Contrary to Shin Ji-ho’s assumption, Lee Shin hadn’t chosen Celestial Crossroads out of arrogance, thinking he would win no matter what.

'I need to face a strong opponent to regain my senses faster.'

He needed someone who could push him to the edge and force him to stay on high alert.

Pro gamers grow the most when they struggle to turn a losing game into a victory.

That was Lee Shin’s philosophy when it came to practice.

The game began.

Lee Shin quickly advanced his tech tree.

Supply Depot, Barracks, Refinery, Armored Station.

As soon as the Armored Station was completed, he produced a Rapid Tank and immediately began constructing another Armored Station.

It was a strategy designed to seize the initiative from the start by harassing with Rapid Tanks. A build that best showcased his aggressive playstyle.

Rapid Tanks continued to be produced from the first Armored Station.

The newly built Armored Station was upgraded with an Armored Attachment, allowing it to produce Mobile Turrets.

Once four Rapid Tanks and one Mobile Turret were ready, Lee Shin launched his attack. He even sent two Construction Robots along, marking the start of a full-scale offensive.

'I knew it.'

Seeing Player_SIN’s attacking forces, Shin Ji-ho smirked.

With that unit composition at this point in the game, it was a Two Armored Build.

A strategy that involved building two Armored Stations early and launching an offensive—one that had been popular back when Lee Shin reigned supreme.

Back then, no one could keep up with Lee Shin’s speed as he relentlessly pressured his opponents with Rapid Tanks from the start.

However…

'What era do you think this is, old man? Still using the Two Armored Build?'

The Two Armored Build had faded into obscurity after Lee Shin’s retirement.

That was because a new build had emerged that rendered it obsolete—a build created by none other than Shin Ji-ho himself.

Shin Ji-ho had already fortified his defenses by constructing Trenches and positioning a Mobile Turret at the back.

More importantly, at his natural expansion, Construction Robots were already hard at work gathering food and mineral resources.

If he could hold off this attack, he would gain an overwhelming economic advantage.

This was the core of the One Barracks Double build—a strategy that involved securing an expansion right after building a single Barracks.

With no openings to exploit, Player_SIN’s forces couldn’t launch a direct attack. Instead, they laid mines in front of Shin Ji-ho’s base and set up a forward line to contain him.

Meanwhile, Shin Ji-ho used his surplus resources to mass-produce Mobile Turrets and Rapid Tanks.

Once he had amassed a large army, he immediately began his advance.

The enemy’s defensive line set up outside his base was nothing in the face of his superior forces.

"Oh, he’s going in."

"Their builds were completely different from the start."

"Why is he using such an outdated build in a Human vs. Human match?"

"Maybe he really is a retired player. That was a build from last year."

The other players watching the match chatted among themselves.

Just then—

"What are you all gathered here for?"

Manager Bang Jin-ho entered the practice room and asked.

"Manager, Shin Ji-ho is playing against Player_SIN."

"Who’s that?"

"An online expert. He claims to be a retired pro, but he’s seriously good."

"Retired?"

Manager Bang Jin-ho tilted his head in curiosity and turned his gaze to Shin Ji-ho’s screen.

The game was overwhelmingly in Shin Ji-ho’s favor.

Leading a massive force, Shin Ji-ho took control of the center of the map, pushing the front line forward and restricting his opponent’s movement.

At this rate, Shin Ji-ho's victory was inevitable.

"That was an easy win, wasn't it?"

Manager Bang Jin-ho commented, sounding unimpressed.

"Their builds were completely different. The opponent used a Two Armored Build."

"Why would anyone use a Two Armored Build nowadays?"

"Maybe because he's retired."

"Seriously, unless it's Lee Shin, no one in this era would…"

Bang Jin-ho trailed off mid-sentence, suddenly realizing something.

Come to think of it, the opponent's ID was Player_SIN.

And he claimed to be a retired player.

'Lee Shin?!'

Only Bang Jin-ho, who had recently visited him, knew that Lee Shin’s wrist had recovered to some extent.

'No way…'

His entire demeanor shifted as he watched the game.

Shin Ji-ho was maintaining pressure while running a total of three expansion bases.

He wasn’t launching a direct assault, but he was keeping his opponent trapped in his main base, planning to choke him out through resource starvation.

If the opponent was really Lee Shin, he wouldn’t go down so easily.

'Even the Lee Shin of old would struggle in this situation.'

He shouldn’t have let the game reach this point in the first place.

Just then, a small group of enemy units appeared at Shin Ji-ho’s frontline blockade.

Two Tactical Satellites and two Rapid Tanks.

'Huh?'

The Tactical Satellites deployed Defensive Shields onto the Rapid Tanks.

Bathed in a glowing blue aura, the two Rapid Tanks charged into Shin Ji-ho’s defensive line, with the Tactical Satellites following close behind.

BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—!

Shin Ji-ho’s Mobile Turrets fired in unison, but the shielded Rapid Tanks endured the bombardment and managed to get dangerously close.

While in bombardment mode, Mobile Turrets were incapable of close-range attacks.

However, Shin Ji-ho's own Rapid Tanks were positioned nearby to provide cover.

By the time their concentrated fire finally broke through the shields, the two Rapid Tanks were on the verge of destruction—just barely, they managed to plant two mines before exploding.

And then…

"Whoa!"

"What the hell was that?"

"Huh?!"

The players watching were in shock.

It was an unbelievable display of control.

Just as the mines were deployed, Shin Ji-ho instantly targeted them for destruction.

But in the split second before his attack landed, the Tactical Satellites cast Defensive Shields on the mines!

It was a maneuver executed in a fraction of a second.

Shielded by the Defensive Shields, the mines remained intact despite Shin Ji-ho’s focus fire—and they detonated.

BOOOOOM—!!!

Four Mobile Turrets and five Rapid Tanks nearby were caught in the twin explosions and annihilated.

"Was that even possible?"

"That was insane."

"How did he manage to shield the mines in that short moment…?"

The watching players murmured in disbelief.

Manager Bang Jin-ho trembled with excitement. If the fans had seen that moment, they would have erupted in cheers.

There was only one player who could consistently create such legendary moments.

'It’s Lee Shin!'

Manager Bang Jin-ho was now certain.

As if a dam had burst, Lee Shin’s forces poured out of his base all at once.

Of course, breaking through a single blockade didn’t mean the game had turned completely.

Shin Ji-ho still had three expansion bases.

Lee Shin had only one at his natural expansion.

The difference in resource income at this very moment was significant.

But with his near-miraculous display of micro-control, Lee Shin had momentarily shifted the game’s momentum in his favor.

Disrupting the opponent with super plays and launching a counterattack—that was Lee Shin’s signature style.