To me, the TS condition was, overall, a kind of curse.
First of all, there was a drastic decline in my physical abilities.
I had transformed from a robust young man into a short woman, and thus, I had lost most of my physical capabilities, not just the strength in my left leg.
My stamina, which previously allowed me to run a full marathon, now even made it difficult to visit the neighborhood convenience store.
Needless to say, my muscle strength had plummeted as well. Due to my female body, muscle growth was nearly impossible.
No matter how much I lifted dumbbells, my arms remained soft and unchanging.
Ultimately, the pink dumbbells I had purchased with great determination ended up becoming a ghost, lost somewhere in my room.
I occasionally catch sight of them when I think I’ve forgotten about them.
If left alone for a while, they tend to vanish again.
The last time I saw them, they were somewhere beneath my bed.
However, it wasn’t all bad.
If my house catches fire, at least I won’t have to worry about the laundry tomorrow. Everything has its upsides.
– “What time will the stream end today?” I’m not exactly sure. I plan to stream until I fall asleep.
– “Spear Hunter… they certainly seem strong. I’ve been seeing them a lot lately.”
– “They’re tricky, but not impossible to deal with. If we slightly nerf their build, we might achieve a 50/50 win rate.”
For instance, my sense of taste had somewhat improved compared to the past.
Although I could no longer eat spicy ramen as I used to, I began to experience a more detailed perception of flavor.
There was the rich, mellow aroma of melting fat in braised meat.
The texture of the lean meat sliding across my tongue, or the sweetness that flowed from crushed rice grains.
The acidic tang of napa cabbage kimchi that overwhelmed my mouth just as the fattiness reached its peak—these were sensations I had previously overlooked.
That meant the braised meat I ate while watching Luche’s stream was particularly delicious.
She had given it to me the last time we met, and its flavorful impact hadn’t diminished at all.
And with instant rice to accompany it, my meal felt as substantial as any meal shared by Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.
[Infinity Arena Secondary Qualifiers – First Phase]
[Battlefield: Duel Corridor]
[vs Unknown Adventurer (Hunter)]
Luche’s Arena stream was going smoothly.
Her signature solid playstyle shone brightly in one-on-one matchups.
A Paladin is often at the forefront of the team, so they often act independently and can be expected to block the main damage dealers of the opposing team alone if necessary.
It’s not an exaggeration to say it’s the position that requires the most diverse combat experience in this game.
Of course, that makes individual combat skills indispensable.
– “A Hunter, huh. Is that the build uploaded by User Youlang?”
– “There’s no cover here in Duel Corridor…”
– “I’ll close the distance immediately. Let’s go!”
Just as I thought, gunfire pierced the open corridor.
The distinct sound that accompanies bullets breaking the sound barrier echoed.
The bullets slashed through the air and left dark marks on the shield.
[Corrosive Rounds have hit the shield.]
[Physical defense decreased by 20.]
[Additional damage of 40% inflicted to the Guard Gauge.]
Indeed, the opponent wasn’t someone to be reckoned with.
The creator of the initial build named it “Extreme-Dealing Shot Gunner.”
Later, those who tested the build affectionately referred to it as “Spear Hunter.”
This was a build that abandoned the Hunter class’s traditional area control and suppression abilities in favor of all-in combat, prioritizing firepower.
While overpowered builds occasionally appear, this one was particularly extreme.
A Tank with frontal guards can have his shield completely shredded. It’s a clear example of an Overpowered Build, breaking the base structure of the game.
This flaw becomes possible only during the pre-season immediately following a major patch.
In the current patch version, the Paladin has neither the initiative against Hunters nor the reliance on guards or shields.
The only option was this: while the Hunter was unleashing firepower, I could recover defense and guard with my unique buffs.
With well-timed use, it was possible to survive while retaining a bit of health.
The instant the Hunter closed the distance, they pulled the trigger.
[Front Guard Destroyed!]
[Divine Protection descends upon you.]
[All defenses increased by 15%, and your Guard Gauge is fully restored.]
[Front Guard Destroyed!]
“Wow, neatly avoided. It wouldn’t hurt to give Assassins a bit more Guard, too.”
Luche succeeded.
Though the shotgun rounds came like a storm, they failed to cut down the Paladin.
This exchange left the Hunter without any bullets. Their perfect shot turned out to be futile.
Her strengths remained intact, while the Hunter’s strengths were neutralized.
What followed was obvious.
There was no second option for a Spear Hunter who abandoned all other abilities.
To finish it.
A massive shield was raised like a fortress.
Luche advanced, smashing through the amateur traps, while the Hunter was unable to secure enough time for reloading.
With an empty shotgun, it was impossible to pierce the Paladin’s armor, even if resurrected.
The match was decided with a one-sided devastation.
[Victory! Earned 13 points.]
[Achieved 3 consecutive victories. The longer you maintain your winning streak, the more points you’ll earn.]
[Current Record: 21 wins 6 losses.]
“Ugh, this is it. These types who try to secure easy wins with one-shot builds need re-education.”
A satisfying result left me feeling refreshed.
Once again, justice had been served in Infinity Black.
There’s no excuse for those without proper fundamentals that simply hitch a ride on the meta.
These are the ones who frantically climb tiers when the game mechanics temporarily go haywire, only to be knocked down with the next patch.
How could we ever consider those whose tiers fluctuate drastically with each patch worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with others?
Indeed, these Hunter builds, which end games with just a single trigger pull, deserve nothing but disgust.
Because their abnormal firepower has distorted the game into just a timing fight.
Combat, a stage for fierce psychological battles and strategic calculations, has degenerated into a place where only lucky punches matter.
This is nothing short of an affront to dueling.
No, it’s more than that. It’s like throwing garbage at all users of Infinity Black.
I’ve already killed twice the streamer who spread such a vulgar build.
Shotguns have wide attack ranges, hence they’re hard to evade.
And because of my sensory homogeneity rate, it hurts like hell.
If I ever get hit on my left leg, I’m in serious danger.
Typically, sensory homogeneity affects performance up to about 10%.
In the case of professional gamers, they set it slightly higher to forego interface confirmation during intense gaming.
In my case, it’s set at a rather unnecessary 70%, so it can cause acute shock in extreme cases.
There’s a reason why the development-stage devices haven’t been commercialized.
So, my rookie days were pretty terrible.
The first time I died in the game, I came out of the connection device crying, vomiting, and throwing a fit.
Even though my body was intact, my throat felt irritated.
Bad things tend to happen all at once, and on that particular day, my Master came to help with moving.
Seeing me sputtering on the floor, my Master was surprised and we headed to the emergency room.
– “Test results indicate no particular abnormalities in the throat. It’s slightly swollen, but is there anything you suspect?”
– “Well, see… Um…”
– “According to the guardian, you mentioned your throat is painful. Is that correct?”
– “Yes, when I arrived, they were making quite a scene, even vomiting.”
– “I understand. I’d like to speak with the patient privately. Would that be alright?”
– “Alright. I’ll wait outside. Listen carefully and come out afterward.”
It wasn’t the best decision.
The test results showed no physical injury.
But combining the embarrassed patient’s testimony and the evidence of Master witnessing the vomiting and agony…
The doctor could draw only one conclusion—something not incredibly rare but not common either.
– “Miss Da-eun, it’s natural to have burgeoning interest in sexual matters.”
– “Huh?”
– “There’s no need to feel embarrassed. However, the oral tissues are important and unexpectedly fragile. It’s best to avoid foreign body insertion or overly aggressive actions.”
– “Uh, Ah…”
– “We recommend you find healthier outlets.”
So, “I’m in pain because I died in a game” was something I couldn’t bring myself to say—neither in front of Master nor the doctor.
But correcting the misunderstanding seemed even more distressing… so all I could do was bow my head.
Even now, I’ve adapted quite well. Humans are adaptive creatures! Most pain has become tolerable.
As long as I take care with my left leg, I won’t have significant issues going forward.
“Dishes… Maybe I’ll do them later. I’ve eaten all the braised meat anyway.”
While enjoying the stream, I had unknowingly finished eating.
Having filled my stomach, it was time to game again.
But I still wanted to watch Luche’s stream.
Still, I had dessert left.
It’s unfortunate to have finished the meal, but there’s a sweet and sour apple left. It’s always sad to finish a meal.
Once I enter the gaming device, it’ll be hard to leave, so it’s important to enjoy food fully beforehand.
And letting it spoil by saving it needlessly would be unfortunate as well.
If I can’t enjoy the precious fruit, the sorrow will require three Kimchi Ninjas’ heads worth of venting.
Besides, isn’t watching to understand a competitor’s skill beforehand?
I might face Luche anytime, so it’s better to take note of what type of play they’re employing lately.
Because back in the day, I watched all my opponent’s matches when I was on a roll.
So, it’s absolutely not about simply being lazy to move.
Luche thinks they can beat me, right?
Then I need to prepare seriously too.
With a somewhat excited heart, I placed my hand on the keyboard.
– “April26’s chat: I hope you reach the finals, Luche.”
If only I had more money to sponsor her.
If she wins a prize, I might consider sponsoring her once.
And so, I sat down to continue my evening, with a sense of purpose.
