A Swordsman’s Stream

Chapter 89

They realized something was strange when they reached the third outpost and found it deserted.

An empty outpost and a silent surrounding.

They weren’t preparing an ambush, which meant they had likely retreated. It was as expected.

If ordinary players and they were to fight, it was clear who would lose.

However, their instincts suggested something was suspicious.

“Hmm. First, let’s occupy it.”

They entered the outpost.

The red border indicating the boundary of the outpost changed to purple.

“What are we doing with three people just to beat one?!”

Heaven-Slayer Star remarked sarcastically.

The distant icons marking outposts also turned purple. The way the game was proceeding felt slightly odd.

“Are we just going to be sitting ducks here?”

“No. Let’s also gather objects.”

Objects referred to special items in the game, ranging from essential items like outposts and fortresses to trivial items like animals on the map.

By hunting animals, which were considered objects, or capturing informants hidden throughout, one could gain a certain amount of experience points, albeit not as much as defeating soldiers at the center.

The goal now was to quickly reach level 6 and decide the match.

“It doesn’t look like they’re going to try to take the outpost from us. Since we have no reason to sit here and guard, we don’t have much choice.”

Usually, gathering trivial objects wasn’t feasible. They were too busy dealing with enemies trying to capture the outpost to have time for that.

“But why is this happening?”

JustOneCoin remarked, looking at the fortress’s stamina.

『Blue: 588』 vs 『Red: 1,000』

Considering the intensity with which it was decreasing until just a moment ago, falling to 510 seemed likely. Yet, the rate had diminished, leaving much stamina remaining.

Was it 488 when they captured the outpost and recovered 100 stamina?

The 100 stamina lost during the occupation wasn’t permanent damage. If recaptured, the previously reduced stamina would be restored.

JustOneCoin checked if there was an outpost they had occupied.

Outposts A and B were still purple, in the process of being captured.

“What the?”

Certainly, the Heavenly Demon had plunged toward the center with the intent of creating distance.

Could it be…

“Was capturing soldiers just a bait?”

The possibility hadn’t been dismissed, but weren’t they known to be careless about occupation battles?

Indeed.

Even in the duel, he hadn’t expected a sudden shift in attributes.

Did this mean the opponent enjoyed psychological games?

JustOneCoin regretted not being more cautious and looked toward the forest at the front of the outpost.

In the shadows cast by the dense greenery, it felt as if a predator was lurking, waiting for its prey.

“Hey, it seems like the Heavenly Demon isn’t at the center right now.”

“What do you mean?”

“It feels like he’ll come soon. Get ready.”

The icon indicating the outpost capture continued to rotate.

Capture would be complete in ten seconds.

Certainly, they’ll attempt to interrupt it, meaning a confrontation with the Heavenly Demon was imminent, just moments away.

What should they do next?

Initially, they only planned to comfortably reach level 6, but with this unexpected turn from their opponent, a psychological battle seemed inevitable.

Perhaps they should have stuck together from the beginning instead.

Everything was twisted.

“He’s coming.”

As expected.

With only a few seconds left until the outpost was captured, a player appeared with hands clasped behind their back.

“Seriously, creating an atmosphere now.”

Insane.

『HeavenlyDemon14』

Now the enemy also employed strategy.

* * *

『Capturing Outpost A』
『Enemy Fortress’s Stamina -100』
『Blue: 784』 vs 『Red: 799』

NamgungClanStoreOwner had easily captured the empty outpost A.

The opponent seemed to have taken down his teammate and then withdrew.

“Besides the Heavenly Demon, what’s the level of the other players in this game?”

To establish a benchmark, it seemed necessary to know the contribution of the 8 players involved in this game, but there was no way to know the contribution of ordinary players.

“Then, should I gather some objects?”

JustOneCoin typically excelled at giving orders in these situations, so he began by observing the forest in front.

But then.

“Why isn’t the other outpost changing?”

The icon for outpost B, marked in purple, had changed before he remembered. Did the opponent from over there not leave?

In the team chat, JustOneCoin left only one message.

-Caution, Heavenly Demon

“What?”

Did the Heavenly Demon go to B?

He immediately checked the fortress’s stamina.

Seeing the fortress’s stamina, he realized their team had indeed captured B.

The enemy fortress had lost 200 stamina, indicating an outpost capture.

Because outpost B was purple, it meant a battle ensued to retake their outpost there.

And observing the constant deduction of 5 points in stamina, it implied someone was indeed in the center.

If the Heavenly Demon had gone to B, it was now an opportunity to go to the center and capture soldiers.

But if he goes to the center and the Heavenly Demon is there while a player who was hiding near here reclaims the outpost, it would be a loss.

A very tricky situation to handle.

“Regardless, it should conclude soon.”

He headed toward the forest path connecting outpost A and B.

For now, adapting to the situation while preparing for the easiest way.

If outpost A changes, he’ll return, and if the Heavenly Demon did go to B, then…

-Heavenly Demon to b
-OK, heading to the center

So it really was true.

Indeed, which ordinary player would attempt to retake an outpost against two rankers?

It seemed Heaven-Slayer Star had been meticulously inputting on the virtual keyboard.

He hastened his pace toward the center.

“Why didn’t I consider that the Heavenly Demon might bait us?”

Perhaps.

Because that streamer had previously recklessly relied solely on physical skills?

Whatever it was, he made the optimal decision now.

Even without preparation, good responses make the difference.

“Surely there would only be an ordinary player at the central outpost.”

As he emerged from the forest path into a wide clearing, he spotted an enemy player already dealing with soldiers.

And simultaneously.

The color of outpost A behind him changed from blue to purple.

Someone was attempting to capture it.

“I knew there’d be someone hiding near A. For now, let me handle the central player.”

However, as he approached wielding his sword, the opponent merely fled backward.

With a baffled expression, he headed toward an adjacent outpost to the center.

“I’m going to take this one, okay?”

The distant enemy nodded with a thumbs-up, leaving him scratching his head awkwardly.

Outpost A was lost; outpost B was captured.

『Capturing Outpost B』
『Enemy Fortress’s Stamina -100』
『Blue: 746』 vs 『Red: 784』

Currently, the enemy occupied one outpost, while they occupied two. Simply maintaining the status quo favored them.

Despite being at a similar level due to the enemy player capturing soldiers at the central outpost for the time being, that route was just blocked.

Experience merged with fortress stamina, so the longer this dragged on, the more advantageous it could become.

His teammates seemed to have arrived at a similar conclusion.

He began dealing with soldiers.

And then, a notification arrived.

『HeavenlyDemon14 –〉 JustOneCoin』

His partner’s death notice came sooner than expected, catching him off guard.

The now-freed JustOneCoin left him a message.

-Still got Heaven-Slayer Star, hurry and capture the soldiers

Shortly after, another notification appeared.

『HeavenlyDemon14 –〉 Heaven-Slayer Star』

No one was left.

-Damn strong, even holding out is tough
-Deliberately chose us to delay capture, then engaged

Outpost B would be lost.

Once the Heavenly Demon moved to the center?

“I guess I need to head back to A.”

If caught here, they could activate all three of the enemy’s outposts again.

-Namgung, hurry back to A, there’s another player at B, the Heavenly Demon probably departed already

Barely managing to capture any soldiers, he was forced to retreat.

-Okay, heading back

* * *

Fortress of the Orthodox Faction.

“We were baited with a strategy. I didn’t expect him to use his head.”

With only one enemy, he targeted both A and B simultaneously.

If they had predicted the Heavenly Demon would come to B, they might have sent one person to each spot to gain an advantage.

“I underestimated this.”

Regrettable, but the game wasn’t over yet.

“Indeed.”

『Blue: 498』 vs 『Red: 976』

Currently, the enemy had captured all three outposts, while NamgungClanStoreOwner was returning to recapture outpost A.

In short, they were at a disadvantage.

Reaching level 6 was more challenging than anticipated.

What should they do next?

While JustOneCoin racked his brain for a strategy, no decent ideas emerged.

Had he ever strategized or faced a scenario with guaranteed victory against one ranked player in this way before?

Had he ever imagined such a configuration?

‘Despite that, he is taunting us.’

He was clever.

It piqued curiosity whether he’d planned this in advance.

“For now, we must regroup.”

“Yes. Let’s safely aim to reach level 6. The Heavenly Demon seems to be vigilant about that too, setting traps and all.”

A trap.

Since the moment he observed Sojun capturing soldiers with determination, they had already fallen into a trap.

“Let’s move to outpost A for now… wait.”

Keeping a constant eye on their fortress’s stamina, JustOneCoin felt a ripple of doubt and unease spreading through his body.

Their fortress’s stamina was depleting too slowly.

NamgungClanStoreOwner had reached A, so the Heavenly Demon should be at the center by now.

『Blue: 623』 vs 『Red: 876』

Could it be?

JustOneCoin turned to Heaven-Slayer Star with a foreboding expression.

“Hey.”

“What?”

“I think we’ve been caught.”

“What are you talking about?”

Perhaps.

Sojun hadn’t gone to the central outpost.

Instead, he might be heading right here from B.

Why?

Upon reflection, he realized he would have done the same.

“Stop them at the entrance.”

He began murmuring.

“You resurrect outside the fortress with three seconds of invincibility, right? We can’t escape backward.”

“What on earth is this…”

Then, JustOneCoin exclaimed in exasperation.

“Damn, this game is such a mess!”

Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

Both damage and movement speed need a nerf.

* * *

-How much did you invest in intelligence, seriously! LOL
-No way, cutting rankers off at the pass! LOL
-The boy who sees the future!
-Jaegal Heavenly Demon is on fire
-Jaegal Heavenly Demon, indeed, lOl