Chapter 98 of "The Genius Archer's Streaming Season 1"

34. Intense Battle (2)

Bang!

Juhyeok slammed his desk and abruptly stood up.

"...Such a weakness!"

There was a critical flaw in the tactics he had devised. The number of arrows was severely insufficient.

It was fortunate that Almond never missed a shot; otherwise, with the number of arrows available, even the best archer could only manage to kill a few enemies.

This was the fate of those who chose the hospital farming route.

"How can I win this?"

Almond, who had always chosen the armory route, had never run out of arrows.

Moreover, the last remaining opponent never had a legendary weapon.

By looting the armory, he had almost completely prevented the possibility of encountering such weapons.

But this time, the opponent had a legendary weapon and even a legendary helmet.

This was a so-called "top-tier player with a strong edge."

In this game, it was only right for that player to take first place.

However, Almond couldn't just settle for second place. The difference between first and second was extreme.

It wasn't just a matter of first and second.

It was a matter of winner and loser.

The best and the not-so-best.

He wanted to say, "Second place is still a good achievement!" but this was the reality Juhyeok had faced.

The rating system in Battle Royale also reflected this reality.

The score difference was more than double.

If he didn't take first place, he might have to play three more promotion matches, which would be filled with numerous snipers.

That was truly terrifying.

The more matches he played, the less effective Almond's curveballs would become, and his overall condition would decline...

There were many disadvantages.

"I have to take first place this time."

Juhyeok muttered, looking anxious.

Had he ever felt so uneasy while watching Almond play?

It was a one-on-one situation, and Almond had only one arrow left.

Moreover, the opponent had equipment that could withstand at least ten arrows.

"Can this work?"

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

He had already calculated the money at stake in this match.

For Juhyeok, this was not just a game but a war involving millions of won.

- Hey, isn't that takoyaki?

Suddenly, a viewer's chat caught Juhyeok's attention.

It seemed the opponent he was facing was a well-known person.

He needed to keep track of all famous people he encountered during the game.

- Takoyaki bro... Why are you here? 😂

- Takoyaki, why aren't you streaming? 😂😂😂

- Oh, it's Takoyaki? 😂😂😂

- The avatar is Takoyaki.

- What's that, you fans?

Juhyeok also wanted to know.

He quickly searched for "Takoyaki" on Trevi.

He was a streamer.

But he wasn't currently streaming.

According to the announcement, he was in a closed training period.

Juhyeok opened AllWiki and searched for more information.

Sure enough, there were quite a few entries.

He had about twice as many followers as Almond and a glorious history.

He had a past as a professional player for LIL.

Of course, he was now a has-been.

Recently, he had become interested in Battle Royale and once ranked in the top 50.

However, his Battle Royale skills were also now those of a has-been.

This pro player had "lost his skills while getting a hair transplant"...

"?"

Juhyeok, finding it unbelievable, read it again.

It was true.

He had lost his combat skills after getting a hair transplant.

In the past, during his pro days,

he always struggled, but after losing his hair due to alopecia, he suddenly showed his peak form.

People said he had gained skills by losing his hair.

But after succeeding and getting a hair transplant, he became a has-been like a ghost.

"Ha ha."

Despite the serious situation, Juhyeok burst out laughing.

"What is this? Crazy."

* * *

The current opponent facing Almond, Takoyaki, pulled out four arrows and muttered.

"Huff, huff... That kid is so tough."

He honestly thought he had the game in the bag.

This was a game where you win by luck, not skill.

"Phew. This is a perfect match. Damn it."

Even though he wasn't streaming, he habitually muttered to himself.

He had been streaming for too long.

Without a chat window, he seemed to be more focused.

After all, he was about to take first place in the diamond promotion match, right?

Or rather, he was almost certain to take first place.

Based on his extensive experience, this was definitely a first-place finish.

However...

Something felt off.

Takoyaki knew the identity of his opponent.

"Almond, right?"

Among Battle Royale streamers, Almond was a hot name these days.

He hadn't seen him play directly, but he was known as a top-tier player.

Wasn't Almond also in a promotion match today?

They had coincidentally faced each other.

Was this good luck or bad luck?

"Even if it's Almond, I've almost cornered him."

Takoyaki was a strategic player.

He moved after seeing the "edge."

He slowly cornered the enemy, drying up their resources, and used gunfire only for the final blow.

Based on his veteran's intuition, Almond was almost finished.

No arrows left, and he was injured. Considering the time spent outside the blue zone, his medical supplies were likely almost depleted.

He had used all his smoke and flare grenades earlier.

Now, as the smoke slowly dissipated, he picked up his gun again.

He still had half his health left, and he could take four more arrows before dying.

The enemy had only one arrow left.

He might find more, but it would be difficult to find four.

Moreover, Takoyaki didn't intend to let him.

"Let's go."

Now was the perfect time.

If he cornered the enemy and shot him, it would be over.

With this judgment, Takoyaki slowly moved out from cover.

The blue zone would soon disappear completely.

Takoyaki, who had chosen the armory route, had no medical supplies and needed to move quickly.

Tatatata.

With a determined look, he aimed his gun and ran towards Almond.

He shot and destroyed all the cover.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Trees split and fell, and rocks exploded like claymores. This was the power of legendary weapons.

"Alright, where are you?"

Almond was running out of places to hide.

Then, a ominous sound came from somewhere.

Swoosh──

"From the left?"

Takoyaki was surprised. It was clearly from the front, but the arrow came from an unexpected direction.

But it didn't matter.

Even if he was hit, he wouldn't die.

Thud!

He felt a significant impact on the lower part of his vest, but his health only dropped by 10%.

"Now I've won."

Takoyaki's avatar grinned, showing white teeth.

But a moment later.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

His ears were filled with the ringing after the explosion.

The screen went black.

And this text appeared.

* * *

Bang!

The capsule lid opened, and Takoyaki, convulsing, twisted his body.

"Damn it! What the hell!?"

He was so heated that he jumped up, causing both the game and the capsule to shut down.

"What the hell! Did the game crash? Or what...?"

Takoyaki, like a fool, repeated the same words.

After venting his frustration for a while, he finally thought about watching the replay.

He started watching the replay from the moment the four arrows hit.

"Even in the replay, he's crazy."

In third-person view, Almond's skills were insane.

There was a reason he had gained such fame in just a month.

With this level of skill, his peers felt more awe than jealousy.

"Ha..."

Especially the last arrow.

Takoyaki, momentarily forgetting his anger, watched in amazement.

"No way, it curved?!"

The enemy hadn't moved; the arrow had curved.

"Damn."

Thud.

He habitually hit his forehead in admiration.

"I was definitely watching the front the whole time. How did it come from the left?"

As usual, he talked to himself, even though no one was there, thinking he was streaming.

"Here it is."

He paused the video at the point where the arrow hit from the left.

Takoyaki was still advancing, knowing he wouldn't die.

"Something was off from here... Wait."

Takoyaki's eyes widened.

He finally noticed.

The last arrow.

There was a lump on that arrow.

"What the...?"

It was wrapped in bandages.

Clearly, it was a grenade.

"Damn, what a game. The freedom is insane. Damn."

He acknowledged his defeat.

"Ah! I'm so disappointed!" He roared, then entered the capsule again to reclaim his ranking.

Feeling that his newly transplanted hair wouldn't last long.

"The game is so messed up."

He left a glowing review.

* * *

The viewers couldn't believe the numbers on the screen.

-???

-Is this real?

-For real, damn, he's crazy

-Oh my

-Doratnu

-Wow 😂😂😂

-What the hell!?

-I acknowledge Battle Royale as the best game. The freedom is insane.

Despite the numerous chat messages, Almond's camera in the bottom right corner remained still.

He was drenched in sweat, staring blankly at the numbers.

"Did it work?"

He wasn't sure if his strategy would work.

Attaching a grenade to an arrow with bandages.

In reality, it would be impossible. Attaching a grenade would reduce the range and accuracy to 1/10th.

But the reason Almond used this strategy:

"The grenade's weight didn't affect it..."

In-game, the weight of the grenade wasn't felt.

In Battle Royale, grenades have almost no physical weight.

While the trajectory is similar to real life, the weight isn't implemented.

If the actual weight were implemented, it would be too difficult for users, so most weapons are much lighter or almost weightless.

Almond didn't know this information precisely.

He simply felt that this was the only way to win and decided to try it.

"It worked!"

His quick thinking paid off.

The text clearly stated that he had succeeded.

"Ha... Ha ha..."

A laugh mixed with a sigh escaped his red, sweat-soaked lips.

Then, for the first time during the stream, he smiled widely.

It was a radiant smile.

His face, drenched in sweat, made the smile even more dazzling.

Although he hadn't yet been promoted, such things were unimportant.

"This is fun."

He truly enjoyed this.

The intense competition with a real master, the victory, and the 10,000 to 20,000 viewers watching...

- Son! Study hard and become Almond! Son! Study hard and become Almond! Son! Study hard and become Almond!

- Mom, I want to become a walnut! Mom, I want to become a walnut! Mom, I want to become a walnut!

- Almond! Stop being so good! Almond! Stop being so good!

- Almond! Almond! Almond! Almond! Almond! Almond!

- Amazing, Almond! Amazing, Almond! Amazing, Almond! Amazing, Almond! Amazing, Almond!

- Take me, Almond! Take me, Almond! Take me, Almond! Take me, Almond!

- Almond! I'll let you marry my daughter! Almond! I'll let you marry my daughter! Almond! I'll let you marry my daughter!

...

The cheers, the enthusiasm, the names they chanted.

All directed at him.

This gave him an indescribable thrill.

Especially this promotion match, which he had prepared and practiced for a long time. The result of pouring all his efforts into it was incredibly sweet.

Ahahaha.

Laughter flowed naturally.

Why he was happy, what this emotion was.

It was hard to understand.

Eating something sweet naturally made you feel good.

Almond was just letting out the laughter that rose from deep within.

Perhaps after this happiness passed, he would be able to recall and describe this emotion.

A transparent sweat drop rolled down his face.

Swish.

Wiping the sweat with his sleeve, he queued up again.

"Let's finish it."

Now, the diamond rank was just within reach.