The lingering phantom pain made my whole body throb.
Especially my heart, which had been attacked last, was pounding faster than usual.
If it had been in the past, it might have been dangerous.
How long has it been since I died in the game?
It’s been a while since I last tasted defeat. It made me reminisce about old days, and I felt somewhat frustrated.
…No, I was extremely frustrated.
If there had been something nearby to throw, I would have wanted to break anything around me. There was something boiling inside my chest, but I had no way to release it.
Had I been aware, I might have found a way to deal with it.
I knew I shouldn’t get impatient, but I guess I’m still human. Maybe my vision narrowed because I was too eager to make my move.
“What should I do? I really want to win this championship.”
There was still one unresolved question lingering in my mind.
Will winning this tournament be enough to satisfy me?
Back in my athlete days, I ultimately never managed to prove myself to the world.
For whatever reason, I couldn’t participate in the World Championships, and with that incident, the clock in my heart also broke.
I feel like I’m still stuck in the same time, like a land-bound spirit.
“Please, help me.”
“I also want to live.”
Saying it like that won’t change anything though.
I know I need to quench this thirst.
But the gap between the stopped time and reality has grown too wide.
If I win this tournament, will that gap narrow at least a little?
Will the frozen time start to flow again, and will I eventually catch up with the world?
Will I be able to let go of my regrets, instead of just living with them?
No answers came.
Even so, I absolutely hate losing.
Even though I’ve already hit rock bottom, I still have my pride.
I couldn’t just erase the screen in front of my eyes.
[Class Selection]
– Assassin
– Swordsman
My choice…
*
[Infinity Arena Final – Match 3]
[Battlefield: Ancient Weapon Storage]
[AT Kelberos (Dark Knight) vs Gawol (Assassin)]
“All preparations are complete!”
“The two players have exchanged victories once each. Kelberous won the second match, bringing the set score to 1:1.”
“So the undefeated myth of Gawol has finally been stopped. The world-class wall is indeed high, and it seems the true capabilities of the European dark horse have been revealed.”
“But the game itself wasn’t bad, right? As mentioned in the analysis booth, Gawol pushed Kelberous to the brink of death. Expect great things from the next match.”
Infinity Arena official caster, Ho-eun, steadily narrated.
On the monitor for broadcast, the build information of both players was revealed.
There wasn’t much time left before the broadcast would be public.
Analyzing that information was the job of the two commentators. Meanwhile, Ho-eun observed Gawol’s expressions.
It’s a common occurrence.
Seeing a player, who was touted as a next-generation star, crumble after just a few losses.
Most significantly, the first defeat is often the hardest shock.
‘Is she losing her cool?’
With the exception of the prelims that aired on unofficial streamers, Ho-eun had covered every single match of Gawol’s so far.
Before a match starts, a player’s behavior can reveal a lot.
Their attitude towards the match, their condition of the day, and even their walk or self-confidence.
Thus, Ho-eun had come to know Gawol far better than anyone else.
Gawol is a player with an immense obsession with victory.
To the point that you would wonder why she hadn’t tried professional gaming before.
Her intense competitiveness and the need to prove herself are comparable to top-class players.
The commentator next to her would probably evaluate her similarly again today.
“In the first game, Gawol has once again pulled out the Body Arts Assassin! This basically sums up as ‘I’m good at fighting.’ She’s suggesting they fight again.”
“Indeed, this player is full of self-confidence. Even facing Kelberous, this attempt shows a strong heart…”
The Body Arts Assassin build depends heavily on physical abilities.
It’s hard to create tactical variables, but if one has confidence in pure skill, it’s a build one might consider choosing.
Thus, at first glance, Gawol appears to be a player with a strong heart and a lot of ego.
However, Ho-eun thought differently.
Her focus isn’t on herself but on victory.
Physical abilities acknowledged even by active players, psychological tactics described as ‘fox-like’ by Kelberos.
All of it is built upon the goal of winning.
So, again, it’s a common occurrence.
For a highly anticipated player to collapse after just one defeat.
“Kelberous is solid!”
“When the best player handles the Dark Knight, such feats are possible. Try breaking through if you can!”
“It’s tough. Gawol is trying her best, but there’s no opportunity.”
Before the game starts, really confident and relaxed players tend to show it in their expressions.
Someone who enjoys the game might even have a subtle smile.
But Gawol has never smiled even once in the waiting room.
After securing victory, she might show the rebellious side people expect from her, but that’s another matter.
When she’s alone, Gawol remains always a cold and calculating competitor.
Her expression darkened significantly after the last match.
This means her psychological balance has been disrupted.
“It seems like Kelberos has won here.”
“To be honest, it was tough, but…”
“Even one victory is well-done…”
The game is tilting.
As the structure collapses, people are gradually realizing this fact.
Gawol’s signature physical prowess remains.
Fleeting glimpses of her brilliance, fake-outs so devious they could be considered malicious.
She shows a level of skill that you wouldn’t believe could come from an unknown player.
If news came out that Gawol was a promising player secretly trained by some pro team, Ho-eun would nod, thinking “I knew it.”
Even if she were scouted by a prestigious team after this tournament, the same would be true.
Still, Gawol wasn’t able to get through to Kelberos.
“The recent exchange was quite sharp. Gawol took advantage of the exact moment the Magic Shield’s cooldown ended.”
“Yes. It was a fleeting moment, and she managed to slip in perfectly, starting the battle. But Kelberos’ response was impeccable.”
“Gawol must feel very frustrated. She’s shown nothing but her best, but she keeps running into walls. The Body Arts Assassin made a strong debut in the first game but was perfectly countered.”
In this game, Kelberos employed a build that’s more focused on defense.
Ho-eun was also a former professional player.
Even though she’s now more active as a caster than a commentator, she could clearly understand the intent behind that build.
Countering Gawol’s speed or finesse outright is impossible.
But Kelberos can still force her to make decisions while focusing on defense.
If you can break through, then try it. I’ll take the hit too.
This prolonged battle suited the Dark Knight’s inherent strengths.
Combined with Kelberos’ exceptional skill, it became an impregnable fortress.
“Ah… the debuffs have piled up a lot.”
“Actually, the Dark Knight’s skills received their last high-level buffs quite a while ago. Just being able to hold such an intense exchange like this until now is impressive.”
“It’s also reminding us of his battle with Luche. This time, he has lasted longer, but we can now gradually see his limits.”
As the collapsing game drew near its end, Kelberos made his decisive move.
A heavy yet serious first move.
Acute counterattacks amidst adversity.
Despite relentless resistance, the victor was clear.
Kelberos’ blade pierced Gawol’s neck.
Even as blood spilled out, Gawol’s dagger heading toward the heart—failed and drooped in defeat.
[The game has ended.]
– AT Kelberos: 2
– Gawol: 1
It would be a lie to say it wasn’t disappointing.
But Ho-eun was a caster who’d been covering games for a long time.
Sentiments have no place in broadcasting.
“Kelberos delivers the final blow, thus ending the game!”
“It seems like it’s time to make some changes. Gawol, you still have a lot to show…”
The two players returned to the waiting room.
Gawol’s expression was darker than before.
Is it over? No, it can’t be.
Suddenly, Ho-eun’s interest was rekindled.
That look. And that expression.
It wasn’t the face of someone who had fully accepted defeat.
It was the face of someone who wanted nothing more than to win, no matter the cost.
The monitor displaying the Assassin’s build information briefly flickered.
All the information disappeared, replaced by new data.
Ho-eun, the two commentators, all showed a look of surprise.
As the player finally had to make their decision, Ho-eun shouted out loud.
Just as usual, the text appeared cold and emotionless on the arena screen.
[Infinity Arena Final – Match 4]
[Battlefield: Duel Corridor]
[AT Kelberos (Dark Knight) vs Gawol (Swordsman)]
