Sniper-Ridden Climb (6)

At the pro league level, ‘how effective ranked games are’ is a topic of diverse opinions.

While some people leave records of thousands of games per season, others have won championships with very few ranked records.

So you could often find cases where players’ ranks were not high, regardless of their individual skills.

It’s natural to meet stronger opponents as your score goes up.

It was about time to meet pro gamers who had parked themselves at lower ranks.

No. Actually, I had already met them once or twice.

Since they weren’t interfering with the game as allies, I could accept it pleasantly.

The viewers seemed to welcome it quite a bit too.

In any case, games with pro gamers in them raise the level.

I thought I wouldn’t be too surprised no matter who I met.

I couldn’t have anticipated this case.

[Team White]

– Falcon Haruka(Kunoichi)

– RiceEatingKnight(Dragonian)

[Team Black]

– Gawol(Assassin)

– ACL Donghae(Swordsman)

The Kunoichi from Japan who had a fierce battle with me has returned.

Basically, since queues are separated by server, this means she deliberately entered the Korean server.

Add to that the fact that she happened to be matched with me… can this be called a wild guess?

– Why on earth is Haruka matched here

– To kill Gawol who defeated me. That was my only thought from the beginning.

– Returned stronger (for real)

– Falcon’s form has been good lately

I had heard that she joined a pro gaming team after the Arena.

Falcon is a team considered prestigious even in Japan.

Then, shouldn’t she be about to leave the country for the Prelude too?

I don’t know.

She must have come with some idea in mind.

If we met in the game, we have to fight.

After entering the battlefield, our team was making a slightly dissatisfied expression.

I could guess why, and it made me chuckle.

“I guess you were hoping to be on the enemy team?”

“That’s not… ahem. Yes, I wanted to have a good match at least once.”

“It can’t be helped this time, so let’s do well together. The opponents won’t be easy either.”

ACL is the team that took second place in this league.

It’s clear that they benefited from the collapse of the traditional powerhouse Q Prime.

Nevertheless, ACL itself was evaluated to have risen significantly in weight class.

Especially, the semi-final against Eunha Gaming turned out to be a great match far exceeding expectations.

Now that Traveler has transferred to England.

ACL is the most likely team to fill that void.

And Donghae is one half of the duo leading ACL.

As he’s a user who uses the Swordsman class, I was interested as well.

It would have been nice if I could fight him in advance.

Well, there will probably be a better opportunity someday.

“Shall I go to the left?”

“Then I’ll go to the right.”

Complex communication wasn’t necessary to decide the strategy.

This is what’s good about having a pro on your team.

People who are good at the game converge in similar ways, but people who are bad at the game are truly unpredictably bad.

They were opponents I couldn’t predict with my logic circuits.

* * *

[Rank Match – Black 541 RP]

[Battlefield: Seething Lava Zone]

[Rule: Duo]

‘Seething Lava Zone’ is a battlefield with a growth gimmick through monster hunting.

Originally, various strategies emerge here, but when it’s a 2:2 situation like now, strategies tend to simplify.

Our choice was to split up and take one direction each.

With opinions settled, all that remained was action.

Donghae and I immediately ran in our promised directions.

– Is the enemy dragon user a streamer too

– Yes, but doesn’t seem to be streaming now

– He’s just a ranked game ghost

– ??? His nick is RiceEatingKnight but why is he playing ranked?

– Idk he’s just not living up to his nickname

How long did I run on the dark-colored ground like that?

Seeing monsters means I’ve arrived at the midpoint.

If I start hunting now, I could widen the score gap, but I didn’t.

The growth difference I can create by catching monsters now isn’t that big.

Compared to that, the value of my location information is immeasurable.

No matter who the enemy is, they couldn’t have been faster than me, so I decided to advance a bit more and greet them.

The start is lucky.

After hiding behind a rock at the right moment for just a few seconds.

As quiet as my heartbeat, but loud enough for an Assassin to hear, footsteps sounded.

“They’re here.”

One sound is enough to grasp the location and opponent.

Let’s aim for their side when the enemy passes near me.

Setting my voice so the enemy can hear it too, I dashed out at full speed.

[You receive the effect of ‘Black Moon’s Whisper’]

[You receive beneficial effects on all attack power, movement speed, and counterattack judgments.]

[Some skills are enhanced and…]

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

As if pouncing with my body, I aimed for the flank.

The opponent’s reaction was quite fast, having been on high alert.

Even before my body could touch them, the enemy’s figure changed into a wooden log, appearing several meters away.

One survival skill removed.

The first ambush was worth enough with this.

A hand seal formed with one hand touches near my lips.

As the Kunoichi takes a deep breath and exhales again.

A wave of blue flames pierced through the air.

[‘Goblin Fire: Breath’ engraves the mark of ‘Ryou(蜽)’]

[Maintained for 30 seconds, fire resistance decreases by 18.]

[If the 4 marks of Kijin Ryou Kon (鬼人魎魂) gather, you may receive fatal damage.]

I strongly push away the remaining wooden log with my foot.

The innocent wood couldn’t withstand even for a moment and turned to ashes, but the important thing was the act of kicking itself.

The body that received the force escaped from the danger zone of the goblin fire.

By the way, the fire resistance was reduced more than usual.

For a normal Kunoichi, the reduction amount should have been 12.

The implication is clear. Haruka had built a fire-focused build.

Sure enough, what the Kunoichi drew this time was not kunai but a katana.

A gloomy flame was imbued on the long blade.

“I’m going to concentrate for a moment.”

This isn’t an opponent I can fight while being conscious of the chat.

Taking a light breath is my own ritual to clear my mind of thoughts.

With a slightly clearer mind – I deflected a few flying shurikens.

She couldn’t have thought I would let myself get hit by such things.

Since attention was drawn upwards, probably the lower body.

Purple energy rippled on the ground, and Haruka, who had approached right in front of me, slashed as if sweeping the lower body.

Flames surge following the blade.

It was an excellent attack, but the opponent was unfortunate.

Because it would be troublesome if my left foot was attacked – my lower body defense is almost to the point of paranoia.

My body immediately jumped up, stepping on Haruka’s shoulder to leap.

Originally, I intended to step on her face. But I couldn’t because the opponent received it well.

[‘Weakening Curse Technique’ engraves the mark of ‘Kon(魂)’]

[Maintained for 30 seconds, fire resistance decreases by an additional 8.]

Flames spread again along the trajectory of the blade.

The highly rising fire caught the edge of my clothes, emitting a burnt smell.

I could try to counterattack like this… but let’s endure one more time.

A thrust coming through the flames used as a smoke screen.

With a chilling wind pressure – the sharp blade aimed for my heart.

[‘Poison Bird Shriek’ engraves the mark of ‘Jin(人)’]

[Maintained for 30 seconds, fire resistance decreases by an additional 6.]

“Ha, this hits.”

I intended to dodge completely.

As the blade emitted a sword aura around it, the area below my chest was slightly cut.

This is why I dislike stack-type characters.

Even though it just barely touched me, three stacks have already accumulated.

I intended to aim for the abdomen before the blade was withdrawn.

But my arm was pushed aside, only managing to graze the side.

The result of the first counterattack ended up a bit disappointing.

Her skill in deflecting has improved tremendously compared to before.

Well, that’s how it is.

Pros are the type of people who obsessively devise countermeasures after getting hit once.

“If it’s the same pattern, I’d be disappointed.”

“I was testing. If you had fallen for that earlier, I would have been the one feeling let down.”

Since it’s a rare snipe, shouldn’t I have some fun too?

I change the grip on my dagger.

The hand changed to a reverse grip digs in again.

Haruka’s choice was to retreat one step back and avoid.

It was a rational decision. She could have exchanged wounds with me as is, but would have had to accept a slight disadvantage.

Still, it left some regret.

Another name for rational decisions is textbook decisions.

They’re rarely wrong, but that also makes them easy to read.

I dig in to the left once. Forcing her to retreat backwards, I extend shadows to prevent her from jumping up.

The position I reached like that – is where the shurikens I deflected earlier are.

‘If I just use it, she’ll react? Let’s twist it a bit more.’

I spray smoke directly in front.

While laying down a clone in front, I use shadow movement with the deflected shuriken as a mark.

Taking advantage of the blocked vision, I grabbed her back.

“…!”

“Sharp, aren’t you. Is this because we’re both from the assassination class?”

But you’re too late.

I might not be able to finish it in one go, but the moment I grabbed your back, a fatal wound is confirmed.

Besides, you. You already used your log replacement earlier.

I thrust the sword into the side of her chest and swung it down hard.

Before she could turn around, I grabbed the back of her neck and was about to tear out her internal organs when.

A strong wind blew, and a large shadow was cast on the ground.

I’ll die if I stay here.

The moment I withdrew my body without hesitation, dust flew with a powerful impact.

Right. This match was a 2:2 duo mode from the start.

Naturally, the Dragonian with wings would join faster than our team’s Swordsman.

Haruka looked hurt in her pride, but what can you do.

“Nice. If you’re weak, you should gang up.”

“……”

I straightened my dagger while smirking.