Chapter 187 : The Power of a Coach
Chapter 187: SSR Cup: The Power of a Coach
〔What are you referring to…?〕
Cha Seongcheol tilted his head and asked back.
He hadn’t been able to properly check the chat window because he’d been busy discussing with Kim Oyun who would win this match and what the match dynamics would be like.
Even if he had seen it, unless he’d paid attention and checked quickly like Kim Gwangjin, his reaction would have been the same.
〔There’s an extremely interesting story circulating about Hackphysical, who’s participating in this SSR Cup as a coach〕
〔Oh?〕
-? What now
-Ah lol they finally found out lol
-Hackstradamus (for real)
-Why is the coach story suddenly popping up here? ㄷㄷ
Hearing Kim Gwangjin’s answer, Cha Seongcheol’s eyes lit up. It was a natural reaction since he was the closest to Baek Woohyun among the current broadcast crew.
When Baek Woohyun accomplished something great, it naturally had a positive impact on the ‘Hack Tour’ content they did together.
〔Surprisingly, the results of Hackphysical’s mental simulation of matches are almost at the level of future prophecy. It’s not just about predicting wins and losses—he’s accurately predicting every single development, you know?〕
〔What? How is that…?〕
〔That can’t be possi— ble? Hmm. If it’s Hackphysical, it might be possible〕
-As expected, they’ve worked together for so long, he knows Hack well
-That doesn’t make sense logically lol
-It sounds like bullshit to anyone but fuck why is it real lol
-“If it’s Hackphysical, it’s possible”
〔One thing that’s certain is that his accuracy rate has been 100 percent so far. Yes. It’s really amazing, right?〕
Unlike Kim Oyun, who widened his eyes and showed disbelief, Cha Seongcheol displayed strong trust in Baek Woohyun.
From what he’d observed while working together on ‘Hack Tour’ content, he knew very well that no matter how absurd something seemed, if it was Baek Woohyun, it might be possible.
Just the achievements he’d directly accomplished on broadcasts were full of things that would make people who didn’t know ask “Is that real?”
〔Hackphysical, no, Hackstradamus prophesied that Player Zeno would win this match. Will Hackstradamus’s future prophecy prove correct this time as well! Please watch along with us, viewers!〕
-No~ Hiarani will win~
-Do not try to defy the prophecy
-Do you think a 100 percent accuracy rate is a joke?
-Future prophecy officially normalized right there
“…Wow, I didn’t expect Hackstradamus to be mentioned this quickly on the official broadcast.”
Jeong Nayeon let out a hollow laugh and expressed admiration.
Honestly, she’d also been thinking that if Baek Woohyun continued making future prophecy-level predictions, it might get mentioned on the official broadcast.
Since the SSR Cup was an event tournament where the broadcast crew had more freedom in their words and actions than the pro league, they tended to use such issues quite frequently.
But she’d only thought that would happen after more time had passed, for example, around day 2 or 3 of the first lineup.
She hadn’t expected the broadcast crew to check so quickly and openly mention it while drawing attention.
Who would have predicted that the broadcast crew would check the chat midway and even grasp the full context?
“Woohyun, at this rate, won’t you get invited as a special commentator?”
“Me?”
“Yes. You.”
-King possibility exists
-If SSR Cup organizers watched the broadcast, they’ll 100% invite him
-How do you not use future prophecy lol
-Not inviting him would be slacking off for real
“…Definitely…!”
“I would invite him too!”
When Baek Woohyun asked back with a “no way” feeling at Jeong Nayeon’s claim, the team members and viewers mostly seemed to agree with her.
Actually, since special commentators for event tournaments were sometimes former pros or famous personal broadcasters, there was no reason not to invite Baek Woohyun.
Just looking at his character alone, wasn’t he unparalleled?
Hackstradamus. A prophet who sees the future.
How could they not invite someone as a special commentator who perfectly grasps how a match will proceed through mental simulation alone?
Like one viewer’s chat said, it would be stranger if the SSR Cup didn’t invite him as a special commentator.
‘Since the SSR Cup has to draw attention somehow, they’ll use everything they can.’
“They’ll probably invite you on day 3!”
“Tomorrow would be too rushed. There’s probably already a scheduled special commentator.”
“If you go, will you declare Team All-In’s perfect victory again?”
“Hmm, should I?”
-Victory declaration on official broadcast lol
-Even if he doesn’t try to say it, the broadcast crew will probably ask. What do you predict for Team All-In’s results
-For real lol they can’t not ask
-The Demon King Army’s perfect victory declaration ㄷㄷ
While Team All-In members poured out all kinds of chatter including about the special commentator invitation, the SSR Cup continued to progress smoothly.
The ‘Duel-Solo’ category proceeded with best of 3, so it was at most three games, and above all, being 1-on-1, the match times were short.
Even amid this smooth match progression, only one thing shone purely—Baek Woohyun’s prophecies. With the title of 100 percent accuracy rate.
〔Now, the ‘Duel-Solo’ matches are also reaching their final stages! In this match, Player Retes and Player Hopyo are facing each other! Which player do you predict will have the advantage?〕
〔This choice is extremely difficult. I personally know both of them, you see? But those two have very close skill levels in the same tier. It’s to the point where whoever has better condition that day will win〕
〔That’s right. Actually, when those two faced each other in an event tournament, it was 1 win and 1 loss each. They traded victories once each〕
-What Kim Oyun says is really true
-If it’s 1 win 1 loss, the one who wins this time can execute “you suck” lol
-Who did Hackstradamus say would win??
-Hackphysical’s pick is Retes for now ㅇㅇ
“Oh.”
“Finally!”
As it finally became the turn of Retes, who had secretly received coaching from Baek Woohyun, the team members’ eyes sparkled with anticipation just like before.
They were the ones who’d been chattering about how Retes learned later so he was like a master-disciple, and so on, even before the ‘Duel-Solo’ category started.
Though Baek Woohyun truly considered only the Beau-tiful Twins as his disciples, anyway.
Furthermore, what added to their high expectations was that Baek Woohyun had been sparing with his words about coaching Retes.
He’d just tossed out the fact that Retes would win, without saying how he would fight or how he would win.
Since the continuing future prophecy was only missing for this one match, they couldn’t help but be more curious.
[First round, start!]
-“[Shadow Step]!”
-“…?! [Steel Curtain]!”
-“I knew you’d do that! [Thunder Kick]!”
–Kwaang!
〔Oh?! Player Retes! From the start, he’s swiftly charging in and pressuring Player Hopyo!〕
〔He blocked with [Steel Curtain] without being late, but! [Thunder Kick] has the lightning attribute, so it’s difficult to eliminate even the aftershock with a metal shield!〕
-“[Storm Strike]!”
-“Ugh!”
Receiving everyone’s expectations and attention, Retes led the match favorably from the start by overwhelming Hopyo, who was evaluated as almost equal to him.
It was such a firm advantage that even the commentators who said there was almost no skill difference between the two players when they were still preparing for the match were shocked.
Taking advantage of his close-range and long-range hybrid build, he was freely adjusting the distance and almost toying with his opponent, so what more needed to be said?
-“[Steel Claws]!”
-“—Hoot. ‘Slow’.”
〔Player Retes even leisurely says it’s slow! What’s going on here! Didn’t we say there was almost no skill difference between the two players?!〕
〔Player Retes has just improved ridiculously! Look at Player Hopyo’s expression! That expression saying “What on earth happened to this guy?” He’s really flustered!〕
-No what the hell is this
-How did Retes get so strong?
-Info) Retes received coaching from Hackphysical lol
-The power of coaching is this much ㄷㄷ
Though Retes showed the seemingly rude “slow” performance, that was only a thought arising from not knowing his relationship with Hopyo.
The two had often done collaboration streams before, and as you could tell from the fact that they recorded 1 win and 1 loss in an event tournament, they had a kind of rival dynamic.
The duel in this SSR Cup had received attention from their fans as the deciding match in a best of 3 format.
In other words, they were in a relationship where they could easily say “slow” during a fight. They’d done this level of trash talk often before.
-“How, how did you get this strong?!”
-“100 pushups, 100 situps, 100 squats. And 10km running.”
-Crazy lol
-Is this One Punch Man or what fuck lol
-Won’t he go bald at this rate? ㄷㄷ
-Seriously funny lol
-“Lastly… it’s the power of Coach Hackphysical!”
〔Hackphysical again here…?!〕
〔Being a prophet is just a side job! I’m a coach above all! Hackphysical proves it like this!〕
〔Hackphysical’s coaching skills are truly well-known! He made Bronze into Gold, and Diamond into Master!〕
As Baek Woohyun, who had just been mentioned as Hackstradamus, now popped out once again through a player’s mouth, the broadcast crew all exclaimed in admiration.
His insane skill improvement through his unique coaching method was so talked about even among SSR Cup participants that they couldn’t help but know.
Otherwise, why would other team leaders have made position statements saying they were fine without Hackphysical when the community was burning up?
-“Damn, I should have received it too…”
-“You’re in a different alliance so you can’t! [Thunder Kick]!”
-“[Steel Curtain]! Kuk!”
〔Player Retes charging in as if to finish it! Player Hopyo tries his best to resist…! It’s not enough! He keeps being pushed back!〕
〔For Player Hopyo to turn the match around here, he needs to create distance first, but there’s no way Player Retes will just let that happen〕
〔Ah, Player Hopyo finally allows a hit—〕
〔〔GG!〕〕
-Just receiving some coaching makes this much skill difference
-I know Hopyo also got coaching from recruiting a former pro but hmm…
-The former pro isn’t Hackphysical~
-But it really is surprising ㄷㄷ
Charging at Hopyo, Retes maintained his advantage throughout as expected, easily defeating even the last struggle and claiming victory.
The second round that followed was also without incident. Rather, gaining confidence from the first round victory, Retes pressed Hopyo even more fiercely and won.
It was a perfect ranking establishment where the rival dynamic that existed between them couldn’t even raise its head for a while.
“This is the power of a coach…!”
“Really amazing!”
-Really looking forward to Team All-In’s results
-If he’s this good with just Pungo, it’s really a perfect victory angle for real
-Breaking news) Kids in the same alliance are determined to get Hackphysical’s special lecture lol
-Even just one-point lessons would probably be insane
Thus, with Retes’s match that made them newly recognize how great the power of coach Baek Woohyun was, day 1 of the ‘Duel-Solo’ category cleanly concluded.
While many expressed satisfaction that the SSR Cup, which had been prepared with sharpened swords for a long time, showed clean and smooth progression.
[Hello, Mr. Baek Woohyun.
Are preparations for the SSR Cup with Team All-In going well?
The reason I’m contacting you is that we would like to invite Mr. Baek Woohyun as a special commentator for the SSR Cup…]
“Hmm.”
As soon as the broadcast ended, just as Jeong Nayeon had said, Baek Woohyun received an email from the SSR Cup organizers inviting him as a special commentator.
As everyone had predicted, the SSR Cup organizers had quickly caught onto the buzz and wanted to use the Hackstradamus character.
‘Well, this isn’t bad either.’
Baek Woohyun had repeatedly heard from Jeong Nayeon that recognition for a broadcaster was directly connected to profit.
With today’s SSR Cup viewer count exceeding a whopping 300,000, there was no reason for him, who would live as a personal broadcaster for the time being, to refuse the special commentator invitation.
Especially if he wasn’t planning to do ‘Hack Tour’ content during the SSR Cup anyway.
After sending an email accepting the offer, he calmly recalled whether there was anyone among those he saw today worth inviting to a raid party.
Because as soon as the SSR Cup ended, he would have to proceed with the [Lord of Storms] raid.