The maps in Triarchia’s ranked game mode are not singular and fixed.
Instead, a selection of these maps is randomly determined each season.
The current map was ‘Gladiator’.
As a map that strictly adhered to the typical racial advantages, it presented a clear hierarchy.
Given the rock-paper-scissors dynamic of [Human > Undead > Dragon > Human], Im Chan-ho, playing as Undead, found himself at a slight disadvantage.
Yet, this disadvantage was far from critical.
Since the STL league largely adopted the maps from the current ranked season, Im Chan-ho had practiced ‘Gladiator’ to the point of utter familiarity.
A score of 2,750 points was undeniably impressive.
However, wouldn’t any professional player who had advanced to the main tournament be able to achieve such a score if they merely set their mind to it?
Even if racial advantages played a role, or if there were penalties for starting positions, it would make no difference.
He was determined to demonstrate precisely why so many highly skilled amateur players faltered in the STL qualifiers,
and conversely, why seasoned professionals breezed through them as a matter of course.
“Hey guys. I’m going to focus for a bit. I’ll talk less, okay?”
[Go go go go go]
[Let’s catch him off guard, go go]
[How dare he snipe the world’s #2?? LOLOLOL]
[Tell him to stick out his butt LOL Let’s punish him severely LOLOL]
[Oh… kinda hot LOL (TL Note: A Korean internet slang term, ‘jomkkol’, often used humorously to express something is ‘a bit stimulating’ or ‘kinda hot’.)]
****
His initial move was a 12-o’clock expansion.
Although his position had been scouted, he had heard that his opponent favored a long-term strategy, allowing him to confidently rule out an early all-in rush.
The opponent’s worker appeared at Im Chan-ho’s expansion.
It was a reconnaissance mission, not to verify his own location, but to ascertain Im Chan-ho’s build order.
Upon confirming this, he immediately diverted his scouting Wraith worker, which had been heading towards the 7 o’clock position, to the 1 o’clock position instead.
This was because the Wraith heading north and the Skeleton and Dwarf heading right had not yet encountered each other.
Consequently, his opponent was inevitably positioned diagonally across the map.
“Hmm, the timing isn’t for a quick expansion… Is it a standard double?”
His prediction was accurate.
At Yoo Seo-ha’s expansion, a basic barracks and a food depot had already been constructed.
The Grand Court, too, was actively being built.
It was a standard double, without training a single Elf Archer.
Im Chan-ho was indeed at a slight disadvantage.
From the Humans’ perspective, this was a logical choice, considering they knew their opponent’s diagonal starting position.
The considerable distance between them precluded any early attack timing.
[Low HP Detector]: Hi
“What the hell do you mean ‘hi’? You scoundrel, aren’t you playing too greedy?”
There was no reply.
It appeared they were definitely not watching the broadcast.
Consequently, Im Chan-ho responded with a chat message of his own.
[I’m_Trench]: Aren’t you being a bit shameless?
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[Low HP Detector]: Be thankful I didn’t go for a fast expansion.
[I’m_Trench]: If you’d gone for a fast expansion, I would’ve tracked you down and challenged you to a real-life brawl (TL Note: ‘hyeonpi’, short for ‘hyeonshil PK’, meaning a physical confrontation outside the game).
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[Low HP Detector]: Honestly, I think a 12-o’clock expansion is also a quick expansion….
.
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[Low HP Detector]: You’re expanding without tech, just like me….
“What the hell, how is a 12-o’clock expansion a quick expansion?! It’s more disadvantageous than a standard double due to racial matchups!”
[How shameless can humans get?]
[It makes sense logically, right? Admit it?]
[One Human player caught above LOLOLOL]
[Undead’s fast expansion is a no-tomb, three-crypt build.]
[One line in in-game chat, and the race war (TL Note: ‘gald-cup’, a Korean internet slang term referring to a heated argument or ‘flame war’ between different factions or groups, often escalating into tribalism) magically begins….]
[That person’s skill at stirring up trouble is truly something else LOLOLOLOL]
Under normal circumstances, he would have trained two Ghouls to intercept the scout.
Instead, he converted all newly generated corpses into workers.
This was a technique to eliminate an enemy worker using his own, by exploiting the difference in attack range between Skeletons and Dwarves.
Such a maneuver demanded exceptionally precise control, making it a rarity among players; however, Im Chan-ho was a professional gamer.
Thus, he committed to this risky decision.
He had no choice but to try and match his opponent’s economic prosperity, even if just slightly.
– Clatter! Clatter!
The Skeleton relentlessly pursued the Dwarf, landing precise moving shots.
Yet, to his surprise, the Dwarf, though seemingly on the verge of capture, proved stubbornly elusive.
Yoo Seo-ha’s micro-management was exceptionally fluid.
While he eventually managed to eliminate the worker, it came at the cost of valuable time.
[Low HP Detector]: LOL You upgraded your Mortuary to a Morgue at the expansion.
.
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[Low HP Detector]: Confirmed you’re not building 3 crypts either.
.
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[Low HP Detector]: You need a lot of Elysium to go for a Lich, don’t you?
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[Low HP Detector]: Seeing you quickly build an Extractor at the expansion,
He had inadvertently revealed far too much of his strategy.
This allowed his opponent to confidently rule out a Necromancer-Reaper build.
It was now certain that Im Chan-ho would be deploying the air unit, the Lich.
[I’m_Trench]: Your worker micro is pretty good.
[I’m_Trench]: You’re keeping it alive well?
Im Chan-ho’s scouting worker had long since pulled back.
Anticipating that it would be trapped and eliminated by Elf Archers if it remained in the main base, he had strategically moved it outside.
Regardless, the opponent’s likely build path was already considerably narrowed.
They would undoubtedly opt for infantry units effective against Liches.
To ascertain the build with even greater certainty, however, he merely needed to observe the timing of Priest production.
It was for this very reason that he had not recalled the surviving worker to his main base.
He sent the worker he had pulled back to rush forward, scrutinizing the forces amassed at his opponent’s expansion.
To his astonishment, even as the game clock neared four minutes, not a single Priest had been produced.
“Damn, a pre-emptive Armory?”
The Multi-racial Council Hall was the prerequisite building for training Priests.
The Weapon Armory, conversely, served to bolster the attack and defense of infantry units.
Typically, players prioritized the Council Hall.
Doing so enabled the swift completion of the Elves’ most crucial upgrades: range enhancement and the World Tree Mind Control Potion.
Yoo Seo-ha, however, had chosen to prioritize the attack power upgrade for her Elf Archers.
This decision was particularly problematic due to their diagonal starting positions.
At such a vast distance, it would be exceedingly difficult to inflict meaningful damage before her delayed upgrades came online.
[That build choice is already set in stone, seriously…]
[?? Is a pre-emptive Armory a disadvantage?]
[Yeah; a single attack upgrade for Elves makes a huge difference.]
[Once that upgrade is complete, Liches will just melt away, oh wow.]
[Why did it have to be diagonal LOLOL]
[Conversely, they’re probably doing that build *because* it’s diagonal.]
It was far too late to pivot his strategy now.
His main base was already committed to the tech path for Lich production.
He couldn’t even capitalize on the current scarcity of Human forces, as Im Chan-ho had similarly prioritized worker production, largely foregoing Ghouls.
In this predicament, there was absolutely no viable way to inflict damage.
Ultimately, the path forward converged on a single conclusion.
He had to secure an advantage in skirmishes through superior Lich control.
This was his sole remaining avenue for success.
“Tsk…”
[Tsk, 1 stack LOLOL]
[Simply being forced into a disadvantageous engagement is already a loss for Undead.]
[Seriously, without initiative, all flexibility vanishes….]
[Is it that disadvantageous??]
[From the Human perspective, a tech switch is viable, or they can simply empower their forces and apply pressure. That’s a massive advantage.]
At last, the Liches materialized and commenced their flight toward the opponent’s main base.
As the third Mortuary in his main base had yet to be completed, he possessed a mere six Liches.
With such a limited force, he absolutely had to inflict significant damage.
With grim determination, he steered his units into an area free of Elf Archers, initiating his advance.
It was then that a chat message popped up, shattering his razor-sharp concentration.
[Low HP Detector]: I have an acquaintance who says Chan-ho is their type, would you like me to introduce you?
“Oh? Really?!”
He found himself inexplicably captivated by the message.
The immediate consequence was his Liches, exposed defenselessly to anti-air defense towers for a full two seconds.
Each one of those precious units dwindled to five, while the others sustained partial health damage.
“Damn it!! Play with manners!!”
[I’m_Trench]: Really? Are they pretty?
[Damn Chan-ho, aren’t you too transparent?? LOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[What you say and what you chat are complete opposites LOLOLOLOLOL]
[No wonder the chat was quiet for a while LOLOLOLOL]
[Seriously LOLOLOL Yoo Seo-ha wouldn’t do that LOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[She was probably waiting for an important timing LOLOLOLOL]
He was left with no option but to retreat his Liches from the surging infantry forces encroaching upon his main base.
The damage inflicted was effectively zero.
Although his Liches had auto-attacked the anti-air defense tower, ‘that race’ (TL Note: a derogatory term often used in online games to refer to a specific, often frustrating, race or faction) would have undoubtedly completed repairs by now, true to their nature.
However, such trivialities were not what concerned Im Chan-ho at this moment.
[I’m_Trench]: Who lives where?? How old are they??
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[Low HP Detector]: Is this really the time for Chan-ho to be picky?
[That’s true LOLOLOL]
[He’s still trying to be picky LOLOLOL]
[This is driving me crazy, seriously LOLOL]
[Do you really think there’ll be two people in the world who like you?? Just get the intro first LOLOL]
[I’m_Trench]: What, is there really someone? Not a lie?
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[Low HP Detector]: Yep, 23 years old, lives in Seoul. A nurse.
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[Low HP Detector]: Seems very popular, judging by the multiple confessions received?
“Wow, a nurse! That’s insane!”
[I’m_Trench]: Can I call them ‘Noona’ (TL Note: A Korean term used by males to address an older female friend or sibling) from now on?
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[Low HP Detector]: That’s a bit….
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[Low HP Detector]: But seriously, is that okay??
What reason could he possibly have to refuse a much younger nurse who supposedly liked him?
What’s more, she was popular. That meant she was pretty.
Im Chan-ho, concealing his excitement, feigned composure and continued chatting.
[I’m_Trench]: Of course it’s great
[I’m_Trench]: After the game, let’s go to a private Discord channel.
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[Low HP Detector]: OK
[Low HP Detector]: But there’s just one catch.
[I’m_Trench]: ?? What is it?
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[Low HP Detector]: They’re a man.
“You son of a b*tch.”
[LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[She’s truly insane LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[That’s right, that’s right LOLOLOL There are plenty of men who like Chan-ho LOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[Recommend this if Chan-ho was excited about escaping his single life LOLOL]
[Damn LOLOL So much recommend LOLOLOLOL]
[Since it’s come to this, why not seriously give it a try?? LOLOL]
[I’m_Trench]: Where do you live? I’m seriously coming to find you.
[Low HP Detector]: No.
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[Low HP Detector]: Surely Chan-ho, you didn’t just assume they were a woman because their job is a nurse?
[I’m_Trench]: Hey, wait a minute.
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[Low HP Detector]: Hmm, that’s a bad stereotype…
[I’m_Trench]: Stop it!!!
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[Low HP Detector]: This is going to be controversial. Haha.
“Hey!! You’re killing me twice here!!”
[That combo, seriously LOLOL]
[Straight from a takedown into a chokehold LOLOLOLOL]
[He just can’t regain his composure LOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[I’m watching this at work and burst out laughing, now everyone in the office is staring at me, damn LOLOLOLOL]
[I’m_Trench]: Tell me the truth… The part about having a nurse friend is also a lie, isn’t it?
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[Low HP Detector]: ??? How did you know?
[I’m_Trench]: Because I figured you wouldn’t have any friends.
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[Low HP Detector]: Oh… that one hurt a bit… because it’s true….
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[Low HP Detector]: But Chan-ho.
A dizziness he had never experienced before clouded his mind.
Could a person’s teeth truly grind like this in their lifetime?
His stomach churned.
It was hard to even respond to that chat message.
Yet, he couldn’t help but react to Yoo Seo-ha’s next words.
[Low HP Detector]: Aren’t you going to check your main base? Haha.
“Ah.”
Since when?
When he finally came to his senses, all of his opponent’s forces had advanced and gathered at his expansion.
Naturally, he had no defensive units whatsoever.
He hadn’t even built a Corpse Sprayer.
“Ah… seriously.”
[Low HP Detector]: GG haha.
The Elves, having drunk the World Tree’s Dew, swarmed his expansion.
Simultaneously, Im Chan-ho’s buildings and workers began to be indiscriminately slaughtered.
[Lost LOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[Wow, seriously LOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[When did they even get there LOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[I’m_Trench]: Damn it.
[I’m_Trench]: NO GG.
– I’m_Trench has left the game.
[A timid ‘no GG’ LOLOL]
[So pathetic LOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[They both went to their limits of patheticness LOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[They’re just comedians LOLOLOLOL]
“Ah… I’m dizzy. Ah…”
Less than an hour into his broadcast, he was utterly exhausted.
It felt as though he had played dozens of matches.
That’s how effectively the recent snipe had achieved its objective.
However, Im Chan-ho feared something else entirely.
What truly terrified him was…
He was scheduled to collaborate with that malicious person again this afternoon.
“Guys… can’t I just take a break today…? Forget apologies or whatever, I don’t think I can handle that this afternoon…”
[If you’re going to rest, rest forever LOLOLOLOL]
[It’s going to be so much fun, are you crazy?? LOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[If you don’t want to die, you absolutely have to do the collaboration, seriously.]
[Honestly, you’re funny too LOLOL]
[I need to hear my wife’s voice again today.]
[Why is there so much time left until the collaboration?? I’m going crazy with anticipation LOLOL]
“You bad bastards…”
Faced with the swift and resolute rejection from the public, Im Chan-ho shed tears.
Not from his eyes, but from his heart.
