Placement Test Stream Bloodbath
7,947 (NoName) vs 6,650 (Kariri Ch.)
NoName pulls ahead after just 30 minutes on stream!
City walls were originally designed to effectively block invaders trying to enter the city and simplify the flow of battle. Walking along especially tall ones could even make you feel detached from the world inside. Below, the sharp clang of clashing weapons echoed as soldiers' screams mingled here and there, evoking the horrors of an endless hell.
But that lasted only a moment.
Boom! A massive explosion intensified the bloodthirsty frenzy, driving the battle into even fiercer chaos, yet the stalemated front lines showed no sign of budging.
At the end of the narrow perimeter path created by the cramped wall, a knight raised his greatsword high. The blade, sharp enough to slice even wind-tossed leaves, slowly traced a circle toward the front. The gleaming steel crossed sunlight and sea breeze like a declaration.
Too far for voices to carry. So the knight in silver armor and ornate helm resorted to chat to send his message.
Ha. Giving the enemy any leeway was the ultimate taboo for a knight. I slipped my hand between the geometric basket hilt's extensions, gripping differently this time. Cold wind seeped through the branch-like bars, chilling my skin awake. One wall had fully crumbled, funneling gusts this way.
This battlefield uniquely featured a fall damage mechanic. Maybe that's what Nightmare difficulty wanted to teach us players.
Memories of the observatory surfaced. I met the charging knight's gaze head-on with my whole body and walked forward slowly, naturally. His speed didn't falter. A knight with double my health charging a priest? Intentions were obvious. No respect in his movements.
It might've been different if he'd shown awe or fear.
"Hraaah!" A simple path, but the half-beat-faster overhead slash rushed in. A heavy attack at breath's-reach was dangerous. So I never took my eyes off that greatsword.
I endured until the absolute, final moment—then whipped Skia Bona diagonally at the last second. Assuming I'd lose head-on, he committed fully. That complacency only grazed my shoulder.
Yeah, only grazed.
"Huh?" His greatsword's path veered. Off-balance forward, I dove deeper in. Now close enough to count eyelashes.
"Bye."
Skia Bona excelled at space control and spins. The rapier's rotating pommel slammed his solar plexus mid-half-turn. I grabbed his collar, shoved him off the adjacent cliff, and bid farewell.
"You biiiiiitch!"
"Not fighting you."
Approaching cautiously to avoid cheap tricks like before, the priest didn't budge an inch. Ignored—properly ignored—the knight slashed short. She dodged nimbly, abandoning counters, but he pressed relentlessly. No heavy attack mistakes. Another short slash—parried perfectly. A moment of awe.
"Here again. Bye."
"Wha? Wh-wh-what?!" She sidestepped, sweeping Skia Bona wide horizontally. Years-honed male instinct swung the greatsword vertically. Clang! A parry sound both eerie and satisfying. The priest flew back, slamming the opposite wall.
'Yes, nailed i...!' But no ground under the knight's feet.
Second fall death.
"..."
Skilled sword gripper. Self-aware now, the knight ditched his sword for brawling, sacrificing health.
"Bye."
"Why? Why why why why why?!" Airborne instantly—sky to ground, ground to sky. Hard to imagine easily lifting that bulky frame, yet he kept challenging her.
"Bye."
"Bye."
"Don't you speak Korean? Goodbye."
"Au revoir."
"Damn it!"
Seventh fall. Victory irrelevant now. She wouldn't even clash blades. 0/7/0. Brutal stats just 10 minutes in. Meanwhile, she'd farmed 10+ kills somehow.
She never returned home base. If she'd bought items and stats, he'd have bypassed the wall for the outpost. But this path tested his pride.
He didn't just want "bye" in multiple languages.
"Hoo..." Overhype cooled his head. The knight approached slowly, hoisting his greatsword sky-high before slam! Dropping its mass at her feet. Deeply embedded, it cracked the sturdy wall floor. Composed, left on hilt, right over heart—he declared his will.
"Bye? Nah, I'll keep coming back. Until I beat you here."
Dead seven times, useless now. Even 10 minutes pure growth might leave him dead weight till end. But he'd won and lost countless times in World of Arceria. Experience taught: win the last fight for sweet reversal fruit, no matter the losses.
"Think I'll quit?"
Plus, seven falls fueled unquenchable rage. Vowing to force a proper swing, he tossed his helm, drew the greatsword.
"Finally."
"...?"
She thrust Skia Bona forward. Lowered center, rear foot dug in—dirt shifted.
"Ha, about time you fight for real, bitch."
"Just got your stance right. That's why."
"Stance means mindset?"
Her level-up had boosted priest health and attack to knight levels. Perfectly even now. Resolved, he filled his lungs, veins bulging in eyes. Blades crossed, clashed, shrieking fiercely. Neither buckled or bounced.
Thrust piercing right thigh blocked. Greatsword rending left torso deflected. Recovered swiftly for next moves. Clang! Dead center clash. Sparks flew in devouring power struggle. No breath, no blink. Battle peaked, every nerve locked on each other, situation shifting wildly.
Finally clashing properly, breath to chin—he realized: all read. Her one-hander faster than his greatsword, yet she never overextended. Waiting to crumble.
He exhaled fully held breath.
"Haa... haha... Aaaah! World of Arceria is so damn fun fr! This is why I can't quit!"
Na-me's laughter endured. Knight stamped forward, yanking greatsword. Head-on futile, but she excelled at close quarters too. Induce bad parry, disarm only way.
Her pupils fixed on his arm and shoulder—he crouched like a sprout, then whipped wide. Simple heavy. One graze fatal for her, but fearless woman would parry like before.
His eyes widened in shock—he'd planned last-second cancel for control.
'Not moving?'
Against expectations, no action. If committed, he'd have taken her pretty neck. She didn't twitch.
'Read this far?'
But ingrained simulation couldn't cancel. Whoosh! Heavy auto-canceled, greatsword arcing empty—Skia Bona arrowed, shredding his gut viciously.
Blood gushing, he knelt, hands to ground, head cracking cold brick. Heart pounded—not from height, but anticipation of more such thrilling fights.
"Hahaha, you're fucking good. Wait right here—I'll be back."