I Have a Reason to Hate Streamers

In the middle of the Proving Mountain, the two knights faced each other.
No words exchanged. They chose to communicate through swords rather than language.
Luche's gaze moved from Hero's left foot, knee, waist, shoulder, arm, and finally to his head.

The foot that stepped forward firmly planted itself on the ground.
It was a declaration that there would be no further movement.

The knee bent deeply, ready to exert full power, and the waist turned to the right.
It was the most optimal position for a horizontal slash.
At first glance, it looked like a very blatant horizontal strike.

But now, even Luche could see it.
The shoulder was extended further than usual. It was preparing to change the direction of power.
As expected, Hero’s sword suddenly shifted mid-swing and transitioned into an upward strike.

Luche's shield quickly moved into position, blocking and pressing the strike.

“Hoh...?”

Even for a high-stat Paladin, the shock was heavy.
Had the blow been fully powered, Luche would have been pushed back for sure.
But that wasn’t what happened. The current Luche had an opportunity for a counterattack.

From the moment the shield moved, the counter was prepared.
A sharp thrust aimed directly at Hero's ribs.

It wasn’t a stance quickly completed.
It was a strike perfected through experience, something that could not be reached by talent alone.
It was straightforward but fast and unwavering.

They exchanged one attack.
Still, the two knights immediately understood each other.

‘Not lacking in talent... but a stubborn hard worker to the point of exhaustion. Did she even study hard? What a troublesome opponent.’
‘A genius who even puts in the effort. If I had to categorize her, she’s similar to Da-eun. Don’t expect arrogance or carelessness.’

A light movement dodged the thrust.
As Luche tried to chase after the opponent who had veered to the side, she suddenly ducked.
A swift kick, accompanied by wind pressure, passed over her head.

The kick came first, and the greatsword was recovered later.
The sword had been planted in the ground to use as a support, a technique made possible by the heavy weapon's weight.

Moreover, the attack didn’t end with one strike.

A greatsword typically has a large gap between attacks.
Once an attack ends, it’s supposed to be Luche’s turn.

The greatsword, which had been embedded in the ground, broke the earth as chunks of stone were flung out.
Hero’s foot moved with trickery, and just like that, the stones became projectiles.

At a glance, it seemed like nothing more than a stone throw.
But for someone receiving it, the speed at which it flew was unnerving.
The stones collided with Luche’s shield, turning to dust.

[Defense Successful.]
[Remaining Guard Gauge: 91.72%]

Proving its might, the guard gauge was only reduced by about 8% from a simple stone.
Da-eun could have just avoided it with her eyes.
For Luche, even attempting such a move felt like an impossible feat.

Thus, she lost a little bit of tempo.
Ga-wol attacked at this timing, but Luche had to raise her shield.
Thanks to that, Hero had the chance to safely recover the greatsword and prepare for the next attack.

The greatsword strikes again.
This time, it’s a thrust. Avoiding it is a more comfortable choice than blocking.
If she can avoid it properly, she can recover the guard gauge she lost earlier.

But that’s the trap.
A monster like Hero wouldn’t offer such a comfortable, good choice.@@novelbin@@

The greatsword, by nature, makes it difficult to turn mid-attack, but Hero was different.
Didn’t she already experience that? He simply changes direction with brute force.
If she falls into that trap, she’ll lose control and eventually be overwhelmed.

[Passive: Final Defense Line]
[The damage received from a successful guard is reduced by 40%. This does not reduce the overall damage.]
[Target: Sigma Luche]

The attack should never be allowed to continue.
Luche raised her shield towards the spot where the greatsword would thrust.
The off-angle attack couldn’t fully exert its power.

The most powerful punch of a boxer is when the end of the punch meets the target.
If the punch is too early or too strong, it won’t reach full force.
If you’re not going to dodge, it’s better to block early and reduce the force.

Her arm, which had collided with the greatsword, was pushed back.
The shield screamed as it absorbed the tremendous force.
The long mark left by the sword on the shield looked like a wound.

Yet, she didn’t stop and kept advancing.
Luche quickly closed the distance and made a powerful downward slash.
Hero’s weakness is beneath the greatsword. This information had already been shared.

The sword that passed by finally drew blood.
Hero’s foot was marked briefly.
Hero, using the greatsword for balance, kicked with the opposite leg.

“Ugh...!”

What she earned was a small wound on her foot.
In exchange, she received a powerful blow to her side.
Luche bled slightly from the corner of her lip.

At a glance, this wasn’t an advantageous trade.
Still, Luche’s expression didn’t darken.

Considering the difference in skill between the two, it wasn’t a bad exchange.
Moreover... the cockroach-like vitality was truly the hallmark of a Paladin.
The supporting teammates had also momentarily fallen back, distracted by Outlaw’s fire.

[Passive: Divine Recoil]
[If the enemy’s healing is based on divine power, the healing amount is reduced by 50% for the damage I’ve dealt.]
[Target: Sigma Luche]

[Active: Prayer of Regeneration]
[Over time, health gradually recovers. Up to 40% of lost health can be restored.]
[Caster: Sigma Luche]

[Receiving the effect of ‘Rite: Blessing of the Divine Dragon.’]
[Restores health, and for 12 seconds, physical defense is increased. Healing amount is...]
[Caster: Sigma Hekate]

At least, now that she knew even a minimal exchange could be made, that was enough.
Hero had chosen extreme offensive power, while Luche had increased her total capacity by balancing and building up her own strength.
Not only attack power and strength... but health, defense, and healing amounts were unmatched.

Let’s fight until we’re sick of it.
Even if this mountain is stained with blood, we won’t fall.

At the same time, Camelia was engaged in a bloody battle with the enemy fighter.

Outlaw’s thoughts had been exactly right.
W Titans had already predicted his position.
The enemy fighter had snuck up nearby, waiting for a chance to fire.

Outlaw had fired enough to push back the enemy supports for a moment.

When the fighter in a bunny girl costume found Outlaw,
What awaited her was the chilling spear of a warrior.
It suddenly came at her neck, and she had to dodge a dangerously close strike.

“Wow. This is much better than the battle mage.”
“I’ve heard that’s what you specialize in.”
“I did hear that. But it’s even better in practice, right?”

W Titans Bunny.
Despite the cute name, she was famous for her provocative costume and body.

Among female fighters, she was recognized as one of the top-tier players.
Though she was a few steps below Hero, as a member of a strong team, she was certainly not lacking.
As Camelia’s stance lowered, a kick aimed at her ankle came in.

Her attack speed in close combat was no slower than an assassin’s.
She shifted her stance from low to mid, then back down with rapid strikes.
Camelia’s spear moved swiftly.

Repeated attacks eventually reached Camelia.
A kick landed precisely in her side.
However, Camelia’s elbow hit the fighter’s solar plexus with equal precision.

“Tough, huh? Want to meet up after the match?”
“Lesbian?”
“Well, that’s not entirely wrong. I like anyone with charm.”
“So, this is what ‘shaking things up’ means during a match?”
“That’s a bit harsh. But I was being sincere.”

The implication of “sincere” also meant there was some amount of falsehood mixed in.
Camelia swung her spear without caring.

Generally, female players don’t choose the fighter class.

As the battle continues, physical contact with the enemy becomes inevitable.
Considering the male-to-female ratio of gamers, most enemies encountered in the field are ‘strange men.’
Unless they are extremely open-minded, it’s difficult to avoid feelings of discomfort.

Additionally, the fighter class inherently requires intense physical use... which is problematic in its own right.
Even if attacks are made cleanly, parts like the chest, buttocks, and inner thighs inevitably get exposed.
Even if hidden under clothing, it’s a risk that’s not easy to manage.

On the other hand, Bunny seemed to be intentionally using this to her advantage.
Every movement was provocative. The combination of her unique fighting style and provocative costume created a highly stimulating image.
No matter how great a gamer, anyone would feel flustered in the face of such a display.

But Sigma’s team members, for some reason, didn’t waver.

“You know, I find it a bit funny, but you guys adapt to me too quickly.”
“Well, that’s because we’ve got someone even raunchier than you on the team.”
“?”
“The manufactured lewdness can’t beat the natural kind.”