There's something about the fan culture in Korea's E-sports industry that reminds one of K-POP idol fandoms.
Sending rice trucks or protest trucks.
Image being just as important as skill.
For those reasons, Jeon Woo-seung was called in by the coach.
"How close are you to that Jeon Jeonseol girl?"
From the very first words, Woo-seung realized why he'd been summoned.
Actually, even before that.
What was Legendary to Woo-seung?
Three years ago, they dove deep into Magical Fight together, pushing the game to its limits.
People who'd never met in real life.
Yet they felt closer than anyone else.
Was that all it was?
"Without her, the world would be too boring."
Woo-seung rarely showed changes in expression.
His usual look carried an inexplicable air of ennui.
Not now.
Right now, Woo-seung was grinning ear to ear.
As if recalling the most delightful memory.
'What the hell is this?'
The coach was flustered by that smile.
What kind of feelings could make a guy smile like that at a friend?
Was that why he'd built walls against female fans? Every wild thought raced through the coach's mind.
"She doesn't use hacks or anything like that."
Woo-seung stated firmly.
"She doesn't need to."
Woo-seung kept going.
Not giving the coach a chance to speak.
This passionate display was extremely rare for him.
"If I dodge skills perfectly, does that spark controversy? People calling me a hacker?"
"Y-you're saying there's no way she used it?"
The coach had originally called Woo-seung to warn him.
To keep his mouth shut about Jeon Jeonseol.
The entire community was ablaze right now.
Jeon Jeonseol hack controversy: if innocent, come out and explain yourself.
It was obvious where the flames would spread next.
Jeon Jeonseol's friend—the personal stream where Victory rose to fame.
The coach had a duty to prepare for the predictably obvious fallout.
But...
'No need to pick a fight with Woo-seung.'
Obviously, the company paying the salary holds the power, and the player is subordinate, right? That's the natural order, isn't it?
No, not always.
It happens sometimes.
When the idol outgrows the agency.
When the pro gamer overshadows the team.
A reversal of power dynamics.
It happens when someone becomes a superstar.
Victory's personal name already held far more value than Team Ascend's brand.
Far greater power.
The coach couldn't just say whatever he wanted.
'Worst case, even if Jeon Jeonseol really did hack, he could just play it off like "I trusted my friend too much..."'
The coach reluctantly imagined the worst, planning countermeasures.
He truly had no choice.
Woo-seung's expression made it clear he wouldn't tolerate cutting ties with his friend.
"Don't worry. She doesn't need that kind of thing."
"A-alright. If you say so, then it must be."
The conversation between the coach and Woo-seung ended there for now.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇💬 Live Chat— AnonymousClarify your friend's hack drama already— Fan123Is Jeon Jeonseol really a total noob?— AdminThis is Victory's personal stream. Please refrain from mentioning civilians. Violating chat rules may result in permanent ban.— TrollKingTeam promo for a rookie?— HaterFanWhat the hell are you doing on oppa's stream? Everyone out
Even with the warning from the team's front office staff—the chat moderator—the chat window blazed on.
With the controversy's center ignoring all friend requests and community backlash, everyone naturally flocked to the one connection: Victory's stream.
"Master tier folks here? If so, raise your hand?"
— NananananaMe me me me me— WooSeungOppaFanIt's me, Woo-seung oppa! (flailing)— MeMeMeMe me me me— TopTierGangMaster is top 0.1%, and they're all here lol— AnalystNo wonder they were backseat gaming Victory—all Masters or higher— RealTalkFor real lol— FlexerTier? Challenger maybe?
Woo-seung suddenly opened a custom game and started whispering to viewers.
The bronze players who'd lied about being Masters got kicked repeatedly, until finally two genuine Master tier players filled the spots.
— CuriousWhat's he planning?— ??????— SherlockWait, I think I know what this is— ImpatientDon't keep it to yourself, spill it— DummyCheckIf you don't know this, there's something wrong with your brain— GeniusRecreating the hack controversy clip lol
"So, the champs in the controversy were Barrier Warden and Spear Master, right?"
1v2 custom game underway, Woo-seung picks Illusionist.
— HypeTrainControversy recreation spooky— TesterTesting if it's possible or not?— ConfusedWhy is Woo-seung hyung doing it when Jeon Jeonseol is the one in question?— LurkerIf he gets hit by even one skill, it'd be hilarious— TeamFanIs Victory your team's god claiming your friend?
Viewers grasped he was recreating the controversial scene.
But why was Woo-seung, not the person involved, doing the recreation?
Curiosity unresolved, the audience watched on.
"Hit level 3 and come to the Arena."
Level 3.
The level where Q, W, and E skills are unlocked to recreate the controversy.
The Master viewers, curious themselves, diligently reached level 3.
Arena—the central arena terrain on the map—gathered all three champions.
— ReplayWatcherStill looks brutal lol—even one skill lands and you're done— CompExpertAnd they're both tanky, hard to catch
Spear Master and Barrier Warden.
The picks Wooseum and his team chose to counter Jeon Jeonseol's Illusionist—a filthy combo plastered with status ailments and CC.
Illusionist was a squishy damage dealer, so even one CC skill led to chained combos and inevitable death.
Jeon Jeonseol had dodged everything, foiling the CC chain and obliterating them instead.
Could Victory prove it now?
Tension and anticipation swelled in viewers' hearts.
"Coordinate via chat if you want, or just skillshot on instinct. Land a hit on me, and I'll give you culture vouchers."
No sooner said than a Spear Master skill flew.
Woo-seung's Illusionist sidestepped effortlessly.
No block, no counter-skill.
Just walked out of it.
Walked.
Pure skill, no cost, nullifying an enemy skill.
— WowWhoa⭐ Chant— VictoryFanJeon Woo-seung! Jeon Woo-seung! Jeon Woo-seung!— GodMoverThis is world champ movement— DreamKidMommy when I grow up I wanna be Victory— PersistentBut why is Woo-seung hyung doing this anyway— SkepticOne dodge and the hype train lol
One particularly pissed-off friend spammed the chat amid the fury, but most cheered Woo-seung's movement.
Those tuning into his stream were mostly fans—or more than fans.
Confident as he was, Woo-seung displayed even greater skill, dodging every skill.
— AmazedWhoa— MindBlownInsane— HackHaterHack accusers gonna pin this on our Tori too?— WhyThoSo why is Victory doing the clarification stream instead of Jeon Jeonseol
The pinnacle of Teamfight Arena.
Victory proved himself once more today.
"Alright, three minutes up. Think that's enough chances. Next group, please."
After over ten skill misses, Woo-seung rotated in the next players.
The following teams, and the ones after, strategized hard and synced up, but none landed a hit on his Illusionist.
The man who'd claimed world glory.
Victory truly stood at Teamfight Arena's peak.
— HumanOrBotHuman or machine?— FanBegTone it down Jeon Woo-seung!— GodTierTeam A incarnate— WorshipperVictory—is he a god???
"That was the tenth team, right? Should be plenty of clarification by now."
To liven things up, he took a few lower-tier players, but after polite apologies, Woo-seung limited the next seven matches to Master tier and above.
Victory certified that what Jeon Jeonseol did wasn't impossible.
Whether Jeon Jeonseol could do it was unknown, but at least it was humanly possible.
No one would demand proof that Victory was human, right?
— Persistent2So why Victory clarifying instead of Jeon Jeonseol
The same question echoing from countless viewers since earlier.
Why was Victory clarifying instead of Jeon Jeonseol?
— DetectiveOh! Got it! Jeon Jeonseol is Victory's smurf!
A viewer smugly typed what they thought was the answer.
Unfortunately, wrong.
— LogicJeon Jeonseol whispered Victory during his stream—same person?— BrainCellUse your head, you have one— OopsAh gotcha
And then, the true answer from Woo-seung's mouth.
An astonishing response no one had imagined.
"Why it's okay for me to clarify on her behalf..."
Woo-seung wore an expression rarer than his world championship win—even happier.
"There's one person I've acknowledged as better at the game than me. And that's Jeonseol."
He dropped the bombshell.
"Can't wait to face her in pro league."
He seemed utterly delighted.