Chapter 59

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 59

Chapter Title: My Heart Started Pounding After a Long Time

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1.

As soon as I entered the waiting room, a brilliant banner appeared before my eyes along with my score.

"What is this?"

There was another point below my rank score. Something I'd never seen before.

One viewer jumped in with an explanation via donation, as if they'd been waiting for it.

"Hey now. No haterade, please. I am a game streamer. I've just been too busy lately to log in."

I averted my gaze slightly and started a match search. With my sky-high MMR, it wasn't queuing up easily. The time slot wasn't helping either.

While I pondered what to talk about, Baek Hwayeon asked a question.

"The Legendary Arena? It's fun. There's a reason it's always in the top ranks. But it never really grabbed me."

I read the chat, shrugged, and said,

"It's too easy."

The viewers immediately flooded with question marks.

"Think about it. Do you guys find breathing fun? It's not. It's like that. Winning in the arena is that easy for me."

"That won't happen. Even if I do match a pro gamer, I don't think I'd lose."

Right on cue, the match queued up.

As if the game knew it was my long-awaited return, it assigned me perfectly.

A venomous voice rang out, and an X mark appeared over Inferna's portrait.

Led by the support, the jungler and mid checked my history and started chatting.

"Ahem."

Called out on my expression, I covered my mouth with my hand. Guess my lips had curled up without me noticing.

I swapped pick order with the ADC and immediately selected Kairon.

The ironclad armor enveloping his body, the twisted cross, and the greatsword crossing light and shadow—the warrior's form brought a smile to my face.

Our team's and the enemy's picks proceeded in turn, and soon both sides were ready.

My vision flickered. When I opened my eyes, it was a snowy landscape. Everywhere my sight reached was blanketed in white. The bone-chilling cold made me wrap my cape around myself.

"Let's win this."

I nodded at someone's voice. After buying basic gear, I dashed toward top lane.

Upon reaching the arena, I slipped into the first bush. I peeked out to check if the enemy was approaching.

"Not yet."

I went into the second bush, but the enemy hero still hadn't shown.

The enemy's pick was 'Leika', a dual-wielding character boasting erratic swordplay and agile movements.

'Not the best matchup.'

Still, I wasn't too worried. Skill could overcome that.

"Really?"

I frowned at the viewer's donation. Undefeated to this rank? Like me? Was that even possible?

I've fought countless life-or-death battles in another world to reach this skill level.

'Someone without that, climbing with the same record as me?'

It meant one of two things.

Either someone from another world like me, or a natural gaming prodigy.

'The first is impossible, so the latter.'

"I'll win. So don't worry."

I answered her question confidently. Soon, minions started swarming from afar.

"Phew..."

I wasn't worried. I trusted myself. But if I lost after all that bravado, it'd be humiliating.

'Sorry to my opponent, but gotta end this quick.'

The long-haired hero entered the lane with the minions. Her red-and-black outfit stood out sharply.

"Die—!"

Minions from both sides clashed with swords and shields. Screams and metal clangs filled the arena.

The enemy hero, Leika, approached the bush, seemingly checking late.

"Hup...!"

The moment she entered attack range, I activated my skill. The blade turned pitch black in an instant.

Whoosh—!

As I swung my greatsword at her shoulder, she twisted her body and dodged.

Boom!

The greatsword cleaved empty air, smashing the innocent ground. In that instant, the retreating enemy leaped forward, crossing her dual blades.

Slash—!

The blades bit into my armor. Blood sprayed, staining the snow around us.

I hurriedly recovered my greatsword and pulled back. I looked up to counter the follow-up, but she was long gone.

"Huh..."

She'd already returned to lane, massacring minions with her dual blades.

"...I got played."

The viewers were stunned by her acrobatics. I was too. Who'd have thought she'd counter like that.

"It wasn't anticipated movement. I reacted to her approach."

Just as I reacted to her coming, she reacted to my move and dodged.

"It does. If it'd been predictable play, I wouldn't be surprised. It was totally foreseeable."

I licked my lips and continued.

"But it wasn't."

We hadn't even properly fought yet, but my instincts told me this would be no easy arena.

"This is fun."

I smirked and exited the bush. She was already pushing lane, so I had to fall back.

The first skirmish was a loss. But the fight wasn't over. No, it was just beginning.

"Let's go at it for real."

After so long, my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠heart started pounding.