Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Spring Skin Scramble
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[An event is currently in progress.]
[Would you like to participate in the <Spring Skin Scramble>?]
‘What’s this?’
Normally, the arena in Avala Online was all about matching users with similar rankings.
“I’ll participate.”
Though he didn’t quite understand, Lee Shin chose to join.
The surrounding scenery transformed into a flower garden with a spring atmosphere.
A message appeared before Lee Shin’s eyes.
Ding.
[The Spring Skin Scramble is a limited-time event.]
[Acquire tokens to purchase special skins!]
[Tokens can be obtained by winning battles against other users.]
‘Tokens?’
[You have acquired 100 tokens.]
[Tokens are a currency usable only during the event. They are required to purchase special skins or to participate in arena matchmaking.]
[If you lose all your tokens, you will be unable to participate in the event.]
‘Ah…’
He roughly understood.
It seemed that each user started the event with the same amount of currency and participated in the arena by betting it.
‘Hmm.’
Lee Shin was lost in thought.
He wondered if he really needed to do this.
It seemed like a rare event, but… he wasn’t sure if there was anything to gain from it.
Of course, he knew that if he kept winning, he could collect tokens and exchange them for skins.
And he also knew that these kinds of skins usually became unobtainable later, even with money.
They were likely non-tradable and only available for a limited time during the event.
But…
‘I don’t need them in the first place.’
Lee Shin was a player who had never been interested in such things, so he wondered if it was worth his time.
He thought Ranked Mode, which offered set rewards for each rank up, was better!
On the other hand, Arthur, unlike Lee Shin, strongly recommended the event mode.
“You absolutely have to do it!”
“I don’t need skins.”
“It’s still better to do it.”
“……?”
Still better to do it?
Finding the statement hard to accept, Lee Shin asked with a hint of doubt.
“Why.”
“This will be more fun.”
“This? It’s just an event mode.”
“It’s a bit different. Um… by any chance, what’s your current level?”
It wasn’t much to speak of; he was exactly level 100.
“Then you’re at the level where you can just barely enter the arena. In a ranked game, your opponents would probably all be similar to you.”
“Well, I suppose so?”
“But fights between the lowest-ranked arena users are actually hard to use for a video. No matter how skilled you are.”
“……”
Lee Shin nodded at Arthur’s words.
‘He’s right.’
In an RPG, skill is usually synonymous with level.
No matter how outstanding a user's raw talent, a battle involving a player who had just entered the arena wouldn't have many exciting elements.
But this wasn't a problem that could be solved by thinking about it.
It was a process everyone had to go through at the beginning anyway.
“I’ll have to take that into account.”
That was Lee Shin’s reply.
But Arthur shook his head, disagreeing.
“The event mode is a little different.”
“How so.”
“Here, users’ stats are adjusted to an average. Your stats are the same as a ranker’s.”
“…!!!!”
Lee Shin’s eyes widened at Arthur’s words.
“Stats are adjusted?”
“Yes, of course, there are differences in skill performance and the number of skills, so it’s not completely fair, but…”
Still, it wouldn't result in a match so one-sided that you stood no chance.
Normally, stat adjustment would shake the very foundation of an RPG, but this was a limited-time event match.
Strict balancing standards weren't applied.
Instead, it focused on lighthearted fun, allowing users of all levels to participate.
It was designed so that even players like Lee Shin could fight on par with high-rankers in terms of stats!
‘Then I have to do it.’
There was no reason to hesitate now.
He might even get lucky and face a high-level user.
It would be fun for Lee Shin.
And the probability of getting good content for a video would be much higher.
[Entering the Arena.]
[Would you like to start matchmaking?]
[The matchmaking method is random.]
Random matchmaking.
This was to vary the amount of currency users could obtain based on their skill.
Lee Shin looked back at Arthur and asked.
“Are you recording?”
“Yes, I’ve been recording since you came in.”
“…Alright.”
[The base bet is 30 tokens. Additional betting is possible after matching.]
‘Additional betting?’
There were many newly added systems.
Lee Shin briefly considered checking the official website but his hesitation was short.
‘I just have to not lose.’
He had no intention of losing in the first place. Whatever the system, as long as he won, there was no problem.
It was true that if he were overwhelmed by stats, he couldn't win no matter what he did, but the situation here was different.
As Arthur said, the differences in skills couldn't be adjusted, so it wasn't completely fair, but he believed he could overcome that with a skill gap.
[Matchmaking will now begin.]
[Matching…]
[……]
[…Match complete!]
[You may add more tokens after checking the opponent's overall record.]
[This offer can be rejected by the opponent.]
The additional betting was a system added for fun, since currency was on the line in this event match.
This event match included many such systems.
Lee Shin checked his opponent's record.
[116 Wins, 99 Losses]
“Hmm……”
A decent record, but not overwhelmingly high.
Lee Shin was momentarily lost in thought.
It wasn't a concern about winning or losing.
His win rate wasn't low, but against someone with that record, he was honestly confident he wouldn't lose.
‘If I bet more, will he accept?’
So, his dilemma was how many more to add.
But before Lee Shin had to decide, the opponent sent an offer first.
[The opponent proposes adding 10 tokens.]
[Do you accept?]
“…!”
Starting small with an additional 10.
Lee Shin was pleased and made a counter-proposal.
“Ten more.”
[Waiting for the opponent’s resp—]
[The opponent accepts.]
The opponent accepted Lee Shin’s offer as if he had been waiting for it.
He thought it wouldn’t be strange for the opponent to refuse, given the significant increase.
‘…….’
Fifty tokens in total.
That was not a small amount.
To decide without hesitation meant there was a reason.
Lee Shin thought he knew what that reason was.
‘He must have seen my record.’
A player with over 200 matches and a win rate over 50% had just encountered a user with a 0-0 record.
From the opponent’s perspective, it wasn’t strange to think he had met an easy mark.
Of course, that thought was completely wrong…
[Entering the Arena.]
The match had already begun.
Lee Shin’s vision was flooded with bright light.
And when he opened his eyes again, he was standing in the middle of a familiar map.
A wide map with a solid, flat gray floor stretching out.
It was the Colosseum, known as the most featureless of the seven official arena maps.
However, colorful flowers were blooming here and there to match the spring theme.
Tap, tap.
Lee Shin tapped the floor with the tip of his foot.
The corners of his lips curled up on their own.
‘It’s been a while.’
It had been a full two years since he had last been here.
Along with an indescribable sense of nostalgia, a familiar feeling returned.
Lee Shin looked ahead.
In front of him stood a user wielding a greatsword.
The user glanced at Lee Shin’s gear from top to bottom and muttered.
“What’s with this gear…”
“……”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but Lee Shin knew what the opponent was thinking.
After all, the corner of the user’s mouth was turned up in a smirk.
He had figured it out just by looking at the gear.
That his opponent was a novice who had just reached level 100 and entered the arena.
“Thanks for the tokens.”
Thud!
The opponent, grinning, kicked off the ground and charged.
A movement without a hint of hesitation.
Although the stats were adjusted, he likely thought there was no way he could lose to an opponent who had just reached the minimum level for the arena.
But…
“……”
Lee Shin lowered his stance.
Tap.
He jumped lightly, his toes barely touching the ground.
‘Charge.’
He dove into the opponent’s space.
It was the perfect timing, right before the opponent swung his sword!
“…?!”
The opponent faltered.
He couldn't quickly decide whether to swing his sword or pull it back.
In that brief moment, Lee Shin closed the distance even further, pressing in.
Just one more step, and he would be within arm's reach.
It was an advantageous distance for Lee Shin, a dagger user.
“Hmph…!”
A sound of panic escaped the opponent.
But even in his surprise, his eyes remained fixed on Lee Shin’s next move.
A glint appeared in Lee Shin’s eyes.
‘…Not bad.’
The opponent was better than he thought.
To keep his eyes open in a situation like this showed he had the fundamentals down.
He at least understood the difference between PVE and PVP.
However.
‘That’s all you’ve got.’
He literally only had the fundamentals.
Before trying to remain calm, he shouldn't have given up the distance so easily in the first place.
In a typical sword versus dagger matchup, allowing the distance to be closed like this meant being completely overwhelmed.
“……”
Even though he had a considerable advantage, Lee Shin decided to add another twist.
Instead of attacking immediately, he threw a feint.
Whoosh.
Lee Shin extended his left hand.
Startled by the hand suddenly obscuring his vision, the opponent flinched back.
“…! Ah!”
A minor mistake.
But not to Lee Shin.
He instantly exploited the opening and charged forward.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
He drove his left knee into the opponent’s thigh.
Then, he swung his dagger in a diagonal slash.
Slice!
[A critical hit has landed.]
Stab! Stab, stab!
[A critical hit has landed.]
[A critical hit has landed.]
[A critical hit has…]
[……]
[…The opponent’s health has dropped below 10%!]
A moment of carelessness resulted in a murderous amount of damage!
He could see his health bar plummeting.
“…What is this!”
The horrified opponent screamed.
With just one exchange, he understood his opponent's skill level.
The moment he couldn't even fathom how or where he had been hit, he knew for sure.
‘Damn it, this was for 50 tokens…!’
It wasn’t a small amount.
And with not much time left in the event, they were even more precious.
A 100 to 10 health difference.
The price for a brief moment of panic was too high.
The chances seemed almost non-existent, but…
‘Hoo.’
He couldn't just lose, so the user steeled his resolve once more.
Hoping for a potential mistake from his opponent.
But…
“Hmm?”
Making his resolve seem pointless, Lee Shin didn't finish him off and instead stood still at a distance.
As if he had no intention of attacking at all.
The opponent, bewildered, looked back and forth between Lee Shin and his surroundings.
‘There’s no reason not to attack now…?’
Lee Shin's unexpected action sent the user’s mind racing.
‘…What is it? A trap?’
But unlike the user, Lee Shin’s mind was perfectly calm.
In truth, Lee Shin wasn’t mulling over anything complicated.
‘I’ve already won.’
Considering their health situations and the objective skill gap, it was clear.
Even if he didn't end it now, he could win at any time.
Therefore.
‘I should use this chance to practice.’
To prepare for when he faced a true expert later.
…A wet squelch.
“…?!”
Lee Shin’s tentacle.
…No, he summoned his familiar.