Prohibition
We had agreed to "meet up" once the finals were over.
But we were already facing each other in the form of our avatars.
So, those words obviously didn't refer to meeting in-game.
"It's not a sudden decision. Since we've crossed paths like this, I thought it would be nice for us to grab a meal together. I was planning to bring it up around the end of the tournament, but..."
She probably hadn't expected us to make it all the way to the finals so quickly.
I knew exactly why.
Early in the tournament, I was the one who had completely ruined our matches.
She must have worried that things would end on a bad note.
Na Jia scratched her head.
She looked like she was making excuses.
Her cautious attitude from earlier made it seem like she was walking on eggshells around me.
In truth, there was absolutely no reason for Na Jia to do that.
"Anyway, I'm not trying to force you. If you want to decline, you're more than welcome to. No one will take it the wrong way."
It was just a simple suggestion to get together and eat.
She hadn't said anything out of line as the team leader, and Na Jia was a fairly successful streamer.
Normally, I should have been the one anxious to build a connection with her.
There are several ways to make gaming a profession.
Aside from my dream of becoming a pro gamer, streaming is another path.
Considering the level of intimacy with the public, streaming might actually be the more representative path these days.
There are also routes like coaching or directing, but those paths only truly open up once you've proven your skills as a player.
I've heard there are other ways in RPGs and the like, but...
I didn't want to dabble in those just yet.
In any case, both Na Jia and Hanul were the types of people.
There was absolutely no downside to getting close to them.
And I couldn't keep running away from this social anxiety forever.
In the end, this was on the same track as Hanul's previous proposal.
I knew what I had to say.
I knew it clearly in my head.
It was just that my body wouldn't cooperate.
"Could you... give me a little time?"
"Of course. Take your time to think about it and let me know. We still have matches left, so I was being a bit too hasty, wasn't I?"
"N-No, it's not that. Thank you... for asking."
I still needed time.
As time passed, things would get better, bit by bit.
It had to.
It absolutely had to.
Life is C between B and D.
Although the joke that "C" stands for "Chicken" has spread far and wide, and it's unclear if it's even a real quote.
The saying that life is a series of choices sounded quite plausible.
"Alright, let's begin the second match of the Challengers Cup finals."
"In the previous match, DoNotTalkToMe's potential proved to be a decisive blow, putting Team Na Jia in the lead by one point."
"Team Falling Leaves must feel like they've taken a really heavy blow."
"That's why this second set will be crucial. We need to pay close attention to how each team has adjusted their tactics."
"Is there any need for further delay? Let's check the battlefield and rules right away."
Even inside the game, choices never end.
Before the match begins.
The system only decides three things.
The battlefield, the rules, and finally, the Geas.
Everything else is up to the players' choices.
Which class will they choose to play?
How will they construct their builds, and what kind of composition will they form with their teammates?
How will they execute that composition within the game?
It truly is a continuous series of choices.
And sometimes... that choice includes "which class to ban."
Battlefield: Prison of Extinction
Rules: 5v5 Annihilation
Geas: The Six Gold Commands shall be declared.
Geas is the most unique system in Infinity Realm.
Some love it, some hate it. For certain classes, it is a matter of life and death.
It is a system at the center of endless balance debates and controversies.
Some Geas alter the power of magic or divine spells.
They can affect specific attributes, cause armor corrosion, reduce recovery rates, change the weather, or limit senses.
Countless special rules are applied under the name of Geas.
Among them, "Prohibition" is a rule that bans the selection of specific classes.
The declaration of the Six Gold Commands meant that both teams would receive three ban cards each.
It was a system commonly applied as the so-called "ban-pick system" in old online games.
Though in Infinity Realm, where mastering even a single class is incredibly difficult, its weight is entirely different.
"The Geas has chosen 'Prohibition.' Before selecting classes, the ban phase will now begin."
"Team Na Jia, having won the previous match, will be the first to declare a Prohibition."
"Both teams have quite a few one-class players—so-called 'one-tricks'—on their rosters."
"Since they are all high-tier players, it's not like they can't play other classes at all, but they certainly won't be as good as they are on their signature picks."
"Fortunately, the rule for this match is 5v5 Annihilation. This means each team can exclude one player from the active roster."
In old MOBA games, it was relatively easy to build proficiency with a character.
The number of skills was relatively small, and the variables during combat were limited.
But Infinity Realm is a game where players must physically move their own bodies.
By nature, it is bound to be far more difficult to master than quarter-view games.
Not only the opponent's positioning, but the placement of their limbs, the angle of their weapon, and even their line of sight.
Everything acts as a variable and a crucial detail.
To put it nicely, it has depth; to put it harshly, the barrier to entry is incredibly high.
Naturally, the environment favored digging deep into a single class rather than playing multiple ones.
Thus, in Infinity Realm, "Prohibition" is a rule more fatal than any other.
In ranked games, it wasn't uncommon for players to log off the moment they were hit with a Prohibition.
"As expected, Team Na Jia has chosen 'Destroyer' as their first Prohibition."
"It's the signature class of the opposing team's ace, Havoc. There's no reason not to target it."
"It's the same for Team Falling Leaves. The safest Prohibition has already been decided."
Of course, there were ways to counter this Prohibition.
What mattered at this stage was that the Prohibition phase occurred before the roster selection.
Although Na Jia's team had six members, the rule for this game was 5v5 Annihilation.
This meant only five people from the team could enter the match.
Naturally, one person had to sit out.
The number of excluded players could be used like a shield against the Prohibition.
For example, what if Team Falling Leaves banned Chain Master?
Na Jia could simply exclude Chain, the Chain Master specialist, from the roster.
Since they had to bench one person anyway.
A teammate forced onto a class they weren't good at would inevitably weaken the team's overall power.
Rather than suffering that loss, they would swap them out of the game like trading cards.
Conversely, this meant they could use Prohibitions to steer the enemy's composition.
Depending on how they strategized during this phase, the advantage in the game could shift drastically.
Though usually, teams opted for the safest choices.
"And the next one comes up without hesitation. The second Prohibition chosen by Team Falling Leaves is 'Berserker'!"
"They've made the safe choice. The only primary melee player on Team Na Jia is DoNotTalkToMe."
"They absolutely cannot exclude this player from the roster."
"Both teams will likely play it safe for the next Prohibition as well."
The camera briefly focused on Yu Nabi's face.
She seemed deep in thought, struggling to squeeze out a few words.
Since her microphone wasn't connected, no information could be gathered beyond her lip movements.
However, the reaction of her teammates wasn't bad.
The screen transitioned as Siz nodded his head.
The third and fourth Prohibitions were also decided quickly.
Team Na Jia banned Sentinel, targeting Havoc once again.
Team Falling Leaves banned Siz's Artilleryman.
Now, the safe path had come to an end.
The final Prohibition would shape the upcoming game.
"Targeting Havoc any further at this point is a bad move."
"Banning his signature classes made sense, but that player is a former pro. His class pool is fundamentally very wide."
"They won't want to let the other teammates get their signatures now."
"In my opinion, banning player Falling Leaves's Fighter seems likely. After all, Team Na Jia will find the frontline battle burdensome..."
"Wait, what? A rather unexpected choice has been made."
Team Na Jia's choice was "Magic Marksman."
It felt like a somewhat random decision.
Team Falling Leaves's ranged damage dealer hadn't shown any outstanding performance so far.
Moreover, Team Na Jia possessed an outstanding ranged damage dealer in Siz.
There was no reason to target an opponent they were sure to crush with sheer skill.
In an instant, the game was plunged into confusion.
Meanwhile, the psychological warfare between the two teams ended with "Warlock" being banned last.
With the classes quickly locked in, the layout of the game became clear.
"Wow, this is..."
"Team Na Jia is taking a massive lead here."