Chapter 15: The Battlefield Spectacle
The massive screen in the center of the arena rapidly switched between each player’s perspective.
It wasn’t just the chosen shrine of battle that was in a dizzying flux.
The STK team’s customized Black Knight sliced through the massive hammer’s storm with his Holy Sword effortlessly.
The observer’s view, which followed each player like a ghost, focused on STK’s Black Knight, Lotus, showcasing his dazzling swordplay.
With perfectly synced volumes and sound effects, intense visuals erupted, drawing gasps from both the audience and the commentary booth.
Watching the replay of the recent highlight, I couldn’t help but marvel at the observer’s fabulous angle rather than the action itself.
It seemed that in virtual reality games like Soul Warfare, the expectations on observers had risen significantly.
It wasn’t just about capturing key moments in sync with the flow anymore.
The edits felt spontaneous, almost cine-like in their delivery.
Unlike when I watched the opening match ages ago, progress was clearly visible.
—Wow!
Look at the roars and cheers erupting from the crowd.
If it were a simple highlight, they might cheer appropriately, but seeing the winning team celebrating elicits wild cheers.
But just now, if someone unfamiliar with the game witnessed Lotus in action, they would truly consider it beautiful swordsmanship and movement, drawing everyone’s gaze. The screen the observer showed amplified that beauty.
Thanks to that, the atmosphere in the arena felt refreshingly alive for the first time in a while.
—Whoa! Lotus just got a double kill in succession?! Skillfully dodging the hammer’s whirlwind and charging in, STK is already dominating, and it’s just the preliminaries!
—Exactly. Plus, even if Lotus has spent some health, think of it positively; it means she can trigger Supernova soon.
—No matter how nerfed she’s been, given her current tension, it’s safe to say she’s packing a top-tier buff. The opposing team would do well to regroup and take out Lotus first.
As the atmosphere somewhat calmed, unlike the still-chattering crowd, the commentary booth maintained a composed analysis.
Lotus, who built her skills like mine, was confidently showcasing her abilities in the official match.
Was it luck? In a moment where she was isolated alone, it was as if she was a knight possessed by bloodlust.
Perhaps a warrior-version of a berserker. The more she fought and the more blood she saw, her health dwindled, but the concept of her growing stronger seemed fitting.
Though her skills somewhat evoke light and sanctity, there was a slight disconnect; well, in terms of effects, it all levels out, right?
“Good job.”
Azin, who had been silently watching beside me, whispered into my ear.
Azin, who had never genuinely played Soul Warfare, seemed to be captivated by Lotus’s performance in a different sense.
Well, she was always skilled, and I definitely helped ‘revive’ her somewhat.
These days, Lotus’s performance has surpassed what she showed back at the last brawl tournament.
At that moment, I felt a soft breath near my other ear, and it was Dayoung.
“I think I could do as well as Lotus!”
“Even if the position’s different, I think you’d be somewhat similar.”
Dayoung excelled in precise magical shooting, while Lotus was more of a typical close-range fighter type.
Apparently satisfied with my words, Dayoung let out a deep sigh of pride.
Looking back at the screen, the game was generally leaning in favor of STK.
Team members were joining steadily, winning all fights, whether one-on-one or group battles with a resounding victory.
Then, simultaneously, surprise and cheers erupted from the audience and commentary booth.
As they faced the next opponent, they unexpectedly allowed a surprise attack, nearly driving them to the brink of collapse.
Seeing radiant light emanating from Lotus’s blood-smeared body, I felt a sense of melancholy wash over me.
“… Did you think I couldn’t?”
“Huh?”
“Oh, nothing. It’s nothing.”
I felt as if she said something just now.
I tilted my head, but Dayoung avoided my gaze, focusing back on the match, and I redirected my attention as well.
Lotus, clad in black armor shrouded in golden aura, had an imbalanced feel, but she somehow exuded an image as if I were protecting her, making it quite pleasing to watch.
With the winds, vibrations, and sound from the speakers collaborating in a 4D spectacle, it felt more like watching a majestic narrative battle than a professional team’s game.
Indeed, it felt like an epic fantasy movie from the old days.
The seat I had, provided by Lotus, was undoubtedly the best spot for such an experience.
“Oh, she moves well. Should I give Soul Warfare a try too? If I reach Challenger, maybe I’ll get to face her?”
“Definitely, it seems like it would be a good match-up.”
Lotus, invoking Supernova, was relentlessly pressing the dual-wielding assassin with the power of her Holy Sword, moving at a speed that wouldn’t fall short.
If the speed was the same, Lotus had the advantage in destructive power due to her Holy Sword.
As the opponent swayed left and right, elegantly mixing in painting techniques, the moment they charged in like a storm, Lotus swiftly blocked with the blade of her Holy Sword and executed Parrying.
—Boom!
The thunderous sound of Parrying resonated through the arena, even more intensely than during gameplay.
