Chapter 60 of Season 1 of The Genius Archer

Chapter 21: Almond's Rampage (3)

Fengsna greeted with a laugh. It seemed that the initial skirmish would take place at the armory. If Almond were to lose there, his journey to Diamond would be over. If he were to drop below 50th place even once, the probability of success would significantly decrease.

"What the hell?! That damn guy!?"

Juhyeok slammed the table.

As mentioned, he was as excited as if he were watching a national soccer match between Korea and Japan. It was understandable, considering the stakes. After all, not only was Juhyeok's life on the line, but Sanghyun's as well. The situation was desperate.

To be sniped by a vengeful Diamond 1 player in the final match of the placement test? It was a moment that made one feel the heavens were indifferent.

"Ah..."

Juhyeok let out a short groan.

"Start working from tomorrow."

His father's voice echoed in his ears. Juhyeok shook his head.

'No way.'

He didn't want to live by someone else's orders, even at the age of thirty. Maybe in a company, but with family? Absolutely not.

He would do anything to avoid that. However, the problem was that the current situation was entirely up to Sanghyun.

'What can I do now?'

Juhyeok pondered what he could do as a manager.

'...'

Despite his usually clear mind, he couldn't think of anything. In such critical moments, there was often nothing he could do.

Grinding his teeth, he thought, 'Think harder.'

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. There was still time before the parachute opened, about five seconds.

During that time, something...

'Faith.'

A strange word flashed through his mind. Faith in this situation? Was he supposed to be a cheerleader?

Did that make sense?

Even at best, it was a battle between a Bronze player and a Diamond 1 player. Moreover, the Diamond 1 player was a sniper.

Faith in such a situation?

Juhyeok's clear mind instinctively rejected such words. Perhaps this was also a trait inherited from his father.

'Father's... inheritance.'

Thinking about it, he realized what his father lacked.

Father doesn't trust me.

He always thought my judgment was far inferior to his, so he always pointed me in what he considered a better direction.

But humans have free will, and sons are often raised in better environments than their fathers.

Why can't you trust the result of your own efforts?

It's a matter of nature.

Our generation calls this a "stereotype."

'Faith!'

Juhyeok's tightly closed eyes suddenly opened.

"Yeah, fuck it. Almond can't lose!"

He shouted something that sounded insane by his standards and suddenly accessed a website.

[Bubblegum Fan Cafe]

He quickly completed the registration and immediately went to the free board.

'Almond can't lose. Thinking that way, I can see it...!'

If he thought Almond could lose, there was nothing a manager could do.

After all, if Almond lost, there would be no other options.

But what if he had faith that Almond would win?

Then a path would appear.

He just needed to make Almond's victory more glorious!

[Just met that 'archer' sniper Fengsna in real time, lol]

The sound of rapid typing. It clearly showed Juhyeok's excitement.

He wasn't thinking with his head.

Thinking with his head, it was crazy.

It was one thing to use a public community, but to use Bubblegum's fan page? Especially against Fengsna?

If Almond lost, it would be a devastating blow.

This was madness.

It was entirely different from the previous match against the Stones. Fighting Fengsna was like a yellow belt facing a black belt in Taekwondo.

Juhyeok was raising the stakes in this fight, even without Almond's knowledge.

However, as he said,

"Win at all costs."

Juhyeok didn't think Almond would lose.

He didn't believe it.

That Sanghyun would be pushed out of the top 90 in the final placement test.

He couldn't imagine it.

[Fengsna about to get a lesson in 1 minute! lol]

"Let's make this interesting! Die, you annoying bastard, Fengsna!"

* * *

I also know.

- Wow, just in time, lol

- The final placement test is always like this~

- This is the final match of the placement test.

- If it goes wrong here, you can't reach Diamond.

- The opponent is also aiming for this.

- Hmm, Fengsna is a real bastard.

- Is he the producer's son? Why isn't he arrested, lol

- Oh, nice.

- So good, lol

- Please die, Almond!

- Is Diamond maybe, 'Almond, die'?

The opponent wasn't easy.

'Diamond 1...'

That was the tier Fengsna was currently estimated to be at.

Three tiers higher than Almond's goal of Diamond 4.

- He's about to drop!

- Will he fight as soon as he lands? lol

- Wow, it's been a while since it was this exciting, lol

The parachute opened.

'He's about to land.'

Think about it.

The opponent probably came with a good understanding of Almond's patterns, which is why he could jump directly to the armory.

It wasn't some celebrity disease.

[Current viewers: 4,221]

A broadcast with 4,000 viewers at this time.

It would probably be in the top ten domestic battle royale broadcasts at this hour.

And he had shown the same strategy for three consecutive matches.

Could there be a more predictable and appetizing prey?

It was the instinct of all veterans to want to stomp on a rising rookie.

Especially someone like Fengsna, who usually played that way, would be even more inclined to follow that instinct.

'Did he come prepared with a plan?'

The opponent must have thought of a tactic and decided to snipe.

This was a game where Almond had a lot to lose, but Fengsna also had a lot at stake.

He must have come prepared.

'Go for a ground fight.'

He couldn't give the opponent time to use tactics.

Whoosh.

Almond leaned his body and moved even closer to Fengsna.

The ground was just ahead.

"!"

Fengsna's eyes widened, seemingly not expecting this.

The two parachutes started to tangle.

- This reminds me of something from a textbook. Was it a kite fight, lol

- Wow, an aerial battle?!

- Normal? No way! I'm Almond!

Fengsna, who was initially flustered, soon smirked.

"Why? It doesn't seem like it will be easy, does it?"

The voice, clear even over the wind, was a simple provocation. A shot at Almond's pride. But Almond already knew that when it came to pride, the other side was much more sensitive.

"Why? You, on the other hand, don't seem to be cut out for Diamond rank, do you?"

"What? You...!"

Boom!

Almond and Fengsna tangled and rolled on the ground.

Bang! Bang! Boom...

They had already landed, too focused on each other to notice.

Almond was the first to get up.

- Wow! lol

- Stomp him to death!!

- Ground and pound, go go

Shouting in the chat, they could have seized the advantage by immediately grounding and pounding. But Almond had no experience in hand-to-hand combat. Moreover, even if he won with hand-to-hand, the game would already be at a disadvantage due to the time consumed.

'I need to find a melee weapon first.'

Almond quickly ran to the armory. Fengsna also got up and followed.

Tap tap tap tap tap.

The two were so focused on running that it seemed like a relay race.

'There it is.'

Almond's eyes sparkled.

A melee weapon was shining on the ground in the distance.

"Haa. Haa."

Fengsna's breathing was audible from right behind.

He was closing in on Almond.

"Whoosh!"

Almond took a deep breath and launched himself.

Swoosh.

He slid on the ground and grabbed a hunting jungle knife, a rare-grade knife.

Fengsna was already running towards another knife.

'No way.'

Almond immediately turned and threw the knife behind him.

Whoosh!

The jungle knife, thrown almost without looking, flew towards Fengsna with a terrifying sound.

If it missed, it would put Almond at a disadvantage.

"!"

Swoosh.

Fengsna dodged by leaning to the right. Almond lost the knife.

But that wasn't all. The next part was even more surprising.

Clang!

Fengsna caught the flying knife with his bare hands, in an unstable position like limbo.

- Hmm...

- Crazy, the skill.

- ?!?!

- Wow, Diamond 1 is different.

- Insane, lol

- X, he grabbed the handle accurately!?

- Wow... I expected it from the assassination grenade, but he's a pro.

Snap!

Despite the incredible force of the throw, he caught it in a strange position, putting strain on his shoulder and waist.

Smirk.

Fengsna laughed. After all, it was just a game.

There was no injury status.

The opponent had no weapon. He had the advantage.

"Die, you bastard!"

Whoosh!!

The knife, thrown with a full-body spin, flew back at Almond like lightning.

Whirr!!

Unlike Almond's throw, it was spinning at high speed.

It was completely different from a normal throw.

- He threw it that way so the other can't catch it like him

- Insane, the play detail.

- This is Diamond 1, wow.

- Monday's X was all for nothing, lol

- Re-evaluating Fengsna... wow

- Don't die, bro ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

- No, don't ㅠㅠ

He increased the spin to prevent the other from catching it like him. But...

- Why are you running forward!?

- Just dodge!

- Wow!

Almond ran straight towards the knife.

'If Fengsna gets the next knife here, it's over.'

Besides the jungle knife, there was only one more weapon in sight, and it was near Fengsna.

Even if Almond dodged the jungle knife, he would have no next weapon.

Almond would have to face Fengsna without a weapon unless he retreated deep into the armory to farm another one.

If that happened, Fengsna would farm guns and shoot at Almond, putting him at a disadvantage.

So he made a decision.

'I'll catch it!'

No matter how fast it was spinning, he would catch it.

Whoosh!

He reached out his hand towards the spinning knife, using all his concentration and heightened senses.

Whirr...

The world seemed to slow down.

'Now...!'

Whoosh... Whoosh...

He slowly inserted his hand between the slow-moving blade and grabbed it.

Clang!

Exactly by the handle.

From that moment, the world returned to normal speed.

- Wow, insane

- Wow, lol

- Huh!?

- He copied it!?

- Did you see that, Almond!!!

- It's a money knife...

- This is also aim...

"What!?"

Fengsna's scream, unable to accept what just happened.

Tap.

Almond's shadow loomed over Fengsna, who was still running at full speed.

Fengsna also threw himself to grab the next knife and raised it to block Almond's strike.

If he blocked this strike...

Then he would have a chance.

But...

"!"

The knife in his right hand moved to his left.

A double clutch, like in basketball.

"What the hell, insane??"

With Fengsna's last words, his knife slashed the air, while Almond's knife cut his arm.

Swoosh!!

A satisfying slicing sound, followed by a gush of blood.

- Wow, like Michael Jordan, lol

- Amazing, really

- Fengsna got it good.

- What the hell just happened!?

Losing his weapon arm, Fengsna lost his combat ability.

"??!"

Fengsna opened his mouth to say something.

Almond's knife was faster.

Thud!

As always, the knife pierced his forehead, ending their intense battle.

[Almond → Fengsna]

[Eliminated!]

[99/100]