HCB Chapter 210 : Season Finale (3)
Chapter 210 : Season Finale (3)
Season Finale (3)
The match had already entered its mid-phase. Wanggeom and the commentators couldn't hide their admiration.
"Wow, both teams are displaying incredible skill! This doesn't even feel like a regular exhibition match!"
"That's right! It's professional players versus amateurs, and the pros aren't going easy—they're giving everything they've got! Yet, the game is dead even!"
"I mean no disrespect to the other participants, but honestly, this match is revealing PerG-Day's true potential even more than some main bracket games!"
Viewers shared similar takes.
― TierOne really looks like they're taking this seriously lol
― If you removed the UI and logos, no one would know this isn't an MCK match, lol
― How is this an amateur tourney, really? lmao
― All eyes were on Godple carrying, but the rest are way better than expected lol
― Yeah, ecl's holding up crazy well even after a double ban
-lol told you, jamba's still got it!
― I thought mid or bot lane would collapse, but surprisingly, they aren't dying
― They're keeping losses minimal while following the boss's calls lol
But not everything was peachy. The commentators' voices turned serious.
"Still, the value gap between teams is slowly widening. The score alone shows a clear difference, right?"
"Exactly. Purple is truly doing great, but at the end of the day, there's only one body!"
"TierOne isn't overreaching, either. Whenever Purple shows up, they instantly disengage! You can tell they're slowly snowballing, taking safe gotcha pro moves."
"But a clash will have to happen eventually! Both teams have lost their first towers now. I think a teamfight could break out soon!"
The anticipation in Wanggeom's voice was palpable, but the commentators sighed.
"I think we'll have to wait a bit longer for the teamfight. Both teams are very cautious right now."
"I agree. If a fight does break out, it'll likely be around the buff creep area. Taking Duke or Elemental could flip the board. But the risk of failing is huge!"
It was already buff creep spawn time, but the commentators were skeptical.
"There's no reason for the leading TierOne to gamble here. Which means, PerG-Day might try for it, but it's not easy."
"Right. Why? Because TierOne are pros among pros! They're experts at perfectly timing their buff steals! Lose that, and the game's basically over!"
The buff goes to the team that lands the final hit—meaning that whatever happens before, only the last strike matters.
"Yeah, that's another good point. Still, with Purple, maybe a solo Duke could work out?"
"Hmm, I think that's hard. Yami's versatile, but except for fire attribute, most other attributes are focused on CC and survival skills, you know? He can't take it down as fast as Master Lee. And while Purple is tied to Duke, his teammates become too vulnerable!"
"Exactly. If I were TierOne, I wouldn't even try block them—I'd just look for a kill opportunity on another lane. What's the use of a buff if there's no one left to receive it? It's actually a loss!"
Wanggeom nodded vigorously to the explanation.
"Ah, so in the end, neither team can readily go for the buff. Maybe the Elemental side holds a little more possibility—wait, what!?"
As he summarized the match, his eyes widened.
"Is PerG-Day going for a split push!?"
"Wait, what is going on?! It's not a regular split! But it's not a 1-3-1 formation either!?"
"It's two to top, two to bot, and one in mid? 2-1-2? 2-1-2 formation? Has this been tried before!?"
The members of PerG-Day had split into separate lanes, moving along their respective lines.
Normally, the standard play would be to focus resources toward mid-lane for its strategic value.
But PerG-Day was doing the opposite.
Yet the commentators' amazement didn't stop there.
"Purple is advancing solo through mid! And... he has no items!"
"Wait, he definitely had them just a moment ago!"
"If he's got no items, that means he sold everything on purpose! This is totally unpredictable!"
The commentators and viewers alike were left baffled.
― What? Is this for show?
― He needs more power, not less—why go in empty handed?
-lol What the hell kind of 2-1-2 push is this?
― The mark of a genius?
― Too hard to keep up with the brain of a genius aaaaah!
― But isn't this straight up suicide? And against TierOne no less?
― Yeah, this is a total suicide move
The chat was filled with worries and questions. Watching the scene, the commentators all but roared out loud.
"Ahhh! Suicide! Exactly! That's the point—to look like he's throwing his life away!"
"Whoa! Is this Purple's call?! He's going all-in with everything on the line!"
"What do you mean? Could you explain for me and the viewers, please?"
At that, the chat filled with question marks. Responding to Wanggeom's request, the commentators delivered an excited breakdown.
"PerG-Day is offering TierOne two choices: stop the pushes on top and bot, or go after Purple in mid!"
"If they choose the former, Purple will solo-run for the Nexus. Solo backdooring? Sounds ridiculous, but who is he? Perfect Yami! This is a front-door backdoor!"
"But if they go after Purple? The other four will come crashing through from both flanks! To fight Purple one-on-one, it takes at least three—no way TierOne can stop four with two!"
-lol what the hell is a front-door backdoor
― But a backdoor is literally through the back?
― If it's nonsensical, you know Godple must be behind it, lol
-(Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)
-lol both sides are bait, but somehow not actually bait
― Isn't this that quantum superposition thing?
― Quantum entrance lmao
― Schrodinger push, what's even happening lol
― Godple alone gives so much team value, that's the only way you can pull this off lol
At last, wanggeom let out a soft cry of realization.
"Aha! So that's why he sold all his items! From TierOne's perspective, if they just take down Purple, the game's in the bag, and Elephant could claim the 'strongest jungler' title for himself!"
"Right! He's intentionally showing himself as obvious bait to make them hesitate."
"In this situation, it's a tough call for TierOne—if they just turtle up, they win, but now PerG-Day is shaking things up!"
"There's not much time! PerG-Day is halfway through their timers! TierOne needs to make a decision!"
"Oh! TierOne is moving!"
All eyes turned to the minimap.
"TierOne is heading for mid-lane!"
"That means another 1v5 teamfight!"
"Will Purple pull off another solo hold!?"
All five TierOne players converged in mid.
* * *
Lee Gyeongbok sensed TierOne's approach. Without hesitation, he spoke.
"You all can go in."
[〉We'll give it everything we've got!]
[〉Let's end this as fast as possible!]
[〉I'll see this through!]
[〉Let's goooo!]
He could see TierOne's players appear in his vision, even over the team chat. Lee Gyeongbok stopped in his tracks.
It would help his team if he initiated the fight as far from their base as possible.
He took a short breath, gripping his shuriken tighter. Staring down the five advancing opponents, his brows furrowed.
'What's this?'
His divine energy picked up their threat level. Oddly, only three out of five felt truly dangerous.
Even stranger—those less threatening were Elephant and the top-laner's champion, 'Steel-Hoofed' Camille.
'But those two are actually better players?'
He soon realized why.
Aside from Elephant and Camille, the other three veered off into the sides, disappearing into the jungle. He could still perfectly sense their intended routes.
'They don't want to get pulled in.'
Those three were heading straight for PerG-Day's base. Lee Gyeongbok let out a wry laugh.
He pivoted quickly.
The sharp ring of metal as his shuriken clashed sparks with Claw.
"I didn't expect you to try such a bold move."
"I could say the same to you."
Lee Gyeongbok rapidly formed a wood attribute hand sign, pushing Claw back. He immediately tried to make a break for the base.
"I wanted a true 1v1, but I'll have to wait for next time!"
Camille's kick came flying at him.
The gleaming, razor-edged blades attached to both legs came within inches. Just in time, Lee Gyeongbok dodged and formed a wood attribute hand sign with one hand.
But Camille wasn't about to get caught so easily. She leapt over the emerging roots, blocking his escape.
"I'd love to claim the title of strongest jungler..."
Elephant's voice came from behind.
"But for a pro, the team's victory comes first."
A pincer attack from both sides.
Lee Gyeongbok parried the oncoming attacks with ease. But his expression hardened.
'Getting out in time won't be easy.'
His divine energy warned him.
At this rate, PerG-Day would be the ones to lose.
His teammates were pushing top and bot, but TierOne only had to break through mid.
If he didn't go on defense, PerG-Day's base would fall first.
'We have to make our stand here...!'
He made his decision.
"Everyone recall! Defend the base!"
His teammates just had to stall the three, and if he could secure a kill, they could turn the tide.
'As long as I break through the encirclement.'
But the snowball gap was clear. Even a 3v4 without Lee Gyeongbok could not guarantee victory.
Seeing his team start recalling, he prepared to retreat as well.
"Not letting you go!"
"Hold him! No matter what!"
But the opponents had read his intention.
Their aim wasn't to kill Lee Gyeongbok, but to hold him back. They focused more on blocking his path than going for the win outright.
'Taking one of them down may be faster.'
Even if he broke through, at least two would still chase. That would only mean chaos at the base.
He steadied his breathing, locking on to Camille.
"What the—!"
Camille recoiled in shock.
He thought he had landed the hit, but Lee Gyeongbok's body transformed like metal, ringing with a metallic echo.
"Careful!"
Elephant hastily threw a snare. But Lee Gyeongbok had already accounted for this.
At his leap, the snare entangled with Camille's legs as she counterattacked. It had no real effect as they were teammates, but it was enough to ruin their rhythm.
"Damn!"
By the time Lee Gyeongbok finished his hand sign mid-air, intense flames engulfed Camille.
But being a top laner champion, camille boasted high stamina. Ignoring the flames, she launched a spinning kick at Lee Gyeongbok.
"Sorry, but I'm in a bit of a rush."
But the voice came from below. On landing, Lee Gyeongbok ducked low and drove his foot hard under Camille's chin.
"Urgh...!"
It defied standard pro gamer logic. Yami's weapon was a shuriken—kicks were supposed to deal no damage.
But since the laws of physics still applied, camille was sent airborne. What followed was a barrage of shurikens and fire attribute magic.
Camille, flames swirling around her, crashed to the ground.
[PerfectPlay Tier1_Raider]
The kill message flashed up.
Elephant was momentarily flustered, but recovered fast—the moment Lee Gyeongbok dashed for the base.
'Gotta hurry!'
Checking the minimap, Lee Gyeongbok picked up the pace. Skullkim and Bakjapcho's stamina was almost depleted.
They probably wouldn't survive much longer.
'How persistent!'
Sensing a chilling aura behind him, Lee Gyeongbok twisted just in time as a sonic boom sliced past his ear.
"Didn't think you'd use your ult."
Elephant had taken off his Claw.
He activated Lagnel's ultimate, blocking Lee Gyeongbok's path with a sky ambush.
With the sky ambush always active, escaping was tough.
"You lasted six minutes last time in practice, right?"
Lee Gyeongbok resolved to take care of Elephant too.
"I'll cut that down to two."
"Not so easy this time!"
Claws and shurikens clashed.
Blocking Elephant's combo, Lee Gyeongbok conjured a hand sign with one hand.
'He's even faster?!'
Elephant was inwardly shocked.
Unlike in past practice, Lee Gyeongbok wasn't mixing in different combos for training.
'Crazy!'
This time, everything was optimized for a swift conclusion.
Elephant could barely defend against the ceaseless elemental jutsu.
Dodging fire, he ran into tangling roots. Escaping that, he faced a fist of solid earth. And when he finally thought he scored a hit—all he heard was that metallic ring.
'Ah, that's right.'
As he was battered by shurikens, elephant remembered what Lee Gyeongbok had said when coaching him.
'Purple gets stronger under pressure too...'
The skill level Lee Gyeongbok was showing now was on another scale compared to practice.
[Double Kill!]
[PerfectPlay Tier1_Elephant]
Lee Gyeongbok didn't have a moment to savor the kill message.
'Ecl and Hyung are down too...!'
By then, the remaining teammates had all died. Meanwhile, all five TierOne members survived, albeit with little health left.
They launched a clean assault on the Nexus towers.
'There's still hope!'
If he took down those three, he'd be alone on the battlefield, and he was sure he could destroy the Nexus before they respawned.
He quickly arrived at the base entrance. He could see the three remaining enemies.
Which meant—they could see him as well.
"I'll stop him!"
The enemy Support, "Agent of Light"
Luxor, charged at him, immediately lobbing a globe of light.
It was a stun skill, but there was no way something so straightforward would work on Lee Gyeongbok.
'Almost there!'
He dodged and hurled a shuriken, activating earth attribute magic with the other hand.
Luxor, stunned at the moment of impact, froze in place. Lee Gyeongbok instantly twisted the embedded shuriken for the finisher.
[Triple Kill!]
[PerfectPlay Tier1_OneKind]
Now only two remained: the mid laner and the bot-lane AD Carry.
'A pincer attack, huh?'
But for some reason, the two had split up instead of sticking together to guard against his attack.
They kept pounding away at the Nexus from both ends.
Lee Gyeongbok rushed the more dangerous mid-laner.
"Just keep firing!"
The mid-laner shouted, not resisting Lee Gyeongbok's attacks, focusing on hitting the Nexus until their last breath.
[Quadra Kill!]
[PerfectPlay Tier1_Lord]
One left.
But Lee Gyeongbok couldn't relax. The Nexus had so little health left. He instantly charged for the AD Carry.
"Please, please...!"
The AD Carry, panic on their face, emptied the clip as he advanced. Lee Gyeongbok responded with shuriken throws and fire attribute magic.
With barely any health, that alone was more than enough to finish them off.
[Penta Kill!]
[PerfectPlay Tier1_Trigger]
The kill message for the AD Carry's death flashed up.
Lee Gyeongbok smiled wryly.
"So close."
He turned his gaze.
Just before dying, the AD Carry's final bullet hit the Nexus. As it did, the base's light grew, and then—burst in a flash.
[Defeat]
The event match went to TierOne.
* * *
After the event match, the interviews began.
"There's an old saying that a tower built with care will not fall easily,"
Elephant, speaking as the TierOne rep, took the mic.
"It was truly a nail-biting win. The dilemma Purple put us in at the end really gave us pause."
"I imagine so. That 2-1-2 formation was a truly novel strategy."
"Yeah. We were torn up to the very end. If all five of us went for Purple, we'd probably get him, but we figured at least three of us would die. That makes it 4v2. Whichever option we picked, it wasn't a sure victory."
Elephant shook his head.
"I mean, it's just an event match, so of course we were tempted to just get Purple and earn 'strongest jungler.' But we're pros—going for the win is the right thing to do."
"Spoken like the MCK champions! You go for the win in every game, no exceptions! That decision was spot on, and I think everyone watching would agree."
Wanggeom nodded eagerly.
"If you hadn't focused solely on the Nexus at the end, things could've been entirely different. There's already precedent for Perfect Yami succeeding with a solo backdoor, right? With a full-damage build, Purple could've ended it on an empty base!"
-lol, my heart nearly stopped at the end
― That was razor-thin
― How do you get a pentakill and a defeat at the same time? lol
― If the Nexus had even one more HP bar, PerG-Day would've taken it ;_;
The chat was full of agreement. Wanggeom cleared his throat, steering the conversation.
"But sometimes, these small things—a single tiny snowball—decide the win! That's what makes a match a classic! You'd never believe this was amateurs versus pros just from watching!"
The camera switched from Elephant to Lee Gyeongbok. PerG-Day had decided he would give the interview instead of Genome.
"Purple, could you share your thoughts on this event match?"
Lee Gyeongbok looked far too cheerful for someone who'd just lost a game.
"Yes. It made me realize—the pros are on a different level. I thought I'd prepared pretty hard, but it makes me regret maybe not pushing my staff even harder."
He glanced mischievously at his team. When Genome cowered dramatically, the chat burst out laughing.
-'Encouragement' (not)
― Was that encouragement... or poison?
― In that sense, it's true—Godple is addictive, lol
― How much more did you plan to squeeze us, lol
― Hasn't half the staff already been "wrung out" in the qualifiers?
― Genome looks like he's about to faint lol
― It's true you digest best after a good grind lol
― Staying in character to the very end, lol
"But honestly, the regret made it more fun. Seeing the chat, I think the viewers enjoyed it too, which makes me all the happier."
He then turned to the TierOne side.
"It was a sudden request, but thank you to the TierOne players, the staff, and the folks at Riot Games and Tri for making this possible."
― Different class of composure, lol
― This is why I watch Godple
― Anyone else would be going insane from regret right now, lol
― Look at him caring for everyone! Can a Black Company CEO really be like that?
― Lol, cue another Black Company owner risk
― What are we supposed to do if he's both a great streamer AND a decent person?
Elephant chimed in.
"No, we're the ones who should thank you. We got a bit lax after MCK, but this was just the jolt we needed."
He looked sharply at Lee Gyeongbok.
"Next time, I'll be the one to break Purple's perfect score and challenge for strongest jungler."
The mood in chat flipped instantly.
― Huh?
― Perfect score?
― Now that I think about it, he had 0 deaths even in this event match lol
― This dude... became the definition of perfect lol
― Nobody's breaking that record, damn lol
― Godple has too many of those already
As the viewers belatedly realized, the players from both teams exchanged farewells.
"Looks like all the events are finally wrapped up!"
"What a wild ride."
"It was a blast. Really."
Time for curtain call.
Wanggeom and the commentators closed out the broadcast.
"This has been the most legendary CrazySmurf Cup yet! We'll be back with even more fun and excitement next season!"
"Thank you!"
"See you next time!"
As the credits rolled, the chat was filled with tear emojis and regret.
― It's really over?
― Why does it feel like we'll be scrimming again tomorrow? lol
― So sad, but it was awesome
― How are they supposed to top this next season, lol
― If they just bring PerG-Day back, problem solved!
-lol, instant solution
Viewer numbers barely dropped. People lingered in chat to savor the afterglow.
And everyone knew what they felt—that enduring afterglow and emotion—
― Seriously, if PerG-Day shows up, they could compete globally
― This time even opened a separate channel just to watch PerG-Day, lol
― If you've got a world-class team, the tournament's world-class too, lol
― Mystic just keeps giving us unforgettable highlights
― How can an international event be called CrazySmurf? lol
― This is hilarious
― You know the overseas fans must be going nuts, too
Anyone who loves games, nationality aside, would have felt it.