Ranker's Return

Chapter 710

“I understand, Master Gang. I will do my best.” Jamie Moore nodded with a grim expression at Hyeonu’s words. He wasn’t greatly afraid or nervous about the spar with Ray; he was just a bit reluctant. This was because Jamie Moore had nothing to lose in the spar.

‘Just do as he says.’

It was fine now.

Hyeonu was going to show him the way, so he just had to get on the path properly.

“Who do you think will win? Ray? Or Jamie Moore?” Hyeonu whispered to the audience as the two people moved away from him.

-There is still room to relax. It should be Ray.

-What is his level? Isn’t he a ranker?

-He has been learning well recently and his strength has improved. Of course, he will win.

Around 70% of the viewers expected Ray to win easily. It was a natural opinion. Even though Ray wasn’t good at PvP, he was still a platinum ranker. It was too much to compare him to a newbie who had just entered the virtual reality game for less than a month.

-This is a battle directed by Alley Leader.

-You only live once.

-Originally, gambling is about a reversal. You stupid people.

-The Jamie Moore I saw the other day was okay. Yes, there is a possibility.

Most of the 30% remaining people pointed to Jamie Moore’s victory for no reason, using the outrageous reason that ‘you only live once’. Only a few viewers truly believed that Jamie Moore could beat Ray if he followed Hyeonu’s instructions.

“I don’t know the result, but I know one thing. This spar is going to be fun.”

Naturally, Hyeonu didn’t know who was going to win either. If Jamie Moore followed Hyeonu’s words exactly, Jamie Moore would win. Otherwise, Ray would win as Jamie Moore didn’t have the skills to beat Ray.

‘If he did, he would already be enjoying Arena.’

Thus, it made the spar was more interesting. A clumsy ranker and bewildered beginner—could a novice who received Hyeonu’s advice beat a ranker?

“I will do the commentary. The two of you will take care of the spar,” Hyeonu said these words before floating into the air. In this state, he started to watch the two people quietly.

-This spectator position is great.

-It is VVIP-class level of comfort that is almost beyond that of a VIP.

-At this level, there is no need for a third-person perspective.

-By the way, I’m wondering what method he is using to float in the air.

In any case, viewers were very pleased with the comfortable view. Hyeonu stayed in a position that was neither high nor low and could accurately see Jamie Moore’s and Ray’s movements.

“Please take care of me, Jamie Moore.”

“Please take care of me, Ray.”

Ray and Jamie Moore exchanged a light greeting before starting the spar. The two of them briefly made eye contact. Then they gripped their weapons strongly.

‘It is frustrating.’ Ray felt sweat oozing on the hand holding the wooden sword. He couldn’t remember when he had such low stats. It was a very long time ago.

‘Still, I will win.’

Even so, he didn’t think he would lose to Jamie Moore. After all, the tower that Ray had built with experience and skill over this period of time was so solid.

Ray used that confidence to attack Jamie Moore first. He kicked off strongly against the ground and approached Jamie Moore. Ray swung the huge wooden sword at Jamie Moore, who was watching him with surprised eyes. The giant wooden sword slashed through with the momentum to smash even Jamie Moore’s head.

At this moment, Jamie Moore moved his two swords into a cross formation and blocked the big sword. However, he was pushed back due to his strength, stat and his knees bent almost halfway.

“Push against the ground with the feeling of strength and jump using the soles of your feet, Jamie. Don’t forget to raise your swords,” Hyeonu’s voice rang through the arena just then.

‘Push them up?’ Jamie Moore followed what the voice in his ear dictated. He straightened his bent knees and pushed against the greatsword with his swords.

“Then empty your abdomen shashasha! Turn like a spin top shashasha!” Hyeonu’s voice rang out again. This time, it was with excited singing.

‘Turn like a spin top shashasha...’ Jamie moved while reflecting on Hyeonu’s words. He lowered his wooden swords and spun like a spin top. The swords passed through Ray’s abdomen. The result wasn’t a fatal wound, but the wound caused blood to flow out.

-What is going on?

-Jamie Moore dealt a blow first?

-Is this right?

-He got hurt twice.

The viewers were stunned by the scene happening in front of them. It was because Jamie Moore moved according to Hyeonu’s advice and hurt Ray, overturning the majority’s opinion.

“Don't tremble too much, everyone. Is it great to cut once with a wooden sword? It is just one of the countless wounds that will happen.”

Unlike the audience, Hyeonu wasn’t very surprised. He knew that the wound wasn’t deep despite the blood splatter. He also knew this would happen as long as Jamie Moore acted on his advice.

‘I hurt him...’ Jamie Moore couldn’t believe he had succeeded in attacking Ray. It was impossible, but he had done it with Hyeonu’s help.

‘Just do as he says,’ Jamie Moore thought. He was determined to follow Hyeonu’s words better, only to be struck by Hyeonu’s next sentence.

‘Why is he standing still?’ Hyeonu questioned inwardly.

“Jamie! Step back!” Hyeonu yelled at Jamie Moore, who was standing idly and looking at the blood on the ground.

Jamie Moore heard Hyeonu’s cry and immediately stepped back. It wasn’t taking a step back; he ran back. A huge wooden sword wrapped in magic power struck where Jamie Moore had just been standing. The arena floor was dug up, and dust was sent flying.

‘If I had been a little bit late... that would have been the end.’ Jamie Moore got the chills when he saw this and shook his head.

He needed to focus. ‘Is there no next order?’

In front of him, Ray was breaking through the dust and approaching with a dangerous momentum. However, Jamie Moore didn’t hear Hyeonu’s voice.

‘It is up to me.’

Hyeonu’s instructions were no different from a cheat key. Thus, Jamie Moore shouldn’t just hang onto it. He had to show his skills properly even when not using the cheat key. Jamie Moore headed toward Ray, who was charging over. The distance between Jamie Moore and Ray narrowed in an instant, creating a distance close enough that the two of them could attack each other.

Ray wielded his greatsword in a strong and heavy manner. He made good use of the power of the greatsword. In addition, he applied what he had learned from Hyeonu.

The greatsword perfectly blocked Jamie Moore’s way. Avoiding it was impossible. All that was left was to stop it. Jamie Moore’s body throbbed as he blocked the greatsword.

Ray was expressionless when he swung the greatsword at Jamie Moore again. Jamie Moore looked at the growing shape of the wooden greatsword and felt it instinctively.

‘It's over if this hits me.’

It wasn't really the end; it was just the prelude to defeat. If he was attacked this time, he wouldn’t be able to resist and would continue to allow attacks.

‘I have to use my skills.’

There was only one way to resolve this crisis—use skills to stop this attack. Furthermore, Jamie Moore would have to create a situation where he would attack.

Before Ray’s wooden sword approached, Jamie Moore swung his wooden swords. Black-red sword energy shot toward Ray in the form of a cross.

Rary’s sword collided with Jamie Moore’s sword energy and created an explosion.

“It’s a good judgment. There are a number of options, but the choices that Jamie could make are to either stop it with a skill or block it. Or perhaps he could roll on the ground to avoid it. Even so, the best thing is to use a skill to stop it. That way, he can do something,” Hyeonu’s voice rang through the arena again.

‘My choice was right.’ Jamie Moore gained confidence at Hyeonu’s words. He quickly changed to an aggressive attack.

“Jamie Moore is on the offensive. What choice will Ray make?”

It was as Hyeonu said. Ray stood at the crossroads of choice. Ray hadn’t successfully hit Jamie Moore since the spar began.

“He has to choose between using his head or his chest. Either way, he will have to pick quickly. Jamie already has the momentum,” Hyeonu said with his voice at a sharply reduced volume. It was so that it was only audible to the audience, not Jamie Moore and Ray.

-Using his head? A headbutt?

-What is the chest? A handsome man?

-I imagined it in an instant.

-Why imagine that? Are you crazy?

-Please explain.

“Using his head doesn’t mean attacking with his actual head but his mind. Think deeper. That’s what I mean. What strategy? Or prepare for something like that. Lead the battle into chaos based on his experience so far. One of these two things must be done.”

-I understand the beginning, but what is chaos? Will it work if you go back to the time when it didn’t work? A viewer questioned Hyeonu’s words.

He acknowledged the strategy, but he didn’t recognize the chaotic battle.

“Ah, everyone knows that people don’t listen to others when they are in a hurry. Why? If Ray pushes Jamie a little bit, he will quickly fall apart.”

Moments later, Ray stopped Jamie Moore’s attack and started frantically wielding his greatsword. As Hyeonu said, Ray led Jamie Moore into chaos. The more they exchanged attacks and defenses, the faster Jamie Moore’s hands twisted.

An unskilled body and a head dreaming of ideals—the difference between them dominated Jamie Moore.

Hyeonu, who was watching the battle, opened his mouth and shouted loudly, “Jamie! Calmly wield your sword. Open the distance first! Use whatever means to open the distance! You need a break!”

However, Jamie Moore continued to swing his two swords like he didn’t hear Hyeonu. There was obviously time to step back, but Jamie Moore failed to follow Hyeonu’s words. His mind was too focused on the battle against Ray.

The spar quickly came to an end. Jamie Moore was hit by Ray’s sword and could no longer get up. Still, there was something that Jamie Moore could take comfort in. Ray wasn’t in a good state either. The traces of the spar were also slightly engraved on Ray’s body.

“Right? What did I say?” Hyeonu spoke to the viewers before descending straight down to the ground.

“Ray, congratulations on your victory. Jamie, you fought well too. It can be seen that you worked really hard playing Arena in the meantime.” Hyeonu patted both Ray and Jamie on the shoulder.

Then he turned his body and flicked his fingers. The sound of Hyeonu’s fingers flicking rang out in the silent arena, then someone approached the three men from a distance. It was a man of a similar size to Hyeonu but with blond hair and blue eyes.

“Everyone, say hello. This is the sparring teacher I specifically invited for today. He has great skills and will be a great help to the two of you.”

At Hyeonu’s introduction, Ray and Jamie Moore couldn’t say much. They kept staring at the blond-haired man’s face.

-Who is it?

-How should I know that?

-In any case, only Alley Leader knows.

-I’ve never seen someone who looks like that.

-It isn’t the first time. He looks exactly like Alley Leader.

Ray and Jamie Moore continued to look at the man because he was wearing a mask.

A male mask with a humorous expression—it was exactly the same as Hyeonu’s.