The second half of the pro league season had begun.

The 4th round of the 2020 pro league.

It was the final round that would determine the top four teams advancing to the postseason.

The individual league for the latter half would also be starting soon, but for the players, the pro league was what truly mattered.

The individual league was a matter of personal honor, but the pro league was for the professional teams they belonged to.

Their pro league performance was also the deciding factor in determining player salaries.

No matter how outstanding a player was in the individual league, if their win rate in the pro league wasn’t good, it was difficult to receive a high salary.

On the other hand, even players who did poorly in the individual league could earn tens of millions in salary as long as they always performed well in the pro league.

The teams that would play the first match of the 4th round—the first official match of the second half—were as follows:

Hwaseong Electronics vs. Ssangseong Electronics.

MBS vs. CT.

An incredible matchup perfect for announcing the start of the latter half to the fans.

The IT electronics rivals: Hwaseong Electronics and Ssangseong Electronics!

Hwaseong Electronics had Hwang Byeong-cheol, while Ssangseong Electronics boasted top-class pro gamers like Choi Young-jun and Shin Ji-ho.

But above all, the most attention was on MBS.

It was a matter of interest how MBS would reorganize after losing their ace, Shin Ji-ho, and more importantly—it was the first return match of Lee Shin.

Ever since the replay leak incident, curiosity surrounding Lee Shin’s current skills had only grown. This was the chance to see them firsthand.

“Let’s send out Judy for Set 1.”

At Manager Bang Jin-ho’s words, the MBS coaching staff nodded in agreement.

An official notice had already come down from the Pro League Association.

It was a notice informing participating teams in advance of the maps to be used in the six sets of matches and the ace match.

Each team would strategize and determine their player lineup based on the preset maps.

Once submitted, the lineup could not be changed.

Thus, teams had to predict which players and strategies the opponents would bring and carefully construct their entries.

The map for Set 1 was Willpower.

A standard map with well-balanced races—perfect for Judy, who lacked experience but was strong with textbook play, to make her debut.

“Let’s go with Da-ul for Set 2.”

Lee Shin, participating in the meeting as both a player and coach, spoke up.

The map for Set 2 was Milky Way.

The racial balance on this map was as follows:

Humans vs. Monsters: 2 to 6, favoring Monsters.

God Race vs. Monsters: 4 to 6, favoring Monsters.

Because it was a Monster-favored map, it was highly likely that CT would field a Monster player for the first match.

Therefore, the suggestion was to debut Jung Da-ul, who was specialized in anti-Monster strategies.

“Sounds good. You’ve practiced a lot on this map, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, Set 2 goes to Jung Da-ul.”

Manager Bang Jin-ho wrote Jung Da-ul’s name in the Set 2 slot.

“The problem is Set 3.”

The coaching staff all fell silent.

The map for Set 3 was Corrupted Constellation!

Humans vs. Monsters: 1 to 5, favoring Monsters.

God Race vs. Monsters: 1 to 6, favoring Monsters.

Even more favorable to Monsters than Milky Way—it was a map designed for Monsters.

Because of that, no team ever sent Humans or God Race onto this map; Corrupted Constellation was typically Monster vs. Monster matchups.

In that case, MBS just needed to send out one of their Monster players from the main roster.

But the problem was that CT’s ace happened to be a Monster player.

Lee Cheol-han.

A vibrant 19-year-old player, he had advanced to the semifinals in both the first half of this year’s individual league and the second half of last year’s.

While the domestic top tier included Park Young-ho, Choi Young-jun, and Hwang Byeong-cheol, Lee Cheol-han was considered one tier below, mentioned alongside Shin Ji-ho.

Some even rated him higher than Shin Ji-ho for his consistency.

“Cheol-han’s almost certainly coming out.”

“Most likely, right?”

“If he does, it secures them one definite win.”

Even Choi Young-jun would have a hard time defeating Lee Cheol-han on the Monster-favored map, Corrupted Constellation.

“What if they send out a different Monster player on this map and put Lee Cheol-han in Set 2 instead?”

One coach raised an objection.

Manager Bang Jin-ho shook his head.

“Doubt it. Our Monster lineup isn’t bad either, especially now that Lee Shin’s back. If they put Cheol-han on another map and he ends up facing Lee Shin, it’ll be a disaster. To avoid that, CT will play him in Set 3, where they can guarantee a win.”

“Hmm, yeah, that makes sense.”

“Lee Shin is the one who pulled off both of those 2 wins on Milky Way in the 2 to 6 disadvantage against Monsters. No way CT would dare send Cheol-han there.”

Matches in this format required more than just one player’s success to win.

Of the six players fielded, at least four had to win. At minimum, three had to win to avoid losing.

If the team’s ace, the one expected to secure a sure win, lost, it was as damaging as losing two matches.

“We’ll forfeit Set 3.”

“Yes.”

“Agreed.”

The coaches all agreed.

But at that moment—

Lee Shin spoke quietly.

“I’ll go out.”

“What?”

Manager Bang Jin-ho looked at him in shock.

“I’ll take Set 3.”

“You want to face Lee Cheol-han on Corrupted Constellation?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t be reckless. You’re our team’s guaranteed win. You need to secure that one point.”

“If I beat Lee Cheol-han in Set 3, it’s the same as scoring two wins.”

“……”

“Judy and Jung Da-ul are both inexperienced. They’re a concern. If we also give up Set 3, we’ll lose.”

“That’s why they need to win.”

“It’s their debut match—they might choke and not perform. That’s why I’m saying I’ll go out in Set 3.”

If he beat Lee Cheol-han, it would be as effective as scoring two wins.

CT wouldn’t even consider the possibility that Cheol-han could lose on Corrupted Constellation, so they’d be thrown into confusion and morale would plummet.

This was Lee Shin’s resolve to personally carry his two unstable juniors—Judy and Jung Da-ul.

“This is your first match back. What if you lose?”

“I’ve never lost to Lee Cheol-han.”

“Seriously? You’ve got a strategy?”

“I do.”

“……Then I’ll trust you.”

Manager Bang Jin-ho wrote Lee Shin’s name in the slot for the third set.

From the fourth to the sixth sets, Park Shin, Choi Chan-young, and Kim Young-pyo were also set to play.

The tickets sold out in an instant.

Even Lee Shin, who was playing, barely managed to get five tickets.

He passed those five tickets to Ji Soo-min through his driver, Jeong Sang-beom, and Ji Soo-min gifted them to five fanatics of the Lee Shin Sect through a lottery. In the meantime, she even demonstrated her savvy by launching an SNS event to cheer for Lee Shin.

The day of the 4R first match.

A huge crowd began to gather at the Gangnam eSports permanent stadium.

Spectators waiting to enter formed a long line.

At that moment, a van pulled up in front of the stadium.

The van bore the name and logo of the MBS team, instantly drawing a crowd of fans.

“It’s MBS!”

“Kyaaah!”

“Isn’t Lee Shin oppa in there too?”

“Shin oppa!”

“Judy is the best!”

A crowd swarmed around the van.

Manager Bang Jin-ho and the coaches got out first, politely asking for space as they made way. Then, the players began to exit one by one.

When a pretty blonde foreign girl stepped out, the commotion grew louder.

Judy smiled brightly and waved, prompting even louder cheers from the men.

Judy, who had gained fame as Lee Shin’s disciple, had already gained a fanbase.

“But where’s Lee Shin?”

“Where is Shin oppa?”

The fans were puzzled. Lee Shin hadn’t come out of the van.

The reason was soon revealed.

“Oh? That car!”

“Wow, holy crap. It’s a Rolls-Royce!”

A blue Rolls-Royce Phantom silently rolled up and parked.

Before the fans drawn in by the MBS van could rush over, Lee Shin had already stepped out and swiftly entered the building.

Before long, players from CT, Hwasung Electronics, and Ssangseong Electronics also arrived, and the atmosphere for the second half opener gradually heated up.

“Damn it.”

Manager Park Chan-seong of CT cursed under his breath as he received the match schedule from the staff.

The coaches also groaned as they looked at the schedule together.

This part had caught their attention:

[Match 1, Game 2, MBS vs. CT

Set 3 (Corrupted Constellation): Lee Shin vs. Lee Cheol-han.]

“Lee Shin and Cheol-han…”

“They’re clearly targeting us.”

Corrupted Constellation was a map advantageous to monsters. They believed there was no way their ace, Lee Cheol-han, would lose here.

Of course, the opponent would likely send out a monster-type player too, but among MBS’s players, no one could beat Lee Cheol-han in a monster vs. monster match.

…Or so they thought—until they were caught completely off guard.

Lee Shin!

If the opponent was that Lee Shin, it was a different story altogether.

The legendary eSports player known as “God” had come out targeting Lee Cheol-han directly.

If MBS had planned to give up the third set, they wouldn’t have sent Lee Shin out.

‘They must be aiming to win.’

As Manager Park Chan-seong fell into thought, one of the coaches spoke.

“Director, let’s not worry too much. Even if it’s Lee Shin, there’s still the map matchup. As long as Cheol-han watches out for a cheese rush in the early game and plays steadily, he’ll win.”

“…Right. Call Cheol-han.”

“Yes, sir.”

A moment later, Lee Cheol-han was summoned in front of Manager Park Chan-seong.

“Your opponent is Lee Shin.”

“Huh? Shin hyung?”

Lee Cheol-han, who had a fairly ordinary build and still a youthful face, was visibly startled by the news.

“He’s clearly targeting you. You’re confident, right?”

“Ah, yes. Even so, he’s still human. Unless it’s a surprise cheese rush, there’s no way he can beat me on Corrupted Constellation.”

“Exactly. He might try to go all in early, so scout early and just play as you practiced. Still, his control is no joke, so stay alert.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Good. Make sure you win. Let’s humiliate the ‘God’ right from his comeback match. If you win, our team will surely take the whole match.”

Manager Park Chan-seong encouraged Lee Cheol-han.

Although Lee Cheol-han responded calmly, his expression showed he wasn’t entirely at ease—perhaps a lingering anxiety remained in his heart.

There had always been maps favorable to each race.

But if those matchups had applied to Lee Shin like everyone else, he wouldn’t have been called a God.

A 90% win rate in the Pro League meant that he practically won on any map, against any race.

‘He’s also someone who uses a lot of strategic play. I’d better be careful.’

Lee Cheol-han had also seen the leaked replays of Lee Shin, released by PaprikaTV BJ Park Han-young.

He had wiped out the entire MBS first team!

Lee Shin’s skill was still the real deal.

But Lee Cheol-han had also steadily improved during the one year Lee Shin was absent and had become the team’s ace.

‘I don’t want to lose. I’ll show him I’m not the same as before.’

Nineteen years old this year, a senior in high school, Lee Cheol-han recalled his senior who was six years older and burned with fighting spirit.

While MBS and CT were steeling themselves in the waiting rooms, the stadium had already begun with Match 1, Game 1: the rival showdown between Hwasung Electronics and Ssangseong Electronics.

Hwang Byeong-cheol of Hwasung Electronics was watching the match from the team bench but got up and stepped into the hallway with the coach’s permission.

‘Phew, I’m going nuts.’

Scheduled to play in Set 4 today, Hwang Byeong-cheol was parched with anxiety.

Since that incident, he’d become extremely nervous every time he played in an official match. His performance had been poor all year, and public opinion was not on his side—making things even worse.

‘At least that guy hasn’t contacted me lately.’

Thankfully, the calls from Jang Min-jae demanding money had stopped for a while.

Hwang Byeong-cheol headed toward the drink vending machine to moisten his dry throat.

And in front of the vending machine, he encountered someone unexpected.

‘Lee Shin?!’