Even from the brief confrontation, it was clear that the two’s play styles were polar opposites. Bae Sinhyo was the type who instinctively detected killing intent, while Pyeonghwa analyzed the opponent’s movements to predict the next attack trajectory.
The method of transitioning from defense to offense was also vastly different. Bae Sinhyo was one with his weapon. He pressured his opponent while freely utilizing the sharp spear blade, both axe blades, the long shaft, and the spear blade at the back.
In contrast, Pyeonghwa created linked strikes using the hammer’s centrifugal force and recoil. It was complex work that required precise calculations slicing seconds finely and motor skills to execute them.
After exchanging several rounds of attacks, the two’s expressions diverged starkly. Bae Sinhyo wore a sneer, thinking it was doable, but Pyeonghwa’s face inside the gas mask was filled with dismay.
‘This is bad!’
Though it might have seemed even because he retreated backward the moment things became unfavorable, Bae Sinhyo’s physical abilities without using a single skill were similar to or slightly higher than Pyeonghwa buffed with the fox transformation skill.
It meant the basic power and speed difference was that large regardless of restricted stats. Without fox transformation, it was hard to even react properly.
‘Wow, even though I matched equipment options all-in on movement speed and attack speed, it’s like this. At this level, isn’t he a monster, not a human?’
Pyeonghwa was even currently activating the passive skill ‘Why So Angry?’ ‘Why So Angry?’ was a skill that increased movement speed by 10% for 10 seconds when becoming the target of an angry subject. Because Bae Sinhyo’s anger toward him didn’t subside, the skill automatically activated as soon as the 15-second cooldown ended.
Death Match was a bloody battle that continued until someone died, so he could freely use all skills he possessed. And unlike ranked matches, skill names used weren’t revealed even after the match ended. If they had been revealed, it would have been embarrassing, so it was fortunate.
In the brief time Bae Sinhyo ran toward him, Pyeonghwa finished calculating by racking his brain. Fox transformation’s cooldown was 3 minutes, and Return Link was 1 minute. If he endured three times in 1-minute intervals, he could match the timing for counterattack.
Kwang!
Pyeonghwa dodged the halberd falling while scattering burning flames to the side. Bae Sinhyo bent the angle of the halberd stuck in the ground and slashed Pyeonghwa’s chest diagonally. The axe blade scraped past Pyeonghwa’s suit, making a grating friction sound.
“Ha! You acted cocky when you’re only this good?”
“Eek. I dozed off for a moment.”
Bae Sinhyo’s skill duration finally ended. Pyeonghwa frantically twisted his body and blocked the continuing attacks with his hammer. Each time they clashed, hot pink electrical currents crackled and spread from the hammer, and sparks flashed and flew from Bae Sinhyo’s halberd.
Pyeonghwa deliberately used space widely. It was to use Return Link that returned him to 10 seconds ago. As soon as the cooldown ended, he moved to the desired location and counterattacked Bae Sinhyo.
Unexpectedly, Bae Sinhyo had many openings. Because he didn’t feel the need to defend in advance. Thanks to that, there were plenty of places to hit, but whether the attacks worked or not was another matter.
Pyeok!
“Kheuk!”
Bae Sinhyo instantaneously twisted one leg and kicked Pyeonghwa’s abdomen with his heel. Pyeonghwa, who bounced off after hitting the ground, tumbled at the edge of the ring. Hazy dust rose.
“Argh, fuck… because of the gas mask…!”
Pyeonghwa struggled to get up. Wearing the cyberpunk gas mask restricted vision by 30%. Until now, the gas mask hadn’t been very inconvenient, but following Bae Sinhyo’s movements with restricted vision was inadequate.
‘No, even if I’d seen that just now, I couldn’t have dodged it.’
He wanted to blame the gas mask, but Pyeonghwa had no choice but to acknowledge that Bae Sinhyo had become strong. He was like… a veteran Hunter with lots of real combat experience.
It felt like facing someone he absolutely couldn’t beat through orthodox methods, like when he faced Yoon Gyeom. Even more so in an arena where he couldn’t utilize terrain.
“Hey, the skill gap is too severe, this won’t work. From now on, I won’t use active skills.”
“What? No! Use them!”
When Bae Sinhyo cracked his neck here and there as if bored, Pyeonghwa’s pride was hurt and he welled up and shot back.
“If I use skills, I’ll take your head within 1 minute, bastard.”
“Bullshit. I know you’re trying to blame skills after getting beaten by me, you know?”
“Stop bluffing, and before talking about skills, readjust your sensitivity settings first. Is it at about seventy percent right now?”
When Bae Sinhyo brought up sensitivity, Pyeonghwa flinched. Huk, how did he know…? Because getting hit by Yoon Gyeom in the first match hurt so much, he’d lowered sensitivity to 50%…
Lowering sensitivity reduced sensitivity to stimulation. Pain felt by the body was halved, but it was inevitable that senses became that much duller. No one had noticed until now, but he didn’t expect him to notice that.
“N-no? It’s a hundred?”
Pyeonghwa deliberately straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. He rolled his eyes to open the settings window, but sensitivity resetting was impossible during matches.
“What? A hundred? Why did you become so pathetic? Is it because you got taller? You got fucking nerfed hard.”
Bae Sinhyo widened his red eyes. It was a question that came from pure curiosity without intent to disparage his opponent, but it was enough to scratch Pyeonghwa’s nerves.
‘Hyung must be watching, and he says such embarrassing things!’
Pyeonghwa’s face flushed red and blue. If he honestly said 50%, it seemed like he’d be called an excuse-maker, so he didn’t want to say it out loud, but he hated being treated as pathetic in front of Dohae even more. Pyeonghwa clenched his fist and shouted angrily.
“Fine! I’m at fifty percent! Happy? But I can totally destroy you!”
“What? Fifty? Hey! Who plays games with sensitivity at fifty? Raise it right now!”
“No, it hurts!”
“That’s why your skills didn’t improve at all in two months, stupid!”
“Getting this good in two months is fucking awesome, idiot!”
Kung! Kwang! Taang!
Pyeonghwa rushed at Bae Sinhyo while using the fox transformation skill. Bae Sinhyo leisurely blocked while keeping his word not to use skills, and even attempted counterattacks.
Pyeonghwa used Return Link to dodge attacks and swung the hammer horizontally from behind Bae Sinhyo while lowering his body. Bae Sinhyo’s massive body soared into the air, spun once, and landed lightly.
[What??? Sensitivity 50%???]
[All this time he was called a genius with sensitivity at 50? lol]
[The gas mask seems to block vision too]
[Sensitivity 50 + vision restriction Pax VS no skills Bae Sinhyo balance okay?]
[No no, Bae Sinhyo will still win]
[Is Bae Sinhyo’s stats restricted for real? How do you beat that fuck;;]
As the fight dragged on, the difference became clear between the leisurely and calm Bae Sinhyo and Pyeonghwa gasping and sweating. Unlike Bae Sinhyo who wasn’t using active skills at all, Pyeonghwa was spamming skills as soon as cooldowns ended, so it was natural for people to expect Bae Sinhyo to win.
Pyeonghwa hoped Dohae wasn’t watching the broadcast. He’d boasted he could destroy Bae Sinhyo, but to be in this state…! His face burned hot with embarrassment.
‘This won’t do. If the plan goes wrong… hyung will be disappointed!’
Pyeonghwa wanted to live up to Dohae’s expectations. Realistically, becoming stronger than Dohae would be difficult, but his goal was to grow surprisingly fast and become someone he could lean on when things were hard. Because only then could they develop into lovers!
The first button of that plan was to miserably defeat Bae Sinhyo, make a video toying with him, and spread it overseas… but it was going wrong from the start.
If he couldn’t sweep up aggro points, rapid growth was impossible. Dohae’s disappointed face asking if this was all he had flashed through his mind. Though it was just imagination, the color drained from Pyeonghwa’s face.
“I can’t!”
Pyeonghwa, who widened the distance using Return Link, suddenly clutched his hood and plopped down. Bae Sinhyo, who’d been running toward Pyeonghwa, hesitated.
“What?”
He couldn’t have given up already. Bae Sinhyo frowned and struck down at his shoulder with the halberd. Pyeonghwa swung the hammer to block the halberd. A clash of strength versus strength continued. Even while using fox transformation, Pyeonghwa was soon gradually pushed back.
“Bae Sinhyo… you trash bastard…! Trying to ruin my life twice…!”
“Ha, look who’s talking! You didn’t just touch my life, but even Golden Ball who did nothing wrong!”
“That was a mistake while trying to destroy you…! I sent you a DM on how to supplement weaknesses, so, kkeung, let it go…!”
“Fuck, you told me a fucking terrible method! I followed it like an idiot without knowing Pax was you!”
“Huh? Of course I wouldn’t tell you! Idiot, it was hilarious!”
The fox transformation duration ended. Pyeonghwa angled the hammer to make Bae Sinhyo’s halberd stick into the ground and quickly threw his body backward.
He took a defensive stance expecting attacks to pour right away, but Bae Sinhyo stood frozen in place, not moving. Pyeonghwa stopped at a certain distance.
