Genius Chapter 136: Streamer Group

Chapter 136: Streamer Group

Translated by Karai of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Addis

“Battlefields are so much better,” Watermelon continued. “You don’t have to deal with those annoying monsters in dungeons. Fighting other players is way more enjoyable.” He added, “Aren’t we going in? Look, other teams have already entered. If we’re going to fight, we should start early. Who knows how long each match will last?”

He walked over and touched the stone tablet for the Eight Desolations Platform.

[Now preparing for the Eight Desolations Platform. Are you sure you want to enter?]

The interface for the Eight Desolations Platform preparation popped up. Su Mo was the first to confirm, and the others followed suit, confirming their entry as well.

Once confirmed, everyone was immediately transported into the scene of the Eight Desolations Platform.

[Your team has been matched with an opposing team…]

[Match successful. Your opponents are [Just Here for the Fight].]

[Both teams have entered the arena. Welcome to [Eight Desolations Platform: White Crane Forest]. The rules manual has been sent to your player’s inventory. Please review it.]

In the blink of an eye, the scene in front of Su Mo transformed into a sunlit, picturesque setting. After being accustomed to the gloomy visuals of dungeon beginnings, the vibrant green, blue sky, and white clouds felt somewhat unfamiliar. He quickly gathered his thoughts and began surveying his surroundings, noticing a 5-minute preparation period at the top of the battlefield. His teammates were not yet by his side.

“Report your positions,” Su Mo instructed immediately.

His teammates began to report their positions one by one in the voice channel.

“Southeast.”

“South.”

“Center.”

“Everyone, check the rules and assess the surrounding environment during the preparation period. Prioritize meeting up with teammates.” Su Mo immediately opened the [Eight Desolations Platform: Rules Manual] in his inventory. After a quick scan, he noted down the important rules. In summary, the key points to remember were:

1. Players were divided into red and blue teams. There were 4 capture points on the map. Capturing and controlling these points would earn points for the team. The team that reached 1000 points first would win.
2. The battlefield had a 45-minute recovery time. If no team reached 1000 points by the end of the countdown, the winner would be determined by the team with the most points at that time.
3. Players who died in the battlefield would respawn at one of the 4 designated spawn points on the map. The respawn time increased with each death.
4. The map featured obstacles, and random events would occur within the battlefield.

The preparation period lasted 5 minutes, leaving 40 minutes of battle time after the preparation.

The battlefield map was not obscured, and the four corners of the map were clearly displayed. Only the positions of teammates were visible on the map.

The battlefield was forest-themed, with the victory condition being point control for scoring. According to the map, the capture points were located at the east, west, south, and north. The spawn points were at the southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest.

Additionally, the forest map wasn’t entirely covered in trees. While the central area was mostly forested, there were house-like markers in the north and south regions.

Su Mo happened to respawn in the southeast vicinity. From the map, most of their teammates had respawned in the lower half of the map, while there were no blue dots on the upper half, suggesting that the enemy units were likely located in the northern vicinity.

There was also the issue of not knowing the enemy’s composition.

“The northern capture point will probably be taken by the enemy first. We need to secure the southern point first, then move to the eastern one,” Su Mo decided immediately after reviewing the map. Given the short battle time, it implied that once they captured the points, the rate of score increase would likely be relatively fast. With 4 points in total, they needed to capture at least 3 to end the match quickly.

The forest map presented a challenge due to its complex terrain. While the map provided an overview, determining the exact positions of enemy units required visual confirmation.

Next, the team had to be organized. Su Mo had played several matches with Yu Zhen and was familiar with the pace of the battlefield. One advantage of not being in a random battlefield was the ability to allocate team roles effectively, maximizing the use of each member’s profession to capture points.

“I just forgot one thing… our team barely has a frontline tank, and it looks like we only have ClearWind as the main tank,” ClearWind suddenly realized the severity of the issue. “Can Bitter Melon run this slowly?”

Others responded, “…!”

Right, they remembered that Bitter Melon was a warrior but forgot that he was the slowest and most heavily armored warrior.

If in a dungeon they could still stand their ground and tank, here in the battlefield, every team member needed to be mobile and follow instructions, making it very likely that they might have to retreat or switch battlefields at any moment. What would happen to Bitter Melon then? Would they leave him behind?

ScarletFruit suggested, “How about Bitter Melon stands his ground, and we stay close to him for protection?”

“Fruit, this is a battlefield, not a dungeon. If you all stand together, area-of-effect spells from mages will increase your damage significantly. You’ll just be a stationary target,” Apple couldn’t help but interject. “To be honest, as a magical swordsman, I get excited seeing a crowd. The more people there are, the more damage I can do.”

FireworksAndLanterns added, “I also like it. In a crowd, I can control each one precisely.”

ScarletFruit said, “…So we only have one warrior, and the rest, except for ClearWind, are all fragile. Even the summoner’s bear can’t hold off so many enemies.”

The problem was that while in dungeons, the summoner’s bear could taunt and control aggro, taunting worked differently on players compared to monsters. It could force monsters to focus on it, but against players, it was only a temporary distraction. Players could switch targets and attack teammates immediately after.

Currently, their team has only one warrior in the frontline. This warrior was indeed a solid tank, but his speed was too slow. If the backline teammates were lost, he might not be able to hold them.

The team waited for the command from the channel. The choice to have only one warrior in the frontline must have had its reasons.

Bitter Melon said, “How about you just leave me behind? If you need to retreat, go ahead.”

Cantaloupe responded, “Bitter Melon, you saying that… Even if you didn’t, we’d still retreat.”

At that moment, the commander’s voice came through clearly, but it was also quite ruthless.

“Oh,” Su Mo said, “then let’s not have a frontline.”

The mages in the team, like Apple, started to panic. “Boss, even if a magical swordsman has a strong environment, without the right conditions, it’s still weak. I need some safety.”

The commander said, “Stand behind the bear, let FireworksAndLanterns’ bear protect you.”

FireworksAndLanterns replied, “Haha, I’ve never used the bear to protect anyone before. I’ll give it a try.”

Apple was left speechless.

Cantaloupe also became nervous. “What about me? Who will protect me?”

The commander responded, “Stay behind the crowd and protect yourself.”

The others were speechless.

This was even worse.

“Slow movement speed isn’t a disadvantage. Since we can’t run, let’s focus on defending the points,” Su Mo quickly organized the team, “Divide into three groups: the mobile team, the main force, and the defense team.”

Main Force: FireworksAndLanterns, Apple, UnchainedWanderer, Momo, ClearWind, Cantaloupe.

Mobile Team: ZenSlasher, Watermelon.

Defense Team: Bitter Melon, ScarletFruit.

With the preparation time running out, Su Mo quickly coordinated the positions of the team members.

“ScarletFruit, go capture the southern point immediately. Bitter Melon, support him. Once you’ve captured the point, stay there and defend,” he said, then added, “ZenSlasher, go check the western point on your own. The rest of us will head to the eastern point. Be cautious and observe the opponent’s formation.”

As soon as the arrangement was finalized, the 5-minute countdown ended.

They quickly assembled. Upon regrouping, Su Mo’s three-layer speed boost array was applied to the teammates, and with the speed boost effect, they immediately headed east. The forest map had many obstacles. The southern point Vicinity had houses, and once they entered the forest, they encountered large tree roots, no clear paths, only bushes and uneven terrain. The towering trees obscured the sunlight above, and their movement caused the rustling of leaves. The obstacles immediately impacted their speed.

Su Mo was almost the fastest-moving person among them. After meeting up with Yu Zhen and benefiting from the array master’s array and the acceleration from the mink, he was the first to reach their destination.

The eastern point was situated within the forest, and on a small lake with a deep pool stood a transparent crystal monument. Su Mo used his lightness skill to nimbly jump onto the lily pads on the lake, landing on the crystal monument in the center of the lake. At that moment, the transparent crystal monument slowly began to glow, and a red hue quietly formed.

As in regular battlegrounds, simply entering the area of the point would start the process of capturing it.

At that point, arrows rained down from the distance. Su Mo’s figure flickered as he jumped off the crystal monument, landing on a floating leaf and looking toward the distant marksman. A towering bear suddenly appeared on the crystal monument, blocking the monument like a giant mountain. Soon, the enemy marksman changed direction and increased their firepower, intending to take down the bear in one shot. Su Mo frowned and quickly retreated, allowing the bear to avoid the attack.

The marksman on the other side was skilled.

Summoners were not a dominant profession; once a summoned beast was defeated, the cooldown to resummon it became particularly long.

Until he understood the situation, he couldn’t afford to waste any of his summoned beasts.

From the marksman’s initial skills, it was evident that the opposing team was not to be underestimated.

In just a few seconds of engagement, the main forces of both sides had quickly arrived at the eastern point.

Unfortunately, the main force teams from both sides collided at the eastern point.

“Oh crap, isn’t that FirstUnderHeaven?!”

ClearWind immediately recognized a prominent ID among the enemy team—FirstUnderHeaven, currently the top-ranked magical swordsman. This exclamation made most of the group realize at once that they were up against one of the top and very formidable livestreamer teams.

The Grand Debate of the Realm Tournament had a unique format. Except for the registration list that was shown at the time of signing up, all player team information was hidden thereafter.

Apart from some well-known big-shot teams whose names were familiar to players, most player teams remained unknown, and even some prominent teams hadn’t been uncovered yet. The second stage was different, though. In the second stage, which was a PvP (player versus player) format, team names and lineups of prominent players became widely known through combat.

In the first stage, being quest-based dungeons, team names were not displayed during the quest challenges; only upon completion would the team names be revealed.

As a livestreamer, ClearWind knew the lineup of FirstUnderHeaven’s team from watching streams, but he didn’t know their team name beforehand. When he saw the enemy team’s name as they entered the arena, he initially thought it was just some random team. Little did he expect that they would run into a strong and popular livestreamer team right at the start of the second stage.

Su Mo paused for a moment. “FirstUnderHeaven?”

ScarletFruit added, “Bro, don’t you remember? He’s the magical swordsman you defeated back at the Valor Peak hunting ground, the really strong one.”

The team led by FirstUnderHeaven was a PvP squad, mostly consisting of livestreamers active in the Celestial Horizon battleground. This team’s PvP skills were top-notch, making them a formidable opponent. A group of fierce warriors regularly active in the battlegrounds, combined with their own semi-PvP, semi-PvE team, seemed to signal their impending defeat.

ClearWind said, “FirstUnderHeaven might be slightly weaker in PvE, but PvP is his strong suit. I’m familiar with the other livestreamers too; their skills are solid.”

Cantaloupe commented, “This is going to be tough. Livestreamer teams are all about PvP.”

FireworksAndLanterns said, “apple! This is your nemesis.”

Apple gritted his teeth. “What luck! We can’t lose this match. I was planning to buy a name change card for FirstUnderHeaven after the World Discussion Tournament!”

Su Mo asked, “Does the opposing team know our lineup?”

ClearWind quickly replied, “They probably don’t. I was careful not to stream our last quest. Besides, I saw on the forum that people were discussing who our team was…” Their team had only been briefly mentioned in the announcement when they first completed the quest. As more teams completed it and the competition heated up, discussions shifted to more prominent teams.

There were indeed posts discussing which team they were, but perhaps their name was too unusual and, combined with the fact that they had registered very late, and since the registration list was no longer searchable, no one had guessed their identity.

Voices clashed within the team. The opposing marksman, with the longest range, had not ceased their attack and seemed to be probing their defenses, without rashly moving in to capture the point. This was a 10v10 battleground, and in such scenarios, advancing too soon could put them at risk or allow them to seize the initiative.

After a few seconds, both sides seemed to take time to assess each other and the environment. The next moment, the opposing livestreamer team launched the attack first.

The team’s discussion was abruptly cut off. FireworksAndLanterns’s bear landed, and ClearWind charged forward.

“Report their lineup to me,” Su Mo instructed as he maneuvered the bear to stand beside the array master. “Watermelon, circle around and take out their healer first. Everyone, focus on the marksman, then the mages. Give Watermelon the chance to strike.”

Watermelon swiftly maneuvered through the forest, his voice confident and bold. “Don’t worry, just a healer? I’ll take them down one by one.”

Su Mo said, “If you can’t kill them, don’t come back.”

Watermelon was speechless.

The teammates were speechless.

The presence of marksmen on the opposing side meant they had the Dispel Cloak profession.

But they didn’t have a marksman, and Dispel Cloak items couldn’t be used in the battleground. If the opponents had an assassin, that would be their Achilles’ heel.

Could they handle this?

Su Mo leaped up into a tree’s vicinity, finding a suitable vantage point for observation. Several summoned beasts appeared, and the situation on the field came into view.

Sometimes having all PvP players could be a disadvantage.

Su Mo suddenly said, “Apple, do you want a chance to take down FirstUnderHeaven?”

Apple was surprised. “Is there such a good opportunity?”

“Of course,” Su Mo said, glancing at the opposing marksman’s position. “Save your burst and watch Watermelon’s position carefully.”

Watermelon, who was currently circling around, felt a pang of unease and was speechless.

Wait, what did that mean? Why should he watch his position?

***

During the Grand Debate of the Realm, the number of livestreamers broadcasting their progress increased significantly.

With the second stage being PvP, the excitement was even higher. Early in the morning, there were a lot of viewers tuning in to watch the livestreams.

At that moment, the hottest livestream in the Celestial Horizon section was called [Can Mix a Match Is a Match].

However, when viewers entered the livestream room and saw the names of the livestreamers, they knew the title was a joke. What did “Can Mix a Match Is a Match” mean? With such a luxurious lineup, wasn’t it clearly a fish pond for bullying weaker opponents?

The lineup of Can Mix a Match Is a Match was indeed very luxurious: two warriors, two healers, two Daoist priests, followed by a magical swordsman, a marksman, an assassin, and a physical swordsman.

Most of these were well-known livestreamers with proven skills and awareness. With the second stage being their home ground for PvP, they were truly in their element.

As soon as they entered the arena, FirstUnderHeaven saw the names of the opposing team’s lineup, and the livestream room burst into laughter.

[What the heck, the opposing team is called “Advertising Space for Rent??”] 

[I thought the livestreamer team’s name was already ridiculous, but the opposing team’s name is even worse.] 

[Forget it, the first match should be a sure win.] 

[I remember the opposing team was very strong; they seemed to be the powerful team that completed a five-star quest first. There were even guesses on the forum about which dark horse team it was.]

During the preparation time, FirstUnderHeaven chatted with his teammates and, seeing the viewers’ comments, said, “Being good at PvE doesn’t necessarily mean being good at PvP. The two styles in Celestial Horizon are quite distinct. We generally aren’t afraid of teams that aren’t familiar with each other’s coordination.”

As soon as the preparation period ended, their team split into three groups to quickly capture the points, with the main force heading towards the nearest and most advantageous eastern point.

However, before their main force even arrived, they heard their team’s marksman shout, “The opposing team is faster than us; a summoner has already occupied the point.”

Summoner?! The next moment, the teammate’s voice appeared again, “Damn, it’s Momo! The opposing team is Momo’s!”

[Fuck?! “Advertising Space for Rent” is actually the team of the big shot Momo?!] 

[The livestreamer team might be in trouble. Is that the archdemon Momo?]

[Is there another summoner named Momo in Celestial Horizon?]

After FirstUnderHeaven’s crushing defeat to Momo last time, he remembered it vividly. He had always wanted another chance to face Momo, but unfortunately, they hadn’t met again on the battlefield. To his surprise, during this registration for the Debate event, he encountered Momo once more. He certainly wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away, but he also remained cautious. Facing Momo required extra care, “Yoyo, report the lineup. What’s the enemy team?”

Yoyo, their assassin, had already infiltrated the forest to observe.

Yoyo said, “Two summoners, a physical swordsman, a healer, an array master… No sign of an assassin; I haven’t seen one.”

Everyone was shocked—no warrior?! And no marksman?

Author’s note:

Livestreamers: No warrior, no marksman. Is this team serious about PvP?

First marksman UnchainedWanderer: Yeah.

Warrior on defense, Bitter Melon: I’m on guard.