Chapter 178

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 178

Chapter Title: Pro Player

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Pro players.

They were an insurmountable wall for gamers.

You couldn't reach that level just by playing a ton of games or having decent talent.

Someone once said it.

Talent for going pro can be spotted at a glance, even in your very first game.

Sure, even with talent, you needed that much effort to get there. But without that kind of obvious talent from the start, no amount of hard work would cut it.

In the world of virtual reality, no explanation could fully capture how awe-inspiring these figures were to gamers.

In a word, they were gamers' idols.

And one of them...

had lost.

To an AI, no less. Not even the streamer himself.

Seo-jun's skill was peerlessly dominant. Too peerless.

The viewers were thrilled, but Seo-jun's mind blanked out for a moment.

More like, he was pretty flustered.

Because...

"No way, how do you lose to that?"

He hadn't seen it coming at all.

Of course, the loss wasn't impossible.

The counter he'd planted earlier targeted the opponent's most confident move.

Executing it like that could lead to defeat.

But still.

"Whoa, he forgot that."

Ah.

Seo-jun snapped back to reality and covered for it.

"No, I forgot to turn off the gas stove. Hey. Mercy kill? Stop making stuff up!"

Adding this on top of all the taunting he'd already done? But Seo-jun had no desire to poke at Taker anymore.

Because.

Poor guy?

But thanks to his built-up karma, his sincerity got twisted.

Whatever, don't believe me then.

"How'd you do that just now?"

Ha Yun-ho asked.

"Wasn't me."

The clone did it.

"Whoa, for real... Our ace is insane."

Lumi had ditched her carrot somewhere along the way.

Alpaca too.

Seo-jun shook his head at his teammates.

"At least this'll make 'em follow better."

Defection risk down.

"So, bet's over now?"

"Came to check one skill and this happens..."

"Eyes wide open, huh."

Ah.

He'd snagged #1 viewer count.

They'd drop off eventually, but even combined with Ha Yun-ho's, his team would hold the top spot.

At least for today.

"Oh. Right."

One last thing.

"So, Player Baek Do-yul?"

Seo-jun knew.

"Not coming in?"

That Baek Do-yul had subtly tested him with a humble attack phrase.

And that he wanted to fight but was holding back.

"So, Player Baek Do-yul? Not coming in?"

'Ugh, what a bold hyung. But he earned it.'

Taker, whose world had blacked out for a sec.

Snapped to at Seo-jun's words.

Defeated by an AI.

Embarrassing. Even he dreaded what people would say.

Teammates would roast him.

Coach and director too.

Loss was a mistake, but dominated by a streamer in Training Ground? Fact.

But.

Initial worry faded as realization dawned. Didn't care what anyone said anymore.

Maybe even enlightened mid-fight.

'Found my path.'

Because he'd found the answer.

Stagnant til now.

His skill, once leaping walls, hadn't budged.

Felt like a massive wall blocking him.

Tried other things.

Barely noticeable growth.

Kept dabbling everywhere.

'Wandering fits.'

No one gave clear answers.

Not a slump. Just growth slowed after high level. No more leaps. Natural.

Keep grinding like always.

Not wrong.

But something felt off in his head.

Bigger issue: Didn't know what.

But.

'He knew from the start.'

[Swing 10,000 times a day. Then you can be like me.]

'Saw my issue at a glance!'

Somehow using utmost respect inwardly.

'Changed swordplay too. Yeah. Basics wrong, so even copying others' styles, showed more power.'

Seo-jun no longer arrogant.

Rough, brainless seeming, but deepest master.

Or teacher.

That image now.

'Yeah, let's do it.'

Seo-jun's words.

10,000 swings a day.

Do that.

Ideally at that gym.

'Apologize to hyung first for being cocky.'

Seo-jun thought 200 years inside, but Taker didn't know.

Meanwhile.

"So, Player Baek Do-yul? Not coming in?"

Baek Do-yul felt his fighting spirit boiling over.

'Scratching my nerves.'

Fists clenched, teeth gritted.

Yet lips curled up.

Fun.

Excited.

Wanna fight.

Here in Training Ground.

And in League.

For the Association.

'Second time?'

How long since seeing something unreplicable?

Only once before.

Shin Ha-yeon.

Today.

'Steal another's sword, graft perfectly onto own style?'

One more.

30-sec takedown? He could too.

But using another's sword? Different.

Move opposite to ingrained habits. Needs tons of practice to adapt.

Plus deep understanding to merge with own moves.

Especially Shin Ha-yeon or Baek Do-yul's sword.

Where's that understanding from?

'Must've prepped long time...'

Logically yes.

But felt like opponent saw today and did it on spot.

Not today.

Can't settle with AI. Might lose.

Baek Do-yul admitted cleanly.

Opponent knew, poking to irritate.

Obvious.

Still, he'd beaten Shin Ha-yeon somehow as team.

Find a way this time too.

"Haha. We'll clash next time. So for now."

Won't back down.

First.

"Shall we head to training?"

Win the proxy war first.

Baek Do-yul said that and closed Seo-jun's stream.