Jamie Moore felt his heart return to usual as he stood alone in the spacious arena. It wasnât thumping quickly any longer. It was so quiet that he wouldnât know his heart was beating if he didnât realize it.
âIt is just like usual.â
The tension he felt before the live stream started quickly disappeared. He was as calm as ever.
âIs that person the opponent?â
Just then, a man appeared quite a distance away from Jamie Moore. The man had his entire body covered with silver armor and was holding a greatsword with both hands. It was a typical knight class.
âIs it centered around the strength stat?â
Jamie Moore grasped his opponentâs style first. He would find it out through the visible items.
âThe level... I donât think it is very high.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
It wasnât because Jamie Moore had a lot of knowledge about items. As the history of the arena lengthened and the influx of new players increased, things called national items emerged like never before. They were usually items between the rare and uncommon rating. These were the items that his opponent wore. Jamie Moore couldnât help recognizing such national items.
âI just have to go out as normal.â
The level of his opponent that Jamie Moore identified through his opponentâs items was around level 150. Jamie Mooreâs current level was exactly 200. It was an overwhelming level difference. It was a difference where he could never lose if he was vigilant.
Jamie Moore drew his two swords and started running slowly toward his opponent. Every time Jamie Mooreâs feet slammed against the ground, he accelerated like crazy. The distance between the two of them shrank in an instant. The manâs eyes widened as he looked at Jamie Moore. It was because it was a speed that could never be seen in a similar ranking range.
However, the man came to his senses surprisingly quickly. The man realized that it was hard to beat his opponent in front of him. Therefore, it was right to relax and fight in the ranking battle.
The man took a step toward the rushing Jamie Moore and swung his greatsword. The greatsword split through the air horizontally. At the same time, the manâs body continued to move forward and rotated.
âIsnât he doing something ridiculous?â
Jamie Moore laughed when he saw his opponent rushing at him while using a skill. It was too ridiculous.
âIf I did that, five minutes is right...â
He would be mercilessly hit if he used his skills in this way.
âDo as you have been taught.â
To be exact, it was to return what had been done. Jamie Moore lightly kicked off from the ground and jumped into the air. He did a somersault in the air. Jamie Moore made a smooth turn without any embellishments and slashed his two swords down. The two swords with dark red pure energy passed through the manâs shoulders. The silver armor was helpless in front of the pure energy.
The man was cut like a piece of paper. Blood gushed like a fountain from the manâs shoulders.
[The player âJamie Mooreâ has won.]
The ranking battle was over. It was because his opponent's shoulders were cut in half and he couldnât fight any longer with his limp arms.
***
âIs the chat window broken? Knock knock knock. Teachers? Are you not watching the live stream?â
Hyeonu saw the stopped chat window and tapped the air. The chatting in the chat window was noticeably reduced from the moment Jamie Moore dealt with his opponent in a flash.
-Are you saying this is relative?
-I just see him getting hit every day...
-By the way, didnât he previously say that it was a bit tough when he won the 20 consecutive matches?
-He has gained a lot of levels in the meantime. He would have improved his skills even more.
-There seems to be a big difference in specs. It is possible if the specs rise like this, even if it is the same skill.
The viewers emerged from the shock created by Jamie Moore and resumed chatting. The viewers chatted in a lively manner like before.
âWell done, well done. I think I taught him really well. His judgment in situations like this. Was it like this originally? No, it was made by me and the daily instructors.â
Hyeonu smiled at the viewers. It was understandable. It was Hyeonuâs achievement in raising Jamie Moore like this when he had no experience.
-I admit it... it is a little bit like this because of him.
-Still, Jamie Moore is really good.
-It is different from when he was being beaten.
-The opponent is different, so the result is naturally different.
The viewers didnât like Hyeonuâs smile, but they couldnât refute it because it was true. Meanwhile, Jamie Moore appeared in the arena where Hyeonu was located.
âJamie, congratulations on your victory. The start was neat. I have a good feeling.â
Hyeonu held out his hand to the approaching Jamie Moore.
âThank you, Master Gang. My opponent came out like an idiot and I was able to easily win.â
Jamie Moore bowed slightly toward Hyeonu, who was congratulating him.
âLetâs continue this momentum and go straight to the next ranking battle. You have a long way to go,â Hyeonu urged Jamie Moore.
The person who just returned was put back into the ranking battle.
âYou have to win as many matches as possible when you can still easily win. Once you start to feel tired... Jamie, it is you who will have a hard time. Do you know?â
It was the time when Jamie Moore easily beat his opponents. The problem was when the battle really started. From then on, Jamie Moore would have to focus more than he did now and that would return to him as mental exhaustion. It was obvious that the accumulated fatigue would act as an obstacle to performing properly.
âI am aware. Thus, I plan to be as practical as possible.â
Jamie Moore was keenly aware of what Hyeonu was saying. The first 30 minutes werenât the same as the last 30 minutes. He knew it really well. This meant he wasnât thinking about fancy things at all.
An uncool victoryâthis was exactly what Jamie Moore wanted.
***
It was after more than 10 ranking battles passed. Jamie Mooreâs opponents were no longer defeated in vain as before. They fought for at least 5 to 10 minutes. Yet with each win, the rise in rankings became even steeper. His ranking went up as much as winning two or three times easily. His winning streak continued and the ranking of his matched opponents rose sharply.
Jamie Mooreâs two swords skimmed his opponentâs side and blood gushed out.
âOkay, I won.â
A smile appeared on Jamie Mooreâs face. His victory was decided with this. It was safe to say that he had won. It wasnât a deep wound, but it was enough to make his opponentâs movements awkward. Nevertheless, Jamie Moore wasnât in a hurry.
Slowly. He pushed his opponent very slowly. Jamie Mooreâs goal wasnât to push at the weaknesses. It was to make them give up on their own. It was said that even a mouse would bite a cat when cornered. Then what if the ratâs teeth were missing and the nails were gone?
âThen it canât bite.â
This was a truth that Jamie Moore had learned over the past hour. Jamie Moore saved his two swords and diligently moved his feet instead. He circled around the opponent and adjusted the distance. Jamie Moore didnât come in, so his wounded opponent rushed at Jamie Moore. The man made this judgment because he knew he would be at a disadvantage as time passed.
His opponentâs longsword aimed at Jamie Mooreâs chest. However, Jamie Moore casually evaded it by taking a few steps back. It was thanks to his constant movements.
The next moment, Jamie Mooreâs feet dug into the soft dirt ground of the arena. His bent knees stretched out and Jamie Mooreâs body shot forward at an explosive speed. Then Jamie Moore swept past his opponent, who hadnât yet regained his posture.
Blood spurted from the side of his opponent that wasnât injured. The man ended up bleeding from both his left and right sides.
âAck!!â A scream burst out.
The man had endured it once, but twice was hard. Even in this situation, Jamie Moore didnât rush in. He maintained a reasonable distance while keeping an eye on his opponent. The man with wounds on both sides supported his body by using the longsword as a staff. The man's sides were stinging every time he moved.
However, this was a virtual reality game, not reality. The pain wasnât that severe. After a bit of time, the man adapted to it and raised his longsword again while staring at Jamie Moore.
âI donât know why he didnât finish it...â
âYou will regret it greatly, you jerk!â
The man flinched before rushing toward Jamie Moore. Then the man quickly swung his longsword, which was overflowing with blue pure energy. The blue pure energy that shot at Jamie Moore was quite intimidating.
Jamie Mooreâs expression didnât change when he saw the approaching pure energy. Instead, he crossed the two swords in his hand and swung it vigorously. A dark red cross-shaped pure energy was created following the trajectory of the two swords. Jamie Mooreâs pure energy flew toward the blue pure energy.
The dark red cross and blue pure energy collided. A powerful shockwave occurred. Soon after, both pure energies disappeared without a trace.
Just then, two men rushed from the direction the pure energy had flown. Jamie Moore took the lead this time. He fully demonstrated the strengths of the two swords and prevented his opponent from properly extending his sword. This pressure continued endlessly. A skill wasnât used. He demonstrated the close combat style he had practiced with the rankers who had reached a grand master.
His opponent was helpless. The man tried to counterattack, but the timing didnât come. The relentless attacks that came endlessly made the man's eyes and hands shake. It happened the moment Jamie Moore's opponent finally lost his sharp eyes and hands...
A dark red pure energy passed through the manâs chest.
***
-Is that a person?
-Who plays a ranking battle like this?
-Just kill him. Win!
-A monster was raised... a monster.
The viewers lamented at Jamie Mooreâs brutal behavior. The pursuit of perfection that didnât allow for even a single variable made it difficult for the viewers. Even if it was cruel, this was too cruel.
âWhatâs wrong with this? You have to do this to win. I am very satisfied.â
Hyeonu didnât understand the reaction of the viewers. He felt really good. Jamie Moore's appearance was what Hyeonu himself had ordered. Thoroughly seek a perfect victory without being overwhelmed. This was what Hyeonu had said the most to Jamie Moore. Never go in unless there was a perfect opportunity.
Jamie Moore was doing this.
-Is this normal? You just have to win when you can win.
-It is too much to drive your opponent to the limit.
-I can understand it once or twice. It is the case every time...
-If he continues to grow this way, he will seem like a sub version of Alley Leader.
The viewers immediately responded to Hyeonuâs words. It didnât matter while they were watching, but it was really scary to think of actually meeting an opponent like Jamie Moore in a ranking battle. In the worst case scenario, it could be traumatic.
âOriginally, if you win, then you should win properly. This way, they wonât be able to show their skills the next time we meet.â
This was a truth Hyeonu had realized during his long virtual reality gaming career.
âI am very satisfied.â
Hyeonu gave a deep smile to the viewers.