More Important Than the Tournament

The match starting today is the Round of 32.

It might be an important match for others, but not for me.

“Hoo…”

I take a low breath and glare at my opponent across from me.

I participated from the first match to end the game as quickly as possible.

My first opponent was a shirtless, muscular Viking.

He was stomping his feet, looking excited, with a helmet with horns sticking out on both sides.

He looked just like an excited water buffalo.

At that moment, the waiting time ended and the match began.

The opponent started running as soon as the match began.

Seeing him running at a fast speed, he must have invested a considerable portion of his stats in agility rather than strength.

I grabbed the Nodachi sword stuck behind my back and took a stance.

End it as quickly as possible.

When the opponent’s distance crossed the middle of the arena.

I also started to move.

Legs stretching out quickly.

The moment speed started to build up with the powerful movement, the Nodachi sword stuck behind my back was pulled out.

A strike with all my strength.

The attack starts first, even though the opponent hasn’t approached yet.

The opponent’s gaze was filled with confusion, but he didn’t stop.

Swish-!

The blade of the greatly extended Nodachi cuts through the empty air.

It’s a natural result since the attack started faster than the opponent’s approach.

But I didn’t stop.

I don’t reduce the speed of the Nodachi.

I continue to rotate using my entire body.

The opponent seemed to realize my intentions only then, but it was already far too late.

“Hryaah!”

A flash of blue light swung with a loud shout.

The flash of light, which rotated and shot out after the first strike that cut through the air, swept past the body of the Viking running towards me.

“C-Crazy…”

I narrowed my eyes and glared ahead.

The blade of the axe stopped right in front of me.

A situation where my head could have been split in half if I had been just a little late.

The opponent also knew that fact, so he tried not to drop his axe with trembling hands.

But what can I do?

Now that my Nodachi has swept past his neck, he couldn’t move his body.

Pshoo!

A fountain of blood bursts out belatedly.

The opponent scattered red blood and collapsed to the floor.

I wiped the blood off my face and checked the match time.

A situation where the victory or defeat was decided in just 8 seconds after the start.

I wonder what kind of reaction the opposing team will show.

I slung the Nodachi over my shoulder and suggested a winning streak match.

It’s good if they accept, and it’s okay if they don’t.

Either way, the match itself will end quickly since Ellie and Sohee were waiting after me.

I respected the opponent’s choice.

How much time had passed like that?

A message popped up saying that the opposing team had accepted the winning streak match proposal.

[The opposing team has accepted the winning streak match proposal.]

“Oh…”

Did they make this choice because they thought they could beat me?

Whatever the reason, it was a good situation for me.

A considerable amount of time had passed since the notice announcing a large-scale update was posted on Deron’s website.

Of course, there would be people who are thinking the same thing as me.

I wanted to see the various speculative posts they uploaded as soon as possible.

“Ah, Ellie, can you hear me?”

[I can hear you.]

“Is there a new post on the Deron Gallery?”

[There are very many. I’ve bookmarked the interesting posts among them, so don’t worry.]

“Take a screenshot in case it gets deleted suddenly.”

[Hehe… I’ve already done it.]

As expected of Ellie.

She was worthy of being my protege who learned how to browse the gallery from me.

I nodded at Ellie’s reliable answer and prepared for the next match.

After a short waiting time, my body returns to its original place with light.

According to the rules of the winning streak match, the health I have is reduced to 50%.

Checking the reduced health, I glare at my opponent.

The person who appeared from across the arena was a knight holding a claymore.

I couldn’t see his expression because he was wearing a helmet, but I could feel the tension from his movements.

Nickname IceBingsuJjangJoa (I Love Ice Flakes)

It’s a nickname I’m seeing for the first time. A person who hasn’t participated in a single match until the opposing team made it to the Round of 32.

Of course, I couldn’t find any match videos either.

There’s a high probability that he’s the ace.

[Hayeon-ah. That guy…!]

“I know.”

[It would be good to be careful. There’s no information.]

“Are you saying that seriously?”

Be careful?

I smiled slightly at Ellie’s words and shook my head.

My skills are recognized even among professional players who are active.

There’s no opponent in this tournament, where students participate, who can stick a knife into my body.

“I’m the strongest, you bitch.”

[Crazy bitch… ]

Enough with the small talk.

The waiting time ended and the match began.

Unlike the Viking I faced first, this opponent calmly started approaching slowly.

I frowned at the sight.

I had a reason to end the match quickly, so that kind of slow approach was just frustrating.

Then I’ll go.

Taat!

The moment I kicked off the ground, my body shot out quickly.

The mobility using high agility stats quickly narrowed the distance with the opponent.

Feeling the wind brushing against my cheeks and the scenery stretching out, I extend my legs greatly.

Koo-oong!

The leg extended earlier is the central axis.

My body starts to rotate as it is.

At that moment, the opponent started to react.

I frowned.

Unlike the opponent I met earlier, he’s reacting quickly.

The knight’s movement of retreating greatly.

Was it a coincidence? No, the opponent accurately read the difference between my distance and his own.

Feeling the gaze rising along my arms and legs, I abruptly put the brakes on my movement.

Even if I pulled out the Nodachi and swung it as it is, it would just cut through the empty air, so I move forward a little more.

Keuk-!

A sudden change in movement.

A huge load was placed on the leg that became the central axis, but I ignored it and continued to move forward.

This time, I extend the opposite foot.

The central axis starts to change, and my body posture collapses slightly.

At that moment, a very sharp attack began.

The knight’s sword, shot out while maintaining the posture of retreating backwards.

The opposing knight’s sword flew threateningly and brushed past my cheek.

Seukak-!

The reduced health is 2%

The opponent retreated even further back as if satisfied with that.

Drip, drip-

Feeling the blood flowing down my cheek, I stop in place.

The corners of my lips rise slightly. But it wasn’t a smile of joy.

Yes, this method is right to increase the probability of winning even a little more.

Accumulating only the minimum amount of damage and hitting and running.

But becoming the one being attacked, my head starts to heat up.

“Hoo…”

With a low sigh, I glare at my opponent again.

The knight, who had created distance, was taking a defensive stance with his claymore pointed forward.

A figure that makes you feel his will to never approach first.

What will happen in the future was obvious. Waiting for me to attack while maintaining the maximum distance.

He would observe the opportunity and then move only if he thought he could reduce my health even slightly.

It would have been different if it was Deron.

But this place is VRS.

No matter how overwhelming talent I have, there was a limit to physical abilities.

Thud, thud…

Shwaaaaa-!

At that moment, rain started pouring from the sky.

Cold raindrops started to soak my head.

The blood that flowed down my cheek fell to the floor along with the rainwater.

Dark clouds gather in the clear sky, darkening the circular arena.

The floor I’m standing on is also getting soaked with rainwater.

I lowered my gaze and looked at the soaking soil.

Old soil was clumping together with rainwater between the gaps in the solid stone floor, turning into mud.

A good idea came to mind.

I started moving immediately.

The opposing knight flinches and retreats in response to my greatly extended leg.

He’s trying to buy time by maintaining as much distance as possible, but I won’t let him.

Seureureung-!

The moment the Nodachi sword stuck behind my back was pulled out, the opponent retreated even further.

But it doesn’t matter. Because what I’m aiming for isn’t him.

The tip of the Nodachi’s blade is pointed at the floor of the arena.

The sticky mud that exists between the stone floor.

Kook-!

The tip of the blade, stabbed deeply, moves and scoops up the sticky mud.

I can feel the opponent’s gaze filled with doubt.

But it’s a gaze that will soon disappear.

I smiled at him and swung the Nodachi I was holding.

Shwaak-!

A flash of blue light stretching out greatly.

The mud that had gathered on the tip of the Nodachi’s blade at the moment it cut through the cold rainwater flew towards the opponent.

Cheolpeok-!

Accurate location. Accurate timing.

The mud that flew as it was hit the opponent’s helmet, specifically the eye area, and spread out widely.

“Ugh!”

The opposing knight shrinks his body with a short scream.

Now is the chance.

Tadak-!

While narrowing the distance with the opponent, cutting through the rain.

The knight threw off his helmet.

The opponent’s face was revealed like that.

He was squinting with a scowling expression, but his gaze wasn’t accurate.

I clicked my tongue as I looked at that figure.

If it was a pretty girl, I would have hesitated to attack at least once, but seeing the disgustingly ugly man’s face, that feeling disappeared in an instant.

Chwaaaak-!

The moment the greatly extended leg becomes the central axis, the floor, wet with rainwater, slips and my body moves forward.

But I’m not flustered. This is also a calculated movement.

As my body slides forward, rotation begins and the Nodachi in my hand is swung greatly.

Boo-oong-!

From bottom to top.

A huge upward slash.

The sensation of something catching on the tip of my hand is clear.

Seogeok-!

The Nodachi, which soared towards the sky, didn’t stop moving and fell behind my back, slamming into the floor.

Immediately after that, the head of the opposing knight falls as if following suit.

The hair, drooping due to the rainwater, was blocking my view, so it was at least bearable.

A body that has lost its head cannot stand.

The knight’s body starts to collapse powerlessly.

A signal announcing my victory.

I slung the Nodachi over my shoulder and looked across the arena.

A situation where I’ve won 2 out of 3 matches in the best-of-four series.

Remaining health is 48%

I applied for a winning streak match again.

If the opposing team accepts the winning streak match proposal again, my health will start at 24%.

I don’t have to aim for vital points. If I succeed in a big attack towards the arms and legs, I can win with that health.

I wonder how the opposing team will react.

I pushed the hair wet with rainwater back and smiled.

If it were me, I would definitely accept this challenge.

But not everyone has the same thoughts as me.

[The winning streak match proposal has been rejected.]

A message notifying the opposing team’s rejection.

Are they running away? But it’s a wise decision.

They must have realized it with this. My overwhelming skills.

The opposing team wasn’t weak. Rather, they were on the strong side.

If I wasn’t there, they would have been a strong team that could have aimed for the championship.

It’s a shame, but there’s nothing I can do.

It’s me, after all.

They were just unlucky.

I looked at the other side of the arena with pitiful eyes and ended the game.

I should go to the Deron Gallery.