Chapter 12
My knee, which I had raised immediately, was blocked by Dark K-Choco’s sword-wielding hand, but the force of the impact rattled his defense, leaving him open to my fist.
*Bam!*
I landed a critical hit square on his face, and Dark K-Choco’s HP bar plummeted.
Like a predator chasing its prey, I pursued him as he flew toward the building and threw another punch.
Just before he slammed into the structure, he unleashed a sharp blade, carving through the air around him.
*Clang! Shiiing—*
But Ggol-Ggap, currently possessing my body, blocked the sword with his right gauntlet, shoved it aside with all his might, and drove his left fist home.
*CRASH—!*
Dark K-Choco’s body, already sent flying, slammed into the building like a bullet.
*Shatter!*
As the wall and windows were completely breached, the display shelves inside the shop collapsed, sending merchandise scattering while the staff and customers screamed in terror.
The NPCs inside the shop were fleeing for their lives, acting just like real people.
*Whoosh—!*
Dark K-Choco, having nimbly moved behind me, swung his sword horizontally. Ggol-Ggap, possessing my body, instantly spun around and unleashed a punch with energy condensed at his fingertips.
‘Is your evasion skill broken?’
These Constellation bastards don’t seem to have the concept of HP in their heads.
Even when facing a direct attack, they don’t dodge.
‘They’re not just living day-to-day; they’re living ten-second-to-ten-second, so they have no fear at all.’
I’m going to die at this rate.
Mindful of my precarious HP, I began to focus my consciousness back into my body as the ten-second mark approached.
When a battle is in full swing, even switching control requires intense concentration.
*Bam!*
The moment Dark K-Choco’s sword and my fist collided—not just physically, but through the sheer force of our energy—I felt the space on the first floor expand.
The pressure was that immense.
*KRA-KOOM—!*
The entire first floor was completely pulverized, and the building shook violently as if it were about to collapse entirely.
They really are a pair of fight-crazed maniacs.
If this weren’t a game, this would be a catastrophe.
Dark K-Choco and the entity possessing my body seemed to have anticipated the outcome; they immediately burst out of the first floor, which now had its structural frame exposed, and clashed without a moment’s rest.
*Bam! Crash! Bam!*
Neither of them cared whether the building was being destroyed or not.
It was almost pitiful to watch the NPCs, who were desperately trying to save their lives even though they were just in a game.
The fight between the two Constellations began to accelerate.
It was pure, unadulterated madness.
‘Get ready to pull out.’
Even though my Constellation is great at dealing damage and fighting, this bastard’s biggest problem is that he has no exit strategy.
My HP is on the verge of hitting zero.
‘That’s enough—’
I yanked at Ggol-Ggap’s consciousness as if grabbing him by the collar and returned to the forefront.
“Get out!”
The light in my eyes faded, and the static-filled voice stabilized.
At that moment, Dark K-Choco’s eyes, which had remained expressionless throughout the fight against Ggol-Ggap, widened to the size of saucers.
“【……!】”
Ggol-Ggap, behind me, also seemed genuinely shocked.
【W-what? How!】
They were still in a state of possession on that side.
‘Was I a bit too fast?’
I wondered, but I didn’t miss the opening Dark K-Choco had provided and drove my fist into him.
*KRA-AANG!*
He was pushed all the way back toward the Admiral Yi Sun-sin Statue where he had been standing at the start.
I pursued him immediately.
【How is this possible? A human pushed me back? Forcibly?】
Ggol-Ggap was chirping away about something.
*Bam, crash!*
I thought while unleashing a flurry of skills as familiar as breathing.
Considering Dark K-Choco had activated his Constellation skill before me, it seemed I had returned a bit earlier than expected.
‘Even if this is a game avatar, it’s still my body, so isn’t that natural?’
Of course, that fact didn’t matter.
Chicken and Coins.
At this moment, that was my everything, my life, my late-night snack, and I was hungry.
Just before Dark K-Choco’s Constellation—who seemed to have more common sense than Ggol-Ggap—was forced to withdraw due to the time limit, he chugged a health potion.
He was on the verge of death, too.
The golden light faded from Dark K-Choco’s piercing eyes.
I seized this opening.
I immediately activated the Constellation skill that had finished charging.
Along with the familiar, languid sensation of possession, Ggol-Ggap’s laughter-filled voice echoed through my head.
“【As expected, my eyes are precise.】”
With the sensation of our souls overlapping, my body moved on its own.
The skill motions flashed through my mind like a panorama, and fiery energy surged up as they unfolded in real-time.
But if the Constellation isn’t an AI, what on earth is this sensation?
I thought it was just a program.
*Hiss.*
My Constellation skill, focused more on speed than raw damage, struck forward along with a punch thrown into the air.
*KRA-KOOM—!*
But the "K.O." didn’t appear.
“……!”
Dark K-Choco’s strength lies in his near-teleportation agility and his destructive Constellation Ultimate Skill.
His gauge must have been full, too.
I immediately triggered my skill, clenched my fist, and spun my body.
“Park Ggol-Ggap!”
The Constellation is my other set of eyes.
【Tch. Above.】
The moment Ggol-Ggap answered irritably, I felt with my entire body a murderous blade plunging down toward me vertically.
I’m going to die.
But if I can reach him first.
*KRA, KRA-AANG—!*
My fist, charged with the skill, slammed into Dark K-Choco’s stomach, and his sword, imbued with his Constellation skill, struck my shoulder and exploded.
Along with the fiery, spreading pain, I heard the familiar judgment sound.
[K.O!]
Dark K-Choco and my body were simultaneously blown backward, and I collapsed onto the floor.
‘Damn it.’
I couldn’t move a single finger.
My HP had hit rock bottom.
If this were reality, I would be dead, having been struck in the neck.
‘Goodbye to the one million won and the Coins.’
My chicken is flying away.
‘My chicken.’
I don’t know when I’ll be able to meet the broadcast requirements and settle the 500,000 won I received in donations.
In any case, it won’t be tonight.
‘Sob.’
Just as I was shedding tears of blood in my heart.
[You win!]
At the ensuing victory judgment, the "me" inside my motionless body twitched.
‘What?!’
Ggol-Ggap said.
【If you look at the replay, that guy’s HP hit zero a split second before yours. It’s your win.】
A replay appeared in front of me.
As I struck Dark K-Choco’s body first, his HP had hit zero just a fraction of a second faster than mine.
We had both collapsed at the same time, but because I died later than him, I won.
‘Yeeeeees!’
【Don’t forget that this is all thanks to my performance. And stop calling my name like that!】
‘Shut up.’
If I hadn’t forcibly pushed him out to switch control, I would have been dead long ago.
You dog-like bastard.
Since I won, I’ll let it slide.
[<Notice>
Special rewards have been distributed to the participants. Thank you for participating in the beta test. Please refer to the official website for details.]
In my fixed field of vision, I caught a glimpse of the real-time chat window I had cleared away while fighting.
—Did the devs make a mistake?
—If this is happening in the beta, what are they planning to show us later?
—Wow, so fun
—Chicken-jwa is a god
—To think Do-jin hyung lost ㅠㅠ
—Dark K-Choco is a top-tier active Hunter, so who on earth is Chicken-jwa who beat him?
—I guess we should call it a draw for now
—If this had been a real-life duel, both would be dead
—The impact is going to be insane
—They say Hunters are watching the match in real-time right now, is that for real?
—Yes
—Legend lol
—Wow... broadcasting a virtual reality battle to the whole world...
—It’s the 21st-century Colosseum
—Looking forward to the main tournament
—I want to open up the developers' heads
—Does Chicken-nim know the situation?
—It’s truly amazing ㅠㅠ Chicken-jwa, please check the official site quickly ㅠㅠ
—It’s no use... right now, there’s nothing but chicken in Chicken-noona’s head...
—ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
—He’s not even looking this way
—I ordered chicken too lol. You can’t skip chicken and beer for such an awesome match.
Chicken, chicken, chicken.
By the way, this bastard Park Ggol-Ggap never told me how many Coins were at stake until the very end.
By the time the sound of ambulances and police cars echoed in the distance, the match judgment and reward tally were finished, and the screen transitioned.
* * *
Back in the player waiting room after the game ended.
I had a message.
[White Snow: You really won]
[White Snow: I enjoyed watching]
[White Snow: Please send your donation account]
As soon as I confirmed White Snow’s chat message, I spoke to the viewers.
“I’m off to collect my reward.”
I waved my hand.
The chat window seemed to be clamoring about something, but I quickly ended the broadcast.
I couldn’t let the viewers see my account number.
‘*Hiss!*’
I entered my donation account into the chat window.
The other party would know my name, but as long as they sent the money, I didn’t care about that.
For me, there was nothing to lose.
Perhaps because they were in the middle of transferring the money, the donor didn’t reply for quite a while.
【Isn’t he a scammer?】
“Shut up.”
I said irritably, but I immediately logged into my bank to check my balance.
There was no money yet.
Just as I was starting to feel a little anxious, the donor returned.
[White Snow: Ju Ju-hyeong]
[Me: Yes]
[White Snow: Is this you?]
[Me: Yes]
My heart pounded.
Knowing my name meant they had properly verified my account number.
Shortly after.
[White Snow: Sent]
“!”
I refreshed the page, and the money had truly arrived.
[Deposit 1,000,000 KRW White Snow]
Wow.
‘Is this for real?’
I earned a million won in one match.
If I included the donations already in the broadcast, it was an even larger sum.
“Crazy. It really came in.”
【Is that tiny bit of money so good? You’ll probably cry if you earn money with Coins.】
“Chicken! A whole! Fifty of them!”
【What, ack? Ugh!】
“Hahaha!”
Ggol-Ggap, caught in my hand, shook up and down.
I stopped shaking Ggol-Ggap.
“Oh, right. Coins.”
I had been so focused on receiving the broadcast donations that I had forgotten for a moment.
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