“Another arrow!”
“That Divine Archer named Lian on Arena number five is incredibly powerful!”
“Did he win again, and again, and again?”
“That An Dong fellow on Arena number one is truly amazing, bringing such honor to us Tank players!”
“The Lancer who just ascended Arena number three is formidable as well.”
“Is he called Yan?”
“Wasn’t he fighting Xiao, the highest-ranked legendary player?”
“He actually managed to win against her?”
“Hey, look quickly!”
“That melee Mage from before has entered Arena number two!”
“It seems he’s aiming to conquer this 40-yard arena.”
“Didn’t that guy lose to Qing Bai on Arena number four earlier?”
“Has half an hour really passed already?”
“Speaking of which, an hour has already gone by.”
“It feels like the players holding the arenas are almost set in stone now.”
“Damn it!”
“I haven’t even started earning victory points yet…”
“But, as much as I hate to admit it, I don’t think I can defeat any of the current contenders on the field…”
“Same here…”
A chorus of exclamations rose from the spectators, who seemed to believe the arena’s fate was sealed.
For a time, no one dared to challenge Yan, who was riding a wave of momentum, nor Qing Bai, who had secured victory after victory, nor Lian, who consistently dispatched her opponents in a single strike.
Curiously, however, challengers continued to flock to An Dong, who had likewise jumped onto an arena from the start and maintained an unbroken winning streak.
Why, one might ask?
Because, in the eyes of outsiders, his ability to hold the arena stemmed purely from luck and sheer shamelessness.
****
On Arena number one.
“Here we go again…”
An Dong grimaced, his face a picture of misery, as he slammed his massive shield onto the ground before him, completely obscuring his body.
Peering over the top, he cast a helpless glance at the challenger standing opposite him.
“No one dares to step onto the other arenas anymore, yet my spot is constantly besieged.”
“Do you all have no shame?”
An Dong looked up, observing the status of the other four arenas displayed in the air.
Apart from Ivan, the melee Mage on Arena number two, whose battle with his opponent had yet to conclude, the other three champions stood idly, bored as they awaited challengers.
“Tell me, are you picking on me because I’m a Tank, thinking I’m an easy target?”
He chuckled wryly, addressing the opponent twenty yards away.
“There’s no helping it, Old Brother An Dong,” a One-Handed Sword Player remarked with a laugh.
“Tank classes are universally acknowledged as unsuitable for PK (TL Note: Player Kill, referring to player-versus-player combat).”
“Wouldn’t it be better to just quietly claim the Tank class event compensation?”
“Why bother trying to steal the spotlight here?”
“You only managed to hold the arena before by relying on a Tank’s high HP to tough out the ten-minute challenge.”
“But now that you’ve run into me, it won’t be so simple.”
The man drew the longsword from his back, its sharp blade glinting menacingly as it pointed at An Dong.
“I’ll kill you within ten minutes.”
“Heh heh, try it if you think you can.”
An Dong merely chuckled, unconcerned, as he drew his short sword and tapped his large shield.
“Ten minutes, and I won’t retreat a single step.”
As Yan had initially analyzed, holding an arena from beginning to end during a two-hour event was an exceptionally difficult feat.
This demanded not only extraordinary player strength but also an unyielding force of will.
Sustaining continuous, high-intensity, fully focused 1v1 PK for two hours was a challenge few could endure.
An Dong had been defending his arena for a full hour without the slightest hint of relaxation.
He kept his eyes wide, meticulously observing his opponent’s every move, defending with all his might, a sight that inspired awe.
Truly, he was a Tank player!
Such an unshakeable, resilient will, such outstanding pressure resistance.
He was indeed the quintessential Tank player, enduring all hardships in dungeons, shouldering every blame and boss aggro (TL Note: a gaming term referring to a monster’s aggression or ‘hatred’ towards a player) single-handedly!
Yet, despite all this…
On the arena, An Dong, facing the One-Handed Sword Player’s fierce onslaught, could only continuously shift his massive shield, defending relentlessly.
There was no other option; Tank players dealt too little damage and were too cumbersome.
In such 1v1 PK, it was exceedingly difficult to defeat an opponent.
“Sword Flash!”
The One-Handed Sword Player activated the [Sword Flash] skill (which is largely similar for One-Handed Sword and Dual Sword classes), instantly teleporting behind An Dong.
An Dong’s unprotected back was now exposed to his opponent.
“Oh no!”
An Dong spun around in a panic, attempting to direct his shield towards the enemy, but it was already too late.
“Heh heh! Gotcha!”
The One-Handed Sword Player grinned, his longsword, imbued with a silvery glow, suddenly swung out.
“Overwhelm Strike!”
This was the Swordsman’s second-tier offensive skill, devoid of special effects, yet the blow landed squarely on An Dong’s back, instantly reducing his HP by one-fifth.
Only then did An Dong manage to turn, positioning his large shield to face the One-Handed Sword Player.
“Backflip!”
The One-Handed Sword Player chuckled softly as he activated the [Backflip] skill, landing effortlessly a short distance away.
He then smiled at An Dong and remarked, “Well, well, your Tank isn’t as ‘tanky’ as I imagined.”
“Heh, after all, I’m not an HP-specialized Tank.”
An Dong, who had been flustered moments before, actually felt his heart settle upon seeing the damage dealt.
He replied with a smile, “So what *are* you specialized in?”
“Guess~”
An Dong winked conspiratorially at the One-Handed Sword Player.
“What’s with that attitude?”
“I’ve already shaved off one-fifth of your HP in less than a minute.”
“With your remaining health, there’s no way you’ll last the remaining nine minutes.”
An Dong’s overly casual demeanor seemed to irk the One-Handed Sword Player, who retorted with a hint of exasperation.
“Oh? Is that so?”
An Dong chuckled, then, to his opponent’s surprise, released his grip on his shield and spread the five fingers of his left hand towards the One-Handed Sword Player.
A ring, shimmering with a holy white light, adorned the ring finger of his left hand.
“Even if I drop my shield and let you hit me, you still won’t be able to kill me. Believe it or not?”
His eyes, filled with a confident smile, settled on the One-Handed Sword Player.
“Huh? You’re down to four-fifths of your HP in less than a minute, and you’re spouting such big…”
Before the One-Handed Sword Player could finish his sentence, a pure white radiance emanated from An Dong.
“Heal.”
An Dong spread his hand, and the pristine white ring on his ring finger pulsed with sacred light, enveloping his entire body.
In an instant, An Dong’s HP was completely restored.
“What the hell!?”
The One-Handed Sword Player was utterly bewildered.
“Aren’t you a Tank!?”
“Why can you cast a Priest’s skill?”
“It’s all thanks to Suo Liya…”
“Ah, Suo Liya!”
“Even when you’re not by my side, you’re still silently protecting and supporting me, aren’t you?”
An Dong clutched the ring on his left ring finger, pressing both hands to his chest, his expression solemn and sacred as he spoke.
Though, it must be said, the performance was perhaps a little cheesy and over-the-top.
“Suo Liya? Who’s that?”
The One-Handed Sword Player’s furrowed brow twitched, seemingly unable to comprehend An Dong’s eccentric behavior.
“Heh heh, just kidding.”
Apparently realizing the awkwardness of his own performance, An Dong scratched the back of his head and laughed sheepishly.
“Suo Liya is my wife, in real life… Of course, that’s not her actual name in reality, ah… Anyway, she used to play this game with me, but then we got married and had kids in real life, and things got increasingly busy.”
“She quit the game to raise our child at home, and this ring is a special piece of equipment she crafted.”
[Suo Liya’s Protection (Accessory): Toughness +15%, HP +800, Spirit Blood +20%]
[Inherent Ability: The wearer can cast Tier 4 Heal, unaffected by the wearer’s attributes.]
“Pretty powerful, right?”
An Dong proudly gave a thumbs-up.
“Never mind the equipment!”
“You happy bastard, you ‘life winner’ with a wife and kids, just shut your mouth!”
The One-Handed Sword Player, seemingly greatly provoked, pointed at An Dong and yelled.
“Ahaha~”
An Dong laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
“Wait, what did you just say?”
“This ring is a special piece of equipment crafted by your wife?”
“Special equipment can actually be crafted?”
“And it even has inherent abilities?”
The One-Handed Sword Player calmed down slightly, gradually realizing the incredible detail An Dong had glossed over.
“Ah, that’s the effect of my wife’s Companion-Tier Skill, [Saintess’s Blessing],” An Dong explained.
“It allows her to inscribe any skill she possesses (excluding Companion-Tier skills) onto special equipment.”
“Players wearing such equipment can then use the inscribed skill unconditionally.”
“Oh, and by the way, my wife is a Priest~”
An Dong added with a hint of pride.
“Damn, such a powerful, functional Companion-Tier Skill!”
“Every major guild would be fighting over her in the future, so why did she quit the game?”
“Heh heh, compelled by life, compelled by life…”
An Dong spread his hands with a wry smile.
“Hmph, even if you are a ‘life winner’… ah, no, even if you have the Heal skill, what of it?”
“I refuse to believe your mana will last for ten minutes!”
The One-Handed Sword Player re-entered combat stance, his longsword held horizontally before him.
He curled his lips slightly, glaring at An Dong with predatory eyes.
“This arena, I’m claiming it!”
“Try it if you’ve got the guts.”
An Dong smiled, raised an eyebrow, and picked up his large shield once more.
“Hey, didn’t you just say, ‘Even if I drop my shield and let you hit me, you still won’t be able to kill me’?'”
“Go on, drop the shield then…”
The One-Handed Sword Player’s curled lips twitched awkwardly.
“Huh? Did I say that?”
An Dong pinched his chin, a slight frown creasing his brow as he feigned a bewildered expression.
“Damn it, you despicable outsider…”