A Swordsman’s Stream

Chapter 87

As soon as the surroundings changed, Sojun checked his team members through the interface.

As expected.

“I had a feeling it would be like this.”

Not a single familiar nickname appeared among the team members.

He had anticipated it, but unfortunately, the worst of his expectations came true.

-??
-What the?
-3 vs. 1?????
-Is this difficulty for real? They want him to defeat 3 rankers, haha.
-Seriously, what’s going on?
-This seems tough.

“It might be because of the Reputation Points difference.”

Sojun gave a brief explanation and then looked at his team members.

What level could they be at?

Average?

Or perhaps mainly distributed in the upper ranks?

Certainly not rankers.

As usual, they assessed the combination and greeted each other.

“Hello.”

“Hi.”

“Nice to meet you. But the member’s nicknames look familiar, what could it be?”

Noticing the member’s nicknames in such a short time indicated that one of them was quick at grasping the situation.

“Hello.”

After responding, Sojun examined the traits of his team members.

A tanker.

A dealer.

A dealer.

The tanker employed the Absorption Technique.

Not the temporary Absorption Technique that Sojun had tested, but the one that endures while absorbing the opponent’s energy.

Among the dealers, one had chosen the Palm Technique as a trait.

The last one had mastered a close-combat technique called Surakwon.

“What strategy should we use? Perhaps a light 1-3 strategy?”

“Guys, I think our opponents are three rankers. And is this the Heavenly Demon-nim? Are you the Contribution No. 1 Heavenly Demon-nim?”

They seemed to have quickly figured it out.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The quick-witted user holding the tanker role confirmed it.

A strategy, indeed.

“Heavens. What should we do?”

“We can’t seem to predict how they’ll come at us.”

“If we just stick to the usual strategy…….”

Sojun pondered as he read the chat log.

-This round, bringing along team members is a must, haha.
-Thankfully, you’ve mastered the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. The Absorption Technique seems to counter the opposition.
-What counters the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?
-None. It’s a counter by itself. It’s useless, haha.

The Heavenly Demon Divine Art didn’t have a great reputation.

He wasn’t talking about the game trait but the actual martial technique.

Regardless, Sojun quickly concluded his thoughts.

“I’ll head to the center alone. You all head to the sides.”

If one were a streamer, such confrontations should not be avoided.

-Are you overextending?
-Don’t you need team help?
-Let’s go!

No, instead, having them around might even be a hindrance.

* * *

Following Sojun’s instructions, the team members dispersed toward the side positions, while Sojun advanced to the center with the warrior NPCs.

“How do you think the opponents will react?”

-No idea.
-Considering their combination, they might group together?
-They need to level up, so definitely the center.
-Could they really believe the streamer-nim would go alone?

The usual stratagem was to send three to the center, allowing one to take a position on the side while focusing mainly on the center.

If they chose the traditional strategy but found four of the opponents at the center, they could hold out until the user who went to the side returned.

Usually, a user with a high-speed trait would go to the side, making it possible to conquer the opposite position too.

From the moment of acquiring two positions, the accruing experience points and potential damage to the opponent’s base make holding the center advantageous, even if all three remain intact.

However, these strategies held little meaning for Sojun.

“Winning is the ultimate goal, after all.”

-The streamer’s strategy is to win the fight and capture positions. Hmm!
-A tactic worthy of the Heavenly Demon.
-I honestly want to say this is nonsense, but after witnessing yesterday’s feat, h…
-I seriously think a 3 vs. 1 win is possible. It’s absurd.

Even if the sword was learned through gaming, users’ prowess was quite high.

Or perhaps it was because they learned it through a game?

As mentioned before, virtual reality provides the best environment to experience real battles.

There was neither pain nor death.

‘In real life, kids practice swinging the same motion hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of times to not die in battle.’

That’s why they survive better.

Conversely, surviving real battle allows bypassing those countless swings.

‘Well, although those countless swings weren’t solely for surviving real fights.’

Regardless.

Sojun locked eyes with three rankers standing before him.

A single normal user seemed to have gone elsewhere.

A 3 vs. 1.

“It’s a bit overwhelming. What’s overwhelming, you ask? The attention from all of you after winning this.”

-Ah, hahaha, this guy is insane, seriously, hahaha.
-He’s talking big again, haha.
-I think they heard him? Haha, their expressions have soured.

The endless collection of laughter in chats seemed slightly woeful.

But he was being earnest.

“You should talk about winning first.”

It seemed everyone was beginning to understand Sojun’s method of communication.

Despite that, the opponents showed no unrest and immediately charged with their weapons drawn.

Perhaps recognizing his prowess, deeming him a capable opponent.

Though it was a 3 vs. 1 scenario, they moved with taut shoulders.

“This time, it won’t be easy.”

Approaching first was JustOneCoin of the Beggar Sect.

As a tanker, it appeared they intended to engage early, but even considering that, they did not delve deeply.

They were cautious about a critical hit imbued with sword ki.

In conquest battles, most martial traits require leveling up to be usable, but one of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art’s characteristics is its persistent effect, similar to the Green Forest.

Following him, two others moved to encircle Sojun.

Since the effect lasts continually, debuffs apply similarly.

Clearly, they judged that if they cornered him and attacked simultaneously, he couldn’t evade or display the Dull Sword.

NamgungClanStoreOwner.

He was the ranker Sojun encountered the previous day.

The martial trait he chose was the King’s Sword Style.

Its trait was that the further ahead you leveled up, the more its power multiplied.

The feature was imparting a debuff pressuring when Martial Techniques were executed.

Simply put, they intended to make a slow Sojun even slower.

None of them had Martial Techniques yet, but it didn’t change the fact two swords and a club were soaring toward him.

In case of parrying, they never incorporated heavy attacks.

It indeed proved effective.

A sword narrowly missed brushing his bowed head.

At the same moment, another sword from the side attempted a vertical slice directed at Sojun.

He twisted his body.

Then, from the opposite side, a club approached.

Their coordination felt natural, suggesting they weren’t new to battles.

Sojun.

Though he never lost balance or wavered, Sojun calmly evaded the attacks.

Yet, due to his slow speed, he ultimately had to endure some attacks.

Heaven-Slayer Star shallowly sliced his arm before exclaiming.

“Nice!”

Sojun continued evasively dodging the relentless attacks while casting an incredulous glance at Heaven-Slayer Star.

-He seems pretty pleased.
-Considering he didn’t land a single hit yesterday, naturally, he would be.
-As part of the Orthodox Faction, gang-up fights are shameful…
-The final boss is always meant to be ganged up on, duh, there’s no need to feel embarrassed.

While quickly scanning around, Sojun noted that despite continuously retreating and thwarting strikes, he wasn’t yet overwhelmed, though it wouldn’t be long.

“I’ll hold off; now go in!”

Blocking a sword aiming for his neck from the left, JustOneCoin whirled a club above his head.

A move accepting a hit in exchange for positioning.

Sojun’s sword glowed.

His opponent’s eyes shook as sword ki was channeled through his weapon, yet there was no hesitation in his movements.

Instead, he imbued his club with inner ki.

His intention was obvious.

“Fine, I’ll play along.”

Sojun’s sword, imbued with sword ki, collided with JustOneCoin’s club.

“What a bunch of nonsense.”

Though it was merely a clash of sword ki, thanks to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art’s trait, JustOneCoin’s health dropped by about one-fifth.

Yet, with no ensuing attack from the side.

‘As expected. They must have secured his rear instead of pursuing.’

-In the end, he’s surrounded, huh.
-Honestly thought it wouldn’t be too disadvantageous considering 3 vs. 1, but it looks tough for him now
-Why isn’t it disadvantageous?

Claiming it’s not too disadvantageous was a valid argument.

For instance, when combat strength is quantified, what would the result be if a person with a strength of three fought against three individuals each with a strength of one?

Though the aggregated combat strength appears the same, making it seem favorable for the side with three, that may not necessarily always be the case.

‘Surprisingly, a person with a strength of three isn’t as severely disadvantaged.’

Three individuals, each possessing one strength, don’t necessarily combine to equal three in combat power.

If they had formations and such, it could be five instead of three.

“Unfortunately, in ‘For Justice’, there’s nothing like that.”

In reality, although only Sojun thought this way, a 3 vs. 1 scenario was absolutely advantageous for the three.

Nevertheless, due to Sojun’s display the previous day, expectations among people were exceedingly high.

In that case, it was time to show them.

“Unfortunate indeed. What’s that about?”

“Don’t get swayed. He’s likely talking to his viewers.”

Surrounded from all sides, attacks came at Sojun from every direction.

Moreover, unlike when they attacked alternately from front and sides, collapsing into a perfect encirclement granted more room for simultaneous attacks.

Looking to the right where Heaven-Slayer Star was positioned, Sojun remarked.

“Have you considered that I let myself get surrounded?”

Despite his continuous evasions with various feats, Sojun’s health began to dwindle gradually.

Due to his slow speed, he was subject to unavoidable attacks intertwined within.

“Boasting even while getting hit, aren’t you.”

*Seok.*

A sword that stabbed from behind nicked his side.

Indeed.

These people were not just any veterans; they had undergone multi-combat situations before, resulting in highly coordinated strikes.

They weren’t entirely without flaws, however.

“But, haven’t you all also been hit?”

Sojun flicked his sword lightly, indicating their health.

His health was dwindled much like a slow leak, but the opponents had half or even one-third remaining.

NamgungClanStoreOwner gave Sojun a weary look and bit his lip.

Sojun’s skill at landing counterstrikes intermittently was utterly baffling.

“Impressive indeed. If your speed had been a bit faster or you’d committed entirely to dodging from the start, you might not have been hit even once.”

“Perhaps.”

“In the future, don’t attempt forced attacks! Either swap your trait beforehand!”

*Clang!*

Sojun and the Store Owner’s sword met, at which point JustOneCoin charged at him.

‘Where’s Heaven-Slayer Star…?’

The transition was slow!

Sojun’s eyes twinkled as he pushed aside NamgungClanStoreOwner’s sword and, turning to his left, kicked JustOneCoin.

Thereafter, pivoting on his right foot, he swung his arm, spinning 180 degrees.

This maneuver allowed him to first glimpse Heaven-Slayer Star at his rear, causing Sojun to grin widely.

Heaven-Slayer Star was prepared to attack, undoubtedly poised for a power blow.

“I’ve been waiting.”

Having first turned his head, with his upper body and left foot following, the last to come around was his arm, extending slowly yet firmly.

*Clang!*

With swords colliding vertically, the weakness of power strikes was exposed.

Startled, Heaven-Slayer Star’s mouth fell open.

‘He probably refrained from using it until now due to this weakness, but seeing the success of rearguard attacks, perhaps he grew confident.’

An opportunity had arisen.

As Sojun lifted his foot higher, someone behind him cried out.

“Get away!”

Heavenly Demon’s Supreme Step.

‘Also known as just a passive effect.’

Though these rankers might rarely have confronted it, they evidently realized its danger.

Heaven-Slayer Star leaned back, swiftly attempting to distance himself, but…

‘Too late.’

*Boom!*

As Sojun stomped the ground, it cratered, and a smoky azure ripple spread outward in all directions.

‘The effect is decent.’

Considering the limited inner ki involved, the attack did not drastically lower Heaven-Slayer Star’s health.

However, the immobilization that followed was incomparable to that resulting from parrying.

-Crazy, haha.
-Not backing down even here, seeking a turn for the worse? haha.
-How’d he know about the power attack from the back? haha.
-Seriously, is he using hacks or something!
-He must’ve aimed for this given how he chipped away at their health beforehand, haha.

Without the slightest hesitation, Sojun initiated a strike imbued with sword ki.

“Now. It’s a 1 vs. 2, isn’t it?”