EPTCode S RO32 - Group G & H Previews
by Destructicon![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/bird_blue_16.png)
- TL_DestructiconThe GSL RO32 has saved the best for last, with two foreigner hopes fighting for glory. Or maybe it's the 'worst' for last, if you're a certain kind of Korean StarCraft elitist. No matter what result you're cheering for, the final two groups of the RO32 are must-watch StarCraft.
Group G: Dark, Neeb, Losira, aLive
Start time: Saturday, Jul 21 4:00am GMT (GMT+00:00)Our first contestant is
Dark, who started the year very strong. He reached the semifinals in the first season of Code S and took second place at both WESG and the GSL Super Tournament. Dark, however, grew too cocky for his own good, and was eliminated from a 'group of death' of his own creation in Code S Season 2. Dark can little afford such mistakes now, as his current #6 position in the WCS Korea rankings is no guarantee that he'll be making the trip to BlizzCon come November. While it isn't championship-or-bust for Dark, the GSL trophy will certainly be his ultimate goal. There's more than just BlizzCon on the line—such a victory would allow Dark to shed his newfound label as a silver-surfer and reaffirm himself as one of the best players of LotV.The Zerg’s first opponent is the foreigner hope
Neeb. After a lengthy absence, Neeb returns to Korea to finally take on the test everyone demanded of him in 2016. Korea was where Neeb won his first premier tournament in the KeSPA Cup, writing himself into the StarCraft history books as a rare foreigner to win on Korean soil. After that 2016 KeSPA cup win, Neeb would go on to claim 3 WCS Circuit wins at Austin, Jönköping and Montreal in 2017. He became the only foreigner to achieve the 'triple crown' with premier tournament wins in Europe, North America, and Korea. Yet, critics have still found ways to poke holes in Neeb's accomplishments. Most importantly, they point out, he has never proved himself in the world's toughest StarCraft II competition: GSL Code S.In 2018, Neeb has been pushed to the wayside by an even stronger force on the WCS Circuit, with Serral seeming like a lock to go four-for-four in foreigner events. Neeb hasn't even played well enough to challenge Serral directly, getting eliminated before the potential super-match can even happen. It would be fitting if Neeb could return to place where the legend first started and ascend to glory once more. We've often been told the GSL is an entirely different beast from all other competitions. We'll see if that's true tonight.
After all that hype for Dark and Neeb, there's unfortunately not much to be said for
Losira’s 2018. It was was distinctly underwhelming. While he did manage to qualify for every GSL Code S, he has always been eliminated in the RO32. His only impressive result in 2018 was going through the IEM Katowice offline qualifiers and knocking out soO, which was quite the upset given soO's ZvZ ability at the time. It at least proved that Losira can sometimes throw a curveball that not even an all-star player can hit. Given that the two favorites in the group have not been the steadiest in 2018, Losira might have a better chance than usual of continuing the trend of RO32 surprises.After a very impressive resurgence in performance throughout LotV that culminated in a GSL Super Tournament runner-up finish,
aLive has cooled down a lot. He went from getting RO8 and RO16 appearances in 2017, to RO16 and RO32 in the first two seasons of 2018. 2018 has been a bit of a struggle for all Terrans not-named Maru, but aLive has been particularly lead-footed in his efforts to adapt. Even after Maru laid the foundations for incredibly abusive TvZ late-game play, aLive still struggled in his worst match-up. While his first adversary isn’t the most frightening of the Zerg representatives, the overall make-up of the group makes this an uphill battle for aLive.Predictions
I think Dark’s experience should have humbled him enough to take this group a lot more seriously. A locked-in Dark is a terrifying opponent. He might not be able to win the finals in this age of Maru, but he's capable of bulldozing anyone else on his way to the finals. Next to advance is quite a lot harder to predict. Neeb certainly has frightening PvT and PvZ, but as with any foreigner, it's hard to know how it will translate in the GSL. How much stock should we put in the Hangzhou StarCraft Carnival, where he beat Rogue and herO on the way to the title? aLive, while quite good, has also not proven much this year either. Overall, I’m giving GSL veteran aLive the slightest of edges for his year of rugged survival in Korea compared to Neeb's disappointing performances on the WCS Circuit. (Losira, unfortunately, I don’t see making much of an impact).
Dark 2 – 0 NeebLosira 0 – 2 aLiveDark 2 – 0 aLiveNeeb 2 – 1 LosiraaLive 2 – 1 NeebDark and aLive to advance.
Group H: soO, SpeCial, KeeN, Rogue
Start time: Sunday, Jul 22 4:00am GMT (GMT+00:00)The first player we introduce is the most iconic of the silver surfers,
soO. Despite only ever winning a single tournament in his career (a KeSPA Cup no one wants to count), soO has become a true fan-favorite due to his sheer willpower in the face of adversity. His consistency has become legendary as well, albeit hearing 'reached three straight GSL finals' will always feel like a back-handed compliment. Unfortunately, 2018 has been an unusually quiet year for soO, who only made a single deep run in a premiere tournament. A RO4 in the first season of GSL is the only notable result he has (in some kind of cosmic joke, he also picked up second place at HomeStory Cup). While his quiet decline could be attributed to a changed meta or bracket luck, one must always wonder if it's just simply fatigue. Just how long can someone go on without achieving that which they crave until the weight of disappointment on their shoulders becomes too much? While soO has been able to bounce back from such slumps in the past, we still always worry for him, fearing that the next disappointment will be the one that breaks him. At the same time we still cling on to hope that he might finally achieve his dream of a GSL finals victory.Facing soO is another foreign hope in
SpeCial. Formerly known as MajOr, the Mexican Terran has gone through numerous tournaments (and nicknames) over the course of his extremely long career. With his first Premier tournament appearance being back at MLG Columbus 2011, SpeCial is really a veteran of the scene. His story is that of slow but steady improvement, as he went from making infrequent appearances in tournaments to becoming a championship contender in WCS 2017 and 2018. Well, a kinda championship contender. SpeCial has played in six premier tournament semifinals so far, but has not once advanced to the finals. Of course, SpeCial has a long way to go to see if that jinx still applies in the GSL. While SpeCial is pretty good in all his MUs and often looks downright dominant, most of his games are against foreigners. He hasn’t found nearly as much success against Koreans in 2018, frequently dropping series to them in online cups or tournaments. He's a far way off from his 2017 Global Finals form, where he beat both Stats and TY to advance to the RO8. If that version of SpeCial doesn't show up, his GSL run will be cut painfully short.Our next combatant’s career is just as long and tragically uneventful.
KeeN's career actually went the opposite way of SpeCial's, with his best results being in 2011 while his 2018 being quite unremarkable. Still, it wasn't like Keen was beat down in his previous RO32 eliminations—he came agonizingly close to advancing each time. In the first season, he actually did the unthinkable and defeated Maru in his initial series, before losing later to herO and having Maru exact revenge on him in the decider match. In the very next season, he had sOs on the ropes in the winners match before getting taken out by a ridiculous Dark Templar-Blink strategy. As such KeeN is a bit of a wildcard. The years haven’t been kind to him, but he has still maintained enough skill to be a danger to any opponent he might face.Few opponents could be as dangerous as
Rogue. After suffering a surprise RO32 exit in the first season of GSL 2018, people were already starting to accuse Rogue of being just a fluke—a player who enjoyed a brilliant, yet temporary flash of genius. Rogue evidently took the criticism seriously and managed to redeem himself after only a few short weeks, winning IEM Katowice 2018. More importantly Rogue did it against a now rising Maru. While he did suffer another early elimination in the Super Tournament, he made a quarterfinal run in Code S Season 2 before losing to Maru. It was a rare loss where the loser looked equally capable as the winner, with Rogue showing that he's the only Zerg comfortable taking Maru on in the late-game. You can certainly accuse Rogue of being prone to slacking, but there's no doubting his skills at 100%.Predictions
I think this group will pretty much go to the swarm, Rogue can pose a danger to any Terran, including Maru and soO, while having struggled in ZvT his sorrow mostly stems from Korean Terrans. Who will make it out in first and second is harder to say. soO has the undeniable historical ZvZ edge, but Rogue has a far better form this year and is himself no slouch in ZvZ. I think overall Rogue’s form will edge out soO’s expertise, and soO will advance in second place.
soO 2 – 0 SpeCialKeeN 0 – 2 RoguesoO 1 – 2 RogueKeeN 2 – 0 SpeCialsoO 2 – 1 KeenRogue and soO to advance.S-Class: A GSL Fan Fiction
by MizenhauerMizenhauer
The first volume of 'S-Class' concludes with the final eight players in the RO32. What kind of carnage will unfold in King Maru's contest? What are the destinies of surviving sixteen contestants? Will Mizenhauer avoid the cruel axe of cancellation? Find out in the RO16!
Dark
“Is this guy serious?” Dark demanded as he slammed the script against the table.
“What do you mean?” His assistant inquired while doing his best to avoid Dark’s rage filled stare.
“I just can’t believe it!” Dark leapt to his feet and started pacing across the dressing room. “‘I’ll tear your apart like cabbage kimchi.’ Who the f!@k says stuff like that?” Dark fell still before the mirror and flexed, admiring the way the oil gleamed on his rippling, muscle bound frame. “I don’t know who they think they are telling me, the undisputed WWE champion, what to say! I’m the boss! These fans come here to see me!” His fist shot through the mirror, sending shards of glass flying in all directions.
“Do they really think some writer off in god knows what country knows what I should say better than I do. It’s all those f!@#ing production heads. I’ll walk into their office and rip their f!@#ing heads off!” Dark’s assistant had taken up residence in the far corner of the room. Sheltered beneath a flimsy rubber tree, he offered his opinion.
“Of course not, sir. You’re the greatest at everything.”
“Damn right!” Dark announced as he flexed his right arm. Damn, he looked good. The results were better than he’d anticipated. “Look, I want you to go upstairs and tell them I won’t be following their script anymore. While you’re at it, tell them that I’m taking a break once this show finishes.”
“Should I tell them why?” The shaky voice was hardly more than a whisper. Dark didn’t even answer. He didn't need to give a reason. He was the star of the show. Truth was there was a private jet at the airport fueled and ready to take him to Korea. That’s where Maru was, the only man stronger than Dark in the whole entire world.
When Dark started off as a wrestler he made a splash by bragging that he’d end up being the best in the world. Two years had passed since that proclamation and he hadn’t accomplished his goal. Sure he’d conquered WWE, but that was just pro-wrestling. He demanded more. If he wanted to be the best he needed to go after the king of the world himself.
Dark realized he was alone as the door shut behind his assistance. A smile on his face, he turned to the shattered remains of the mirror. Damn, he looked good. Even like this. He chuckled. Tonight’s performance would be boring, but it would be the last one. After that he could finally chase his destiny. Tonight, he might be a mere professional wrestler, but in a month’s time, he’d be more powerful than he had ever imagined.
Neeb
It was all over. Everything was falling apart and there was nothing he could do. Just last year he had been one of the most prominent businessmen in Korea. A rising star at Hyundai, he was the highest ranked foreigner in the corporate ladder by a wide margin. He was working hard and making a name for himself. Everyone in the industry was whispering about Neeb. There was no reason to believe things weren’t going to keep getting better.
How wrong he had been. Neeb’s first big idea was the Blet, a sort of big rig/sports car hybrid you could cruise to Busan in on the weekends while hauling cargo to and from the work site during the week. It was a great idea, everyone was enthused. What could go wrong?
It didn’t take long for the dream to sour. Faulty brakes, exploding engines, doors that fell off spontaneously. It was an unmitigated disaster. His fellow executives distanced themselves every chance they got until there was nowhere for the blame to fall but Neeb’s shoulders.
And here he was, alone, disgraced and desperate. The company had made it clear where they stood. He’d be fired in a day or two. Finding work in Korea after that would be impossible. No one wanted anything to do with the man who nearly killed one of the country’s flagship companies.
He had to at least fight for his pride, though - redeem himself as best he could. Luckily for him there was still a way out. King of the world was the sort of title no one cold ignore. Killing Maru and taking his mantle would Neeb earn back everyone’s respect. Sure, he’d never been a fighter, but a nimble mind could accomplish things fists never could. This was his way out. He had no choice but to take it.
Losira
How the mighty had fallen. Losira had had everything. He’d performed in arenas all over the world. He had made appearances on shows in ten different languages and moved the hearts of millions with his dancing and his voice. Everyone in Korea knew his face and legions of fans overseas streamed his newest song the second it came out. Losira had been beloved. He was everything, a heartthrob, a sex symbol, an idol. Now he was nothing.
People in the industry warned to keep your personal life out of the limelight. The same fans that worshipped you as a god would turn as a moment’s notice if their fantasy was shattered in any way.
It started with a simple mistake. He remembered that night vividly. It was hot, so hot that he didn’t think to check over his shoulder as he got into his car. He drove to his girlfriend’s place, picked her up with a kiss and went on his way. It took less than an hour for the pictures to hit the web. His fans vilified him, but things were even worse for his girlfriend. The label told him to let it run its course, but he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. He fought his hardest, but he lost her and his fans in the process.
So, here he was, all alone, the most hated man in Korea. The label told him he shouldn’t leave his apartment, but he was going mad holed up like this! He’d had enough, things had to change. He’d sneak outside and head downtown. Maybe someone would notice him. Maybe they wouldn’t. All he knew was he couldn’t live like this.
aLive
aLive never got tired of the fans. Sure, they followed him everywhere he went, but that was one of the perils of being the most famous reality TV star in the world. It didn’t matter if you went to Bangladesh, Budapest or Bismarck, North Dakota, everyone knew who he was.
aLive never got tired of the attention. He walked down the street and women’s jaws dropped to the floor. A single glance could stop them dead in their tracks. Their boyfriends glared at him and ball their fists, but that just made it more delectable. He never got tired of the perks. Free food, invites to the most exclusive parties and comped hotel rooms at the most expensive resorts were just the tip of the iceberg.
Ghost Hunters had made him famous, but honors like being named People Sexiest Man Alive for the second half of 2018 were making him the most recognizable man in the world. Well, one of them at least…
He had more endorsement deals than he could remember. Every brand imaginable had offered him millions to put his face on a billboard or in a commercial. He had a clothing line as well as a cosmetics and a kitchen appliance brand. Simply put, no matter where you went, no matter who you were, you couldn’t go a day without seeing his face.
In all the world there was only one person more recognizable than aLive. And aLive cursed that little brat Maru with every breath. What was so good about him really? Everyone knew aLive, but there wasn't a line of people waiting to prostrate themselves at his feet like Maru. What good was fame without respect and power? It was enough already. aLive was done playing second fiddle to a kid half his size. aLive was done being famous for being famous. By this time next month he’d be famous for being king of the world.
And who could blame him for wanted something like that? After all, fame was something you never got tired of.
soO
Most people would have been furious. They would have flipped a table over, shouted obscenities and thrown a certified tantrum if this sort of thing happened to them. They would have called their friends, their mother and their uncle. They would have complained to anyone who’d listen. But not, soO, no siree. He’d been through this sort of things too many times to make a fuss. You see, for most people getting f!@#ed over was an outrage, but for soO, it was a way of life.
That saying “nice guys finish last” couldn’t have been any more accurate. Nice was the word everyone used to describe soO, but it really hadn’t helped him out much. He’d lost his job because he’d covered for coworkers. He’d lost his girlfriend because he let her go out for a night on the town while he dogsat her puppy. He got his car stolen a few years back because he pulled over to help change someone’s tire. He’d missed out on the last box of cereal at the supermarket, he’d missed out on Twice tickets, yada, yada, yada.
Yes, he was used to it, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t fed up. For once in his life soO wanted to finish first. He wanted to get what he wanted, when he wanted and in the way he wanted. He was kind, emotionally resilient and considerate, but did that really mean he should be doomed to a lifetime of close calls and disappointment? No, he’d had enough. It was time to make his own luck for once and finally get what he deserved.
The same worries had been buzzing through his head for days. He didn’t know a lot about fighting. He was probably too nice for bloodsport. He wouldn’t stand a chance against trained killers, let alone Maru himself. soO didn’t care. It might have been the biggest mistake of his life, but he knew deep in his bones that this was his turn to get what he wanted.
SpeCial
“Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.”
No one had clapped as SpeCial’s presentation came to an end, but the astonished expressions on the faces of the Doosan Bears executive board made it clear that they were completely blown away. SpeCial smiled. It had been incredibly difficult to get hold of this illustrious group, but it seemed his persistence and constant badgering had finally paid off.
The thing was, he had a great idea. And not just a great idea, one which would revolutionize Korean baseball as we know it. He was redefining rivalries, changing fortunes and sparking a windfall of merchandise revenue. What was his idea, you ask? Sometimes it really all was in a name… SpeCial knew they realized it to. Why else would their mouths have fallen open when he proposed they rename the Bears the Marshmallow Muffin Munchers?
3M could be the abbreviation, the mightiest baseball lobbing force the KBO had ever seen. Clad in pink, white and silver, they would take the field, stomp the opposition and raise the championship flag over Jamsil. A name could change your fate. The Bears, who had lost to the Tigers in the Korean Series the year before, could use a fresh start more than most.
“SpeCial, right?” One of the executives inquired speculatively.
“Yes, sir. That’s my name,” SpeCial answered snappily.
“Let me get this straight. You want us to change our names to the Marshmallow Muffin Munchers?”
“That’s correct.” The man shook his hand and sighed.
“Someone get security and get this guy the f!@k out of here.”
Three minutes later and firmly grasped in the arms of two security guards, SpeCial realized that maybe this wasn’t going so well after all. These out of touch executives didn’t have the vision to realizes how great his the proposed rebranding was. Sure he could move on and try to make the Tigers realize they were better off as the Rock Crab Ranchers, but they probably wouldn't listen to him either. What SpeCial needed was authority. A way to make it so no one could ignore him ever again. Sirens howled through the streets as SpeCial was dumped unceremoniously into the alleyway. Yeah, a way to make it so no one could ignore him ever again. He thought as he picked himself up. Now how was he supposed to do that?
KeeN
Back in 2011, KeeNGifs was the talk of the Korea. To think, it all started when the Gif of him clapping went viral. He hadn’t had any expectations when he uploaded it, but people fell in love. He released a few more. They couldn’t get enough. KeeN got in touch with some investors. They liked his moxy and bravado. They floated a loan. He promised to deliver.
KeeNGiFs was born. It had been all roses and sunshine for awhile. He cornered the market on GiF hosting in Korea. He started aggressively pursuing opportunities for expansion overseas. The potential for growth was infinite and the cash might as well have been growing on trees. The best part was life was only going to get better.
It never worked out like that. Sites like Imgur, Giphy and more sunk their teeth into his empire and never let go. They were smarter, cooler, hipper. KeeNGiFs couldn’t compete. Back in 2011 the world had been his for the taking. Now here he was in his office waiting for the bankruptcy announcement to go official. The sky was dark, rain was falling and he was all alone, a broken man hiding in the ruins of his kingdom.
KeeN slammed his fist on the desk. NO! He refused to go out like this. He could still save KeeNGiFs. He could still restore his name. He could get his wife back and see his child again and become the great man he was meant to be. Out there in the streets the battle was raging. Maru’s competition was the key to getting everything back. Sure, KeeN would be risking his life, but what was a life like this worth anyway? KeeN took a final glance as the clock. The work day was done, everything was official. It was time to start a new chapter.
Rogue
“Maru, Maru, Maru…” Rogue muttered as his eyes traced the storm clouds on the horizon. “You just couldn’t wait, could you?”
News had been flooding in nonstop since the games got underway. Many had already fallen, many more were sure to join the deceased in the coming weeks. They had come from all over the globe, abandoning their lives in hopes that they would become king. For weeks Rogue had watched, waited and monitored the situation. From his mountain stronghold deep in the Alps he had masterfully manipulated the proceedings, nudging them in the desired direction.
Rogue and Maru may have grown up together, but they were entirely different people. Yes, Maru was powerful, he was also short sighted and brash. He was more interesting in fighting than actually leveraging the title of king for his own gain. Rogue understood that power could buy things that combat never could. With power he could bend the stock market to his will and acquire any company he desired. Power could starts wars in far off countries that caused his assets to soar in value. Power could place politicians in governments, sway elections and depose dictators. Yes, Maru was the most powerful man in the world, but Rogue held sway in every government, corporation, and dark corner of the world. Maru was the one everyone recognized, but the true was Rogue’s adopted brother was just another one of his playthings.
There was no point in waiting anymore. It was time to enter the fray himself. His brother may have been a simple minded fool, but Maru was right about one thing. Victory was victory, but it wasn’t the same unless you got your hands a little dirty. It was the only thing they could agree on.
Rogue’s empire was already incomparably vast, but once Maru was defeated and the world bowed at his feet, it would become a dynasty unlike any ever before seen by man. Rogue had been waiting for this chance ever since Maru had banished him from Korea. Waiting so very patiently. He wasn’t waiting any longer.
The plane engine kicked to life behind him. The propellers whirred, overpowering the far off rumble of thunder.
“It’s time, little brother,” Rogue muttered as he made his way up the ramp and inside. “It’s finally time.”
Dark
“Is this guy serious?” Dark demanded as he slammed the script against the table.
“What do you mean?” His assistant inquired while doing his best to avoid Dark’s rage filled stare.
“I just can’t believe it!” Dark leapt to his feet and started pacing across the dressing room. “‘I’ll tear your apart like cabbage kimchi.’ Who the f!@k says stuff like that?” Dark fell still before the mirror and flexed, admiring the way the oil gleamed on his rippling, muscle bound frame. “I don’t know who they think they are telling me, the undisputed WWE champion, what to say! I’m the boss! These fans come here to see me!” His fist shot through the mirror, sending shards of glass flying in all directions.
“Do they really think some writer off in god knows what country knows what I should say better than I do. It’s all those f!@#ing production heads. I’ll walk into their office and rip their f!@#ing heads off!” Dark’s assistant had taken up residence in the far corner of the room. Sheltered beneath a flimsy rubber tree, he offered his opinion.
“Of course not, sir. You’re the greatest at everything.”
“Damn right!” Dark announced as he flexed his right arm. Damn, he looked good. The results were better than he’d anticipated. “Look, I want you to go upstairs and tell them I won’t be following their script anymore. While you’re at it, tell them that I’m taking a break once this show finishes.”
“Should I tell them why?” The shaky voice was hardly more than a whisper. Dark didn’t even answer. He didn't need to give a reason. He was the star of the show. Truth was there was a private jet at the airport fueled and ready to take him to Korea. That’s where Maru was, the only man stronger than Dark in the whole entire world.
When Dark started off as a wrestler he made a splash by bragging that he’d end up being the best in the world. Two years had passed since that proclamation and he hadn’t accomplished his goal. Sure he’d conquered WWE, but that was just pro-wrestling. He demanded more. If he wanted to be the best he needed to go after the king of the world himself.
Dark realized he was alone as the door shut behind his assistance. A smile on his face, he turned to the shattered remains of the mirror. Damn, he looked good. Even like this. He chuckled. Tonight’s performance would be boring, but it would be the last one. After that he could finally chase his destiny. Tonight, he might be a mere professional wrestler, but in a month’s time, he’d be more powerful than he had ever imagined.
Neeb
It was all over. Everything was falling apart and there was nothing he could do. Just last year he had been one of the most prominent businessmen in Korea. A rising star at Hyundai, he was the highest ranked foreigner in the corporate ladder by a wide margin. He was working hard and making a name for himself. Everyone in the industry was whispering about Neeb. There was no reason to believe things weren’t going to keep getting better.
How wrong he had been. Neeb’s first big idea was the Blet, a sort of big rig/sports car hybrid you could cruise to Busan in on the weekends while hauling cargo to and from the work site during the week. It was a great idea, everyone was enthused. What could go wrong?
It didn’t take long for the dream to sour. Faulty brakes, exploding engines, doors that fell off spontaneously. It was an unmitigated disaster. His fellow executives distanced themselves every chance they got until there was nowhere for the blame to fall but Neeb’s shoulders.
And here he was, alone, disgraced and desperate. The company had made it clear where they stood. He’d be fired in a day or two. Finding work in Korea after that would be impossible. No one wanted anything to do with the man who nearly killed one of the country’s flagship companies.
He had to at least fight for his pride, though - redeem himself as best he could. Luckily for him there was still a way out. King of the world was the sort of title no one cold ignore. Killing Maru and taking his mantle would Neeb earn back everyone’s respect. Sure, he’d never been a fighter, but a nimble mind could accomplish things fists never could. This was his way out. He had no choice but to take it.
Losira
How the mighty had fallen. Losira had had everything. He’d performed in arenas all over the world. He had made appearances on shows in ten different languages and moved the hearts of millions with his dancing and his voice. Everyone in Korea knew his face and legions of fans overseas streamed his newest song the second it came out. Losira had been beloved. He was everything, a heartthrob, a sex symbol, an idol. Now he was nothing.
People in the industry warned to keep your personal life out of the limelight. The same fans that worshipped you as a god would turn as a moment’s notice if their fantasy was shattered in any way.
It started with a simple mistake. He remembered that night vividly. It was hot, so hot that he didn’t think to check over his shoulder as he got into his car. He drove to his girlfriend’s place, picked her up with a kiss and went on his way. It took less than an hour for the pictures to hit the web. His fans vilified him, but things were even worse for his girlfriend. The label told him to let it run its course, but he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. He fought his hardest, but he lost her and his fans in the process.
So, here he was, all alone, the most hated man in Korea. The label told him he shouldn’t leave his apartment, but he was going mad holed up like this! He’d had enough, things had to change. He’d sneak outside and head downtown. Maybe someone would notice him. Maybe they wouldn’t. All he knew was he couldn’t live like this.
aLive
aLive never got tired of the fans. Sure, they followed him everywhere he went, but that was one of the perils of being the most famous reality TV star in the world. It didn’t matter if you went to Bangladesh, Budapest or Bismarck, North Dakota, everyone knew who he was.
aLive never got tired of the attention. He walked down the street and women’s jaws dropped to the floor. A single glance could stop them dead in their tracks. Their boyfriends glared at him and ball their fists, but that just made it more delectable. He never got tired of the perks. Free food, invites to the most exclusive parties and comped hotel rooms at the most expensive resorts were just the tip of the iceberg.
Ghost Hunters had made him famous, but honors like being named People Sexiest Man Alive for the second half of 2018 were making him the most recognizable man in the world. Well, one of them at least…
He had more endorsement deals than he could remember. Every brand imaginable had offered him millions to put his face on a billboard or in a commercial. He had a clothing line as well as a cosmetics and a kitchen appliance brand. Simply put, no matter where you went, no matter who you were, you couldn’t go a day without seeing his face.
In all the world there was only one person more recognizable than aLive. And aLive cursed that little brat Maru with every breath. What was so good about him really? Everyone knew aLive, but there wasn't a line of people waiting to prostrate themselves at his feet like Maru. What good was fame without respect and power? It was enough already. aLive was done playing second fiddle to a kid half his size. aLive was done being famous for being famous. By this time next month he’d be famous for being king of the world.
And who could blame him for wanted something like that? After all, fame was something you never got tired of.
*****
soO
Most people would have been furious. They would have flipped a table over, shouted obscenities and thrown a certified tantrum if this sort of thing happened to them. They would have called their friends, their mother and their uncle. They would have complained to anyone who’d listen. But not, soO, no siree. He’d been through this sort of things too many times to make a fuss. You see, for most people getting f!@#ed over was an outrage, but for soO, it was a way of life.
That saying “nice guys finish last” couldn’t have been any more accurate. Nice was the word everyone used to describe soO, but it really hadn’t helped him out much. He’d lost his job because he’d covered for coworkers. He’d lost his girlfriend because he let her go out for a night on the town while he dogsat her puppy. He got his car stolen a few years back because he pulled over to help change someone’s tire. He’d missed out on the last box of cereal at the supermarket, he’d missed out on Twice tickets, yada, yada, yada.
Yes, he was used to it, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t fed up. For once in his life soO wanted to finish first. He wanted to get what he wanted, when he wanted and in the way he wanted. He was kind, emotionally resilient and considerate, but did that really mean he should be doomed to a lifetime of close calls and disappointment? No, he’d had enough. It was time to make his own luck for once and finally get what he deserved.
The same worries had been buzzing through his head for days. He didn’t know a lot about fighting. He was probably too nice for bloodsport. He wouldn’t stand a chance against trained killers, let alone Maru himself. soO didn’t care. It might have been the biggest mistake of his life, but he knew deep in his bones that this was his turn to get what he wanted.
SpeCial
“Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.”
No one had clapped as SpeCial’s presentation came to an end, but the astonished expressions on the faces of the Doosan Bears executive board made it clear that they were completely blown away. SpeCial smiled. It had been incredibly difficult to get hold of this illustrious group, but it seemed his persistence and constant badgering had finally paid off.
The thing was, he had a great idea. And not just a great idea, one which would revolutionize Korean baseball as we know it. He was redefining rivalries, changing fortunes and sparking a windfall of merchandise revenue. What was his idea, you ask? Sometimes it really all was in a name… SpeCial knew they realized it to. Why else would their mouths have fallen open when he proposed they rename the Bears the Marshmallow Muffin Munchers?
3M could be the abbreviation, the mightiest baseball lobbing force the KBO had ever seen. Clad in pink, white and silver, they would take the field, stomp the opposition and raise the championship flag over Jamsil. A name could change your fate. The Bears, who had lost to the Tigers in the Korean Series the year before, could use a fresh start more than most.
“SpeCial, right?” One of the executives inquired speculatively.
“Yes, sir. That’s my name,” SpeCial answered snappily.
“Let me get this straight. You want us to change our names to the Marshmallow Muffin Munchers?”
“That’s correct.” The man shook his hand and sighed.
“Someone get security and get this guy the f!@k out of here.”
Three minutes later and firmly grasped in the arms of two security guards, SpeCial realized that maybe this wasn’t going so well after all. These out of touch executives didn’t have the vision to realizes how great his the proposed rebranding was. Sure he could move on and try to make the Tigers realize they were better off as the Rock Crab Ranchers, but they probably wouldn't listen to him either. What SpeCial needed was authority. A way to make it so no one could ignore him ever again. Sirens howled through the streets as SpeCial was dumped unceremoniously into the alleyway. Yeah, a way to make it so no one could ignore him ever again. He thought as he picked himself up. Now how was he supposed to do that?
KeeN
Back in 2011, KeeNGifs was the talk of the Korea. To think, it all started when the Gif of him clapping went viral. He hadn’t had any expectations when he uploaded it, but people fell in love. He released a few more. They couldn’t get enough. KeeN got in touch with some investors. They liked his moxy and bravado. They floated a loan. He promised to deliver.
KeeNGiFs was born. It had been all roses and sunshine for awhile. He cornered the market on GiF hosting in Korea. He started aggressively pursuing opportunities for expansion overseas. The potential for growth was infinite and the cash might as well have been growing on trees. The best part was life was only going to get better.
It never worked out like that. Sites like Imgur, Giphy and more sunk their teeth into his empire and never let go. They were smarter, cooler, hipper. KeeNGiFs couldn’t compete. Back in 2011 the world had been his for the taking. Now here he was in his office waiting for the bankruptcy announcement to go official. The sky was dark, rain was falling and he was all alone, a broken man hiding in the ruins of his kingdom.
KeeN slammed his fist on the desk. NO! He refused to go out like this. He could still save KeeNGiFs. He could still restore his name. He could get his wife back and see his child again and become the great man he was meant to be. Out there in the streets the battle was raging. Maru’s competition was the key to getting everything back. Sure, KeeN would be risking his life, but what was a life like this worth anyway? KeeN took a final glance as the clock. The work day was done, everything was official. It was time to start a new chapter.
Rogue
“Maru, Maru, Maru…” Rogue muttered as his eyes traced the storm clouds on the horizon. “You just couldn’t wait, could you?”
News had been flooding in nonstop since the games got underway. Many had already fallen, many more were sure to join the deceased in the coming weeks. They had come from all over the globe, abandoning their lives in hopes that they would become king. For weeks Rogue had watched, waited and monitored the situation. From his mountain stronghold deep in the Alps he had masterfully manipulated the proceedings, nudging them in the desired direction.
Rogue and Maru may have grown up together, but they were entirely different people. Yes, Maru was powerful, he was also short sighted and brash. He was more interesting in fighting than actually leveraging the title of king for his own gain. Rogue understood that power could buy things that combat never could. With power he could bend the stock market to his will and acquire any company he desired. Power could starts wars in far off countries that caused his assets to soar in value. Power could place politicians in governments, sway elections and depose dictators. Yes, Maru was the most powerful man in the world, but Rogue held sway in every government, corporation, and dark corner of the world. Maru was the one everyone recognized, but the true was Rogue’s adopted brother was just another one of his playthings.
There was no point in waiting anymore. It was time to enter the fray himself. His brother may have been a simple minded fool, but Maru was right about one thing. Victory was victory, but it wasn’t the same unless you got your hands a little dirty. It was the only thing they could agree on.
Rogue’s empire was already incomparably vast, but once Maru was defeated and the world bowed at his feet, it would become a dynasty unlike any ever before seen by man. Rogue had been waiting for this chance ever since Maru had banished him from Korea. Waiting so very patiently. He wasn’t waiting any longer.
The plane engine kicked to life behind him. The propellers whirred, overpowering the far off rumble of thunder.
“It’s time, little brother,” Rogue muttered as he made his way up the ramp and inside. “It’s finally time.”
Credits and acknowledgements
Writers: Destructicon, Mizenhauer
Editor: Wax
Images: AfreecaTV
Statistics: Aligulac.com
Writers: Destructicon, Mizenhauer
Editor: Wax
Images: AfreecaTV
Statistics: Aligulac.com
