Chapter 23

EP.23 Why is the Holy Maiden holding a greatsword?

The 'Holy Maiden' hastily lowered her head to avoid the blade flying from a blind spot.

Her long hair, like a kite caught on a string, hurriedly chased after her small head, but there was no way to avoid the blade completely, and the ends of her hair were cut off with a swift chop.

Against the backdrop of the severed hair fluttering like gold dust.

Having evaded the blade, a powerful fist now came at my character's chest.

I managed to avoid the attack by inputting a command the moment I recognized it.

However, the attack from the knuckle-wrapped fist did not end there.

The 'Holy Maiden' was the target of relentless attacks aimed at her face and chest...

Even if the customization was hidden, I would have immediately recognized who it was.

There was only one person in this tournament who could display such skill as a knuckle warrior.

Indeed,

it was Goldsun.

It was impossible to block or evade all the rapid attacks.

Fortunately, I had 'Pain Resistance' as a sub-ability, so I only avoided attacks to the head to prevent fainting from a concussion, and blocked or took the rest as appropriate.

But the attack with the knuckle-wrapped fist did not end there.

Indeed, even a warrior known for his composure like Goldsun must have been caught off guard by such a countermeasure,

as he could not immediately react and was unable to cancel his pre-inputted actions, getting caught in my intent.

Using the handle, which I swung with both hands,

I struck his extended right fist, knuckles and all.

By a momentary judgment,

using the unfamiliar handle,

I managed to counter an attack that was difficult to see coming.

This bold technique left Goldsun's character no choice but to retreat significantly.

Even at the cost of giving up the advantage of the distance where he could have maneuvered freely,

he was trying to find the time to steady his breathing and gauge the timing.

It also included the intention to buy time to heal his injured right hand with a priest's healing.

Of course, I had no intention of letting him do that.

This was a golden opportunity that might never come again.

Following my instructions, the Holy Maiden took a step forward.

In fact, using the handle is not such a difficult technique for high-ranking players who have thoroughly explored the possibilities of their weapons.

Although there is the risk of instability and unfamiliarity, overcoming this can serve as a clear counter to break the opponent's combo timing, as I did just now.

It has been ten years since Lethe started service in Korea.

The level of players has steadily improved over the years,

and techniques that once earned praise in professional games are now being attempted and yielding results by users who are confident in their weapon handling.

As the game evolved, players naturally began to learn how to counter such handle techniques,

and it was the kind of thing that a top-tier player like Goldsun, who is close to red, would certainly have mastered.

But what is the result now?

He is completely caught in my trap.

Because he underestimated me?

A player as wise as him?

Even if the natural formation of a包围圈 due to my reckless charge into the enemy base,

and even if it led to a three-to-one fight in close combat,

he would not have let his guard down and would have been confident in wearing down the 'Holy Maiden's' health steadily and surely.

...

...

So, if the 'Holy Maiden' had been holding a mace,

then Goldsun would not have been caught in this technique.

But even such a cautious and meticulous person,

could not have predicted that a greatsword user would display a technique using the handle.

Indeed,

the 'Holy Maiden' is now holding a greatsword.

Lifting the sword, which is taller than her, with her delicate hands,

she stands alone in the center of the enemy's formation, with no allies to back her up.

“...”

My thoughts were long.

Now is the time to focus.

The Holy Maiden, following my command, lunged at Goldsun.

***

This is,

before the official match began,

or rather, before it even began,

the story of the very moment before.

Just before the match began,

during the time of selection and prohibition.

During the time when each team's bans and picks were made, the coach's voice echoed.

“Let's just do what we've been doing. Follow the strategy and it will be fine.”

In response, everyone gave confident and varied replies.

In Rainbow Tales, the term 'ban and pick' refers to the process of selecting and prohibiting weapons and sub-abilities.

While this does not occur in quick match games, in ranked games and professional tournaments, the ban and pick process is conducted using a cross-selection rule.

Although the number of bans can vary depending on the battlefield, the basic rule is that the team captains of both sides prohibit and select difficult-to-handle characteristics or weapons,

and in situations like this, where the opponent can be identified, they prohibit what the opponent is particularly good at.

These prohibited items cannot be used by any character on either team.

This is a developer's arrangement to maintain the tension of the game, which could otherwise become monotonous, and to allow players to adjust the balance to some extent.

This is a game before the game, and it is natural that it has a significant impact on the match.

Thinking about the opponent's intentions, how to break them, and how to leverage our team's strengths to help the players perform at their best,

is one of the reasons why coaches exist in the professional world.

The coach, who also serves as a coach, continued.

“Lady Holy Maiden, let's ban 'Body Techniques' and 'Crisis Detection.'”

“Okay.”

Given that matches can be decided by the ban and pick alone, the choices must be made carefully.

I followed the coach's instructions and banned two sub-abilities.

This tournament follows a simplified rule where only sub-abilities can be banned, not weapons or main abilities.

Of course.

The streamer battle we are currently in is different from both ranked games and professional games.

Most of the gathered players are users known as 'masters,' who have focused on a single build.

In my case, it doesn't matter because I have the basic abilities and weapons that cannot be banned, but for others, it's different.

Imagine a greatsword user who can't use a greatsword, a berserker who can't use a berserker build, or a fire mage who can't use fire spells—it's terrifying to think about.

To prevent such a situation that would be uninteresting for both the players and the audience, the organizers have taken good measures.

Perhaps because he has experience in professional play,

Coach Effort's ban and pick skills are quite excellent.

The coach's ban and pick, which hides or deceives the team's strategy, has played a crucial role in our victories so far.

“I can guess how the opponent will come out.”

The opponent's bans were made without using all their time.

They quickly banned the 'Feast of Blood' and... 'Final Desperation' abilities.

This was clearly a targeted ban aimed at weakening the berserker, who is our team's main carry.

Despite having two of his main sub-abilities banned, the berserker seemed somewhat proud.

“There are times when even abilities everyone thought were useless get banned.”

While 'Feast of Blood,' which recovers a certain percentage of health with each gush of blood, has been banned a few times, 'Final Desperation,' which activates when health is down to 1-2% of maximum, being banned was unprecedented.

This is because, in the nature of the game, it is rare for health to be reduced to just a fingernail's worth,

and thus, situations where 'Final Desperation' activates and helps you survive a critical situation are rare.

It certainly proves its worth when the ultimate skill 'Rage of the Immortal' is used to prevent health from dropping to zero, but that's all.

It's a sub-ability that is reluctant to choose just for that, and thus, it is usually not banned.

But this time it was different.

Because of my existence as the 'Holy Maiden.'

While it is embarrassing to highly evaluate my own skills, it is the truth.

My healing skills are of exceptional quality, and in a situation where I focus on the berserker, I can predict his environment and the damage of the next hit to preserve just enough health to keep him from dying.

Of course, this is only possible if the berserker trusts me...

The best example of this was yesterday's match,

and the opposing team, which had made it to the finals, could not ignore the existence of an ability with a clear return, despite its difficult activation.

Once both teams' bans were complete,

it was time for the picks.

“Lady Holy Maiden, let's lock in the berserker's weapon and abilities first. It will be a bit difficult if we get more counters.”

“Sure.”

After the bans are complete, one player from each side selects and simultaneously reveals their weapon and abilities.

Once revealed, the weapon and abilities cannot be changed, and this process of finalizing the selection is called locking in.

The reason we wanted to pick the berserker first was simple.

After this selection, another round of bans would come.

While 'Feast of Blood' and 'Final Desperation' are fine, if two more targeted bans or further delays in selection were to come, the berserker's build could collapse.

The berserker is our team's undisputed best player.

Even if he faces counters in the next round of bans, it is the right judgment to give him as many useful and familiar abilities as possible.

I started selecting the berserker's abilities.

If someone asks why I am selecting his abilities, it is because after all selections are complete, players within the team can exchange their completed abilities.

However, only the ten selected abilities and weapons can be exchanged in their entirety, not just a few sub-abilities.

So, changing the order of picks has no other meaning.

In this game, only the first player in the selection order has the right to ban, so as the team leader and the one with the best communication with the coach, it was natural for me to be the first player.

So,

I chose the greatsword and selected the berserker's abilities.

After carefully checking for any mistakes,

I finalized my selection.

...I didn't know at the time that this was the beginning of the story of how the Holy Maiden ended up using a greatsword warrior build.

Author's Note:

Thank you, openmu, for your 50 coin donation!

I'm not sure if I explained the cross-selection rule properly.

I think it goes like this: Red team 2 bans -> Blue team 2 bans -> Both sides pick and reveal weapons and abilities -> Blue team 2 bans -> Red team 2 bans -> Both sides pick and reveal weapons and abilities -> Red team 2 bans again -> Blue team 2 bans... but it was harder to express in writing than I thought.

Actually, the setting is not that important.

I wrote this as convincingly as possible to justify why the Holy Maiden would use a greatsword warrior build,

so rather than thinking about the lack of explanation, just remember that 'the Holy Maiden is using a greatsword warrior build.'