I Have a Reason to Hate Streamers

Chapter 202

The scale of eSports has been growing for quite some time.

The skepticism toward this industry has not disappeared yet.

The question of whether eSports should officially be classified as a sport has remained unresolved.

However, there is one undeniable fact.

eSports excites people.

Many dive deeply into the intense matches, exploring the narratives that build between teams and players.

Whatever identity one might give it, it was clear that eSports had become a culture in itself.

As a result, stadiums capable of holding tens of thousands of people were filled to capacity.

The time it took for every seat in this massive indoor arena to sell out was said to be but a moment.

The fans who filled the seats sent as much heat as the players.

The performance to raise the atmosphere concluded.

The white spotlight illuminated the empty stage.

"Finally, the long-awaited day has arrived."

"Today marks the end of Inble eSports' year. Only one of the two teams that made it to the finals can sit on the throne."

"It has truly been a year of upheaval after upheaval. Looking at the entire league’s history, there hasn’t been a season with this much change."

"That’s right. Among those, Sigma eSports has been at the center of this huge turmoil."

As time passed, Inble's league accumulated history.

For competitors, a year is never a short time.

Teams that made it to the top of the world stage inevitably had their own stories.

It all started with the last IKL Championship victory.

The glorious moment faded and disappeared like ash, while Phantom and Hero’s faces briefly passed by.

The dark period for the league, which had reached its peak, did not end easily.

Until today.

In the darkened stadium, a video slowly began to play.

"Sigma eSports is bringing an end to IKL’s long night."

"Morning has come, and the sun rises slowly, bringing warmth with its light."

"There is no one who suits the meaning of the name Luche better than the player himself."

"There’s no team that embodies growth and overcoming adversity like Sigma."

Luche’s beginning was at the bottom of the Korean server.

He was a paladin who couldn’t even raise his shield properly due to an injured arm.

Through relentless rehabilitation and practice, he climbed step by step to the top.

Hekate endured long periods of humiliation.

Her brave challenges left only burdens on her heart.

Repeated failures eventually became a nightmare.

Ga-wol was the same.

The assassin who thirsted for victory more than anyone else.

He gained recognition for an outcome no one expected, but his immobile legs forced him into silence.

Even during his shining debut, his crutch was hidden behind his cloak.

With the battlefield and rules decided, the remaining choice was the players' selection.

Since close combat situations would arise frequently, the advantage of close-quarters classes was more prominent.

Naturally, expectations were high for Sigma eSports.

By now, no fan of Inble eSports could be unaware of Ga-wol's swordplay.

In a hellish draw, he defeated top-tier players head-on.

Even Hero was taken down by this sword, which, for some, became a source of exhilaration, while for others, it became a nightmare.

But a new issue had arisen—Ga-wol’s personal instability.

Though he showed some answers by the end of the fourth set, it was undeniable that he was a card too valuable to be left to rot.

Therefore, Ga-wol’s swordplay was a hot topic heading into the finals.

Would Ga-wol be able to endure without breaking down?

"Kelberos from AT has chosen the Weapon Master class. Recently, this class has even overtaken Dark Knight to become a new signature class."

"This seems to be a choice made with swordplay in mind, rather than an assassin."

"That’s right. With its sturdy defense, it’s impossible to apply pressure with this playstyle. It’s not suited to countering an assassin."

"And Ga-wol... responds with the swordmaster! He seems to want to dive straight into a sword duel from the start!"

The class selections for both teams were finalized.

The screen darkened before brightening again.

Outside the battlefield, it was a cold, dark night. The camera passed through the darkness and entered the beautifully lit labyrinth.

Amidst the complex space, the eight players appeared separately on the battlefield.

The first to appear was someone, as expected.

Caster Hoeun couldn’t help but express admiration into the mic for the first time.

"Ah..."

Within the labyrinth, a new version of Ga-wol appeared.

But this was not the Ga-wol everyone knew.

The knight standing in the bright corridor looked far more radiant and beautiful than before.

His once cold, dark expression, which reflected a dead heart, had vanished.

His previously cloudy eyes now glimmered with vitality, and the slightly embarrassed look on his face even exuded the freshness of a young girl.

The heavy, oppressive atmosphere around him had completely dissipated.

Ga-wol moved forward.

His steps seemed much lighter than before.

There was no overwhelming weight, but there was a soft confidence.

Whether they were fans of Sigma or AT, everyone watching the game could instinctively feel it.

He had changed.

And far too much.