NOVEL NEXT Chapter 57
My whole body ached from the remaining phantom pain.
Especially my heart, which had been struck last, was beating faster than usual.
It would have been dangerous back in the day.
How long has it been since I died in a game?
It’s been a while since I experienced a defeat. It made me nostalgic in a way, but also a little frustrated.
…No, I was really frustrated.
If there was anything nearby to throw, I wanted to smash it anywhere.
Something inside my chest was bubbling up, but there was nowhere to let it out.
If I had been conscious, I might have noticed something.
I told myself not to rush, yet here I was.
In the end, I’m still just human. I might have narrowed my perspective thinking I needed to take risks.
“What should I do? I really want to win.”
There was still one question in my heart that I hadn’t answered.
If I win this tournament, will I be satisfied?
During my athlete days, I never managed to prove myself to the world.
For whatever reason, I couldn’t participate in the World Championship, and with that incident, my internal clock broke too.
Like a cursed spirit stuck in unresolved land, I too remained stuck in the same time.
Please help me.
I want to live too.
Even saying that changes nothing.
I know I have to quench this thirst.
The gap between the stopped time and reality has widened too much.
If I win this tournament, will that gap shrink a bit?
Will the stopped time start to flow again, allowing me to catch up with the world someday?
Will I, who lives out my regrets, be able to shake them off?
No answer came out at all.
Still, I absolutely hate losing.
I already sank to the bottom, yet my pride remained.
I couldn’t just easily erase the screen in front of me.
[Class Selection]
– Assassin
– Swordmaster
My choice is…
*
[Infinity Arena Final – Match 3]
[Battlefield: Ancient Weapon Depot]
[AT Kelberos (Amsalja) vs Gawol (Assassin)]
“All preparations are complete!”
“Both players exchanged blows once. In the second match, Kelberos takes it, making it a 1:1 set score.”
“Thus, Gawol, who was writing an undefeated legend, has hit a bump. The wall of the world is indeed high, right? It seems like the true face of Europe’s loser has been revealed.”
“However, the match content wasn’t bad at all! As mentioned by the analysis desk, Gawol really pushed Kelberos to the brink of death. You can look forward to the next match!”
The official caster of Infinity Arena, Ho-eun, calmly narrated.
Information about each player’s builds was displayed on either side of the broadcast monitor.
There wasn’t much time left until it would be open to the public.
Analyzing that was the job of the commentators. In the meantime, Ho-eun observed Gawol’s expression.
It was a surprisingly common occurrence.
A player who was touted as the next generation star crumbling due to just a few defeats.
Among those, the first defeat often hits the hardest.
‘Is she flustered?’
Excluding the first preliminary round where she appeared on a private streamer’s broadcast, Ho-eun had covered all of Gawol’s matches until now.
Before entering the match, the players’ attitudes contained a wealth of information.
How the player approaches the game, their condition that day, even their work ethics and confidence.
That’s why Ho-eun knew better than anyone what kind of player Gawol was.
Gawol was obsessed with victory.
You’d wonder why such a driven person hadn’t gone pro until now.
Her pride in facing strong opponents and a desire for recognition rivaling that of top-class players.
The commentator next to her would probably evaluate Gawol similarly today.
“Gawol brings out her martial arts assassin showcased in the first match!”
“This can be summed up in one phrase: ‘I’m good at fighting.’ It’s like she’s saying, ‘Let’s match again!'”
“She really is a player wrapped up tightly in confidence. Just being able to attempt this against Kelberos shows her guts…”
The martial arts assassin build relies heavily on physical ability.
While it’s tough to create tactical variables, if one has confidence in pure skill, it’s a choice worth making.
So, to an outsider, Gawol might seem like a strong-willed player with great ego.
However, Ho-eun’s thoughts differed.
What drives her heart strongly isn’t herself, but victory.
Her physical abilities are enough to be recognized even by active players. The mental warfare that Kelberos referred to as a “fox”.
All of that is stacked upon the goal of winning.
So again, it was a common occurrence.
A player who had received immense expectations crumbling at a single defeat.
“Kelberos is solid!”
“When the best player slays the Amsalja, this kind of thing is possible. If you can penetrate, then go ahead!”
“It’s tough. Gawol is doing her best to break through, but she can’t seem to find any opportunities!”
Before entering the match,
A truly confident and relaxed player shows it right from their expression.
Someone who is able to enjoy the match even has a slight smile.
But Gawol hadn’t smiled even once in the waiting room.
Once she secures victory, she will show her mischievous side like everyone expected, but that’s a separate story.
When alone, Gawol was always a cold and calculated competitor.
That Gawol’s expression suddenly darkened after the previous match.
It signifies that her psychological equilibrium has been shattered.
– It seems like Kelberos has won.
– Honestly, it was tough, haha.
– Just winning one is an achievement~
– The last match drained a lot of stamina, but this round… it really fell apart.
The game tilted.
As the situation crumbled, people slowly began to notice the reality of the match.
Gawol’s unique physical abilities were still present.
Her moments of brilliance, her deceptive moves that were almost malicious.
She exuded a capability that one would never believe belonged to an unknown player.
If news surfaced that Gawol was a prospect secretly groomed by a pro team, Ho-eun would nod in acknowledgment, saying, “I knew it!”
Even if a prestigious team scouted her after this tournament, it would be the same.
Still, Kelberos was out of her league.
“That last exchange of blows was very sharp. Gawol perfectly targeted the moment when the magic shield’s duration ended.”
“Indeed. It was a fleeting moment, but she wedged in and the confrontation began. However, Kelberos’s response was too clean.”
“Gawol must be feeling quite frustrated. She’s shown her utmost potential, but is constantly blocked. The martial arts assassin was perfectly countered in the first match.”
In this match, Kelberos focused more on defense than usual.
Ho-eun had once been an active player herself.
Now, she’s working more as a caster than an analyst, but she could clearly read the intent behind that build.
It was impossible to directly respond to Gawol’s speed and technique.
But by concentrating on defense, she could force choices upon her.
“Try to break through if you can. I’ll take the hits too.”
Kelberos’s knack for long battles and her unique intuition had combined, creating an impregnable fort.
“Ah… the debuffs. The debuffs have piled up too much.”
“Honestly, it’s been a while since the Amsalja’s skills have been upgraded to their highest level. Just having such a balanced combat until now deserves praise.”
“This reminds me of the match against Luce. Though she endured a bit longer, the limits are slowly becoming apparent.”
The crumbling match was nearing its end.
As Gawol’s strength waned, Kelberos made her decisive move.
A heavy yet deliberate strike.
Even in difficult times, it was met with sharp counterattacks.
A desperate resistance continued, but the victor seemed clear.
Kelberos’s sword pierced Gawol’s neck.
As blood gushed out, the dagger aimed for her heart fell limp without accomplishing its goal.
[The match has ended.]
– AT Kelberos: 2
– Gawol: 1
It would be a lie to say I wasn’t disappointed.
But Ho-eun was a caster who had covered matches for a long time.
She doesn’t infuse her personal feelings into the commentary.
“Kelberos struck the final blow, thus ending the match!”
“It seems like it’s time for a change. Gawol, there’s still so much left to show…”
Back in the waiting room, both players returned.
Gawol’s expression looked even darker than before.
Is this the end? There’s no way.
Suddenly, Ho-eun became curious about Gawol’s expression.
Those eyes. And that look.
Was definitely not that of a person who had given up.
It was the face of someone who wanted to win at any cost.
The monitor displaying the assassin’s build information briefly flickered.
All information disappeared, replaced by new data.
Ho-eun and the two commentators were left bewildered.
Finally, the moment for the player to make a decision arrived.
Ho-eun exclaimed loudly.
As always, the dry text filled the arena.
[Infinity Arena Final – Match 4]
[Battlefield: Arena of Duel]
[AT Kelberos (Amsalja) vs Gawol (Swordmaster)]