Chapter 130
The Arena. To explain, the Arena was PVP-exclusive content added about a year ago. A place where anyone, Gaian or Otherworlder, could enter and fight to their heart's content under various conditions. It was as if someone had added it, thinking, 'I'll use this later, hehe...' and then had forgotten about it, as it had never been mentioned until now. Unexpectedly, the Arena was still quite popular content. While not entirely without risk, at least one's life was guaranteed during a fight. And you could manipulate the system to introduce various variations within the Arena. It made legal WWE possible, rather than UFC. Since there was also a Spectator System, the Arena was always lively with people fighting and people watching. As the saying goes, Spectating Fights has always been the most entertaining. Though it's a place only a select few really engage with... Of course, many people weren't interested in the Arena. PVP in an RPG game tended to be content that only the most dedicated players stuck with. Chaerin and Haneul Im had never mentioned the Arena in front of me either.
It seemed that for Otherworlders busy with leveling, an Arena that was purely about fighting was a hit-or-miss proposition.
Dying there didn't mean losing items... but it did mean being unable to access/login for three days, just the same.
Nor did lowering the Synchronization Rate completely remove the pain.
It wouldn't be bad to try participating. You can gain a lot of Combat Experience..., and it's surprisingly fun.
However, Hanbyeol Shin, the Rank 1 in the country, seemed to frequent the Arena. She was busy maintaining her Rank 1 and leveling up, but she said the numerous experiences gained in the Arena compensated for it.
So, after a good fight in the Arena, it often became easier to catch stronger Monsters, which actually helped with leveling more. Hearing that, I suddenly grew curious and asked her.
“Speaking of which, what's your current level?”
“Me? I think it's 145...”
“That high?”
When I heard that, my eyes widened for a moment. Considering our Senior Sangun was around 175, that was a considerably high level.
Considering it had only been a little over two years since the Otherworlders appeared, it was truly a steep growth rate. She might even aim for S-rank soon. But Hanbyeol, for her part, seemed lukewarm to my reaction.
“It's not that fast. Leveling almost stops around this point... And it's hard to find Monsters worth catching.”
That's why she frequents the Arena even more, Hanbyeol said. It's good for accumulating Combat Experience, and it's not bad for broadcasting either.
“Hmm...”
After hearing all she had to say, I quietly nodded my head. It was an unexpected suggestion, but it also sounded quite appealing. The 'experience' part she mentioned was especially appealing.
“Experience... I am a bit lacking in that, too.”
While I had more than enough experience fighting Monsters, I didn't have much experience fighting Humanoid Enemies. Though I could say my Skill had improved somewhat by meeting various people recently. Still, my experience was lacking all the same, especially when dealing with Mages.
I already knew most Demons that appeared were humanoid, so there wouldn't be any harm in participating. However, there was still something that bothered me.
“But, even if I participated, wouldn't the skill gap make it boring for both of us?”
It's a bit much to say so myself, but my abilities are quite outstanding enough that I wouldn't mind a duel with a Demon.
But for someone like me to suddenly participate in the Arena... it would clearly be boring for them and for me. And I clearly wouldn't gain any particular enlightenment either.
“Oh, don't worry about that. What fun would it be to just overpower them with Physical Ability? Stat Adjustment is possible to some extent there, so it'll be fine.”
But when I heard her words, it seemed even that wasn't a big problem, since I had nothing else to do anyway.
“All right.”
So, I readily nodded.
I went to the Arena the very next day. The method of entry was simple. With Hanbyeol Shin's help, I bought an Arena Ticket from the Otherworld Shop. All I had to do was tear the ticket, and I would be teleported to the Arena.
Whoosh-!
With a strange sensation of buoyancy enveloping my entire body, my vision flickered.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself inside a massive brick building.
I looked around for a moment and saw a plaque that read “Waiting Room”.
I couldn't help but be surprised for a moment.
“No way, this is crazy.”
To think it even performs teleportation. Does this even make sense? I thought only someone of Sephiroth's caliber, a Magic Tower Master, could use something like this. Seeing my bewildered expression, Hanbyeol chuckled and said.
“You guys always get surprised when you come here. Well, it's understandable for the first time.”
Of course. My eyes blinked once, and the scenery completely changed. How could I not be surprised?
I never imagined I could experience such a supernatural phenomenon so easily. But my surprise was short-lived, and after thinking for a moment, I asked her.
“Wait, how do I get home then? Surely I don't have to walk out of here?”
“Don't worry about that. If you step outside the Waiting Room, you'll go straight back home.”
Though I had only been here for a few minutes, it was a fascinating space in many ways.
Hanbyeol smiled at me for a moment, then leaned against a suitable spot. Unlike me, who was flustered, she seemed at peace. Well, she did say she came to the Arena often, so she must be used to this.
I pointed to the sign on the opposite side of the exit that read “Opponent Matching” and asked about it.
“If I go in there, an Opponent will appear?”
“Yeah, that's right. If you tweak a few settings in there, it'll find you an Opponent.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I'm going to the Audience Seating to watch.”
Saying that, Hanbyeol leisurely walked into the “Spectator Room” Entrance on the right. I stared blankly at her, then quietly walked towards “Opponent Matching”.
The place I entered was very dark. It was so dark I couldn't see an inch in front of me. But I didn't particularly care about that. Something else had already consumed all my attention.
Welcome. Please adjust your settings.
As soon as I entered the Entrance, a System Window appeared before me. I wondered if there was an Otherworlder nearby, but no, there wasn't. The System was floating precisely in front of me. Moreover, it was clearly there even when I had 'Player's Eye' turned off.
“Wow...”
I began to slowly adjust the settings, marveling. In the 'Arena' Building, you could manipulate various settings to choose your fight: What Combat Conditions you wanted, what Match Type, if you wanted to restrict your Opponent, and so on.
[Do you have a preferred Duel Type?][Solo Match / Team Match / Captain Match / Domination Match]
First, I set the Duel Type to one-on-one.
Do you have a preferred opponent for matching? If not, random placement will be applied. Participation Code:
Do you have preferred Combat Conditions? If not, Random Placement will be applied.
I simply skipped all the rest. I was just here for the experience, and there were too many settings to go through one by one. The only thing I adjusted was my Stat Adjustment Window.
At about 60%, this should allow for a sufficiently fierce fight.
Matching begins. This Duel Type is Hand-to-hand Combat.
Whoosh! After making the adjustments, my vision began to brighten again. I had left the Waiting Room and finally entered the Arena. I saw the vast Arena, and the Audience Seating encircling the area.
Perhaps because it was Random Matching, only Hanbyeol and a few other people were sparsely seated in the wide audience seating.
'Oh...'
At the same time, I felt an odd sensation in my body. The spear I had been holding in one hand was nowhere to be seen, and my body felt strangely heavy.
Thwack! I needlessly raised my fist and extended it forward, and it felt somewhat slower. The reduction in Physical Ability had taken effect. Watching that, I kept exclaiming in admiration.
“How fascinating...
It's been one surprise after another since I got here. What principle is it based on? How does it work? Many questions arose.
When I saw this, it even made me think it was a real game. According to the System Settings, changes occurred in my body, just like modifying code values in a game.
But at the same time, it was also a somewhat familiar sensation, as if I were feeling an energy I had experienced several times before.
“What could it be...”
I wanted to think about it carefully for a moment, but there was no time.
“Eh, Yor?”
After all, I wasn't the only one in this Arena. Looking ahead, I saw a woman wearing Leather Armor standing there. Since she was also bare-handed, she was probably my Opponent. She seemed to be an Otherworlder, as she immediately recognized me.
“Oh, what the heck. I came to warm up, but why are *you* here?”
“Just... because I have nothing to do these days.”
When I answered vaguely, she scratched her head as if troubled.
“Ah, damn it, this is a bust... I'm supposed to go Field Hunting with the kids today, so I can't die. But if *you* show up, how am I supposed to win? Should I just forfeit...?”
It seemed my presence in an Arena she came to enjoy was causing her trouble. Fearing she might immediately forfeit, I quickly spoke to reassure her.
I told her I had appropriately reduced my Physical Ability in the Settings Window, and since I was here to enjoy myself, I had no intention of forcing my Opponent to Logout. So, I suggested we just Spar for now.
“Hmm, in that case, all right.”
Ultimately, she readily accepted. My Opponent, smiling brightly, swung her arms around.
“You should still be a little nervous, even if you reduce your Physical Ability, you know? Hehe, not to brag, but I'm a High-level Adventurer.”
It was a cute taunt, not really containing any hostility. So, I just gave a suitable smile.
And so, the Duel began. We both awkwardly raised our guards and threw punches at each other.
Thwack-!
My opponent's punch contained considerable power. It was fast and fierce. Her claim of being high-level didn't seem to be an empty boast.
Hmm...
However, it seemed she hadn't specifically learned Martial Arts, as her stance was quite awkward.
And the same went for me. If I had a spear, it would be different, but I'd hardly ever fought by swinging my fists.
“Of all things, it had to be Hand-to-hand Combat...”
Ultimately, the fight devolved into something closer to a dogfight. It was messy and ridiculous rather than flashy. To be honest, it was a bit embarrassing, especially with people in the audience.
But such a chaotic slugfest didn't last long.
“Eek!”
Thinking she wasn't getting anywhere, she suddenly started grappling with me. Seeing that, I couldn't help but frown for a moment.
*'This bastard?'*
How dare she use a Grappling Technique in a sacred slugfest? If an Opponent already initiated Grappling, it was only right to respond in kind. Recalling memories of WWE and UFC matches I'd seen in the past, I began to counter her Technique.
The fortunate thing was that I had a slight advantage in raw strength over my opponent.
If both sides applied Techniques clumsily, the stronger person would inevitably have the advantage.
And so, for a moment, we began to wrestle vigorously on the ground. Our bodies tangled and intertwined.
“Ugh, ah!”
“Oops, ah... sorry, I didn't mean to touch *there*.”
As we both struggled to gain the upper hand, we occasionally touched some rather embarrassing areas. But it couldn't be helped. That's just how grappling is...
“Oh, seriously...!”
As the Duel progressed, her face gradually turned red, as if she was out of breath.
Fortunately, I was the one who gained the upper hand first.
After a long struggle, I finally got behind my opponent!
I immediately wrapped my legs around her waist and began to clumsily apply a Rear Naked Choke to her neck. Even if I didn't know much about grappling, I knew that choking someone like this would make that person pass out.
“Ugh!?”
Somehow, the position ended up looking like a back hug, but I paid no mind and put strength into my arms. Her opponent's expression gradually contorted in pain.
At that point, I spoke to my opponent.
“Surrender.”
“Kuh... Guh...!”
“Hey, you. You'll pass out if you keep this up! Just forfeit!”
“Haa... haa...”
But my opponent showed no sign of tapping out.
[Would you like to modify your Synchronization Rate?][15%<—————-◆——->90%]
Instead, she even pulled a stunt in the middle of it, opening a System Window to raise her Synchronization Rate.
*'...What is this kid even thinking?'*
“Gurgle...”
In the end, she stubbornly held on until she gloriously passed out.
Swoosh...As she lost consciousness, her body gradually began to disappear.It seemed that losing consciousness naturally resulted in a Defeat Judgment.
“Haa... haa...”
Having finished the Combat, I took a deep breath and looked around for a moment. I saw the Spectators in the Spectator Room staring at this place with their mouths agape. As I looked closely, it seemed to me the number of audience members had increased a bit too.
Seeing that, I scratched my head.
“...”
I won, but... somehow, I felt a bit embarrassed.