It’s hard to overcome battles against multiple foes in **Soul Warfare**.
This was a widely accepted notion among most players enjoying this game.
Unless there was a stark difference in skill levels, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this was common knowledge in the game.
Perhaps this is a shared trait of many games based on virtual reality.
The act of “moving your body directly” reacts more directly compared to traditional PC games using a keyboard and mouse, but it also requires much more delicate control.
In a space where the physical differences are pronounced based on how accustomed and adept you are with the sensations of virtual reality.
In such virtual reality-based games, monsters that defy common sense sometimes pop out.
If you were to ask who those monsters are, until recently, most would answer this without hesitation.
**Warden**. A user often referred to as a genius, who could dribble multiple enemies alone, and if the opportunity and luck aligned, it was possible for him to take them down with his super plays that frequently became the talk of the official tournaments.
However, the position of this absolute being, which was previously Warden’s sole domain, was now being shaken.
It was the appearance of a user named **Friede**.
Users interested in **Soul Warfare** were fervently debating the two in the community in a so-called “keyboard battle”.
The topic was very simple.
Who among Warden and Friede is more outstanding, a typical versus scenario.
You might wonder why there was any reason to heat up over such a trivial debate, but what could we do?
This was not a fictional match seen in games, comics, or literature but rather the rivalry established between real characters actively performing.
Especially, the competition occurring in a kind of supernatural space like virtual reality was enough to provide new excitement to the spectators.
It was more realistic than other media, making it easy to immerse oneself.
Then, just as I began to tire of waiting for this topic to conclude, the sky presented a new event as if answering their wishes.
Though it was still before the event, the clash between Warden and Friede was imminent.
In **Soul Warfare**, it was impossible for anyone not to focus their attention on this.
And now, the two faced each other.
**Friede** and **Warden** – a clash of the Lotus duo.
[Warden wouldn’t fight along with the Lotus in a cowardly way, right?]
[Yeah, he already fought alongside them once during an offensive. Warden’s such a low-tier player.]
[That was because they had to break through the exit. Let’s have a proper one-on-one now.]
[Something big is coming!]
[Can’t the Lotus figure out the atmosphere? Move out of the way quickly!]
[You crazy fools, stop the rivalry nonsense!]
Although it wasn’t a one-on-one, the mere thought of Warden and Friede finally locking blades ignited an enthusiastic atmosphere in the chat.
In stark contrast to that chat, the area where Friede and Warden stood was far from warm.
“What’s happening?”
Warden tilted his head.
He felt an unfamiliarity that he hadn’t noticed until now while observing Friede’s gameplay, and it unsettled his senses.
With his sword held horizontally and his body lowered, Friede’s stance was definitely different from usual.
Ignoring the use of combat skills, the Friede in Warden’s mind was a paragon of a free-spirited player.
But now, how was it?
Unlike the usual carefree demeanor, she was crouched down, aiming her sword towards her own neck.
The relaxed expression he always saw now felt like that of a predator snatching its prey.
It was the first time Warden felt that he could experience what it was like to live in this virtual reality.
If it were reality, his hands gripping the weapon would be drenched in sweat.
Thinking it was a feeling he didn’t need to feel due to being in a virtual world.
Was that the reason…?
“Go.”
“What?!”
As he faced her, Warden’s unconscious words startled the Lotus, who echoed back in surprise.
She was no fool to not understand the meaning of “go”.
“Leave your pride behind. You can’t handle this alone.”
Warden knew. It was likely to be a tough fight.
But still…
“I don’t care.”
Turning to the Lotus, Warden flashed a vibrant smile unlike any before.
Though they had been on the same team until now, it was the first time he had shown such a side.
Ah, a sigh escaped the Lotus’ lips.
“Quick, go help the team. We really need damage dealers right now.”
“Please help with the pressure on your side.”
Warden nodded silently to the Lotus’s request.
Not needing to stall any longer, as soon as the Lotus darted off, Warden charged at Friede.
He launched a fierce assault with a powerful strike. Clean and swift.
Like a freshly dug sweet potato root, his bizarrely twisted sword aimed to sever Friede’s waist.
A typical professional gamer might have had to focus solely on defense against this strike.
But in that brief moment, Friede’s eyes remained calm and composed, devoid of any shock or confusion, as they locked onto Warden.
The momentary clang of the Holy Sword and Warden’s weapon clashed.
At the same time, Warden canceled his attack stance, lowering his body with a side step as he executed a stun attack.
With a strange hissing sound like a snake’s tongue, his blade lunged for Friede’s legs.
A combination created in the span of just one second continued the flow in a clean manner.
Even a challenger would be busy rolling back to avoid it.
Though Warden didn’t expect Friede to behave like others…
‘If she does…’
With the final part of the combo, he intended to slice through with a hit that rendered dodging meaningless.
Just as Warden thought Friede’s back would meet the blade and armor…
—Pop!
With a lively footwork, Friede’s body vanished from the trajectory of the blade.
Where did she go?
In less than 0.1 seconds, a question sparked in Warden’s mind as his nerves honed sharply.
The dazzling sight of the golden cloak and pure blonde hair dazzled his vision.
So low, it felt as if she might collide with him, Friede’s form connected with Warden’s shoulder.
Like fitting a perfectly shaped piece, their backs smoothly brushed against each other.
With Warden’s back as leverage, as Friede snatched the Holy Sword behind him, intent to slash Warden in a swift motion, Warden performed a roll forward without looking back, focusing straight ahead.
A strange standoff followed between the two as a distance opened up between them.
***
[Warden’s movements are insane. The way he cancels actions flows like water.]
[Friede’s able to react to that too. Legend!]
[Who would’ve thought he’d leap over like that?]
[That was a combo TK Schneider fell to in one hit before, but now he’s breaking through it, lol.]
[At this point, it seems clear that Warden’s rival isn’t the Lotus or Schneider, but Friede. Anyone who has a different opinion is just wrong.]
While there were no flashy combos like the Lotus, the clean exchanges stirred the excitement of the watching crowd adequately.
Although it wasn’t the same as before, the STK Team’s armor in a deep crimson color contrasted intriguingly with Friede, clad in silver.
Moreover, unlike the Holy Light Sword that Friede wielded, Warden’s drawn sword resembled a cursed blade, making Da-Young think they were quite contrasting.
To prevent them from retreating to regroup, Friede swiftly charged at Warden.
The tip of the drawn sword gleamed sharply with ferocity. The essence of polished, classical thrusting attacks.
Would Warden be able to respond to this confident assault from Friede, who could cancel and counter with a parry at any moment?
Just then, he took a stance different from his usual one, resembling the draw slash of a samurai.
—Kiiing!
The eerie and sharp sound of the cursed blade echoed.
The darkness concentrated in the sheath thrashed the space between them.
‘No way?’
A frantic light glinted in Da-Young’s eyes.
‘That stance… it’s the cursed blade of the draw slash…’
A combat skill with an attribute that made it impossible to parry.
Possessing an extreme judgment, yet conversely, if successful, it could lead to a reversal as explosive as the Holy Light Sword, the strongest skill for human-versus-human combat.
Just as Friede’s Holy Sword aimed to pierce through Warden’s neck, a dazzling illusion sprang forth in Da-Young’s eyes, originating from the darkness released from the sealed cursed blade.
Executed with a smooth trajectory, the drawn slash from Warden deflected Friede’s strike.
The audience gazed in awe at the multitude of afterimages projected from the deadly stroke.
Concurrently, Warden’s crouched form shot forth like a thunderbolt…
The **draw slash**—the **cursed blade technique**.
A massive arc of the blade traced a flowing path through the air.
It was only a moment, but the heart that watched it for Da-Young dropped with an unsettling sensation.
The swift response Warden demonstrated just now carried an ominous feeling that even Friede could find difficult to cope with.
Just as Da-Young was about to let out a scream from surprise and leap up from her seat,
“Annie!”
The alert Da-Young jumped up, her urgent cry resonating through the audience.
‘Ugh!’
Should I really have to take a backseat like this?
As Da-Young awkwardly settled into her seat, feeling a frivolous sense of regret while crumbling her popcorn, an unexplainable sorrow swelled within her.
