Chapter 22 - Ready for Battle (3)
Ready for Battle (3)
Translator : Elizabeth
01.
Due to the nature of Legend Frontier, where dozens of builds are created and discarded every day, countless classes have been labeled as "OP" (Overpowered) over the years. Builds like the Self-Destruct Bomber, Stealth Berserker, and Full-Damage Ninja have all dominated the meta, only to sink into obscurity following balancing patches.
Currently, the build leading the meta—the one called the "OP of OPs"—was none other than the Spearman employing a tanking build.
The so-called Tanking Spearman was developed by the Rank 10 player, Bi-so-ryong. It was a build that shattered the existing convention that Spearmen must be light and agile.
The traditional Spearman combat style relied on nimble movements to dodge attacks while using their long reach to counter-attack safely. However, their defense was notoriously weak, often leading them to "melt" instantly in the late game. Furthermore, because the class specialized in small-scale skirmishes, its inability to exert significant influence during large-scale teamfights was a major drawback.
Bi-so-ryong overcame these limitations by swapping all skills and items for those dedicated to tanking.
Although the traditional advantage of agility was significantly reduced, the Spearman could now survive the late game with ease and fulfill the role of a front-line tank during teamfights. The attack power lost by focusing on tanking was compensated for by equipping the Guandao (Crescent Blade), the weapon with the highest raw damage among all those available to the class.
However, the Tanking Spearman’s greatest strength lay elsewhere. First was its extraordinary combat endurance. By absorbing enemy attacks with tanking items and constantly restoring HP while dealing damage with the Spearman-exclusive skill 'Vampiric Slash,' they could easily win even in one-vs-many scenarios.
The second advantage was its ease of use. Since the mechanics did not require complex movement or high-level control, the build was famous for being easy for newbies and first-timers to adapt to. There was even a common saying: "Just start with a Tanking Spearman."
Despite a recent patch from the developers that lowered the Guandao’s attack power, the Tanking Spearman remained resilient and powerful.
A massive figure clad in full iron plate. A menacing Guandao held in hand. A peak-tier class that grows stronger as combat persists, eventually cleaving through everything that dares to challenge it. That was the Tanking Spearman.
Given the public evaluation, it was perhaps natural for the challenger, RIMUHA, to talk so big and for the viewers to be worried. To them, it seemed impossible for a bizarre and unstable build like the Speed Swordswoman to break through such an OP class in a 1v1.
All I had to do now was prove that such thoughts were nothing more than premature prejudice.
— Uwoooooooh.
"Ah."
As soon as I entered the Jungle, I stopped in my tracks at the sight of a massive brown golem. Pebbles, dirt, and sand-like particles were tumbling off its body.
"An Earth Golem..."
I muttered blankly.
At the start of every game, a Wood Golem, a Rock Golem, and an Earth Golem spawn at random locations in the Jungle. As golems, all three have high HP and defense, making them difficult to slay. However, if successful, the Wood Golem grants a powerful buff, the Rock Golem provides a large amount of gold, and the Earth Golem rewards a massive amount of experience.
Therefore, this Golem series occupied a spot as one of the three most important monster types in the Jungle, alongside the Hobgoblin and the Golden Monkey.
"Not bad."
I readjusted my grip on the rapier and prepared to take down the Earth Golem. Encountering it early was quite lucky; it would make the plan I had for the 1v1 much easier.
"I wonder if he'll find me on his own..."
If I intentionally dragged out the fight with this golem, the enemy Spearman would hear the noise and find me. Since he was likely overflowing with confidence due to his OP class, he would be looking for me with fire in his eyes, not caring about an ambush.
— Found you.
"…!"
While I was busy striking the Earth Golem and utilizing my skills, a spiteful voice rang out from behind. Turning around, I saw a massive man in thick iron armor pushing through the foliage and charging toward me.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
He was like a rhinoceros charging directly at me. The red aura swirling around his Guandao felt like the physical manifestation of his twisted heart. With every step he took, a heavy wind rose, gouging chunks out of the damp Jungle floor.
Within the iron helm that covered his entire face, a red glow burned fiercely, tracking my every movement. I didn't know what kind of player he was, but I had to give him credit for his tenacity and aggression.
— Die!
Having reached me in an instant, he raised his Guandao high into the sky. The menacing blade gleamed in the sunlight as if flaunting its existence before plummeting toward me, surrendered to the pull of gravity.
True to its OP status, the Tanking Spearman was powerful even in the early stages. The force behind that overhead strike seemed to sneer at the idea that it could kill a mere Speed Swordswoman in a single blow.
"...."
I should have dodged immediately... but I intentionally twisted my body a beat late to evade the attack.
"Ugh...!"
Thanks to the delay, the Guandao grazed my shoulder. My HP plummeted instantly by two-thirds, entering the Orange Zone. If I had taken that hit head-on, I would have been killed instantly, even if it hadn't hit a vital point.
— Uwo, uwooooooh!!
It was such a powerful strike that the Guandao sliced through not only me but also the Earth Golem behind me. The golem's HP, which I had already reduced significantly, dropped to a precarious level.
A faint smile touched my lips. By intentionally taking damage a beat late and forcing the Spearman to reduce the Earth Golem's HP further, the basic setup for my victory was complete.
— I told you not to bluff, you fake btch!!*
I wondered why people felt such hatred and loathing. Even though the Spearman and I were meeting for the first time today, his voice was thick with the kind of heavy rage reserved for a mortal enemy. Was he simply annoyed that someone who looked so manageable—someone he felt he could beat with just a bit of effort—held a ranker position?
...Unfortunately, Legend Frontier has no "Mind Reading" skill. I had no way of knowing what he was thinking, but I hoped this duel would at least change that twisted heart of his.
— Dieeee!!
The Spearman, swinging his Guandao once more, had two choices. First: strike the Earth Golem to finish it off, level up, and unlock his second skill. Second: unleash his rage and hatred upon me, who would die from even the slightest graze.
— Die! Die! Just die already!!
“…….”
Naturally, the Spearman chose the second option. Part of it was likely his hatred for me, but from his perspective, as long as he landed even a speck of an attack, there was no reason to worry about a golem.
"Whew."
But the acting was no longer necessary. This time, I utilized the Speed Swordswoman’s agility to leap backward, easily evading his strike.
"Point Break."
With the setup complete, there was no reason to hesitate. Having perfectly dodged the attack, I kicked off the dirt floor as if it were a starting block and shot forward.
I am an arrow. Applying the self-suggestion that I am speed and speed is me, I used my rapier as a broadhead and sprinted forward like the wind.
— Like that’ll work!
But the Spearman, possessing overwhelming tanking ability, only snorted. He wouldn't be afraid of an attack from a Level 1 Speed Swordswoman.
Whoosh.
The Spearman’s counter-attack came immediately. He swung his Guandao, but the force hidden behind it was like a massive axe blade swinging on a chain. It screamed for me to be afraid, to revere it, but I showed no agitation or fear.
The reason was simple: he was slower than me. Just as a lion of the Savannah does not bow to a weaker creature, I never bow to those slower than me. To me, speed was everything.
"Hup...!"
I slid across the ground, ducking under the Spearman's horizontal slash.
Whoosh.
The Guandao cut through the air with enough force to seemingly tear space itself. The terrifying sound grazed my ears.
— You bubble-btch...*
“…….”
The Spearman's teeth gritted as I easily dodged his attacks twice. Meanwhile, having passed him and his weapon via the slide, I stood before the Earth Golem, whose health was now in the Red Zone.
My target was never the Spearman to begin with. Regrettably, there was nothing a Level 1 Speed Swordswoman could do except dodge. I needed to level up during the duel. Just as an earthworm wanders in search of water, a Speed Swordswoman must find a way to level up and unlock another skill at all costs.
"Point Break."
— Uwooooooogh!!
As I thrust my rapier, the near-death Earth Golem turned into a handful of sand and vanished. Simultaneously, experience flowed in, and I leveled up.
"...Gladiator's Tenacity."
I muttered the name of the skill I wanted to unlock, finally securing my second ability. Gladiator's Tenacity, when activated, significantly increases the caster's Attack, Defense, and HP for a set duration, while adding a small amount of bonus damage to every hit dealt to an enemy. In every way, it was the perfect skill to supplement the Speed Swordswoman’s weak offensive power.
— You insect-like……
Meanwhile, the Spearman—finally realizing he had been used—let out a voice full of fury.
“…….”
I flipped my rapier into a reverse grip and prepared to end the game. If my opponent had been the creator of the build, Bi-so-ryong, it might have been a longer, more interesting fight. But investing any more time in a Master-tier player was a blow to my pride.
— You think leveling up changes anything?!
“…….”
The Guandao flew straight for my neck. I immediately ducked to evade it, then kicked off the ground and leaped, coiling around the Spearman’s neck as I ascended.
— What...?!
Thanks to his heavy armor, the Spearman's movements were sluggish. Now that I was no longer Level 1, he could neither react to nor track my movements.
"...Die."
Perched on his head, I drove the reverse-gripped rapier into his only exposed weakness: his eye.
— Gah!
A solitary scream followed, and then—
[First Blood!][Headshot!][RIMUHA has been slain by SION!]
The feminine mechanical voice echoed across the battlefield where now only I remained.
...Inducing him to attack the Earth Golem for me, taking the last hit to level up, obtaining a skill buff, and then a one-shot kill by driving the rapier into the Spearman's only weakness. The entire process took less than 35 seconds.
"Ahem."
Having successfully won the 1v1, I spoke toward the Speed Swordswoman aspirants who were likely watching this live.
"See? It's easy, right?"
I told you, the Speed Swordswoman is an OP class.
「 ??????????? 」 「 What did I just watch? 」 「 A Swordsman got a headshot... you crazy btch... 」 「 ??????? 」 「 Did she just one-shot a Tanking Spearman????? 」 「 He’s so fast that he can’t even land a hit. 」 「 Wow, she’s like a mosquito. Let’s just rename it the Mosquito Swordswoman, Noona. 」 「 F**, a Speed Swordswoman beat a Tanking Spearman 1v1???? 」 「 Master-scrub cut in 30 seconds LMAO 」 「 Ah, I'm sorry for doubting, Oh God of Speed... 」 [THE GALE] 「 F***, Tanking Spearman is a total bubble. I'm switching to Speed Swordswoman now. 」 「 No, but how did she do that LMAO 」 「 30 seconds?? 30 secoooonds?? 30 SECOOOOOONDS?? 」
“…….”
Perhaps they hadn't expected it to end so simply and quickly, because the chat window was burning with intensity. I left them with only one more sentence.
"A Speed Swordswoman that can 30-second cut a Tanking Spearman... you have to play her, right?"
Ah, what a successful first broadcast.
02.
<AliceLicker has donated 50,000 won!>【Boss, they say Sion started streaming.】
"Huh?"
In the middle of a joyful massacre, a donation rang out. Hearing the message, a girl with black twin-tails raised an eyebrow.
"Sion...?"
Gripping a massive, blood-dripping Death God’s scythe, the black-haired girl muttered blankly. The nickname sounded familiar.
"Sion... Sion..."
Her crimson eyes, tinged with a hint of madness, rolled around as she searched for the answer. Finally finding a clue, she clapped her hands brightly.
"Ah! That silver-haired girl with the weird build?!"
She finally remembered. She had been on the same team a few times in ranked matches. She recalled a ranker who used a strange, eccentric "Speed Sword" build... She had never faced her as an enemy, so she didn't know her exact skill level, but she remembered her being decent. Simply being remembered by her meant the person was worth more than half a normal player.
"She started streaming?"
At the news that Sion had started broadcasting, the girl tilted her head. The black gothic-lolita outfit she wore fluttered softly in the breeze.
"Really? She’s late to the party."
Starting a broadcast now—that was late for a ranker.
"I wonder what got into her to suddenly start?"
— Y-You crazy btch……*
Just then, a sharp Tanking Spearman leapt out in front of the chatting girl. He was the last survivor of the enemy team.
— If we just kill you... only you... we win……
"Is she filming a 'How to make a freak build' video or something?"
The Spearman looked ready to strike at any second, but the girl didn't even spare him a glance, continuing to interact with her stream viewers.
<AliceLicker has donated 50,000 won!>【Nope, it’s a lecture stream, and they say she just 30-second cut a trolling Tanking Spearman in a 1v1 duel.】
"30 seconds for a Tanking Spearman?"
Oh. The girl looked quite surprised. Beating the current OP class, the Tanking Spearman, in 30 seconds in a 1v1 with an unverified, strange build was indeed unexpected.
"But so what?"
It was just that—a moment of surprise. Surprise that a "trash" class beat an OP class. Nothing more, nothing less.
"30 seconds? 30 seconds is too slow."
To her, 30 seconds was average, or perhaps slightly fast.
— Gah!!
"...It has to be 5 seconds for me to even consider talking about it."
Having closed the distance instantly and severed the Spearman’s neck, the girl muttered bluntly. Following that, the feminine mechanical voice echoed across the battlefield.
[Squad Kill!][Enemy Annihilated!][Consecutive Kills!][Slayer of the Battlefield!][Alicia in Wonderland is on a rampage!]
"Whew..."
Having finished off the entire enemy team by killing the Tanking Spearman, the girl let out a deep sigh. To her, a 'Squad Kill'—killing four people in succession—seemed like nothing more than a daily routine.
...Another donation arrived.
<AliceLicker has donated 50,000 won!>【So, any thoughts on doing a 'Normal' game duo or a collab? The hype would be insane.】
"A duo?"
A donation asking if she had any intention of duoing with the newly-debuted Rank 7 eccentric, SION.
"Heh."
The girl—the Rank 1 individual player of Legend Frontier, Alicia, commonly known as Alice—let out a dry laugh.
"Sorry, but,"
She spoke to her viewers with a dismissive smile.
"You know I don't duo with anyone below Rank 4."
...I don't play games with weaklings. Alice added that she didn't play or stream with anyone weaker than the Rank 4 position.
Ding!
One more donation followed. It was from someone else.
<TeamfightLion has donated 10,000 won!>【Um... sorry to rain on your parade, but purely in terms of mechanics and match count, Gale seems better? Gale is a ranker with a minimum match count. If she used an OP class instead of that Speed Sword thing, she’d probably be Rank 1.】
"Heh."
At the claim that SION—called Gale—was superior to her in pure skill and that she was just relying on her class, Alicia raised an eyebrow in interest.
"...Really? It's interesting that you feel that way."
Her red eyes sparkled on the plain.
"Hmm... then I hope we meet as enemies next time."
So I can crush her miserably and ensure talk like this never happens again.