Kwon Joo-min, the best player in the Korean Skeleton League.
The annual salary earned by such a Kwon-min was at a level that even quite a few awakened people were told to go away.
It was because the annual salary alone, including the match fees received for each game and supplementary income such as advertisements and sponsors, was a whopping billion.
Of course, many people envied such a person and threw themselves into the Skeleton League using him as a role model, but such a person was immersed in boredom these days.
“Something is boring.”
At first, each team had a distinct personality.
It was not uncommon for them to change their parts frequently, come up with out-of-the-box strategies and algorithms, and get beaten by teams that had just entered the national league.
The appearance of such rookies made Kwon Ju-min hot, and Kwon Ju-min developed a new algorithm accordingly, and a friendly competition continued.
However, at some point, the players’ skills were leveled up and the most efficient algorithms and strategies were fixed, so now Kwon Ju-min felt like he was there no matter who he competed with.
Of course, even in the midst of that, rookies who come out with new algorithms appeared occasionally, and it is true that top players like Kwon Ju-min are still dynamic, such as overwhelming physically by modifying the algorithm at a crazy speed during the game, but in the early days of the Skeleton League It felt like a lot of lacking for the people who experienced it.
“We are now pros. Don’t go anywhere and talk like that.”
Kwon Ju-min laughed at his colleague’s words.
“I’m just saying. Honestly, where else would I go to have fun like this other than the Skeleton League? But it’s true that everyone is too defensive these days.”
A trend that has become fixed recently is the defense strategy.
It is a strategy that aims for a shot after strengthening the defense, and most teams are using this strategy because the risk of failure is lower than that of an offensive strategy.
As a colleague said, since he is a professional player, if he can win somehow, he must do whatever he can.
“What can I do, from what I can see, that is the most efficient. Attacks are suitable for someone who is physically strong like you, but those who aren’t should do it anyway.”
Skeleton matches are obviously algorithm-based and give breaks to change the algorithm in the middle, but there was no rule that the algorithm should not be changed in the middle of the match.
Of course, most players changed the algorithm in real time to win while the game was in progress, but it couldn’t be easy to modify the algorithm in the middle of a fierce game, and how quickly it could be done was the difference between top players and ordinary players.
And the reason why Kwon Ju-min is called the strongest player in the league is because he was considered the best in this field.
“Besides, regardless of your personal feelings, the popularity of the Skeleton League continues to rise. Can you say that you, the leading player, are boring in such a situation?”
“okay okay. nagging.”
That time when I was arguing with my colleagues in the practice room.
-Ding!
Kwon Ju-min, who heard the notification sound and took out his cell phone, said.
“hmm? Association notice?”
A notification from the Skeleton League Association.
Kwon Ju-min’s eyes widen as he clicks the notification without thinking and reads the contents.
“Raid match. A way for everyone on the team to defeat the first boss? Even the boss, Han Ji-hyeok, made the algorithm himself? What crazy!”
Prize money is also prize money, but for Kwon Ju-min, who suffered from boredom, the match against Han Ji-hyeok was literally like a shower on dry ground.
“There is also a picture file. silhouette?”
An official letter with a single file outlined in black.
However, the silhouette had a completely different appearance from the skeleton.
Something fat and full of feeling.
“what? Armor? Ahh! I’m really looking forward to this!”
Kwon Ju-min said with an excited expression.
“hey! Call all the kids together! Let’s prepare for the raid match!”
* * *
buzz buzz.
Huge crowds gathered at the main arena used for important Skeleton League matches.
Of course, these were the spectators who had gathered to watch the raid match, which was being unveiled for the first time today.
“Who did you say your opponent was today?”
At my words, the manager of the operation department, which oversees the Skeleton League, said.
“yes. Lightning.”
“Lightning, isn’t it the first championship winning team?”
“you’re right.”
“Who was it? Kwon Ju-min or a player is really good at it.”
“He is still one of the best players for the Lightning.”
Ohh.
Since then, numerous teams and players have joined the Skeleton League, but it is still at the top.
“Excellent.”
A team like that is good enough against Meat Golem’s debut.
“Shall we begin?”
“yes. Get started.”
“All right.”
After receiving my instructions, the manager said something into the walkie-talkie, and the presenter at the stadium lifted the microphone and said.
-everyone! Long wait! finally today! The raid match we announced is about to begin!
“Wow!”
-Today’s first team to face the raid boss is!
At that, the door on the other side opened and Lightning’s players entered along with dozens of skeletons.
– Lightning!
Then the audience cheers and shouts like crazy.
“Lightning!”
“Right people! Marry me!”
The Lightning players waved their hands at the audience in such fervent cheers.
“It’s popular.”
“yes. As a first-generation team, they are still strong contenders. I have a huge fixed fan base.”
Then the presenter said.
-And Lightning’s opponent is… Chairman Han Ji-hyeok!
Originally, I was planning to summon a meat golem right here to continue the match, but since the atmosphere was so warm, I had to do some service.
I flew up from the VIP seat with fly magic and landed lightly on the arena.
“Wow!”
“Han Ji-hyeok! Han Ji-hyeok!”
I waved my hand like the Lightning players, and I accepted the microphone and said to the host.
“Nice to meet you. This is Han Ji-hyeok.”
After greeting the audience like that, I looked at the Lightning players and said.
“Hopefully a good game today.”
At my words, Kwon Ju-min said with an excited expression.
“It is an honor to be able to play against President Han.”
“What else is glory? Anyway, please do your best, it’s not a boss that can’t be beaten.”
It takes a long time to make a real Seron Meat Golem class, and above all, if it’s too strong, it’s an algorithm, and you shouldn’t shoot everything with your specifications.
So I adjusted it moderately.
“of course!”
I picked up the mic again and said.
“Then let me introduce today’s boss.”
“Oh oh!”
When I raised my hand like that, the sub-space opened up and the meat golem slowly appeared.
thud!
“Wow… uh?”
Only one leg came out, but the arena vibrated, and the spectators who saw the grotesquely shaped legs of the meat golem, which seemed to be covered with leather, fell silent.
A meat golem that slowly appeared from subspace.
I said with a confident expression.
“It’s a meat golem!”
With a huge size of 15m, meat golems appearing fat and full of bones and flesh, unlike the skinny skeletons.
It’s pretty neat though.
Generally speaking, meat golems have a grotesque and horrifying appearance that exudes ooze from rotten flesh and a rotten smell, but the meat golem I created was a work that mobilized all of my aesthetic senses.
The inside is composed of fresh flesh and bones of the carcass, so there is no smell or ooze.
I also paid attention to the color of the leather covering it, and matched the left and right symmetry to reduce the horror.
Of course, it can’t be helped that it’s disgusting because hundreds of pieces of leather are connected to each other, but even this much is really neat in its own way?
By the way, the silence is getting too long?
… Did you overdo it?
At that time when I was so timid for a while.
“Wowaaa!”
“That size! that strength! That’s the real undead boss!”
From nob le mtl dot com
Monster corpses brought by Awakeners are openly traded, and monsters pop out of unstable gates when bored.
People who greeted them more fiercely than expected.
“Oooh!”
At that time, cheers are heard from the Lightning side.
“It’s my first time fighting a giant boss!”
“Quickly fix the algorithm!”
I looked at him and smiled and said.
“I’ll give you another 15 minutes, so get ready. By the way, the meat golem has a core, and if you destroy that core, Lightning will win.”
Before I made Meat Golem in Seron, I wondered why games and various media would bother putting a nuclear weakness on a golem, but when I tried it, I realized why.
In order for the meat golem to operate, you need to spread the magic circle all over the body, but if you draw it all over the body, it could be cut off by an unexpected attack, so it was more stable to unite it in one place and make it into a core.
Anyway, so the key to attacking both the Seron Meat Golem and the Earth Meat Golem is to aim for this core.
“All right! I will take that into account and prepare for it.”
“okay.”
Having given me such preparation time, I said while looking at the cheering audience.
“Then, while serving, shall we try a little more?”
When I snap my fingers, the meat golem roars towards the sky.
“Coooooooooo!”
Then the audience jumped up from their seats and shouted.
“The intimidation is crazy!”
Then the Meat Golem slowly walks along the perimeter of the arena so the audience can get a closer look.
thud! thud! thud!
“Looking at it up close, it’s even better!”
“The ground is shaking!”
A show of sorts to show people that Meat Golem is a safe pet under my control.
That time when he roared like that, beat his chest, and showed off aegyo that wasn’t aegyo for a long time.
“I am ready!”
When I said I was ready, I smiled and said.
“It’s fast. great.”
I said, rising to the sky again.
“Then, let’s start the Meat Golem Raid!”
* * *
thud!
One of Lightning’s skeletons dies as the meat golem slams its massive arm down.
But that was all Lightning’s intended operation.
“explosion!”
At Kwon Jumin’s words, the player in charge of the wrecked skeleton presses the emergency button on the console.
Then, the skeleton that was smashed by the meat golem’s fist explodes with a bright glow.
Kuang!
In the meantime, many combat parts have been continuously released, and the self-destruct parts used this time.
When the explosion occurs in such close proximity, the meat golem’s fists are torn apart and flesh bursts out.
“Good!”
But I love it for a while.
The torn flesh is recovering slowly, but little by little.
“Do you have the ability to regenerate?”
Not only possessing enormous strength and size, but also having regenerative abilities.
“sh*t. Quickly cut it before it plays!”
Skeletons were put in like that, but the meat golem smashed the skeletons by swinging its intact arm.
Kwon Ju-min said with a tired expression after seeing that.
“It’s too strong.”
Obviously Han Ji-hyeok said he didn’t make it to an unwinnable level, but since it was his first match against a large boss, he couldn’t dare to face it with the algorithm he created in just 15 minutes.
After thinking for a while, Kwon Ju-min said.
“Maybe it was greed that I tried to win right from the start.”
Raid is about defeating a powerful enemy after countless challenges from the beginning.
Kwon Ju-min said to his colleague.
“Will the other teams be able to catch that meat golem soon?”
“Never. In the first place, the prize money was huge, but did you make it so easy to get caught? Chairman Han has pride.”
“Is that right?”
They will watch their matches and study the algorithm, but that meat golem’s strength is not easily matched.
Even if Lightning were defeated here, it was clear that it would take quite a while before it completely attacked that meat golem.
“Chairman Han said there must be a nuke somewhere in the Meat Golem. Then, wouldn’t a different defense pattern come out every time you attack the place closest to the nucleus? Because the most important thing is nuclear.”
“I guess so.”
“Then let’s change the strategy. In this match, I will focus on figuring out the pattern, even if it means sacrificing all the skeletons.”
* * *
“Ohh?”
At first, Lightning’s strategy, which was an onslaught to somehow damage the meat golem, changed in an instant.
Lightning attacks the meat golem in a different way each time, sacrificing the skeleton without hesitation, as if poking it here and there to see how it reacts.
Anyway, the cost of skeleton repair is supported by Seron, and they can afford it with their own annual salary, so they just throw it all away.
“Are we going to focus on securing a pattern this time? You are smart.”
It is also the judgment of a winning candidate.
Lightning seemed to have no chance of winning, so he chose to take a step back in order to advance this step.
Of course, if I intervene and modify the algorithm, it can be dealt with immediately, but that will remove the motivation for hosting the raid match.
Reinforcing the meat golem’s algorithm through this raid match is also reinforcing, but what’s equally important is how to attack the meat golem.
“Later, when the meat golem of the Seron Undead Corps appears, you can catch it with the strategy obtained here.”
Anyway, how long has it been?
Lightning sacrificed all the skeletons as if feeding them.
When the game was decided like that, the host shouted.
-The winner is the Meat Golem!
When I snapped my fingers in line with those words, the meat golem roared.
“Chur uh uh!”
“awesome!”
“Oh oh!”
“Ahh. I did, but I lost.
While I was serving the audience like that, I looked at the Lightning players and smiled.
“Your eyes are alive.”
The eyes of a hunter looking for an opportunity, not the eyes of a loser.
“good. Just do it.”
The more you squeeze and squeeze your hair like that, the more perfect the result will be.
* * *
As this is the first raid, it is a 1-phase meat golem with an algorithm that was intentionally made imperfect for players to adapt.
But I think I ignored the level of the players too much.
All the teams in the 1st division were not even able to respond properly until they went around one lap, but as the number of times increased, the teams gradually started to oppose the meat golem in their own way.
From the team aiming for the nucleus and stabbing it with a long spear, to the team trying to burrow into the flesh.
With so many strategies popping up, I thought that the first attacker would come out after at least 10 encounters, but a successful team came out after only 5 attempts.
That team is the Lightning.
Taking advantage of the fact that the Meat Golem prioritizes the enemy that inflicted the most damage on it, Lightning activates the Skeleton, which became the first target to attack, in evasion mode to attack the Meat Golem in an aggro way that takes time. He succeeded in finding and destroying the nuke and won the prize money.
Once the location of the nucleus was revealed, it was a matter of a thousand steps from then on.
Other teams also used that information to intensively attack the abdomen and succeeded one after another, and Seron paid differential prize money according to the successful rounds and order.
As soon as the 1st phase meat golem made for adaptation was attacked, I immediately re-introduced the more upgraded meat golem in phase 2, and all the teams struggled to attack the stronger meat golem, feeling frustrated again in phase 2. write
Except for one team.
“Is it still Phase 1?”
Everyone has defeated the Phase 1 Meat Golem and entered Phase 2, but one team is still struggling in Phase 1.
The team name is PMT.
“Which team is this?”
“We are currently at the bottom of the first division.”
At the words of the manager of the operation department, I shook my head and said.
“But that’s true, it’s as if the strategy for Phase 1 is already out, but you still can’t attack it?”
No matter how low a team is, even such a low team is a strong player who broke through the local league and climbed up to the first division, the national league. Isn’t this a bit harsh?
“Did you lose your motivation because the prize money for last place was small?”
A huge prize money is given to the first attacking team, but the last place prize money is only 100 million won.
However, it is even more disappointing if the motivation has disappeared because of that.
“Then I should pass the first phase faster and then try again in the second phase. Tsk tsk.”
“Could it really be like that? It’s just because I’m not good at it.”
then it doesn’t matter
“Take the video. How the hell can you do that? I purposely set it weak.”
According to me, the manager of the operation department plays a raid match between PMT and Meat Golem on his laptop.
“hmm.”
I watch the game so carefully.
“Are you okay?”
Unexpectedly, PMT’s skeletons compete against Meat Golem in a fierce battle.
This is exactly what I expected.
It’s not top-notch, but it’s not to the extent that it’s embarrassing to go somewhere like a 1st division team.
This would be enough to beat the 1st phase meat golem with the strategy?
Then a strange scene caught my eye.
“uh?”
A skeleton that took a chance near the nucleus in its abdomen.
But isn’t that skeleton attacking the wrong place?
“what is this.”
What are you doing all of a sudden after you’ve been doing well?
Why are you aiming at the wrong place there?
“Hmm?”
I’d rather understand if everything was sloppy from start to finish, but did you do well and miss such an important opportunity?
Feeling strange, I began to observe the video more closely.
And I realized
“Are you losing on purpose?”
That PMT is losing on purpose now.
It feels all the more certain because he has been dealing with the undead for decades.
“Why?”
There’s no reason why you have to lose on purpose… uh? wait for a sec.
no way?
I said with a puzzled expression.
“… Are these bastards trying to fix the match?”