6

To cross into the enemy's territory, one must traverse a massive bridge connecting both fortresses.

This so-called "Single Log Bridge" was a notorious map area where players, if too eager in combat, could easily fall to their deaths.

Not only was it a prime spot for falling accidents, but it also allowed clear observation from the central lane.

This was why ranged weapon users, commonly known as archers, always contested this central lane.

From here, they could target enemies crossing both side bridges.

If struck by a sniper's arrow, not only would health drop significantly, but a shock-effect arrow could send one plummeting into the abyss.

The death of a Claymore user during jungle invasion attempts had already been displayed on the scoreboard, so the enemies were undoubtedly on high alert.

'All right, let's do this.'

As I dashed across the bridge, red flashes appeared at the edge of the screen.

It was the signal for being locked on by a sniper.

Instinctively, I swung my sword.

An arrow, caught on the broken blade's tip, ricocheted harmlessly in the air.

Surprisingly, my character was slightly pushed back from the impact.

'A knockback-effect arrow, huh?'

More sniper shots followed, but I deflected them all, safely entering the enemy's territory.

Navigating through the intricately connected inner fortress structures, I tried to secure routes that could lead to the objectives.

'Here they come.'

From a path connected to the enemy's main base, I saw a figure rushing toward me.

It wasn't the Claymore user I had crushed earlier.

This time, the opponent wielded an even heavier weapon—a battle hammer.

'Did they swap lanes?'

Thinking that dragging out time would only make things dull, I charged straight toward the battle hammer.

Unlike a broken greatsword, which felt unreliable, a proper heavy weapon boasted immense destructive power with every swing.

If I exploited openings, I might have a chance.

Otherwise, I was doomed to lose in a straightforward clash.

'Was it for that reason?'

As I feigned a dash, the hammer swung hastily.

Timing my parry with the opponent's movement, I deflected the weapon.

With the enemy thrown into a staggered state from the parry, I plunged my broken greatsword into their chest.

Splat!

Blood erupted like fireworks, and a trembling sensation resonated throughout my character.

'This… this could get addictive.'

I'd heard that being parried felt like motion sickness for the opponent, and judging by their condition, it seemed accurate.

Those who wield massive weapons often assume no one would challenge them head-on.

Even knowing parries are possible, their high difficulty makes them an underused skill.

Exploiting this blind spot, nine out of ten players are easily caught off-guard.

The hammer user, however, retreated with a quick evasive roll.

"Oh!"

I expected them to crumble further, but their mental fortitude was impressive.

Then, from afar, someone dashed toward us—toward the battlefield.

It was a katana-wielding swordsman in light armor.

I hoped they were an ally, but their direction made it clear they were an enemy.

Just as I prepared to finish the hammer user, the katana closed in with a flurry of attacks.

The first strike grazed me, slightly reducing my health gauge.

"Tsk!"

An unwelcome variable had caused me to lose my almost-captured prey.

By now, the katana user must be aware of my parry tactics.

Still, it didn't mean I was out of options.

The katana attacked first.

With precise movements, the user activated their katana-exclusive skill, "Iaido," chaining three consecutive strikes.

I evaded by rolling backward and adjusted the distance with quick steps.

The moment the two enemies overlapped in my line of sight, the katana lunged with a thrust.

I countered with a dashing heavy attack, swinging my broken greatsword.

Even with its status as the weakest damage dealer among heavy weapons, it was still a formidable strike.

The katana's thrust was nullified by the super armor effect, and the swing decapitated them.

The critical hit left the katana user staggered.

Sliding under the hammer's wild swing, I dashed into their guard.

The hammer user, frozen from the strain of their massive attack, became an easy target.

Seizing the opportunity, I landed a piercing heavy attack.

With their health gauge reduced to zero, the hammer user fell.

[Defeated: Light's Hero – Warhammer80K]

With only the katana left, there was no need to prolong the battle.

[Defeated: Light's Hero – Hellfire Blade]

It was a clean victory.

Taking control of the enemy's base, I monopolized the objectives and pushed forward.

Twenty minutes later, the game was decided.

The enemy's final bonfire flickered out, and the victory text appeared on screen.

***

[TeamName: GolboDaRetires – "Thank you for the bus ride, Light's Hero ^^"]

[ConceptGoneToAmerica: "Wow. Never seen someone do this with a broken greatsword at this rank. Is this your smurf?"]

[Grandma'sWraps: "That was insane."]

[Apibello: "ᄅᄋ As expected."]

19 kills / 2 deaths / 11 assists.

It was a dominating score, worthy of claiming I carried the match.

The reactions at the game's end were vastly different from the start.

As the match concluded, the scores were tallied.

My character, chosen as MVP, burned brightly by the bonfire, illuminating the screen.

Declining duo requests from teammates, I returned to the lobby, stretching to relax my body.

'It's fascinating that this virtual reality can create such a sense of immersion.'

And… as I felt a deeper satisfaction than from winning three normal games combined, a faint smile crept onto my lips.

"Aah…."

A chuckle escaped my lips, almost like someone deranged.

'Was it the thrill of carrying teammates who were drowning in disappointment and frustration?'

Saving allies from despair and turning the tide felt oddly similar to the narrative of a grimdark story.

'This… might be a little addictive.'

Unable to resist, I immediately queued up for the next match.

There's probably nothing as unpleasant in virtual reality as getting stabbed blatantly in front of your eyes.

[HeroForming: 6 kills, 13 deaths, 4 assists.]

A truly disastrous record.

For her, who had never faced such bullying in her tier, this was unbearable.

Normally, she would focus on maintaining her composure, but this time, even clenching her teeth to swallow her anger was a struggle.

Of course, the chat window was in chaos.

[Forming already at 13 deaths lololololol.]

[Even if someone reports her, it'd be justified. She should get banned, right?]

[Shriek.]

[Now she's getting humiliated by some jerk with a broken sword. Is there anything worse? Maybe the stamp outside a polling booth?]

[A broken sword is still a sword!]

[Shriek.]

[Me.]

[This plotline on a stream… quite rare.]

[Bow.] [Rock.]

[By the way, who's that guy? Looking at his stats, he's overwhelming. Is it a Challenger's smurf account?]

[Never seen someone do this with a broken sword before.]

'Should she be happy about this or not?'

Looking at the slightly increased viewer count, she would usually be over the moon.

But this scenario only made her the sacrificial lamb to another player's domination.

Unable to spew the curses bubbling up from her heart, she merely suppressed her anger.

[Reap.]

The battle ended in utter defeat, with her unable to accomplish a single thing.

Frustrated, she abruptly quit Soul Warfare and returned to her MS Room.

She had hoped to close today's stream with a victory.

"That's it for today. Have a good night, everyone."

Failing to conceal her disappointment, she ended the stream and returned to reality.

She removed the cheap virtual reality headset strapped to her head.

Crack! Snap!

Perhaps due to the extended time spent in VR, her joints creaked rhythmically as she stretched her body.

'Is this what it feels like to be a pharaoh buried in a pyramid sarcophagus?'

"This is why I wanted to get a better model…"

Virtual reality devices varied wildly in price based on their model.

The better ones offered not only real-time scanning but also enhanced sensory feedback and reduced user fatigue.

But they were an unattainable dream.

Such high-end devices were far too expensive for most individuals to afford.

Even her current device, though on the cheaper end, had cost a hefty 8 million won during its purchase.

Sigh.

Once her body had loosened up, she checked the status report from her latest stream, letting out a small sigh.

Real-time viewer count: 184.

Under the nickname "HeroForming," the small-time streamer Park Dayoung sighed quietly to herself.

"Ah… this is tough."

She leaned back in her chair, rocking side to side in an attempt to alleviate her frustration, but the weight pressing on her chest wouldn't lift so easily.

Starting as a streamer during her first year of high school for fun, she had grown her channel to a notable size within six months, reaching 6,000 concurrent viewers at its peak.

With her cute appearance and exceptional gaming skills, she quickly gained a loyal audience and fanbase.

After graduating high school, she began dreaming of becoming a professional streamer—a young girl from South Korea with big ambitions.

But then, her life took a dramatic turn.

***

The "Hero Summoning."

A once-in-a-lifetime event during her second year of high school.

The kind of "protagonist summoning" trope you'd only see in manga or novels invaded her life, throwing everything into chaos.

At first, she desperately tried to return home, but upon realizing she could only return after defeating the Demon King, she reluctantly took on the role of a hero.

Two years passed as she fought as a hero, ultimately defeating the Demon King and saving the world.

Dayoung safely returned to South Korea.

But her trials were far from over.

Those two years as a hero had left gaping voids in her life.

Reality was far less forgiving than her grand return might have warranted.

Both her school life and her streaming career had suffered during her absence.

Under normal circumstances, she might have rebuilt her audience with her gaming skills and confident looks.

But reality had a way of not going as planned.

With troubled eyes, she checked her YouTube channel's statistics.

Subscribers: 497.

Viewer reactions were not bad at all, but the channel wasn't gaining traction.

She had tried posting promotional content and even considered collaborating with other streamers, but nothing worked.

Despite her efforts over the past six months since her return, she remained stuck in the rut of being a small-time streamer.

Trying to shake off her frustration, she reached for the brooch hanging around her neck.

The cold sensation at her fingertips brought a fleeting sense of comfort.

***

A burst of intense light filled the room as a sharp uniform in harmonious white and red adorned her body.

Her black hair transformed into a radiant red, like molten lava, and her eyes gleamed like rubies set within.

The outfit, slightly on the short side, emphasized sexy over vulgarity.

The boots extending from her thighs to her feet accentuated the curves of her legs.

With power surging through her body, Dayoung smiled faintly.

'Yes, this is it. This is the feeling.'

If she could stream in this form, surely she could escape the small-time rut.

But such short-lived fantasies were quickly crushed.

The oppressive laws of this world rejected her hero's powers, forcing her to release the transformation.

Exhaustion overwhelmed her, leaving her limp like a corpse, her pale arms dangling uselessly.

"If only…"

If only she could use her hero powers anytime, she might have become a top-tier streamer.

Gripped by the gap between meaningless dreams and harsh reality, Dayoung clutched her head in despair.

Behind her, something suddenly appeared with a pop.

It was a green, fluffy frog doll with adorable angel wings.

But its eyes burned with an unholy, sinister intensity.

"Kekeke. What nonsense are you spouting now, you idiot?"

Its voice matched its menacing gaze, brimming with chaotic energy.

"Shut up, you pest."

To think she had chosen this thing as her mascot.

'Was there truly no such thing as a happy ending for a hero?'