Chapter 43

The Tower Capture match was won by the Sol team.

Since Victory and Sol went head-to-head using every Ultimate Skill and spell they had, the skill of the other teammates became even more crucial.

And the team with slightly better synergy among teammates turned out to be Sol’s team.

Given that the teams were matched randomly, Victory might feel a bit hard done by in this situation.

[What the heck!!!]

[Isn’t this rigged?!]

[Even so, isn’t Teama here just another proof of ‘luck-based gaming’?]

[Victory’s team seems to be doing quite well too.]

[Not ‘quite’—they’re absolutely smashing it! Haha, if they were in your tier, they’d be doing 30 kills per game!]

[Let’s be real, this is a game with nine Challenger players and one Sol player. Lol]

[Where’s your tier? Where’s your Legend?]

[How’s our champion doing though, huh? Sob sob sob sob sob]

A little while later,

the second event to induce combat in the Arena map of Heroes commenced.

The Arena Capture match, which activates starting at the 15-minute mark.

By standing on the Arena Point in the center of the map, one can continuously earn gold and Experience Points, and at the 20-minute mark, the team holding the point earns 1000 gold per person and a 100% Experience Points bonus.

As the event typically reveals the contours of victory or defeat for mid-to-late game characters, it usually plays a big role in shaping the match.

The central Arena, the map’s symbol, became the stage where the teams of Sol and Victory started engaging in a fierce battle.

The crowd roared with excitement.

[Wow, this is truly a match for the ages.]

[Continuous team fights at the center are finally making it worth watching. Haha]

[The people who stuck through the nausea-inducing stages to witness this legendary scene are champs!]

[You can cover the screen and just read the chat if you’re such a fool.]

[Even just watching makes me feel the adrenaline rush.]

[This is a fight between the ultimate warriors of the universe. Dang dang dang dang.]

[If you’re Silver Rank and don’t understand what’s happening…well, that’s on you. Haha]

[Ahem! Are you unaware that the average rank here in the chat is Master?]

[Even as a so-called ‘Master’, I’m struggling to keep up… Clearly, something significant is happening…]

[Victory and Sol are absolutely on point, no doubt about it?]

To those who know how to watch, this was truly an awe-inspiring battle that could make one’s heart race just from looking at it.

And there was one person who was getting heated up for a different reason as they watched.

‘I wish I could be in there too.’

Wild, who had lost the game against Victory in their bid for the right to face Sol, was reflecting on the loss.

Victory is not undefeated in ranked matches.

Wild, despite having beaten him several times in the past, found this particular defeat particularly heart-wrenching.

To have to defer such an important event—it’s no small matter.

It was a crucial event with Sol as the opponent.

The truth is, Wild doesn’t particularly dislike Sol.

The claim of handing the rights to someone’s first loss is just a joke anyway.

But still, Wild genuinely wanted to clash with the rising new star before anyone else.

And that opportunity had been snatched away by Victory.

Even though Wild was the one to join the session first!

‘I remember having this same feeling during last year’s Worlds.’

The memory of watching the finals on TV after getting eliminated at the semi-finals.

The bitter sadness of being left out after a defeat.

To be certain, this game couldn’t compare to Worlds.

But this scenario felt too familiar, almost bringing a tear to his eye.

[Watching the Arena capture event made me suddenly realize how ridiculous the achievement of Tin Can Repairman eating Arena Bread and going berserk was.]

You damn trolls.

To hurt someone right where it stings the most!

And why is there anything wrong with a gamer going all out?!

‘…It seems like Legend has the upper hand.’

The scales started tipping.

The skills of Sol and Victory are on the same level—twin peaks, a battle of dragons and tigers, evenly matched to the extreme, an indistinguishable clash.

Yet, the teammates don’t quite match up.

Five random members on each team.

Naturally, they couldn’t all be equally skilled.

Even viewed through the sharp eyes of a pro like Wild, the scales of this match were tilting toward Sol.

Indeed, at the 20-minute mark, the team that captured the Arena bonus was Sol’s team.

Using this advantage, they began building an item gap while pulling away further in terms of level.

It looks like it might be the end of the game this way.

[Is it really true that Sol is going to win?]

[Can a 100-hour underdog Rookie defeat Teama, the embodiment of Victory?]

[Yeah, it’s all about team luck and a random winning game, isn’t it?]

[Team luck or whatever, but if a normal person were in that position, they’d end up with 0 kills and 40 deaths.]

[Ultimately, when skills are similar, it comes down to team luck, right?]

[Sol! You’re a book of moral lessons!]

[Team luck or not, you’re equal to or even better than Victory.]

[The host’s team is somehow doing better.]

[Seol’s eye level truly lives up to their legendary name?]

Yes, yes.

Unbelievable as it might be, Sol’s team has a slight advantage.

However, the game went on too long.

“A massive calamity has awakened.”

[Wow! Calamity awakening!]

[How intense does it have to be for the game to reach this point?]

[If it ends with the killing blow to the boss, it will be legendary!]

Now 25 minutes in.

The third and final event to drive combat in the Arena map of Heroes had begun.

In the corners of the Arena map of Heroes, there are four Towers, and in each of the cardinal directions and the center, there are five large hunting grounds.

When the Calamity Awakening event starts, the awakened monster appears in one of the five hunting areas.

If someone deals the final blow to this awakened boss, their team wins.

Moreover, a circular zone appears, gradually shrinking toward the awakened boss. Players outside the circle will take continuous damage and the game will forcibly end by around the 30-minute mark.

It might feel unfair,

but remember, the game is designed to end before 25 minutes.

The current score is 42 to 35.

Team Sol has 42 points and Team Victory has 35.

Even though the score is close, the Sol team that captured all Towers and the Arena has higher levels and better items.

“Should Victory’s team aim for the Boss kill?”

The Sol team just needs 8 kills, while the Victory team needs 15 more.

It might seem close at 42 to 35, but looking carefully, the Victory team is in a situation where they need more than double the kills.

It might actually have a higher probability with a boss kill.

Summarized briefly:

After 25 minutes, it’s essentially all chaos.

The awakened boss for this round is a Dragon located in the northern dragon’s nest.

The decisive moment is near.

Thumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthump.

Thumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthump.

This is it.

This is what I’ve been looking for.

A game like this, fierce, intense.

The all-out clash, the receiving, the constant testing of each other’s limits.

My heart is racing like it will burst.

I can’t remember how many years it’s been since I’ve concentrated like this.

A battle that can immerse you so completely, where all other thoughts fade away.

The swordsman deflects the Dragon’s breath, wiping out his own ally.

What kind of trick are you pulling, Victory?

Originally a chaotic 5v5 team fight but add the Dragon and it’s far crazier.

But that’s the fun in it.

I remember describing it this way before, right?

This game, it feels like pulling a cart after racing F1—how irritating it is.

That analogy was wrong.

Rather like switching from a gunfight to close combat with punches, sure, the damage each person can deal has significantly decreased, but that doesn’t mean it’s an inferior replacement.

There’s definitely more flavor in martial arts.

Because this is a game meant for enjoyment rather than war.

There’s meaning in martial arts.

It offers a different kind of excitement.

Still, it’s a bit frustrating that I can’t dominate on my own!

Thumpthump.

Still, at least I’ll take down Victory.

Mutual destruction, they say.

I poured everything I had into taking down Victory alongside myself.

Which leaves the remaining team?

Ours is stronger.

—”Victory!”

Had the game gone on a bit longer, who knows?

The Dragon’s remaining health was already below 15%.

The losing team in this round would be eliminated immediately.

But before that, we managed to hit 50 kills.

Thumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthump.

(All) Sol – [It’s the revenge of Mepa!]

[BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG.]

Before I knew it, my heart was pounding wildly, feeling like it might explode.

[Mama, I want to be a Sol when I grow up! Mama, I want to be a Sol when I grow up! Mama, I want to be a Sol when I grow up! Mama, I want to be a Sol when I grow up! Mama, I want to be a Sol when I grow up!]

[Team, this is it! Team, this is it! Team, this is it! Team, this is it! Team, this is it! Team, this is it! Team, this is it! Team, this is it! Team, this is it!]

[Still talking about Mepa? Mepa! Mepa! Mepa! Mepa! Mepa!]

[That shows how genuine you are.]

[Wow, the Rookie really beat Victory!]

[You’re making it too serious; it’s not a tournament! Just laugh!]

[But let’s catch that very angry Big Dog!]

[Still, it was a beautiful match, right? Let’s have a drink!]

[Sol! Sol! Sol! Sol! Sol! Sol! Sol! Sol! Sol!]

[Is she divine?! Is she divine?! Is she divine?! Is she divine?! Is she divine?! Is she divine?! Is she divine?! Is she divine?!]

[These are my eyes!]

[How do you not have a younger sibling like you?]

[Haha, even in this situation, still searching for Mepa]

[Shitshitshit! Ascend! Shitshitshit! Ascend! Shitshitshit! Ascend! Shitshitshit! Ascend! Shitshitshit! Ascend!]

[Victory!]

[Wow]

[Revenge of Mepa! Revenge of Mepa! Revenge of Mepa! Revenge of Mepa! Revenge of Mepa! Revenge of Mepa! Revenge of Mepa! Revenge of Mepa! Revenge of Mepa!]

[Hahahahahahaha]

[Legend Legend Legend Legend]

[The Legend Begins]

The frenzied chat.

The pounding heart.

The dizziness that sets in after the tension lifts.

Why is my vision going odd?

What?

My head is spinning too much.

Huh?

[BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG.]

I feel like I’m really going to shit.

Huhuh?

“Huuh? Eeeh… Huhuuh… Haaaak…”

My heart hurts.

[Could this person be replaying the game while moaning?]

[If you’re in pain, don’t make it worse by playing the replay!]

[Are you in pain?]

[Looks at least bad enough for a chiropractor.]

[Chat, you all are crazy fools! Haha]

[Is your eye sore?]

[Chex Chex Chex Chex Chex Chex Chex Chex]

[Suddenly, why are we in ASMR land?]

[Why is it so scary suddenly?]

[A high-end mic is clearly superior]

[Shitshitshitshitshit]

[Gasp… Gasp…! Gasp… Huhuhuuuuugh!!!!]

[Can you make fun when someone is in obvious pain? You lunatics]

[Why is female groaning so suggestive always?]

[That’s because…]

[No, this is serious trouble, right? Call 119]

[Tell us something! You’re making me anxious; ]

“No, hiccups, call… 119….”

My head is spinning violently, and it feels like my blood vessels are overexpanded.

The blood is coursing through my body too quickly.

I think I’m about to pass out, so I need to call 119 before that.

I pressed my phone to make a call and said weakly, “Hello, 119?”

Then I used all my strength to turn off the mic,

And called 119 to the house.

… …

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