.
“W-What…?”
– Let’s finish with, ‘Seeing you miss the timing even for that… You’re definitely average for your age group.’
“You?!”
– Hmm. ‘So you can’t even stop a cheap rush. Haha,’ might be good to add as well. No, is that too much? If it’s too much, it loses its punch….
[Eun-hoo’s Dad] : Answer me
[Eun-hoo’s Dad] : Do you have a lot of time?
[Eun-hoo’s Dad] : Want to Dragon Ball once? (TL Note: ‘Dragon Ball’ here is a Korean slang term implying a challenge to meet up and fight in real life.)
Kang Nari’s mouth gaped open at the words, which she never would have imagined coming from Yoo Seo-ha, who had just shown her such a profound gap in skill.
The opponent was already furious, sending chat messages every second.
What on earth….
Seo-ha?
Seo-ha……?
– Anonymous donated 1,000 won!
[I thought they were just a normal pro, but they’re a proper f*cking psycho ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
The anonymous donation perfectly expressed Kang Nari’s feelings.
