Ranker's Return

“Hmm... It seems none of you have the intention of going out, almost as if it had been pre-arranged. Let’s make a choice here then,” Hyeonu said. His gaze naturally turned to Jamie Moore. “Which instructor would you like to take a class from, Jamie? Ah, of course, you can choose me.”

Hyeonu offered Jamie Moore a choice. There were as many as seven options if Hyeonu was included.

“I would appreciate it if you give me a moment to think about it.” Jamie Moore asked for some time to think. It wasn’t an easy decision to make.

‘I have to start off well...’ Jamie Moore was worried for one reason. It was because he wanted to enjoy the live stream comfortably.

‘It can’t be Jin Sijong.’

There were a few people he absolutely couldn’t pick. The worst of them was Jin Sijong. It was obvious Jin Sijong would beat him up violently without looking.

‘It can’t be Alley Leader. Reina is a bit as well...’

Reina obviously wouldn’t deviate from the principle of the matter. There was also a small possibility that she would work harder on Alley Leader’s live stream.

‘Among the rest...’

“I would like to do the lesson with Mascherano first.”

Jamie Moore’s choice was Mascherano. Mascherano had a pleasant yet flexible personality. Jamie Moore knew it well because he had interacted with Mascherano before.

“I understand. Instructor Mascherano? Please be prepared.” Hyeonu’s eyes shifted from Jamie Moore to Mascherano. Mascherano responded to Hyeonu with a glance before taking out a red gauntlet from his inventory and putting it on.

“I received a special request from Alley Leader today,” Mascherano said to the viewers before moving to the center of the arena.

“Special request?” Jamie Moore stopped walking when he heard that. It was due to the uneasiness that somehow soared due to Mascherano’s words.

-What is the special request?

-Is it asking him to beat up Jamie Moore harder?

-He wouldn’t have asked to lose. He must’ve asked to do the best in education.

-Isn’t this what he means? What is the difference?

-The minimum of self-defense? That is something that is acceptable.

Unlike Jamie Moore, the viewers roughly knew what request Mascherano had received. It was obvious. They could tell even if it wasn’t said.

“It wasn’t a direct request. Alley Leader said in a roundabout way, ‘There is an old saying about steel that has been hardened a hundred times. This means it was quenched 100 times. I think people are similar’.”

-Loooool ㅋㅋㅋ. Doesn’t this mean he wants Jamie Moore broken 100 times?

-If Mascherano is doing that much... There is no need to talk about the rest of the people?

-Today is Jamie Moore’s hardship period.

-It is probably a day he will remember for the rest of his life.

-He will remember it later. Getting beaten up by six grandmasters isn’t a frequent occurrence.

The viewers laughed at Mascherano’s words. As uninvolved third parties, they were in a position where they could just enjoy the situation in front of them. It was natural to like it because the more Mascherano participated seriously in the fight, the more fun it was to watch.

“Before the spar begins, let me say a word.” Jamie Moore started to speak after hearing all of Mascherano’s words. “Anything will break if you overdo it. No matter whether it is quenching or sharpening the blade.”

That was how it was to polish something.

Jamie Moore walked to the center of the arena with a dark expression. His shoulders seemed to be sagging as he walked.

***

‘He hasn’t done his third class advancement yet, and his weapons are the unique double swords. The class is a rare class I’ve never seen before...’ Mascherano reflected on Jamie Moore’s specs. The specs were decent, and it was hard to believe that Jamie Moore’s specs had been raised in such a short period of time.

‘How should I do it...?’

Matching someone’s level of ability was a very difficult task. It was even worse when the person was weaker than he thought. There were many ambiguous points because one’s skills weren’t a clear indicator. The reality was that there would be different results even if people had the same stats and skills.

‘The guideline is... He said it was a bronze medal, right?’

Thus, Hyeonu set a standard for the daily instructors to refer to.

A bronze medal—it was the 9,999,999th place when put in numbers. It had to be matched to that extent.

Mascherano was lost in thought, only to suddenly clench his fists. A dragon of flames emerged at the end of Mascherano’s fist. The fire dragon rushed out and struck Jamie Moore.

Jamie Moore left his spot without the slightest bit of hesitation. It was a quick judgment that Hyeonu had always emphasized. The red dragon’s head struck the spot where Jamie Moore had just been standing. A small hole was formed in the place where the dust rose and sank.

-Phew, it would be one blow if that hit, right?

-It is one shot. Is that a bronze-medal-level attack?

-Are the bronze medalists so strong these days?

-Don’t bronze medalists have no manners these days? They say hello like this.

The viewers were amazed by the sight of Mascherano coming out hard from the beginning.

-Still, what he’s learned so far is noticeable.

-He is attacking.

-It seems he thinks he will lose if things drag out.

-It is a good decision. Attack unconditionally. To win, he has to attack.

Jamie Moore avoided the powerful blow from Mascherano and chose to attack. Perhaps he intended this from the beginning, but the direction he dodged towards was diagonal. This allowed Jamie Moore to get within close range of Mascherano, and he swung his two swords like lightning. A dark red sword energy was released in the form of a cross from Jamie Moore’s two swords.

‘It is a bit too much to block it.’ Mascherano retrieved the fist that he had instinctively stretched out. It was a level of attack that could’ve been blocked casually with his original specs. However, if he were a bronze medal-level player… he would suffer a loss if he blocked it. It wasn’t easy for someone of that level to block the sword energy in front of his eyes. One skill would unconditionally be consumed to block it unless he had the ability to implement pure energy quickly. It was better to avoid it and use skills for the next attack.

Mascherano quickly escaped from the space that was covered with the cross swords. Then he stretched out his fist straight away.

‘If I dodge, I have to hit the opponent.’

It was an attack that aimed at the gaps that most players had. However, Jamie Moore wasn’t part of the majority. Such gaps had vanished semi-forcibly due to the continuous sparring.

‘An obvious attack!’ Jamie Moore slashed the approaching red gauntlet with a sword wrapped in sword energy. That caused a sudden loud explosion. At the same time, Mascherano’s body shook slightly. He lost his balance from the unexpected counterattack.

Jamie Moore didn’t miss this gap and launched a follow-up attack on Mascherano. The blazing dark red sword energy struck Mascherano again. Mascherano deflected Jamie Moore’s attack with a heavy punch.

‘He managed to take this?’

He couldn’t help frowning. Jamie Moore’s skills were beyond his imagination.

‘Is this the result of fighting and being taught by rankers?’

Jamie Moore didn’t have the flaws of an average player. This didn’t mean he had the senses of a ranker though, so it was very strange.

‘A good way of saying it is that he is well made.’

It was in the literal sense. Jamie Moore was a really well-made player. In a way, it could be seen as breaking the limits.

‘No, was it forcibly broken?’

To be exact, it should be said that his shortcomings were erased through continuous education.

‘That is why everyone did that.’

Now he understood the reason why the others who fought Jamie Moore pushed him so hard.

‘Then I’ll have to follow him.’

Mascherano erased the idea of a bronze medalist from his mind. His power and movement speed might’ve matched that of a bronze medalist so far, but he now brought out his original skills. Mascherano revealed his special skills without regret. He clung to Jamie Moore and engaged in a hectic melee fight.

Jamie Moore blocked the constant shower of fists in front of him and sighed. ‘What happened all of a sudden?’

It was too difficult to stop Mascherano’s sudden attack. The combat had changed dramatically compared to the beginning. The hardest thing wasn’t that Mascherano was no longer using skills. To be precise, he didn’t use any big skills. He used only simple skills that were indistinguishable from a simple punch.

Things continued like this, and Jamie Moore was naturally driven onto the defensive. Unable to make a single attack, he was in a hurry to block Mascherano’s attack.

Then… exactly 10 minutes later…

Mascherano’s fist dug into Jamie Moore’s abdomen, and Jamie Moore knelt on the dirt ground. It was a breathtaking confrontation.

-He did a good job of lasting 10 minutes.

-Mascherano changed his style in the middle, so there was no solution.

-By the way, do you know? It is just starting ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ.

-Instructors, aren’t there six more classes?

-Among them are Sijoing hyung-nim and Alley Leader. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

***

Jamie Moore’s ordeal wasn’t over. Mascherano was just the beginning. Perhaps they felt something from watching that battle, but the matches of the players invited as the daily instructors were very brutal. The daily instructors didn’t use any of the skills that symbolized them. They only hit Jamie Moore with the basics.

That made Jamie Moore even crazier. He would rather be pushed by force. Then he could comfort himself that he was inferior when it came to specs. However, it was such a thorough battle of skills that he inevitably felt ashamed. This sense of shame exploded during his confrontation with Alley Leader.

‘This isn’t right...’ Jamie Moore shook his head. It really wasn’t. This wasn’t sparring but a meaningless waste of time.

-This is a bit like Satan...

-What would he think when being hit like that?

-Can he have any thoughts? If it was me, I would throw the weapon and leave.

-Is Alley Leader’s university major psychology? Or did he learn mind reading?

-I feel sorry for Jamie Moore.

The viewers didn’t really react differently from Jamie Moore. It was inevitable that Jamie Moore would look pitiful to anyone. He hadn’t even extended his sword since the beginning of the spar with Hyeonu. Every time he attempted to wield his sword, Hyeonu’s spear flew up and blocked the sword. The result was the same no matter how Jamie Moore moved. It was as if he read Jamie Moore’s thoughts.

“How much have you learned, Jamie?”

“Don’t you think this is enough for a lesson?”

Everyone nodded at Jamie Moore’s words.

-Honestly, there is no answer even if you learn.

-Even the rankers suffer from the same thing, so what can Jamie Moore do?

In front of Hyeonu, it made no difference if they were a pro, a bronze medalist, or someone just starting in the arena. Everyone was equal.

“I don’t think so.” Hyeonu tapped Jamie Moore’s two swords with the tip of the spear.

“I can’t do it anymore.” Jamie Moore expressed his firm will by putting the two swords back in their sheath. No one blamed Jamie Moore for his actions.