Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Off to Steal Again
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The world is brimming with individuals blessed with immense talent, whether it manifests as wealth, mechanical skill, or pure luck. In the realm of Agas, top-tier players were scattered across every corner of the map, and among them were the true prodigies who could dominate entire fields through their innate gifts alone. Kotaro was the quintessential example of this phenomenon.
Despite possessing a basic character class, a relatively low level, and gear that was nothing special, he had systematically crushed other players through sheer raw talent. He possessed high-level dynamic vision, lightning-fast reflexes, precise control, and remarkably efficient movements. The list of his attributes was enough to make anyone’s jaw drop in disbelief.
‘Just look at the way he executes those parries,’ Luke mused. The young man was pulling off advanced techniques with a casual ease that few could replicate. Among the current crop of rookies, there were virtually none who could stand toe-to-toe with him, primarily because canceling out a parry of that caliber was an incredibly difficult mechanical feat.
But Luke was not a standard rookie. He could not only cancel the technique but go a step further—he could counter-parry and land a significant blow.
"...!"
Kotaro’s sly, fox-like eyes widened in a state of genuine shock. It made perfect sense; canceling a parry was thought to be the only possible counter in the current meta. No one had ever dreamed it was possible to parry a parry itself. Yet here was Luke, the "Worst Criminal in History," who had once slaughtered top rankers for sport, treating this advanced technique like child's play. He was the ultimate king of player-killing, having faced and defeated more opponents than anyone else in the game’s history.
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Clang!
The first clash echoed through the air, followed by a relentless back-and-forth struggle. Kraaang! As the fight intensified, Kotaro began to harbor deep doubts about the reality of his situation. No human reflexes should have been capable of matching the timing, path, and angle required to reverse a parry while in the middle of a spin. It was mechanically impossible, yet the iron-masked man was performing it right in front of him.
Luke knew exactly where to apply physical force and how to distribute his momentum. He was overwhelming Kotaro not through superior statistics or equipment, but through superior movement patterns and battle flow. Furthermore, the masked stranger seemed disturbingly comfortable fighting other humans.
Luke knew exactly where to strike, how to execute the blow, and precisely when to launch his assault. He was outclassing Kotaro even on a psychological level.
As Kotaro’s vision blurred, he saw a dagger tossed into the air, spinning rapidly before being snatched back into its owner's hand. In that brief window, Luke’s other blade plunged toward Kotaro's knee. Zzzzap! An electrifying shock ripped through the rookie’s body, and he realized he was facing a true monster that could not be defeated by skill alone.
Determined to survive, Kotaro tapped into his character's full potential, activating a double buff of Swiftness and the unique effects of his Regius Twin Daggers. He unleashed his High Dragon Dance, his blades whipping around in a frenzy that hammered down mercilessly on Luke. He kept the pressure high, hoping to overwhelm the masked man before he could mount a counter-offensive.
However, Kotaro noticed something odd. While the masked man possessed freakish reflexes, his actual skills and gear seemed remarkably lackluster. He wasn't using any fancy techniques or high-level job skills despite being pushed back. To end the fight, Kotaro activated his Swift Dance, a high-stamina attack that assailed his target from all angles.
He wasn't fighting alone, either. Shwaaaaa! A thick, toxic rain began to pour around them.
Kenny, a player with the hidden Poisoner class, appeared atop the hill, placing a poison puddle directly behind Luke to complete the "sandwich" maneuver. Toxic fumes rose from the ground, tinging Luke’s form with a sickly purple hue. Kenny sneered, knowing that the combination of Poison Rain and stacking fumes would result in a "Game Over" for almost any player at their level within two minutes.
"You underestimated us," Kenny called down with a cocky grin. "Your skill is legitimate, but you are clearly out of your depth here."
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Watching the stream from her dark bedroom, Song Hani—known as Roxy, the number one ranked rookie—bit her nails in frustration. She had tuned in to watch Kotaro, only to stumble upon this incredible duel. She couldn't fathom why the masked man wasn't using any active skills or item effects, leading her to believe he was being reckless by challenging two high-level rookies solo.
She felt a pang of regret, sensing that the fight was reaching its conclusion as the masked man remained exposed to the toxins. But just as she reached to close the stream, Timothy’s panicked voice rang out from the audio feed.
Ting!
The masked man had parried Kotaro’s twins once again, despite the rookie’s increased speed and power from his buffs. To do so, he would have had to instantly recalibrate his timing and angle to match the new speed of the blades. It was as if he were downloading his opponent's combat data in real-time and syncing his movements perfectly.
Hani slumped back in her chair, dazed. This level of adaptation was beyond anyone she knew. As she watched the masked man slowly begin to counter-attack, pushing Kotaro back yet again, another doubt crossed her mind.
‘Minutes have passed... so why is he still standing?’
Kenny was recasting his spells on cooldown, yet the masked man appeared completely unscathed by the stacking toxins. Kenny realized it at the same time, his face twisting in confusion and rage as he yelled into the clearing.
"You... why isn't my poison working on you?!"