― Hello, fans who love the league, and our grateful sponsors. It is currently 9:00 AM. The game is about to start again today.
― The match content is classic. It is the most common one-on-one match. The participants will be Asterique and Aluminum.
Despite the early hour, the stands were filled with a large number of spectators.
Expensive admission fees and advertisements on the scoreboard. For a game that lasts less than an hour, an outrageous amount of money is being spent.
This was a first division stadium. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was a completely different world from the fourth division where homeless people roamed around.
― Player Asterique, you've been in the spotlight recently, right? You had a huge impact, having made it all the way to the first division with no wins.
- Yes. There was a lot of talk about him being a super rookie. But, well, it has been proven once again that there is a big wall between him and the lower leagues.
Four consecutive losses. This was Asterique's recent record.
After the curious first win, the points have been steadily decreasing.
― I honestly think this match will be difficult. Asterique also has bad luck with the draw! He's meeting a terrible opponent at a time when he needs to somehow break his losing streak.
- That's right. Oh, the moment I say that, Aluminum Player appears.
A player walked out of the hallway.
A man wearing a distinctive silver coat. He was called Aluminum because he looked like he was wearing silver foil. Once the name was decided, he changed his official name.
It was a solidification of his own personality. It was proof that he understood the physiology of the league well.
― Player Aluminum is coming onto the field, and player Asterike is coming out after him… What is that?
The commentator raised a question and the audience was in an uproar. It was because Asterike was holding a strange device in his hand.
'... Will it be okay?'
Asterike looked down at the object in her hand. It was a 'sword'. It was probably a sword.
It's not sharp, but rather blunt like a blunt weapon. It's so damn heavy that even an average adult male wouldn't be able to swing it...
'Because Hyun said it was a sword.'
It was the equipment that Kim Yi-hyeon had given him. If he had said so, then the sword was right. Instead of handing over the sword, he took another item from Asterike.
Asterike felt an emptiness on her wrist. The spell suppressor. The bracelet that had freed her from the spell's rampage was gone.
"What is that? It looks like ice cream."
As I stepped onto the ring, the aluminum squeaked.
"I don't know what I'll do with that stick, but… yeah, I guess it's better than a plain, boring dagger."
"Fun? Is that important?"
"Of course. The game is entertainment."
A cynical voice flowed out. The microphone was turned off, so the audience could not hear it.
"There are only two ways for a player to prove his worth: performance and attendance. But only a few players can achieve results."
The index finger wrapped in a glove points to Asterike.
"Not you. The average is 30 or 40, and if you're lucky, 20. If you want to prolong your career as a player, think carefully."
It was quite an arrogant attitude, but you couldn't say it was presumptuous.
Aluminum currently ranks 5th, while Asterike ranks only 34th. Considering their miserable record, this may have been the right call.
… … I didn't really have any intention of staying long as a player. It was only because Kim Lee-hyun gave me the opportunity to stand on the field.
As a result, it was a success.
The cheers of the audience, a huge salary, a luxurious life. It's not bad. No, honestly, I was happy.
'Still, it was okay back then.'
I often think of it. The time when I, Kim I-hyeon, and Rosco headed to Cilicia in a shabby manner. Even though my body was tired, it was fun.
'I was with Hyun the whole time… … .'
After arriving in Cilicia, he often acted separately. Although he didn't say it out loud, Asterike was quite dissatisfied with it.
There was also anxiety.
It was as if each of them was preparing to live their own lives. Maybe, just in case, they would just disappear, leaving me behind. Every time such thoughts came to mind, the strength left my hands and feet and my chest felt heavy.
She had to work hard to prevent that from happening. Asterike knew how to avoid being abandoned.
"Are you ready?"
He nodded to the referee's question. After confirming the answer, the referee left the ring.
Aluminum left a comment saying, "Let's do our best." It probably means that they want to make the game fun.
Of course, Asterike was not the one who did it. She had only one interest.
'I can do it.'
He grabbed his sword, conscious of the officials. Hyun would be watching the match from there. He had to prove his worth, Asterike firmly thought.
Beep!
An electronic signal signaled the start of the game.
The first one to take a step was Aluminum.
Acceleration was half a tempo slower than usual. It was a difference that the players might not notice, but the spectators would not notice. The key was the appropriate amount of hand contact.
'I'm just learning useless skills.'
Aluminum observed his opponent's appearance while mocking himself inwardly. Two decisions came to mind in an instant.
The first was the judgment of the human 'Bodyk'. Mix in a fake and stab the lower body. If you take away the mobility, the next step is simple… .
It's a production that's not even funny. As a player, Aluminum's judgment was different. It's better to just openly aim for the weak point and let him dodge.
It was when I extended my sword to the Meiji.
"...어?"
Aluminum doubted his eyes. The knife had melted and lost its shape. A heat that seemed to cook the flesh whole radiated from his nose.
Since when had Asterike been engulfed in fire? Sticky, bloody lava poured down onto the arena floor.
Even weapons that were not known to be swords or blunt weapons were engulfed in flames. Even in the heat that could melt concrete, the sword retained its original shape.
The spirit of Asterike as well.
Her bright yellow eyes still had their intelligence intact. For the first time, she succeeded in controlling her spells.
Kim Lee-hyun watched it without fail.
'It works as expected.'
The weapon equipped on Asterike, commonly known as the 'Pattakal'. It was a 3-star special weapon, the [Vibranium Composite Sword].
[Vibranium Composite Sword]
[Rating: ★★★]
[Category: Weapon]
[Description: A sword made by an anonymous blacksmith using vibranium discovered near the Shiran Empire. It is incredibly strong, and will not break no matter how roughly it is handled.
… … But this is a sword? Not a baseball bat? What kind of idiot made a toy like this out of this good material? No, I don't know how it was processed in the first place. I'm dying of pity.
- Records of an anonymous agent.]
It is an entertainment item with no attack power correction. If there is an advantage, it is only one.
'No matter how much I strengthen it, it won't explode.'
In theory, it can be strengthened infinitely. Even so, its performance is garbage, so it is considered a toy.
It didn't help the operation at all, but there was a joke that this strange weapon suited Ast.
Title: Looking for Executive Director Astㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
That's the Ast skill setting
Using a medium can reduce the recoil on your body, but the problem is that the output is so strong that no weapon can withstand it.
But surprisingly, the developers have already come up with an answer to this.
That's right
└ Tell me the fuck and go
└ ㅋㅋCorrect answer Patakal
└ Why Patakal?
└ Anyway, isn't the setting really solid?
└ No, that's not it lol
└ Oh?
└ Hmm lol
Naturally, there was no synergy in the system. It was nothing more than an empty theory that it was a perfect match for Ast in terms of the 'setting'.
And now, the theory has been proven.
An Astrid wearing a Patakal can use spells without side effects.
'I feel like the output is weaker than before.'
It was a pity, but it was understandable. The reason Ast's 2nd skill is so powerful is because he uses it like crazy.
The so-called limiter does not work. In fact, Asterike was seen lying down for several days due to the recoil after using the skill.
'If you use it yourself, the power will be reduced.'
I think it would be okay to express it as a 1.5 skill. That alone is enough to satisfy me. The power has been halved, but the versatility has increased significantly.
"This is crazy. C, judgement! I abstain…!"
Kwaaaaah!
A wave of fire rose from beneath Asterike's feet and engulfed the aluminum. The stands became as quiet as a mouse.
The silence continued for several seconds.
"...ha."
With a somewhat rough breath, Asterike lowered the tip of her sword. Immediately afterwards, the flames throughout the arena disappeared without a trace, as if in a daydream.
Not only the ignition, but even the extinguishing went according to Asterike's will. The clothes did not burn either. She finally understood her spell.
"Get out of here..."
Aluminum fell to the floor with his protective suit completely burned. His skin was burned, but his injuries were not fatal.
Asterike gave a thumbs up.
Just like aluminum.
The referee started counting. 10, 9, 8. Aluminum tried to get up but eventually gave up. He had no strength left in his body.
Beep!
The signal to end the game rang.
The audience, who had been holding their breath, burst into cheers as if they had been waiting. Even the commentators called out the winner's name.
A different kind of heat filled the stadium than before. Asterique looked up at the officials' stands, receiving countless stares and applause.
When Kim Yi-hyun's eyes met, a bright smile appeared on his face. Kim Yi-hyun also responded with a smile while holding a cheering stick.
At the same time, next to him… … .
"Shit! This is a hoax!"
"What a fabrication! Asterike did a good job."
"That's… but…!"
Chelsea were blowing their minds.
These were the words of a gambler who couldn't trust Asterike until the end and bet 50 million on Aluminum. He was so angry that his hands holding the terminal were shaking.
"Who told you to betray me?"
"I was the one who was betrayed. When I bet, I lost 4 times in a row, so why! When I was trying to win, you suddenly reversed the bet...!"
"Isn't that skill?"
Chelsea's head turned sharply. A look that could kill a person was glared at Kim I-Hyun. But that only lasted for a moment.
Soon Chelsea was in a state of shock. The puzzle began to fall into place in her brain.
"No way… You, did you bet?"
"What. Just some money."
"how much?"
"I did it small, small."
"So how much!"
He pushed his face right in. Now he was ready to grab me by the collar.
"Three thousand."
"If it's 3 thousand. Since the odds were 9:1…?"
Huh. Chelsea gasped. Her pink eyes began to flutter as if an earthquake had occurred.
Kim Lee-hyeon said, patting his shoulder.
"skill."
My wallet got fatter.