Chapter 20

Chapter 20: [Limitless War] Hmm, Am I Doing This Right？ (5)

Larkranz Style.

[Eternal Saga]. 

A Gaming Martial Arts style passed down from Larkranz, who was said to have possessed such outstanding ability that he ranked within the top ten among all past winners of the World Championship.

It was an irreplaceable martial art of maximum efficiency and maximum effect, designed solely to reach the peak of [Eternal Saga].

Of course- since it was a Gaming Martial Arts style ‘optimized’ for [Eternal Saga], there were also many techniques that did not work in [Limitless War].

No.

It was to the point that one could say the core techniques of Larkranz Style used in [Eternal Saga] could almost not be used in [Limitless War] at all.

Unlike [Eternal Saga] or [Gun Ground], where one could handle a virtual energy called aether or mana- [Limitless War] took the form of a pure fighting game, aside from Player Characters’ Martial Skills.

The barehanded combat centered on boxing · wrestling that Larkranz Style pursued existed only to gain a technical advantage in preparation for unexpected situations.

The advantages Larkranz Style possessed could barely be displayed in [Limitless War]. 

…However, that did not mean Larkranz Style was defective.

The opposite. 

Larkranz Style had supplemented its techniques over several decades, and its practicality had reached a level unmatched by others.

As a result of repeatedly developing its techniques while assuming all sorts of possibilities within [Eternal Saga], its tradition and practicality were evaluated as being among the highest even among the styles derived from Gaming Martial Arts.

In fact, Crack had applied Larkranz Style not only in [Eternal Saga], but in all sorts of games as well, and had won countless victories.

From the moment Crack entered Team ‘VEN’s pro team academy, his innate talent was acknowledged, and he received the essentials of enlightenment from the foremost disciple of Larkranz Style in the current generation. ───That was why he had realized something.

Cough, cough───

Crack lay face-down on the floor of the training ground, and even as bodily fluid poured from his mouth with a gush-, he could not hide his shock.

‘There’s no doubt… That’s- Larkranz Style…! I’m not mistaken……!! It was definitely the same Gaming Martial Arts as mine……!!’

It was certainty. 

Ju Seo-jin had used the same Gaming Martial Arts as Crack, Larkranz Style. 

How? 

He could not understand it.

‘What… the hell happened? Larkranz Style… isn’t taught to just anyone…?’

It was only natural.

Larkranz Style was in a situation where, due to its contract with ‘VEN,’ a team belonging to ESK, its technical system was being taught almost semi-exclusively. 

There was no way Ju Seo-jin could have learned the same Gaming Martial Arts.

If the assumption was added that both of them had learned the same Larkranz Style and were Korean, the only conclusion that could be drawn was that they came from the same ‘VEN’ pro team academy.

However───

‘There’s no way I wouldn’t know a prospect from the same pro team academy as me… and one learning Larkranz Style at that.’

That was impossible. 

Because Crack had never once heard of Ju Seo-jin. 

There was no possibility that they were fellow students of the same school.

That was why. 

Crack stared blankly with unfocused eyes, then, before he knew it, opened his mouth and let out his question. 

He could not hold it back.

“How in the world- did you… use Larkranz Style……?”

He had not expected an answer. 

In the first place, if the source from which Ju Seo-jin had learned Larkranz Style was uncertain, there was a high chance he would not say it. 

But that was not the case.

“Larkranz Style? Ah… so that’s what happened. Those- unique movements…? I suppose that’s called Larkranz Style.”

“What does that… mean…?”

“I simply… tried copying it. I thought I could do it too… so I just tried it. There was no real meaning behind it.”

“You just… tried copying it…?”

Ju Seo-jin calmly stated the facts exactly as they were… then, tilting his head, answered with pure curiosity and no particular emotion.

“Well… honestly, it wasn’t that difficult. Crack…? You showed it to me in a way that was easy to understand, too.”

“Ah…?”

“As expected. I understand now that not just anyone can be a Pro-Gamer. You said you would teach me [Limitless War] 1:1, and it really does feel like I learned a lot from you.”

“What… did you say…?”

He was at a loss for words. 

Just as Crack widened his eyes, wearing an expression as though he might collapse at any moment, Ju Seo-jin asked back with pure curiosity, as if he genuinely wanted the other person’s evaluation.

“Hmm, am I doing this right？”

“……….”

At that moment. Crack’s face distorted, and the emotion called despair─── an overwhelming sense of defeat that could never be washed away… revealed itself.

***

Genius.

When people saw beings who stepped outside the general standards they imagined and moved ahead faster than others, they called it talent bestowed by heaven.

And… Crack, too, had often been praised by people as a genius among geniuses, and as someone who was indeed worthy of being chosen as Black Moon’s partner. 

However, that was wrong.

━Hmm. You’re usable, but- that’s all. From now on, don’t think and move on your own. Just do exactly what I tell you.

Black Moon, who had won [Eternal Saga]’s World Championship two times in a row and was also its youngest winner- had never once truly considered Crack a partner.

━You. You want to win Worlds, right? But you can’t do that with those other bastards. They’re all half-baked morons. But… if it’s me, it’s possible. So shut up and just follow me.

His pride was hurt. 

At first, he had intended to watch just how good she was. 

However, not long afterward, as they advanced onto the world stage, he realized it.

How meaningless the word genius, as people used it, truly was. 

He realized it while watching from the side a talent genuinely blessed by heaven.

Mediocre talent.

That was his own position. 

What people called genius was no different from a turtle crawling along the ground before a truly blessed talent.

Still, he had thought it was fortunate. 

As a Pro-Gamer of [Eternal Saga], what he realized while facing talents from all over the world together with Black Moon was- that no talent greater than Black Moon existed.

He had believed that while living on from then on, he would never again be blocked by the wall of talent as a Pro-Gamer.

…He was wrong.

━Larkranz Style? Ah… so that’s what happened. Those- unique movements…? I suppose that’s called Larkranz Style.

…That was a monster.

━I simply… tried copying it. I thought I could do it too… so I just tried it. There was no real meaning behind it.

A talent that understood and learned the essential principles of a system and technique merely by seeing it with his eyes, then used it in real combat as if it were nothing.

Furthermore, he even applied and adapted things that had not been shown to him. 

Only after all of Larkranz Style had been copied did Crack realize it.

What stood before him was the incarnation of absolute talent, a wall he could not overcome even if he spent his entire life trying.

And that from the beginning, there had not been a single lie among Ju Seo-jin’s words.

Even his claim that he had only started Virtual Reality Games yesterday was highly likely to be true.

‘Ten years… No, since I started in elementary school, it’d be more than that. All the effort I’ve put in until now- was only a day’s worth of learning for this person… Damn it.’

He knew the world was not equal. It was not as though he wanted to completely deny that fact either. 

Because saying everyone was special also meant no one was special.

So, he had worked hard.

He had gritted his teeth and lived so fiercely that the days he had matches, the hours when there was no training, felt like happiness.

But despite that, there existed walls that could never be overcome.

Just like now.

Clench.

Crack lowered his head deeply with both hands clenched into fists.

…Amid self-loathing that made him feel as if he might vomit, the streaming window came into view.

《 [Limitless War] : 「VEN」 Crack ) Taking a break this morning and attempting [Limitless War] ‘Lord of Martial Arts’. 》

━「VEN」 Crack(skdlemfrltlfgek3717)

*Viewers : 19,791

‘Damn it.’

A viewer count close to 20,000. 

He did not know since when, or for what reason, so many people had come to watch. 

Still, one thing was certain.

…All these people had seen those despairing moments when he was one-sidedly beaten and lost to Ju Seo-jin.

A bleakness settled over him, to the point that he wondered what he should do from now on, but it lasted only briefly.

‘Ha. Fine, let them talk all they want. Anyway, before long, everyone will know what kind of monster I lost to.’

Crack thought that with a bitter smile. 

Unprecedented genius. 

A mass of talent that might leave a great mark on the history of the E-Sports industry.

Was it not obvious what would happen if someone like that debuted as a Pro-Gamer? 

Whether in [Eternal Saga], [Gun Ground], or [Limitless War], there would be a tectonic shift.

Even if by some chance he did not debut as a Pro-Gamer, there was a high possibility he would be remembered as a figure with great symbolic meaning in the gaming industry.

When that time came- rather, Crack might even be reevaluated as the person who gave Ju Seo-jin his realization. 

It could truly happen.

Once he had grasped the situation somewhat objectively, peace was coming to his heart.

‘Fine. This is- my limit, I guess. What I need to acknowledge, I should acknowledge. Even if it feels like shit.’

And then…….

Step, step.

That was when.

Swish───

‘!’

To Crack, who was sitting on the ground with his head lowered and a slightly dazed face- there was someone holding out a hand. …It was Ju Seo-jin.

Heh.

‘Damn it. Even his character is good. He’s even holding out a hand to help me up. Is this sportsmanship? He’s looking after me with romance.’

If he did not accept it, would that not make him look pathetic? 

With a hollow laugh, Crack took the hand extended toward him. 

And… finally, when he took that hand and stood up- he could see it.

“…What are you doing?”

“?”

Ju Seo-jin was frowning- and giving Crack a fierce stare.

“…I. I was not particularly asking for a handshake. Though I am grateful that you taught me [Limitless War].”

“Yes? …Uh. No- weren’t you helping me up? Wasn’t that- something like sportsmanship───”

It was only natural.

“…Sportsmanship? …I don’t know why that would come up here. I was only the one-sided student.”

“?”

“That isn’t it. You know, the thing you said you’d give me. …That. You said if I won, you’d give me UG Corporation’s Ultra Capsule- you haven’t forgotten, have you?”

“……….”

“You need to give it to me.”

The streaming window. 

Question marks burst even in the chat window he had been deliberately avoiding. …Naturally.

-?

-What the hell is he saying now..

-What is this..

-Wait, this was a viewer participation event? Ju Seo-jin.. came to receive a Capsule through a viewer participation event..? What the hell???;

-Fuck.. Then.. the reason he faced Crack.......... was because he wanted to win the new Capsule as a prize..?

-Wow.. I’ve seen a shitload of money-grubbing bastards.. but this guy is seriously all-time.. Is this what true madness is??;

The same was true of Crack. 

He wore the same dazed expression, then only nodded several seconds later.

‘Ah…’

Well… a promise was a promise. 

Should he not give what he had agreed to give?

‘Uh- yeah… come to think of it, this was a viewer participation event, wasn’t it? That… is true. He should take what he’s supposed to take…’

───UG Corporation. Latest-model Ultra Capsule, L-78123K1. …The highest-grade Capsule device priced in the 30 million won range was- a matter of great importance to Ju Seo-jin.

***

At the same time.

Around three minutes after Ju Seo-jin had won an overwhelming victory against Crack… a tectonic shift occurred in the hot clip ranking window of ‘Video Clips’ within Space Stream.

「Space Stream : Video Clips」

━Trending Hot Clips

*1st ┃ Ju Seo-jin VS Crack (Highlight Version)

└Views: 312,111 / Recommendations: 18,371 / Comments: 4,819

*2nd ┃ Ju Seo-jin VS Crack (Second Match Video)

└Views: 301,231 / Recommendations: 17,171 / Comments: 3,911

*3rd ┃ Ju Seo-jin VS Crack (First Match Video)

└Views: 117,411 / Recommendations: 8,892 / Comments: 1,823

*4th ┃ Ending of Ju Seo-jin VS Crack...real (Legendary money-grubber;)

└Views: 102,212 / Recommendations: 7561 / Comments: 1,914

*5th ┃ Sword Empress Goes Mega-Furious Legend lolololololol (Reaction to Ju Seo-jin VS Crack lol)

└Views: 99,313 / Recommendations: 5,181 / Comments: 2,818

*6th ┃ Black Moon Once Again Updates Today’s Legendary Trash Personality Comment, fuck;

└Views: 59,313 / Recommendations: 3,181 / Comments: 2,377

………

……

…

Space Stream. 

To the point that the world’s largest Personal Broadcast platform- shook.