Chapter 188

January 1st, 2021.

[NO.4212 Humanity's tutorial ends.]

[Humanity is now part of the Space League – Bronze League.]

It's been 10 years since the advent of BattleNet.

Humanity has completed the long tutorial and is now facing the main game.

[Changes after entering main game are as follows]

As if a game underwent massive updates with long patch notes.

System messages endlessly explained the changes.

-When will we finish reading this;;

-Why did so many things change, huh?

-Wait. Someone will probably summarize it hehe

At first, people were overwhelmed by the vast amount of information uploaded.

However, soon BattleNet experts stepped forward to organize the complex patch notes.

Most of the changes occurred in the in-game, taking up 70% of the content, while global changes accounted for 30%.

But what caught the attention and concern of ordinary people was mostly the latter.

[Dungeon portals will now appear more frequently.]

[Depending on the ranking in the Space League, the range of countries where dungeon portals appear will expand.]

[To avoid falling to the lower ranks, maintain your rank in the league!]

Currently, dungeon portals are only created in the lower 10% of BattleNet rankings.

Unless it's a case like boycotting BattleNet participation completely like North Korea, resulting in penalties leading to destruction.

Dungeon portals did not appear nationwide, allowing countries to somehow maintain their existence.

But now, in the main game, the frequency of dungeon portal creation is determined by the ranking in the Space League.

Certainly, the sense of crisis that the world has changed was palpable.

And then,

[GP is no longer linked to dollars and is subject to exchange rate fluctuations based on the ranking in the Space League. If the ranking drops to the demotion zone, there will be a significant penalty in the exchange rate.]

Even the price that was fixed at 1 dollar per GP until now fluctuated.

Reactions to this change were varied among those involved with GP.

-Wow, GP skyrocketed lolololol. I bought a full load because I had a bad feeling about the tutorial ending!

-Where did those guys who said GP would become worthless after the tutorial go??

-Fck I listened to those guys and exchanged all my GP yesterday… I wanna go back to yesterday

-How much is GP now?

-1.4 dollars, It skyrocketed 40% right after the tutorial ended.

-Why is it rising so much?

-Check patch notes. Now, if you don't have GP, it's the era where players die.

The factor that caused the GP exchange rate to skyrocket, in addition to the change in the fixed exchange rate system, was the changes in the game.

[BattleNet game deaths will now deduct GP.]

[If you don't have GP, you will face death.]

With this tremendous penalty, players were buying more GP in advance, causing the rate to steadily rise.

The GP, which was 1.4 dollars since the changes, had already surpassed 2 dollars in less than a couple of hours.

-Wow, this is no joke. From the first day…?

-We must win the opening match. Then the GP rate will stabilize, and dungeon portals won't appear.

-So, who's the opponent?

-20 teams in the Space League except us shown as '??'. It's like the rehearsal.

When Seong Jihan conducted rehearsal games,

Enemy species faced were shown as '??', never seen before.

Current enemies in Space League Bronze League were invisible for now too.

In this state, without any information, the humanity's representative team that started the opening match.

[In 3 hours, the opening match will begin.]

Three hours before the opening match, they were racking their brains.

* * *

'Geez… what a headache…'

Earth's representative team coach Davis sighed deeply.

Currently in charge at American First, he had been the coach since 2018 and had led the team to victory in the World Champions League for three consecutive years.

Although it was good to be recognized for such achievements when he was appointed as the coach of the Earth's representative team,

'Didn't expect this much trouble…'

The opening match of BattleNet entering the main game required significant preparation.

Especially,

'Who knew things like bans and select cards would be added….'

Ban and select cards were added after entering the main game.

The ban card prevented a powerful player from the opposing team from participating in the game, and the select card increased the chance of a designated map appearing in each match.

Depending on how these two cards were strategically used, it was possible to defeat the opponent with a disadvantageous lineup or, conversely, lose with an advantageous lineup.

'The options within the cards are diverse.'

In a hurry, Davis summoned all the Association's strategic analysts.

They urgently discussed how to use these cards in the opening match.

"We have too little information about the opponent."

"The most versatile ban card would be this right?"

The chosen ban card held the option prohibiting 3 random players among the opposing race top 10 from participating.

Completely uninformed about the enemy.

Rather than guessing a specific #1, safely cutting out 3 to start was safest.

And in the select cards choosing maps,

All maps used in previous tutorial games appeared.

"I think it would be better to play the games we've been playing so far."

"Despite gathering 2,000 players, we never fought large scale battles."

"Recent maps we played like Southgate would be most effective right?"

"The rehearsal showed many flying species too… would siege maps have meaning?"

"If we're being picky, there aren't many decent maps. Southgate is better than training maps."

"Yeah. Let's prioritize Southgate. Anyway, even if we choose it, the probability will increase, right?"

"That's true."

And so Earth's representative team decided to primarily use select cards for the Southgate map.

While doing everything the representative team could,

"Wait… why is Player Seong Jihan not on the reserve list and on the main?"

Coach Davis frowned as he watched the player list, noticing Seong Jihan's presence.

Although Seong Jihan's skills were excellent, Space League matches were only open to Diamond and above.

Putting him on the main list was pointless.

"Seong Jihan is a Platinum! He should be on the reserve list!"

"Oh, well…"

In response to the coach's protest, a BattleNet Association official spoke with a troubled expression.

"We made a promise to include him in the list no matter what happens in the Association during the rehearsal game."

"But he cleared the rehearsal game alone, right? Is there a need for the Association to honor that promise?"

"Still, except for the People's guild, everyone benefited from the Association's chosen list… and the Sword King insists on including Seong Jihan."

"What? Sword King?"

Davis couldn't believe it.

Well, even he wanted to send a player like Seong Jihan to the front lines if he could.

But from the beginning, the condition for participation was Diamond or higher. Why go through the trouble of putting his name on the list?

"But, still, out of 2,000 spots… Wouldn't it be okay to let him take just one?"

"Ugh…! What if the outcome is decided by that one spot…!"

"But the Sword King is so stubborn… The Association has decided to honor the promise rather than let the issue escalate."

"I didn't see Seong Jihan that way… Alright. Let's just move on from this one spot this time."

Despite the decision, Coach Davis expressed his disappointment to Seong Jihan, who seemed determined to be on the list using the connection with his brother-in-law.

It seems we have to let go of one spot.'

While hoping that the map selection wouldn't fall on one of the maps involving 2,000 people,

Davis, along with the coaching staff, confirmed the preparations for the opening match.

* * *

=Everyone, the day has finally come…!

=The opening match of the Space League is about to begin!

The live broadcast on Channel 0 was receiving more attention than ever as BattleNet entered the main game, emphasizing the increased importance of the Space League.

=With the end of the tutorial, many new systems have been added.

=Especially noteworthy in this game are the ban and select systems!

The commentators briefly briefed on the newly added systems and the decisions of the Earth's representative team.

As they talked about this, the screen flashed, and a message appeared, prompting them to raise their voices.

[The opposing race for the Space League match is decided.]

[The opponent is 'World Tree Elves – 71.']

=Oh…!

=Finally, the opponent that was listed as '??' is revealed…!

=World Tree Elves 71…?

=While we're 'Humanity', their name seems unique!

World Tree Elves – 71.

There was no case where the races from the rehearsal game were represented in such a way.

The opponent for the opening match had an unusual name.

Flash!

As the World Tree Elves gradually revealed themselves on the screen, the commentators couldn't help but express admiration.

=Ohh… beautiful!

=It's the Elven image we are familiar with!

=That's right. Weren't elves summoned in the Colosseum audience before? They're extremely similar!

Like the beautiful elves summoned in past Colosseum audience,

This match's elven opponents held utmost beauty, both male and female.

-Wow… My eyes are blessed.

-Each one looks like a supermodel, huh?

-How do we fight these guys?

People were initially impressed by their appearance, but…

=Ah…! But, if the opponent is Elves, it won't be easy. Information about Elves isn't just in the Colosseum stands!

=There is more information about Elves? What is it, Christopher?

=Yes! It played once on Seong Jihan's channel. Would you like to see the data screen?

When the BattleTube screen played the scene where Seong Jihan fought Elves to obtain the leaf of the World Tree, viewers transitioned from admiration to genuine concern.

-Ugh, but Elves… Their regenerative ability is insane.

-Can we handle that…?

-We need to win the opening match, but I'm a bit worried😟

Because it was Seong Jihan, they managed to defeat them

.

But can the other players on the representative team deal with the Elves like that?

People were worried.

The importance of racial preferences was evident, as seen in the chaos of the battlefield they had watched in advance.

Elves with super-regenerative abilities were perceived as extremely dangerous opponents.

However,

=The first match is about to begin.

=Starting from the Space League, each team's coach comes out to use option cards, and the game proceeds.

=For humanity, Coach Davis, and for the World Tree Elves, a figure translated as the High Commissioner.

As the screen changed, it illuminated a white table that emerged from the darkness.

Standing at both ends of the large table were Coach Davis for humanity and the beautiful Elf coach, the High Commissioner, wearing a white robe.

"Nice to meet you, everyone from humanity."

With a clear voice, the woman smiled and spoke.

-Even their Coach is a woman…

-Elves are just the best, really…

-Just smiling completes the beauty, seriously 😊 How can appearance be so deceptive?

Viewers who were swept away by the Elf coach's greeting were busy praising her just a moment ago.

[For the first match, please choose the ban and select cards and place them on the table.]

"Here they are."

Following the system's guidance, Coach Davis of humanity, regaining composure, placed the cards he had predetermined on the table.

-What cards will Elves choose?

-They probably lack information too.

-Oh please, just give us a familiar map…!

In this 5-game, 3-win match-up, the first game is crucial.

When all eyes are focused on the cards the Elf coach will draw.

With a deep smile on her lips, the High Commissioner unexpectedly made her choice.

"We will not use cards."

* * *

Meanwhile, In Humanity's player waiting room where 2,000 players have been summoned.

"What is this…?"

"Why such a choice?"

As humanity's players puzzled over the Elf coach's choice.

'It has begun.'

Seong Jihan, who doesn't have the qualification to participate, stared at the smiling High Commissioner with sunken eyes.

'Laugh as much as you want now. Today's game… won't go as you think.'