Ranker’s Return

[Player ‘Teika’ has surrendered.]

[You have won the ranking battle.]

-?????

-What is going on?

-No, why surrender without doing anything?

-It's ending just like this?

The viewers raised questions at Teika’s sudden surrender. It was a surrender that they couldn’t understand. The momentum of the battle was going against him, but it wasn’t overwhelming enough to surrender. Shouldn’t they exchange a few blows before victory or defeat was decided? It was a duel between the 1st and 4th ranked players.

Just then, Teika approached Hyeonu’s side and opened his mouth. He said, “Uh... Why did I surrender? I received a very interesting offer just now.”

Teika started to reveal the reason for his surrender.

-Interesting offer?

-Did Alley Leader ask him to do it?

-Does he need to do so? He will win anyway.

-Yes, he will win in a few minutes, so there is no need to ask.

However, the viewers weren’t convinced. The given reason wasn’t enough, and the explanation was too poor. Hyeonu had no reason to ask Teika to surrender. It might be different if it was the opposite way around though.

Teika saw the chat window and added a comment: “Surrendering is my arbitrary choice. It is a waste of time. In order to do what Alley Leader suggested, the ranking battle must be over quickly.”

However, his words just increased the viewers’ number of questions, rather than resolving them.

-No, so what was suggested?

-You have to tell us that.

-Haven’t too many words been cut off?

-There is no adjustment. It is too much, too much.

When the audience’s clamor reached its peak, Hyeonu interrupted them: “I’m a bit embarrassed right now. I didn’t expect him to surrender. I just asked if he could participate in today’s stream as a guest.”

-What? What does this have to do with surrendering?

-Surrendering in order to participate as a guest... Look at this 4th place person.

-Even if he surrenders, he will still be number 4. The opponent is 1st ranked...

-I would like to see what he will do with Alley Leader.

Hearing Hyeonu’s words, the viewers understood a bit about why this happened and felt it was slightly acceptable. Nevertheless, Teika’s behavior was a bit excessive. It was hard to understand why he surrendered just to save a few minutes.

‘We can fight separately after the stream is over.’ Teika had already thought about it.

Teika was curious about everything that Alley Leader had, not just what was shown in his stream or in the arena. Doing this would satisfy Teika's curiosity and serve as a gift for his friend.

‘I can’t show him the video, but... I can tell him about the experience.’ Teika laughed as he thought of his friend who was working hard with Hyeonu as his goal.

“I will see you again soon, everyone.” Teika waved his hand and disappeared.

Both Hyeonu and the audience were speechless when they saw Teika disappear.

“Then I will go out to the lobby and meet with Teika. He will be responsible for my rankings commentary today,” Hyeonu said. His purpose in inviting Teika was simple—it was too boring to just show Alley Leader playing through the rankings. It would be okay to attract viewers’ attention, but Hyeonu thought it would be hard to maintain it. Thus, he invited Teika.

‘I remember he came out on Sunny’s stream before.’

In the old days, Teika appeared as a guest on Sunny’s stream and analyzed Hyeonu’s video. Teika had good strength and vision. He also spoke very well, so he was very suitable to invite as a guest to the stream.

Hyeonu returned to the lobby and looked around. A man with a long spear approached Hyeonu. It was Teika. He said to Hyeonu, “Are you looking for me?”

Hyeonu wasn’t surprised by Teika’s sudden appearance and greeted him calmly: “Ah, you came. Then please work hard on my stream today.”

“What can I do specifically?” Teika asked. 

Hearing that, Hyeonu repeated what he had already told the viewers. “Teika, you will explain the match while I progress through the ranking battles.”

“Ah, I just have to watch? What about playing together or something like that...”

“If the two of us do it together, we will be scolded. It will definitely be all over the community that we are a duo without conscience,” Hyeonu responded with a look like he was wondering what this person was saying.

Teika’s words were absolute nonsense. The 1st and 4th ranked players progressing through the rankings together… 

Technically, it wouldn’t be a problem at this level as there were often 2:2 ranking battles between ranked players. The problem was that neither Teika nor Hyeonu had ever taken part in a 2:2 ranking battle before.

‘Starting with that in the placement match... How much will they swear at me?’ Hyeonu shook his head to the left and right. He felt terrible just imagining it. There would clearly be all sorts of articles scolding the two of them in the communities. Hyeonu seemed to be able to see the swear words even if he closed his eyes.

Teika said, “Ah, there is such a problem. Then let’s form a party and start the ranking battle. I’ll show you a great commentary. Perhaps it is because I don’t have my own stream, but people don’t know that I’m good at speaking. I’m good at reading the scene.”

“I understand. Then I will begin,” Hyeonu replied. He formed a party with Teika and then immediately started the ranking battle. The match soon started. There were many rankers aiming at the number 1 position. In particular, the pro gamers rushed in a strong manner to fight with Hyeonu before Arena Week and secure a battle video.

“I will go in now, so please give an interesting commentary,” Hyeonu told Teika one more time before disappearing.

Teika waved his hand to say goodbye to Hyeonu. When Teika saw that Anthony was fighting Hyeonu, he made poisonous remarks: “The opponent... He is ranked 9th. It's Anthony. He is an easy target. He's a great fighter, but in my opinion, he will lose easily to Alley Leader.” 

The viewers felt an odd sense of separation due to hearing such poisonous words being spoken in a calm tone. Teika was a strange person, but it was in a different sense from Hyeonu.

-Don’t say that with a smile.

-The 4th ranked is ignoring the 9th ranked.

-Is the 9th ranked a position to be ignored?

-I don’t think I can ever get 900th in my life, let alone 9th.

Teika read the chat messages from the viewers and laughed again. “Of course, if Anthony fights me, he will fight fiercely. However, he isn’t Alley Leader’s opponent. The Undefeated Sovereign, Alley Leader—what good is 9th place or 4th place in front of him? Everyone is equal."

-I admit it.

-They are 1st and 2nd when they're kids, but it is meaningless when they grow up.

-So... is the opponent wrong?

-This is all about Alley Leader.

The viewers now understood Teika’s words and accepted them completely. If the comparison target was Hyeonu, the 9th ranked player was certainly an easy opponent.

Just then, Hyeonu and Anthony approached each other. Hyeonu didn’t take out the Mysterious Sky Sword. He put it in his inventory.

“Ah, they’re fighting now. By the way… Alley Leader isn’t drawing his weapon. Instead, he is raising his fists and taking a posture. It seems he is intending on a close-range battle,” Teika explained the situation with a slightly surprised look. In fact, it was a scene that everyone could understand without him explaining it.

Soon, the distance between Hyeonu and Anthony became smaller, and they aimed their fists at each other. An orange flame burned around Anthony’s fist, which moved toward Hyeonu’s face. Hyeonu bowed his waist and stretched his body forward, letting Anthony’s attack strike the sky instead.

Just then, Anthony’s opposite hand naturally aimed at Hyeonu’s abdomen. It was a movement that was possible because he had anticipated from the very beginning that his attack would fail.

“Against such natural movements, you have no choice but let yourself be hit once. Your only other option would be to use avoidance skills.” Teika admired Anthony’s linked attacks that flowed as smoothly as water. From the beginning, Anthony seemed to have calculated a number of possibilities as to how Alley Leader might move.

‘Otherwise, he can’t make movements like that,’ Teika remarked inwardly. If that were possible, Anthony’s ranking would be 4th, not 9th. It was impossible for Teika to move so naturally like those movements were ingrained in him.

“However, it doesn’t work against Alley Leader. He blocked the attack naturally.” Teika’s expression of admiration was even louder this time. Hyeonu was able to avoid the attack due to his center of gravity already moving forward at that moment. Therefore, he reached out his right hand and pushed Anthony’s forearm.

‘That is the real ingrained movement.’

Some would call it adapting to the circumstances. Others would say it was merely a coincidence. However, Teika knew that such natural movement was only possible when it was instinctively supported by tremendous skills. It was never a coincidence.

Teika forgot about commentating and silently focused on the duel between Hyeonu and Anthony.

‘They are having a fierce battle.’

Hyeonu and Anthony fought very fiercely. This fist fight was more exciting than a fight with swords. Arms hit against arms, and feet against feet.

Teika opened his mouth and commentated half-heartedly, “I think the fight is coming to an end.”

The victor was already determined, so he didn’t focus on the match anymore.

-Isn’t it still fierce?

-We don’t know what will happen if Anthony deals a blow?

-You are too quick to judge. 

-Anthony will be very sad if he knows this.

The viewers thought that Teika’s words were an unproven judgment. In their eyes, Anthony and Hyeonu were still fighting, and a momentary error could determine the battle.

“No. Everyone, the victor has already been decided. If you look closely, you will see. Can’t you see it yet? Isn’t Alley Leader winning overwhelmingly?” Teika told viewers in a playful tone.

-I can’t see it, I can’t!

-Only you can see Alley Leader’s dominance!

-I can see it. At any rate, this standard...

-Don’t pretend you can see it. I know you can’t see it.

Some viewers pretended to see it, but most of them couldn’t see what Teika was saying.

“I will kindly explain it. At first glance, it looks very intense. Am I right?” Teika began to explain a new world to the viewers.

-Yes.

-Right. It is fierce.

-My hands are still sweating.

-I’ve already changed my underwear.

“Yet if you look closely, Anthony’s fist is trembling finely. The reason is in his legs. He is limping slightly. No, it is more like flinching. That means there is a lot of pain.”

Teika’s explanation was amazing. He had seen through Anthony’s tiny flinches.

-Ah, I see. Looking closely, the movement of Anthony’s left leg is strange.

-I can see small shivers every time he uses force.

They hadn’t understood Teika’s judgment when they couldn’t see it, but after hearing the explanation, the battle situation seemed clear.

“Look, isn’t it almost over? From what I can tell, Alley Leader is kind of directing it. He was going to finish first from the beginning, but he adjusted the situation to make a nice finish.” 

Just then, Hyeonu’s fist struck Anthony’s chest and stomach, sending the latter flying back dozens of meters into the arena’s wall. 

Teika said, “Do you know now? It is a very easy battle.”