EPTThis is a funny story idea I had whilst watching the Code S Finals. The spoiler sections are straightforward recaps of each game, full credit for the spoiler sections goes to the Team Liquid review of the finals. Thanks for the awesome work TL <3
I am no story writer, so tbh this could sound absolutely crap. I'm sure it sounded way better in my head as many things do. But anyway, let me know what you think and I hope you enjoy the read.
The Wrath of the Trickster
It was possibly the harshest 2 months in the history of the harsh and brutal world that is Code S. Violence running rampant throughout everyday life, young newcomers who thought to prove themselves in taming the storm were cut down and brushed aside. Old Titans of strength whom many know and love were slaughtered just as easily. Falling to one they did not expect. One they had all laughed at in the past.
The Mad Trickster - MVP Genius
This man does not fight for good, he does not play honourably and he had a burning hate in his eyes. For too long had he stayed in the back alleys and sewers of the Code S world whilst brave and powerful fighters looked down upon him. It took the harsh words of his own Father to prompt his revenge. So Genius took to his lair, studied those he was to face and found their weaknesses whilst preparing traps to exploit their curiosity.
Genius lured the various Superheroes who maintain order in Code S to his various lairs about the World. They went in with confidence, ready to beat the man they had so easily crushed in the past. One by one... they fell. The Tricksters new found intelligence had them all begging for mercy. They were not even fair fights, the people of the World were shocked as the Trickster made himself known on the severed heads of their Heroes. Those whom they loved.
Who did people look to in these dark and dangerous times?
After so many had fallen, what remaining Hero could bring order back to Code S?
There was but one man.
Slowly making his name heard across the lands with victory after victory.
A rising star so close to his highest point.
The Last Superhero - MVP DongRaeGu
The former ally of Genius and possibly former friend. A Superhero with a long and steadily rising History, thwarting villain after villain and constantly trying to secure his position as a mainstay. One whom everyone looked to in times of need. The Powerhouse of strength, ingenuity and confidence.
He knew Genius well. He knew he had been preparing traps, he'd witnessed other heroes fall to Genius' wrath. When there was only himself and Genius left in this World, he knew what had to be done. He made for Genius' lair.
The Battle of the Ages
Fight 1 - Daybreak
+ Show Spoiler +
Genius opened with a macro friendly strategy on a macro friendly map, going for a quick third base off just a stargate and four gateways. DongRaeGu had much success with heavy aggression against fast three base Protosses at the recent MLG Winter Arena, and looked to go on the offensive once more.
However, Genius played a great defensive game with his limited troops, keeping both his natural and third base safe and securing a strong economy. Genius then showed the patient, deliberate play that had been his hallmark throughout the tournament, and attacked once he had a death-ball DongRaeGu could not challenge. DongRaeGu attempted a backdoor attack to buy time, but Genius sniffed it out and thwarted it easily before moving on.
That left DongRaeGue stuck with just roaches and infestors as Genius advanced with colossi and blink-stalkers, and Genius cut a bloody path through the Zerg troops and expansions, collecting the GG.
However, Genius played a great defensive game with his limited troops, keeping both his natural and third base safe and securing a strong economy. Genius then showed the patient, deliberate play that had been his hallmark throughout the tournament, and attacked once he had a death-ball DongRaeGu could not challenge. DongRaeGu attempted a backdoor attack to buy time, but Genius sniffed it out and thwarted it easily before moving on.
That left DongRaeGue stuck with just roaches and infestors as Genius advanced with colossi and blink-stalkers, and Genius cut a bloody path through the Zerg troops and expansions, collecting the GG.
DongRaeGu entered the lair of Genius, no traps were prepared and no ambush lay in wait. Genius simply stood in the middle of the room, staring DongRaeGu in the eyes with an arrogant grin. He would not even attempt to catch DongRaeGu off guard, he wanted to fight toe to toe. DongRaeGu did not hesitate and they clashed. DongRaeGu being fiercely aggressive as Genius was forced to keep defending the relentless onslaught. However his agile and quick defence was enough, soon DongRaeGu began to tire and that is when Genius struck the first blow which left DongRaeGu beaten but not defeated.
Fight 2 - Antiga Shipyard
+ Show Spoiler +
Genius brought a well prepared cheese in game two, going for a forge FE into a hidden, double proxy-stargate build. He waited for three void rays and three phoenixes to attack, and walked into a spore and two queens defending DongRaeGu's third base. Though it seemed like a completely winnable battle, Genius became skittish at that second, and backed off to look for a different location to hit.
It was a moment of fatal indecision, as it allowed DongRaeGu to complete even more spore crawlers and queens, rendering the attack useless. There was only one possible ending after Genius' failed attack left him with a weak army against DongRaeGu's powerhouse three-base economy. DongRaeGu sent waves of troops to finish Genius off, not wasting any time to move onto game three.
It was a moment of fatal indecision, as it allowed DongRaeGu to complete even more spore crawlers and queens, rendering the attack useless. There was only one possible ending after Genius' failed attack left him with a weak army against DongRaeGu's powerhouse three-base economy. DongRaeGu sent waves of troops to finish Genius off, not wasting any time to move onto game three.
It was time for Genius to begin toying with the Superhero, he lured him to their new battleground at the nearby Shipyards. It was dark and late at night, rain flooding over DongRaeGu's blooded face, yet his determination was not hindered. He knew that the Trickster must fall or else all is lost. The Shipyard was quiet and there was no sight of Genius. Until suddenly Genius' laugh could be heard echoing throughout the docks. DongRaeGu looked up and saw Genius standing high upon some scaffolding looking down at him. DongRaeGu was prepared for another fight, yet it was not to be so, Genius smile grew wider and he pressed a button on a small switch. DongRaeGu heard a metal sliding sound and suddenly from his rear, several starved Tigers charged for him. The Trickster had sprung his first deadly trap upon the Superhero. However it would not be enough, for DongRaeGu was raised and trained in the lowest and grimiest arenas around the World, he had faced Tigers before. He not only dodged their initial attacks but he struck them down quickly before turning to a suddenly scared Genius. Genius attempted to flee but only cornered himself, DongRaeGu charged at the Trickster and once again they clashed. Genius fought back but this time DongRaeGu fought differently allowing him to beat the Trickster to his knees. A flash of power and Genius was gone, limping away to his next planned arena.
Fight 3 - ESV Cloud Kingdom
+ Show Spoiler +
Unfazed by his failed cheese in game two, Genius reached into his bag of tricks for yet another. This time it was a low-sentry blink stalker all-in with +1 attack, and it turned out to be just the right thing against DongRaeGu's fast three base defended with primarily speedlings. Even though Genius didn't have force fields to use against the melee attackers, it only took an additional round of zealot warp-ins to remedy the speedling situation and crush through DongRaeGu's defenses.
Not phased by his defeat Genius readied his next trap for the incoming DongRaeGu. However DongRaeGu was beginning to wise up and instead of marching through the front door, he peeked in some windows. Yet what did he see? He saw Genius standing again in the centre of an empty room, waiting for DongRaeGu to come through the door. Ready to fight an even battle once more. DongRaeGu had begun to work out how Genius fought and thus entered with a confidence that he could take him. However it was not to be so. A faint ping is heard as DongRaeGu marches boldly toward Genius. A tripwire was sprung and before DongRaeGu could even blink a car fell from the roof straight onto our Superhero. Genius laughed and left the Superhero trying to pull his bruised body from underneath. Unlike others however, DongRaeGu is a man of both strength and intelligence. His suit had reinforcement to prevent serious damage, he was however bloodied up once again and left chasing the Trickster to another location.
Fight 4 - Entombed Valley
+ Show Spoiler +
For the third straight game, Genius decided to throw a curveball DRG's way. After opening with two stargates after a fast expansion, he went for a fleet beacon and carriers. This turned out to be tantamount to suicide, as it left him almost nothing to defend against against the hydralisk and roach drops that came. The drops crippled Genius' economy, and allowed DongRaeGu to easily take his fourth base while switching to a corruptor-zerglings composition. Corruptors cut through the carriers with tremendous ease, and sealed the game for DongRaeGu.
Genius had once again prepared traps for our Superhero, yet this time the Madness started to show through. Genius stood at the end of a long corridor as DongRaeGu kicked the door down. Genius laughed insanely but DongRaeGu simply marched ahead with a bold determination and desire for revenge. This time a pressure plate sprung the trap, concealed beneath a floor tile. However this was no deadly trap. A small panel in the wall dropped open and a large spring flung a huge custard pie at DongRaeGu's head. He stood there, both confused and amazed as Genius kept laughing. He begun to scrape the mushy pie off his head. Genius then stopped laughing and begun to realise that his trap wasn't deadly at all. Infact DongRaeGu was still walking towards him, with bits of Pie on his face, now more angry than when he first arrived. Genius attempted to run, but DongRaeGu caught him quickly. This time Genius put up no real fight, DongRaeGu beat the Trickster and threw him out of a nearby window.
Fight 5 - Metropolis
+ Show Spoiler +
The fifth game ended up resembling the first, with both DongRaeGu and Genius getting three quick bases. Once more, DongRaeGu decided to try for an attack before Genius' economy kicked in, bringing queens, roaches, and zerglings on the warpath. At first, it looked like Genius would hold the fort without any trouble, but a few micro mistakes caused him to lose more troops than necessary on defense. More crucially, he was unable to keep a gap plugged at his natural while his third base was being attacked, allowing speedlings to pour in and tear down his main nexus.
Despite the loss of a Nexus, the situation ended up looking alright for Genius, as he had killed off a significant portion of DongRaeGu's army, leaving the two players at similar supply. Genius simply retook his main and decided to wait and play a longer game. In the meanwhile, DongRaeGu began to secure more bases while going for mutalisks, the key to his backdoor tactics to come.
As DongRaeGu poked at Genius' defenses, he managed to draw enough of the Protoss forces away from the third base for a force of roaches to focus-fire the nexus down. DongRaeGu lost a significant amount of roaches in the process, and it opened a window for a deadly counter-attack from Genius. DongRaeGu knew the only response was to go for a base trade, and sent his mutalisks and speedlings on their way.
With his powerful army, Genius seemed like he had a chance to win the base race. However, he was indecisive and ended up dawdling, with his army walking back and forth without a purpose. Each second bought DongRaeGu more time to collect resources and build more troops, while he destroyed Genius' income and infrastructure at the same time. Genius went for the all-out base trade eventually, but he had waited too long. By the time he destroyed DongRaeGu's main and natural his own income was entirely gone while DongRaeGu had two more mining bases elsewhere. Once DongRaeGu had enough mutalisks to fight Genius' main stalker force head on, the game was over.
Despite the loss of a Nexus, the situation ended up looking alright for Genius, as he had killed off a significant portion of DongRaeGu's army, leaving the two players at similar supply. Genius simply retook his main and decided to wait and play a longer game. In the meanwhile, DongRaeGu began to secure more bases while going for mutalisks, the key to his backdoor tactics to come.
As DongRaeGu poked at Genius' defenses, he managed to draw enough of the Protoss forces away from the third base for a force of roaches to focus-fire the nexus down. DongRaeGu lost a significant amount of roaches in the process, and it opened a window for a deadly counter-attack from Genius. DongRaeGu knew the only response was to go for a base trade, and sent his mutalisks and speedlings on their way.
With his powerful army, Genius seemed like he had a chance to win the base race. However, he was indecisive and ended up dawdling, with his army walking back and forth without a purpose. Each second bought DongRaeGu more time to collect resources and build more troops, while he destroyed Genius' income and infrastructure at the same time. Genius went for the all-out base trade eventually, but he had waited too long. By the time he destroyed DongRaeGu's main and natural his own income was entirely gone while DongRaeGu had two more mining bases elsewhere. Once DongRaeGu had enough mutalisks to fight Genius' main stalker force head on, the game was over.
The window was not high, but it lead into the main City itself. DongRaeGu climbed out the window to follow the Trickster, not wanting to let him escape. Genius was beginning to doubt himself. His latest trap which he thought was brilliant, was in fact useless. DongRaeGu was still standing as strong as ever and marching boldly toward him. Genius did the only thing he could and attempted to fight him evenly once again. They drew their weapons and clashed fiercely. Genius may of been mad but his skill in battle was not diminished. The doubt from his previous failures was gnawing at him however. He began to slip up, DongRaeGu capitalising on every mistake eventually overwhelmed Genius with his superior strength. Genius was now covered in bruises and cuts from the repeated losses to DongRaeGu, and with his final energy he attempted to flee the city into the countryside.
DongRaeGu followed...
Fight Six - The Final Showdown - Crossfire
+ Show Spoiler +
On the most cheese friendly map of the night, both players opted to play normally yet again. Genius patiently built a large force of colossi and stalkers from his two bases, while DongRaeGu went for roaches, hydralisks, and infestors on his end. There were large periods where the game was just a stand-off, but the situation rapidly broke down once Genius decided to start attacking.
DongRaeGu attempted to backdoor with a handful of his forces, and there was a great deal of indecision on Genius' side once more. Eventually he was able to bring his forces to bear on both DongRaeGu's splinter army and main force, and crush both with well positioned stalkers and good use of force fields.
With his ground army crushed, DongRaeGu immediately switched his plan to harassment and backstabbing at all costs, and put down an obscene amount of spine crawlers at his natural while he switched to mutalisks. He was forced to sacrifice his third base, however, and this put the two players in a strange two base vs two base situation. Inexplicably, a single burrowed zergling blocking his third base seemed to convince Genius that he had to finish the game at this two base vs two base phase, and he continued to mass more and more stalkers. On the other hand, DongRaeGu looked desperately for ways to secure his own third, using his mutalisks to harass while trying to sneak in the extra base.
There was a great deal of posturing, troop movement, and hastily initiated and quickly abandoned attacks on both sides, but eventually DongRaeGu managed to find a window to complete a hatchery at his third base, slowly crawl some spine crawlers over, and secure mining at that location. As for Genius, his natural mined out, and he was forced to go all-in with the stalkers he had remaining. The attack did much damage and thinned DongRaeGu's mutalisk flock considerably, but anything but a complete annihilation of the Zerg army meant a loss for the penniless Genius. After losing his force, he conceded defeat.
DongRaeGu attempted to backdoor with a handful of his forces, and there was a great deal of indecision on Genius' side once more. Eventually he was able to bring his forces to bear on both DongRaeGu's splinter army and main force, and crush both with well positioned stalkers and good use of force fields.
With his ground army crushed, DongRaeGu immediately switched his plan to harassment and backstabbing at all costs, and put down an obscene amount of spine crawlers at his natural while he switched to mutalisks. He was forced to sacrifice his third base, however, and this put the two players in a strange two base vs two base situation. Inexplicably, a single burrowed zergling blocking his third base seemed to convince Genius that he had to finish the game at this two base vs two base phase, and he continued to mass more and more stalkers. On the other hand, DongRaeGu looked desperately for ways to secure his own third, using his mutalisks to harass while trying to sneak in the extra base.
There was a great deal of posturing, troop movement, and hastily initiated and quickly abandoned attacks on both sides, but eventually DongRaeGu managed to find a window to complete a hatchery at his third base, slowly crawl some spine crawlers over, and secure mining at that location. As for Genius, his natural mined out, and he was forced to go all-in with the stalkers he had remaining. The attack did much damage and thinned DongRaeGu's mutalisk flock considerably, but anything but a complete annihilation of the Zerg army meant a loss for the penniless Genius. After losing his force, he conceded defeat.
DongRaeGu was barely having to keep a running pace to keep up with Genius. As Genius began to realise that DongRaeGu wasn't going to tire, he stopped. He turned to DongRaeGu and demanded they fight without weapons and without armour. They both got rid of any swords, daggers and any other weapons they had been using, also taking off their armour leaving only clothes. They raised their fists and stared each other angrily in the eyes. Genius was on his last legs yet was not going to give up. DongRaeGu was fighting strong and had much left in him. They charged at each other and in a back and forth fight that lasted for what felt like an age. They traded blows repeatedly, forcing each other past all barriers of pain and energy. They were almost crawling by the end, barely a breath left within them, Genius was getting ready to swing his arm once more but DongRaeGu suddenly realised...
The final opponent was infront of him.
He had been fighting to prove himself for so long.
His chance at victory was upon him.
DongRaeGu suddenly conjured up that reserve of strength and determination all seem to have within them, a surge that can seemingly only be unlocked through mental determination. With a final battle cry he struck Genius for the last time. Genius had fallen and beside him lay the exhausted and beaten DongRaeGu.
Everywhere was silent. They both lay in a large dirt road motionless. Rain washing over them. The civilians of the World who had been watching from a distance started to emerge from the nearby tree's and bushes with many following from the city. They walked slowly toward both of them. Everyone was still silent as they were not sure what had happened. Then DongRaeGu let out a strained cough, everyone realised he was infact alive and victorious. They quickly ran to his side and carried him back to the city where they tended his wounds.
DongRaeGu had fought tooth and nail and emerged victorious. The Trickster had potential yet his madness was all too apparent, resulting in a slow downfall to the superior strength of the final Superhero. The man of the hour and some might say the man of the Year, DongRaeGu.
Fin
Is DongRaeGu the best player in the World now? Is it now a definite yes, no more reason to doubt? Even though I was rooting for Genius for nostalgic reasons, my answer is absolutely Yes. DongRaeGu has never been in my favourite top 3, purely because there's always been someone else there I liked more, yet I do now believe he is the best player in the world.
Thanks to DongRaeGu and Genius for the awesome display.
Thanks to the GSL for bringing us the AMAZING season of Code S.
Thanks to Tasteless and Artosis for casting it.
Lastly thanks to Team Liquid for their awesome pre and reviews of the whole thing.
Remember, 100% of the credit to the spoiler sections of this post goes to the TL review: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=317319
After posting I just realised how long this post actually is. If you read through it all then mad props to you. There is no tl;dr if anyone skipped down here :D
Thanks for reading.
- Tristran
