I Have a Reason to Hate Streamers

Chapter 138

The opening match ultimately ended in Sigma's victory. In hindsight, it was almost inevitable.

The moment Ga-wol demolished the Inquisitor, Q Prime's entire strategy unraveled. Neither Luche nor Hekate fell into their traps.

It wasn’t a shocking outcome. From the start, Sigma was the clear favorite. Before the game began, the analysts had already placed Sigma’s chances at a decisive 9:1.

There was always a slim chance if Q Prime could leverage their team composition's strengths, but nobody could have predicted this degree of dominance.

"This match... was truly shocking."

It was as if Sigma was saying, "We're on a different level from you." And yet, Q Prime's reputation hadn't fallen so low as to expect such a one-sided outcome.@@@@

"Holy has been considered past his prime in Europe for a while now. He was once a brilliant player, but he’s no longer performing as he did back then."

"Still, no one would dare say Holy lacks skill. He's a veteran who’s beaten formidable European contenders up until recently."

"And yet, Holy, who has long ensnared countless aces, was effortlessly outmaneuvered!"

Q Prime's Holy. He was once known as Acid Gaming Holy.

It wasn’t his first time facing a top-tier assassin. He’d even played on the same team as Reaper and had clashed with Phantom in international tournaments. During his prime, he had held Cerberus and Hero within the confines of his sanctuary with ease.

He wasn’t supposed to fall so easily. Although a martial arts-focused, bleed-specialized assassin like Ga-wol was an unusual challenge... the sheer power was undeniable.

Hoeun slowly shared his insights.

"At the start of the match, I wondered if Ga-wol's entry might have been too reckless."

"Although he pressured Slug considerably, it forced his team into an all-out battle. Ga-wol himself could’ve been at risk right after escaping the sanctuary."

"But then! His overwhelming performance put all doubts to rest."

"I believe Ga-wol has proven his value in this single match. IKL needed a player who could deliver such sharp, high-reward plays."

Hoeun’s deep attachment to IKL was well-known, and his calm remarks resonated with the fans.

Soon after, the second match began.

It was a five-person deathmatch in The Sanctuary of the Dead. Sigma maintained their existing roster but added Camellia. The result was even more one-sided than the first match, securing a decisive victory for Sigma in the opening round.

[Post by: Hekate'sDevoted]

[Title: What’s going on with our Hekate?]

(Attached Video: Hekate - "See, I told you I’m not that useless!")

(Attached Video: Hekate - "Eek!")

Sparrow had been tormenting her since last season, but she managed to defend herself with a smile.

“My eyes widened seeing her fend off an assassin on her own.”“How would she get beaten by a guy who can barely use one leg? LOL”

└ “Hey, don’t be so harsh!”

└ “Right? If anyone’s hitting, it’d be Ga-wol.”“She seems a bit off mentally, but she’s gotten really good in the game.”"Ooh!""I’m on my way!""Open the doorrrrrrr!""Holding my breath until Ga-wol’s butt appears on screen.""FBI, open up!""Who told these idiots it was an exclusive release?""Here comes my adult content.""Alright, let’s go~.""Since when do rookies go around beating up their seniors?""Rookie?""The rookie who took down Holy in one minute, LOL.""Hey, Hekate hasn’t been hit yet.""The vibe she’s giving off feels like she’s been through a few rounds."

The issue was especially pronounced in international tournaments. While the Miko class was inherently disadvantaged in survivability, losing a support was a severe blow. Hekate’s performance had partly contributed to their loss against Hashashin in Prelude.

I didn’t think the problem was solely Hekate’s fault. She was aware of her weaknesses and was putting in considerable effort to improve. If she still couldn’t resolve the issue, it meant the method was flawed.

"My conclusion was simple: she just hasn’t truly experienced death yet, right?"

Hekate’s tendency to die quickly boiled down to one thing: complacency. She didn’t recognize when her safety was compromised. While it was better than freezing up from fear, it was still a problem.

The reason was clear. Experience in international matches wasn’t easy to acquire, and against domestic assassins, her current level had been "enough."

Now the solution was clear.

She needed to internalize that she could die anywhere, anytime. When the game starts, no place is safe, and the team’s protection isn’t absolute. Adding a bit of "humility" to her playstyle would provide a minimum level of safety.

During the vlog shoot, I grabbed Hekate, who was on a break, and started training. Recently, I’d been teaching her close-quarters combat, having previously focused on assassin ambushes.

[Sturdy Branch]

Type: Weapon (Dagger)

Item Grade: Common

A particularly sturdy branch found on a mountain trail. Despite being unprocessed, it has perfect grip. The blunt end is its only flaw.

Item Effect: Attack +3

I grabbed Hekate’s staff, swatted it away, kicked her ankle to trip her, and pressed her abdomen to keep her from rolling. Then, I jabbed her forehead with the branch’s tip.

Some blood splattered, but she didn’t die. That’s why I used a branch instead of a real dagger. Even lethal moves wouldn’t kill her, allowing us to continue training on the spot.

Given my unchanged stats, the impact might’ve been strong. But any pro player should handle this much. I’d heard Hekate’s synchronization rate was 24.6%, so it probably didn’t hurt too much.

"Didn’t I tell you to stay focused? You just died once."

"I was focused!"

"When an upper attack comes, don’t focus all your attention on it. Most vital spots are in the upper body, but your lower body supports you. Keep your legs steady."

Since my goal wasn’t to torment her, I helped her back up. The training resumed with zero time wasted.

After about 30 minutes, Hekate went to the bathroom, and I finished filming the vlog with the PD.

"Is this kind of training normal lately?"

"Not always. I only concentrate like this during free training. I’m really happy it’s helpful."

In the edited video, Hekate’s interview was added.

"Ga-wol... is a good teammate. He’s got amazing stamina. Why does the rookie have more endurance than me? Watching him game nonstop makes me feel, ‘Am I trash?’ but training with him... it feels like I might die..."