Chapter 59: The 3-Second Pursuit

The targeted General moved smoothly.

Then, he drew one toward Ham, then another toward Yunjae.

The two, caught up without knowing what was happening, took turns getting hit, one after the other.

[Party] Proposal: LOL it’s over

[Party] Happy: If the team is solid, it’s easy to dodge that LOL

[Party] Proposal: Right LOL, with two attackers

[Party] Ro: The last ghost is down too haha

The two who had charged in so fiercely now lay defeated in turn.

They hadn’t even managed a proper counterattack against Team 20.

[Duel Arena – All] Admin: Round 1 of Match 3, Team 20 wins.

“As expected, amazing.”

[General] BossOfTheOrganization: LOL I’d seen them sometimes in low-level maps

[General] BossOfTheOrganization: Didn’t know they were such monsters LOL

[General] HannaRi: Ham, Yunjae, General—any interest in joining a guild? ^^

[Guild] TeamLeadGo: Oh my!!!

[General] TeamLeadGo: Our Karma is open for business!!!

[General] TeamLeadGo: Come to Karma!!!

[General] GreenGrape: I want to join too LOLLLLLL

[General] UnderBridge: Is Karma accepting new members?

[General] Fake: Team Lead, I want to join Karma now T_T

[General] Baby: Please let me join~~~~

The sudden guild recruitment stirred up the guildless users.

It felt like everyone was looking in our direction...

But TeamLeadGo and HannaRi had only been thinking about Team 20, not the regular users, so they could only helplessly pace with frustration.

That’s when the admin chimed in at just the right moment.

[Duel Arena – All] Admin: Proceeding to the last, second round of Match 3.

[Duel Arena – All] Admin: Team 1 vs Team 4. Please step forward.

The notification made the area outside the fence noisy again.

A showdown between us, who’d gotten this far half on skill and half on luck, and the #1 ranked team, who’d made it up here purely on luck. Of course, everyone was excited.

[Party] Proposal: Finally!!!

[Party] Happy: Let’s crush them

[Party] Ro: Let’s go!

[Party] Proposal: Let’s do this!!!

We strode confidently into the arena.

But honestly...

“Not really excited…”

I don’t know what others might think, but to me, they were the kind of guys who’d just coasted up until now, so I had no idea how good their hand-to-hand combat skills were.

Besides, I’d beaten them so many times out in the field that this match didn’t thrill me at all. Of course, this event is a different vibe from field PK, so who knows how it’ll turn out, but...

“Still, I’m not feeling it.”

If it’s equal level, equal specs, honestly, what’s there? First Snow might be better, even.

I’ve faced both the main and alt users countless times, but I’ve never really felt any outstanding control from them, so even though I was shouting for victory, my expression was pretty indifferent.

[Party] Proposal: Target Musin 1, Apple 2, First Snow 3

[Party] Happy: 2?

[Party] Ro: 222

[Party] Proposal: Okay, 22

Maybe it was because of what happened last time in the desert, but we all had the same idea: Pineapple would be our first target.

[Duel Arena – All] Admin: Start

Our team and Musin’s team, waiting on either side, started to advance cautiously.

Once we reached the center, without anyone signaling, both sides began circling each other closely.

We got as close to the opposing team as possible, showing off risky footwork.

Moving back and forth just a square or two away, as if daring them to make the first move, but it wasn’t easy.

Even if they made it up here with ease, they must’ve at least watched enough, because Musin’s team watched us warily and played it safe.

We needed a better bait.

“I’m the expert at baiting.”

Looking at Musin’s character, I grinned.

Of course, this was my own plan, so I should have gotten opinions... but there was no time to type, so as the charge specialist, I decided to go for it myself.

“Take the bait.”

Whether the player on the character now was the main or the alt, they both probably didn’t have good feelings toward me.

“I’m willing to take a hit or two.”

So, come on, show me what you’ve got.

I deliberately moved in close to Musin, weaving around.

Sure enough, as I approached, Musin, fired up with competitiveness, tried a sneaky attack.

Just as planned, I pretended to be clumsy and took a hit, then slid to the side. Musin immediately followed. Nearby, Pineapple and First Snow flinched as they watched for an opening.

“Oh, got ‘em, got ‘em.”

Confident, I closed in even more.

Thankfully, Jiho and Proposal caught on to my provocation and quietly trailed behind.

Not only did I get close on my own, but by pretending to make a few mistakes and taking more hits, Musin’s side got even more aggressive.

Soon, Musin was following me everywhere. I subtly drew back, leading them away.

At that moment, Jiho and Proposal, seizing the timing, sprang forward and hit Musin hard.

“Wow. Jiho, amazing.”

What a monster. In that instant, he landed two blows—while weaving in and out, too.

Startled by the sudden HP drop, Musin retreated, while Pineapple and First Snow hurriedly stepped up to defend.

“Wait, this is actually helping us…?”

[Party] Proposal: 222

We went straight for Pineapple.

Musin had already run off behind. We instantly closed in on Pineapple and focused all our attacks.

Apple and First Snow countered in a rush... but there was a big difference between two people attacking and three people attacking.

[Guild] Taki: LOLLLL Musin and Pineapple are at sliver HP!!!

[Guild] Trauma: LOLLL Nice

[Guild] INFP: Wow, win this, please…

[Guild] Bambi: INFP, please get a hold of yourself T_T

Karma was the most excited at Hana Guild’s humiliation.

We were excited too.

[Party] Proposal: 111

If possible, I wanted to take down our first target, Pineapple, before anyone else. But startled, Apple fell back, and Musin came up front again, so there was no choice.

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

First Snow, with the most HP, hurried to volunteer as shield.

But for that, Musin’s team formation was too simple. When one fell back, the other two just stepped up to block at the front.

They had to know that’s a huge disadvantage when attacking, but weirdly, Musin’s team insisted on that formation.

“Isn’t this the time to break formation and use mouse control…?”

Well, I’m grateful they’re playing so simply. We’re now beating Musin half to death and pummeling First Snow too.

[Guild] Taki: LOLLL They’re all at sliver HP now

We were at the finishing stage.

[Party] Proposal: 1 charge

Honestly, at this point, it didn’t matter who we attacked.

Musin was the unlucky one to get focused first, and we pummeled him mercilessly.

Even with Pineapple and First Snow hovering at the side and Musin trying to counter, it didn’t matter.

Our HP was more than enough, and our hands were faster than Musin’s team.

Musin’s character collapsed first, and then Pineapple fell right after. I found myself clapping before I knew it.

I hadn’t been feeling it earlier, but seeing those two drop, a strange sense of satisfaction and pride bubbled up.

[Party] Proposal: 333

No need to even shout “3.”

First Snow, left alone, made one last desperate dash, running frantically around the arena while we chased like predators hunting prey.

First Snow ran laps, desperately trying to stall for time.

[Duel Arena – All] Admin: 10 seconds

“So, even if they lose, they want to survive until the very end, huh?”

No way I’d let that happen.

9, 8, 7...

I had no personal feelings toward First Snow, but there was no way I’d let them have that. I chased even more frantically, clicking my mouse as if it would break the moment I caught up.

5...

Jiho and Proposal were the same.

After that relentless pursuit, First Snow died with 3 seconds left.

“We won!”

[General] FirstSnow: Oh no T_T

[Guild] TeamLeadGo: Nice!!!!

[General] Taki: Grats grats grats grats grats grats grats grats

[General] Rich: Congrats to the Three Brothers ^^

[General] WaterIsSelf: LOL what a shame

[General] Kaiser: Failed to be the first survivor haha

[Guild] S: T_T_T_T_T_T_T

[Guild] Green: LOL Musin confirmed 4th and 5th

[Guild] Taki: LOLLLLL serves them right

[Guild] Celestial: Congrats Happy, Ro, and Proposal.

[Guild] Shik: Oh grats grats

[Guild] Ariel: LOLLLL congrats congrats congrats

[Guild] Gadfly: So, now is it finals??

[Guild] TeamLeadGo: Nah, probably one more match due to a bye

[Guild] Taki: Another rock-paper-scissors LOL

[Guild] Proposal: But if we lose there, aren’t we third—huh?

[Guild] Proposal: There’s only three teams

[Guild] TeamLeadGo: You’re right

[Guild] Taki: LOL Proposal, you absolutely can’t lose

[Guild] Proposal: Geez, the pressure LOLLLL

Karma was blowing up with fireworks, but the admin quickly moved on to Round 2.

“Oh, now it’s Mono Team vs. Team 20.”

A mysterious newbie team that had appeared like a comet.

And the Karma Guild team facing off against them.

People got excited all over again, chatting noisily.

[Guild] Taki: LOLLLLL Karma for 1st and 2nd, let’s gooooo

[Party] Proposal: I’d rather not though—

[Party] Ro: LOL

[Party] Happy: LOLLL me too

As we were all chatting excitedly, my phone rang.

“What the—who’s calling... Sis?”

Of all times, why now, right when I need to focus.

“What? I’m busy. Huh? Dad’s photos? I have all the old photos. What? Right now? Ah, later. I’m busy right n—”

It was like a thunderbolt in my ear.

Since it was urgent, I just shut up and hurried to take pictures and send them.

If I didn’t obey my sister, she’d force me into the company once my slacker life ended—no, never mind, anyway...

“Wait. I’ll find them and send them right away.”

I had to obey my sister, so I quickly ran out to the living room.

“Uh... where did I put Dad’s photos?”

I rummaged through the drawers for a while.

All the while, I was going crazy wondering how the Mono Team and Team 20 match was going.

“Found it!”

Only after turning the living room drawers upside down did I find what I was looking for.

I marveled at Dad’s youthful face for a moment, but then, thinking of the game, quickly snapped a photo, sent it, and dashed back to my room.

But... three minutes had passed by then.

“Huh? It’s already over? Ughhhh...”

[Party] Proposal: What the heck, Happy, what were you doing

[Party] Proposal: Thought you’d gone AFK, scared me LOL

[Party] Ro: Whew

[Party] Happy: On the phone

[Party] Happy: Did Team 20 win again?

[Party] Ro: Yeah

[Duel Arena – All] Admin: That’s the end of Match 3

[Duel Arena – All] Admin: Joint 4th and 5th are Team 4 and Team 7.

[Duel Arena – All] Admin: Advancing to Match 4: Teams 1, 8, and 20

[Duel Arena – All] Admin: Since there are three teams, we’ll move straight to the match for 3rd place.

[Duel Arena – All] Admin: Team leaders for 1, 8, and 20, please enter the arena.

“Oh, so third place will be decided by rock-paper-scissors…”

[Guild] TeamLeadGo: Proposal, fighting!!

[General] WaterIsSelf: Ah, this is nerve-wracking...

[Guild] Blue: Scissors scissors scissors let’s go

[General] Baby: Water, please win T_T_T_T

[Guild] Gadfly: No, let’s go with rock

[Guild] Taki: No no no, paper

[General] GreenGrape: LOL Water, even 2nd place is fine, go go

[Party] Happy: Proposal, we believe in you

[Party] Ro: Bro, you got this

[Party] Proposal: Why am I nervous about something like this LOL

Everyone was tense and excited at that moment.

[Duel Arena – All] Admin: The third place match will be a team leader solo round.

[Duel Arena – All] Admin: The first to die will have their team confirmed as 3rd place.

[Duel Arena – All] Admin: Simple, right?

I felt like I’d just been hit on the back of the head.