The winner interviews only begin once all the matches in Group E are over.
This is due to the preparation time for the next group’s matches being utilized for these interviews.
Since my own match is finished, I’m technically free to do as I please during this downtime.
I could relax, of course, but either Reaper or Fury has to get ready for their upcoming match with me.
If I have to watch the game eventually, it might as well be now.
That was my logic as I entered the observation room, though it seems I may have misjudged the situation.
The moment I stepped in, I felt rather unwelcoming stares.
I’m not completely oblivious; I could tell I wasn’t exactly liked in that moment.
Perhaps I should’ve waited out in the lobby instead.
No one was directly cursing at me, but this is a game world, after all. Voice settings can be adjusted to isolate conversations, so others wouldn’t necessarily hear everything.
The discomfort grew to the point where I was about to leave, when someone tapped my shoulder from behind.
“Why are you standing outside when you should be inside?”
“What? Why are you here?”
“Well, why wouldn’t I be? I’m here to watch the matches, same as you.”
Standing before me was a rather tall character—Traveler. Though not on the level of Rime, he was definitely well-built, a Lance Knight type.
D group’s matches concluded yesterday, so he didn’t have to be here today. He could’ve watched from anywhere outside.
“Did you have to come… here specifically?”
“I find the matches more interesting with people around. It’s simply better than watching alone.”
With that, the towering Traveler settled comfortably in a corner seat. He lightly tapped the seat beside him, indicating I should sit there as well.
After doing so, his large frame effectively blocked my view of other players.
Could this be… intentional consideration?
Something was nagging at me, so I decided to probe a bit.
“What’s going on? I wasn’t exactly waiting around with bated breath or anything.”
“Are you crazy? Stop assuming things. I have a girlfriend, you know.”
“Oh… good. That’s a relief.”
It was reassuring. With his casual wave of the hand, my tension eased a bit. I still found it hard to accept other people’s kindness without being suspicious.
“Our team isn’t really interested in Arenas. Luche is preparing for her match, so by process of elimination, you’re the only person left from our team.”
“Sounds like there’s quite some dissatisfaction within your team.”
“It’s dissatisfaction… but not to that extent. Tch. If you ever end up as a professional gamer, make sure to negotiate your contracts well. Don’t get too attached to people.”
“…”
It seems each of them has their own issues. Not wanting to pry further, I simply nodded my head in agreement. Traveler, apparently satisfied with that, shifted his attention back to the screen.
Reaper walking out of the observation room caught my eye. He passed me, and our eyes met for a brief moment. Surprisingly, he initiated with a polite nod of his head. Feeling a bit caught off guard, I reciprocated with a nod of my own.
“Huh. He doesn’t seem like the type I’d expect. Didn’t know Reapers could be this courteous.”
“No, he wasn’t particularly polite to our team. However, he seemed quite respectful to Luche for some reason.”
“Then why does he act so harshly toward me…?”
“Dunno. How would I know? He probably has some personal standard.”
Traveler responded with evident indifference. On the screen, highlights of Reaper’s past matches were being replayed. Among them, one clip showed Reaper facing off against Traveler’s team, Q Prime.
From my angle, his facial expressions weren’t visible, but his tone carried an oddly muted quality.
“Hey. Do you think you can beat Reaper?”
“Of course. If you go into a fight thinking you’re going to lose, then you’ll lose.”
“True. That’s the right answer, but why does it feel so hard to hear these days?”
“Hmph. This place is a mess.”
“A mess, yeah. Everywhere you go.”
—
《The second match of Group E is about to begin! Reaper from Acid Gaming versus Fury from J Vitals.》
《An Assassin against a Swordsman. Although Reaper is also well-known as a Fog Mage, doesn’t this already sound like a heart-stopping clash?》
《Indeed. Moreover, Fury is known for a speed-based build, while Reaper’s agility and unpredictability need no introduction. It seems like this match will pit the strengths of both competitors directly against each other.》
《Let’s see what both players have in store for us!》
[Infinity Arena Main Tournament – Group E Match 3]
[Battlefield: Ancient Weapon Hangar]
[Acid Gaming Ripper (Fog Mage) vs J Vitals Fury (Swordsman)]
The battlefield appeared straightforward enough. It was a field where I once used Dragon King’s Tear to great effect.
While the terrain itself doesn’t have any special gimmicks, it is populated with monsters capable of powerful AoE attacks. Though dodging their attacks isn’t impossible, in the heat of a chaotic battle, it’s easy to neglect them.
The battlefield is not bad for either combatant.
The Swordsman class inherits the stamina-based system of Warriors. It is a close-range damage dealer wielding only a single blade for both attack and defense.
Using the Ancient Weapon’s attacks to one’s advantage can grant strong parrying bonuses.
On the other hand, Reaper’s Fog Mage class is a hybrid that seems to mix elements of an Assassin and a Wizard in roughly equal parts.
By giving up much of the Assassin skill set, it focuses mainly on sight-based gameplay using fog and stealth.
In the fog-veiled state, avoiding the Ancient Weapon’s attacks becomes significantly more difficult.
“Come to think of it, why don’t you use the Swordsman class? You’re good at it.”
“I find the Assassin more convenient in the field. I don’t plan on switching unless absolutely necessary.”
“Ah, I see.”
Thanks to my experience with Kendo, I’m generally confident in wielding the Swordsman class.
No, more so, I believe I might be the best.
If it were possible, I would’ve made it my main class.
The reason I hesitate to use it frequently stems from psychological factors. Whenever I drew my large sword, a flood of negative emotions would follow.
The last time I used it was during a rough field battle, and it left anything but a pleasant memory.
A feeling of guilt, as though I had cheaply sold something sacred.
A sense of shame, like tarnishing the brilliance of my prime.
To me, wielding a sword… more accurately, using a weapon from my player days carries a meaning words cannot express.
《Fury deflects the first ambush perfectly!》
《Great start! Even though Reaper is technically not a standard Assassin, getting the first-move advantage isn’t easy.》
《But we need to keep watching. Reaper has never been one to stop after a single failure. And Fury isn’t letting her guard down either.》
《As we speak, Reaper’s second attack!》
An oppressive fog had enveloped the field, limiting visibility to an extreme degree. Amidst the dense haze, five blades appeared just inches away.
But the Swordsman didn’t yield easily. With a swift reaction, Fury parried, repulsed Reaper’s claws, and quickly countered.
Though Fury executed a clean downward strike, it didn’t yield results.
The sword only tore through droplets of the white fog as Reaper’s body dissipated and reformed. Reaper’s claws swiftly struck Fury’s toes, retreated, and adjusted their target.
With precise timing, Reaper abandoned the attack mid-motion.
《That psychological play by Reaper was brilliant!》
《A bold abandonment of a well-angled attack. Given the potential lethality, Fury naturally responded with a defense.》
《And that reaction speed became the downfall. Just as the replay shows, when Reaper canceled the attack, the parry became ineffective. With the defensive window still active, Reaper charged his skill and targeted Fury’s vulnerable cooldown period. The moment Fury used the parry became the exact instant they became defenseless. It was a perfectly executed hunt.》
Reaper lures the opponent into defending, then strikes where they feel safest.
His attacks often feel one beat slower than anticipated.
His consistent focus on out-of-sight targets creates unease.
Failure to respond quickly seems to force you to expose vital areas.
But in reality, that hastiness often leads to losing one’s rhythm.
Slow attacks waste defensive resources, and Reaper calmly accumulates the damage before slipping away.
From an external perspective, it looks like a messy, grueling battle.
《There’s significant bleeding. As expected, Reaper activates Blood Mist.》
《Stay calm. Blood Mist is more about sensory deprivation than direct damage.》
《Ah… has Fury lost their composure? Their attacks are too hurried!》
Fury can’t block a single sluggish attack.
It looks as if Fury is flailing helplessly and self-destructing.
Reaper toys with Fury, mercilessly shredding them with sharp claws.
Physically and mentally, Fury is utterly destroyed.
Fury’s two matches were ultimately judged as humiliating defeats.
