I Have a Reason to Hate Streamers

– See? The order is a bit different from what we saw.

– There’s a delay before the skill activates, so I preemptively caught the opponent with the Chain Scythe.

– As you can see, Gawol had limited movement options too.

– It’s impressive that this combo was executed so precisely, but I want to credit the skill in setting this up even more.

“Hoo….”

The sound coming from the video I had playing was pleasant to hear.

I felt somewhat disappointed that no one recognized it, but finally, it felt like my efforts were paying off.

I had been practicing hard too. The effects on the new item looked good, after all.

Still, I planned to avoid using the Chain Scythe for a while.

Weapons like that only lead to more counters the more you show them.

I had made my presence known, so that was enough.

Considering that the main tournament would be held in groups, it was wise to save my strength.

The opponent I faced then would surely analyze me.

It’s better to have more cards to play.

– Do we really need to do the 2nd and 3rd rounds?

– Compared to Player Camelian, it felt a bit lacking, didn’t it?

– I’ll just briefly touch on it.

– Really, it feels like this side just crushed with pure physicality.

It was clear that the opponents I faced after Camelian weren’t that impressive.

They weren’t incapable, but they lacked distinctiveness.

Their nicknames were unnecessarily complicated and didn’t stick in my memory.

So, I was already at the 4th round.

By now, Sulbbang and Elderin were likely chatting and starting their broadcast.

At first, I was quite nervous about my match being streamed, but I had grown accustomed to it.

I could even watch other players’ videos while waiting for my match.

Honestly, I felt more comfortable focusing here than watching those two.

It was a different weight, you know? Thinking that all those people came to see me made my stomach churn.

I much preferred checking the reactions after the broadcast ended.

Of course, if I lost, I wouldn’t watch.

Even if I thought the reactions would be bad, I wouldn’t look.

[Infinity Arena 2nd Qualifying – Final Phase matching completed.]

[Will you accept the match? Y/N]

[……You will be moved to the battlefield in 20 seconds.]

I didn’t used to feel this weak.

I might have been alone for too long.

If I win this tournament, will my thirst be quenched a little?

I don’t know. I’m scared it might be like drinking seawater…

No, I can’t let my thoughts drift this way; that’s a never-ending pit.

I consciously cut off the stray thoughts, but I need to acknowledge it sooner or later.

My mind isn’t as strong as it used to be.

I tremble easily, get depressed easily, and can be swept away by emotions easily.

My body felt rusted or rotted all over, making it difficult to act.

…Hmm, I said I’d think of something else, but I was digging again.

Fortunately, a timely whisper from Elderin interrupted my train of thought.

[Elderin’s Whisper]

– Gawol, is it okay to talk for a moment?

– It seems your match has been set up, and I’m sorry about that.

“It’s fine. It hasn’t started yet. What’s up?”

– Well, I just got a message from Luce.

“Luce? The pro gamer Luce?”

Injecting tension back into my relaxed mood.

– Yes. She’s currently streaming and asked if she could watch along with us.

– She says she’ll connect any donations to our side.

– We’ll do whatever Gawol wants.

– What will you do?

There was no need to think.

Luce would watch my match?

And she was streaming?

My eyes naturally widened.

All I needed was a little composure.

I just had to manage my expression and voice to keep my excitement hidden.

“It’s fine. Please tell her thank you.”

– Yes! I’ll let her know.

– By the way, go win!

Of course.

I’ll definitely win.

[Battlefield: Shadow Arena]

[vs Haruka (Kunoichi)]

[Notice: Automatic translation feature in operation.]

*

[5 seconds until the battle begins… 00:02]

[We wish you victory.]

In the dark, ominous space.

As the battle began, the torches on the walls flickered to release dim light.

A search battle commenced to find each other first.

By now, my opponent would likely be looking for me among the shadows.

To avoid giving clues, I moved stealthily, sometimes hiding behind pillars or the ceiling.

This battlefield, fittingly named ‘Shadow Arena,’ had a sharp contrast of light and darkness.

All external light was blocked. If one didn’t have another means, they had to rely on the torches for visibility.

However, torches in the arena would randomly go out and could turn into complete darkness without warning.

Staying calm and adapting to the constantly changing light was key.

In a situation where both sides were assassination classes, a fleeting variable could decide the match.

‘Have we missed each other already? Or could they be nearby.’

The floor of the Shadow Arena didn’t make a sound if walked on carefully.

However, it wasn’t entirely devoid of clues.

For example, dust trapped on the ground.

Ash remained from the burning torches, leaving faint footprints behind.

I paused for a moment and held my breath.

In the first search battle, I had the advantage.

The Kunoichi class traded some of the Assassin’s capabilities for Ninjutsu.

I should have the upper hand in stealth and close combat.

At least, that was the case if no variables came into play.

“……!”

“Tsk.”

All torches in the battlefield lit up together.

The flames roared to life, banishing the darkness and revealing our positions.

The opponent was much closer than I had expected.

Dressed in high-exposure clothing, draped in white.

We spotted each other, at a distance that would easily allow a leap.

With this, the surprise attack was nullified.

I quickly closed the distance.

Parrying as I deflected her dagger.

I knocked away all three shurikens, but one of them had a talisman attached.

A small explosion occurred, and I was pushed back by the blast.

[‘Goblin Fire’ inscribes the mark of ‘Ryang.’]

[Lasts for 30 seconds and reduces fire resistance by 12.]

[If all 4 marks of Gwi-in Ryang-hon are collected, it can inflict lethal damage.]

This is why being small is inconvenient.

The damage I just took was about 3% of my max health. Considering natural recovery, it was just a scratch.

But my body, being so lightweight, got pushed back.

Thanks to that, I failed to close the distance with the Kunoichi.

The assassination class had enough time to prepare some decent skills.

To make matters worse, half the torches went out, obscuring the Kunoichi’s figure.

This is bad.

I needed to see what was coming to be prepared.

It seemed today would not be my lucky day on the battlefield.

[‘Ghost Step’ inscribes the mark of ‘Eui.’]

[Lasts for 30 seconds and reduces darkness resistance by 12.]

“This time… you might think you got unlucky.”

A voice came from behind.

I had finished calculating in my head.

[‘Fox Claw’ inscribes the mark of ‘In.’]

[Lasts for 30 seconds and reduces physical defense by 18.]

Anyway, I won’t die from just this once.

If the attack is hard to dodge, I might as well close the range to protect my vital spots.

I offered up my right shoulder while attempting to counter from the opposite side.

A searing pain hit my shoulder as if I were burned by hot metal.

It’s fine. It’s bearable.

[‘Curse of Weakening’ inscribes the mark of ‘Hon.’]

[Lasts for 30 seconds and reduces physical defense by 18.]

More than that, I felt the sharpness from her left dagger.

It probably nicked my thigh or side. I didn’t need to see precisely where; it didn’t matter.

From now on, I wouldn’t care about small injuries.

Let’s make this a mud wrestling match.

I’ll make her regret the hasty decision to close the distance.

I pushed my body backward, closing it with the Kunoichi.

At this range, neither of us could use our main skills.

If one didn’t have the skill to land here, they wouldn’t have made it this far.

The yearning for victory was intoxicating like drugs.

The dizzying pain from my shoulder wasn’t more intense than the rush that ignited my blood.

“Gotcha?”

“You crazy…!”

I turned my body, grabbing the opponent’s waist and throwing them to the ground.

My waist was stabbed a few times, but I also made a long cut from her ankle to her thigh.

Before I knew it, my right arm was immobilized.

I had probably suffered a critical hit to a tendon or somewhere that made it unusable.

It felt like I lost control from my wrist all the way up.

In the meantime, I had made her left arm incapacitated, so it was a well-fought exchange.

“You just had bad luck too!”

Why was I laughing?

All over my body was pleading in pain, yet my mouth smiled.

Now, it was an ultra-close quarters battle that couldn’t end.

Both of us held our weapons, unable to defend ourselves against attacks.

That just left the continuous slashing until one of us fell.

The chilling sound echoed as my dagger—my kunai—ripped into her body.

Avoiding vital spots as best I could, hitting her as much as possible!

In my left hand, I felt the horrifying sensation of tearing through flesh and muscle.

At the same time, I felt a grotesque foreign sensation in my right side between my ribs.

The accompanying pain made it hard to breathe.

With each stab of the blade, both of our HP plummeted at a terrifying rate.

Finally, when my dagger pierced the Kunoichi’s throat…

The bloodied kunai halted before my neck.

Her lifeless arm dropped helplessly, dropping the weapon to the ground.

I too could finally stop my arm.

[Round 4-1 Victory achieved.]

[3 minutes until the next battle begins.]

[Battlefield: Shadow Arena]

“Fuhuh….”

[Remaining health: 1.7%]

The pain of everything until now vanished like an illusion.

However, I couldn’t stand for a while, still trembling and holding my arms.

But.

Despite everything.

I felt like I could almost float with joy.

I smiled tightly, wrapping my arms around myself.

---