Chapter 52 of "The Genius Archer's Streaming Season 1"

18. Unexpected Audience (2)

-???

-What?

-????????

The chat window started to fill with numerous question marks.

Almond's play was not something that could be simply admired with a "Wow."

It was a scene that called for question marks rather than exclamation points.

Indeed, it was a mystery how such a play was even possible.

-Did you bounce the grenade back with an arrow?

-Crazy lol

-The Assassination Grenade was already amazing, but to bounce it back, Almond...

-Wow, this one was really amazing.

-Ha... As expected, Almond :’(

-No kidding. Literally.

The opponent's skill was also incredible, to the point where it was hard to believe they were just a regular Stones player. The precision of the grenade was evident to anyone who knew the game well.

It was a trick known as the "Assassination Grenade," a technique used by seasoned players.

The timing and position were too precise to be a coincidence. It was a performance that only players at the Diamond level or higher could show.

That's why Almond's counterplay shone even more.

Almond, who was just in his second match, not only defended against the seasoned player's attack but also executed a perfect counterattack, even while distracted by the chat window.

This was practically an impossible feat.

"Wow. Finally got the helmet. Even if it's just a rare grade."

However, Almond, the one who achieved this, was only happy about getting the helmet.

He had no thoughts about the opponent.

He just thought, "I shouldn't spend too much time on the chat window," and put on the helmet.

Click.

Now, he looked at the minimap instead of the chat window.

"Of course. The farthest away."

The next blue zone was very far from Almond, practically the farthest point. As always.

-LOL

-Now it's familiar...

-What, this calmness? LOL

-Practically Blue Zone vs. Almond

There were still 30 seconds left.

"I'll go right away."

Almond had to move much faster than others.

Because of the damn blue zone.

In this game, nothing could stop Almond except the blue zone.

As the activity area narrowed, the number of people killed by Almond's arrows increased.

Not only Almond, but other players also engaged in chaotic battles, and in no time, only five were left.

Among them was the famous streamer, Balloon Gum.

With another alarm ringing, Almond checked the minimap.

He, of course, had to move.

"I'm going to finish it now."

Only five were left.

The game would likely end within five minutes.

* * *

At the moment this notification rang.

Balloon Gum, an ordinary Stones player, brought his right eye to the precious 8x scope he had just obtained.

"Alright, everyone. I'll use this to kill people coming through this pass to avoid the blue zone?"

His solemn words made his viewers laugh.

-LOL Balloon Gum, go!

-Is this a new kind of meme?

-You should use your fists, sir.

-LOL With a sniper rifle? LOL

-Oh, Balloon Gum was just killed in the kill log LOL

-Why is Balloon Gum here?

A sniper rifle is a great item. Especially when you have a good position like Balloon Gum, it's almost invincible.

It's not strange at all to say he would use a sniper rifle to eliminate players in this situation.

Still, people laughed as if they had heard something unbelievable.

They laughed in the chat and even through donations.

It's rare for someone to donate just to type "LOL." It's that funny.

"Ah, everyone. You're ignoring me again? I might take first place if you keep this up?"

The chat window was flooded with laughter again.

The reason they laughed was simple.

Skill.

Balloon Gum's skill was extremely poor.

The probability of getting first place in a match of 100 players is 0.04%...

It's a rare skill indeed.

"Ah, I'll show you?"

Regardless, Balloon Gum laughed and focused.

He took the game quite seriously. He even held his breath to adjust his aim.

'Maybe I can finally get first place this time.'

His current position was too good.

He was already in the center of the blue zone, at a high altitude, and equipped with a sniper rifle with an 8x scope and a ghillie suit with camouflage.

It was a perfect setup for farming, the blue zone, and everything else.

He was the king of luck.

"Ah, they're coming."

A few blurry figures started to appear in the distance.

Crackle.

People were running hurriedly to avoid the blue zone's movement.

-Oh, they're really coming.

-Three of them?!

-Oh, man...

-If he kills all of them, it will be a 1v1 situation, right?

-Or, could Balloon Gum win?

Even the viewers who had infinite trust (or lack thereof) in Balloon Gum's skills were anxious because of how advantageous the situation was for him.

Five were left, and three of them were within shooting range.

If he eliminated them, it would be a 1v1.

Moreover, all three were unaware of Balloon Gum's presence and were running while keeping an eye on each other.

-Sigh. After emptying all his magazines and missing every shot, Balloon Gum will say, "I had bad luck"!

-Please, God of PUBG! Kill Balloon Gum just once.

The chat window filled with malicious prayers.

Balloon Gum took a shallow, tense breath.

Huff.

He held his breath slightly and aimed.

The focus wavered but then stabilized, following the direction the opponent was running.

Now.

He silenced his heartbeat and carefully pulled the trigger.

Bang!

With a deafening gunshot, one of the opponents fell.

Thud.

-???

-Why did he suddenly fall?

-Did Balloon Gum hit him? On the first shot?

-LOL

-?

Balloon Gum fired the sniper rifle, and the targeted opponent fell. It was clear that Balloon Gum had killed him.

Still, question marks filled the chat.

Balloon Gum's skill was that unreliable (or trusted?).

"What, what? Did I really hit him?"

Even he couldn't believe it.

His eyes widened when he saw the kill log.

"!"

His mouth dropped open, and the chat exploded.

-Wow, LOL

-Balloon Gum!

-Can he do it?

-Wow, who are you?

-What the 129?!

-Huh? LOL Is it a bug?

-LOL

-Give us Balloon Gum!

Balloon Gum swallowed hard.

Two out of three were eliminated.

'N, next one...'

With a trembling aim, Balloon Gum targeted the next person.

He pulled the trigger again.

Bang!

With the gunshot, another figure fell.

Thud.

-??

-Eh?

-What...

-Wow

-??????

Again, the chat window was filled with question marks.

"Ha ha. How about that? I told you I could do it, everyone."

This time, Balloon Gum was overconfident and even drooling.

But after seeing the kill log, he was speechless.

"Uh...?"

It wasn't me who killed him?

Balloon Gum focused on the next person running.

That person had killed him.

The chat window was flooded with "LOL."

-LOL

-Of course, LOL

-The legendary Balloon Gum wouldn't do that!

-The man of 6 magazines, no kills

-0.04%! 0.04%! 0.04%! 0.04%! 0.04%! 0.04%! 0.04%! 0.04%!

-The man of 0.04%!

Viewers chanting Balloon Gum's 0.04% win rate.

"Ah... Who took my kill...?"

The person who took the kill was holding a bow.

A compound bow.

"That guy. What's a bowman doing here? I'll kill him and take first place."

It's very rare to see someone with a bow when only 20 are left.

He seemed to have been hiding in one spot and only started moving now.

That makes it easy to kill him.

'I have the advantage.'

Against a bowman, even if he misses a few times and it turns into a close-range battle, Balloon Gum would still have the upper hand.

Balloon Gum was aiming through the scope again.

Just as he felt his aim was on target.

"!"

He made eye contact with the opponent.

At this distance... It's impossible.

'How did he know?'

With an 8x scope and a ghillie suit.

How could he see me?

'Even if he knew, what could he do? Just... shoot.'

The sniper rifle has a much longer range.

Even if the compound bow uses a pulley to increase tension, it can't compare to a sniper rifle.

Not only does he shoot first, but he can shoot multiple times. The sniper rifle is overwhelmingly advantageous.

Moreover, the opponent was standing still.

"Standing still...?"

Creak.

The opponent was aiming at Balloon Gum with the compound bow. An impossible distance for a compound bow.

How could he hit someone at a distance he couldn't even see?

"The range is too far. That guy looks like a beginner. I'll kill him, everyone."

With a confident statement, he pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The gunshot rang out, and the opponent fired an arrow.

"!?"

Clang!

A strange sound was heard, and the arrow broke in mid-air.

And the opponent was unharmed.

"......What did I just see?"

-???

-Did the bullet get blocked?

-Ah...

-LOL

-Bug collector Balloon Gum

-What is this, really? LOL So funny

At first, it was thought to be a coincidence or a bug.

"Ah. Something ridiculous is happening."

Balloon Gum, being a streamer who often encounters strange events, just laughed it off.

"Again..."

The opponent was still running towards Balloon Gum, bow in hand.

Balloon Gum pulled the trigger again.

Bang!

The gunshot rang out again.

"Is it over?"

He had a feeling. He was sure he hit.

Bang!

But again, a strange spark flew in mid-air, and the attack was nullified.

The opponent was still running.

"......Ah?"

Unbelievable, but it happened twice, so he couldn't deny it.

"Did... did that guy just block my bullet with an arrow?"

-Oh, no way LOL

-But it looks like it LOL

-With an arrow??

-Crazy LOL

At first, he denied it.

But it happened again.

Bang!

-Oh, it's real.

-Really, it is

-He's insane.

-Three times? Then it's skill?

-It looks like a bug.

-Wow...

-Is this Stones?

-LOL

Approximately 50,000 viewers were excited.

"I'll shoot again. He's running straight towards me now."

Balloon Gum said this and quickly brought his eye back to the scope.

His aim was starting to waver due to his confusion.

But...

'Wait, the distance...?'

Suddenly, the distance was too close. Just as he thought that.

Bang!

His precious 8x scope broke.

Thud.

The arrow that broke the scope pierced Balloon Gum's right eye.

"Ugh!"

Balloon Gum's avatar let out a final scream and fell.

Even with a helmet, it couldn't protect his face at the Hero grade or below.

The headshot判定 resulted in a game over.

Third place. After farming so much...

He lost the championship at the last moment.

Although he was extremely disappointed, Balloon Gum laughed it off.

"Wow, everyone. Third place is still good~"

-LOL

-Oh, right

-A bronze medal is still good!

-But who was that person just now? Let's watch him!

-Bro, let's spectate! LOL

-Ah... Really, so frustrating...

-Crunch. Crunch.

-My teeth hurt, bro!

Many viewers were grinding their teeth.

Balloon Gum tried to change the topic.

"Ah, right. Who was that bowman? I'll spectate him."

He decided to spectate the bowman who showed that strange play.

Approximately 50,000 viewers got to watch Almond's first solo final.