[Public Chat] Honestly, isn’t it just Kato's team <<<< Harmony solo carry???

<GIFs of Cartographer taking out the remaining users at B after assuming squad leader position>

Yeah, right~~

Fake news! All the haters can die~~

[All Comments][Sorted by Newest]

• LMAO ????????????????

• Had to give it a like, can’t be the only one fooled. ???? ㄴYo, you too????????

• Can you hear Kim Manager crying in the respawn area through VR? ????????????????????????

• Just to clarify, hating here means hating on (Kim Manager), alright? ㄴWow, looks like someone has issues with spacing!

• Honestly, calling it Harmony solo carry is ridiculous. ???? ㄴThose fools talking nonsense even after seeing her practice on stream all week long. ㄴFact: These people never put as much effort into anything as streamers do into their careers.

• Look at those dislikes piling up. ????????????

• I’m starting to fear the phrase "you are the company you keep"; is that normal? ㄴSurprisingly, yes.

• Kato getting beaten down only to join Yujin’s side eventually—legendary. ???????????????????????? ㄴThus proving the equation: More team bonding = more spiritual nourishment.

• Kato, as long as you’re happy… I love it when you’re happy. ㄴActually, I love it most when he’s suffering. ????????????????????????

"Currently, there’s fierce back-and-forth between A and B. It’s a literal tug-of-war, with a brutal battle raging for ten minutes straight. But Kim Manager’s team still lacks that final step to break through B! They need to secure a solid foothold to stand a chance!"

• They’re really going at it, both sides. ????????????

• So this is… modern warfare? Why is the kill ratio converging on 1:1?

• If this were a real war, it’d be horrific. ????????????

• Is this World War II or a VR game? ????????????

• At this point, kill points don’t seem to matter.

Intense skirmishes.

The 40-minute playtime per match was more than enough for players to die and respawn dozens of times, which was precisely what was unfolding in this second round of the Streamer Competition at the massive simulation center in New York.

Establishing a foothold to approach B effectively, allies would respawn there, gathering forces to hammer at the weaker spots. It wasn’t just firearms and grenades—grenade launchers, rocket launchers, and even cluster missile strikes every ten minutes were part of the relentless battle.

If this were real, it’d be like blending top-tier U.S. personnel through a mixer at the cost of millions in an hour. But thankfully, this was happening in VR.

Both sides commanded defenses, launched attacks, and pushed personal limits. They anticipated shifting points of attack in real-time, marking priority targets, sometimes throwing themselves directly into battle.

So, this was only the second round.

The atmosphere began to take a peculiar turn.

"Ah, Kim Manager! Will they finally break through B this time? It’s the moment where the previously saved bombardment shines! All twelve members are charging toward the dust-clouded central zone—!"

• Let’s goooooooooo!

• Why is he so desperate? ????????????

• Are we seeing it? Are we seeing it? Are we seeing it?

• Time to cheer him on!!!

• Let’s do this!!!!!

A unique form of engagement began, one seen nowhere else.

Guns fired in unison, piercing through smoke, thin steel plates, and shattering the shields of the first defense line, hammering repeatedly at the ceramic armor beneath.

Harmony defended as Kim Manager attacked—a clash epic enough for the history books.

"Line 1 is about to be breached! Set up booby traps and retreat to Line 2! Cover fire, cover fire!"

"Trophy system retrieval. Frontline point men, advance! Check ballistic shield durability and regroup. Wait for skill cooldown."

Harmony’s team adapted to Kim Manager’s agile leadership, while Kim Manager learned to masterfully command squad formations that bolstered his team’s combat capabilities.

The ensuing scene felt like a surreal siege, deploying every last resource. The close-quarters combat delivered a cathartic, no-holds-barred battle of David vs. Goliath, or Demon Lord vs. Hero, to the audience.

And viewers came to understand why clichés remain popular.

• Kim Manager is insane. ????????????

• Now I get why the Demon Lord vs. Hero trope is still beloved.

• My Monday blues are gone thanks to this. ????

• Honestly, I want Kim Manager’s team to win this one. Is that weird?

• Harmony really is an insurmountable wall. ????????????

It wasn’t just a clash between two teams. Kim Manager’s struggle seemed almost like that of a mortal resisting fate itself, a battle reminiscent of a Hero and Demon Lord clashing with the fate of the world on the line.

And so, while the scale of victory hadn’t shifted, more and more began cheering for Kim Manager. He wasn’t just facing a skill gap—his spirit to overcome a wall everyone thought impassable was inspiring many.

However, this wasn’t a fairytale. Harmony had no intention of letting the Hero win.

Her cold voice echoed through the comms.

"Skill cooldown complete. We’re pushing them back. Rotate with the frontline squad on my signal. Attack starts in three seconds. Point men, lead the way."

───Bzzzz!

With a strange hum, Harmony commanded her team for one final assault, deploying reserves saved until the last moment.

Before Kim Manager’s team could reach the attack’s endpoint, six members of Harmony’s kill team emerged from behind the dwindling defensive line with no warning.

Harmony proved to the hundreds of thousands watching what aggressive defense could achieve—and within moments, Kim Manager’s team suffered a devastating counterattack, collapsing entirely.

The second battle ended there.

"So, while both teams are effectively evenly matched, Harmony’s team has a slight edge in delivering decisive blows compared to Kim Manager’s."

"I think I understand. Yes, time is indeed the most crucial resource in these pressing situations."

During the short break, the caster and analyst reflected on the match.

Harmony’s team could push a button, like opening an umbrella when it rains, to create a safe zone. In contrast, Kim Manager’s team needed more effort. That difference proved decisive.

The result required no elaborate explanation. The two consecutive rounds had clearly shown the strengths and weaknesses.

However, reality isn’t driven by arithmetic alone, as shown by the intensely dramatic match.

"So, Mr. Russ, what do you foresee in the upcoming rounds?"

"It’s tough to say. While Harmony’s team is leading, Kim Manager is receiving a kind of ‘vaccination’ each time they clash, learning and adapting."

"Indeed. The effectiveness of repeated tactics decreases after a major battle. I’m curious to see how Kim Manager’s team will fare and if they can ultimately defeat Harmony."

• Kim Manager, step it up!

• Kim Manager grows with each match, but Harmony is already fully formed.

• Fact: Without Yujin’s coaching for Harmony, Kim Manager would have been stomped by now.

• This is brutal. ????????????

• Kim Manager’s probably dreading the punishment at this point. ????

A chaotic mess.

Of all the words to describe the scene, “chaos” seemed too mild. The chat with hundreds of thousands of viewers, though divided into many sections, was in full brawl mode.

Most people knew about the streamers involved, while others were familiar only with a few, like Harmony and Kim Manager. Others didn’t fall into any clear category—each person represented a unique perspective.

In the midst of it all, two people stood out by remaining unfazed.

No explanation was needed as to who they were.

"Kim Manager is good, but starting positions are too different. Harmony is more likely to reach four wins before he even accumulates enough data."

"Yes, that seems the most likely outcome."

"I see Yujin thinks so too."

Yujin nodded briefly.

After a moment of thought, she continued her musings, regardless of who was listening.

"Skill gains from observing others aren’t limitless, nor do they ensure continual, consistent growth. Realistically, he’s chasing a ceiling."

"Then, how many wins do you think Kim Manager’s team will achieve?"

"Probably not more than three. Maybe two, possibly one, but it’s hard to say."

"Not more than two, huh."

Thoughts deepened, and Dice sank into contemplation. He knew who Kim Manager was as a pro gamer. Dice had played during Kim Manager’s active days.

But they hadn’t crossed paths. Dice had won championships, and perhaps one of Kim Manager’s trainees had done well, but Dice was a solo player specializing in AP, while Kim Manager focused on Domination Mode.

It wasn’t easy to compare team games to solo play. Thus, the analysis he provided Yujin was based strictly on the data collected so far. And Yujin likely had a clearer view anyway.

Time slipped away as Dice drifted in thought.

Soon, a brief interview began. The interviewee wasn’t Harmony but another streamer from the tournament. It seemed the interviewees were chosen at random.

He watched absentmindedly.

"…Guess it wasn’t entirely random."

"Pardon?"

"I was just thinking… It’s Harmony."

Clap clap clap clap.

Applause and cheers filled the air before he could hear her answer. The live chat was filled with comments calling Harmony a Demon Lord. While Harmony as the Demon Lord might be a bit excessive, well, nicknames never really made sense anyway.

Harmony strode to the seat and took the microphone.

"It’s a pleasure to be here. Watching those first two rounds, I realized my goals before the match weren’t just empty words. If I remember correctly, I’ve only died once so far. Right?"

"Yes, it seems you’re quite focused on avoiding death. Especially here, where the commander’s survival offers substantial advantages."

"Exactly. The higher the tier, the more critical it is to maintain command."

A brief conversation followed, and the interview wrapped up.

"- We look forward to the rest of your matches. By the way, has your goal for the tournament changed at all?"

"Of course not. Though I might have a slight change of heart…."

After a brief pause, she gave a chilling smile and replied.

"…Having led two matches as team leader, I think I should also focus on my team’s survival a bit more."

"Ah, so you’ll play more cautiously from now on?"

"No, I’ll focus on eliminating threats faster to ensure my team’s survival."

-?????????????????????? -Total berserker. ???????????????????? -Yeah… makes sense… but who just says it like that in an interview?? -If she’s not the Demon Lord, who is? -Unhinged!! ????????????????????

A short silence.

Watching Harmony, now more bombshell than interviewee, Unreal and Russ fell silent briefly before adding.

"Thank you, Harmony. After the interview, maybe we should check if she’s been doping with some magical snake-tail potion."

"Hey, no! I haven’t even talked to Yujin in-game for a while!"

"Oh, by the way, let’s read this whistleblower message from streamer Kimstone. It says here that Harmony is definitely hiding a snake tail. Thanks for the report, everyone! Your anonymous tips keep society healthy!"

Harmony’s protests fell on deaf ears, but it was an entertaining end to the interview.

At least, Dice thought so as he clung to sanity in this increasingly chaotic tournament.

Though only halfway through, it had been eventful, to say the least.