Chapter 41
Chapter 41
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Tying the Record
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'A real pro.'
The total amount listed in the mission wasn't chump change by any means. Yet Hawk's Eye had handed the sponsorship money over to him without a second thought.
Was he just not greedy for cash? Or did he like him that much?
Or maybe...
This guy's raking it in more than I thought?
According to Unhyang, judging purely by the size of his broadcasts, Hawk's Eye was a solid mid-tier streamer.
At Pak Soo-hyuk's level, he was just starting to climb into the big leagues, and there were even streamers who occasionally pulled average viewers over 100k.
Hawk's Eye was already at this level—what the hell were those guys making?
Can't underestimate him.
Soo-hyuk was grinning to himself when...
"You gonna accept?"
Soo-hyuk nodded at Hawk's Eye's question.
"If they're offering to sponsor, I should take it gratefully."
The viewers went wild over Soo-hyuk's challenge.
Viewers craved drama. And a showdown between two Lee Soo-hyuks with the same name? That was pure, irresistible clickbait.
"Okay then, I'll handle commentary. No complaints from the bros, right?"
"Exactly. Just being polite. You know me."
Hawk's Eye nodded obnoxiously and turned to the viewers who'd posted the mission.
"Bros, how many coins we betting? Honestly, 1T is overkill—"
"Let's do 1T."
Cutting Hawk's Eye off, Soo-hyuk rolled his shoulders.
"If I lose, I'll strip right away."
The words came out a bit weird, but that was the bet for this mission.
43. Lee Soo-hyuk's record.
If Soo-hyuk couldn't beat that, he'd have to ditch the mask.
"For real? 1T works?"
"Yeah."
The outcome was already set in stone anyway. Whether it was attempt two or three, nothing was changing.
"Damn, you're ballsy. Alright, no time to waste—let's go."
3 minutes.
The time allotted to take down the scarecrows.
"Sadly, we've only got one coin, so the stream's gonna be short. What a shame—hope the folks who missed it catch the VOD."
There was some backlash, but it wasn't bad.
In fact, Hawk's Eye spun the critical chats positively.
Means the hype's real. The issue is...
Thud.
He glanced back at Soo-hyuk advancing on the scarecrows.
...whether one shot lives up to it.
If there were multiple tries, no sweat. Unlike the skeptical viewers, Hawk's Eye fully trusted Soo-hyuk's talent and skill.
The problem? Bad matchup.
Didn't expect him to call 1T.
The benchmark was Blue Eyes' Lee Soo-hyuk—set by Hawk's Eye himself.
Even so, he wasn't confident Soo-hyuk could break it.
That guy was a legend. Untouchable for 20 years straight.
Topping that Lee Soo-hyuk? No one could guarantee it.
"I'll count down and signal."
Soo-hyuk gave a small nod instead of replying.
His eyes changed. As he summoned the lightning, flecks of gold shimmered in his gaze.
Let's do this.
It wasn't against anyone else—it was his past self.
Can't lose. And...
Whoosh. Mana-laced breath escaped his lungs.
...even if I win, no good.
Crackle—!
Soo-hyuk's body shot forward.
"And it's on!"
Crackle—!
Trailing yellow mana sparks, Soo-hyuk blasted forward.
Hawk's Eye's eyes lit up.
First time seeing Soo-hyuk fight for real—not through a stream.
Nah, given his stream style, probably never again.
Boom—!
The lead scarecrow's head exploded.
No need for a sword—he stomped it flat.
Doubts popped up instantly.
Hawk's Eye jumped in with commentary.
"Scarecrows get tougher in order from back."
"Don't be ridiculous."
Boom—!
Soo-hyuk's elbow smashed another head.
Another effortless crush. Programmed like a human, instant death.
"Even early ones aren't pushovers like you think. Most floor-3 players can't crack 15."
Shing.
Soo-hyuk finally drew his blade. Lightning impacts crackled along it.
Hawk's Eye's eyes sparkled.
"Here we go."
Slash—.
Heads flew fast. Boosting mobility, Soo-hyuk shredded 10 in a blink, not even catching his breath before pressing on.
Under 30 seconds: 12 down.
Hawk's Eye's pupils shook.
This... might actually...?
Past 10, pace slowed noticeably.
Weapons flew from all sides. Swords and spears aimed, arrows at his head.
And then—
Crackle.
Lightning gathered at his feet. Soo-hyuk stomped a head and leaped.
After giants, now hopping scarecrow heads upward.
Evaded the barrage in a flash. High in the air, his eyes scanned below.
Blade cocked for max swing.
Soo-hyuk dove into the thick of them.
Boom—!
Lightning at the tip exploded, sweeping scarecrows away.
Power was one thing—speed was unreal.
Hawk's Eye checked the clock.
14 to go for Lee Soo-hyuk's 43.
They ramped up later, but this pace exceeded expectations.
"No way... for real?"
Shock and hype slipped out.
Hawk's Eye's gaze locked on Soo-hyuk, mesmerized.
Crackle—!
Crunch—!
Blade half-sliced a body, got stuck.
Tougher now. First stall since start—weapons incoming.
Fwssh—.
Spear grazed his cheek. Instead of retreating, he pushed forward.
Crunch.
Yanked the blade from a neck, kicked the head.
Snap—like splintering wood. Neck broken.
Tick, tock.
Time marched. Higher numbers didn't drop easy.
Lightning sped up, power surged. Hawk's Eye didn't blink, absorbing every move.
...Something's off.
Fwoosh—.
Watching Soo-hyuk leap, a weird dissonance hit Hawk's Eye.
Fierce. No gaps, packed with precise strikes.
Like a scripted play—zero waste in his motions.
That was it.
The source of the unease.
Why's it feel... different?
Boom—!
Thunderclap as time wound down.
Rumble—.
13 seconds left.
Three shy of record.
Chat slowed—history in the making. Viewers locked in.
Sliced another, eyes on the last.
Tough one.
Rumble—.
Blade bit into the sturdy neck with a groan.
Forty-three.
Tie for first.
Same kills. 1st stayed Lee Soo-hyuk—and now Soo-hyuk joined him.
That instant—
Chat exploded.
Chat scrolled too fast to read.
Hawk's Eye glanced at the mask, catching his breath, then hustled the stream.
"F-Forty-three! Tie with Lee Soo-hyuk!"
Unable to hide his excitement, Hawk's Eye rapid-fired.
"Lee Soo-hyuk vs. Lee Soo-hyuk ends in a draw! Man, so close? What'd you think, bros?"
Soo-hyuk's channel wasn't big yet.
Thousands of viewers? Plenty of streamers hit that. Short career too.
Which made this collab a huge break for him.
Donations poured in.
While Soo-hyuk recovered, Hawk's Eye thanked them quick.
"ThunderCoco, 100 points—thanks! TowelHawksEye... dude, change your name already. Anyway, appreciate it. Wrong channel? Nah, you're good."
Donations kept coming.
For streamers, donation frequency mattered as much as viewer count.
It was revenue and fan loyalty meter.
If he'd broken it, what would this look like?
Streaming on, Hawk's Eye kept stealing glances at Soo-hyuk.
His mind replayed the moves on loop.
Still weird. Unnatural, maybe...
Couldn't put it in words.
But fighting those scarecrows? Off vibe the whole time.
Viewers on stream probably missed it.
Small screen, compression—can't capture nuance like live.
My imagination...?
That thought trailed when—
10k points.
Hawk's Eye's eyes bulged at the name.
'Reinhardt?'