I Have Reasons to Hate Streamers

[Author: Peropero]

[Title: Translation of Arena Group A Kelberos Victory Interview]

[Recommended: 776]

Please share your thoughts on the victory.
I think I achieved a smooth victory.
Who do you think will advance to face you in the winners’ match?
It’s a meaningless prediction. I’m confident in winning regardless of who advances.
You brought out your sub-class, magic swordsman. Was there a special reason?
I wanted to show that the magic swordsman is a viable strategy, though not as much as the dark knight. I hope my next opponent prepares for both classes.

…

You were provoked by Gawol during the group designation ceremony. Do you have anything to say?
New players often resort to eccentricities to gain recognition. It’s common for me. I think it’s a weight I have to bear.
However, popularity gained without skill doesn’t last long. She should be mindful of that too.

[Author: Peropero]

[Title: Arena Group D Traveler Victory Interview]

[Recommended: 345]

Please share your thoughts on the victory.
I’m glad to see the results of my preparation.
You showed overwhelming performance. How did you prepare?
I always approach tournaments the same way. Practice and analysis. This time, the practice match data proved effective.
Did you prepare with Sparrow from the same team?
No. Since Sparrow is on vacation, I practiced with Gawol. That guy never turns on the game during his vacation.
Was practicing with Gawol helpful?
Regrettably, yes.
Gawol will compete in the first match of Group E tomorrow. What’s your prediction for the match?
I understand many people are predicting Rime’s victory. I might be the first to officially raise Gawol’s hand. I think she has a good chance of winning.
That’s an unexpected choice. Is there a reason?
It’s a conclusion I reached after facing her directly. Isn’t Gawol the most underestimated player in this arena? Of course, this is separate from the controversies surrounding her.

…

Lastly, is there anything else you’d like to say?
The arena is an event-style tournament. Nevertheless, I want to let everyone know that I’m giving my best as if it were an official tournament. I’ll do my best to meet the expectations of the fans.

* * *

《 Thank you for waiting! It’s the second day of the Infinity Arena main tournament. This is Caster Ho-eun greeting you from the special stage. 》

Even if you hang the clock upside down, time still flows.

《 Once again, we’re joined by commentators Hae-hwa and Hwang-yul. We’ll proceed with the broadcast together. 》

《 Hello. 》

The arena main tournament started yesterday.

Today, matches for Groups E through H were scheduled.

Among them, my match was assigned to the very first slot.

As I waited in the player waiting room, the voices of broadcasters from various countries echoed loudly.

The Korean voices were particularly loud, but after adjusting some options, I could no longer hear the foreign broadcasts.

《 The first prepared match is from Group E. It’s between Gawol and Rime. 》

《 Let’s check the bracket one more time. 》

After my turn ends, the remaining two people will also have their matches.

Depending on the wins and losses, it will be determined who I’ll face next, and it’s an opportunity to secure the most recent data.

Especially for Reaper, I felt my analysis was still lacking, so I planned to check it out before leaving.

《 In fact, this is a long-standing counter matchup. High defense and wide range. Doesn’t the lance knight class have all the elements that an assassin would hate? 》

《 But the player herself said she was confident! Since Gawol was the one who brought in Rime, I’m looking forward to seeing how she’ll approach this. 》

《 It’s a situation where both have a lot to say. All eyes are on Gawol’s solution. 》

While the broadcasters were chattering away,

A staff member guided me to the path I needed to take.

As I followed along, the timing matched perfectly, and I stepped onto the stage.

《 The player is entering. Main class Assassin. It’s Gawol. 》

《 Next, Rime is entering. His main class is Lance Knight. 》

My opponent was a large man, familiar to me from watching so many of his matches.

His actual body probably isn’t that big, but lance knights tend to increase their body size.

It’s because they need to increase their weight due to the strong recoil of the gunlance.

Now that I was standing in front of him, it was a bit unpleasant.

The difference in physique was so great that I had to look up at him.

Traveler wasn’t this big.

It was the same when we shook hands as per procedure.

His palm was much larger than mine. It made me feel like a child, which was unpleasant.

I had one more reason why I absolutely had to win.

* * *

[Infinity Arena Main Tournament Group E – Match 1]

[Battlefield: Duel Corridor]

[vs LB Rime (Lance Knight)]

As soon as my vision cleared, intense heat scorched my lungs.

The source of the heat was the bubbling lava.

It was the strongest gimmick of this battlefield, and also a means to inflict powerful burn damage just by touching it.

There were many places to hide with dark red rocks placed here and there… but it probably wouldn’t matter much.

The lance knight’s bombardment is comparable to the instant firepower of most mages.

If I’m not careful, I could become a ghost along with the rocks.

Rather than attempting a clumsy ambush, it’s better not to allow long-range bombardment in the first place.

‘Found it.’

It’s a poor strategy to waste time looking for the best entry angle.

If I, with my high mobility, am not properly prepared, there’s no way the opponent’s preparation is perfect either.

I firmly grasped my daggers with both hands and leaped high into the sky.

A strike imbued with strength and magic power plunged down towards the enemy.

Crash-!

Breaking through the barrier that blocked me midway, I landed a clean hit on the right shoulder blade.

It was a good start.

“Ugh!”

[Additional damage is applied due to successful ambush.]

[Enhanced paralysis poison effect is applied to the enemy.]

System messages popping up in the corner of the screen.

Faster than that, the lance knight’s shield was thrust out, and I also raised my guard to absorb the impact.

Even though it was just hit by a shield.

My guard gauge plummeted to near the bottom in an instant.

It’s partly due to the assassin’s weak defense, but fundamentally, it was the problem of the ridiculous mass.

I duck deep to avoid the incoming spear tip.

Just as I was about to inflict a shallow wound on the ankle while sliding on the ground.

The lance knight stomped, causing a large tremor.

“Hm…”

The attack failed. My body was pushed back by the shockwave, and I couldn’t close the distance either.

But a faint sense of achievement stimulated my mind.

It worked. I knew this skill would come out first if he failed to shake me off.

In the rising dust

Among the scattered rocks flying from afar, there was one dagger mixed in.

As I stretched out one hand towards the dagger, the surrounding view changed and the dagger was grasped in my hand. defense is most vulnerable when they are attacking – or immediately after attacking.

The closest visible part was the nape protected by chain mail instead of plate armor.

It would be nice if I could stab the neck, but that area gets hidden by the helmet the moment they duck their head.

In the end, the shoulder to the nape was the best option.

The dagger that penetrated the chain felt good in my hand.

A sensation too hard and heavy to be human skin. There was one skill that came to mind.

I failed to inflict a fatal wound, but I eliminated one of their main survival skills.

It was a satisfactory exchange.

And my turn wasn’t over yet.

“You block well indeed. As expected of a pro gamer, huh?”

“Ugh!”

“But is it okay to keep looking here?”

Black chains plunged down from the sky.

Rime raised his shield to block, and the reduced guard gauge was converted into flames inside the gunlance.

The technique likely to come out in this situation naturally came to mind.

He fires a reduced-power shot without aiming.

Sacrificing accuracy to shake off the enemy and buy time.

The gunlance attached to the armor was aimed at me and immediately spewed out its fury.

At this angle and distance, even I can’t dodge the bombardment.

To be precise, I can’t dodge it ‘with my body’.

[‘Blessing of the Ash Moon’ effect is applied.

[For up to 10 seconds, you melt into shadows within 7.5m of the player…]

The lance knight’s bombardment is accompanied by powerful noise and explosive smoke.

It’s a level of risk where hearing and vision are essentially paralyzed for a moment.

During this time, Rime habitually protected himself.

Rather than immediately clearing the smoke, he first stabilized his stance.

He raised his shield to protect his body and took a step forward to create a firm stance.

Only then did he swing his spear to clear away the smoke.

Checking the surroundings starts with what’s right in front.

Then the right side, which is vulnerable due to holding the spear.

After checking the left side, which is safe due to the shield, he checks the sky, which takes time for anything to fall from.

“Predictable!”

Rime ignored the doppelganger on his right side.

It’s natural for an assassin to place a doppelganger at this timing.

If it’s a substantial doppelganger, he might have to endure some damage, but not at a critical level.

And the possibility is low.

Without hesitation, the extended spear spewed flames towards the sky.

This time, the shooting posture was stable, and he didn’t hold back on firepower.

That assassin won’t be able to dodge the bombardment in mid-air either.

[Forcibly canceling the Blessing of the Ash Moon effect.]

“Hello?”

“…!”

“Was this predictable too?”

There are a total of two skills that allow an assassin to create doppelgangers.

Usually, due to point distribution issues, only one for deception is adopted, but for this psychological warfare, I brought the other one as well.

I emerged from the shadow and grabbed the enemy’s shield with my hand, pressing it down.

I intended to end his life in one go – but that’s rejected.

As soon as he realized his mistake, the lance knight used fortification.

It’s the defense maximization buff that could be called the identity of knight-class characters.

In contrast, I had adopted a build that sacrificed some attack power due to the doppelganger.

It’s impossible to end the game right away.

Still, I have a strategy prepared for times like this.

The lance knight’s gunlance is a weapon with weak operating parts compared to its toughness.

Usually, this weakness isn’t exposed because the guard of the lance part protects it.

But in a situation like this, there’s nothing I can’t aim for.

The moment I thrust my dagger into the cylinder of the gunlance, I heard the sound of some mechanical device being horribly destroyed.

Once wasn’t enough, so I did it again.

Confirming the system message announcing the weapon break, I stepped back a few paces.