Rio World was widely lauded as the game closest to perfection.
It boasted unparalleled realism.
Its recreation capabilities were outstanding.
It was the epitome of an over-technology that remained utterly incomprehensible.
Yet, even such a game occasionally encountered problems.
The current hacking controversy was no different.
Typically, hacks existed to enhance specific modes or certain aspects of gameplay.
However, the hack suspected of being used by Third Life involved control assistance and forced stat increases, among other things.
Yet, the proof Third Life offered was, of all things, a PvP match.
Few could comprehend why PvP had been chosen for this purpose.
‘Surely they didn’t suggest it just because they wanted to fight…?’
Even Yura, who had formed a near-correct hypothesis, found it incredibly difficult to accept such a thought as the truth.
Why?
Because it violated conventional ‘common sense.’
Simply put, this action was perceived as ‘a strong individual revealing their power to prove themselves to the weak.’
An ordinary person living in a rule-of-law nation would expect an individual to present clear evidence to prove their innocence, thereby satisfying everyone.
However, Yura and many others failed to realize that the place where Third Life had originally lived the most lives was a world where laws existed, but power reigned supreme.
It was a world where strength alone proved everything.
This character’s very existence demonstrated that their way of thinking still belonged to that era.
Their appearance was utterly unlike that of an eight-year-old boy.
They were a relic of the past, unable to embody their current outward form, clearly indicating that their foundation remained rooted in that other world.
Nonetheless, Third Life had not proposed a PvP mode without careful consideration.
They believed that through this struggle, they could definitively expose each other’s capabilities, allowing people to recognize their true skill.
This was a match where stats and professions were set under identical conditions.
The decisive factor in this contest was pure capability—in essence, control.
The current controversy surrounding Third Life involved suspicions of hacking, such as forced stat increases.
The PvP match was initiated with the idea that they only needed to prove it was raw skill, not stat manipulation, that made the difference.
However….
Just as Yura had anticipated, such a method of explanation only provoked resentment from everyone.
It failed to serve as a clear defense.
[You’re still telling me this bastard isn’t a hacker?]
[If you only look at the PvP mode control, isn’t it not?]
[I bet my right testicle that Third Life is a hacker.]
[Seriously, I came in because they said they’d explain the hacking controversy, but they’re just endlessly doing PvP bets?]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ The hack master couldn’t explain their hack, huh?]
Once doubt had taken root, people were unable to consider other possibilities, leading them to judge with a biased perspective.
****
At that moment, a user urged a streamer specializing in PvP to play a PvP match.
–A user sponsored 1,000 won!–
[Fifty thousand won if you play PvP mode]
[Alright, for today’s broadcast, I’ll try playing some PvP. Oh? Why are there so many people here?]
The streamer, who happened to be out of content, accepted the mission, and it was only natural for them to enter the PvP mode, which had an abnormally high number of spectators.
****
The streamer, Haeahn (TL Note: A shortened name meaning ‘immeasurable insight’), was a fairly skilled broadcaster in Rio World.
They were a gamer who enjoyed PvP mode, a feat only truly skilled players at a semi-pro level or higher could accomplish.
Haeahn’s main content revolved around showcasing thrilling duels in PvP, and viewers were utterly engrossed by the dopamine rush they provided.
Thus, everyone expected today to unfold in a similar fashion.
Haeahn asked their opponent if they wanted to PvP.
The answer came swiftly.
[(Third Life) PvP, yes.]
Despite the somewhat impolite tone, Haeahn simply brushed it off.
Having played countless PvP matches, they had become immune to all sorts of profanity and profane insults.
Compared to that, this level of discourtesy was practically angelic.
[(Haeahn) Are you perhaps streaming?]
[(Third Life) ?]
[(Haeahn) Oh, it’s just that there are so many spectators.]
[(Third Life) Nope.]
Haeahn had assumed they were entering a streamed match.
Upon reconsideration, if it were a broadcast, there would be no reason for so many spectators.
Wouldn’t watching the stream suffice?
So, where did this massive number of spectators come from?
[(Haeahn) I’m streaming, is that alright?]
[(Third Life) It’s fine. Come in.]
The answer to Haeahn’s question came from the viewers.
Among those watching the broadcast, viewers who had checked the community forums left comments in the chat.
[Isn’t that the hacker guy? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[?]
[Haeahn, that player recently had a hacking controversy.]
[Oh, the backseat gamer guy ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Is this for real? Today’s content is hacking and PvP?]
[Time for a real lesson!]
With so little information, it was difficult to grasp the full context, but the general flow was discernible.
‘So there was a hacking controversy, huh?’
Haeahn momentarily regretted entering this room.
As someone who only believed what they saw with their own eyes, Haeahn did not immediately judge their opponent to be a hacker based solely on others’ opinions.
However, the mere existence of a hacking controversy was problematic.
If they were to fight, they absolutely had to win.
Losing would tarnish Haeahn’s image as an accomplished PvP player, which they had painstakingly built over time.
Not fighting was an option, but backing out now would only make it seem like they chickened out.
Either way, they had to fight, and winning was the best outcome.
Haeahn began to set up their build.
What kind of opponent would they be facing? Seeing them wield a sword, were they a swordsman?
If so, it would be better to wear them down with long-range attacks from a distance rather than engaging in a direct frontal confrontation.
If the opponent truly was using a hack, a close-quarters battle would be insurmountable.
Therefore, long-range combat was the optimal choice, and a magic-user class seemed most suitable.
Haeahn had a particular knack for magic-users.
They considered various magic-user builds but ultimately tailored one around mobility and long-range attacks.
Their plan was to maneuver around and attack.
[Sniper mage ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Haeahn is clearly aiming to stomp them.]
[Ohh, that super annoying build.]
[The game begins.]
The game started as soon as the build was finalized.
‘First, let’s observe how they fight.’
Haeahn immediately retreated.
A large-caliber sniper rifle was clutched in their hands.
Distance was swiftly created.
Having invested everything in mobility and long-range capabilities, the gap between them widened dramatically.
Did the opponent not realize that they shouldn’t give a mage, fully specialized in long-range combat with a sniper build, any room to create distance?
Why were they standing still?
Observing Third Life, Haeahn saw them calmly holding their sword low, simply gazing back.
Were they not planning to move first?
They couldn’t be so foolish as to not understand the implications of giving a mage distance.
Where did such confidence stem from?
Skill? Or a hack?
Well….
‘I’ll know once I see for myself.’
[(Third Life) You go first.]
Just then, a message arrived, instructing them to make the first move.
Upon receiving these words, Haeahn had no reason to hesitate further.
*Click*.
They took a stance and slowly took a deep breath.
Casting a vision correction spell, they then strengthened their body to brace against the rifle’s recoil.
After preparing several other spells, when the crosshairs aligned perfectly with the opponent’s head….
*Bang!*.
With an overwhelming gunshot that seemed to tear eardrums, the bullet flew.
Fired with auxiliary spells like recoil assist, elemental enhancement, precise shot, and tracking bullet, the projectile was set to pierce Third Life’s head without a moment’s hesitation.
This was why, when facing a simple swordsman, a mage and sniper rifle combination was incredibly overpowered, provided a few conditions were met.
Couldn’t one simply hit the opponent comfortably by shooting from afar?
Third Life appeared as if they wouldn’t even know a bullet was coming, seemingly poised to take the hit directly.
However, even after a considerable amount of time passed, no impact sound or message indicating a successful hit appeared.
‘What is it? A glitch?’
As Haeahn pondered, Third Life charged forward.
*Thud-thud-thud!*.
The speed at which they charged was slow.
Having chosen no class, they received no class bonuses, making their movement speed significantly slower than that of other classes.
Thanks to this, Haeahn gained another opportunity to fire, and this time, with the distance shortened, they could discern how Third Life had evaded the previous shot.
*Bang!*.
The bullet flew straight.
It was much closer than before, yet Third Life remained untouched once again.
Haeahn finally uncovered the secret.
Third Life’s gaze never left them.
They were observing every detail—the direction of the gun, the subtle movements of Haeahn’s shoulder muscles, the moment they took a deep breath—and reacting by stepping forward more than a full pace in advance.
Such reflexes and athletic ability, almost akin to precognition, stemmed from that chilling gaze.
‘They’re reacting by directly observing?’
Haeahn’s senses, honed through countless PvP matches and real combat, spoke clearly.
This was not the behavior of someone using a hack.
If it were a hack, they wouldn’t even react in the first place.
Furthermore, hacks had a characteristic moment where movements would cut off.
Since they wouldn’t react but instead automatically dodge attacks, unnatural movement patterns and disjointed actions would be displayed.
From Haeahn’s perspective, there was not a single hint or sign of such behavior from Third Life.
Their evasion was terrifyingly beautiful.
Haeahn wished to observe them further, but time was running out.
‘When did they…!’
In the brief moment Haeahn’s attention wavered, Third Life had almost reached them.
Haeahn attempted to respond by using a mobility skill to retreat, but.
With the soft incantation of ‘Body Enhancement,’ Third Life’s speed suddenly surged, and a shadow fell before Haeahn’s eyes.
And then.
*Slice*.
[Third Life (Unclassed) has defeated Haeahn (Mage).]
Only now did Haeahn realize their opponent’s class was Unclassed.
Staring at the screen, now stained red, Haeahn muttered to themselves.
“This person is a hacker…?”
It couldn’t be.
