Chapter 23: Going Out⑧

The fourth set began.
Yujin struck first. Then, she spoke.

“Give it your all.”

-[Full power lol]

Holcop gritted his teeth.
Give it his all? A laughable notion.

There were things in this world that wouldn’t break, even if you threw all your strength against them. Holcop knew this all too well.

Therefore,

“…Sh*t!”

He couldn’t understand why he was even extending his fist.

Free from the stun after Yujin’s punch landed, Holcop instinctively thrust his arm forward.

It was an unconscious strike, but his Awakened senses and his past training aided him.

“Hmm.”

But it didn’t reach Yujin.
Yujin’s body spun smoothly to the side, like she was gliding on ice. Her backhand, now in a twisted stance, struck Holcop’s philtrum.

-[She saw that and dodged it?]
-[Didn’t even blink right in front of it lol Crazy guts;]
-[So fcking relaxed lol]
-[Pure fcking swag;]
-[Holcop’s getting hit again lol]

His vision momentarily cut out.
Because he’d closed his eyes. Holcop was relieved that he couldn’t see the mocking chat messages.

But that didn’t mean the onslaught stopped. In reality, Holcop merely winced; he couldn’t react further.

He was stunned, momentarily paralyzed.
Even a fleeting moment of rigidity created an opening, and Yujin didn’t miss it.

The hand that struck his philtrum grazed his ear. For a moment, Holcop flinched at the soft touch.

Then, Yujin placed her hand on the back of Holcop’s head and pressed down, her knee rising simultaneously.

-[The combo is insane lol]
-[Is she a pro or something at this point lol?]
-[Comparing a mere pro to the Hero lol]
-[The Hero giving it her all? This is unstoppable…]

The viewers continued their barrage of praise.
But it didn’t reach the two engrossed in battle.

Holcop, startled, snapped out of his stun. He instinctively reached out with both hands to block Yujin’s knee.

‘I blocked it!’

-[Oh]
-[He blocked it lol]
-[They’re super close, though?]
-[One leg is caught, looks like Holcop will counterattack now?]
-[Holcop’s smiling lol Well, he’s been getting hit non-stop so it makes sense lol]

Holcop almost cried out in triumph. He’d been on the receiving end until now, but he finally managed a proper defense.

However,

-[But the Hero’s smiling?]
-[Uh oh? Why is that b*tch smiling?]
-[What kind of confidence is that lol?]

Because his head was down, he missed Yujin’s smile. That was his mistake.

Holcop put strength into his arms,
Trying to push away Yujin’s knee. But no one realized this was precisely what Yujin had anticipated.

Yujin’s raised leg touched the ground. She seemingly yielded to Holcop’s intention.

And then,

-[Huh?]
-[Uh oh?]
-[Holcop! What are you doing!]
-[I bet on you lol The odds are 30 to 1 lol]
-[1.1 to 1 odds is ridiculous, seriously;]

Unable to support the weight he’d put on his arms, Holcop’s body toppled forward.

Breaking his stance.
Yujin had been aiming for that from the start.

Her right hand, gripping the back of Holcop’s head, tightened. The speed at which his head was forced down increased.

Then, Holcop saw Yujin’s left hand coming towards him. A tightly curled fist was closing in.

Raising her knee had been a feint.
The true purpose was to build momentum, channeling the force into her left hand to prepare a powerful uppercut.

-[Wow lol]
-[Holcop can’t do anything, can he?]

Holcop felt a chill run down his spine.

‘Is she even human?’

How meticulous was she?

If one move was blocked, she’d instantly execute the next, even using her opponent’s reactions as a springboard for her own attacks.

Holcop’s training hadn’t been to a professional level, but his body and mind, now experiencing her skill firsthand, acknowledged it.

‘…I can’t win.’

He already knew the outcome.
But something was strange.

‘Why am I so frustrated?’

It was truly odd.
If he lost, he lost. Even making a fool of himself to elicit reactions from the viewers might have been more beneficial.

But,
Really, why?

That’s when it happened.

-[?]
-[Why did she stop?]
-[What the?]
-Yep~ It was rigged after all~ Losers who bet on the favorite lol
-[Ah f*ck, this isn’t right!]

The viewers went wild.
Yujin’s fist had stopped right in front of Holcop’s face.

Then,

“Aren’t you ashamed?”

At Yujin’s voice, Holcop’s eyes widened.

-[Here it comes lol]
-[Should I mute this?;]
-[Here we go again lol]
-[Doesn’t this b*tch know Holcop’s streaming?]
-[I’m telling you, it’s not a concept, she’s serious;]

“What…?”

Holcop stammered.
Simultaneously, Yujin released her grip on the back of his head, freeing him.

With his movement no longer restricted, Holcop immediately created distance. Yujin watched him, her expression serious.

-[That expression ㄷㄷㄷ;]
-[Noona… I’m scared…]
-[Wow but she’s seriously f*cking pretty lol]
-[How can someone look like that?]
-[Is that even a compliment lol?]
-[Holcop’s totally freaked out lol]

‘…What is this?’

Holcop pressed his lips together.
Yujin’s impassive expression exerted immense pressure.

He gulped involuntarily.

Yujin stared intently, then chuckled. Suddenly, she spread her arms wide, as if ready to accept anything.

-[Noona!!!!]
-[No, that btch asked for a hug first, I’m telling you!]
-[Crazy btch, crazy btch, crazy btch…]

The viewers, and,

“…?”

Holcop, reacted with a mixture of excitement and confusion. Ignoring his wary stance, Yujin continued.

“Don’t you want to win?”

“…What?”

“You seem so half-hearted. It’s killing my enthusiasm.”

Yujin shook her head.
Holcop felt something surge within him.

-[That provocation lol]
-[Ah… her ‘enthusiasm’ is gone…]
-[Give it your all, Holcop!]
-[Oh, these f*cking nerds; Is there no way to block them here?]

“I feel like I’m wasting my time.”

“What…did you say…?”

At Yujin’s self-deprecating murmur, Holcop, perplexed, asked again, grinding his teeth as he did so.

Looking at him, Yujin,

“…Ha.”

Let out a long sigh.
Holcop wanted to ask why she was acting this way. But just as he was about to speak, Yujin beat him to it.

“What’s troubling you so much?”

Yujin’s eyes flashed. Holcop felt a chilling coldness, as if his heart was constricting, his insides freezing.

“Are you afraid of losing? I told you to give it your all. I wouldn’t have accepted your challenge if I knew you’d be like this.”

“…!”

It was a complete insult.
And yet, while feeling the sting of it,
Holcop couldn’t argue. Because it was true. He’d become so accustomed to being a streamer, always drawing lines, always holding back.

It was the same now.
He’d already half-given up, almost completely resigned.

Ashamed, Holcop lowered his head. He couldn’t think of a single retort.

Yujin’s words didn’t just provoke anger,
They resonated with a strange power, stirring his emotions.

“I’ve always been sincere.”

Yujin stated.

-[Brewing that simp soup…]
-[A woman serious about her concept? That’s rare… ]
-[I might actually become sincere…?]

“If I hit a wall and fall, I charge at that wall again and again until it crumbles.”

“What…?”

Holcop couldn’t comprehend her words.
As if she hadn’t expected him to understand, Yujin shook her head, then looked at him with a faint smile.

“Why are you giving up?”

“Giving up?”

“If you give up without giving it your all, then you deserve to be mocked.”

“…”

Was she trying to lecture him?
But because he recognized her superiority, instead of arguing, Holcop bowed his head.

“However.”

And at her next words,

“If you clash with all your might, you can say this to everyone:”

You know nothing—.

At Yujin’s added words, Holcop’s head snapped up. Eyes wide, he stared into her deep gaze.

It was a strange resonance.
There are times when common advice or encouragement fails to connect.

Why?
The answer might be this:

Because the speaker hasn’t experienced it themselves. Presuming to understand and offer advice is, in turn, presumptuously judging the other person.

But Yujin,
Her words,
Were all sincere. Holcop could feel it.

Why was he listening to this?

Why was Yujin saying these things to him? He couldn’t understand.

But Holcop,

“Besides, you already have a victory against me.”

“…Ah.”

“That’s something to be proud of.”

Yujin was smiling.
At that smile, Holcop felt something firmly lodged within his heart melt away.

And in its place, something hot and intense took root.

‘…What is this?’

It was an emotion that burned like fire, an emotion he couldn’t name.

‘…Yeah, what’s a million won anyway?’

Holcop sighed deeply,
Releasing his anxieties and worries.

‘Let’s just clash. Damn it, I have my pride.’

Suddenly, he felt lighter. It was inexplicable, but not unpleasant.

It was just a game.

‘Ah… F*ck it! I don’t care!’

Holcop decided to stop searching for reasons. And so, he charged.

-[Oh?]
-[Finally going for the counterattack lol]
-[Yeah, damn it! Are you even a man if you just keep getting hit?]
-[The guy who posted that chat above must have bet against him lol]
-[More than that, her lines are pure gold lol]
-[Are Holcop and the Hero acquaintances?]
-[Nope, she didn’t even know Holcop’s name lol]
-[I have no idea what kind of conversation they had…]
-[But why is it so badass lol]

It was the same as Yujin in the first set.
Seeing him charge forward without looking back, focused only on what lay ahead, Yujin smiled broadly.

“Good! I accept your challenge!”

“Uwaaagh!”

-[Making even her opponent ‘sincere’ lol]
-[Did she share her ‘sincerity’ or something lol]

Holcop roared as he sprinted. Rushing forward, he planted his right foot and pivoted, thrusting his left leg towards Yujin.

“Heh!”

Yujin laughed.
Laughing, she dropped to the ground.
Her upper body leaned back, her short black hair trailing behind as Holcop’s left foot passed over it.

-[Crazy, is she supporting herself with just her leg strength lol?]
-[This is why sense is important;]
-[I couldn’t do that even if I wanted to lol]

Then,

-[What the hell lol?]
-[A human body can move like that… I’m learning something new today;]

Not just the viewers,

“Holy sh*t?!”

Holcop, witnessing Yujin’s reaction up close, cried out in shock. But his realization was fleeting as he felt his vision spin.

“Agh!”

Then, his head hit the arena floor. Through his blurry vision, he realized he’d been counterattacked.

‘What…just happened?’

It was an incomprehensible move.
With her body still leaning back, Yujin’s legs suddenly left the ground.

Kicking off the floor, she spun, wrapping her legs around Holcop’s leg.

Without her feet on the ground,
The force generated within her body couldn’t escape.

Yujin added rotational force to the momentum from her kick, spinning as she entangled her legs with Holcop’s.

As a result, with both their physical abilities equalized by the game system, Holcop’s body was sent spinning.

‘Sh*t… Stunned!’

Holcop, sprawled on the floor, gritted his teeth. He wanted to push off the ground and get up, but he was locked in place by the brief stun.

-[What am I even watching lol?]
-[Sir… we’re not on your level;]
-[Even the manager commentating outside is speechless lol]

Yujin didn’t miss the opportunity.

‘…Gasp!’

Holcop, regaining his senses, saw Yujin straddling him.

At the sight of her beautiful face,
He momentarily forgot they were in a fight, his breath catching in his throat.

“Oof!”

Then, he exhaled sharply.
Yujin had raised her upper body and punched him in the stomach.

-[Oh damn;]
-[Won’t she get banned for violence?]
-[It’ll probably slide since it’s a game;]
-[Noona… I’m scared… This isn’t the Hero noona I know…]
-[What do you even know lol]
-[Seriously lol]

Holcop struggled to break free.
But Yujin’s precise and relentless punches kept inflicting damage and stun, locking him in place.

‘At this rate…’

It would end pathetically.
That couldn’t happen.
Holcop had also become serious. His attitude was entirely different from when he faced other viewers or streamers.

‘Please, even a small opening!’

Trapped in the continuous stuns, Holcop gritted his teeth, searching for a chance.

There were hitboxes.
Most of the body registered normal damage, while certain areas were critical hit zones, inflicting greater damage.

Fortunately, critical hits hadn’t occurred much.

Which meant…

‘…Low health!’

There was a system that drastically increased a player’s attack power when their health fell below a certain threshold.

In the game, it was called Awakening.
Holcop was a veteran of Eftarel Verden. He knew most of its mechanics.

In the Awakened state, players didn’t experience stun from damage received, and their attacks became so powerful that every hit was a critical.

‘In the first, second, and third sets, Awakening didn’t happen.’

Because the sets ended with a critical hit before Awakening could trigger.

Holcop had intended for this to happen. Yujin hadn’t, but the result was an opportunity for Holcop, who had more information.

‘It should be coming soon.’

He didn’t know how much time had passed since the start of the set. But, with this much damage received, it should be…

Just as he thought this,

-[Awakening ㄷㄷ]
-[Come to think of it, no one Awakened in the previous sets lol]
-[Can that even happen;]
-[It’s possible if you end it with a critical hit before Awakening triggers ㅇㅇ]

‘There it is!’

A flash of light in his vision.
A refreshing sensation, like a lightning bolt to the head, made Holcop grin.

He immediately sprang to his feet.
Yujin, seemingly noticing the change, quickly backed away, but Holcop gave chase.

‘Block her attacks, then two hits to the head!’

There was no time to hesitate.
If he attacked now, any hit would inflict a critical stun, and if he followed up with attacks to critical hit zones…

‘I win!’

Holcop didn’t hesitate.
Forgetting all about the broadcast, the humiliation of his past, everything.

He extended both hands,
Closing the distance completely, intending to grab and immobilize her.

He only needed to grab her.
That’s why Holcop couldn’t comprehend Yujin moving into his embrace just as his hands were about to reach her head.

“Hmm.”

Yujin made a sound of appraisal. A sudden unease gripped Holcop.

But then,

-[Ah lol]
-[So long~]
-[F*ck my points!!]

“That was a good fight, Holcop.”

“Ah… Urgh!”

Yujin’s smile completely disarmed him, and he couldn’t defend against her fist aimed at his jaw as she closed the remaining distance.

The jaw.
A vital point that could send a shockwave to the brain if hit properly.

And in Eftarel Verden, the jaw was,
A critical hit zone capable of instantly depleting Awakened health.

Hit squarely in the jaw, Holcop stumbled backward, then toppled over.

As Yujin looked down at him, sprawled on the floor,

[3:1 WIN!]
[You are victorious!]

The victory message appeared. Seeing it, Yujin chuckled and murmured,

“A valuable victory.”

Then, with her consciousness fading, she slowly closed her eyes.

Waaaah—!

As the capsule opened and I sat up, a roar of cheers filled my ears.

Startled, I opened my eyes.
Still disoriented,

“That was a great match, Ashilis-nim.”

Holcop approached, a relieved smile on his face, extending his hand.

I stared blankly for a moment, then,

“If fate permits, I’ll accept your challenge again.”

I returned his smile, grasped his hand, and stood up.