Still Crushing It, Those Bastards Still Trash
In the end, I'm still insanely good, and those bastards are still trash.
Daily Chairman donated 50,000 won!
Pulled a 5-star character! <5-star in 5 pulls>
I pulled a 5-star character. And made money too. I should be thrilled... I really should be. So why does it feel so shitty?
Because I lost 200,000 won by just one pull, and now I'm stuck eating some gross penalty food. Might as well not have pulled it. Then I wouldn't have this lingering regret.
But I'm a pro streamer with a year of experience. No way I'm losing my cool over this crap.
"...Whoa! 50,000 won! Lost 200k but salvaged 50k! I'm pumped!"
...These guys know how to get under my skin.
"Who the hell wants to eat gross food?! I wanna live off delicious stuff only?!"
But nah, can't just pick whatever.
"Gotta discuss with you guys first. If I pick solo, you'll spam the abyss, right?"
Already eye-watering menu suggestions popping up in chat one by one. My future looks bleak.
"...We'll talk gross food later. Let's focus on the game for now."
Said that and bounced out of the hated gacha screen. Right into the party setup screen, and boom—another explanation window pops up.
Skimmed through it quick. Basically, your weapon changes how the character fights big time. Examples: Shield users parry easier and build parry gauge faster, but suck at dealing damage. Greatswords deal tons of damage but slow attack speed means tough cooldown management and hard parries. Bows and staves? Ranged attacks with superior range, but zero parry possible.
Finished reading, scanned my pulled characters, and built the party without hesitation.
"This party's probably optimal."
One shield character. Protagonist with one-hand sword. One greatsword character. One healer with recovery skills.
And yeah, my 5-star wasn't in the party. Of course, I had reasons. Not petty about the late pull or anything.
The reason I'm not using Yuriel, the 5-star? Her weapon.
"You guys wanna see me snipe safely from afar with a bow?"
Yup. Bow. And in a soulslike, a streamer using ranged for easy kills? Heretical.
"Quit whining about using Yuriel or not. There's reasons for this party comp."
Pulled up notepad. National rule to open notepad for explanations.
"Parries create burst windows, so shield for dedicated parries is must-have. Greatsword maximizes damage in those windows to drop enemies fast, right?"
Party building's charm: Combine characters' strengths/weaknesses to max pros, cover cons. And Raider's devs already hinted optimal comps by emphasizing parries.
"No character parries forever. So shield can't? Swap to parry. Burst time but greatsword on cooldown? Protagonist covers DPS."
Mouth went dry from nonstop talking. Sipped lukewarm water from beside me, licked lips for moisture.
"And right now, only way to recover HP is healer. Slot healer? Party full. Where's bow fit?!"
Perfect logic, golden balance on paper. Viewers' reaction...?
These maniacs!
"Keep that up and I'll go full grind meta for real?"
Game has levels, so grind weak mobs by hundreds or thousands, slowly spec up, then spec-crush bosses instead of skill. But that's not what viewers want. Nor me.
I chase razor-thin wins. Catharsis for them, praise for me. Overwhelming wins? Must be pure skill.
My tone got serious, reactions shifted from expected.
Flashed a grin to lighten the mood.
"No plans to go loose either. No ranged bow in party. But too tight and you burn out fast, right?"
Headed out of [City] to test the gacha pulls. Bit away from city, bunch of bipedal club-wielding monsters charge me.
"No-healer restriction play on trash mobs? Wastes HP and time."
Shield girl Iva shouts with vigor, bats club off shield. Not crisp metal clash—slightly dull thud hits my ears.
No waiting for next attack. Too weak for full parry to stagger. Parry just opens damage windows.
Swap to Natasha, two-handing greatsword. Tanned girl grins like she was waiting, swings hard. Each swing chunks massive HP off enemies. One drops dead.
"And with healer?"
Remaining foes swing clubs. Greatsword strong but slow. Press attack now? Club hits first.
No attack option. About to eat it—then attack whiffs by one pixel. Rolled just before club to head.
Wouldn't die, but my god-tier reactions allow zero flaws.
Now behind enemy via roll. AI spots soon. Options: Stick with Natasha, swap Iva for parry kill. But protagonist.
Swap and skill activates. Step forward, full-power overhead slash. Enemy turns, swings club.
Everyone thinks "unavoidable." Wrong.
0.1 sec perfect timing parry possible. My dynamic vision and reflexes? Nailed it.
Parry sends attack flying. Slash rips enemy. It vanishes.
"Healer or no, I'm still insanely good, those bastards still trash."
Ten'i Mubu. Heavenly seamless. Flawless combat.
# … … … Big trouble.