Killer still hadn’t moved. Sa-yoon let out a quiet sigh at his inevitable defeat. Losing the first move was never good. Momentum was everything.
However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, as the lance passed by, the words “Evasion!” appeared in bold letters. That meant Killer had used an evasive maneuver at just the right moment.
[ Arena ] Red Alert: Did he just dodge that?
Among the rapidly scrolling chat messages, one particular username caught Sa-yoon’s eye. He scoffed, then suddenly exhaled deeply.
“Ha…”
That timing. He had a knack for giving people a scare.
[ Arena ] Killer: lol
[ Arena ] Killer: Are we done now?
Killer casually withdrew, dropping a chat message as if he hadn’t just brushed past death. Judging by his words alone, it looked as if he had complete control over the situation.
A strategy to shake his opponent’s mentality. It was a trick Sa-yoon often used on the battlefield as well.
Whether it worked or not, Noise, who had been chasing after him, suddenly came to a halt. He had stepped right into a trap that Killer had laid. Now that his opponent was immobilized, it was time for a counterattack.
Yet, despite the opportunity, Killer didn’t launch an attack. Instead, he suddenly rummaged through his pockets and made a motion as if rubbing his hands together.
Sa-yoon, who had been trying to anticipate his next skill, froze for a moment. It was a skill motion he had never seen before. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.
What the hell? What kind of strategy is this? Is this just one of those filler skills?
With rare skills, you could sometimes get a rough idea of their name or effects, but it was common not to recognize the motion. The arena chat was just as confused.
What is he doing? Is this guy a newbie? Amid the flood of questions, someone seemed to offer a correct guess.
[ Arena ] Sakeratto: Isn’t that an herbal remedy?
A brief silence passed before the chat exploded.
[ Arena ] Neoneo: No way, he’s actually using herbal remedy in this situation?! LMAO
[ Arena ] Stevancurry: Is this guy really a newbie? He sure knows how to bait people lolol
[ Arena ] Aquarius: That level of confidence is insane lololol
[ Arena ] LivingAlone: How fearless do you have to be to pull this off against a ranker? Wow
[ Arena ] GrandSage: This is what they call a newbie’s audacity.
Sa-yoon, watching the chat, clutched his forehead. This wasn’t “newbie audacity.” That bastard was just… a lunatic.
“Who the hell chooses herbal remedy over a potion in that situation…?”
A potion activated the moment you clicked it, while herbal remedy required standing still and rubbing herbs together for three whole seconds. Choosing the latter in a deletion match? Insane.
On top of that, herbal remedy canceled if you were attacked mid-process. It was a low-level recovery method, abandoned as soon as players leveled up. It even healed for less than a potion.
After rubbing herbs together for three seconds, Killer didn’t stop—he used herbal remedy again. The encouragement had only fueled his madness.
“Ah, come on!”
If he had just chugged a potion and launched an attack, he could’ve shaved off at least a quarter of his opponent’s HP—while restoring even more of his own. Sa-yoon clenched both fists in frustration.
[ Arena ] Noise: tq
[ Arena ] Killer: haha
The moment Noise regained mobility, he charged at Killer like an enraged bull, moving faster than before—he must have used a mobility skill.
Clang!
Killer’s dagger swung in a wide arc, only to be deflected by a shield. Without hesitation, Killer lowered his stance and aimed for Noise’s legs.
Noise, instead of defending, focused entirely on offense. He was trying to land as many hits as possible to end the match quickly.
[ Arena ] Nawal: Uh… am I imagining things, or is the newbie’s HP not dropping? He doesn’t even have an invulnerability skill?
[ Arena ] Sakeratto: Do Hunters really have that much evasion?
[ Arena ] Neoneo: They do, but not this much; he’s dodging everything.
[ Arena ] ProteinMonster: PVP efficiency is nuts… No wonder Wartum loves this class. ă…
[ Arena ] Midori: What kind of bullshit is this? You think you can win in PVP just by dodging? ă…ś
Guardians had slower attack speeds, so theoretically, their moves could be evaded if you read their motions well. But dodging everything in the middle of combat with perfect timing? That was another story.
Winning in PVP was simple. Whoever got hit less and landed more attacks won. Killer kept shutting down Noise’s offense while forcing his own attacks through.
Finally, he detonated a trap he had planted earlier. Noise staggered as his HP took a massive hit.
Flustered, Noise belatedly activated a defensive skill. A white emblem appeared above the Guardian’s head, and a transparent shield layered over his existing one. Sa-yoon tilted his head at the sight.
[ Party ] Oath’s Vow: Hmm… If it were me, I wouldn’t have wasted Holy Shield there.
[ Party ] GegulGegulFrog: Maybe he panicked and misclicked? No way a ranker makes a call that bad.
Holy Shield was the Guardian’s best invulnerability skill. It was meant to counter ult spam or neutralize incoming high-damage combos. Using it after already taking a bunch of hits was a complete waste.
[ Party ] Freedeal: Holy Shield is gone, but Killer still has Lacerate and Execution. How the hell is Noise supposed to win now? LMAO
[ Party ] Oath’s Vow: Normally, a Hunter is still beatable. You can withstand Lacerate with sheer pressure and mitigate Execution with proper defense stacking—50% damage reduction if done right.
[ Party ] Oath’s Vow: But Guild Leader isn’t a normal Hunter. He’s a monstrous one. 🙂
[ Party ] Shokrates: Y’all are speaking gibberish. I don’t understand anything…
This was exactly the kind of moment where you had to stay cautious in battle. If you started feeling like you were being led by your opponent, that loss of composure would lead to certain defeat. And from what Sa-yoon knew, Noise wasn’t the type to handle situations like this gracefully.
Just as expected, after wasting his invulnerability skill, Noise immediately ate a Lacerate. Contrary to Oath’s Vow’s prediction, he failed to counter with pressure at all.
This was why, despite choosing the prestigious Guardian class, Noise had never managed to break into the top-tier rankings—always hovering around the lower end of the top 10.
His frustration made his attacks even more reckless.
“It’s over.”
Noise still had more than half his HP left, but once Holy Shield had been wasted, the match was already as good as decided.
“…Damn, he really is good.”
Shaking an opponent’s mentality and forcing mistakes was also a skill. As long as Killer didn’t fumble by taking his hands off the keyboard for ten seconds, victory was guaranteed. Now that the outcome was clear, Sa-yoon could finally sit back and watch in comfort, just like the other Reaper Guild members.
And as he did, a thought crossed his mind.
With that level of instinct and gear, if he actually committed to siege battles, he’d easily be in the top 10. Yet, his name was nowhere to be found on the first page of rankings.
The reason was already obvious from the battle logs.
Why the hell is he sacrificing this much for me?
Sa-yoon genuinely couldn’t understand it.
Meanwhile, the duel continued. Suddenly, Killer released a cloud of black mist at his location. When the fog cleared, he was gone.
A Hunter’s signature skill—Stealth.
[ Arena ] Killer: ^^
Demon Hunters dealt extra damage when attacking from behind. Many of their rear attacks also inflicted status effects like stun or paralysis.
To avoid getting caught from behind, Noise started spinning in place, looking like a wind-up doll inside a music box.
[ Arena ] Killer: lol beautiful turns, man ^^ You a ballet major?
[ Arena ] Noise: Cheap tactics.
[ Arena ] Killer: Seems like you don’t understand other classes ㅜㅜ Lemme explain—Hunters are meant to fight like this.
[ Arena ] Killer: Think Assassin, okay?
After thoroughly mocking his opponent, Killer finally revealed himself at Noise’s flank. It was a surprise attack, but Noise, having anticipated it, quickly stepped back and swung his shield in a wide arc.
[ Arena ] Aquarius: Oh no, the newbie got stunned again ă…ś
[ Arena ] ProteinMonster: His stun rate is insane.
[ Arena ] TwentyEcoBags: Honestly, how do Guardians even kill without a stun? ă…
The moment Killer was stunned, Sa-yoon, who had been lounging back in his chair, abruptly straightened up.
He wouldn’t have worried if it were anyone else—but this was Killer.
A lunatic who wasted two turns on herbal remedy and hadn’t bothered using a single potion.
Is he seriously about to let this slip through his fingers?
At that moment, Sa-yoon finally admitted to himself—he wanted Killer to win.
Both Killer and Noise were hanging on with a sliver of HP. It was down to a single hit.
He hoped Killer would land that last strike and laugh in his opponent’s face.
Knowing this was his last chance, Noise thrust his massive lance straight through Killer’s body.
And in that instant, his own HP plummeted.
It was the Hunter’s defensive passive—when stunned, there was a chance to reflect 200% of the incoming damage.
At the same time, Killer lifted his head, dagger in hand, and lunged at Noise.
The Hunter’s ultimate skill—Lacerate—struck swiftly. The final dagger plunged deep into Noise’s chest.
The sliver of HP he had left hit zero, and his body collapsed to the ground.
A flawless victory.
