Chapter 101: Semifinals – 3

Ｒｅａｄ ｏ​ｎ ＫａｔＲｅａｄｉｎ​ｇＣａｆｅ

Although they had dramatically won the first set, the two teams were evenly matched. In fact, one could argue that “Mom Said Eat Your Food” had the upper hand.

【Ah, they can’t hold! Blue LUV! The enemy Hanzo is too free!】

【The care from Mercy and Genji is truly dazzling! Lulu’s Hanzo is sticking to them until the end, but “Mom Said Eat Your Food” is turning it around and finally securing three points!】

【It looks like the payload is going in…?! With this, “Mom Said Eat Your Food” takes the fourth set, tying it 2-2!】

In a win-loss-win situation, Blue LUV lost the fourth set, pushing both teams to the brink. Especially since this was their first long-drawn game, Blue LUV’s focus was significantly waning.

• They’re going to a fifth set…
• You can see Blue LUV struggling…
• It’s going to be tough because it’s a long match.
• Erin and Lucretia look exhausted.

Especially Jia, the newbie, and Ra-hee, who was practically a returning newbie. Both of them were mentally drained, slumping into their chairs as soon as the fourth set ended.

『Erin unnie, Lucretia unnie. Are you okay?』

『Ugh, yeah. I’m fine.』

『Somehow…』

They tried to answer nonchalantly, but Da-jeong could sense the exhaustion in their voices. She bit her lip.

If things continued like this, the future she had seen wouldn’t change. It would mean watching her teammates heartbroken after being eliminated in the semifinals. That was something she absolutely couldn’t allow.

‘Alright, it’s time to bring it out now.’

So Da-jeong decided to reveal the trump card she had been hiding throughout the fourth set. They had done enough to reach this point. The original goal of saving this card for the very end had been achieved.

『CEO, can we take a strategy timeout?』

『Yeah, I’ll let the officials know.』

『Thank you.』

Da-jeong decided to use the one strategy timeout each team was given to buy some rest time for Jia and Ra-hee. At the same time, she needed to discuss the trump card.

『Alright, I got the timeout. It’s exactly three minutes.』

『Yes, that’s enough.』

Three minutes was a decent amount of time, much longer than the 90-second timeouts in basketball. Of course, basketball allows five timeouts, but three minutes was still adequate.

『Whether we like it or not, this is the final set. I think it’s time to bring it out.』

『Bring it out? You mean that?』

『Is it okay? I’m not sure if I can pull it off in my current state.』

『It’s fine. We’ve practiced hard. Erin unnie, you can do it.』

• What is it?
• Is there something else?
• Did they prepare another composition?
• But what’s left? Unless it’s something against Pharah, it’s going to be tough.

The viewers were puzzled by the cryptic conversation. Could there really be another trump card prepared for the semifinals? The secret to Blue LUV’s success from the quarterfinals until now had been their innovative compositions and fresh strategies. While some were excited, others were skeptical. It felt like they had already shown all the compositions they could.

『If we lose here, we won’t even get to show it. Whether it’s a hit or miss, we have to try.』

『Right, it would be too unfair to lose like this.』

『Exactly! Even if we lose, we should lose after giving it our all!』

As Da-jeong continued to persuade them, Ra-hee and Chae-yoon nodded in agreement. Since this was the final set, it made sense to go all-in.

『…Alright, let’s do it. I’ll give it my all until the end.』

『Our eldest is so reliable. Let’s trust her and go for it.』

『Let’s go!』

After a moment of hesitation, Jia also nodded, regaining her confidence. Ha-neul and Yuna nodded as well, steeling their resolve.

In desperate times, it’s the moment to reveal the trump card. If there was ever a time, it was now. After all, saving it for the finals would be meaningless if they lost in the semifinals.

『Alright. Since we have the final map selection, we’ll choose the map we’re most confident in, okay?』

Without specifying which map it was, everyone already knew. The members unanimously agreed with Da-jeong’s suggestion.

At that moment, they were informed that only 20 seconds remained in the timeout.

『Then, let’s cheer one last time before we go!』

Since the game would be irreversible once it started, Ha-neul suggested a final cheer to rally their spirits. Everyone responded with energetic voices.

『Yes!』

『CEO, you lead the cheer!』

『Alright? Then, three, two, one …』

During the short countdown, everyone prayed silently for the team’s victory. As soon as the countdown ended, they shouted in unison.

『Blue LUV, fighting!』

• Blue Team, fightiiiiiiiiing!!!!!!!!!!!
• Let’s go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• No regrets, guys!
• Fighting!!!!!
• We can win!!!

The final set of the semifinals. With the fans’ cheers behind them, the Blue LUV members entered the game after the timeout. The die had been cast.

**************

【Yes! After a long wait, the Twitcher Overwatch Winter Tournament semifinals, first match, final set! It’s starting now on King’s Row!】

【As expected, Blue LUV has chosen King’s Row as the map. I heard their win rate on this map in scrims was exceptionally high.】

【That’s right. It’s a choice that shows their determination to give it their all in this final set.】

Blue LUV, starting on attack on their chosen map, selected their characters without hesitation. They broke various objects around the spawn, as if showing off their overflowing energy.

But when all the picks were revealed, the commentators were puzzled.

【Huh? Blue LUV has brought out their classic 2-tank, 3-healer composition for the final set, but… the picks are a bit different?】

【That’s right. For some reason, Lilith is on Brigitte. And Erin is on… Lucio?】

【Lucio is somewhat underrated compared to Mercy in the current meta. Plus, Erin has no recorded playtime on Lucio. I’m curious about the reasoning behind this pick.】

• Lucio is kinda trash these days
• Why Lucio?
• Isn’t Lucio’s wall-riding pretty hard?
• Lilith should be good on Brigitte, though.

Indeed, Chae-yoon, who usually played hitscan DPS or Hanzo, was on Brigitte. And Jia, who had only played Mercy, was now on Lucio for the first time. While Chae-yoon had enough experience to handle Brigitte, many were worried about Jia, a newbie who had only played the low-difficulty Mercy, now playing Lucio, whose skill usage was subtly challenging.

Of course, Lucio’s passive healing and speed boost aura meant he could contribute just by existing. But that was only half of his potential, and most agreed that picking Mercy for consistent healing and damage boost would have been better.

So everyone speculated that there was a strategic reason behind the Lucio pick.

【Also, Lulu still hasn’t picked a character… Is she having trouble deciding?】

【King’s Row’s first point allows for a wide variety of DPS picks, so Lulu must be struggling to choose. The safe options would be Hanzo or Widowmaker, but given the many high-ground areas on the first point, Doomfist is also a possibility.】

Even with just five seconds left before the game started, Da-jeong still hadn’t picked a character, deepening the mystery.

With two tanks and three healers already selected, the remaining slot was naturally filled by a damage dealer. But as the attack began and the gates of the attacking team’s base opened, the character portrait above Da-jeong’s nickname finally appeared.

[If you’re going to play, you have to win!]

With a lively line, a female character riding a robot appeared, leaving everyone watching in shock.

【Huh?! Lulu picked D.Va?!】

【Wait, what’s this composition? No damage dealers… Is this a 3-tank, 3-healer setup?】

• What kind of composition is this???????
• 3-tank, 3-healer? LOLOLOLOL
• What the…
• They’re up against double snipers, this is doomed lololol.

For the first time in Overwatch history, a bizarre composition with no damage dealers—3 tanks and 3 healers—had been formed. While there had been compositions with fewer damage dealers in the past, such as 3-tank, 1-damage, 2-healer setups before Da-jeong introduced the 2-tank, 1-damage, 3-healer composition, never had there been a meta composition with zero damage dealers. Naturally, everyone was stunned.

【That’s right! Meanwhile, “Mom Said Eat Your Food” expected a double sniper composition on King’s Row and brought their own double snipers! Doesn’t this completely counter Blue LUV’s composition?!】

【They have no way to deal with long-range pressure! The only option is D.Va diving in, but even that has its limits against double snipers!】

The problem was that the enemy composition seemed like the ultimate counter. As the commentators mentioned, “Mom Said Eat Your Food” had a double sniper composition designed to pick off key targets from a distance. In contrast, Blue LUV had no damage dealers or long-range pressure. The only option was D.Va diving in with her Boosters, but even that couldn’t effectively pressure both snipers.

At this point, everyone watching thought it would be better to switch compositions. But then…

『There’s a Widowmaker on the right high ground and a Hanzo on the front high ground! I’ll handle Widowmaker, so watch out for Hanzo’s shots!』

『Got it! Let’s push while Lulu handles Widowmaker! I’ll activate the speed boost!』

『Alright, let’s go!』

In Blue LUV’s Discord, active communication was underway. Da-jeong used D.Va’s Boosters to reach the right high ground and pressure Widowmaker, while the rest of the team, boosted by Lucio’s speed aura, rushed the enemy frontline.

『Reinhardt, Discord! Reinhardt, Discord!』

『Just kill Reinhardt first! I’ll stun him!』

As Ha-neul’s Zenyatta applied Discord Orb to the enemy Reinhardt, increasing the damage he took by 30%, Chae-yoon’s Brigitte charged in with Shield Bash briefly lowering the enemy Reinhardt’s shield. Though it lasted less than a second, the enemy Reinhardt’s health plummeted under the team’s focus fire, forcing him to retreat.

But the enemy Reinhardt overlooked one thing: Blue LUV had Lucio, the only character in Overwatch who could provide a speed boost.

『Reinhardt’s at 1 HP! We need to finish him!』

With Yuna’s urgent call, Blue LUV pushed forward at a speed far exceeding the enemy’s retreat. The enemy Zarya tried to shield Reinhardt with a 200-damage barrier, but…

Thud-! Thud-!

BlueLUVLucretia  > Tonight’sDinnerIsPizza

The five-man focus fire was too much to handle, and the enemy Reinhardt was hammered down by Ra-hee’s Reinhardt, meeting his end.

【Blue LUV’s focus fire is insane! Reinhardt’s down! “Mom Said Eat Your Food” needs to retreat now! If they all die here, they’ll lose the first point!】

Realizing the danger of losing their main tank, the enemy team tried to retreat quickly to save the rest of their team, but…

Whoosh-!

Da-jeong’s D.Va suddenly appeared from behind, using Boosters to body-slam the retreating enemies. D.Va’s body slam had a knockback effect, forcing the enemy team back into the fray.

【But as if she predicted this, Lulu! She dropped from the high ground and used Boosters to push the retreating enemies back in! Is this even real?!】

【This player’s game sense is insane! Ah, at this rate, “Mom Said Eat Your Food” is just going to get swept away!】

【The push is too strong! With Lucio’s speed boost, the entire team is rushing in together, making it impossible for the enemy Reinhardt to hold! Even Hanzo is trying to deal damage from the back, but he can’t break through the sustain of three healers!】

• LOLOLOLOLOL
• What can the double snipers even do? LOLOLOL
• The focus fire is insane
• Everyone rushing in at once is terrifying
• And Lulu-chan’s game sense is OP lololol.

As if they had been hiding their strength all along, Blue LUV captured the point in just 30 seconds with overwhelming force, leaving both the commentators and viewers in awe.

Everyone had expected Blue LUV to lose helplessly against the double snipers, but the opposite happened. No matter how much the snipers tried to deal damage from a distance, as long as Reinhardt and Brigitte’s shields were up, it was nearly impossible to break through and secure kills.

Even if Hanzo and Widowmaker tried to spread out and pressure from both sides, Widowmaker was being pressured by D.Va, leaving Hanzo to deal damage alone. But no matter how many arrows he fired, without securing kills, the three healers’ overwhelming sustain would just heal everything back.

『How’s that, guys! You had to experience it to understand!』

『This is the 3-3 composition Lulu came up with!』

The atmosphere had completely shifted, and Blue LUV’s Discord was buzzing with excitement. This was it—the 3-tank, 3-healer composition, colloquially known as 3-3  or GOATS. The most oppressive meta in Overwatch history had just been unveiled to the world.

LegoMyEggo