Chapter 242 – 242. A New Monster Appears (1)

The Arena League spring season has finally begun.

Since we are on the first stage of the opening match, we usually get up early and head to the stadium.

I looked at the player rosters on the Arena League website from a vehicle on the road.
He had already memorized the roster, which included all sub players, but he did not overdo it no matter how many times he tried it.

Team Mad Tiger Gaming
Top: MTG Carryman
Jungle: MTG Beyond
MID       : MTG Major
AD Carry: MTG Phychic
Support : MTG KID
Sub: MTG SU, MTG Feel

Mad Tiger Gaming, the first team in name and reality that succeeded in reorganizing by hiring a rookie mid laner.

Team Ozone Frost
Top: OZ Blaze
Jungle : OZ Min
MID : OZ Fresh
AD Carry: OZ Spade
Support : OZ DayDay
Sub : OZ Cream

Ozone Frost, a fundamentally strong team that competed for first and second place from 2050, and a large number of old gamers.

Team Extreme Korea Telecom
Top: XKT Rendezvous
Jungle : XKT Finale
MID: XKT Circle
AD Carry: XKT Rose’
Support : XKT Savior

Extreme Korea Telecom has Rosé, the most popular player in the entire league, and has a genuine sponsor for the game.

Team Modu Blondes (all blondes)
Top: MB Beast
Jungle : MB Winner
MID: MB Marvel
AD Carry: MB Fire
Support: MB Freeze
Sub: MB Chill, MB Ice

All Bronzes, known for their name-worthy players and their unique bottom duo.

Team WM Winners
Top: WM Astro
Jungle : WM Pedo
MID: WM Warrock
AD Carry: WM HAN
Support：WM XYZ
Sub: WM Bantra, WM Site

WM Winners are gaining popularity recently because all of their players have extremely good physicals and like to fight.

Team Sejong Avengers
Top: SJ Octopus
Jungle : SJ Berry
MID: SJ Pure
AD Carry: SJ Roar
Support   : SJ Shield
Sub: SJ LLL

Apart from their game skills, Sejong’s Avengers have a lot of good-looking male players.

Team Battle Angels (Battle Angels)
Top: BA GODOG
Jungle : BA Wisdom
MID: BA Luna
AD Carry: BA Ryu
Support: BA White
Sub: BA Battlewoman, BA Sia

Battle Angels, which are all female players and have a huge fan base as they were promoted to the first division for the first time.

Team MACs Dragon Knights
Top       : MDK Hope
Jungle : MDK Lovebear
MID: MDK Endeavor
AD Carry: MDK Faith
Support   : MDK Guardian
Sub: MDK GOOSE

There are many maniacs thanks to the steady performance since the 2nd Division, and recently, Max Dragon Knights, which have grown in size due to being sponsored by Max Burger, the largest fast food company in the United States.

‘It’s a team that is not easy one by one.’

Since we went through hell training through the off-season period, we seemed to be able to do anything until the Dragon Knights and Sejong Avengers, which are known to be relatively low-ranking.

But other than that, the teams cannot be called weak, even jokingly.

‘Even if I meet Ozone Frost today, it’s not easy.’

2nd place last season.
And in the past, it is a team that used to scrim with our team and help them practice.

At that time, it was before we reached the 1st division, so we couldn’t breathe, but we had more losses than wins during scrims recently, so it was never easy.

‘If I think about it realistically, I’d better go into this game with the idea of ​​gaining experience.’

That’s why we planned to send Lee Ji-ah, a new face, to our team’s first division debut match and the opening ceremony.
Compared to Yuna Han, I haven’t matched with my colleagues much, and I don’t have much experience, but I think that I can knock it down with a lucky punch if I’m lucky.

‘Even if I can’t knock it down, it’s okay. After all, the first division is like a marathon.’

It’s not all about defeating strong teams right now.
I have to run towards the world championship for a year.

In the spring season, it was important to consistently do well and accumulate a lot of points, and in the summer season, it was important to take first place with overwhelming skills.

‘If you think so, it would be better to show Kang Yul and Han Yuna in the spring season, and Heo Sook-hee and Lee Ji-ah in the summer season.’

Unlike the past, I had players with various styles, so I could use them differently depending on the situation.

While I was contemplating a strategy for the future for a long time, I had arrived at the stadium before I knew it.

I got off with the players, exchanged light greetings with the officials, and headed to the waiting room.

After that, after letting the players rest, I left the room because I had something else to do.
If playing the game is the role of the players, my role is to take care of other things.

It was necessary to talk with the officials about the selection of formations, including the submission of the list of players participating in the first set.

“Battle, it’s been a while.”

And around the time I finished my work and went back to the waiting room, someone called and stopped in my seat.
There weren’t many people close enough to talk casually, so I could guess who it was before I even turned my head.

A player with whom he knows a lot as an opponent during his active career.
It was Ozone Frost’s jungler, Min, who is now treated as an old gamer and is in charge of a team’s captain.

“Long time no see.”

Actually, we weren’t that close, but considering the past when we debuted together and played for the opposing team, it was quite nice.

Now, at the time of his debut, the rivals who stood shoulder to shoulder were disappearing one by one into history.
Mad Tiger Gaming’s Wizard, who was a colleague and comrade, also retired at the end of last season, so it could be considered that Kang Min-hyung is almost the only first-generation arena pro gamer still active in Korea.

“Have you not retired yet?”

When he made a joke, he smiled.
I was already a retired professional gamer, so it was a light-hearted joke.
However, the answer that comes back is much more serious and heavy than expected.

“This year is the last challenge.”

Among the first-generation pro gamers, there were definitely some who had excellent physicals and were not sober.
If the reason for the success of the Arena Pro League would have been the fun of watching the game, but the passion and talent of the players must have also existed.

However, if you look at the overall level, it was true that the new players outperformed the old players in every way.
Compared to the past, when there was almost no age limit, it was said that these days, even when they become adults, their physical lags behind, and compared to veterans who are accustomed to the strategies of the past, these days players are quick to absorb.

Differences in experience and skill?
If I practiced except for sleeping time, I could make up for it.

That’s why inevitably, old gamers like Kang Min-hyung and I have no choice but to retire while listening to the sound of trash.

‘It’s amazing that Kangmin-hyung endured this far.’

Perhaps non-game factors also had a huge impact.
As the captain, the team must have continued to renew the contract because there were advantages such as setting the mood for the team and focusing on coaching other players.

“Whoops… Shouldn’t I win a championship before I retire?”

Ozone Frost has been called a strong team since my active days, and it is still a team that is strong enough to finish second in the season, but unfortunately, it has never won a championship.
It was a team that received the so-called curse or blessing of beans.

“Can’t that be?”

However, I also had no intention of giving up the championship.
Poor is pitiful, winning is winning.

If the poor guy is going to win, Kang Yul will have to win.
That kid also made his debut with me, but hasn’t he been able to shine even there as he has been to and fro in the 2nd and 3rd leagues?

“I don’t need your permission?”

And Kang Min-hyung was never a person who could be frustrated by failure.
He smiled and crossed his arms and looked at me.

“I will take it by force.”
“If you can, do it. If you take someone else’s stuff, it’s theft, so be careful.”

We weren’t even filming a broadcast, but we exchanged strange laughs while doing trash talk.
Of course, the conversation was like a joke, but it was never a joke to the extent of that.

I had the intention of winning unconditionally, and hyung wasn’t talking about empty words either.

At that moment, someone approached from the side and intervened in our battle of nerves.

He was a monster hyung who was a commentator for the first division and a first-generation pro gamer like us.

“Are you having a class reunion here? No, the atmosphere seems bloody for a class reunion, right?”

Because he was a talkative person with a chattering personality, we turned around without having to do anything first.

“Then see you at the stadium.”
“I don’t intend to see you for a long time, so don’t feel sad about it.”
“…What? Are you done? Surely you’re not avoiding the seat because I’m coming?!”

Monster hyung ran around, but we were already gone.