NOVEL WEB Chapter 110 - This is Fine
“Top checked. One Warrior… positioned forward.”
《”Roger. Three at the bot! Should we go in right away?”》
“Let’s wait a bit. It’s possible the rest of them could just show up at the bot unexpectedly. Judging by the opposing team, they seem to like unorthodox strategies. Please wait.”
《Okay…》
The voice grew timid, clearly showing disappointment. After not being able to shine in the semifinals, they must have wanted to prove something. As a Bronze-tier broadcaster whose channel leaned more towards comedy than skill broadcasts, snagging just one highlight-worthy scene for GetDevoured Shortz was more important than the game’s outcome.
‘If a professional pulled that, they’d be halfway to…’
PadaPada took a deep breath, calming himself as he imagined himself yelling at the top of his lungs.
The opponent was a well-established large broadcaster with a massive fandom. It wasn’t unusual for some weird criticisms to pop up if he sounded even a little disappointed.
“You’re doing well. I’ll call out when the timing is right, so let’s stay composed.”
Even though he considered himself half a broadcaster and soon to be a full-time one, he still wasn’t used to dealing with broadcasters. Entering tournaments like this one—it wouldn’t have even crossed his mind in the past.
Thinking about his retirement, he grabbed the opportunity when it came his way, doing everything he could to grow his channel. Even begging the front office and his previously acrimonious coach.
Being a coach for a pro team was close to a precarious existence, never knowing when you might be replaced, so he couldn’t help but think about the future.
Watching his viewer count increase reaffirmed that it had been the right decision, but honestly, it was becoming more grueling as time went on.
Even though it was a fun tournament, incomparable to a pro match, the pressure not to lose was enormous beyond imagination.
‘If I happen to lose…’
He could almost visualize the team’s GetDevouredTube comment section flooded with, “Why do they even keep a coach who loses to Bronzes?”
Such comments would undoubtedly diminish not only his hard-earned professional career but even more. He could tolerate everything else, but not that.
《Still no sign of the rogue underground!》
《Really? Not even any noise?》
《Ah… come to think of it, I didn’t hear anything. Or maybe? Nah, I didn’t hear a thing.》
Meanwhile, his so-called teammates were acting like that, doubling his agony.
Suppressing the irritation rising from deep within, he scanned his surroundings. Besides the one Warrior holding a massive double-edged axe, there was still no one else in sight. Glancing towards the access route from underground, he braced for defense.
Despite the lack of substantial intel, his task remained unchanged.
If they went for the top, he had to hold the line regardless of their numbers. Conversely, if they all went bot, he had to crack open that Warrior’s skull and infiltrate the opponent’s base.
It was the best play he could make as a top knight and one of PadaPada’s winning formulas that had carried him through professional stages.
If the game flowed smoothly, there was no intention to lose.
‘Variables. As long as there are no variables.’
《Underground, 2 people! Underground, 2 people!》
《What’s this! Ah! Damn, got hit by bot explosion!》
《Rogue and, what’s that? Huh? Archer? Is that a bow?》
《Rogue archer bot! Rogue archer bot! What should we do?!》
These were the voices PadaPada least wanted to hear.
‘Two underground. So, it’s just a trick after all.’
Two underground. It was a strategy confirmed when they checked CravingWarmAmericano’s practice broadcast during the early preparation period of the tournament, but they deemed it close to trolling and didn’t pay much attention to it.
How many broadcasters had they seen parading around, trying to grab moments for GetDevoured with strategies that had a 10% success rate?
They never thought someone would actually bring that to the tournament.
“Are they high on viewers sniping them while catering in practice games? Sigh, really… Female broadcasters.”
PadaPada’s mind was busy calculating the gains and losses of the broadcast rather than focusing on the game itself, wondering if lowering the game standard would help the broadcast.
There was, however, a point of anxiety – the strategy itself was full of variables given their lack of experience in countering it. Especially when the ally underground was a Diamond-tier player incapable of quick improvisation.
“Abandon the underground and regroup at bot. Engage bot first.”
《Yes! Alright, let’s go!》
Even if it put them at a slight disadvantage, they aimed to cut off the variables.
Thinking so, PadaPada started walking resolutely towards the Warrior in front, only to see the least welcome message appear in their field of vision.
『Moguring has been slain!』
『StarPork(Rogue) → Moguring(Rogue)』
《Ah! Ah, damn. What is that? A one-shot kill? Damn, sorry. Rogue archer is still underground.》
“Damn it. A Diamond got taken out by a Bronze?”
Suppressing the rising urge to curse, PadaPada reasoned that GetDevoured or whoever that was must have been down there too, probably providing cover fire.
They considered inquiring about the situation but dreaded the thought of hearing a mostly useless briefing full of pointless complaints.
“When you’re back, regroup at bot immediately. I’m breaching too.”
With a flat order, they charged ahead.
The opponent Warrior, Revan, was taking slow steps with his double-handed axe held close to his body. His stance was stable and natural.
It was evident from his posture that he had turned off VR game-specific adjustments. There was not the slightest bit of stiff movement, which would have indicated that the movements weren’t matching his body.
Lee Yena’s criticism, saying, “What’s the point of controls that move with just a slight twitch of the body?” contrasted with the fact that in higher tiers of KoK, it was common to reduce or eliminate movement adjustments. Movements corrected by the system were too easy to read.
-Bzz!
Just before entering the effective range, the axe swung horizontally as if predicting the next step. A reach true to a double-handed axe. As he stepped half a step back, the axe blade narrowly scraped against the knight’s armor.
It was a sharp strike, but succumbing to just this level wouldn’t befit the name of a former pro.
《The enemy Rogue! It looks like they’re all gathered!》
《Uh, I think we can break through! That knight has no HP! Pull back!》
Fortunately, good news came from the main base, but optimism wasn’t allowed. GetDevoured. There was no news about GetDevoured herself.
There was no reason to give the opponent time to catch their breath. The Warrior had not yet recovered from the aftereffects of the missed big attack. He lunged forward, thrusting his sword.
As the Warrior skillfully twisted his body, the sharp blade grazed his side. It was a favorite maneuver of Warriors, ‘an exposing attack.’ Blood splattered, but the Warrior showed only minimal stiffness. This indicated the adoption of a characteristic that greatly reduced stiffness for damage below a certain threshold.
In PadaPada’s mind, Revan’s build characteristics began to paint a clear picture.
‘Berserk and Unyielding.’
It was apparent that he intended not just to endure but to win.
With a grin, PadaPada lunged forward again, swinging his shield. It was a forceful shield bash that utilized even the movement of recovering his sword—a perfect attack to catch Warriors who relied on their Unyielding trait.
Although it dealt low damage, it could stiffen the opponent for a solid second upon hitting.
-Thump!
With a heavy sound, the shield collided with the axe handle. It was a sizeable impact. Given the nature of such large weapons, acting immediately wouldn’t be easy.
PadaPada chased after the retreating Warrior. A deep, diagonal slash from the upper right to the lower left. He thrust the confident strike, assured it couldn’t be dodged, and it hit the opponent’s arm as expected.
Blood splattered as the Warrior stepped back to adjust his stance. It was clear he intended to activate Berserk after lowering his health and then finish the fight.
Of course, he had no intention of allowing that.
He would push Revan to the brink of Berserk, then kill him with a fatal strike, giving no chance at all. Warriors who tried to walk such a tightrope were precisely PadaPada’s preferred prey.
The double-handed axe swung wide again. For a moment, PadaPada considered parrying it, but parrying a large weapon was a risky decision.
‘No variables.’
Thinking there was no reason to take such risks, he stepped back two steps.
Swoosh!
With a sharp sound effect, his field of vision briefly flashed red. It signified that a ranged weapon was targeting him.
“An archer?”
Probably launched from that spire—it would take about three seconds for the arrow to reach its target. Just as PadaPada, who calculated this, attempted to smoothly dodge to the side—
-Bang!
This time, his vision was soaked in blood along with a deafening roar.
The health bar at the edge of his view had turned more than 60% black. Instinctively scanning his surroundings, PadaPada’s eyes fell upon a monstrous figure loading an arrow into a gigantic crossbow.
A ballista—the largest type of crossbow that almost needed to be lugged around.
“A ballista?”
After one shot, it would take an eternity to reload while anchoring the crossbow into the ground. Its range was also pitiful compared to a regular bow.
Who the hell would use such a weapon?
But at this moment, its devastating power, capable of piercing even plate armor, was all too evident. Normally, he would have charged in and killed the slow brute in an instant, but—
A warrior, approaching menacingly, would never allow him to be distracted.
“Damn it, shit—”
* * * *
“What is this, a tournament? Is there a league match today?”
“No, this is that thing. The one on Tw*tch.”
Inside the practice room of the pro gaming team GP. The team captain, Orthodox, Juho, sighed while watching his teammate’s screen.
Even though it was break time, it didn’t make sense to be watching internet streams when the World Series was around the corner.
“That, the comedic luck-based tournament where they mix in bronze players and pick random characters? Why are you watching that? It’ll ruin your eyesight.”
“No, no! This one is genuinely worth watching. I feel like we can learn some strategic points.”
“Learn what? How to die creatively?”
“No, I’m serious, not making excuses… They’re using 2 Underground, and it looks like it could actually work.”
“2 Underground, what the hell are you—Wait, is that PadaPada?”
As his teammate frantically shook his head and pointed at the screen, Juho looked closer and saw a familiar nickname.
“I told you, take a look at this. Seriously.”
Orthodox became slightly intrigued and dragged his chair over to focus on the screen—he noticed another familiar nickname.
“GetDevoured… Hey, isn’t she that girl you keep talking about? You’re watching it just to see her.”
“No! She didn’t even start the broadcast yet. I did intend to watch GetDevoured at first, but…”