A Swordsman’s Stream

Chapter 96

“I can’t believe this actually works.”

ThirdElder spoke in bewilderment.

He had never imagined they could corner the Orthodox Faction like this.

In truth, simply cornering them was possible by engaging in an all-out war with the Orthodox Faction, discarding everything.

However, speed was of essence.

Finishing it as quickly as possible was vital, and they had successfully drawn in the Unorthodox Faction to nearly achieve their goal.

“I told you, didn’t I? It’s possible!”

Tang So chimed in beside him.

“It’s not just because of you.”

“What do you mean? Everything’s going well because I came to the Demonic Cult.”

“Yes.”

ThirdElder nodded knowingly.

The villain from the Unorthodox Faction had come here causing a ruckus.

Initially, having an additional ranker was advantageous, but now, he wondered if even without Tang So, it would be just fine.

“Nonetheless, it’s quite intense. Like a scary ‘hyung’.”

ThirdElder, along with Bandit King and Tang So, watched the two currently sparring in the arena.

The Bandit King spoke.

“Even so, ‘hyung’ Sojun teaches quite well… no, he’s teaching well.”

In the arena, Sojun was matched against the No. 1 Swordsman Under Heaven.

Without any stream, Sojun was sparring with Swordsman under the pretense of training.

ThirdElder asked hesitantly.

“Teaching well? That?”

“Uh….”

Isn’t that just a stress-relief sandbag?

ThirdElder glanced sideways.

The Bandit King’s eyes had become slightly moist.

“It actually turns out to be quite effective….”

How does he know that?

With a look like he didn’t want to know himself, ThirdElder couldn’t grasp the details, but for some reason, a chill ran down his spine.

Meanwhile, the Bandit King, or rather Lee Dongsu, thought to himself.

‘I’m sure he said this is for a stream content training session, right?’

But the stream wasn’t even on.

Come to think of it, the gym, too…

What a peculiar personality.

Yet.

‘My skills are improving….’

Lee Dongsu looked up at the sky in despair.

‘And mine too.’

Within the team, there were various programs for testing physical condition and skills internally.

Naturally, as one of the top clubs in the gigantic virtual reality market.

And recently, albeit minimally, the results of those tests had been showing steady improvement.

-Is the body still growing?
-Reaction speed is improving as well.

The director and the coach tried to analyze the cause.

When asked by the director if he had any idea of the reason, he mentioned Sojun.

-There’s a ‘hyung’ I spar with occasionally. His skills are quite good, so I often match with him.
-The streamer?
-Yes.
-To improve just by fighting?
-You’ve seen his gameplays, haven’t you, coach?
-Yeah? But isn’t it the same game you’re playing now?
-Yes.
-Great! It’s free time!

Perhaps because he had shown definite results?

If skills improved, there was no reason for the director to block exchanges with Sojun.

Although free time was just a tiny bit, and all essential schedules needed to be completed, thanks to that, he could participate in the Battlefield like this.

By the way, due to pride, Lee Dongsu never mentioned how he was always getting hit.

“Uh. Is that thing really effective?”

“It’s good, but… uh, yes, it’s really good.”

The lower one’s skill, the more significant the improvement when trained.

They watched in real-time how the skills of the No. 1 Swordsman Under Heaven were rapidly improving each day.

“Then, should I ask for it once?”

Lee Dongsu turned his face sideways.

With a look that had many intentions, ThirdElder shuddered.

“Uh… it’s not bad, but….”

The reason Lee Dongsu kept getting hit was due to his professionalism.

Though his brain seemed to have gone on strike, unable to acknowledge learning anything despite being beaten by Sojun, his body seemed commendably to learn on its own after continuous hits, so he couldn’t help but go back.

‘If only it wasn’t effective, I would avoid this.’

More than anything, Sojun hit well.

It hurt, but it wasn’t lethal.

“Do you remember what ‘hyung’ Sojun did to him last time?”

Lee Dongsu decided to remind him of the consequences first.

“Hmm. He urged with a strong attack to do a parry and kept hitting him.”

As a note, Swordsman had never succeeded in a parry, ending up beaten thoroughly.

“What about now?”

“Uh.”

ThirdElder’s gaze turned forward.

This time, he was hitting them with strong attacks, urging them to attack, while he parried instead.

‘Wow.’

For a moment, ThirdElder was in awe.

Really, no sense of conscience.

After hitting a parry, he ruthlessly attacked Swordsman.

As if to say, since you failed, take a hit, he gave immediate feedback. But how is an ordinary user supposed to succeed against someone who takes on rankers 3-on-1!

Satan wouldn’t even do that.

Even so, it’s surprising how one’s skills improve.

“Indeed.”

“Right?”

Lee Dongsu and ThirdElder exchanged glances.

They were clearly having the same thought.

Imagining themselves in Swordsman’s current position.

“Haha, would he provide the training if I asked? Since he’s busy. But I should just refrain from asking.”

“…”

Lee Dongsu could answer that one for certain.

No one would dislike a sandbag learning.

Of course, he had no intention of hindering ThirdElder’s rationalization.

“Hah, you might as well learn from me.”

Tang So, who had been listening beside them, spoke.

The two naturally ignored it.

“By the way, it looks like we might not be able to push the Orthodox Faction by today?”

Lee Dongsu said to ThirdElder.

“Because of the Unorthodox Faction.”

Yesterday, Sojun had the opportunity to attack the base of the Orthodox Faction but didn’t start a proper battle.

Because they had lost contact after losing Sangseo, and there was still one region before the Unorthodox Faction could reach the base.

So, since they wanted to first take stock and make decisions, the Orthodox Faction didn’t attack Sanseo but just defended.

Since they lost Sanseo, and other tactics were impossible, they were saying let’s try tackling it without dragging out time.

Thus today, the base of the Orthodox Faction faced the Unorthodox Faction which had found its connection with the Demonic Cult again.

Yet, the Orthodox Faction appeared more relaxed than when they were being dragged around.

Because, “They’re relying on the Unorthodox Faction.”

“Exactly.”

Why on the Unorthodox Faction?

It’s obvious that the Unorthodox Faction wouldn’t attack.

“Indeed, the Unorthodox Faction is sinister. They are unworthy to be trusted.”

On hearing those words, ThirdElder looked at Lee Dongsu in shock. His gaze moved above Lee Dongsu’s head to reconfirm the ID.

『Bandit King』

Before the start of the battle, this was someone who was leading a bandit life in Green Forest, so if you are going to say things like that, you should at least change your nickname.

“Yes… Well, they are sinister.”

“How righteous in comparison are we.”

That was also a bit…

ThirdElder shook his head.

* * *

One minute before 7 p.m.

Sojun’s streaming room gathered an enormous number of viewers.

‘Could hit 20,000 at this rate.’

It seemed he had taken his place as a symbolic presence, going against the Orthodox Faction.

-Are they really going to take down the Orthodox Faction?
-I was too excited to sleep.
-Don’t come! Seriously, don’t!
-The Orthodox Faction is screwed lolol

『’ㅇㅇ’님 donated 10,000 won!』
『This isn’t fun. If people play the game to ruin factions instead of aiming for the championship like you all, how is the battle going to progress smoothly? A bit disappointed this time.』

“Thank you for the donation.”

It was understandable to feel resentment or disappointment.

If a faction harbors malice towards another and plays the game to ruin them, battle, as content, becomes less entertaining.

Though it hadn’t become an issue yet, if the Orthodox Faction was truly forced out of the battle, angry Orthodox members might stir controversy.

The Demonic Cult, which led this, and Sojun would both get criticized.

To avoid this, “What do you mean, who’s given up on the championship? Didn’t you see the title?”

Just stating the truth is enough.

Because there was no genuine malice involved.

『In any case, the champion is the Demonic Cult』

-Lmao true
-The streamer must have a good plan!
-It’s been that title for days

“And also, why do you say two people are beating one?”

Sojun appeared genuinely puzzled.

Soon, it was 7 p.m.

-drrr drrr
-Take action!
-Watch the final moments

As expected by all, the Demonic Cult and the Unorthodox Faction reached right in front of the base of the Orthodox Faction.

It could indeed be called a candle in the wind, yet strangely, the sign of battle didn’t appear at the base of the Orthodox Faction.

Instead, Unorthodox rankers began setting up matches at the reception area of the Demonic Cult and Unorthodox meetup.

Many who expected the full brunt of factions clashing from the start were puzzled.

-What’s going on? What are those Unorthodox guys doing
-Crazy
-Knew it lol
-They are betraying now? Why?
-Knew this would happen.

Responses were divided.

Sojun was on the side that saw this coming.

Perhaps those experienced in battles anticipated the betrayal.

“The Unorthodox wants to keep using us to keep suppressing the Orthodox Faction. In this standoff, it’s the Unorthodox that gains the most.”

In other words, the Unorthodox Faction wanted the Orthodox Faction to successfully defend.

Because.

“They realized what we were planning. If we remove the Orthodox Faction, our next target would be them. The Demonic Cult’s strategy is to wipe out enemies’ bases.”

Sojun conveyed the Demonic Cult’s strategy.

There was no reason to hide it now.

-So that was it? Lolololol
-Everyone had a hunch, but they really tried to push it through. Legendary lolol
-So why did the Unorthodox come to the entrance with you if that’s what you planned?
-Explain for the newbies

“We collaborated with this as an intention. Knowing this could happen, we decided to draw them in.”

To sum up the situation, the Demonic Cult aimed to wipe out bases.

During the capture of Sangseo, due to the Orthodox’s ploys, time started dragging.

Even if they could eventually manage to eliminate the base of the Orthodox Faction, delaying too long would not leave enough time to target the Unorthodox Faction’s base next.

Hence, Sojun decided to rope in the Unorthodox.

Back then, the Unorthodox, even holding more territories, was at an uncertain position.

When the 2nd or 3rd rank starts checking the 1st, another 1st would arise, and they must then check the new 1st with someone else.

Unless only one day remained for battle, without overwhelming dominance, standings could change any time.

At that moment, the Demonic Cult suggested attacking the Orthodox together.

The Unorthodox would’ve had some realization of what the Demonic Cult intended by then.

They would eliminate the Orthodox, and their next target would be the Unorthodox.

Even so, the reason for cooperating.

“They could remove their competitor, the Orthodox Faction for good. Moreover, from now on, with things shaping to this extent, if the fallen Orthodox Faction withstands.”

It could impede the Demonic Cult too.

“The Unorthodox might win.”

The Orthodox, realizing belatedly and unable to reverse it, were now sharpening themselves to take a shot.

And that was the current state of the battle.

-Oh lololololol
-Battle is more complex than I thought
-So the Demonic Cult and Unorthodox knew each other’s intentions and used one another
-Kya
-It’s fun lol this is true collaboration! This is what Battle is!
-So, what should we do, master?

Just as he finished the explanation, a playful message appeared in the chat.

What should they do?

Wasn’t it clear?

Despite that, asking was like wanting to hear it directly.

He believed delivering what the viewers wanted to hear was a streamer’s duty.

“What should we do? It’s simple. Today, we deal with the Orthodox Faction.”

Thus, Sojun, with a growing audience now reaching 20,000, began speaking.

“And from tomorrow, we will hit the Unorthodox. That’s all. So, as I’ve said repeatedly.”

He said with a grin.

“In any case, the champion is the Demonic Cult.”

As he finished speaking, as if waiting, a red mark emerged in the region where the base of the Orthodox Faction in Hebei was located.