Chapter 32

[Hey, you crazy bastard, if you’re holding a longbow, you should be zoning… why are you charging in?]

[And you’re going through a side path while holding that? What the heck—hahaha.]

[Sensei, this game isn’t an FPS.]

[You don’t charge in with a longbow, you lunatic.]

As expected, a torrent of hot responses poured in.

The current concept is that the archer is wearing light gear, so all the equipment is relatively light.

The character is wearing heavy armor, but the only piece of equipment they have on is a scrap of cloth, which shows just how unbalanced the setup is.

It’s not just the armor.

The weapon, when compared to the hero’s proper gear, doesn’t fit aesthetically at all.

The weapon used this time was the splendidly named “Ghost Hunter Longbow.”

The junctions were made of scrap metal that seemed like it would rust from the blood, making it feel like a weapon far removed from anything noble.

“The grip and weight are definitely different.”

Compared to the broken greatsword, this one is definitely heavier.

The actual weight is also greater.

Still, thanks to the weapon’s enhancements, the activated vision and hearing are awakening new information in the complex maze of side paths that wouldn’t be perceptible at close range.

Just like now…

“Chut.”

I spot the approaching enemy in the distance and draw an arrow.

Focusing on the enlarged reticle and the enemy’s movement, I wait for the perfect timing.

Then, as if noticing me, the swordsman ahead raises his shield and starts walking toward me.

He probably received feedback that I, too, had drawn a longbow and charged in.

With any weapon, it’s difficult for ranged players when the opponent wears a shield on one side.

If the shield-bearer hides behind it, any projectile is going to be blocked, and no ranged weapon has the power to pierce that shield.

Therefore, if you get close enough, you have to be ready to die.

Well, if I hit my shots and dodge, then…

”The result might be different.”

I don’t dwell on the area most covered by the shield.

I wait only for the brief moment when an opening appears.

That opening is…

”The top of the foot.”

The foot is not an easy area to target.

e𝗻u𝓶a.i𝐝

If I don’t calculate the rhythm of the running feet, the arrow will just hit the ground uselessly.

“At least it’s a big shield, so I guess that’s lucky.”

While it drastically reduces mobility, if the shield completely covers the body, it’s a hopeless situation.

Of course, using such a shield in a side-path maze doesn’t make sense from a tactical standpoint.

”Now!”

When the distance between us is about 7 steps, I release the string.

The longbow’s string, stretched almost to the extreme, cuts through the air as it is freed from its tension.

The large arrow, pushed by the furious force of the string, cuts through the air like a battering ram.

-Boom!

The arrow, resembling a ballista bolt rather than a regular arrow, strikes the ground with an explosive sound.

***

[Huh? Did it miss?]

[I aimed really casually, so it probably missed. Hahaha.]

[LOL, I pulled the bow back for one second. There’s no way it hit.]

[Even for a sister, that’s pushing it.]

[No way, it didn’t miss. He’s not moving.]

[Wait, did you aim for the top of the foot?]

[What the heck, you really did.]

The arrow didn’t miss.

It had pierced the top of the foot and gone all the way through the ground.

As the dust rises, the enemy, pinned by the large arrow through the foot, becomes clearly visible.

For an archer, there’s no easier target than one whose movements have been sealed.

e𝗻u𝓶a.i𝐝

I ready the next arrow and draw back the string.

One by one, until the shield no longer provides protection.

-Whack!

The third and final arrow strikes cleanly through the back of the neck, and the kill point notification appears.

Hmm, the speed was definitely slow.

With heavy armor and a shield, it’s an unavoidable problem, but I wonder if it’s because I’ve gotten used to this game.

[Haha, you fell for that again… What tier are you even?]

[Seriously…]

[Grandmaster, do you really look like a Grandmaster?]

[Watch and learn, newbie… Soul Warfare is a real FPS.]

[Is this… a real FPS?]

[Yeah, all you need to do is hit your shots. Hahaha.]

I keep glancing at the chat window, even though the battle is still ongoing and I don’t know when enemies might enter.

Well, the reason I’m a streamer is obvious.

Ranged weapons are a unique class in Soul Warfare.

They’re less commonly used because their pick rate is low and they can’t be the mainstay of a game.

The available weapons fall into three main categories.

A standard bow with typical stats.

An extreme, powerful longbow.

A crossbow that’s capable of rapid fire and consumes very little stamina.

The archer’s position is to control the enemy from a central line, zoning and supporting.

So, entering the side-path maze and engaging in direct combat is pretty much a taboo for Soul Warfare archers.

If you want to enter the side-path maze, at least you should have a frontline to support you.

The best option is to support from the central line.

As I near my destination, I switch to team voice chat and send a support request to my allies.

“I’m going to enter the enemy’s central line from the back. All central and opposite side-path players, push hard.”

With no obstructions, I can navigate the side-path maze until the enemy respawns.

That means I can enter the enemy’s central line and hit them from behind.

“The enemy archer with a longbow is hiding behind cover in front of the objective. If they expose themselves on the central line, they’ll likely try to snipe.”

“Got it. Once we take out the enemy archer, please push.”

I listen to the briefing from my teammates and lean against the wall, scanning the area outside the maze.

As I stepped out of the maze door, the pillar object in front of me came into view.

It was a structure commonly used as cover by the defending side, or, if the attacking side’s line was pushed back, it could be used as cover as well.

If I had hidden behind it, I would likely reveal myself either on the right or left.

Normally, this would lead to a long waiting game, but…

I switched back to streaming voice and smiled at the chat.

“I’m going in.”

Without waiting for a reaction in the chat, I dashed out the door.

I had started with the thought of creating a new account and trying to reach Challenger tier.

e𝗻u𝓶a.i𝐝

There were many who watched the actions of professionals, but this account had never been shown on stream before.

It was worth keeping it hidden, and no one recognized me.

I was steadily climbing in rank.

That was when I met the user called “Friede.”

Apparently, they were quite famous… or so I had heard.

A player with exceptional skill, even caught up in hacking rumors.

At first, I wasn’t particularly impressed.

But then, I found myself trapped in a match in Grandmaster tier, and an inexplicable sense of frustration overtook me.

I took a moment to recollect the duel in my head to regain my focus.

The nature of the longbow: a single shot could decide the match.

That’s why, in a longbow duel, getting the first shot off was crucial.

In a mirror match between longbow snipers, it always turned into a battle of patience.

Revealing myself first meant becoming the target, so I waited.

Although one side of the bypass maze had been blocked, the remaining forces could still be sent to the other side.

However, my opponent boldly revealed themselves.

‘Had they not noticed my ambush?’ No, there must have been a warning from their central line.

Yet, they made such a reckless decision.

It seemed like the rumors about them were exaggerated.

Their movements screamed of someone in their own world, completely ignoring the situation around them.

‘Not happening.’

The person, who had been hidden behind the pillar, quickly stepped out and nocked their bow.

As always, my crosshairs focused precisely on their upper body.

I had shot thousands of arrows and honed my instincts.

At that moment, I knew the shot would definitely hit.

-Thunk!

The heavy sound of the arrow being released echoed in my ears as the arrow flew toward its target.

I saw first, aimed first, and shot first.

It should have been over.

The aim was perfect, the shot was true.

It felt so effortless, almost too easy.

Perhaps that’s why I had let my guard down.

“…Huh?”

It was as if my brain couldn’t process what was happening.

‘How had they managed to dodge the arrow, twisting their body in such an unnatural way?’

It felt like watching an absurdity unfold before my eyes.

There was no logic, no explanation that made sense.

All that remained in my mind was one simple question: ‘why?’

In front of me, all I saw was Friede, drawing her bow with an unstable posture.

-Headshot!

Her massive arrow pierced my head in less than a second.

As I lay sprawled on the ground, the death mark appeared above me, and a wave of emptiness washed over me.

This game wasn’t an FPS.

It wasn’t a shooting game, but a projectile game. But…

‘Is it even possible to dodge a shot like that?’

e𝗻u𝓶a.i𝐝

‘Why? How?’ Those were the only questions that echoed in my mind.

I had aimed first, shot first, and the shot was accurate. ‘Why did I lose?’

I pushed the question aside, and the game smoothly continued.

My back was exposed to the enemy’s sniper, and the central line was swiftly pushed back.

The power struggle in the bypass maze also tipped in the enemy’s favor, and soon, our Nexus and the Flame of Hope were extinguished.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t catch Friede.

No matter how skilled the control, there are limits in this game.

I had managed to get a few kills…

But losing in a sniper duel was the kind of shock that stayed with me for a long time.

“Unbelievable.”

“Seriously, insane.”

A voice responded to my mutterings.

Yoonsoo, one of my team members, approached, clicking his tongue in admiration.

He must have watched the match in real-time.

“That person’s a streamer, right? Who was it again? The one who wrecked that Challenger gatekeeper…”

“Friede.”

“Ah, right. That person. I heard she’s pretty good for a woman, but seeing it now… she’s on another level.”

“Yeah.”

Maybe it was because I could still feel the phantom sensation of that massive arrow piercing me.

“She’s really good, no doubt about it.”

As I admitted it, I absentmindedly rubbed my forehead.

“Her skill is great, and her concept’s solid. She has a great voice too. I saw in the community that this is her first stream. I’m gonna subscribe, for sure. At this level, she might even be better than our own Yeonhwa.”

“If she hears that, she’s going to flip out. Be careful, remember what happened last time when you accidentally pissed her off?”

“Yeah, don’t worry, she won’t hear it. Anyway, stop acting all pathetic and get up. We’ve got scrims coming up.”

“…Yeah, yeah.”

I sighed at Yoonsoo’s playful response and switched accounts.

The flashy emblem appeared above my head: a combination of dark blue and rainbow colors.

e𝗻u𝓶a.i𝐝

The symbol of the top 500 in the server rankings.

Next to my tier mark was a name that anyone who played Soul Warfare would recognize and revere.

STK Warden.

My name was Kim Chan-hyuk.

The man who was hailed as the world’s best professional gamer in Soul Warfare.