The brain is said to use a significant portion of its capacity to process visual information transmitted through the eyes.
Vision is the most dominant of our five senses.
It has been proven over the years that what can be seen with the eyes has a great impact and effectiveness.
As the saying goes, seeing is believing.
And we have decided to refer to creatures that are weak in this sense as men.
It was, in a way, to be expected that the majority of these beings, who are less responsive to visual stimuli than women, would focus more on my cam screen than on the game in my room.
There was visual information on the cam screen that was different from usual.
[My heart is swelling… Is that really the nerdy Mollu?]
[It’s really magnificent.]
[Grand Canyon level;]
[So that’s why the moderator has a good personality.]
[Because they’re broad-minded.]
[Is this a human body?]
[The arms and wrists are really thin, but why is the chest so big? It doesn’t make sense, really.]
[I can’t see well, but the waist looks thin too.]
[Do you guys know this is sexual harassment?]
[But I can’t not type anything after seeing this spectacle.]
[Just type ‘LOL’ for real.]
[LOL.]
[Since sexual harassment is too cold, how about calling it a compliment instead?]
[How about we phrase it a little more delicately?]
[LOL, these guys are all getting banned.]
The dance of the knife wielded by Si-young, the manager and editor, begins.
The speed is so fast that the real-time chat scrolling can be seen.
However, there were still some messages that caught my eye.
Most of them were about my upper body revealed through the cam screen.
There was nothing I could do.
Even if I were to ban them in real-time, the number was just too high.
10,000.
That was the number of viewers watching my broadcast now.
Where did so many people come from?
It seemed that the tournament had attracted a considerable amount of attention.
“Everyone, how about focusing on the tournament instead of my chest? We’re just picking bans right now.”
[Is there a chest that speaks?]
[Even just showing below the neck can make a person look so beautiful…]
[It’s hard to hold back.]
Even with the five-minute delay restriction in place, there were such reactions.
The chat window was filled with a sense of madness that didn’t require real-time communication.
What could this heavy lump really have that was so appealing… I had my own history and couldn’t say anything.
My memories from the past, where my gaze would unconsciously drift even if I wasn’t trying to look.
As a former man, I couldn’t say I didn’t understand that feeling, so I decided to let it slide.
I thought that if I showed myself focusing on the game, things would improve.
If I could show a game scene more dazzling than my chest shown on cam, wouldn’t that suffice?
Despite the fierce call from Ji-yeon, I deliberately turned a blind eye.
Oh, Ji-yeon, I’m working here.
The sniper and bard were banned.
My main pick, the sniper, and our team’s Ryu-a, who skillfully handles the support character Bard.
In some ways, it could be seen as a fatal ban pick.
“As expected.”
Papijoa’s calm voice rang out.
I had anticipated that.
All movements are expected.
“Let’s go according to plan.”
The cards to be banned from our side were the swordsman and the mech.
While it wasn’t much compared to my swordsman, Su Ah’s swordsman was a threat to my teammates, as was the mech, Dead Song’s main pick.
I told Tex, the first pick in charge of the bans, not to be nervous, but it seemed to only make him more anxious.
As I opened my mouth, he appeared startled.
“Eh? Ahem, yes.”
He spluttered before clearing his throat.
I felt he must have seen my cam screen unveiled through the official broadcast.
Perhaps he was feeling a dissonance compared to the image he had imagined.
As long as it didn’t affect our gameplay, it was fine.
Tex quickly regained his composure.
It was worth the intense training I had given him.
I couldn’t tell if the other teammates were nervous or not, but at least none of them voiced their feelings.
They might have stiffened in front of thousands of viewers, but I was sure they wouldn’t.
After going through countless practice sessions that felt real, you can’t always discern what’s practice and what’s the real deal.
Since it’s happening online, there isn’t even a way to feel the on-site atmosphere.
After both sides finished banning and completed their picks, the loading screen appeared.
Before the game officially began, during a brief waiting period, Cheol-woo said heavily.
“Alright, let’s shout ‘fighting’ and start.”
“One.”
“Two.”
“Three!”
“Fighting!”
It felt good. Let’s go.
The dual blades of the dancer sparkled in the bright sunlight.
*
Historically, dual blades have been a weapon that boasts style and elegance, being an object of admiration and at the same time a symbol of defeat.
The term ‘double-edged sword’ fits this weapon perfectly.
After all, there have been characters who wielded dual blades after splitting a sturdy great sword in half and ended up dead.
Just because one weapon becomes two doesn’t necessarily mean it becomes stronger; such a simplistic assumption is misguided.
Handling two differently wielded swords in both hands requires considerable concentration.
Especially in a battlefield where all kinds of projectiles are flying around.
Clang—
The sound of clashing blades resonates sharply.
I had just managed to deflect the fireball of the enemy wizard with a blade that wasn’t too thin or thick.
The vibrations beginning from the sword blade reverberated through the hand that held the hilt.
In that fleeting moment.
Fragments of time splintered across a second.
Shards of shattered time.
The miracles that can only be executed by geniuses who can read those fragments exist within the Eo War system.
That miracle had just occurred.
The ‘Dancer’ lightly shook off the sword, erasing any residual feeling left in her hand.
“The fireball has been cast. There’s a delay until the enemy wizard can recast in front. Cheol-woo, you go in first with the charge, and Tex and I will follow. Ryu-a, please take care of Cheol-woo as long as possible, and Papijoa, keep an eye on the enemy DPS and mark them while meshing.”
“I’m going in before stepping back.”
The enemy was drawn aggro by the dancer who charged straight ahead.
Mollu, who displayed insane finesse by spinning in place to deflect the incoming fireball, quickly gave orders.
The teammates didn’t respond to the order.
There was no need for them to.
Like a well-trained army, they charged without a moment of hesitation.
The enemy line momentarily crumbled.
Then came the dancer’s brilliant blades.
In an instant, the enemy’s health was chipped away, and Tex rushed out to finish them off.
“That’s enough. Withdraw now. We shouldn’t get too deep. Papijoa, run a detection to see if there are any enemies behind us.”
“Yes.”
The teammates mechanically found their positions.
The care of our support characters was taking place, and the formation quickly reformed.
It was a meticulous operation that dealt significant damage before regaining composure.
In that it steadily nibbled away at the opponent and took the initiative, it was truly malicious.
Eventually, it was likely the opposing team would feel the pressure of time and points and charge in first.
Mollu’s strategy aptly named the Timing Rush.
A reckless and audacious tactic that only she, with perfect timing for entry and retreat, could execute.
Her voice was level and unchanging.
She never appeared flustered and seemed to give orders with an unwavering expectation.
With a slight restructuring time that resulted from following her orders, Tex glanced at the chat window before pulling himself together.
[Starting—now.]
[Mollu, check out that solid physique.]
[Did you see Tex’s eyes rolling during the interview?]
A five-minute delay lay between the Tex of now and the chat.
They were engaged in everyday conversations unrelated to the game.
Due to the large tournament, it seemed there had been an influx of new viewers, making it hard to manage the chat properly.
As Tex returned to the stream for review, he pondered.
Did those people have any inkling that just five minutes into the game, it would be falling to one side?
Especially the awkward team, Jackie’s team, being so overwhelmingly crushed.
Even if I told them this result in advance, every single person would call it nonsense.
Truth be told, Tex hadn’t expected the game to flow this easily.
He simply played as Mollu suggested, and it had turned out so.
He hadn’t taken on an utterly unworthy role.
It was just habitual play, solidified through repeated practice during this tournament.
He merely moved his fingers according to that routine, and before he knew it, victory was in hand.
The reason the game flowed so unilaterally was all because of her.
Tex moved his mouse and looked at the dancer beside him.
Mollu handled the agent with incredible manipulation difficulty so effortlessly.
‘There was something exceptional about her.’
But was this not too overwhelming?
“The opponents are coming back. We’ve secured a favorable terrain, so just stay sharp and don’t let it be taken from us.”
Just stay sharp and don’t lose it.
It was such an easy condition to win.
Tex let out a hollow laugh and tightened his grip on the mouse.
The scout in the screen raised his gun straight ahead.
The incoming enemies were repeatedly pushed back by our allies to regroup.
Watching that scene unfold according to Mollu’s orders, Tex thought.
If this continued, he would have nothing to say when fans claimed they were riding the bus later.
But it didn’t matter.
If he could taste such sweet victory.
With one minute remaining until the round ended.
Feeling somehow supported by the slender shoulders of the dancer in front of him,
Tex diligently manipulated his hands.
