Chapter 147
A short while ago.
The central underground bunker was large, given it was at an intersection connected to three entrances, and various supplies were piled high.
The bunker hadn’t been maintained in a long time, resulting in some broken boxes, and it was generally dark inside.
Small alleys had formed due to the accumulated goods, and about 65% of those alleys were poorly lit.
The ceiling was high.
There was also a second-floor path made of metal structures along the walls used primarily for maintenance around the ventilation systems.
From there, one could oversee the area below at a glance.
Even if it was dark, one could still cast a wide net over the first-floor areas with their gaze.
However, this also meant that anyone on the second-floor path could be attacked from any direction, making the position somewhat of a double-edged sword.
Moreover, the path on the second floor was mostly illuminated.
When Kim Taewoo was breached by Sojun faster than anticipated, Keril ordered a B-ranked marksman named Namu to go up that wall’s second-floor path.
The biggest downside, exposure to gunfire, was unlikely since their enemies only wielded frying pans.
Bang!
Bang! Bang!
Gunshots echoed along the darkened paths, followed by the explosion of grenades.
From the upper vantage point, it was challenging to clearly understand the chaotic situation below.
Only at times when it was roughly clear could supportive fire be provided.
A game of hide-and-seek in a maze was currently underway.
Keril worked to bring down Sojun together while Sojun darted around, evading and luring until they were alone, engaging in a fierce battle of wits.
The two acted as if they had instantly grasped the dimensions of the space, foreseeing each other’s movements by one or even two steps, leading and chasing one another.
As this tactic unfolded, namu couldn’t help but think that Sojun was the truly superior one.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A moment arose when their last remaining team member found themselves isolated. The fight had barely begun.
At that critical moment, the team member was barely saved through cover fire from Namu.
Perhaps, Keril considered even this, but the likelihood was slim.
『”Circle around to the outside left flank.”』
An order was quickly issued. Observing from above, namu tried to picture the scene.
‘I still don’t get it.’
Namu decided to just follow Keril’s insight and fire the shots.
Then, a sudden turn of events occurred.
Gunfire was heard from the hallway entering the common area.
Another enemy had appeared.
『”Let’s quickly take down the new adversary. I’m providing cover, so come to my position.”』
Keril made a quick decision.
Just then, Sojun emerged below Namu.
Namu reflexively fired a shot.
Bang!
Sojun deflected it with a frying pan acting as a shield.
– Truly amazing!
– Is that an enemy? LOL If it were me, I’d just give up.
– Is this Ground Zero?
– There’s no solution.
– Wow, he’s really the dark horse of the tournament.
Namu resonated with the chat messages.
‘No matter how many times I see it, that’s such an unfair advantage.’
Sojun had suddenly appeared, causing Namu to shoot, and the bullet ricocheted toward the spot behind Sojun.
Keril stood there.
Keril checked where Namu was and fired at Sojun.
At that moment.
Sojun turned the frying pan at an angle to block the shot.
Bang!
A spark flew, and a stray bullet embedded itself next to Namu’s face—the bullet bounced off the frying pan and came right at him.
‘Crazy.’
It was frightening.
Sojun vanished again, and Keril refocused on the newly arrived enemies.
-???
– Did they really aim for the ricochet?
– Must have been coincidental. No way could that be intentional LOL
– No, it seemed a bit off.
Right.
It must have been coincidental.
『Keril –〉 NeedsBlackoutCurtain』
『SwordGod14 –〉 WetTissue』
Keril quickly eliminated the newly appeared enemy, and Namu resumed concentration on the lower area.
Thump!
A vibration echoed from the end of the path as someone put their weight on it and climbed up.
‘Insane.’
He quickly looked to the side.
The moment a bullet grazed past his head, Sojun had used that split second to dash toward the ladder and climbed up onto the path where he stood.
– Amazing movements like a special forces operative.
– When did he get there?
– He’s done for. LOL
‘I’m dead.’
Bang! Bang!
Unlike with Taewoo, Sojun closed the distance in just a couple of shots, and Namu met his end.
* * *
Sojun struck the fallen Keril with a frying pan.
“I’m sorry, Keil-nim.”
“It’s Keril, you hyung!”
Sojun thought, ‘Even after losing, correcting their name with a smile, how brazen.’
“All right, Keil-nim.”
Sojun finished the unconscious Keril off.
『SwordGod14 –〉 Keril』
The last remaining team member had fled, and Kim Taewoo watched with a sense of disbelief, having lost his chance for revival.
“Impressed?”
Sojun taunted.
It wasn’t a typical display of bravado among boys or a self-assured expression for his incredible move.
He genuinely meant, ‘Were you impressed by that?’
“What are you talking about? This is virtual reality; I can’t be impressed in real life, you know?”
Oh, so you would be in reality?
“You’ll see when you clean your capsule.”
“Just shut up and kill me already. Wow, are you really using dual-wielding there?”
Kim Taewoo lay down in resignation.
– What on earth happened? LOL
– Damn, when I saw him with two frying pans, I felt chills, for real.
– Am I impressed too?
– I’m impressed as well.
– Streamer-nim, are you insane?!
– All the commentators have lost it, and Penguin is preparing cat memes LOL
– This is definitely a win. LoS for the win. This guy is stock worth investing in.
– Is there anyone who hasn’t gone all-in on points for Streamer-nim yet?
Sojun watched the chat and laughed, turning his attention to Kim Taewoo.
“Why should I kill you?”
Sojun asked, but Kim Taewoo ignored him and carried on with his own words.
“Even if it’s just a warm-up game. You’ve got to win in the main competition. Remember that there’s no frying pan there.”
Kim Taewoo spoke as he lay there, resigned.
– What exactly happened here? LOL
– Damn, when I saw him dual-wielding frying pans, chills down my spine, for real.
– Was I impressed too?
– I was impressed as well.
– Streamer-nim, are you serious?! You’re crazy!!!
Sojun, smirking, glanced at the chat while keeping his attention on Kim Taewoo.
“All right, why should I kill you?”
Sojun repeated, but Kim Taewoo wasn’t paying attention and kept going.
“Even though this is a warm-up game. You should win when it really matters. But remember, you won’t have that frying pan next time; you’re cheating, aren’t you? Everyone, report him. Can you honestly believe that happened?”
“Hey. I’m not going to kill you.”
“Did you give him some special capsule… Oh? Why not?”
“You have to find the key to the Secret Room.”
Sojun said as if he had it figured out all along.
“What… what?”
“Find it quickly. If you find the key, I’ll let you use a defibrillator.”
Sojun simply thought it would be more convenient for two people to look rather than one.
He had noticed from the sounds that their other teammate seemed to be quickly leaving.
– Jin Sojun! Jin Sojun! Jin Sojun! Jin Sojun! Jin Sojun! Jin Sojun!
– The winner is already decided.
– Blocking with a frying pan? I’ll give a hundred chances here, but dual-wielding? LOL, that’s impossible.
– He will definitely be the focus of scrutiny now.
– How can this be a Synchronization Rate of 10?
– Just how many classic scenes is he creating today?!
The chat was in utter chaos.
“But Sojun.”
“Yeah?”
“Am I supposed to look like this? Really?”
He seemed to have the intent to find it. Despite knowing victory was far out of reach, he still wanted to continue the game.
“Yup.”
“So you want me to search in this collapsed state? My movement speed is pathetically slow, and I can’t even stand up?”
“Otherwise, you’d run right away.”
Since using the defibrillator made a loud noise, it would be easy for their opponent to take notice.
“Okay, I get it.”
Kim Taewoo said that and crawled away to search for the key to the Secret Room—more like inching along slowly.
* * *
The key to the Secret Room randomly spawned somewhere in the basement, but there were common spots where it usually appeared.
First, the corners. Though the terrain randomly generated for each match, the corners never changed, so it seemed the developers favored those areas.
Alternatively, you could search around the immediate vicinity of the Secret Room located in the center.
‘The viewers did mention that.’
Sojun carefully moved around, mindful in case another teammate was escaping, and turned quickly at a corner.
Clang.
The search resulted in finding the key easily. Sojun slowly made his way back to the center.
『Wave–〉 asdqwe12#』
While moving closer, a kill message popped up.
It seemed that last team member really had managed to escape.
“Ah, they died there. Am I the only hope for our team? As the leader, I need to step up, right? So, I guess that place isn’t an option anymore.”
Unaware of Sojun’s quiet approach, Kim Taewoo crawled around the center searching for the key.
With a defibrillator, Kim Taewoo wasn’t immediately eliminated even if all teammates perished.
‘What were they talking about just now?’
Sojun watched a little longer.
“Their team is telling me just to give up and die, huh? But even rolling in dung heap is better than being dead, you know.”
Luckily, viewers from Kim Taewoo’s side hadn’t gone over to inform him that Sojun was nearby.
“I’ll backstab at just the right moment if I come back to life. Should’ve pulled this when my teammates were alive, right? Seriously, it’s ended for us all. Now there’s no hope.”
That’s what it was.
“Releasing the capsule code? It’s got a built-in backup battery, so it’ll keep running. Best just to hit the end button to turn it off, really.”
You can shut off the VR Capsule externally by pressing the end button to turn it off properly.
It’s one of those secrets the kids with capsules at home didn’t want their mothers to find out.
“All right, go ahead.”
“What?”
“Oh, by the way, I already found this, so let’s agree there’s no dispute over it?”
Sojun jangled the key.
“Goodbye.”
* * *
After collecting the items from the Secret Room, Sojun prepared to exit. The special weapon he’d obtained was a sniper rifle.
Given the current safe zones, the exit route led to the airfield.
Sojun walked towards the airfield, keeping in touch with his teammates.
Though no enemy was in sight, he suggested regrouping.
With only two squads remaining, approximately eight players were left on the field now.
And out of a total of 24, Sojun had scored 12 kills.
“About 12 kills should earn me the MVP title, don’t you think?”
– Just a total squad wrecker LOL
– All completed on his own, indeed.
– Blocking with a frying pan marks him a confirmed standout. Regardless of anything, once he showed up dual-wielding, he’s unbeatable.
– Up against Wave next?
– Let’s not tell him anything, guys. Manners.
They intended not to share the gathered intel.
But they didn’t do it out of politeness.
“Honestly, you all just want me to struggle more. Isn’t it technically allowed to radios- listen during the warm-up game?”
The truth was they merely wished for Sojun to endure more hardships.
“You’re like elementary school boys teasing the girl they like.”
Sojun chuckled slightly, climbing up the stairs.
-???
– What makes him think we like him?
– No way. I don’t like Streamer-nim at all.
– Because Streamer-nim is just so amazing. If it was a normal Challenger level of skill? Wouldn’t have watched at all, would leave hateful comments each time.
– For real LOL If it were an average Challenger, it’d be a typical public execution immediately LOL
– But he’s not just an average Challenger, is he?
– This guy’s grabbing viewers hostage with his skill. Such a sneaky brat!
Heavy denial often means the opposite.
Sojun came outside.
A mound of weeds resembling a grave.
‘Now, contact the…’
Suddenly, Sojun felt a sense of unease and ducked his head.
Thud!
A bullet whizzed past where he had stood and embedded itself in the ground.
‘Did the enemy also get supplies? A sniper?’
In the distance, a crate suspected to be the remains of the former teammate from Kim Taewoo’s team was visible.
Bang!
Quickly taking cover, Sojun retrieved his radio.
It was time to end this.