Chapter 13

Although Ling Tian was full of fighting spirit, he also knew clearly that in terms of strength, KID was still slightly superior; under such circumstances, if he wanted to achieve victory, the choice of race would be the first opportunity.

Ling Tian remembered very clearly that in the recently concluded Three-Star Cup match, KID had always chosen the Human race. Tight defense, frequent scouting, suppression on the front battlefield like a tidal wave, and the ability to accurately airdrop behind enemy lines even amidst high-density confrontation—these were precisely KID's reasons for victory. It could be said that KID's playstyle was the most tedious and exhausting, also the one demanding the highest micro-management; however, this was simultaneously a playstyle with no weaknesses. Unless someone could surpass him in absolute strength, KID was invincible.

This was exactly the type that competitors like Ling Tian, who preferred to win by luring enemies and exploiting their loopholes, feared the most.

In other words, if Ling Tian could not control the situation, letting the battle proceed according to KID's rhythm, forcing both sides to decide the outcome through a clash of raw strength, then his chance of victory...

was almost zero.

Because the opponent was the top micro-management expert known as "The Man Who Controls Time"—Scarlet King KID!

Ling Tian could almost be certain that if he chose the Protoss, which he was good at, the opponent would still use the Human race. When Protoss faces Humans, victory depends on who can suppress the other; the final situation would inevitably evolve into a clash of raw strength, and the outcome was obvious. In that case, one could only...

Amidst a chorus of surprised gasps, Ling Tian unexpectedly chose Random.

In high-level 1v1 matches, the opening is very important; both sides generally choose the race they are best at. Although the race settings in StarCraft are already very balanced, some formulaic playstyles inevitably exist in the opening stage of matches.

For example, when Protoss faces Humans, if the Humans do not block the intersection with Marines, a small force of Zealots from the Protoss transforming into a Dragoon army will be a powerful suppression; mid-game High Templar and Dark Templar are also decisive support units. And if the Humans choose to block the intersection and then transform into a mech build (Note 1), the Protoss's quick Dragoon production is very effective harassment, allowing them to attack the Human intersection buildings for free thanks to range advantages.

There are many such formulaic playstyles, such as Zerg choosing Zerglings and Drakes against Protoss, then transitioning to Lurkers to seal the intersection; Humans choosing Marines with Medics and Tanks against Zerg, and so on.

Of course, so-called formulaic playstyles are not guaranteed victory playstyles; they are just relatively safe opening strategies in matches between players of similar skill, at least ensuring one does not suffer a disadvantage. The true victory still depends on the player's performance later and a bit of luck.

And if one side chooses Random, their opponent generally can only choose a relatively mediocre opening, and then decide on a development direction after scouting the opponent's race. Ling Tian was fighting for this point, because the Human race's opening has the most variations: block the intersection or not? Build one Barracks or two? Which farmer to send to the gas mine? Rush or not?

As long as KID hesitated even a little, the situation would change, and the more chaotic the situation, the more chances Ling Tian had to win. Moreover, Ling Tian had another reason for choosing Random: would KID's pride let him still use his most proficient Human race against a child's Random?

As expected, KID did not use his proficient Human race, but also chose Random.

The corner of Ling Tian's mouth curled up slightly; the match had gradually begun to enter the script he was directing.

And at this moment, I sat before the computer in my dormitory, having entered the game as an observer. The result of this battle would be important reference material for whether I could defeat KID.

Because Ling Tian was a player of the same type as me.

>>>>>>

The match finally began.

KID received the red Zerg race, appearing at the 9 o'clock position. Ling Tian received the green Protoss race, appearing at the 3 o'clock position. (Note 2) I let out a long breath; Ling Tian was using the Protoss he was best at, while KID was not using Humans, perhaps the strength gap would narrow a bit.

When the seventh Protoss worker walked out of the base, he planted a Pylon, then a Barracks. It seemed he was preparing to use the most common double-Barracks opening, utilizing powerful Zealot warriors for suppression.

I shifted the viewpoint to KID's side and found he did not use the most common double-Base opening, but instead planted a Spawning Pool and a Gas Mine simultaneously; he was probably planning to quickly upgrade to a Level 2 Base to produce Drakes. Zerglings with Drakes were indeed more economical and effective than Protoss Zealots with Dragoons.

The scouting worker sent by Ling Tian walked into KID's territory, discovered the Gas Mine, and then slipped away. KID had not buried Spines; Zerg without Defense Towers would find it very hard to stop a Protoss Zealot rush! I suppressed my slight excitement, wanting to see how many Zealots Ling Tian produced, but the result left me dumbfounded.

Only two! Ling Tian had not built a second Barracks at all, but instead built a Gas Mine, and also built the Research Lab necessary for producing Dragoons! What was this idiot thinking?! Facing the Zerg, he chose to quickly upgrade technology? Was he afraid of KID's micro-management and dared not rush? I looked at the other side; KID had actually built a Hydralisk Den. Was he not going to produce Drakes?

I sat in my dormitory facing the screen, lost in thought, while the computer lobby was in an uproar.

Ling Qing asked Lei Xue in a low voice: "Why can't I understand? Ling Qing not rushing might be caution, but there's no reason for KID to build a Hydralisk Den. If he's not producing Drakes, does he want to produce Lurkers? Doesn't he know the terror of Protoss anti-invisibility?"

Before Lei Xue could speak, the situation changed again. Ling Tian produced another Zealot, merged with the scouting worker, and three Zealots and one worker rushed straight for KID's main base! Finally attacking, but having only one Barracks resulted in an insufficient number of Zealots; if the Zerg had built Defense Towers—Spines—by now, they could easily block this attack.

At this time, KID's Hydralisk Den and Level 2 Base were not yet finished, but the excellent position of his Overlord allowed him to discover Ling Tian's attack early. He added six Zerglings, and surprisingly still did not build Spines. Everyone couldn't help but frown at his arrogance; did he think he could defend against a Protoss attack with just six Zerglings?

Ling Tian's forces quickly arrived. KID buried the six Zerglings, which had been upgraded with the Burrow skill, at the entrance. Just as Ling Tian's forces passed, five of them immediately burrowed out; that poor worker was instantly killed. Ling Tian left two Zealots to engage, while the third continued moving inward. When he discovered that KID had actually built a Hydralisk Den and added another six Zerglings, Ling Tian was also startled. He hurriedly operated the two Zealots in fierce combat to retreat. Only the two small Zerglings continued to chase and bite one of them. Just as that heavily wounded Zealot was about to escape, the sixth Zergling, which had been lurking underground, appeared, ending that Zealot's life with two bites. Ling Qing held the remaining two healthy Zealots at the narrow exit of the high ground. Although KID possessed nine Zerglings, facing Zealots with terrain advantage, he chose to retreat.

Almost at the same time, the Zerg Level 2 Base and Hydralisk Den were completed. KID upgraded the Lurker research without hesitation and simultaneously produced two Hydralisks. Facing the impending combined ranged and melee assault, Ling Tian retreated.

The audience discussed in a murmur. Ling Tian traded one Zealot for three Zerglings, suffering only a small loss, but the strange playstyles of the two people raised many suspicions. KID chose Lurkers to counter the Protoss; Ling Tian abandoned the rush, conducting only a feint clearly meant for scouting. After discovering the opponent's intent, he did not build a Factory to produce Reavers for anti-invisibility, but instead built a Cybernetics Core to upgrade Zealot speed, and also built a Templar Archives! Did he not know the danger of the Zerg Lurker? A high-damage invisible unit, combined with the Zerg Overlord's innate anti-invisibility, meant the Dark Templar could play no role.

So... was Ling Tian preparing to produce High Templar?

The Protoss continuously added three Barracks, while the Zerg kept transforming Hydralisks into Lurkers and simultaneously planted a Spire, but the Lurkers had already consumed a large amount of gas minerals, completely insufficient to produce even a few Drakes!

Ling Tian's four Barracks worked busily, producing a large number of Zealots and High Templar. Zealots only cost minerals, while High Templar mainly cost gas minerals; the Protoss resources were fully utilized, yet there was still no sign of producing anti-invisibility units.

The Zerg Overlord, with its speed upgraded, flew in for a circle. Ling Tian had no Dragoons, so he merged the two High Templar into a single Archon. The Archon was the nemesis of Drakes and Overlords; KID also rationally withdrew his Overlords.

I watched the changes on the field quietly. Ling Tian seemed not too cautious, but too confident! Although his method for countering Zerg Lurkers was indeed clever, would KID not see through it?... But KID wouldn't need to produce Mutalisks to deal with Reavers anymore; Ling Tian's plan to make the situation chaotic was proceeding smoothly... However, neither side was playing by the rules; to whom would victory belong?

KID quickly canceled the construction of the Spire, built two more Lurkers, and added a squad of Zerglings. Now the Zerg possessed nine Lurkers and a bit more than two squads of Zerglings. The Protoss had one and a half squads of speed-upgraded Zealots and eight High Templar; the strength was indeed comparable, but the Psionic Storm of the High Templar could not have its effect estimated in advance. Theoretically, if the Zerg forces gathered together, two Psionic Storms could make them all disappear.

A flush of excitement colored Ling Tian's face, but his hands did not tremble in the slightest. Ling Tian calculated the situation. "The opportunity for victory has arrived! Relying on Lurkers, Zerglings, and Hydralisks cannot stop me! The advantage of unit types cannot be recovered through micro-management; I will tell the opponent this truth immediately!" Without hesitation, Ling Tian's Protoss army finally marched toward the opponent.

KID's Overlord reported the opponent's movements once again. Four Lurkers and one squad of Zerglings immediately left the base to engage, and he immediately sent a worker to build a base at the expansion mine.

"Expanding at this moment? Isn't that suicide?" This time even I couldn't understand KID's intent. "And he only sent half his forces to engage?" I murmured to myself.

Could it be...

A chill ran down my spine. When I saw the remaining half of the Zerg forces burrow underground at the expansion mine, I suddenly understood KID's thinking.

And at this time, the lobby was in a state of excitement. KID's micro-management was indeed powerful; when the Psionic Storm exploded, one squad of Zerglings split up and attacked from multiple directions, hard-fighting to kill two High Templar right under the Zealots' noses. Although Lurkers were invisible units, Psionic Storm was a map weapon that dealt damage ignoring invisibility range! After six Psionic Storms, the engaging Lurkers had all perished.

Although there was still a force at the Zerg expansion mine, as long as Ling Tian copied the same method, defeating the World Champion seemed to be right around the corner. The students of Mingqing Academy were beaming with joy, holding their breath waiting for this moment, yet no one noticed the "Stop" key on KID's control panel flashing incessantly. (Note 3)

The massive Protoss army finally attacked the Zerg expansion mine. The remaining five Lurkers, although all buried, did not attack; KID kept pressing the S key to keep them silent. The audience also seemed to see the mystery within, and their faces instantly grew heavy.

Finally, the Zealots swarmed forward to begin dismantling the newly built expansion base, while the High Templar, which dealt no damage to buildings, watched quietly from behind.

KID released the S key at this moment.

The cross-line attacks of the five Lurkers and the sudden emergence of more than ten Zerglings from the ground easily tore apart all the High Templar in an instant. The Zerglings skillfully retreated, blocking the Zealots' retreat path. All the Zealots charged toward the Zerg main base, intending to fight to the death. What awaited them were two brand new Lurkers, just finished...

The outcome was decided.

In the silence, Ling Tian suddenly laughed loudly.

>>>>>>

Note 1: The mech playstyle refers to a Human strategy that produces no or very few Human units like Marines, relying instead on the extremely long attack range and super-strong attack power of Vulture Spider Mines and Siege Tanks in Siege Mode to block the Protoss inside their base. There are many variations; in the late game, Science Vessels, Goliaths, and even Battleships join in; it is named so because the entire tactic consists of mechanical units.

Note 2: In StarCraft reports, "o'clock" is used to indicate direction; essentially, the entire map is viewed as a clock face, where the 12 o'clock direction is the top-center of the map, and so on.

Note 3: In StarCraft, the Stop command (shortcut key S) makes the selected unit maintain its current state without moving or changing status. Continuously pressing S allows Lurkers not to attack targets that have entered their range.

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