4 - Deep Sea Snipers [Bronze 3 Live Sniper Queue]

NoName wasn't thrilled about the situation.

'Games are getting shorter. And more unpredictable.'

For someone who had to smash quests in record time and queue right back up, these snipers were a total pain. They'd drag games out for an hour or end in under 15 with nexus exploding. Unless it was a mythic quest, most achievements didn't pay, so it was just burning precious time. Pure stress buildup.

'Feels like losing 5k won a day. Hope it doesn't keep up.'

With 500k from the docu appearance, simple math said it'd take over 100 days to go red. But still.

Instant queues under a second screamed trouble. The 5-minute wait was awkwardly in-between—too short to do much. Eyes drifted to the community tab. Updates and pro matches? Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her scene. Ego-searching it was.

Mostly blah stuff. As she turned back to queue—

***

"So why do we gotta snipe NoName?"

"2dae-ttorim-nim, lemme explain from the top."

"I get your explanation! And call me by name, not nickname?"

"You set it that way... Anyway, got it, Ye-eun-nim."

Ye-eun skipped mentioning her big bro picked the nick. Point was: NoName trolling for legit reasons, can't speak for some cause, etc. All Se-min's wild theories, but duo favors earned one game.

'I climbed to Silver easy anyway.'

Se-min usually Silver-Gold, fresh from army, just rusty. True, leagues above local Bronzes.

"Think sniping works here? Everyone's doing it."

"Worst case, no loss."

"Can't talk anyway? How chat?"

"Eye signals back, like this."

Se-min blinked Morse SOS, per him NoName's signal. Obscure 50-year-old distress code... Intriguing tale. Videos showed her rhythmic blinks.

NoName queued instantly post-game. Invite-enabled boosted odds.

"Enter?"

Darkness swallowed them, brief void, then vision cleared. Familiar dome lobby for VR gamers. Ten avatars shone under lights—game-specific subs, not mains, hard to ID. Lazy customizers stuck basic with minor flair. NoName among them. No interactions pre-game anti-abuse. Hard to spot troll vs noob.

Se-min scanned. Basic avatars: one ally, one enemy. Please be one.

Ye-eun slouched skeptical. Split queues better? Duo habit kicked in.

Picks neared. Se-min serious gamer, jungled Rammus. All 10 champs locked, countdown gong tolled.

Control seized, champs moved. Long load = old capsule.

Super far!

2-3 mins?

Good for Se-min. Rare in modern capsules. NoName's consistent ancient loads.

Entry: Minotaur gate NPCs handed passes—stats/info windows.

"Take this, adventurer seeking legacy. Pricey—don't lose it."

Tutorial skipped. Se-min checked names.

"There!"

"Enemy tho?"

"Invade."

Pre-fight gank strat. Priority: contact. Ping enemy east jungle. Team grumbled but followed. No scouts unusual.

"Ward?"

"Nah... not wards."

No signs north or east. NoName nowhere.

"This guy's not playing at all."

***

"......"

Warnings blared nonstop. Familiar alerts. Once pondered cramming 3-day quests into 2 for a rest day. Body rejected—fragile kid frame couldn't all-nighter.

Feels like dying. Want to die. Approacher freezes face neutral, body puppet-stiff. Unpleasant detachment. Release: pain doubled. Hurts. Breathing rips trachea. No cough— not real. Limbs crushed per step. Must march to battlefield. System demands. Heart squeezes. Head explodes.

"You alright? Others reached field! Hurry!"

Familiar high-pitched voice: fox-eared merchant Liri. Starting village shoe/potion seller. AI, but closest "acquaintance" this life. Hugged her tiny frame in barren world.

"Wha— why?! W-wait!"

Gag from Liri.

Just a bit... stay, Luri—no, Liri. So tired... was tired.

"This body's Great Yerika Kingdom noble blood! Not for casual touching!"

"..."

"No... nooo..."

Normally blocks prolonged NPC contact. Whatever—buggy body from birth. Fluffy resisted, then snuggled. Warm, kind.

Past life's fading, but mom's memories vivid. Wakes me, preps me, haunts sleep.

"Mm... your mother good?"

"Dunno. Too young. Just... dumbly kind."

Probably. Smart mom wouldn't die for me. Oldest memory: bloodied battlefield, hands clasped.