“This is all hard to believe, right? I don’t blame you.” Howard nodded. “But rest assured, sis proved she was stronger in the end. I mean, she’s still a pro, right? Haha.”

“But,” Yuel started. “You’re saying it was a close fight.”

“Yeah, it was pretty neck-to-neck, which was a shocker to pretty much everybody. Sis went to drown all her salt in alcohol afterward.”

“Even though she won?”

“Yeah, even though she won.” Howard nodded.

“That’s all hard to take in...”

“Yeah, I know the feel. But, it’s all true. This Korean player is a real monster. He makes Fenrir look like a cute puppy in comparison.”

“If he’s that good, then why didn’t he show up in the previous scrims at all?”

“It’s because he’s that good,” Howard explained. “If you let a guy like him on the stage, he’ll slaughter any team by himself.”

“Yeah, I can see that happen. The two previous teams already got steamrolled by the Leopards.”

“Right. Now, imagine what would happen if they add the Korean player to the lineup? It’d be overkill.”

“Does this Korean player have a name?”

“Oh, right. It’s Young-jin. His IGN is Apprentice… or, was it?” Howard tried to remember. “Actually, I think it was spelled a little differently? Like Apprentece or something? Anyway, that’s your guy.”

As much as I don’t want to admit it, so far Howard’s responses seem genuine enough. Yuel thought. It sounds like he’s telling the truth, as much as I don’t want to believe it...

A secret sixth player, a Korean player, and a middle schooler who could rival pros like Ignis. It was a mixture of elements that were hard to digest. Each of them alone was still fine, but when they all converged together into one person...

“Well,” Howard said. “I’m not going to force you to believe it. I just wanted to inform you, that’s all.”

“What for?” Yuel demanded. “To scare me?”

“Heh, not at all.” Howard smirked. “But, I figured this story might be a little disheartening, which is why I made sure to speak with you alone. After all, I’m sure your team prepared long and hard a lot for this match, right? It’d be a shame to learn that there was a secret sixth player they know nothing about, an opponent who is far stronger than the rest of the Leopards combined.”

“That’s true,” Yuel agreed. Hearing something like that right before the match could be a heavy blow to morale.

Most of the team members were probably already on edge from the fact they were about to face the regional champions. So, if shocking news like this were to hit them right now...

I suppose I should be thankful for Howard’s “consideration” here. Though, that still doesn’t explain why he decided to share this information with ME.

“So,” Yuel started. “You were considerate enough to not drop this bomb on the whole team, thank you very much. Yet, you’re still fine with piling this kind of pressure on me, huh.”

“I trust you to not lose to this pressure.” Howard smiled meaningfully.

“What’s your agenda in all of this?”

“Nothing much, really. I’m just helping out my former vice-captain. I’ve always been this nice, haven’t I?”

Yeah, right. Yuel made a face. He definitely wants me to do something based on this information. But, what could it be? By itself, this info isn’t worth that much. I should try fishing for more details.

“I’m still not convinced,” Yuel said. “This story still sounds kind of bogus. You haven’t even told me anything about how this guy’s playstyle. You only told me he’s ‘very good’, which doesn’t say much.”

“That’s fair.” Howard nodded. “Alright, I’ll share the few things I know.”

“Please do.”

“Alright, so first of all, the guy is strong across the board.”

“Yes, I believe we already established that.”

“I know, I know. Just make sure you don’t forget this little tidbit while I tell you the more specific things I learned about him.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.” Yuel nodded.

“So, the first thing you should be ready for is Korean Cancel. You know what it is, right?”

“Of course.”

Korean Step Cancel, which was usually called Korean Cancel or KC for short. It was an advanced method of exploiting the input buffering of the game, allowing players to skip portions of the recovery animation.

The technique was fairly well-known in name, but its popularity varied in different parts of the world. For example, Korea and China wholly embraced KC and integrated it into all levels of play. Likewise, other competitive scenes in Asia also frequently made use of KC.

On the other hand, the western scene was far less interested in mastering KC. The technique almost never showed up in pro matches over here, except in the highest echelons of A-League. And even then, whenever a western A-Leaguer used KC, the commentator would often overhype it as a godly technique that only the chosen ones could wield.

Honestly, I didn’t pay it much attention either. Yuel admitted. KC demands too much practice for too little of gain.

As somebody who strived to research every facet of Classmancers, Yuel naturally dabbled in KC as well. He studied the technicalities behind it, the advantages it offered, and how to execute it.

And then, after absorbing all that theoretical info - it was time to reproduce the technique!

If only it was that simple. Yuel frowned. I spent about a week trying to figure it out, but I felt like I made zero progress.

No amount of tutorials or guides helped Yuel whatsoever. He understood the theory behind the technique, yet he was unable to pull off these frame-perfect inputs. It was beyond human capabilities, surely.

And so, after a long week of experiments, Yuel ultimately gave up. For truly, mastering the Korean Cancel was but a pipe dream for a mechanically-challenged player like him.

I remember thinking Lars will be able to master it in a few days. How wrong I was...

Even Lars, the mechanical beast, struggled with KC. His response times were definitely on point, so he should have been able to nail these perfect sidesteps. And yet, he couldn’t do it consistently at all.

There was some sort of mental block that he had to overcome in order to be able to perform KC consistently. It seemed that the technicalities of the exploit went over his head, so it was hard for him to frame his mind correctly.

I’m sure he would have been able to master KC if he focused exclusively on it for a few good months. But, we never have such luxury.

The goof had plenty of other important things to learn and master first, so practicing KC was at the very bottom of the backlog, gathering dust. And so, Yuel and Lars never got around to discussing KC again ever since.

And yet, there it was, on its way to greet the two of them again. Apparently, the Leopards’ Korean player was going to bring this complex technique to the table today.

"How good is his KC?" Yuel asked.

"It’s good enough to make sis rant about it all night." Howard smiled wryly. "From the sound of it, that KC gave her lots of trouble in fights."

“So, his KC has a high success rate.” Yuel frowned.

Due to the strict timing of KC, it was practically impossible to have a 100% success rate with it. The smallest human error was enough to throw the entire thing awry.

Even the best Korean pros admitted in interviews that they made sure to not overuse KC. The more often they used it, the more likely they were to mess it up in a critical moment.

So, even if their success rate with KC seemed like 100% on paper, in practice the pros made sure to choose the best and most comfortable times to utilize the technique. That’s how they maximized their success chance, making it look as if they could pull off KC in their sleep.

And apparently, Apprentece wielded his KC on a similar level. It wasn’t just some fancy technique he used in order to impress the audience. He really knew how and when to utilize this advanced tool in order to give himself an advantage in combat.

This is all useful information. Yuel thought. But, with that said, there isn’t much I can do to counter KC. It’s all about seeing it in action and adapting accordingly. I want some more concrete details about Apprentece’s playstyle.

"They fought in Top, right?” Yuel asked. “So, I take it Apprentece is a Top player."

"I wouldn't be so fast to conclude that," Howard objected. “As I told you, this guy is strong across the board. So, I wouldn't be surprised if he can play more roles. Heck, I won’t be surprised if he can play all of them equally well.”

“So, you’re saying he’s that good, huh.”

“Well, maybe I’m exaggerating a little,” Howard admitted. “But trust me, I’m not trying to scare you for nothing. I really think he might be at that level. After all, he gave sis a fair fight, remember? How many middle schoolers do you know who can pull that off?”

It sounds like the experience left a mark on Howard. Yuel gulped. He always tries to look strong and confident, so it’s rare to see him railed up like this. Should I be getting worried, too?

At this point, Yuel no longer harbored any suspicion regarding Apprentece’s existence. He had no choice but to accept that such a skilled player lurked in the shadows of the Leopards.

And so, Yuel had to brace himself. Even if Stratus defeat the Leopards today, there was a secret final boss awaiting them at the end of that road.

As the only member of the team currently aware of this, it was Yuel’s responsibility to get as much intel as possible on the topic.

“Okay,” Yuel started. “I understand that he can use KC and probably play multiple roles. Is there anything else? Tell me everything you know." 

"We'll be here all day if I give the full version.” Howard chuckled. “Here’s the gist of it: he's practically a pro. Mechanical skill, decision-making, game knowledge, adaptation, parrying, KC, and even his ability to fit into new teams. Everything is top-notch with this guy."

"You make him sound invincible."

"For middle school level? Yeah, he might as well be."

"But, your sister defeated him, right? So, he must have some weaknesses." 

"Whoa there. Did you really just compare sis to middle school level?" 

"That wasn't my intention," Yuel clarified. "I was just thinking about what you said earlier. Ignis struggled against him at first, right? But, she won in the end. So, she must've figured something out."

"I'll be honest, it felt like the main reason sis ‘won’ was because Apprentece rushed things a little."

Howard briefly summarized the two big occasions in which Ignis came on top against Apprentece. In both examples, Apprentece went for uncharacteristically rushy plays that led to unfortunate conclusions.

The first time, he challenged Ignis to a fight despite having fewer minions on his side. He did a good job evening the odds at the cost of his HP, but then the enemy Jungler, Hawk, showed up.

“Thankfully, I made Dan rescue that blockhead before the situation got out of hand. But, it was still a close call.”

I see Howard’s absolute defense saves lives, as usual. Yuel made a face.

“Then,” Howard continued. “There was one other notable play in the second game...”

He retold how Apprentece prematurely aggressed on Ignis by using the Viking’s ult. That, too, was a play born out of a sense of rushiness.

Most likely, the guy thought that being pushed back 24/7 was bad for his evaluation. Therefore, he decided to act.

“I advised him against it, mind you,” Howard mentioned. “But, the fool still went for it. And, he performed well, all things considered.”

Apprentece’s risky play did reset the lane situation, forcing Ignis into recalling with low HP. That was a rather impressive achievement against an early-game Orc.

Alas, Ignis outsmarted the kid. Instead of recalling, she hid in the jungle and waited for the best moment to rendezvous with Hawk. Then, the two of them delivered a devastating combined attack on the tower, demolishing it wholly.

“A nice tactic,” Yuel said.

“I had a feeling you’ll say that.” Howard chuckled. “Scammy tactics like that really speak to you, right? Haha.”

“It’s a perfectly valid strategy,” Yuel argued. “She took advantage of her class’s strengths and of the synergy between Orc and Beastmaster. It was a brilliant play. So much, that I find it hard to imagine Ignis doing this.”

“Are you throwing shade at my sis?”

“I just had the impression she’s a more straightforward type of player.” Yuel sidestepped the accusation.

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Howard nodded. “Sis insists she’s the one who came up with that play, but I have my doubts. It was probably Hawk’s idea. Or, maybe Esmeralda fed both of them something, who knows.”

Regardless, the fact remained that this ploy completely destroyed Apprentece’s reputation for that game. That entire situation looked like a blunder that started the moment he prematurely activated the Viking’s ult.

“Both times, he was probably getting anxious about the exam,” Howard said. “That’s why he went for plays that were a little rash and risky like that. He’s not like that normally.”

“I see, so Ignis’s ‘victory’ was mostly a circumstantial thing.” Yuel frowned. Apprentece lost to pressure both times because it was an important exam. I doubt any of that will happen to him in a normal game.

In conclusion, there was no intel about any obvious weaknesses in Apprentece’s playstyle. He rivaled Ignis from start to end, except for the few moments where he had a lapse of judgment because he was thinking too hard about being evaluated by the audience.

There’s no way I’ll be able to find any weaknesses in an opponent like this, not without lots of footage data to analyze. I’ll just have to treat him like Taurus’ Triangle.

In other words, for now, Apprentece will have to be treated like a force of nature. It was best to play around this powerful foe and target other weaknesses.

Nonetheless, Yuel wanted to gather as much information as possible in preparation. After all, knowledge equaled power, especially for circumstances like this.

"About that second example, you said you warned him against attacking, right?"

“I sure did, but he didn’t listen.” Howard shook his head. “He was too confident and that cost him. It looks like deep down he’s still a brat, despite his impressive skill.”

"The fact he went for such a risky play in the first place is suspect. If he's really that amazing of a player, I would have expected him to cooperate with the Jungler for something like this."

"I advised him that as well, actually." Howard sighed. "But, he said it'll take too long for Dan to rotate over there, so he’d rather take matters into his own hands.”

“That doesn’t sound convincing.” Yuel frowned. “I’d expect a high-level player to be more flexible than that. He should’ve timed his play better to sync up with Dan’s rotations.”

“I’m with you. But, it felt like he didn’t want to rely on Dan in both games.”

“Any reason for that? Did he think it’d hurt his evaluation or something?”

“I doubt it. I mean, knowing how to cooperate with the Jungler is a big plus, right?”

“Definitely.”

The Jungler was like a free resource that roamed around the map. As such, any laner could put the team’s Jungler to good use in order to promote their interests, and it was very much advised to do so.

Therefore, efficiently cooperating with the Jungler should’ve earned Apprentece some points. And yet, he decided against it. Why?

 

“I could tell he wasn't too happy with Dan's level as a whole,” Howard explained. “Maybe he’s too used to playing with higher caliber Korean teammates, so he didn’t want to give Dan the time of day."

"So, he wasn’t very cooperative in general?"

"Oh, he cooperated plenty,” Howard said. “For the better or the worse, he's pro material. He was able to set his prejudice aside for the sake of winning.”

“But then, why didn’t he cooperate with Dan?”

“Well, he cooperated with us as necessary, but it didn’t feel like he really trusted any of us. So, if he thought he could accomplish something alone, then he preferred doing that alone."

"I see." Yuel nodded. Interesting information. I feel like I'm starting to get a picture here.

Apprentece was like an alienated king. He was a foreigner to this land, both in his roots and his skill level.

In matches, he probably felt like an aristocrat who was forced to play along with filthy commoners. Nobody here was deemed worthy in his eyes, yet he also recognized the necessity for occasional cooperation.

As such, Apprentece cooperated with the “lowly players” but only for as long as it was absolutely necessary, and not a second longer. For example, in the mid-game, he probably stuck close to his teammates in order to participate in team fights.

However, in the early-game, Apprentece was all by himself in his lane. So, he preferred to accomplish everything with his own two hands, without relying on any of these “commoners” he was playing with.

This sounds like an angle that’ll help me find some of his faults. Yuel reasoned. But, it’s too early to tell. I need more data.

Yuel asked some more questions but he didn’t learn anything new. There were many things that even Howard didn’t know on the topic, despite him playing the role of the informant here.

“It almost feels like an interrogation, haha.” Howard laughed dryly. "I only came here to give you a little bit of info, but now I’m getting flooded with questions.”

"You only have yourself to blame for it," Yuel said. "You can't just drop a bomb like this and then leave as if nothing happened. If you're going to give me information, then you better give everything."

"Well, now you know about everything I know, provided I didn’t forget something."

"It feels like the main thing I’ve learned is that you don’t know much about him either.”

"Haha. Harsh, aren't we?"

"But, it's true, isn’t it? That's why you came to me with this information in the first place. You shared what you knew to make sure I keep digging deeper from there, right?

"No idea what you're talking about." Howard smiled meaningfully. "I just came here to give a tip to my ex-vice-captain." 

"Okay, we can leave it at that.” I’m fairly certain I’m right on the money here.

The Leopards were Howard’s enemy too, so it could be argued that Yuel was currently the “enemy of an enemy”. Nonetheless, it was unlikely for Howard to do a favor like this to Yuel based on that alone.

No, Howard definitely believed he had something to gain from this exchange, and that something was probably further information about Apprentece. Especially, information concerning Apprentece’s weaknesses.

He gave me as much info as he could to make it easier for me to expose Appretence’s weaknesses. Why? Because he’s also searching for a good way to deal with this threat.

StormBlitz will eventually confront the Leopards as well, and they will likely run into Appretence there. So, Howard wanted to be as ready as possible for that encounter.

I assume that's the gist of it. Yuel deduced. As always, he's good at making others do the work for him. But, I can't deny this exchange of information is mutually beneficial.

"Alright then," Howard said. "I've said my piece. Hopefully, you can put this information to good use. Don't disappoint me." He speared Yuel with his hawk eyes, implying that failure was not an option.

By “disappointing”, I assume he means failing to drag Apprentece onto the stage.

Even though they’ve been discussing Apprentece for a while now if the guy was an inevitable opponent, that wasn’t the case at all. After all, Apprentece was the “secret sixth member” of the Leopards, a final boss who hasn’t officially revealed himself yet.

Therefore, to even get a chance to play against this powerful opponent, it was first necessary to force the Leopards into a corner. That alone was already a high bar to set, given how skilled the known members were.

And yet, Howard was practically demanding that from Stratus. He tasked them with beating the Leopards to a pulp and forcing the Korean player onto the stage. No sweat.

As if it’s that simple. Yuel made a face. Before I can even start coming up with any plans against Apprentece, I first have to 100% concentrate on beating their main team. Otherwise, we’ll crash and burn before we get anywhere.

“Well, that’s all from me.” Howard turned around and lazily waved behind his back. “I leave it to you to decide how to share this information with your team. I have no idea how they tick, so I can’t advise you on that one.”

“I’ll probably keep it to myself for now,” Yuel said. “No need to distract them with unnecessary noise until we actually get close to playing against Apprentece.”

“That’s probably for the best.” Howard nodded.

So, he actually agrees. Yuel voiced his thoughts out loud to fish for Howard’s opinion, and it was a successful catch. When the two of them were in agreement on something, there was a very good chance it was correct.

“By the way, if you happen to win today, then you know who to credit, right?”

“Yes, myself and the team.”

“Haha, alright then. Good luck out there, you’ll really need it. I’ll be watching from the audience, so make sure you put on a good show today.”

And on that note, Howard left.

This guy is really something. Yuel made a face. He just came here, dropped a bomb, placed tons of expectations on me, and then left as if nothing happened. The nerve.

Nonetheless, this exchange was mutually beneficial, so Yuel couldn’t complain too much. As minimal as the intel about Apprentece was, it still gave Yuel a few hints about how to deal with this pro-level opponent.

But before that, Stratus first had to defeat the Leopards’ regular lineup. And at the moment, there was a very real chance of the team not making it all the way to Apprentece, in which case all of Howard’s intel will go down the drain.

So, until we start winning, I’ll keep this information to myself. Yuel decided.

And so, with this important piece of information in hand, he finally joined the others in the waiting room.