I Have a Reason to Hate Streamers

Bunny’s appearance aside, her skills were not to be overlooked.
Although her provocative and energetic appearance might conceal it, she was a former professional fighter who had competed at high levels.
She was known as a highly skilled rookie.

Had she not been forced into retirement due to injury, she would still be competing as a professional today.
Though she didn’t fully blossom, someone with professional experience is undeniably different from those who lack it.
There’s a saying, after all, that the way one moves is different.

From small details like breathing and eye contact to larger movements like guard shifts and spacing adjustments—
nothing in her stance was incomplete.
The fine details, gathered together, created an insurmountable gap between them.

‘The most troublesome distance... I can tell they’re not going to give in easily.’

No matter what distance was required, Bunny always found the most challenging one.
If she held her spear longer, she would dive in for a punch. If she held it shorter, she would strike with an out-fighting style.
It wasn’t as inhuman as Ga-wol’s level of maintaining distance, but there was no doubt that she was a formidable foe.

If this were a fair duel in reality,
Camelia wouldn’t have lasted more than a few exchanges with Bunny.

However, as repeatedly emphasized, this is a game.
The ace of W Titans isn’t Bunny, but Hero, who swings a massive greatsword.

While a professional background is certainly a strong asset, it cannot be the deciding factor.
It’s just like how not every person from a conflict zone becomes a Cerberus.
Ga-wol’s abilities, too, were born from the tragic and desperate circumstances of having nothing but the game to focus on.

• Is this your first time experiencing this?

Camelia remembered.
The second preliminary match in the arena, where she first lost to Ga-wol.
The reason for her loss was that "she carelessly raised the spear the opponent stepped on."

The ultimate cause was lack of skill and experience, but if you looked at that match specifically, that’s what happened.
Ga-wol, riding on the weapon, had delivered a fatal blow.

In-Blur is a ‘realistic’ game.
In other words, it can never be reality.
Its mechanics are different from traditional combat sports.

A spear aimed at her ankle pierced the ground.
It was an opportunity. If it were Hero, she might not have been able to pull the spear out, but with a warrior’s strength, it would be hard to remove.
Bunny’s foot pressed down heavily on the spear.

But this was something Camelia had already experienced.

[‘Surrounded’ effect activated.]
[This can be used when there are no allies within a 100m radius and no beneficial effects received from allies.]
[All action speeds increase by 12%, and weapon cutting power increases to the system’s maximum value. If allies join within the duration, this effect is immediately解除.]

A faint green hue surrounded the white aura.
The spear, which had been gripped, was slightly rotated as Camelia pulled it back.
The spear, once lodged in the ground, slid out like it was cutting through water.

The recovered spear now aimed to slice between Bunny’s legs.
Bunny tried to use a survival skill to escape, but it wasn’t enough to avoid completely.
Camelia’s spear found its mark, leaving a serious injury from her shoulder down to her waist.

Moreover... Camelia wasn’t alone.
The reason for the fighter’s presence here was to deal with Outlaw.
The sniper, having finished rearming, was now seeking revenge.

• Rearmed. I’ll provide support.
• I’ll start from the left, so please be aware.

This combination was troublesome for Bunny, who lacked a shield.
Not only was the sniper a threat, but the spear, being a long-range melee weapon, would be difficult to counter.
Bunny couldn’t afford to give any distance, yet she used her survival skill to retreat.

There was no going back now.
The spear, with the intent to draw blood, would not stop.
What Camelia had been lacking wasn’t combat strength, but experience.

Sigma’s tactic this time was the basic and most reliable combination.
Though it might have been considered overly conventional, it ensured a solid performance in any situation.
No matter how the five players were divided, there was always a usable combination.

The Operator class, being a simple communication link in terms of system mechanics, didn’t count as a ‘beneficial effect.’
The sniper’s range easily surpassed the area covered by Surrounded.
This meant they could work together seamlessly, without any hindrance.

“Those two are troublesome. I like to focus on just one at a time.”
“That doesn’t excite me much. We’ve got someone on our team who moans even when eating something spicy.”

A few minutes later, the first kill log of the third set in the semifinals appeared.

[‘Sigma Camelia’ has defeated ‘W Titans Bunny’.]

Camelia’s body started to creak.
That gray greatsword would surely appear in her dreams tonight.
Not just tonight, but it might leave a trauma for many days to come.

It wasn’t just a sword that relied on strength.

Even when blocking the sword strikes, the shock didn’t fade and seeped through.
It was because Hero subtly adjusted the angle just before the collision, changing the point of impact.
Unable to block where she needed to, Camelia couldn’t fully defend herself.

She had crossed the line of death many times.
The number of times she almost died was countless.
What kept her going was...

‘I’m glad I don’t have to worry about the sniper.’

Thanks to the silence of the enemy sniper.
Except for a few shots early in the match to suppress her, there had been no gunfire since.

In this game, Ga-wol, the swordsman who could defeat Hero, wasn’t here.
However, the Ga-wol who had continuously been the best assassin, from the IKL to the World Championship, was here.
Just seeing his absence made it clear that pulling the trigger wasn’t an option for the enemy.

He was probably hiding somewhere, acting as the commander now.
With communication and vision alone, the sniper class could still be effective.
W Titans’ strategic capabilities were entirely dependent on their sniper, Recoil.

[Passive: Resistance]
[The rate of health recovery increases in proportion to the lost health.]
[Target: Sigma Luche]

It’s serious now. The sword was starting to feel heavier.
The injury was worsening, and Luche could feel her character’s stats weakening.
Her concentration was being drained.

This was no sword that could be casually blocked.
Using a sword this difficult while also lacking in grappling techniques and psychological warfare showed how much others had fallen.

Yeah. She knew.
If Hero had only been a knight relying on pure strength, he would never have been called the world’s best.
She knew that it was a mountain still hard to overcome.

She thought she might have seen a kill log earlier, but...
She didn’t know. She had to focus all her attention on Hero’s relentless swordplay.

Luche shifted her head aside.
Here it comes again. With the large movements, it seemed like Hero wanted to finish things.
It meant she had clearly grasped Luche’s limits.@@novelbin@@

Luche raised her shield and braced her hand against the pommel.
In the ensuing clash, Luche was pushed back.

‘I asked to be trusted... Just a little longer, I can hold on. Just one more time, let’s give it a try.’

Just as she steeled her resolve,
A black silhouette appeared from behind.

Hero’s supporters hadn’t moved.
The zealot had to assume a praying posture to provide powerful buffs, and the battle priest was there for protection.
At this timing, the one appearing from behind the enemy would only be one person.

The enemy’s battle priest shouted.

“Assassin behind! It’s Ga-wol!”

No. Luche’s body surged forward.
More precisely, that’s what she intended.
Just as she rushed forward, Luche steadied herself, keeping her posture intact.

The W Titans’ sniper was still alive.
If both snipers supported each other, the assassin Ga-wol would find it difficult to approach.
Ga-wol would know that, at the very least, the enemy sniper had to be dealt with first.

He couldn’t possibly not know that.
If the paladin and the priestess both fell, it would be the end.

Hero grinned and stomped her foot.
Debris from the shattered ground blocked Luche’s path.
Hero’s greatsword was ready to counter the ‘Silent Executioner.’

“Seems like you’re in a hurry, huh?”

Hero, who had faced many battles with Phantom, knew that skill better than any assassin.
She was confident she could block it... Wait a minute.

Is that the real one?

Due to the shadows of the other trees, the clone’s silhouette couldn’t be seen.
The moment Hero gripped her greatsword tightly, a red line cut through the air where Ga-wol’s true body had been.
The bullet pierced the assassin’s body.

But no blood splattered.
The Ga-wol here was just a clone.
What the real one had been after was now obvious.

Just one minute.
It only took one minute for the new kill log to appear.

[‘Sigma Ga-wol’ has defeated ‘W Titans Recoil’.]

Luche’s expression softened a bit.
Ah, I held on. I was trusted until the end.

The broken paladin gripped her sword again.
The sword she now held was even more solid and powerful than before.
She always did this.

If today doesn’t work, then tomorrow.
If not tomorrow, then the day after.
Even if it’s slow, let’s keep moving forward.