[Author: ㅇㅇ(622.98)]
[Title: What’s this Real-time IKL Guest Commentary?]
(Attached Photo: Sigma vs Q Prime Guest Commentator ‘Gawol’)
Is this official?
But how can someone who isn’t a pro or anything be a guest commentator?
[Comments]
– She’s an Arena champion, though. ㅋㅋ
– So, has this guest beaten Cerberus?
└ Gawol dog roundup
– IKL guest commentators usually have no background.
It’s been quite some time since my leg was ruined.
While forming connections with Elderlyn or Luche, I’ve faced various situations.
What little wisdom I’ve gained from these experiences has been learning to avoid people who might recognize me.
After all, my leg easily elicits pity from others.
It’s bothersome to keep telling the same white lie about it being a new injury, so it’s easier to simply minimize interactions with people I know.
Which is why I was already camped out in the studio several hours before.
Well, there are always some people I just can’t avoid showing myself to.
The commentators I had to work with during the game were among them.
“Is this the first time seeing you in person? You’re Ho-eun.”
“I’m Da-eun. Nice to meet you, and please take care of me today.”
“I’m the commentator Hwang-yul. You’re even more beautiful in person than on-screen.”
“Oh, you watch the stream… That’s a little embarrassing.”
“Few people in the venue today wouldn’t have seen you.”
I received an utterly unhelpful reassurance.
Nonetheless, after exchanging pleasantries with the other commentators, the topic of my leg could be glossed over with a “just…”.
It seemed that these accomplished professionals instinctively knew not to pry.
Still, I admit it’s easier this way.
It would be burdensome if they were nosy or too kind and overly solicitous.
It’s far simpler to interact with someone who pretends not to care and lets the subject pass.
“Anyway, since you’re here early, I can give you an overview of things. Are you a regular watcher of pro league games?”
“Luche… I usually follow Sigma’s matches. Other than that, I watch some overseas games.”
“That’s plenty. Even so, as a guest commentator, the league tends to be a bit more lenient regarding the tone of your comments and expressions.”
Ho-eun explained to me calmly.
We’re relatively free to speak our minds regarding the game.
As long as it’s not overly provocative, internet memes are acceptable, as are uncensored opinions.
The caution is to avoid criticizing specific players.
We were asked not to overly criticize one team if possible.
Of course, it’s obvious why.
Both teams will watch this match, after all.
Among the professional gamers, there are “one-club players,” those who stay with one team for life, but fundamentally, they’re freelancers who contract with various teams.
Given enough time in the scene, the player you might insult today could end up a teammate.
This is something to remember if you aspire to be a professional gamer.
Even the pre-match trash talk in important games is just scripted theater.
Even me, I’m not that ignorant of basic protocol.
“Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind.”
But back then, I didn’t know.
I didn’t anticipate—how absolutely horrific the game would turn out.
《Welcome, everyone! It’s time for the IKL semifinal first match, and this is your host, Ho-eun.》
《And I’m the commentator Hwang-yul. And for those already asking… yes, our guest commentator today is none other than the inaugural Arena champion, Gawol.》
The broadcast monitor briefly caught my face.
The screen on the left was the feed 5 seconds ahead of broadcast; the one on the right was the live recording.
I gave a slight bow in greeting, in the modest way they’d suggested.
《Hello, I’m Gawol… I didn’t expect to be called upon, but it’s an honor to be here.》
《You’re a little different from what some people were imagining. Many probably expected someone a bit more… rebellious, I guess.》
《I’m not that much of a troublemaker.》
《Haha. Still, with all the anticipation around today’s game, we’re looking forward to your take.》
What is this?
It feels like they’re expecting something specific from me.
Especially Ho-eun—there’s something about her gaze that troubles me.
Just like in the old Arena days, it subtly implies she’s expecting me to slip up.
Was she really the one teaching me just now how to avoid causing trouble?
Anyway, as the game started, the information came up.
[IKL Semifinal – Match 1]
[Sigma eSports vs Q Prime]
[Battlefield: Simmering Lava Zone]
[Rules: 5v5 Deathmatch]
《All right, the first semifinal game between Sigma eSports and Q Prime has begun. 》
《This is a matchup already being called an early final. Q Prime lost in the second round, but they have surely been sharpening their weapons since then.》
《The clash of these two teams. How do you see this, Gawol?》
Calling me a “player.”
Is that because my Arena image is just too strong?
I almost wanted to say that it seemed like Luche would definitely win, but I caught myself in time.
《Hmm, well… I’ll need to see the flow of the match first.》
In Invul, the standard rules for a deathmatch involve a team total of up to 30 deaths before the game ends.
There’s no other specific rules in this case.
At most, they’ll hunt neutral monsters to gain stat buffs.
A mechanic removed from the individual battle setup of Arena, but still common in team battles, aiming to split the strategy between early fighting and late-game growth.
The crucial piece in deathmatches is the cooldown for respawn—it’s not very short.
If a team is decimated before their fallen teammates can respawn?
A domino effect might ensue, where the team members die one by one, and the game becomes a lifeless conclusion.
Of course, this outcome is exceedingly rare at the first-string professional level, but it’s a potential reality.
《From Sigma, the warrior of Camellia, and from Q Prime, the assassin of Sparrow are moving as separate units.》
《Classes that can move quickly and efficiently clear neutral monsters. Normally, these would be considered safe choices. So, how about from your perspective, Gawol?》
《Uh… the setup’s a bit lopsided. As it stands now, it seems like Sigma may have an edge. A more daring approach might have been better.》
A “safe choice” is a sound strategy, but only in scenarios where both sides are equally matched.
But the two teams I watched during round 2 weren’t evenly matched.
There was a clear disparity between the strong and weaker teams.
If that’s the case, then the weaker team needs to show an unexpected element.
Because if it flows conventionally, they are bound to lose.
Or is it perhaps evidence of Q Prime’s newfound self-confidence, believing they’ve grown enough since round 2?
In that case, it might be better.
On the screen, Sparrow and Camellia were moving in the same direction.
Obviously, their movements weren’t coordinated.
They were just there to take down some reptilian monsters in the eastern part of the Lava Zone.
This was pure coincidence.
But turning luck into an inevitable outcome—that’s what skill is.
《The assassin, Sparrow, has spotted Camellia first.》
《There are two choices here—start the skirmish with an ambush, or withdraw without showing oneself.》
《Sparrow is retreating and heading toward the west side of the battlefield.》
Playing it safe.
It’s not an inexplicable choice.
Previously, Camellia won decisively against Sparrow during their match in the Winner’s Bracket.
That disparity in skill hasn’t suddenly disappeared.
Even if the ambush succeeded, victory would hardly be guaranteed.
That said, this is why Korea is seen as having weak assassin play.
In the same situation, a skilled assassin should have attempted an ambush.
Spotting the opponent and deciding to act upon it is a privilege reserved for assassins.
The issue is that the paths within this ‘Simmering Lava Zone’ are far from short.
Backing down here is too costly.
《This is a minor miscalculation. Attempting an ambush and not letting either touch the neutral monsters might have been a better picture.》
《Gawol’s critique seems valid. Is it the pressure from Camellia’s previous head-to-head victory that’s influencing this decision?》
《5 minutes into the game, Sigma is slightly ahead in growth stats.》
If I were in that position, I would’ve naturally tried to engage in combat with Camellia.
But Camellia isn’t stupid.
If I were in Sparrow’s place, I wouldn’t have attacked the monsters first.
Even in Arena’s 1v1 combat, avoiding the assassin’s first strike is famously difficult.
Defending while fighting neutral monsters would have been an even harder challenge.
So, it was a reasonable assumption that Sparrow would prioritize finding Camellia.
That said, the very fact that the warrior, Camellia, could clear monsters without interruption is already an issue.
To make matters worse, Sparrow isn’t exactly at the lower tier of assassins in Korea.
This was, in many ways, a systemic breakdown.
《Just then, both teams collide for the first time.》
《The mage’s bind catches Luche while the Traveller moves in.》
《Fast. Much better than before. Reaching this level of growth this quickly is no small feat.》
The lance knight, buffed by the priest, shakes up Sigma’s base.
Back in Arena, they were eliminated early when they met Cerberus, but that was the full extent of that match.
Traveller’s individual capability is quite high even on a global scale.
The well-timed bursts of firepower and clean melee combat.
The Traveller’s stature, pressuring two—no, three—individuals at once, is nothing short of what every knight class strives for.
And my take while watching this dazzling combat?
《Ah, the fighting style looks more terrible than ever. What in the world is happening with this?》
Pro leagues aren’t about solo play.
Why is the Traveller fighting alone in a team game?
