Chapter 27 - Not a Troll (2)

Lee Kyungbok chose the character, 'Yami,' without hesitation.

[Welcome to the mysterious battlefield.]

The view changed with the system voice. An ancient ruin-like terrain and a dummy in front of it appeared.

[A ninja, 'Yami,' who has mastered the ancient vision passed down from ancient times, is based on the five elements...]

The guiding voice continued.

Lee Kyungbok quickly skipped it because he didn't need to know the character settings of an AOS genre game.

Then, a 5x5 table appeared in one corner of the view.

On the left side, the five elements (五行) were vertically listed as Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, and Earth, and at the top, the levels from 1 to 5 were distinguished.

Each cell contained the hand signs that Yami needed to form, illustrated in pictures.

- Already dizzy, lol.

- It's not too late even now!

- I, I was a noob...

- Don't run! Face the fight!

- Oh my!

- Stop making those in-game jokes, lol.

A total of 25 hand signs.

He had to memorize all of them and practice forming them with his hands. It was no wonder the viewers were put off.

But not Lee Kyungbok.

"I'll focus for a moment."

While he was saying this,

[The broadcast title has been changed.]

[Can't I go for a three-win streak with 'Yami' in Mystic?]

The title change notification.

It wasn't Lee Kyungbok's choice.

- Editor, you see that?

- NDS! NDS! NDS!

- Aggro is solid, lol.

- The insiders are shocked, right?

- Ah, the editor was one of us.

- Real insiders wouldn't know this, but the streamers do, lol.

- Ah, lol, from now on, the streamers are best friends.

The viewers expressed their disgust outwardly but couldn't hide their laughter.

Meanwhile, Lee Kyungbok quickly scanned the hand signs.

- Oh... his eyes are rolling again.

- What? What does it imply?

- Seriously, is he going to memorize that now?

- Eyes! Those eyes!

- No, lol, is he Cthulhu?

If asked if his memory was good, the answer would be 'no.' If it were, he would have found studying interesting.

To be precise, what Lee Kyungbok was doing wasn't memorization.

'It feels like someone is drawing the pictures in my head.'

His senses 'recognized' the hand signs.

Each movement needed to form the signs clearly appeared in his mind. And this sensation naturally became familiar, as if he had known it all along.

It was like learning to ride a bicycle, where the memory was etched into his muscles rather than his brain.

- Hello.

- Who has over a thousand viewers?

- What are you doing?

- A newbie? Choosing Yami, lol.

Thanks to the changed title, the number of new viewers started to increase.

- Wow, lol, what's the Yami three-win quest?

- Conscience?

- Ah, a Q-agent, lol.

- If you're a Q-agent, it makes sense.

Eventually, the new viewers understood the situation as soon as they checked the quest. 'Agent Q's' quest was notoriously difficult.

"Alright."

Lee Kyungbok blinked a few times and cleared the table. The chat window was filled with question marks.

- King, lol.

- What's up?

- Did you just memorize that?

- Is this guy a collector of hooks?

- Ah, lol, he only saw what he needed.

- This is crazy, lol.

He quickly moved his hands, forming the signs without a moment's hesitation. As soon as one sign was formed, it immediately transformed into the next.

It was hard to believe it was his first time. When he stopped forming the hand signs, the ancient characters on Yami's robe glowed.

Then, a brown flash appeared, and the ground trembled. The sound of a rumble hit their ears as the earth giant punched the dummy.

A hit sound was heard, and a star mark appeared above the dummy's head.

It meant the stun effect was applied.

- ?!?!?!

- No, ;;

- Earth! Earth giant's technique!

-WA! You know Naruto Thomas!

- Is that the third stage of Earth?

- First game, third stage success, what ;;

The chat window was filled with shock. However, the regular viewers quickly recovered from the shock.

- This is going to be 'Perfect,' right?

- 'Purple' is 'Purple'...

- Haha, the Q-legs are sharp.

- ??? : Want to make it a draw?

- This is going for a three-win streak, lol.

- A hundred million won 77eok!

For the viewers who already knew Purple, one demonstration was enough to set their expectations.

"Alright, preparation is done! Let's start."

Lee Kyungbok didn't feel the need for more practice. Confirming that he could form the signs and activate them was enough.

He immediately ended the training and went to the main lobby. The game mode he chose was a ranked game.

- First game, ranked game, what?

- Haha, no mercy, right?

- 'Normal'? That's 'Perfect.'

- To avoid dodging, you have to go for a ranked game, lol.

As one viewer said,

'Given the current situation, in a normal game, other team members are likely to throw.'

In a relatively low-stakes normal game, players are not as desperate. Challenging a ranked game increases the chances of the game being established.

However, the following screen defied everyone's expectations.

[Welcome to the new season!]

[Your placement evaluation will be based on the results of the previous season.]

[Your previous season rank in 'PerfectPlay' is 'Bronze 0'.]

Since it was a new account, a placement evaluation, known as a 'placement test,' was being conducted.

"Ah, right. It's been almost 10 years, so I forgot."

Lee Kyungbok didn't expect this situation, but it didn't matter.

"Actually, it's better. The teammates are really lucky."

A placement test is harder to quit mid-game compared to a normal ranked game.

- Haha, you can't dodge, right?

- Dodging will send you to MMR hell, lol.

- Lucky (not)

The chat window was festive. If it were them, they would be furious, but it wasn't their problem.

Meanwhile, a thud was heard, and the match was found.

The view changed to the lobby.

The semi-transparent shadows of teammates and the opposing team, and the list of champions in front of him.

[> Hello!]

[> Nice to meet you!]

[> It's my first time, so please understand ㅎㅎ;]

The in-game chat appeared with these messages.

- Starting with greetings?

- In a placement test, shouldn't you pick your champion first?

- Ah, lol, all newbies in the first game, lol.

- Right. They're all newbies like Purple, lol.

- Oh, lol, if he picks Yami, he won't get flamed.

- Newbies are so cute, lol.

- Even trolls had their newbie days...

The viewers were surprised by the unexpectedly polite chat. Lee Kyungbok also smiled and typed.

[> Please pick your champions first. I'll pick last.]

Then, the teammates started picking their champions one by one.

- Haha, favoritism.

- This is all a strategy.

- Really, lol, trying to hide the stink, lol.

- Even newbies know Yami is a bad champion.

- Fact) All.

Lee Kyungbok didn't respond to the chat window's teasing. Eventually, all the teammates and the opposing team picked their champions.

[> If you haven't picked yet, how about a support?]

[> Reinforcing the mid lane might be better. We can support if needed.]

[> That sounds good.]

[> How about trying the ADC, even if it's difficult? I'll cover you ㅎㅎ]

The in-game chat continued.

Lee Kyungbok responded by picking 'Yami.'

[>???]

[> Player?]

[> Did you press the wrong button?]

[> Yami? What lane is Yami?]

The chat window exploded with laughter at the confused teammates.

- Teammates are so confused, lol.

- Yami, lol, what lane, lol.

- Completely ignoring the existence of the jungle, lol.

- ??? : You picked so confidently?

- Newbies are so pure, lol.

- If it were a normal ranked game, he would have been flamed.

Lee Kyungbok smiled lightly and typed.

[> I'm the jungler.]

He pressed the ready button and said,

"The Purple bus is leaving. There's no exit!"

- Is this a horror story, lol?

- Boarding the bus (forced)

- ??? : What? Let me off!

- Ah, newbies! Storm bus, Purple is going!

* * *

One of the differences between the PC-based Legend League and the virtual reality Mystic League is the deletion of the level concept.

In the Legend League, the standard is to steadily kill minions, grow the champion, and build the skill tree. In the virtual reality Mystic League, the player's skill is the level.

Killing minions and neutral monsters from the jungle is only for item matching.

- Not killing minions?

- Preparing for ganking already?

- Ah, Purple is a pro! So aggressive!

Lee Kyungbok was hiding in the brush, waiting for an opportunity.

[> Player, what are you doing?]

[> Ah... I messed up the first placement...]

[> Just come to the lane.]

[> Let's do our best together.]

The teammates naturally disliked his behavior. Focusing on the lane is the standard.

However, Lee Kyungbok didn't explain.

"Fortunately, everyone is a newbie, so there's no need for specific orders."

Lee Kyungbok looked at the mini-map and told the viewers.

Both the allied and enemy teams were firmly holding their lanes.

- Orders won't be followed even if given.

- Really, lol, who listens to Yami's orders?

- Don't isolate our Purple!

- In first-person view, I can see why the jungler disappeared, lol.

The top lane was being pushed.

Lee Kyungbok was missing as the jungler, while the enemy had two champions holding the top lane.

As a result, the teammate couldn't easily escape from near the tower.

'Now?'

Lee Kyungbok felt a sudden intuition. A menacing presence from the enemy champion 'MagnetCrane.'

"Uaaaaaah!"

Sure enough.

A mechanical arm shot out from 'MagnetCrane' and grabbed the teammate. As he was instantly pulled between the champions,

Lee Kyungbok jumped out of the brush and quickly formed hand signs.

"What...!?"

"Roots?!"

Roots emerged from the ground, entangling the minions and the two champions.

The hand signs he formed were the fourth stage of the 'Wood' element, a wide-area binding skill.

- Oh!

- So fast, wow.

- Did he memorize the Wood element too?

The viewers were amazed. In the training, he only used the 'Earth' element.

"Attack!"

Lee Kyungbok immediately drew a shuriken and shouted at the teammate. The teammate, finally regaining his senses, swung his greatsword.

"Die!"

However, the enemy didn't just stand there. The teammate was quickly pushed back by the magnetic field from 'MagnetCrane.'

Since the binding wasn't a stun, the enemy could still use skills.

"Uaaah!"

A calm player might have dodged, but it was difficult for a newbie. Lee Kyungbok frowned slightly.

Normally, he would have retreated and looked for another opportunity.

"I can't. I'll take the hit."

Lee Kyungbok thought differently.

- Huh?

- Bro?!

- You should retreat!

The chat window changed rapidly.

As the entangling roots disappeared, 'MagnetCrane' and the paladin, Ralph, next to him targeted him.

A large robotic arm and a massive axe filled his view.

"Oh no!"

The teammate, who had been pushed back, involuntarily cried out. With Yami's low health, those attacks would put him in a critical state, and the following minion attacks would kill him.

But that didn't happen.

With a metallic clang, the attacks from the two champions were deflected. Both looked confused.

- What?

- Using the Metal element too?!

- MC, MC

- Seriously, how did he time that?

Lee Kyungbok had activated a survival skill, the 'Metal' element hand sign, which temporarily hardened his body.

And he didn't miss the opportunity. The shurikens in his hands quickly mutilated the paladin, Ralph.

"Ugh!"

"What is this...!"

The two immediately counterattacked, and the minions also charged at Lee Kyungbok.

In the Legend League, he would have been dead for sure, but this wasn't a PC game controlled by a keyboard and mouse.

The Mystic League was a virtual reality where the player could move as they wished.

"Huh?"

Lee Kyungbok dodged the attacks from the two champions and jumped over the charging minions.

With his chakra depleted and then restored by a basic attack, he formed hand signs while spinning.

The characters on his robe glowed again, and a massive flame engulfed the area.

[PerfectPlay dodged it]

[PerfectPlay dynamic movement]

[Double Kill!]

The kill marks appeared.

Lee Kyungbok took a deep breath, standing on the burning ground.

- What is this, lol.

- Wtf, lol.

- God, is he Purple? God, is he Purple? God, is he Purple?

- Tip) If your health is low, just avoid the attacks.

- Fire element there? Fire element there?

- Where are you from, man?

- Hokage Punch! Hokage Punch! Hokage Punch!

The chat window exploded.

Lee Kyungbok smiled faintly and looked at the stunned teammate.

"I'll leave the top lane to you. I'll go to another lane."

"Huh? Ah, okay...!"

Lee Kyungbok left the teammate and jumped back into the brush.

"I'm starting to get the hang of it."

A smile appeared on his face.

* * *

All-Encompassing (縱橫無盡)

This phrase summarized Lee Kyungbok's play.

- Is Yami this good?

- No, he's really a bad champion.

- Really, lol, we die when we play Yami.

- Purple's movements are really ninja-level.

- Do more, Purple!

- NDS, get out!

The chat window's atmosphere changed dramatically.

Lee Kyungbok had mercilessly slaughtered the enemy team across the top, mid, and bottom lanes.

- What does he do for a living?

- I'll follow him right away.

- Physical skills MC, MC

- With this, he can dominate any champion, right?

- His physical skills and ganking timing are insane, lol.

- Wow... this is really the difference in jungling.

New viewers who joined in the middle were naturally curious about him.

But among them were those Choi Byunghoon had worried about.

- Streamers are making a fuss, lol.

- His physical skills are worth watching, but it's only possible because they're all newbies.

- Really, lol, he can't do this when the rating goes up.

They were trying to ruin the mood. However, manager Park Joo-ho didn't stop them.

New viewers were continuously joining, and their comments weren't severe enough to warrant censorship.

And they easily got lost in the admiring comments.

- Haven't subscribed to Purple's channel yet?

- Ah, lol, he's not Korean.

- Think of him as a top streamer, lol.

- Became a top streamer in the second week, lol.

- But it's true, lol.

Lee Kyungbok's performance was that shocking, and the result of the first game was almost certain.

<The enemy has surrendered.>

<Victory!>

Hearing the system voice, Lee Kyungbok tilted his head.

"Huh? It's already over?"

The game ended without even reaching the enemy base.

- 33 kills and it's already over? Really, really?

- The enemy is a newbie too, a newbie!

- Please stop the massacre of the innocent...

- Not only no deaths, but no damage, lol.

- Reason for quitting) Purple

Lee Kyungbok widened his eyes and checked his record.

[PerfectPlay – 33/0/4]

"33 kills? Oh, really? Did I kill that many...?"

His record was 33 kills, 0 deaths, and 4 assists.