Kendo is undeniably a martial art.
Though it has been sportified today, its origins fundamentally lie in martial arts developed to kill one’s opponent.
So, it was natural that a certain amount of injury might accompany such training.
Indeed, before the invention of bamboo swords, fatalities during training were not uncommon.
Even without a blade, wooden swords could function much like a bludgeon.
Of course, even with bamboo swords, minor injuries weren’t completely absent.
Thus, getting somewhat hurt or experiencing pain became familiar.
On the contrary, the most agonizing situation was when there was no pain at all, but one’s self steadily decayed.
What was needed was the assurance that I was moving forward.
With this assurance, I could endure the rest somehow.
[You have died due to the actions of …….]
[The cause of death was ‘Training Mode’, so no death penalty applies.]
[You will respawn in the ‘Player Lounge’.]
Death kept coming continuously.
My heart pierced, my neck slashed, my insides mashed.
I gasped for breath, clutching my chest numerous times.
But alongside the pain, a certain kind of thrill found me too.
Weapons that narrowly missed me due to precise calculations, retreating at the exact moment when an opponent made their decision.
I began to catch on.
Understanding the intent in an opponent’s gaze as we exchanged blows.
I liked it. It has gotten better from before.
Let’s go again.
[You have died due to the actions of …….]
Walking forward with each death.
To be honest, there was no need to go this far.
Sigma wanted battle data, more accurately, data on ‘varied variable scenarios.’
High synchronization rates come with risks, a fact Sigma acknowledges.
Thus, even they didn’t push for the absurd demand of having me repeatedly endure death-like extreme situations.
For instance, if I had to stab my own left leg with a dagger, I’d hesitate a lot.
Luche also decided to focus on reducing synchronization rates via the unique brainwave method.
Though I don’t know much about it, apparently, the connection device my parents built proved to be pretty helpful.
There was no need to overdo things.
‘Still, more can only make it better, right?’
Da-eun endured numerous battles and deaths without going into shock.
Even if shock were to occur, Sigma can deal with it promptly.
With this in mind, if I protest properly, it might open up a path for me toward a solution.
The more steadfastly I endure, the sooner I can return to paradise, even by a little.
After all, it’s not the first time I’ve died a few times in a game.
Compared to this, the time spent in that dark and damp room was infinitely more painful.
Let alone, this is the dream I’ve longed for.
How much I’ve anticipated stepping into the professional scene.
I’ve always wanted to prove my skills, to affirm who I am as a person.
Now that the moment has finally come, I can’t run away because it’s painful.
If I were going to run, I wouldn’t have clung to this messy existence till now.
[Victory achieved.]
[Prepare. Your next match will begin without any waiting period.]
Pain shot through my hand gripping the dagger.
No, rather, vitality flowed through it.
Camellia. To Shin Eun-chae, Gawol was the person who best embodied the term “venomous.”
She understood that Gawol could not be categorized into the realm of an average person.
Gawol was someone who was almost psychotically obsessed with victory, and this was true in reality.
Though maybe no one expected things to go this far.
After a few hours since the start of what was a spirited practice session, the room brimming with hostility and determination began to settle into a somber silence.
A man in the room finally mustered the courage amid the heavy atmosphere.
His voice carried the weight of defeat.
“Can we please stop for today? Let’s call it a day.”
“Already?”
“Not already, we’ve been doing this for hours.”
“Hmm, sure. If you’re tired, it can’t be helped. More practice at this point might only reduce efficiency.”
The ranking has been sorted, then.
Even if the gap is glaringly obvious, there’s no denying it.
Watching from a distance, Eun-chae smirked slightly.
The earlier room filled with intense competition had now become enveloped with a sense of awe.
On the central display in the practice room was a message that no one from the second team would have wanted to see.
[ALL KILL]
[Rule: 5-man Winner’s Round]
[Battlefield: Shadow Arena]
[Attainer: Gawol (Assassin)]
Honestly, luck played a part too.
The Shadow Arena was practically an assassin’s home ground, and some of the players in the session today were even trainees.
Yet, that didn’t diminish the feat of a total wipeout.
How many top-tier pros could pull this off?
There was a reason Luche pursued Gawol despite the complications of the connection device.
Moreover, what was this about the stamina being comparable to current professional players?
Sigma eSports’s practice volume was never low.
South Korea traditionally has been a country that relies on replacing people to increase efficiency, and this was no exception in eSports.
Regardless of being the second team, they were still professionals.
It was assumed that Gawol would be outmatched in terms of physical capability, but the unexpected results were perplexing.
As people left, the empty practice room remained.
Eun-chae took Da-eun’s now vacant seat.
Her pretty eyes glanced casually at her, then proceeded to fumble with her phone as if disinterested.
“Haven’t you eaten?”
“I don’t feel like it right now.”
“You must have heard a lot of people telling you to gain some weight though.”
“Stop nagging… I don’t like it.”
Ah, she seemed deflated.
Camellia’s lips curved into a small smile.
Though unspoken, it felt like some muttering was heard from somewhere.
“Come on, eat something. If you do, you can practice more.”
“Will you accompany me?”
“After you finish this—how about a sandwich?”
“…Alright. I’ll take it, then I’ll eat.”
Munch, gulp.
Slurp.
Da-eun timidly pushed food into her mouth.
Judging by her gulping coffee afterward, it seemed she was trying to hurry through her meal, though her body didn’t allow it to be as fast.
Looking at her this way, she seems like a small animal, yet this person is Gawol.
It’s been a few times now that their paths have crossed.
Yet, to Camellia, she still feels alien.
“Are you sure you’re okay? I heard you shouldn’t be pushing yourself.”
“I can do it all day.”
“Sounds like a line from some old-school script.”
“Be quiet. I like it.”
Her appearance, however, didn’t look particularly great while speaking.
The already pitiable image.
Watching her sip coffee with obvious fatigue, Camellia felt as if she made some mistake, as if to ask herself: what have I been doing to let this fragile girl become like this?
Technically, Da-eun was the older one.
‘You’re over twenty with that face? Seriously?’
At a glance, she resembled just a teenager.
Coupled with a somewhat dark and ominous atmosphere surrounding her.
If not for the slightly decadent vibe, someone might’ve thought, “Kids these days sure grow up fast.”
So,
Using honorifics feels acceptable.
But calling her ‘sister’ is completely unimaginable.
Camellia’s heart screamed that it was just not acceptable.
And when Shin Eun-chae refers to Da-eun as ‘sister’ out loud.
Witnessing that moment, people might feel they’re involved in some bizarre social experiment.
As a woman, it seemed too degrading.
“I tried that brainwave interface before. I was curious.”
“Oh? How was it?”
“It felt… not something a human should endure.”
“Phew… You’ll get used to it.”
The average professional gamer’s synchronization rate hovers just above 20%.
But currently, the synchronization rate applied to Gawol is 65.8%.
What’s more, it’s been reduced from what it was during the arena.
This was not something a human should attempt, indeed.
Once the synchronization rate surpasses 20%, one can discern the state of their body purely through sensation.
How much of it is damaged?
Is it a fatal wound, or something that can be endured?
That level of pain becomes very real.
Camellia’s experience at 65.8% was practically indistinguishable from reality.
In that state, engaging in reckless fight-to-the-death battles, tearing into each other’s bodies—was that even possible if the roles were reversed?
A creeping sense of defeat. Camellia suppressed her competitive spirit.
“Until when are you staying today?”
“Until there’s no one left to practice with.”
“What’s that weird criterion?”
“Too lazy to explain. You’ll understand once you go through it.”
And it was true.
Two hours later, Camellia, who couldn’t win a single match, grumbled as she headed back to the dormitory.
Only then did Da-eun also finally leave.
[Author: Elderlyn]
[Title: There’s a guest appearance on the broadcast tomorrow!]
Lydia(・ω・Lydia)
I won’t tell you who it is.
But I think you all know already?
[Comments]
– Ten-Lian is finally here
