Clang. The cold metal resonated softly.
The flaming lance turned its head searching for prey, while a long, tense breath escaped from the thick armor.
The opponent that should have been visible was nowhere to be seen.
Is it stealth? Or has the distance already widened, moving into cover?
Just as the spear tip was slowly shifting, a voice came from a place it shouldn’t have been heard.
Right in front of him.
Where the shield had blocked the view.
“You. You’re getting a little distracted, aren’t you?”
“Crazy…!”
“Let’s finish this round. There’s no point in dragging it out further.”
The lance of the spear knight unleashed a massive explosion.
The blast was deafening enough to leave the shooter momentarily hearing-impaired.
The flash was dealt with by a quick shut of the eyes, but the situation hadn’t improved at all.
A hot sensation flared up around the ankle.
A dagger had slipped through the place the shield failed to protect.
He was under attack.
If that was the case, it meant the barrage hadn’t hit the assassin, Gawol.
He was in a complete state of losing track of his opponent. The traveler had no choice but to aim for spots where Gawol might target.
He turned back and swung the shield, but nothing met his hand.
In that moment, the traveler’s sanity confirmed his defeat.
The tendons in his knee snapped, blades sank into both shoulders, and holding onto his weapon became a struggle.
Two daggers ruthlessly slaughtered the enemy, securing the victory.
[The practice match has ended.]
[Winner: Gawol (Assassin)]
As soon as the match ended, the traveler collapsed on the floor.
His eyes looked jaded, and at the same time, turned towards the little girl with an expression that said he couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.
“You, where did you play professionally?”
“I’ve never been a pro gamer.”
“Then… why do you have more stamina than me?”
“It’s not stamina; it’s concentration. I don’t need to catch my breath while playing.”
The gap between professional and amateur is vast.
It’s not just in skill; the differences outside the game are significant too.
How much one gets nervous before a match, how long one can maintain focus, all of it varies.
Overcoming such a gap wouldn’t happen in a day or two.
He thought he should accommodate a bit since he was practicing with an amateur.
But the opposite result left the traveler bewildered.
“Have you played other games too?”
“I told you, I’ve never been a pro gamer.”
“An athlete? Or maybe something like a Go player? You seem too familiar with analyzing.”
“If you want to hear about my past, bring more money. If you’re not going to analyze, feel free to think of today’s practice as done.”
“Got it. Sorry. Let’s do some analysis before we end.”
The traveler quickly collected himself.
The two began to piece together the earlier match step by step.
The position where the assassin had hidden. The reason why there was a blind spot in his view.
Conversely, the basis for the spear knight’s successful defenses.
Though there were some differences in method, the exchange of opinions flowed smoothly.
At the end of the conversation, the traveler chuckled in disbelief.
“How did I find someone like you right now?”
One thing was clear: it was not a displeasing laughter.
*
[Infinity Black has ended.]
[Thank you, Gawol.]
It had been a long time since he had exited the connection device in one piece.
Usually, when he came out of a game, his body was screaming in pain.
He would only crawl out when his body was soaked in exhaustion and his stomach was howling from hunger.
Bouncing on one foot, he opened the window, then laid down on the bed with a clear mind.
Feeling unfamiliar in a place like this.
His life must have been in quite a disarray.
Though he had no thoughts of changing it.
In reality, the only times his mind was clear were two types.
Right after waking up from sleep. And when he went out for rehabilitation training on weekends.
The reason he came out of the connection device was…
– As I mentioned, Rime is charging forward!
– The fortress has taken cover at a perfect timing, and the guard gauge is fully depleted.
– There’s slight damage to the health bar, but the energy charge of the lance is complete.
– Closing the distance with a shield charge— Burst!
– The Paladin’s shield couldn’t withstand the impact, and the front line is crumbling.
He needed to analyze the next opponent.
He could watch videos in-game, but it was quite uncomfortable to take notes or collect data that way.
During times like this, it was easier to switch on the computer.
He pulled out an old tablet, tucking it under his arm, and sank into the chair, lying as if on a bed.
It was the very chair he had used since his player days, and now felt almost like a bed due to its size.
He spared no expense when it came to anything related to his health.
The soft touch pressed against his skin.
The spear knight he would face next was the perfect fit for the title “1-man fortress.”
With defense that didn’t lag behind serious tanks at all, and simultaneously firepower that could rival many dealers.
Though it was also a class that sacrificed many things.
He opened Rime’s gameplay video on the monitor and started scribbling on the tablet.
– Has a habit of activating guard when judgment is difficult
– Prioritizes positioning over visibility
– Surprisingly slow reaction speed
However, his judgment ability and combat sense stood out.
Was he calm by nature? No. He had recently shown a tendency to concede points due to excessive aggression.
It was a misconception formed from his high low point play. His originally aggressive tendencies were masked by experience.
The order of checking the surroundings was like this: front, right, left, above.
This guy also left the bottom open. A feasible point to target.
If he has tendencies like this, he might’ve tried some bizarre strategies at some point… When did he dig through all these records?
Even during his player days, he tended to fixate his eyes on the opponent’s video as much as possible.
The decisive moments. People depend on their experiences.
If he shares the opponent’s experiences, his options increase.
Some rely on coaching staff for this type of analysis…
But at least, he wasn’t such a type.
He had to engrave it in his own eyes.
Until the opponent’s movements and judgments were vividly drawn in his mind.
Well, he didn’t have any coaches to rely on right now.
Years of experience in pro play meant there was plenty of data to find.
He needed to finish this, and then prepare for the rest of the opponents.
Especially Ripper, whose playstyle was intricate, and the thought alone was already giving him a headache.
Grrr…
How many hours had he delved deep into analysis?
Stretching out his arms, he yawned, gulped down cold water, and felt hunger creeping in.
He set the tablet down and took a moment to loosen his body.
Suddenly, a spark of energy flowed through his previously relaxed body, lifting the corners of his mouth.
Today was the day he would reward himself for all the hard work.
He flipped back the memo screen he was on and opened a delivery app he hadn’t used in a long time.
Immediately, countless temptations came rushing at him!
But his heart was already set on a steadfast choice.
Only chicken. His unwavering love charged forward without hesitation towards chicken.
A person who wavers away from a chosen menu is merely an amateur.
[Delivery order completed!]
[The restaurant has accepted the order!]
[Expected delivery time: 31 minutes remaining.]
Indeed, he now had plenty of room in his wallet.
Enough to order chicken he hadn’t had in ages.
It was thanks to the revenue share from Sulbbang and Elderin.
Although he wouldn’t receive broadcasting revenue in the finals, the prize money accumulates each time he wins.
After that… he would have to earn money again, perhaps by doing a little PK.
Though there were some paths he hesitated to take.
[Elderin’s Message]
– Gawol! Would you like to do an interview after this arena match?
– It might be fun to come as a guest and do content together 🙂
– Of course, it’s fine to decline, so take your time to think about it and respond!
– Good luck in the arena! ￣▽￣)b
He hadn’t given a definite answer yet.
Feeling a bit sorry for continually delaying.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to.
The revenue from this event was surprisingly enticing and something he had long desired.
The problem was the lack of sustainability.
In the end, if he couldn’t broadcast, it would just be a fleeting dream.
The same went for turning pro. Fundamentally, it was a problem that needed fixing his legs.
Recently, he had contemplated different directions, but ultimately put them on hold.
It was a path that wasn’t feasible right now.
[Your order is almost here.]
[Delivery is complete!]
As he pondered for a moment, the chicken arrived.
Bouncing on one foot again, he steadied himself with the crutch he had set up, collected the chicken bag, and returned.
As he placed it on the table, excitement bubbled up from deep within his chest.
Come to think of it, Elderin said she would treat him if he won in the arena.
This was a reality meeting. He had to give her a response, right?
…Would she buy him something delicious?
The chicken he ate after a long time was truly delicious.
It made all his long struggles feel trivial.
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