Episode 208: Ranked Match Veteran
Ranked matches were a different kind of fun than the Hunter’s League.
First of all, the most unique and interesting thing was, of course, the ‘rank score system’.
Starting at 1,000 points, the highest players by season often exceeded 5,000 points.
This system of showing off a kind of ‘fighting power’ was used to encourage competition among players, and by broadcasting the matches with the highest ratings, it was also used as a kind of spectacle.
Of course, there were some shortcomings compared to the Hunter’s League.
‘There are many Awakened people who are excellent as Hunters but are not very effective in 1v1s. In addition, compared to the Hunter’s League, there are many areas that are determined by ability.’
When an Awakened person with attack ability fights an Awakened person without attack ability, it is not much different from a fight between someone with a weapon and someone with no weapon.
Instead, there was a system to compensate for that, but… … to be honest, it wasn’t very popular.
The fact that you can employ [Mana Equipment] without limitation. This is definitely to ensure that even if you lack abilities as an Awakened, you can sufficiently cover up your other outstanding abilities as a Hunter, but it also requires understanding and proficiency in each [Mana Equipment].
Of course, it would probably be a very good weapon for me to use with limited abilities.
Tiring -. Number 173. Matching completed.
He went out wearing a mask so that no one could recognize him. He wore a suit.
The reason I wore a suit rather than something comfortable to move in was simple.
‘Since I’m doing it for fun, it would be fun to try out a proper concept play.’
I had the feeling that the hunter had no choice but to be a spectator.
While others bring in all kinds of equipment and wear special clothes to maximize their abilities, he stands tall and proud wearing a suit without anything.
Of course, that wasn’t all.
‘It is said that when Chairman Lee Geun-taek went up and down the tower for the last time, he wore a suit to symbolize the end and to signify that he was leaving work.’
Since I have received relics from Chairman Lee Geun-taek, it may also have some meaning in carrying on his will.
***
With the matching completed, we were moved to a familiar place.
I haven’t played a single ranked match this season, so the score I got was exactly 1,000 points.
It probably won’t be a difficult opponent.
But sufficient caution was clearly necessary.
It’s a kind of ‘conceptual work’, no, a disguise to hide the strategy and training direction. So, there are restrictions that I can’t use the unique weapons or abilities that I originally enjoyed using.
‘First of all, things that can easily guess who I am… … ‘Gun’ is obviously not possible, and ‘Magic Engineering Weapon Conversion’ is the same. But even ‘sword’, Yoon Han-gyeol, who I taught swordsmanship to, would probably recognize me after seeing my swordsmanship… …
After thinking about it carefully, I realized that it really wouldn’t be easy.
At that moment, I was wondering what to do to deal with the opponent.
The opponent stepped on the airbeat and rapidly accelerated, swinging his sword and rapidly closing the distance.
‘Airbeat… … is that it?’
In order to reduce the disadvantages caused by ability, there were no restrictions on wearing mana equipment in ranked matches.
It’s not common, but I think this is the only way.
Shaaaak -.
I avoided the guy’s horizontal slash by leaning back as if in limbo.
And at the same time, I lay back and tumbled. I threw the airbeat towards my feet, activating anti-gravity.
The result, of course, was a strong thrust, and the guy’s chin hit me square in the face as I was returning to my knee.
Crack -.
‘Airbeat wasn’t just for moving, was it?’
I’m sure there was someone who used it like this in the past, to assist with martial arts.
Since it was right before the return, there was no information about the guy who had yet to appear, and my memory was vague.
‘Um… … But aren’t you going to attack more?’
I was so deep in thought that I forgot about the existence of the opponent I had kicked with a strong backflip.
When I looked back in surprise because there was no follow-up attack, the opponent had already fallen.
Victory! [1045 points] +45 points
The propulsion force from the recoil caused by the ‘airbeat’ was stronger than expected, but the destructive power was beyond imagination.
I had a feeling that I might have underestimated the power of mana equipment.
Silk Mana Equipment includes Air Dash, Air Beat, Air Anchor, Mana Bomber, Invisible Cloak… … … …
There were a lot of equipment inspired by the abilities of relics, but I wonder if we haven’t been understanding them enough so far.
Perhaps, because they are so accustomed to the ‘Hunter’s League’, those who play ‘Ranked Matches’ have become accustomed to fighting using only a few pieces of mana equipment and their own abilities.
‘But maybe in reality, if you attack while handling dozens of mana equipment, it might be more difficult?’
Of course, that skill level would need to be incredibly deep… …
It occurred to me that maybe I could do something funny.
***
Ranked matches continued into the afternoon. During that time, PER’s team members were not scattered and only played ranked matches.
While taking breaks in between, we chatted with the coaches. While waiting for our matches, we gathered in small groups and chatted about trivial things.
“Hey, Yoon Han-gyeol. So what’s your score now?”
“Me? Now I have 4917 points.”
Although they were on the same team, most of the gathered team members looked at Yoon Han-gyeol with their eyes wide open.
That would be the case. The current ranked player’s score is around 5100 points. There wasn’t much of a difference.
“What, when did you upload so much?”
“Don’t you know that while you guys were always playing, I came here alone and played ranked matches?”
Yoon Han-gyeol said with a victorious smile. There were many who found fault with those words, but perhaps because the score was so high, they didn’t seem to have much of an impact.
Besides, it seemed like Yoon Han-gyeol was more interested in something other than his own score.
“By the way, more than those things. Aren’t you curious about how high Chang-Hyeon would go if he really did this? I think he could set an all-time record for the entire season.”
“Changhyun? Ah… … .”
“If it’s Chang-Hyeon, it’s possible. To reclaim first place… … .”
“By the way, where is Lee Chang-hyun now?”
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The PER team members who were resting on the bench started to watch the numerous ranked matches that were currently taking place, wondering if…
However, the awakened person, presumed to be Lee Chang-hyun, was not seen.
“Coach, didn’t you tell me where Chang-Hyeon was going?”
“Ah. I heard you guys were working too hard, so you said you’d rest a bit while you guys were playing ranked matches. Last time, Gilhan said the same thing to you. Changhyun is the one who’s having the hardest time, so you should give him some encouragement.”
Lee Jong-gyu said with a bitter smile.
Of course it was a lie, but I couldn’t help it because I had asked my teammates to hide the fact that I was playing ranked matches.
But that was only for a moment.
Kim Do-jun, who was observing the people who were diligently playing ranked matches regardless of what Lee Jong-gyu said, shouted.
“Wow. Hey, look at that guy. He’s a total dog.”
The end of the place Kim Do-jun pointed with his finger. The ranked match taking place there was clearly a strange and alien sight to anyone who saw it.
The opponent is using his abilities, shooting water in a flashy manner, burning with fire, and building a wall out of dirt.
The Awakened party opposing it was not using any abilities of note.
… … Of course, if that were the only thing, Kim Do-jun wouldn’t have said that.
“That guy just beats up his opponents without even using a weapon and attacks them in a flashy manner.”
Yeah, it was kind of vague to call it a battle.
He mercilessly strikes his opponent with his knees, and mercilessly strikes his opponent with both hands like a hammer, seemingly casting spells to bind them with water and spitting out brilliant fire.
Because it was a scene of primitive fighting.
Since everyone basically handled weapons, this chaos, which looked like a fight between back-alley thugs, was bound to be shocking.
Of course, the Hunter was a Hunter, and his ability to use Airbeat to instantly accelerate and increase destructive power, or to use Air Anchor to maneuver, was top-notch.
Nevertheless, Yoon Han-gyeol said something after seeing that scene.
“Dojun, what you said is true. If someone had that level of ability, he would have just cut down his opponent with one blow without having to beat him up like that if he had a sword. But to act like that… … .”
I thought that unless he had some special martial arts ability, he might be behaving like that out of malice towards his opponent.
“You’re deliberately toying with the other person… … .”
“Yes. The score range is at most 1500 points. I can only see it as bullying the opponent with low scores.”
There were occasionally such evil hunters, but that didn’t mean the PER party paid much attention to them.
“Even so, I don’t really care. Anyway, it’s already been concluded that such martial arts-type attacks have their limits in the Hunter world.”
Not only was martial arts eliminated from the Hunter world, but the attire itself was formal. There was no way martial arts could be the main specialty.
He was just an average player who did some concept work, for some reason. He was nothing more or less than that, so PER’s team members ignored him and moved on.
“Those who intentionally commit massacres of civilians with low scores should be punished. Don’t you think so? By the way, Dojun, what is your score now?”
“Me? I haven’t done much recently because I’ve been researching mana equipment.”
“So how many points is it?”
Kim Do-jun felt a sticky intention to tease him from Yoon Han-gyeol’s sly expression as he kept asking questions, so he ended up leaving.
“I told you, you have that side to you more than you think.”
Han Ji-soo looked at Yoon Han-gyeol pitifully, but Yoon Han-gyeol didn’t even blink.
Meanwhile, the mysterious concept that was briefly dismissed as a joke earlier had already surpassed 2,000 points and was approaching 3,000 points.
***
“Whewㅡ.”
Even though the scores were low and each match ended quickly, I felt like the series was a bit tiring.
Still, the income earned was quite substantial.
It was quite meaningful to try out different mana equipment for each round.
‘Mana Protector can also be used more aggressively than you might think. In addition, for types that use abilities in a wide range, you can disrupt their control by spraying Mana Dust… ‘
There was much more I could do than I thought without using my abilities.
Of course, up until now, the score range has been low, so even though my skill level is low, my opponents have been able to hit me well.
‘The real game starts now.’
Now the score is slowly reaching 3,000 points.
It was a score range where players from the first division began to advance in large numbers from the upper ranks of the second division.
Last time, the 2nd division players who had a hard time, or maybe the PER teammates who are currently being matched in ranked matches?
I started out with the intention of running to first place, but now is the real beginning.
‘Yoon Han-gyeol has been acting cocky lately. I wonder what his expression will be like when he gets beat up and finds out it’s me.’
I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of surprising her.
fantasy,
