Five minutes before the broadcast began.
I was tearing open a bag of potato chips.
The competition would not commence immediately after the broadcast went live.
[To ensure fairness, we will now proceed with the preliminary round group assignments. Haeahn Unnie (TL Note: A respectful term for an older sister or close older female friend)! Please spin it!]
[Spinning it now.]
There were various lighthearted chats and banter.
Only after a brief opening ceremony and similar short events did the preliminary rounds finally begin.
This was only natural.
Given the immense scale of this content, it was inconceivable that they would simply rush into the preliminary rounds with a ‘hurry up and start’ mentality.
Consequently, the available time became even more pressing.
Crunch.
“I’ll have to finish this much faster than I anticipated,” I mused.
While munching on the potato chips, I calculated the time.
Roughly, if I subtracted the travel time to the academy and other preparation time from the two hours available,
I would likely have only about twenty minutes of free time to use in the preliminary rounds.
This was, moreover, based on the most generous estimation.
Considering that reality rarely unfolds as one expects, it would be better to conclude even earlier.
Ding!
A message appeared on the monitor.
[The arena setup is complete. All participants are requested to move to the preliminary round map.]
Crunch.
I popped one more potato chip into my mouth, then vigorously shook my hands clean.
‘Can’t get grease on the game console.’
[As everyone has worked hard to prepare for this competition, I hope you all enjoy yourselves and that it concludes successfully without any hitches. Now, let the preliminary rounds begin. Haeahn Unnie (TL Note: A respectful term for an older sister or close older female friend), please say a few words!]
[Everyone, good luck! (TL Note: ‘Fighting’ is a Korean English loanword used to cheer someone on.) Also, please note that cheating is strictly prohibited. I look forward to seeing you all in the main tournament.]
Listening to her straightforward greeting, I powered on my game console.
[Welcome to Rio World.]
[Starting game.]
[Welcome, Third Life.]
The familiar greeting appeared, as it always did.
Soon after.
[You have entered Sector 8.]
I connected to the map that had arrived via message.
[Time remaining until the start of the competition]
[02:58]
[02:47]
A clock hovered above the map. Most likely, the preliminary rounds would commence once it reached zero.
Calmly observing the dwindling time, I surveyed my surroundings.
Since the map was randomly assigned for fairness, this was my first time seeing it.
‘An empty lot, perhaps.’
A generally desolate and expansive landscape met my gaze.
While there were occasional spots for cover, they were few and far between, making it an ideal environment for a free-for-all brawl.
For players, this map could arguably be considered the worst, especially in a survival-style game where only two individuals could survive, rather than a one-on-one PVP.
“Excellent,” I murmured.
For me, however, it was quite the opposite — a boon.
‘This way, the time spent searching would be drastically reduced.’
An environment perfectly suited for an all-out melee.
Thanks to this, the preliminary rounds seemed likely to conclude much earlier.
I quickly scanned my surroundings, then identified my opponents.
‘That one’s a mage, and over there is a swordsman. Oh, are they trying to form an alliance?’
Since it was a game, unlike reality, one’s profession was roughly discernible from their appearance.
There was no clause in this competition’s preliminary rounds prohibiting players from joining forces with others.
Perhaps for this reason, several players were already seeking party members to group up with.
As I observed them closely, a familiar face suddenly caught my eye.
[DiamondGuardian]
‘Why are they over there?’
[00:51]
****
[Author: BracketChecker]
[Title: Yura is brutally cruel]
[How can the brackets be like this?
(Bracket photo)
DiamondGuardian and Third Life are in the same group LOLOLOL]
– Was the group assignment really random? This smells like foul play…
– Who is that player?
– The one who picked a fight with Third Life, accusing her of hacking, and got crushed.
– LOLOLOLOL
– It was random, they even broadcasted it LOLOL
– That player just has bad luck.
The player was DiamondGuardian.
They were one of Yura’s most devoted viewers.
Thanks to this, they were able to apply for this event immediately.
And with a bit of luck, they managed to participate in the competition.
Their mood had been excellent just moments before, but it plummeted drastically.
‘Why is that person over there….’
There was one particularly troublesome opponent.
Third Life.
The player suspected of hacking.
DiamondGuardian had a history of recklessly antagonizing Third Life.
‘If she had actually been a hacker, it would have been exposed in PVP mode anyway, which is why I was so bold. Who would have thought she wouldn’t be?’
‘If she were a hacker, it would be obvious, so even if I lost, I could post, ‘Ah, this bastard is a hacker,’ and remain a popular user on the forum for catching one.’
‘Even if she wasn’t, custom PVP mode relied solely on raw skill, regardless of level or other factors, so I was confident I could utterly dominate anyone at the same level, which is why I was so audacious.’
After all, it was a battle between an Unemployed and a Knight; I couldn’t even conceive of losing.
In a one-on-one match, the disparity between a Knight, who is considered one level higher than their actual level, and an Unemployed class is as vast as the heavens and earth.
A Knight facing an Unemployed class held an even greater advantage than a Knight engaging in close combat with a Mage.
Consequently, Knights held a significantly more advantageous position in PVP mode.
Hence, DiamondGuardian had been able to act with such unbridled confidence.
Yet, they lost.
And quite miserably at that.
As the memory resurfaced, DiamondGuardian trembled involuntarily, though the tremor quickly subsided.
‘I only need to be among the top two survivors anyway. We’ve even formed an alliance, so there won’t be any problems.’
DiamondGuardian steeled their resolve.
They were currently part of an alliance.
A relatively large alliance, comprising five out of twenty players.
Although they would eventually need to subtly observe each other and seek their own paths once only about seven survivors remained.
DiamondGuardian, however, was not overly concerned, as they had secretly formed a secondary pact with one of the other five alliance members.
‘No matter how strong she is, a group assault will be enough.’
No matter how formidable Third Life might be, could she truly compare to an alliance?
They were confident they would pass the preliminary rounds.
[GoldGuardian: DiamondGuardian, our alliance will last until the very end, just as we promised, right?]
[DiamondGuardian: Yep.]
After sending a casual reply, they realized time had already flown by.
[00:00]
[Peeep!]
[The preliminary rounds begin!]
Despite it being a nearly empty lot with almost no cover, a free-for-all brawl did not erupt immediately upon the commencement of the preliminary rounds.
Instead, all players took their positions and began to eye their opponents warily. With an open line of sight, their locations were exposed. A battle without cover quickly devolved into a game of wits and caution.
In a situation where ambushes, evasion, and escape were impossible, strategic plays like psychological warfare or deception were rendered unfeasible. Ultimately, only raw physical prowess and equipment remained. However, even equipment had been restricted to ensure fairness.
Thus, the only formidable players present were those with high levels.
[GoldGuardian: As planned, we’ll prioritize taking down the high-level players first.]
DiamondGuardian drew their sword.
Considering that they would eventually become one-on-one rivals after this PVP battle, it was prudent to act while still allied.
It was best to eliminate the strong, high-level players beforehand.
However, they were biding their time, wary that an initial attack might draw unwanted attention and concentrated fire.
Swish.
The player who had been standing in a secluded corner moved.
To DiamondGuardian, this player was all too familiar.
[Third Life (Unemployed) has defeated SkinRosen (Mage).]
‘That….’
‘That crazy person is an Unemployed here too?!’
The surprise lasted only a moment.
DiamondGuardian had to regain their composure.
Taking the previous message as a signal,
[Magar (Swordsman) has defeated Yeochaam (Mage).]
The rigid atmosphere shattered, and a free-for-all brawl erupted.
Once one person initiated, others quickly followed suit in succession.
Upon the increasingly chaotic battlefield,
Third Life spun her body. With her sword lightly trailing, she stomped her foot.
With each spin, her center of gravity shifted, altering her direction of movement. A player, who had felt a sense of relief standing in a direction opposite to where Third Life was running, had their neck severed in an instant.
[Third Life (Unemployed) has defeated Tomahawk (Warrior).]
The Warrior’s body, having lost its life without even a chance to defend due to the sheer naturalness of the attack, tumbled across the ground. Though they would soon respawn, it was a gruesome sight, even for a game.
[SilverMoonStationMaster: Get that bastard first!!!]
Such was her overwhelming presence that everyone’s attention was drawn to her.
And as if she had wished for precisely that, Third Life charged even more ferociously, rampaging through the angry pack like a tiger invading a den of wolves.
[Third Life is rampaging wildly.]
[Third Life has defeated…]
[Third Life has…]
[Third L…]
⁝
[Six survivors remaining.]
Even though it was the opportune moment for the alliance to collapse, it did not. Or, more accurately, it could not.
DiamondGuardian held their sword horizontally. Then, aided by game corrections, they unleashed a flurry of skills.
Beside them, allies unleashed barrages of magic, and a player of the Warrior class stepped to the front, attempting to tank.
But the Warrior did not last long.
The front line quickly shattered, and they were pushed back.
[Third Life (Unemployed) has defeated GoldGuardian (Knight).]
The ally, a fellow Knight with whom DiamondGuardian had secretly promised further cooperation, had fallen.
Now, only two alliance members remained.
If they could just deal with Third Life, there would be two of them.
While betraying their remaining alliance member would have been the easier option, DiamondGuardian attacked Third Life.
After all, if they couldn’t stop her here, winning was out of the question. More importantly, a gap had appeared.
DiamondGuardian gritted their teeth and swung their sword. The long blade arced, aiming for Third Life’s waist.
A momentary imbalance in her stance, created when she dealt with GoldGuardian.
‘It’ll hit…!’
Slicing down with their sword at an angle that a level 25 character’s stats could never evade, DiamondGuardian smiled in triumph.
Swish.
?
The sword passed straight through Third Life’s body.
Immediately, a chill object grazed their neck.
[DiamondGuardian: Ah, dammit!]
‘This is why she gets suspected of hacking.’
Slice.
[Third Life (Unemployed) has defeated DiamondGuardian (Knight).]
[Match ended.]
[Sector 8 Survivor: Third Life]
[Record: 5 minutes 29 seconds]
[Ending game.]
****
Ugh!
Whew!
After neatly dispatching the last opponent, I stretched.
DiamondGuardian.
I had originally intended to eliminate them first.
However, seeing their improved skill compared to last time, I deliberately kept them alive until the very end.
It seems they actually listened to my advice.
The post I made on the community forum last time had been worthwhile.
I glanced at the clock on the wall.
Checking the time, I found I had more than enough to spare.
“Now, I should head to the academy.”
It ended earlier than expected.
Indeed, life never quite goes as planned.
I prepared to go to the academy, leaving the furiously burning broadcast chat behind.
