《 What… What on earth is happening here!? 》
《 How can this match be going this way? An assassin has a hard time defeating a lance knight. Even at the level of a top pro gamer, the same holds true. It’s not insurmountable, but usually, it ends with a close win! That was the common sense of the world. 》
《 But this… is brutal! It was just one judgment mistake. No, it could hardly even be called a mistake. Yet, the price being paid is way too harsh! 》
GASP The voices of astonishment continued to erupt.
It didn’t matter which commentator was from what culture.
Everyone was shouting similar meanings, just in different tones.
Pro gamers watching the tournament had a different opinion.
An uncomfortable silence weighed heavily and showed no signs of leaving.
Especially a pro gamer like Rime was narrowing her eyes in discontent.
《 Rime’s shield bash. Unfortunately, it misses. 》
《 We’ve been seeing the same pattern since earlier. Damage is accumulating unilaterally! 》
The match displayed on the screen showed no signs of ending easily.
The lance knight, having lost his bombardment ability, moved clumsily while the assassin dodged with ease.
The dagger, coming back with a sense of inevitability, left marks on his solid muscles before retreating.
At a glance, it seemed the lance knight’s defense wasn’t being penetrated.
However, there was a reason why the commentators had deemed it ‘brutal.’
Gawol was deliberately not using big moves.
Though the skills of the assassination class activate quickly, one can never be sure at this kind of distance.
Like drenched clothes in a light rain, she was slowly hunting the lance knight.
It almost seemed like she was toying with him.
Eventually, complaints began to fill the chat.
– Isn’t this a bit too much?
– Are you doing this on purpose to prolong it?
– It looks like a few assassination skills could win it right away, so why isn’t she using them?
– This is painful to watch; let’s call it quits.
– It’s probably because she’s an amateur; she lacks pro spirit.
That atmosphere quickly spread to other pro gamers as well.
In the player observation area set up at the edge of the stage, a certain rage drifted like a ghost among the waiting players.
But not many players remained untouched by that ghost.
A boy with deep dark circles—Ripper was one of them.
Throughout the match, a pure smile remained on his face.
‘Lacking pro spirit, huh? What utter nonsense!’
Ripper wasn’t swayed by their emotions.
Rather, it was the opposite. He believed that nobody at this moment was showing a more professional match than those two.
Gawol wasn’t not ending the match. She couldn’t.
While the odds were slim, if the lance knight ever caught her, the tables could turn.
If he were in the lance knight’s position, he could do it!
Choosing the path to victory, even if it meant taking a long way around.
Even if he had to hear curses from the world, he pursued victory.
No matter how bleak the situation looked, he would never give up until the end.
That was what Ripper thought pro gaming was.
A fanatical obsession with victory. A monster born from a desire for honor and the thrill of competition.
A madman who acts as if he would die if he didn’t win is the most ideal pro gamer.
But to take risks just because the opponent might feel bad?
Ripper thought it was worth listening to. The one to please a pro gamer isn’t the opponents, but rather their fans.
If Gawol had any fans, they’d probably be feeling incredible satisfaction right now.
He could be sure of that.
Ripper thoroughly enjoyed her match.
《 Ah, it’s difficult. It’s tough. The lance knight can’t keep up with the assassin’s speed without bombardment! Exchanges aren’t happening. 》
《 I say this cautiously, but I’m afraid it’s hard to find any hope in close combat capability as well. The fact is that Rime isn’t a player who relies on high physicality. 》
《 That’s right. On the other hand, if we look at Gawol’s prelims record, her physical capabilities stand out significantly. Especially in her prelim match against Camelian. She’s not someone to be underestimated. 》
Ripper happened to come across Gawol’s match.
During the first prelims, he had the stream of Silphie playing in the background while eating.
The mysterious assassin who took down Europe’s representative witch. Back then, he just brushed past her name.
But as soon as he confirmed the finalists, he felt a hint of interest.
He became fascinated with Gawol when he watched the match video against Haruka.
The first match—was exceedingly beautiful.
His right hand, trembling as if writhing in pain.
The laughter celebrating her victory as she sat down.
It was simply unforgettable.
– Isn’t this gonna affect the next match?
– Just concede already, please…
– It feels like I’m losing my mind here.
That was it.
That’s why this match was more meaningful.
Weapon breaks are only applied until this round.
Even if they were to give up this round, Rime still had one more chance left.
In the next match, she would have to continue the nail-biting competition.
So now, the moment they had relinquished their advantage, they had to drain their stamina and concentration.
Unlike characters, a player’s concentration does not recover.
That amateur assassin boldly challenged a pro gamer to a war of attrition.
To think it’s insane by general standards.
But all the great pros had something broken in them somewhere.
《 Just now, it felt like the tendon snap went in correctly. 》
《 If you look at Rime’s debuff indicator, it’s become nearly impossible to check everything. She’s fighting in a truly difficult environment. 》
《 The fact that Rime can still use her shield to that degree speaks volumes of her fighting spirit. 》
Tendons snap, muscles tear.
Desperately launched attacks were dodged as if they were laughing at him, and the counterattacks poured in.
The dwindling health bar and the pain weren’t the problem.
The most terrible of all was the experience of failure so close yet so far away.
The swift tempo felt as if it predicted all his judgments.
It was as if he were facing an insurmountable wall, tightening his heart with dread.
Finally, when the lance knight exhausted all his stamina and dropped to his knees, many let out sighs.
《 Ah… Rime has finally fallen. 》
《 The traditional powerhouse of North America. The iron lance knight, who was responsible for LB’s front line, has bowed down— as Match One of Group E comes to an end! 》
*
[Writer: ResearchLabThief]
[Title: Hey, what happened in Match E?]
I just came out of the lab and couldn’t watch.
Is Gawol’s match over?
Did she lose?
[Comments]
– Just finished exactly one match.
└ ??? At this hour? Why?
└ Sit down, you idiot.
└ I’m about to tell you a very sad story from now on.
[Writer: Sulbbang]
[Title: Why am I getting PTSD just by watching the match?]
Huh?
That’s strange.
Why are my eyes… tearing…?
[Comments]
– Original prey…
– Did you fight like that too?
└ I couldn’t last that long.
[Writer: LanceKnightTool]
[Title: Rime damn it’s all so painful】
If I did that in a ranked match, I think I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
This being broadcast live to the whole world?
Not just some amateur, but a pro gamer?
How am I supposed to get mad and play games after that?
Would it have been different if I wasn’t a lance knight?
sigh
*
The opponent’s movements were clearly not as good as the last game.
It indicated that the previous match had left its mark. It was something inevitable for any human.
No matter how much you try to pull yourself together, some things just don’t work.
Once you settle in, the feeling of ‘powerlessness’ becomes more painfully salient.
The failures of the last match. The fundamental reaction speed gap and the inherent mobility disparity of characters.
Even considering all this, the feeling of inadequacy when attacks can’t reach is like poison that seeps into your heart.
Because I’ve been there.
When I first started kendo. I had talent.
My peers never stood a chance, and even the seniors who picked up the bamboo sword before me were soon left behind.
I thought I was an unparalleled genius until I met that one guy.
So, I understand the pain of failure.
Sometimes, I know how to use it.
“sigh”
A short sigh.
As one player, no, as someone who used to be a player, it was a feeling that resonated deeply.
But he didn’t show mercy.
CRACK– SPLASH!
A dagger pierced through the neck, breaking the shattered armor.
As the flaming lance dropped to the ground, the match came to an end.
Now that the match had ended, the commentary that had been unheard returned.
《 The match concludes as Rime completely counters her opponent’s attack! 》
《 Ultimately, this match resulted in a major upset. Who would have dared to imagine? A player who has never once been mentioned in the pro scene has so overcome North America’s Rime! 》
《 Furthermore, the implication of having defeated a lance knight with a favorable match-up is enormous. It must have been a thrilling punch for the audience playing assassins. 》
《 On the contrary, we can see the agony from many fans. As someone whose main class is a warrior, I certainly feel for them. 》
No sooner had the match ended than he stepped back onto the stage.
The lance knight, looking weaker than before, appeared again from the opposite end.
They exchanged handshakes and greetings.
I headed toward the observation room where the other players would be, while Rime promptly left the stage.
That day, Rime spent over ten hours in combat mode without sleeping.
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