This year saw an unusually high number of player transfers. I myself left my hometown team after five years and found a new nest.
With so much overall change, there were bound to be plenty of variables. The biggest twist was definitely the team that had made it to the finals seven years in a row—getting knocked out in the qualifiers.
Amidst all those unpredictable shifts, we somehow managed to rise as a first seed. During the group draw, teams are distributed by seed ranking, with the first seed comprising the top-tier teams. The teams confirmed for the finals are seeded up to the third level, and the fourth seed is made up of teams that made it through the playoff continentals.
—Group assignment for the first seed is complete.
We were placed in Group C.
—Proceeding now with the second seed draw.
With the first seed—positions 1 through 4—assigned, it was time to draw the second seed teams, ranks 5 through 8.
We just need to avoid the Flag team here. Those guys aren’t second seed level—they’re freaking monsters…
—Group C, Flag.
“Ah…”
A heavy sigh rippled through the team members watching the group draw video. Thanks to the coaching staff constantly drilling in that “winning mentality,” no one actually said “we’re screwed,” but everyone looked miserable.
Still, we weren’t doomed yet. Two teams from each group advance, after all. If the other two teams turn out to be manageable…
—Group C, BCZ.
“Okay. That’s fine.”
Now it all depended on which team came in as the fourth seed. Even though they hadn’t won any championships, those who made it through the continentals were often scarier than the second-seed teams.
“Please, Park Gwibolle. Don’t land in our group.”
There was a newly formed Chinese corporate team in the fourth seed, and my childhood best friend Park Gwibolle was on that team. The guy I’d won four championships with—my ride-or-die.
—Group C, SeaWays.
“We said we’d meet in the finals, you fuckin’…”
…Officially confirmed: Group of Death.
Title: NexChamp Summary This Year (68)
Just follow Group C games.
└How is this even possible
└It’s an apocalypse match
Park Gwibolle
ㅠㅠ
Park Gwibolle
Why are you guys here
[You’re the one who showed up]
Golzhu
Why’d you come……
[You came here, dude]
They were just as crushed. Who knew how we ended up clashing like this? We were the kind of guys who should’ve only met as late as the semifinals. …But what’s done is done.
Anyway, gotta do our best. I’m heading to practice.
And because they were members of my old team, I had to win. I grabbed my mouse with solemn resolve.
***
Practice went long because the team was hit hard with a sense of urgency.
I had texted Kessler ahead of time that I’d be late, but hadn’t contacted him again after that… and when practice finally ended and I got into the elevator to head out, there he was in the lobby, waiting like always.
“Unbelievable, seriously. How long have you been waiting?”
“Not long.”
“What are you doing standing around like a meerkat? Don’t you think you’re wasting your time?”
“If you’re coming at eleven, then I get to start being happy at ten.”
“Don’t try to sneak past this with some cheesy-ass quote.”
I’d been meaning to have this conversation anyway. I appreciated that he looked out for me, but this kind of stuff—this could wear someone out.
It was such a small thing, but it irritated me.
“I told you I’d message you ten minutes before I finish. I don’t want you just standing around waiting.”
“You didn’t message me today.”
“Today was… kind of an exception.”
Neither of us said anything after that. Kessler just silently reached out and took my hand, as he always did.
With our hands entwined, we stood in silence at the crosswalk in front of my place, waiting for the signal.
“You okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw the group draw.”
“Ah.”
“I came to comfort you. I was at home, but I couldn’t focus on anything. So, don’t get mad at me, okay?”
I grabbed the hand I had carelessly thrown out, telling him to play by himself, and held it tightly. It was a day when I was particularly nervous and sensitive. But I shouldn’t take it out on Kessler.
“Sorry.”
I buried my face in his shoulder. Lately, I’ve been working too hard. Even after practice, instead of resting at home, I logged into the Last Shadow and worked repeatedly.
That was my way of relieving stress. But because I was so focused on the game, I neglected Kessler. And now, I’m even taking my frustration out on him…
“Don’t worry. Trust me, right? Even if we meet Flag and SeaWays in the group stage, even if the loser gets branded as a loser… I’ll be fine.”
Everyone said it would be tough this time, that we were unlucky. Even hearing those words, I had to pretend to be confident, but deep down, I knew all too well.
How tough it would be… We…
“Yeo Woo-rim.”
I was startled and looked up. Kessler’s voice, which I suddenly heard, snapped me out of my spinning thoughts. It was rare for him to call my name so clearly in his own voice.
“Want something to eat?”
“Beer.”
“Alright.”
It was a night when I craved alcohol. We sat in front of a convenience store and drank canned beer. While eagerly picking peanuts as a snack, I made eye contact with Kessler.
“You look like a squirrel.”
“Aren’t I a fox lizard?”
“A fox lizard squirrel.”
“You just stick things together. Can I drink your beer?”
“Yeah.”
Normally, he would have made a weird joke about feeding me with his mouth, but he quietly did everything I asked. I looked at the peanuts, then at the beer, and then at Kessler again. Suddenly, I felt happy.
Kessler was unconditionally on my side. No matter what the result, he was one of the few people who worried about my feelings in the process rather than expressing regret about the result. Even if he couldn’t lighten the weight of the logo on my shoulder, he was someone I could lean on with the same weight.
“Let’s go in now, it’s cold. I want to sleep early today, hugging our Juwon.”
“I’ll hold you until the end.”
“You sometimes say things that don’t sound like translation or anything, and it’s amazing. It reminds me that you lived abroad. But thanks for playing along.”
And that night, Kessler really held me until the end.
“Ouch!! It hurts, you brat!”
He came and kissed me as soon as I grabbed his hair.
“Does it hurt?”
I caught my breath and looked at Kessler’s bright-eyed face with half-closed eyes. It was ridiculous to ask if it hurt when my whole body was flushed.
“Does it hurt?”
As I followed his gaze down his body, I saw his erect cock tightly pressed between my spread legs. He had been patting my trembling thighs and now, sensing my gaze, he subtly lifted his cock again.
“Ugh!”
As I frowned, he came closer and rubbed his lips against my lower lip as if to soothe me.
“Annoying fox.”
“I’m not, ugh, annoying you like this… Ah!”
It seems like he’s taking revenge. But right now, I couldn’t think straight to ask him about it.
I vaguely grabbed the blanket with my hand that had lost its place, and then hurriedly pushed Kessler’s chest as he thrust into me. But even so, his cock was still tightly inserted without any wavering.
He bit my cheek hard and pushed down my hand that was struggling to push him away. Then, he pressed his body tightly against mine so I couldn’t move.
“Don’t push me away.”
His movements made my body sway heavily, and the heat pouring out made me rub my body against the blanket.
“Stop… it…”
Pre-cum dripped from my erect cock pressed against Kessler’s lower abdomen.
“Stop?”
“Mmm…”
“Should I stop?”
The thrusting made my body bounce up and down, and my upper and lower teeth kept colliding. I couldn’t answer the question because I clenched my teeth to prevent it.
“Should I pull out if it hurts?”
He never pulled out when I was screaming in pain, but now that it’s a little better, he’s asking if he should pull out.
This guy is playing with me…
Instead of answering, I grabbed Kessler’s neck tightly to show that I was ready to accept him. He kissed my forehead and started thrusting his hips harder.
And my cock, which had been dripping pre-cum, started to twitch in response to the stimulation.
“Haa… Ha… I can’t breathe.”
“Breathe with me.”
Our rough breaths slowly calmed down. After one round of sex, Kessler hugged me tightly.
“Thank you, it was good… Thanks to you, I feel like my tense body is relaxing and…”
“Can’t we do it one more time?”
“Huh?”
“Yes.”
I looked down. His cock, which had come out of me with a sticky sound, was standing up again and sticking to my skin.
As I hesitated to answer, Kessler’s bold kiss and his thrust came at me. Even after he took his lips off, the intense movement continued, leaving me no chance to express my opinion.
This… this guy.
