I, therefore, possessed a certain level of confidence.
After all, I had been playing Spiral for years.
Frankly, I was confident that no matter how much they tried to intimidate me with phrases like “Impossible difficulty,” I wouldn’t fail.
“……Why isn’t this working?”
–If the developers gritted their teeth to create this difficulty, it might be a bit tough…
–Are you losing?ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
–Shit, they practically performed a ritual for you to lose at this point
–A declaration of defeat… I guess I have to make one?
–Hyeon-io is, after all, a loser from a bygone era…!!!
–Take that back…!!! Those words…!!!!
Yet, it wasn’t working.
A wave of bewilderment washed over me as I fully grasped that fact.
[ Annihilation Battle ]
▶Annihilate all enemy units.
The objective of Impossible Mode was the same as before.
Just kill all the opponents in front of me, and it would be over.
Yet, those very opponents had abruptly evolved from a trio of pathetic goblins.
Twin-Headed Ogre x1
“……Is this even possible?”
An ogre with a pair of large, ugly heads.
While the underlying logic utterly eluded me, the creature’s dual heads somehow endowed it with precisely double the stats of a standard ogre.
Considering ogres are fundamentally designed as field bosses for low-level zones, even with scaled-down stats, a Twin-Headed Ogre in a tutorial was utterly absurd.
So I got absolutely crushed.
Five times, no less.
“This won’t work.”
With a decisive sigh, I cleanly tossed aside the colossal greatsword I had been wielding.
I was no senseless fool; attempting to defeat that creature as an Impact Warrior was simply futile.
–This is right, yeah. How can you beat that strength-for-strength?
–But is there an answer if you pick another class? I don’t even think it’s possible to beat it in the first place.
–It’s just ridiculous. In a tutorial, lolol.
“It’s beatable. Though you probably won’t believe me.”
Having only demonstrated utter defeat thus far, it was entirely understandable that my words lacked credibility.
Nevertheless, invaluable lessons had been gleaned from those preceding failures.
[ You have selected Magic Swordsman! ]
[ Granted Weapon – Crystal Sword ]
A one-handed sword, much smaller than before, appeared in my hand.
True to its name, the blade was crafted from crystal, rendering its hardness and strength significantly inferior to a metal sword unless bolstered by enhancement magic.
However, this was inconsequential, as the class did not rely solely on pure swordsmanship.
The Crystal Sword was a kind of medium.
Serving as a catalyst to transmute mana into potent spells, it functioned much like the staves wielded by mages.
“Flame Brand.”
With the incantation, the blade instantly burst into flames.
Unlike other magical professions, which demanded precise coordinate calculations for spellcasting, this class allowed magic to flow forth effortlessly with a mere flick of the wrist.
Consequently, it became a popular choice for aspiring mages who struggled with rapid spell calculations.
Indeed, it had once been a recommended beginner class in Spiral 1.
–Wow, they picked the crappy Magic Swordsman lolol.
–No, I thought it was a Magic Knight, but why Magic Swordsman……
–Magic Swordsman is still shortened to Magic Knight, isn’t it~ It’s practically the same~
–These guys go from gods to 봊 (TL Note: 봊 (bojot) is a vulgar Korean slang term for vagina. The chat is making a crude joke about how a minor difference in class name can drastically alter its perception from ‘god-tier’ to ‘worthless.’) with a single character lolol.
However, the class demanded a simultaneous mastery of both close-quarters and ranged combat sensibilities in player-versus-player engagements.
Even for those who managed to excel at both, the class was largely abandoned due to its notoriously low potential ceiling.
While I was unsure if any significant improvements had been implemented this time around, a cursory inspection revealed no substantial deviations from its predecessor.
“This is better than I thought.”
Of course, I had no complaints about that fact.
Since I had chosen it with the previous game’s Magic Swordsman in mind.
“Start it.”
“Yes-! Starting nowww-!”
As the slightly exasperating fairy’s voice chimed, the magical restraints binding the Twin-Headed Ogre dissipated.
Kwoooaaaargh─!
[ Your Defense has been reduced by 30% due to ‘Ogre’s Roar’! ]
Following that guttural roar, a system message materialized.
At the very least, this alone rendered the choice of a conventional, sturdy melee character utterly meaningless.
Such characters typically compensated for low agility with sheer durability.
“Haste.”
Conversely, the Magic Swordsman, despite possessing notably low durability for a melee class, boasted a relatively high agility stat.
Applying yet another self-buff, I thus achieved a speed that, at the very least, could contend with the ogre’s formidable pace.
Kwooaaaargh─!
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump─!
With eyes wild and bloodshot, the creature lunged forward.
Its momentum suggested it would tear apart anything in its path, and indeed, it possessed the raw power to do so.
Realistically, a mere Level 1 character, equipped with what was essentially a provisional class, would struggle immensely to inflict any meaningful damage.
After all, the creature was perpetually imbued with damage reduction modifiers.
Kwang-!
With a single, devastating punch, debris from the floor scattered violently in all directions.
Though incredibly resilient, the ogre possessed the power to dispatch me with a single blow.
It was, quite frankly, a creature so unfairly powerful it bordered on cheating.
But, I could win.
This was not a conclusion born from dispassionate, logical analysis.
Instead, it was a steadfast belief that victory was attainable.
Whoosh─
The incoming fist appeared to move with a subtle, almost imperceptible slowness.
This was no mere illusion; the ogre’s strike genuinely arrived with a fractionally delayed timing.
“You see, brain nerves cross over from left to right. Did they intend to represent that? I’m not entirely sure… but this creature’s left head controls its right side, and its right head, the left side.”
While the Twin-Headed Ogre’s two heads initially suggested an absence of blind spots, the information relay between them proved sluggish.
Consequently, the strategy of evading horizontally while launching an attack was a rather widely known tactic.
Whoosh─
Naturally, if that alone sufficed to fell the beast, then every player would have accomplished it effortlessly.
Beyond mere theoretical knowledge, one had to actively exploit each head’s blind spots, precisely anticipating the timing and trajectory of every incoming punch.
Whoosh─!
As I dodged its third punch, I sensed a surge of raw power behind the blow.
Seizing the inevitable opening thus created, I plunged my sword deep into the creature’s ribs.
Pook-!
Kwoooaaaargh!!!
The Crystal Sword, now ablaze, sank into its flank, and a monstrous shriek reverberated, mingling with the acrid scent of burning flesh.
Whoosh-! Whoosh-!
The enraged beast thrashed its arms wildly and indiscriminately, yet I remained elusive.
After all, I hadn’t died to you five times for nothing.
–Holy sh*t, he dodged all of that? How is that even possible?
–No, his melee combat sense is incredibly good? Why did he raise a mage in the previous game lolol.
–You’ve already proven the high potential of elemental magic, so let’s drink to that, lol. But seriously, this is insane.
–He’s better than that Wolves guy, it seems? *Chat blocked by manager*
–No way, he’s even doing moderation while playing the game lolololol.
The chat window, without exception, erupted in a chorus of praise for my tactics.
As if in direct response, the creature let out an even more desperate, guttural howl.
That colossal bulk, which had initially appeared so indomitable, gradually began to sluggish.
Observing its strength slowly ebb away, a smile touched my lips.
“……But it looks like this attempt won’t work?”
–?
–No, wasn’t he almost done?
–Suddenly, this is so frustrating lolol.
“That guy, he has pretty good regeneration.”
An awkward smile graced my face as I watched the wound slowly mend itself.
True to my word, I ultimately succumbed after ten minutes of relentless kiting and attacking.
–Holy sh*t, is this a 켠왕 (TL Note: 켠왕 (kyeonwang) is a Korean streaming term meaning to stream continuously until a specific goal, usually clearing a game or a difficult stage, is achieved.)? I saw his first Magic Swordsman attempt 2 hours ago, and he’s still going lolol.
–The host is super focused, not even looking at chat lolol.
–He’s not NOT looking at chat. Someone mentioned that incident earlier and got banned for 30 minutes… Only the host has chat manager privileges.
–It’s going to be dawn, just die already, please!!!!!!
–No way, he’s going to end the stream just clearing the tutorial, seriously.
The relentless attempts at clearing the stage persisted for a considerable time thereafter.
Finally, on my 142nd attempt, I vanquished the beast, ignoring the accompanying fanfare of the fairy’s “Congratulations-! Congratulations-!” as I spoke.
“……I did catch it. I originally planned to stream for about 6 hours, but it’s been 10 hours and 30 minutes. See you tomorrow, everyone.”
–Holy sh*t, he’s actually ending it, lolololol.
–Regardless, a human triumph! Congrats congrats congrats congrats congrats.
–You’re truly the first person I’ve witnessed clear the tutorial and then immediately end their stream. I concede that point, yeah……
–Seriously, I’ve never seen such a gamer lolol.
Concluding with that cacophony of astonishment and congratulations, I finally terminated the broadcast.
“……Ugh.”
Above all, a profound exhaustion had settled over me, making any further streaming an impossibility.
****
Upon its release, Spiral 2 once again unleashed a tremendous craze.
It skillfully preserved the originality of its predecessor while elevating the overall quality, earning unanimous praise for its approach to incorporating most of what players desired.
The newly introduced tutorial system, in particular, sparked much discussion, as it not only allowed players to experience all classes beforehand but also received acclaim for its improved combat AI.
However, there were also complaints about the difficulty being excessively high, particularly sparking debate within international communities.
[ r/spiral ]
[ u/ trolbam ]
▶ Has anyone chosen Hard difficulty or higher in this tutorial? Personally, I think this difficulty is absurd.
Especially Very Hard or Impossible… even pros almost never clear it and give up. It makes me wonder if it was even designed to be cleared.
Upvotes: 1775 Downvotes: 35
Rabbit, one of the largest Western communities, was also engaged in the same debate, the crux of which was that difficulties beyond a certain point felt deliberately malicious, as if designed to spite players.
While the reward disparity for clearing these tutorials wasn’t overwhelming, some argued that since a tangible difference existed, the game developers should have been more cautious in their design.
The argument posited that only a select few ‘golden hands’—essentially professional-level players—were reaping the best rewards.
Just as this was solidifying into the prevailing opinion within Rabbit, a video brought by one user completely overturned the sentiment.
[ r/spiral ]
[ u/ ringkyu ]
▶ lol, I didn’t realize so many people would whine that the game is ‘hardcore.’ Even in the tutorial!
This tutorial, simply put, is easy enough for an Eastern boy to clear. A pretty boy, barely seventeen, casually cleared it as if for fun.
I’ve attached his photo and video below; check it out if you don’t believe me!
Upvotes: 3977 Downvotes: 1549
The post caused a tremendous stir.
Although the content of the post was factually inaccurate and largely filled with trolling, it did contain a kernel of truth.
An attractive Eastern boy, whose looks rivaled those of famous male influencers, had indeed cleared the Impossible difficulty with a seemingly effortless demeanor.
–Holy sh*t, is this real? What have I been doing? I wasted 4 hours on Normal difficulty XD Upvotes: 366 Downvotes: 4
L_Sister, I spent that much time on Easy lol Upvotes:85 Downvotes:2
–There’s a man who looks like that AND is good at games? Why aren’t unicorns real? Upvotes:214 Downvotes: 9
–Okay, I get that Koreans are good at games. But does even a young boy have to be like that? Ralox would lose to that boy in 30 seconds! Upvotes: 49 Downvotes: 21
–I’ve decided to go to Korea right now. So, if I go to Korea, I’ll find ‘봊잘남’ (TL Note: 봊잘남 (bojatnam) is a vulgar Korean slang term for a man so handsome he is universally attractive to women.) playing games too? Upvotes:121 Downvotes:29
L_Wake up from your dream, sister. Upvotes:167 Downvotes:1
Thus, the broadcast video began to spread through Western communities, eventually becoming the biggest topic surrounding Spiral 2.
[ Male streamer going viral in overseas communities lolololol ]
[ Smiling Korean 봊잘남 (TL Note: 봊잘남 (bojatnam) is a vulgar Korean slang term for a man so handsome he is universally attractive to women.).jpg ]
[ Glorious 봊잘 (TL Note: 봊잘 (bojat) is a vulgar Korean slang term, used here as an adjective to describe someone extremely attractive.) streamer raising national prestige lolololol ]
[ Hyeon-io finally mentioned in official Spiral 2 news lolololol ]
As this news was re-imported, it once again ignited a massive craze.
“……What is it again?”
While everyone else was happily discussing the hot topic, only the person involved sighed at the situation.
