Chapter 125

Seven years ago was a time when most virtual reality-related businesses had not properly started.

Virtual reality at the time was like a developing country with lacking infrastructure.

But if one were to ask how it had grown explosively over the past seven years.

It was because a massive capital called Surface, which had plenty of investment funds, poured out virtual reality infrastructure all at once starting from the following year, as if they had made up their mind.

A professional league that drove the explosive popularity of virtual reality was created.

After being acquired by Surface, the streaming company Travel began providing official capsule streaming services.

All transactions related to avatars and lobbies became active, and large-scale advertisements for virtual reality were played throughout the city.

Therefore, the quality of the video from seven years ago, which he checked by clicking the link in the email, was poor.

“Wow, this brings back memories.”

Although Travel had not entered the market seven years ago, the video remained because a certain company had been providing a streaming service in a crude beta version.

The problem was that the image quality was quite poor.

It was said that the technology to convert the brainwave signals emitted from the capsule to the brain into digital signals was lacking.

If one turned on that company’s stream inside virtual reality, it could be viewed clearly since there was no need to convert the signals, but most viewers, both then and now, did not watch streams inside a capsule.

After all, wasn’t the streaming market one that grew because entering a capsule had a bit of a barrier to entry?

Moreover, since it was a time when the number of people who knew about virtual reality itself was so small that it could be considered negligible compared to now, most of the remaining old videos were either poor or deleted without getting many views.

Seo-jun clicked the link with a nostalgic smile.

It was not a video of a broadcasting streamer. It was just a channel that had been abandoned after uploading a few game recordings in the past.

Most of the people in the video used default avatars, and this fact brought a bit of nostalgia to Seo-jun.

Although only a minority used default avatars now, playing games with one’s own face was an unfamiliar concept at the time.

It was a time when only the very early users, not even the early adopters who had started one or two years prior, took it for granted to customize their own avatars.

Most of the default avatars had their faces covered with masks or veils, reducing the sense of foreignness.

To be honest, if several people with the exact same face ran into each other and fought, even Seo-jun might have found it a bit terrifying.

Among them, Seo-jun discovered his past self from seven years ago.

The mid-laner on the opposing side of the video’s owner had been Seo-jun.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Seven years ago, Seo-jun had been breaking the vital points quickly, even though there was no need to do so immediately according to the mechanics.

“There’s no need to watch further. Let’s just check the rest.”

There were multiple links in the email, and Seo-jun quickly played the next video.

Likewise, it was a video uploaded by an ordinary person for fun, not a streamer, and when he skipped forward a bit, his past self appeared.

“This is me too.”

Seo-jun played the next video.

It was the same.

Since Seo-jun was not the owner of the videos, he barely appeared in them, so how on earth did they find these?

It was slightly goosebump-inducing.

“They are all me, aren’t they?”

The ability to find years-old videos with fewer than 100 views was amazing.

He was also curious about the reason.

Why on earth?

Just then, a reply to the email Seo-jun had sent arrived.

Through a Travel message.

[It would be an absolute honor to do a collab stream with you!]

***

The next day.

Seo-jun returned to the Hall of Heroes after finishing his game in The League.

It was a lobby-like space and store of The League.

“It’s over. That was fun.”

Seo-jun was currently broadcasting.

And it had already been two hours since he had started the stream.

Naturally, he had not revealed the pattern yet.

-The streamer is seriously malicious lolololol

-Look how quiet the Kael-addicts are

-They have to watch themselves lol

-You’re not going to end the stream here, right, Mr. Streamer?

He had said he would tell them today, but he had never said he would do so right after starting the stream, had he?

The Kael-addicts, who had followed the channel in advance the day before to prepare, tried to make a fuss in the chat, but.

after Seo-jun banned a few malicious users as an example, they became very good at controlling their anger.

-Forcing us to watch the stream for two hours *shudder* *shudder*

-If you don’t like it, you can just leave and watch the VOD lolol

-But seriously, he is fucking good

-The suspicion of him cheating is gone

“I’m glad the suspicion of cheating is gone. I’ve never cheated on my stream, but the existing viewers don’t believe me easily. Well then, I’ll show you now!”

Seo-jun headed toward the Practice Room.

In the Practice Room, one could summon scarecrows or bots, and could also invite a friend to play one-on-one.

Above all, there was no need to purchase any hero.

-Wow!

-Thank you!

-But even if he explains it, you guys won’t be able to do it, right?

-So true lol

-Still, I must know

The Kael users, who called themselves Kael-addicts, naturally knew this well.

They knew that no matter how detailed Seo-jun’s explanation was, only a tiny minority of highly skilled players would reap the benefits.

However, even so, they could not miss this broadcast as proud Kael-addicts.

There were also many who were still half-doubtful.

Since Seo-jun had a track record of finding similar things before, they let it pass for now, but normally, accusations of hacks or bugs would have flown long ago.

They were waiting with a mindset of ‘let’s see how plausible his explanation is.’

They would probably bite immediately if even a little bit was unconvincing.

‘I can’t make them understand it.’

After all, wasn’t it in the realm of instinct?

Therefore, instead of convincing them, he had to show them.

“Ah, everyone, we have a guest today. It’s Wind Sword!”

Upon arriving in front of the Practice Room, Seo-jun sent the invitation right away.

-Oh??

-Isn’t he the Kael master streamer who was the first to land a two-man ultimate?

-The first person to succeed in a two-man ultimate vs the person who succeeded in just one match lololol

-It looks like he’s going to teach the Kael master shudder shudder shudder

Wind Sword.

He was the user Seo-jun had talked to the day before, whose highest tier was Challenger.

As a side note, he said he turned on his stream as a side gig whenever he played the game briefly, and had a stable viewership of about one to two thousand people.

It was said that the reason his nickname was Wind Sword was that he used to play a swordsman who runs with the wind in the past before switching to Kael.

After introducing these details to the viewers, Seo-jun greeted him.

“Hello, Wind Sword.”

“Hello, Seo-jun. Thank you for inviting me.”

“No, thank you for coming on my stream today. Shall we get started right away?”

“Sounds good.”

“Ah, by the way, Wind Sword hasn’t heard the explanation yet either, so he’s in the same state as you guys.”

“That’s right.”

As Seo-jun stepped into the Practice Room, a window asking him to select a hero popped up in front of his eyes.

Seo-jun selected Kael, entered, and then summoned a scarecrow right in front of him.

“Now, let’s begin the explanation in earnest. Wind Sword, please listen carefully as well.”

He drew Kael’s sword that appeared at his waist and approached the scarecrow.

A line of light appeared.

“Unless the patterns in this kind of game are random, the creator’s intention must be embedded in them. In other words, it’s a generation formula. Wind Sword, you’ve grasped that to some extent too, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Wind Sword, who had stepped up beside him, nodded.

He was probably one of the users who understood the patterns the best.

Except for Seo-jun, that is.

“Previously, I was able to find the grains in Dawn of the Assassins because I understood this intention.”

He spoke first of a fact that most people would have already confirmed by watching Seo-jun’s ITube video, and then continued.

“Now, I will tell you the intention of this Kael’s creator. It is simply ‘the middle’.”

Seo-jun began his explanation.

-The middle?

-What on earth does that mean?

“It means that the next vital point will generate in a position that is neither too difficult nor too easy to chain after cutting the previous one. If the location of the next vital point were the easiest to chain, where would it generate?”

Seo-jun gestured as if cutting diagonally across the scarecrow.

“Um, does it generate in the exact same spot?”

-Is the easiest way to just raise it back up along the line you just slashed down? Since the stabbing circle shouldn’t be grazed.

There were points and lines for vital points.

And the vital points did not break simply by slashing or grazing these two.

They were made with quite strict judgments: a line would only break if slashed by more than 80%, and a point would only break with a thrusting attack.

If so, the easiest scenario would be for a vital point to generate that allowed slashing back up along the exact same path.

“Rather than drawing the exact same line, tilting the angle a bit more depending on the situation might be easier, but it’s similar. It’s fine to think of it that way.”

Vital points were generated considering countless variables that even Seo-jun did not know, such as the positions of himself and the opponent, the angle of the arm and sword after breaking a vital point, and the stance of the feet.

Therefore, it was impossible to know precisely right now.

Of course, if the developer were to implement it, Seo-jun would catch on in no time.

“For thrusts, a line would generate based on where you thrusted. Now, where would be the position that seems most difficult to chain?”

“Hmm.”

Wind Sword let out a low groan and swung his sword in the air a few times.

He did not seem to know.

“To explain it roughly just so you can get a feel for it, it would be any position where the arm naturally twists when trying to chain those vital points without stopping. Do you get it a bit now?”

Since it was not something one could know unless they realized it themselves, Seo-jun waited.

“Ah… Hmm…”

Still, Wind Sword seemed to grasp the concept quickly.

He thought deeply for a moment and then spoke.

“I think I understand roughly what you mean. But, then how on earth do you find that middle…?”

-So true lol

-It’s fucking vague

-Isn’t this a scam?

-Seriously, hm…

“A scam?”

Seo-jun stepped in front of the scarecrow and slashed his sword smoothly but quickly.

It was even faster since the target was stationary.

1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds.

[Sword of Judgment]

After six rupturing sounds passed, a vibration rang out.

Kael’s ultimate ability plunged down from the ceiling.

-No, I mean, it’s not a scam, but lolololol

-Ah, I get it lololol

-I’d rather just believe it’s a hack lololol

-But seriously, I’m slightly suspicious?

-I don’t know about any of that. Give me a refund

-For what?

-For my time lololol

-Crazy bastard lolol

Although they were laughing, unconvinced reactions could be seen here and there.

‘Can’t be helped.’

To repeat, one had to realize it themselves.

Vital points belonged to a category that could neither be explained nor memorized.

Because there were too many variables, it was the kind of problem that could only be solved by intuition built from countless experiences of adapting on the spot.

That was why Seo-jun explained the intention along with examples that were at least slightly comprehensible.

This was because if one possessed sufficient experience and skill, simply recognizing this intention could lead to a significant improvement.

Knowing the level those called masters had reached, Seo-jun could guarantee it.

‘The problem is that the majority lack both skill and experience.’

As time passed, the masters would naturally prove Seo-jun’s words.

However, it was unknown how many days that would take.

-I seriously have no idea

-It’s bullshit. Just like with the grains, it sounds like bullshit now too

-You Kael-addicts, if you can’t trust the streamer, just leave

-There’s a reason they’re called Kael-‘addicts’

-Then why do you guys believe something like that?

-Because he showed us lol. The streamer always proves himself

-What, just because you know the principle of parrying, can you actually do it? lolol

-Whatever, just hurry up and give me a refund

-What a bad customer shudder shudder

Having prepared a person for this, Seo-jun smiled and spoke.

“Now, now, what do you mean refund? If even a single person understood after listening to my lecture, then it’s not a scam, right?”

-That’s true. As long as there is someone who understood lolol

-Lecture, my foot

-Professor, the pace is so fast that nobody understood!

-Hurry up and bring someone lololol

-There’s absolutely no way lolol

“Yes. Right here. The person who is looking at me with eyes that say they understood everything at once after hearing the explanation.”

Seo-jun looked at Wind Sword.

“……?”

Wind Sword’s eyes widened.

What? Me? When?

His expression seemed to say exactly that.

-lololol his eyes got fucking big

-It definitely doesn’t look like it?

-A face with zero confidence lololol

-It’s exactly this: “I’m fucked”

Naturally, Wind Sword needed much more time to reflect on it.

However, Seo-jun had a way to shorten that.

“If Wind Sword gets the hang of the pattern, you have to admit it. Deal?”

Seo-jun was currently prepared to pull off a scam.