A Swordsman's Stream

Chapter 131

– Did he predict it?
– From the start, his form was insane.
– Wasn’t he supposed to be weak without his sword?
– Was the sword his real body?
– Nonsense, lol.

Thud.

Spoon’s skill ceased as he took a hit to his body, and Sojun moved backward, extending his hand.

Basic attack.

If you intermittently mix it in during battle, the accumulated damage has an undeniable impact.

Smack!

Sojun calmly followed Spoon’s gaze, which had been directed at his casual strike.

‘Seems he’s checking.’

Right after being hit by the chain, Spoon’s skill was interrupted, but he could still pull off a basic attack.

Yet, he did not.

It wasn’t because he was flustered and made a mistake.

No matter how absurd the situation, maintaining composure is essential for a challenger.

Instead of landing a single hit on Sojun, Spoon decided to observe and identify where Sojun’s next chain would be directed, understanding that his skill was about to disappear.

Raising his guns without moving from his spot, Spoon spoke.

“The chains attacked both the left and right sides. I got caught on the left quite visibly.”

His gun glowed, and a magical effect began to focus.

Bang! Bang!

Spoon pulled the trigger. The bullets flew in a straight line toward Sojun.

However, Sojun did not flinch, standing completely still.

The bullets unraveled, disappearing right before reaching Sojun.

‘He’s already figured out Luke’s attack range.’

Currently, Sojun and Spoon were exploring each other’s abilities.

This was the most basic aspect of combat, and those with exceptional skills never neglect this foundation.

“It’s better to shoot both and hit at least one than to gamble with a 50% chance.”

“Hmm. You might be the only one who calls that a 50% gamble, Sojun-nim.”

Spoon’s potential locations were not limited.

He had freedom and out of numerous choices, he simply picked a path diagonally toward Sojun.

However, with chains flying at his location, left or right as if waiting, calling it merely left or right?

– Left or right choice for a 50% pick – Simple life for him.
– For the Streamer-nim, this suits!
– Seeing this, Eric seems quite capable.
– Indeed, this supposedly bad character…
– It’s true, his pick rate is among the lowest.

Spoon’s vigilance heightened, and Sojun calmly summoned the next magic circle behind him again.

* * *

For Sojun, it was a one-sided, for Spoon it was quite humiliating short exchange.

The two began adjusting their distances, mutually seeking angles for attacks.

A magic circle could be summoned within a 2-meter radius of the caster.

The chains also had a range, so summoning them behind resulted in a maximum 4-meter range loss.

Yet, Sojun continued to summon the chains behind him whenever he used the Chain of Destruction.

In truth, Sojun just summoned it behind him because the range was sufficiently long to reach the intended target.

‘Is there a particular purpose in this?’

Spoon was meticulously scrutinizing and interpreting each of Sojun’s gestures.

The chain from the floating magic circle extended straight toward a minion.

Spoon also shot at a nearly depleted minion.

Bang! Bang!

He did not forget to position himself and adjust his range during all this.

‘Is this the angle?’

Whizz!

Turning the gun aimed at a minion, Spoon pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang!

The bullets fired with a 1-second delay but as Sojun stepped back, the magical bullets dissipated in front of Sojun’s eyes once again.

Impossible to catch.

“You’re quite adept at maintaining distance, adept at fleeing maybe?”

“Isn’t that a strange thing for a long-range user to say?”

Sojun grinned while provoking.

– Fact) Technically, they both are ranged dealers now.
– They’re self-deprecating. LoL
– Intense in speech and distance control.
– Fleeing for a streamer? LoL!
– If a robber meets him, he’D be amused, and attempt a robbery instead?
– LoL, he’D love it. Legitimate excuse for robbery.
– Self-defense!

Thud!

A chain shot out from the void after 3 seconds.

Spoon never stopped moving, and on top of that, he was intensely focused on all of Sojun’s actions.

Dodging to the left to avoid a skill wasn’t a difficult task.

The chain hit the ranged minion behind him.

“It’s not good to keep hitting the minion, you know.”

The minions were comprised of three melee and three ranged.

“Why not?”

“Because obviously… Never mind.”

Spoon held his words.

Is it another intended show of charisma?

Each team’s minions align in a battle formation when they meet along a path, marching in a line from the nexus.

The three melee minions tank at the front. Meanwhile, the three ranged minions attack the engaged melee minions from afar.

Both teams’ minions have the same specs.

So, the position where these minions meet to fight can be adjusted with the intervention of heroes.

Closer to the tower, or further from the tower, or perfectly aligned in the center as in the beginning.

The method is simple.

By hitting fewer enemy minions than the opponent, your minions die faster.

Then, the remaining enemy minions advance to clash with the upcoming wave of minions.

This draws the line closer to your tower, referred to as pulling the line.

Hitting more enemy minions than the opponent pushes your minions forward.

This is called pushing the line, and manipulating it in your favor based on the situation is lane management.

The essence of lane management is the opponent.

Yet, Sojun wasn’t caring about Spoon at all, attacking minions whenever opportunity arose.

Inevitably pushing the line.

But Spoon didn’t fall for it.

‘He’s surely got something up his sleeve.’

The initial reason Spoon got hit by the chain was because Sojun acted dumb, feigning ignorance of skills to lull Spoon into complacency.

That’s why his seemingly reckless, newbie-like actions were surely hiding something.

‘Pushing the line is generally advantageous.’

The faster you clear minions, the more you can freely harass while the opponent hits them, or join fights faster that occur nearby.

Yet, if it was always advantageous, everyone would be pushing the lane.

The current battle scenario had Sojun controlling distance and holding the initiative, but Spoon, dodging well, left Sojun lacking the decisive force to secure a kill.

Spoon, though getting dragged around, had the power to close the gap and turn their fight deadly with mobility.

“Sojun-nim, do you realize it’s beneficial for you to maintain this situation?”

Bang! Bang!

Bullets pierced through the forehead of a minion.

“Well, seeing as I haven’t been hit once by you, it must be advantageous, right?”

Sojun also laughed, landing a basic attack to help push the lane.

Veins bulged on Spoon’s forehead.

He calmed down, however.

Distance adjustment against a challenger ranged dealer Newbie.

It’s problematic if he gets flustered by bluff.

“Should I hit you just once now?”

“Then I’ll make sure to land my skill on you.”

“Oh dear. I’D better hope this continues.”

Maintaining this situation was beneficial for Sojun, but Spoon needed to turn it around.

‘But if the line pushes?’

Pushing the lane means moving away from your tower.

If Spoon uses skills and engages while close to his tower, Sojun can simply retreat slightly, entering the bunker called the tower.

Then he can joyfully fling basic attacks and chains from a safe distance.

However, if the line is pushed and he engages far from the tower?

It’s advantageous for him.

The issue was, Spoon realized Sojun wouldn’t act against his interest without reason.

He wanted status quo but reluctantly focused further.

– What are you doing? Getting wrecked by a newbie.
– All the initiative has been taken, lol.
– Why play ADC if you lose on distance control?
– This is the challenger ADC’s skill?

He was a streamer too.

Before being a streamer, he was a challenger.

‘Whatever his thoughts, I’ll dominate him physically.’

Spoon awaited the line push.

* * *

– Streamer, isn’t it bad to push the line?
– Leave him alone. I’m sure there’s a plan.
– Just last hit or go half-and-half, your range advantage would be ok.
– No backseat gaming.
– You’re not even roaming.
– Hah, these backseat viewers.

Sojun, checking the chat while controlling distance and hitting minions whenever possible, mused.

“Huh? Why is pushing the line bad?”

There were also viewers who advised against backseat gaming, but Sojun didn’t particularly mind backseat advice.

He actually welcomed it.

“Hmm.”

“Can I explain it to you?”

“Yes, please.”

The line got pushed.

Spoon had been lying in wait for this moment and used his skill.

『Quick Shot』

Spoon planted his foot, dashing forward quickly.

“You can approach and initiate a fight like this.”

Spoon’s arm moved to aim at Sojun, closing the distance at Quick Shot’s maximum operation range.

The current distance from the tower was substantial. Even if Sojun continued retreating now, Spoon could exchange quite a bit of damage.

Yet at that moment, Spoon felt a sense of deja vu.

“Is coming at me a downside then?”

As he tried to connect further, his skill didn’t activate. There’s only one reason for that.

Being hit, the skill was interrupted.

“What?”

As he quickly turned around, he saw the chain lodged into his back.

A chain emerging from a spell circle cleverly hidden behind a minion.

He got chills.

Guessing his position was amazing, but if he failed, the chain would have shot at Sojun instead.

“For heaven’s sake…”

Realizing he might have significantly misjudged something, Spoon noted Sojun was occupied elsewhere.

“Why? Isn’t it a benefit if enemies willingly approach? Isn’t that an advantage?”

There wasn’t any complex calculation.

Sojun just pushed the lane because it invited others to engage.

Same as seven years ago, and now.

– Wow.
– Was this planned too?
– Curious about what kind of illogical reasoning will be presented!

Spoon, pressured, fired his gun.

Bang!

The first bullet hit Sojun.

Bang!

However, the second bullet was deflected as Sojun shot an orb.

– Wow!
– So rare to see this executed so well.
– If you just avoid the second bullet, Luke’s attack is trash.

“Huh?”

This time, Sojun didn’t withdraw. Instead, he advanced on him.

Like a swordsman engaging in close combat.

“This seems better.”

Sojun grinned.

As he approached, something appeared in Spoon’s line of sight, standing behind the place where Sojun originally stood.

『Chain of Destruction』

‘a spell circle? When did that appear…’

Realization dawned quickly.

The chain was shot. Three seconds earlier wasn’t it?

Shhrrk!

Sojun stood between the spell circle and Spoon.

Thus, it was another risky play that could potentially hit him instead at any mishap.

However, the chain hovered narrowly past Sojun’s neck, striking Spoon.

Thud!
– Crazy, lol.
– Well hidden and well aimed.
– Does he predict all this 3 seconds beforehand for every skill? How does Eric deal with this?

Spoon’s health dwindled, a single skill hit away from dying.

“Huh?”

Sojun could sense Spoon’s bewilderment.

– How’D his health drop this much?
– Isn’t Eric’s skill damage quite strong?
– Whoa. Will he score a challenger kill?
– Let’s go!

『Chain of Destruction』

‘One more hit will do it.’

A magic circle appeared 2 meters in front of Sojun, behind Spoon.

Even in the rush, Spoon swiftly analyzed his rear and noted the recently summoned circle from Sojun.

“What are you going to do now?”

Spoon had no time for words. Instead, he replied with bullets.

Bang!

Seems he decided to retreat.

Just escaping posed even more danger, so firing a deterrent shot, he withdrew.

Bang!

The second shot followed suit.

Sojun simply deflected the bullet in mid-air again without taking any notable actions.

Spoon passed behind the magic circle that had appeared at the rear.

“You should’ve stayed put.”

Sojun leisurely remarked, observing the scene.

“What? What?”

“Three seconds are up.”

A chain thrust forth from the magic circle.

Not the area Spoon originally occupied, but the opposite direction.

Now the place where Spoon had escaped and stood.

Shhhrrrrk!

Thud!

『FIRST BLOOD』
『Sword God –〉 FrustratedWithMyTop』

In the empty Battlefield, a surprising announcement appeared for those who missed witnessing the battle.