[The Team Class is Off the Charts]
[Is it true that STK’s two players team up with Friede? My mind is blown.]
[Is it not shrinking?]
[Even if they formed a pro team right now, I’d totally get it.]
[If Friede is involved, the class of the team definitely changes.]
[Could the reason the Seokgulam and Lotus duo have been on a losing streak be to prepare for meeting Friede?]
[Just stop it.]
The chatroom was buzzing with excitement over the unexpected developments.
After all, this match featured two main players from STK.
Even though they had lost four consecutive games before, it’s not uncommon for pros to lose in solo or duo matches.
There was a player who recorded a legendary 17-game losing streak, right?
What mattered was the collaboration between the famous STK and Friede. It’s not every day you get this kind of entertainment.
“Sis, were you playing solo rank? Let’s hear it.”
Friede chuckled softly, seeing Lotus puff her cheeks out in slight disappointment.
It was a surprise and a delight that their timings lined up so perfectly that they were assigned to the same team.
Even though it was just in a game, they never imagined that random coincidences would lead to such a meeting.
Just then, a guy beside them stepped forward and introduced himself.
In armor resembling a lotus, it was the signature gear style of the STK Team.
“Hello, Friede. I’m Seokgulam from the Lotus team. I really enjoy your streams, haha.”
“Oh, hi! I’ve been enjoying the matches.”
“Wow, if Friede is watching, I’ve got to give it my all. I set notifications and subscribed. I’ll be cheering for your streams.”
“Thank you!”
[Look at Seokgulam turning sweet.]
[Seriously, wouldn’t a couple concept between Friede and Seokgulam be great?]
[But the name Seokgulam makes it sound so lame.]
[Why not throw Warden in there?]
[No, no, don’t get that nice man’s hands all over Friede, it’s so uncomfortable.]
[Honestly, I’m getting snake vibes, lol. So frustrating.]
While the chat was a chaotic mess over a sudden couple concept, the ban-pick phase offered a leisurely discussion.
Starting with light greetings, when Friede mentioned she just started her stream, Lotus, choosing her weapon, suddenly said:
“Sis, want to duo with us?”
“Duo?”
“I agree!”
The two decided to pull Friede into their duo party.
Even though this would be their last duo match, it didn’t really matter to them.
It was a spontaneous offer, but after thinking it over slowly, Friede saw no reason to decline.
After all, she was feeling a bit bored playing solo ranked lately.
“Well, grinding solo all day makes me feel a bit stagnant.”
She had made promises and held personal ambitions, aiming for first place in Challenger…
But on the path to that goal, wouldn’t it be better to enjoy the journey?
Thinking about it, she realized she hadn’t played ranked with anyone in a while… oh, wait, she did recall.
There was that time she duoed with Dayoung.
During that ranked duo, they had been targeted by users claiming they were hackers.
Well, now it all seemed resolved… becoming a sort of amusing memory, but back then, it felt a bit serious.
She almost thought she wouldn’t be able to save Dayoung.
Oh, as that thought came to mind, Friede couldn’t help but smirk inwardly.
In any case, her answer was set.
“Yes, let’s do it together.”
“Yay!”
“Let’s break through the top 20!”
[A seriously interesting combination was born.]
[Isn’t it super easy for the three of them to sweep wins together?]
[Yeah, the previous losing streak was just a total mess. With Friede, the team’s strength skyrockets, so victory is already in the bag.]
[As long as the other four just play their part, we’re golden.]
[Lotus is cute.]
While Lotus and Seokgulam cheered, the game finally began.
* * *
Even within the game, Yunsu felt overwhelmed meeting Friede for the first time.
His impression was simply that she was a beautiful streamer who lived up to expectations…
And he finally understood why everyone was so crazy about her.
She was attractive to an extraordinary degree.
That made him even more excited.
Having both gaming skills and charm, how amazing would Friede’s plays be?
Friede🗡Haldir
Friede🗡Gunda
Friede🗡Nameless
[Wow, she’s like a human blender, seriously.]
[With Friede doing everything ahead, what’s Seokgulam even doing?]
[He’s doing nothing. Just get the popcorn ready.]
[Come on, this is nonsense. Friede would’ve lost if not for the long-range support from Seokgulam. He was crucial.]
[Do you really think logic works here? Tsk tsk.]
No matter what chatter filled the chat, Yunsu was in a good mood with the current gameplay, and as he watched the grim stats flashing on the scoreboard, he whistled inwardly.
Usually, he only viewed Friede’s videos as an outsider, but from the perspective of her teammate, he could truly appreciate her efforts.
That’s right; seeing the protagonist and the villain in a game was way more fun.
Until now, while watching Friede’s streams, Yunsu always observed her moves from a single viewpoint, but now through duo play, he could grasp things differently.
‘This is really comfortable.’
When Friede charged in, he just had to stand back with his Great Bow and provide cover fire.
No one could stall her at that point.
‘They might have just given up.’
Choosing a path and focusing, perhaps hoping to dominate whatever remained.
However, that side had Lotus and other members assigned there.
They were already engaging in a back-and-forth barrage in team voice chat.
From the opposition’s perspective, it was impossible to counter effectively.
They would just get taken out one by one by her overwhelming combat prowess.
“What should we do now? It seems like they’ve thrown in the towel here.”
Even he was a pro, stalwart on a top-tier team.
Yet, his question for Friede was a way to gauge her game sense—sort of a test.
“If they focused on the opposite maze, then there’s only one answer.”
Friede pointed her Holy Sword toward the end of the passage.
“We should break through the center. Since you have a Great Bow, I’ll cover you, so just rain arrows down on the enemy in the middle.”
“OK. Let’s roll out.”
Yeah, this is the stuff.
Yunsu grinned at Friede’s response.
He was pleased that she didn’t choose some lazy strategy like just securing objectives and holding positions.
With their route set, there was no time to waste as they headed through the corridor.
“—Watch out!”
As they neared to pass through the passage, Yunsu spotted the sharp silhouette of a Curved Sword and shouted a late warning.
Perhaps thanks to it hiding quietly in a corner, the strike aimed perfectly at Friede as she was halfway through passing.
For any skilled player, reacting in time would be tricky.
Oh, was he wrong?
As that thought washed over Yunsu, he suddenly noticed Friede’s shape disappearing from view.
“Huh?”
She vanished too quickly, making the blade of the Curved Sword look weak and pointless.
Or rather, where did she go?
‘Did she leap to the sky? Or did she sink to the ground?’
With a quick glance downward, Yunsu barely stifled a laugh.
Friede was almost flat to the ground.
And in her hand, the Holy Sword was already glowing with gathered energy.
“Damn!”
Only then did he grasp what was happening: before the following blow from the Curved Sword could land, the trajectory of the Holy Sword rebounded as she sprang from a crouched position.
The entire blade flickered with radiant light as it traced across the enemy’s body.
One-hit kill. Was that due to the combat skill of the Holy Light Sword, leading to a critical strike?
‘This is absurd.’
Realizing that the opponent who let their guard down could drop like flies, was she purposely setting it up?
“That was close! Let’s move quickly.”
“Oh, okay.”
Had he been in that spot, would he have managed to weave through and counter?
Yunsu was unsure as he posed that question to himself.
‘What on earth have you been through, Eunha?’
Feeling a newfound respect for his comrade who had worked hard to defeat such a monster, he suddenly realized an important fact.
‘Huh? Wait a second.’
Out of the blue, he had forgotten that she was participating in this event.
Yunsu gazed blankly at Friede, who was swiftly exiting the passage next to him.
Am I seriously going to face off against that woman?
When he first learned of her involvement through public news, he’d thought nothing of it, but now he felt a tightening sensation in his chest.
Would Friede know too?
With half excitement, half anxiety, Yunsu couldn’t hold back and asked.
“Umm, Friede?”
“Yes?”
With her eyes fixed ahead, her reply was straightforward.
Almost disinterested, yet Yunsu pressed on with the next question.
“Are you participating in this upcoming event?”
At Yunsu’s cautious inquiry, he saw a change in Friede.
Even while running, she turned her head, smiling softly as she answered.
“Yes, of course.”
As Friede’s smile settled in his mind, chills coursed through his whole body.
Unlike earlier, when he had mindlessly admired her, he now found himself instinctively taking a step back.
The torch hanging in the corridor…
The shadows cast by her rabbit ears loomed grotesquely, swallowing the passage whole.
Just like that, it felt as if he was facing a hideous monster.
Was this how it felt to face something truly terrifying?
The flickering flame seemed to mirror the burning sensation in his heart.
* * *
