A Stroke of Accidental Genius

Cheers erupted across the arena! The staff members on standby to run the tournament tried to restrain the crowd in a panic. "E-everyone, please! You can't do this! This is a live broadcast!" But once a crowd gained momentum, there was no stopping them. It had started as a joke, but as the chant of "Take it off!" echoed, even those who hadn't cared before began to join in. It just looked too fun to miss out on!

"You've still got undergarments beneath that armor anyway! What's the big deal?!""Yeah! There's absolutely nothing wrong with it!""Fight in your underwear! Fight in your underwear!""Live up to your guild name, you cowardly paladins!"

The paladins were utterly bewildered by this unexpected reaction. Pan-On was not populated solely by rational people. In fact, many players just wanted to watch the world burn for no reason at all! If the paladins actually stripped off their armor, the crowd would probably jeer and call them hideous, but they chanted anyway, knowing full well the players wouldn't actually do it.

"Ignore them, you fools! Once the match starts, we won't even be able to hear them!" "Yes, sir..." The guild leader's firm shout helped the members steel their resolve. Yet, a lingering question remained in their hearts. Can we please, for the love of God, just change our guild name?

"Their guild name might be bizarre, but they definitely have skills," Ju Ga-yeon remarked, looking down at the arena.

"Is that so?" "Their teamwork is perfectly synchronized. You don't get that kind of coordination overnight. On the other hand, over there... it looks a bit sloppy?" Ga-yeon pointed toward Jeong Su-hyeok's team. Waiting in their anteroom, Su-hyeok's team exuded an aura of awkwardness and disarray. They were the very definition of anxiety, panic, and sheer tension!

"D-don't be nervous. We just need to do what we did last time." "But last time, we were practically wiped out before Su-hyeok pulled off that crazy comeback..." "Exactly! So we just have to do that again!" "That sounds incredibly reckless, though..." To ease his anxious friends, Jeong Su-hyeok spoke up.

"Guys, there's actually one good thing." "...?" "Because there are so many eyes on us, the opposing team is much more likely to play right into our hands." "...!"

It was true. With the crowd growing by the second, the Paladin Guild had no choice but to worry about public perception. Unlike Su-hyeok's team, who only cared about winning, the paladins had a reputation to maintain!

Boom! Boom! Boom! The drums signaling preparation echoed. In ten seconds, the anteroom doors would open, and both teams would enter the arena. From that moment on, all outside noise would be completely ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blocked—it would be a space entirely their own! "...Start!" Whoosh! Su-hyeok and his friends charged forward without hesitation. They had nothing to lose, which meant they could afford to go all-in! "Let's go! To the center!"

Meanwhile, the paladins were deliberating in front of their own base. "Guild Leader, what's the plan?" "First, we head to the front of the central base. If all five of them show up, we'll... fight them head-on as promised. If not, we split up immediately and capture the other bases."

Normally, if you knew the opponent was going all-in on one spot, there was no reason to play along. There were three bases in total; capturing the other two to secure buffs before converging would be far more advantageous. If Tae-hyun had seen this, he would have clicked his tongue and muttered, And that's why you guys always get scammed, you suckers. The paladins were throwing away a golden opportunity for victory all for the sake of a "fair and honorable" fight!

Flash! "...!" The waiting paladins spotted the five players arriving at the hill of the central base. "We kept our word and came! If you want to fight, bring it on!""If you don't show up, you're officially cowards! Deal? Huh? Deal?!" "..." "Those motherf—!"

Sometimes, simple taunts were far more effective at provoking someone than complex arguments. "Guild Leader, I still feel like we're letting them dictate the pace..." one of the guild members said hesitantly. This was the same member who had been suggesting they split up and capture the other bases from the start. Of course, the pride-conscious guild leader couldn't bring himself to accept that.

"...Fine. In that case, you stay here." "Sir?" "I don't think they're lying about having all five of them at the central base, but just in case we go up there and find it's a trick, you head straight for the other bases. Whether they're empty or guarded, you're skilled enough to hold your own." "Understood!"

The Paladin Guild Leader wasn't a complete fool. In the past, he would have charged up with all five members to fight, but his previous encounters with Tae-hyun had forced him to grow. This was his version of a contingency plan! "Let's go! Move out!"Thud, thud, thud, thud! The four paladins began ascending the hill, their heavy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠armor clanking with every step.

"They're coming!" "Get ready!" Whoosh—thwack! One of Su-hyeok's teammates was an archer. The relatively slow paladins climbing the hill made for excellent targets. However, the paladins didn't even blink as they deflected the arrows with their shields.

"Do you really think you can beat us just because our levels are equalized?!""Our fundamental skills are on a completely different level!" the paladins roared as they charged. Though frustrating, Su-hyeok's teammates had to admit it. They didn't have the confidence to block incoming arrows with a shield while sprinting like that. That kind of control could only be forged through countless battles!

—A curse to slow their feet... "...!" "A curse is coming! Prepare to reflect it!" —A small silver shield to reflect the curse!—Protection of Devotion!

The paladins' reaction speed was remarkable. The moment they sensed Su-hyeok preparing to cast a spell from atop the hill, they immediately activated their counter-skills. If he had actually cast a curse, Su-hyeok's team would have been thrown into disarray by having their own spell reflected back at them. However...

—Kahladan's Lightning! Kahladan's Lightning! Kahladan's Lightning! Kahladan's Lightning!

What followed was none other than Kahladan's Lightning, Su-hyeok's specialty! While he lacked the tactical flexibility to rapidly cycle through a diverse arsenal of spells, his casting speed for this single, stubbornly mastered spell was absolutely insane. He unleashed a relentless barrage of magic, pouring out his MP until it was completely drained!

"Lightning?!" "It's not a curse?!" The paladins were caught off guard, but they didn't stop. Halting now would be the worst possible move. They had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to push through the onslaught, reach the mage, and disrupt his casting at all costs.

Crackle! Zap!

"I'll tank! The rest of you, break through!" —Shield of the Ornate Crest!—Protection of the Spreading Crest!

The guild leader's shield flared with a brilliant light, expanding in size. It was a defensive skill designed to block frontal attacks! On top of that, he cast a recovery skill that rapidly restored his HP. Although he regretted having to use these skills so early, he didn't hesitate. With their levels equalized, he couldn't afford to underestimate the magic of even a seemingly clumsy opponent. Taking a few direct hits would spell disaster!

"Uwooo... Huh?" Suddenly, a shadow loomed overhead. The paladins, who had been entirely focused on the incoming Kahladan's Lightning, were startled by the sudden darkness. Why was a shadow falling over them now? They got their answer almost instantly.

Whoosh—BOOM!

"Gahhh!"

A devastating blow that shaved off a massive chunk of their HP in an instant! The paladins had never expected a giant boulder to rain down from above, leaving them completely defenseless. "What the hell?!" "How is this..."

But the onslaught was only just beginning. A barrage of random spells was triggered, matching the number of times Su-hyeok had cast his magic! —Song of Death Echoing Everywhere!—Toxic Sleep Mist!—Pouring Rain of Fire Arrows!

"Aaaaargh! My eyes!" the paladins shrieked. "Aaaaargh! Su-hyeok, stop!" Su-hyeok's own friends screamed in terror as well. The random spells were raining down indiscriminately in every direction, showing absolutely no favoritism!

"..." "..." The spectators watched the spectacle with their jaws hanging open. What on earth was happening...?

"I'll kill you, Kim Tae-hyun!" the Paladin Guild Leader roared, charging forward as he cursed a man who wasn't even present. He had no idea how Su-hyeok was spamming such high-tier spells consecutively, but staying pinned down under this magical bombardment meant certain defeat. He had to close the distance and engage in melee combat!

The guild leader's body shone with a blinding radiance. He was activating every single buff at his disposal while sprinting. His ability to survive multiple direct hits of high-level magic was practically cockroach-like! "Su-hyeok! Watch out!" Su-hyeok's teammates should have kept the guild leader in check, but they were too busy running for their lives to dodge the fire arrows raining from the sky.

"Wh-whoa, wait!" In his panic, Su-hyeok's fingers slipped. He had never imagined anyone could actually breach that chaotic storm of magic and reach him. —Kahladan's Lightning! The lightning spell that should have targeted the guild leader was accidentally aimed directly at himself due to his slip-up.

"Aaaah!" "???" For a split second, the guild leader wondered if it was a trap. Why on earth would a mage blast himself with his own spell? But there was no time to overthink. Don't overcomplicate it! He messed up! Even if it's a trap, I'll break through with raw skill! "Hyaaaah!" With a fierce battle cry, the guild leader raised his sword and closed in on Su-hyeok. He was only a few paces away. All that was left was to unleash all his pent-up fury on the boy.

—Magic Amplification Reflection! "!?!" In an instant, the Kahladan's Lightning bounced off Su-hyeok's body, amplified to a devastating degree, and struck the guild leader dead-on! Already battered and bruised from pushing through the magical storm, the guild leader was sent flying, crashing heavily onto the ground.

"What a play!" "Incredible!" Gasps of admiration erupted from the spectator stands. To the audience, they had just witnessed a battle of the highest caliber. "That mage's name is Jeong Su-hyeok?" "He's amazing! It's a miracle he isn't more famous." "Did you see that? I never would have thought of that. What a genius strategy!"

If Su-hyeok had simply targeted the charging enemy, the paladin would have blocked it again. Given his class and active buffs, the guild leader could have easily tanked a straightforward frontal spell. But this mage named Jeong Su-hyeok had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠intentionally blasted himself to bait the opponent into letting his guard down! By targeting himself, he had lured the enemy into committing to an all-out attack, naturally leaving his defenses wide open.

It gives me goosebumps!How could anyone pull off a stunt like that in the heat of battle? Simply casting a spell on oneself and reflecting it wasn't the hard part. What truly astounded the crowd was the sheer audacity to execute such a high-risk play so calmly under intense pressure! It was a display of bone-chilling, cold-blooded courage.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap— One person started, and soon the entire arena joined in, applauding in respect for the spectacular show Su-hyeok had put on. Meanwhile, completely oblivious to the admiration of the crowd, Su-hyeok was wallowing in self-pity. Why did I have to screw up again...? This is why I'll never improve!

"C-cough..." The fallen guild leader looked up at Su-hyeok and wheezed, "Brilliant... I admit defeat." "...?" "To think you'd go to such lengths... I completely underestimated you. I acknowledge your strength!" "???" Su-hyeok could only stare in utter bewilderment as the guild leader dramatically conceded. He had no idea why the man was reacting this way to a blatant mistake.

"No, wait... that was just..." Before Su-hyeok could even explain, the guild leader's HP hit zero, and he dissolved into light, eliminated from the arena. The other three paladins who had climbed the hill had already been wiped out by the chaotic magical storm. The only one left was the single paladin who had stayed behind to monitor the situation! While he was still trying to process what was happening, his entire team had been annihilated in the blink of an eye.