NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 218
Chapter 218 – First Match
“Ah, it’s been 7 minutes since the match started, and Harmony’s squad has taken control of B! Manager Kim’s team is getting shredded within minutes!”
– Oh yes, as expected ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– What’s this? Why is it so smooth?????????
– Honestly, if it was going to be like this since Harmony appeared, huge thumbs up ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Of course, ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Is this TIER 1? Is this TIER 1? Is this TIER 1? Is this TIER 1? Is this TIER 1? Is this TIER 1? Is this TIER 1? Is this TIER 1?
A complete mess.
Whether to say, “What on earth is going on?” or simply, “Of course,” the situation unfolding before tens of thousands of viewers left them dumbfounded.
Naturally, it started off calmly. Since it was the first match, both teams adopted standard strategies—leaving a small reserve at the base while the main forces clashed at the central area, B. Essentially, it wasn’t even a strategy, just a simple choice.
But, in other words, it was a straightforward battle of strength, the best way to see the difference in power between the two teams.
After several minutes of fierce fighting, with blood washing away blood, the floor was covered with brass casings. It was only then that each team’s members began to collapse onto the cold ground, one by one. As strategic supplies were used up, pure destruction was unleashed.
Surprisingly, the first ones to be pushed back were Harmony’s team. More precisely, Harmony’s squad remained intact, but other team members, engaged in separate battles, melted away faster than expected. Also, B’s occupation by the enemy and their rapid reinforcements contributed to this.
Thus, it became 5 against 10. Harmony’s squad was blocking the path from C, not B, and the situation seemed unfavorable at a glance.
However,
-[Friendly Communications: Hey! Six are coming to A! Send reinforcements ASAP! Otherwise, we’ll all be wiped out! There are only two of us here!]
“Roger. Sending a squad right away.”
A flickering A, its control wavering. She had instructed her team, ‘If you die, join the two at C and attack A,’ which was executed thoroughly.
And at that moment, Harmony, the sharp spear, pierced through B.
“Five approaching from the front!”
“Five? Understood. Let’s try to hold them off.”
Six allies, five enemies.
The numbers weren’t greatly favorable but neither were they disadvantageous—since the numbers were nearly equal, B was easily breached, but that was expected. From here, things took an unexpected turn—after capturing one terminal at B, Harmony’s squad fortified their defense in an impenetrable position.
It wasn’t an unknown strategy. But with the individual trophy system—hard kill—they intercepted explosives, making the situation increasingly peculiar.
They had to drive them out, and quickly.
But,
-[Alert: Control of A has been taken by Harmony Group.]
The situation heated up further.
A and C were lost, leaving only B. Half the team was wiped out at A, even though a squad had joined the two defending it. Three enemies were killed, but the kill log showed the nickname ‘Cartographer’—killing allies without dying.
Then, Harmony’s team, who had been holding B, began to move in earnest.
She declared in a cold voice.
“Orders issued. Within the next three minutes, make sure only our team is walking around B.”
And that’s exactly what happened.
As the overwhelming piercing spear accelerated, B’s power structure shattered instantly.
───Thududududu! Boom!
“Defense turret down! Unable to repair!”
“Grenade, grenade! Aaaagh!”
“Retreat to A! Abandon B! Final defense line breached—argh!”
“No way.”
In less than a minute, the final defense line crumbled. A sticky bomb on the defense turret set up by the mechanic blew apart the first line of defense, and Harmony’s squad broke through in the chaos.
As a seeker mine left unique traces on the ground, emitting smoke and flames simultaneously, Harmony, the first to break through, skillfully began firing at everything in sight. Silenced gunshots sounded repeatedly, erasing two enemies per magazine.
The magazine hit the ground and bounced once before settling; by the time it did, Harmony had reloaded and aligned her sights.
A green laser pointer sliced through the air menacingly, a finger twitching to send green-tipped bullets slamming into the armor, soon piercing the ceramic ballistic vests and ejecting enemies into the lobby.
The timing allowed no room for reaction.
Suddenly, the numerical advantage grew. By the time the enemies regained their composure, Harmony was hidden behind cover, and her squad was advancing, slicing the enemy territory like a cake.
Then, thirty seconds later.
-[Alert: Lost control of A.]
-[Alert: Regained control of B.]
The scene reset to the beginning.
“No, this breakthrough power is…”
Beyond imagination?
How to express this?
The overwhelming pressure felt here wasn’t even experienced in simulations against professional gamers. It felt like a building was pushing in, rather than a person—a fate one couldn’t resist.
If this had happened to me, it wouldn’t have been pleasant, but what could I do? Reality was cruel, and unfortunately, the game was ongoing. There was no time to idly comment or discuss strategy.
Losing B meant securing the shortest route to A or C, enabling smooth squad operations.
He decided to quickly regain control.
“…First, focus on retaking the area. Concentrate all forces on B and send a detachment to C. Not just charging blindly, but securing an operable area from B.”
Immediate adoption of useful tactics was necessary. Manager Kim was both the captain and helmsman of this ship. Though uncertain, confidence had to be created or seized.
His team moved promptly. Two teams of five and one detachment of two. His doctrine was that a squad was merely an operational team of a certain size, and often they split to follow other team leaders’ commands.
That’s what they had been practicing all along.
Ten members, divided into two groups, quickly approached B. Everyone tensed their bodies to be ready to engage and withdraw at any moment. A drone launched into the air to determine the firing angles of the defense turrets installed at B, identifying blind spots in the process.
However, what was necessary for a thorough analysis was human life. People had to take the bullets to identify elements that machines couldn’t detect. Harmony’s team was by no means an easy opponent—quite the opposite, they were a strong team with a much higher likelihood of winning.
Even in Manager Kim’s eyes, who had worked as an analyst for a professional team and continued to utilize his skills as a streamer, they appeared formidable. How would others perceive them?
-[Alert: Field of view analysis complete.]
“Bravo Team, enter through the transmitted route. We will infiltrate sequentially.”
The preparations were mostly complete.
The most crucial task was understanding Harmony squad’s movements. The mere presence of their asymmetric power at B significantly reduced the likelihood of capturing the area.
There were nine enemies at B. Their team had ten. The one-person difference was negligible. The rest was left to chance, as the practice they had accumulated couldn’t guarantee a ‘worthwhile effort’ in this situation.
Entrusting everything to instinct and muscle memory, they gradually divided the enemy’s territory. The most important thing was patience. It was crucial to eliminate enemies one by one in the most certain circumstances.
But.
“Harmony’s squad is moving. What should we do?”
“The longer this drags on, the worse it will get. Let’s fortify our defenses like they did and gradually wear down B.”
Even if they died, they had to avoid being killed one by one. If their reinforcements got entangled, there would be no solution. It would be better to get wiped out all at once and regroup for the next time.
Thus, they succeeded in securing a position at B. Since two spearheads collided head-on, they anticipated no one-sided losses, and that turned out to be correct.
However, Harmony’s squad began their advance in earnest.
“…Keep reporting. Especially on Harmony squad’s movements.”
“No signs of a direct breakthrough yet. They seem to be continuously issuing commands to their team, so they’re likely to act soon.”
“Roger.”
How much time had passed?
“They’re coming.”
───Boom!
With an explosion, the most tactical yet crude form of engagement began. The realm of tactics descended to that of strategy. Leading the charge was a mint-colored flash. Each time her squad members were slaughtered, the primal screams and the MK47’s discharge echoed through the intercom.
This engagement would lay the foundation for better actions in the next battle. Even a defeat could be termed a tactical retreat.
Without such thoughts, justifying this brutal situation was impossible.
“This is too much.”
A hollow laugh inevitably escaped.
It’s a given that Domination matches can’t be won by the heroic deeds of a single person. But if an entire squad was exceptional, it changed the story.
Moreover, if that person excelled not just as a member but also as the squad leader, the difference was even more pronounced.
The decreasing numbers on both sides weren’t the main concern.
The most crucial factor was whether they could break the enemy’s core strength.
A decisive blow or an asymmetric power to overturn a specific situation…
Without this, narrowing the gap was impossible.
As ten members dwindled to six, Manager Kim immediately ordered a retreat.
“Retreat to the pre-arranged gathering point. Follow Bravo Team’s infiltration route for the retreat. I will continue to command until we safely retreat. Mechanic, use all available skills.”
Boom!
Smoke, flames, and flashes erupted everywhere.
Naturally, losses continued. Retreat was one of the most perilous operations, and managing forces during this process was even more challenging.
However, if there was one thing he overlooked again, it was that Harmony’s squad—and his own breakthrough power—were equally effective in pursuit as in offense.
───Boom!
At that moment, a mint-colored cat emerged through the smoke and explosion, glaring menacingly at him.
“Where are you rushing off to?”
Next time, he might have to consider a self-destruct tactic.
Unfortunately, the next thing that greeted him was a rifle butt. As the storm of disorientation swept over his body, he felt the vibrations of boots through his ears and body.
That was the last sensation he experienced before respawning.
“First match of the Streamer Showdown! Harmony’s team takes the lead-!”
Predictable to some.
Shocking to others.
Even the same news spread differently among those interested and those not, resulting in varied reactions.
Nonetheless, what was certain—Harmony had successfully promoted herself more impressively than anyone in front of tens of thousands of viewers. The memory of the first match would stand as the biggest challenge for today’s showdown.
Applause erupted, cheers echoed, and the host’s praise mixed with the admiring gazes of her teammates. Yet, her expression remained ambiguous. Specifically, it seemed contemplative.
On the other hand, Yoo Jin displayed a similar reaction.
The only difference was that while Harmony hadn’t reached a conclusion, Yoo Jin—and Dice, sitting next to her—had.
Dice spoke first.
“That streamer, Manager Kim, isn’t bad. But his analytical skills seem to be a bit better.”
“That’s similar to my thoughts.”
After taking a breath, Yoo Jin added,
“If Manager Kim’s side squeezes out their utmost effort, they might send a squad member or two, or even Harmony, to the respawn screen. Whether they prepared for that will likely determine the outcome.”
“What do you think? Do you think Harmony is prepared?”
“Hmm.”
She smiled slightly before adding,
“Probably. Considering who her teacher is.”
She had high standards for Harmony.
Dice smiled wryly at that and refocused on the front.
The second match was about to begin.