Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 193

195

Back in the dugout, Beomseok sat on the bench, radiating cold fury. He had cleverly rejected Lucas’s match-fixing proposal, but his mood was far from good. He was incensed that he was seen as so easy to manipulate, and he couldn’t calm himself down.

Dianna, watching him, was filled with worry. The match was important, but as his lover elf, seeing her master’s anger made her anxious. She stood up and shouted to all the team members,

“We must win today’s match no matter what! Everyone, keep that in mind and focus on the game!”

“Yes, Coach!”

Dianna nodded and had a separate meeting with the elves under Beomseok’s command, explaining why he was angry and ordering them to do their best in the upcoming match. To soothe Beomseok’s feelings, they absolutely had to secure a victory today.

At exactly 2 PM, the list of the day’s 19 players appeared on the scoreboard. The absurd fact was that the gladiator who had been injured three days ago was unmistakably on the list. It was already expected, so it was nothing new, but Beomseok’s anger soared sky-high. Chairman Lucas and Coach Robs were both trying to mess with him.

Around 3 PM, when the staff signaled the gladiators from both teams to stand by for entry, Beomseok strapped two katanas to his waist and headed to the entrance tunnel first. He wanted to get out onto the field quickly, run wild, and blow away this gloomy feeling.

Soon, as the entrance signal was broadcast again, Beomseok strode quickly toward the center of the arena.

‘Wait for me, Black Cat. I’ll show you exactly who I am today.’

The God Knights gladiators formed a phalanx [a close-ranked and file formation]. Since all the Black Cats’ Round 1 gladiators were Wide League-level, even if the God Knights went out with their best, they couldn’t win in a head-on fight. It was more effective to maintain a general defense and reduce the opponent’s strength one by one when an opportunity arose. Thanks to this, all six members who were in the rear without a vanguard were mobilized to protect the formation in layers.

At this moment, Zelsomina, who was standing stiffly beside him, approached Beomseok. According to the plan, they were supposed to play a free role, but he was lingering on the side of the formation.

“Senior, aren’t you coming out? We’re supposed to be playing a free role, right?”

“Not yet. You come here and join the formation too.”

“What? Me join the formation? I haven’t received any position or formation training yet. And if we don’t play a free role now, the plan will be ruined.”

Beomseok grabbed her wrist and placed her in front of him.

“It’s a feint [a deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other movement]. For now, pretend to blend into the formation, and as soon as the match starts, jump out and execute the free role.”

Relieved, Zelsomina nodded.

“Ah, I see. That’s the intention. Got it.”

“And the free role will be executed sequentially. You go out first, and when the marker [opponent assigned to watch or guard a specific player] follows, I’ll go out.”

“Why? Is that really necessary?”

“Yes, it is. If it succeeds, we’ll win this round. Just do as I say.”

She trusted Beomseok, so she decided to follow his instructions even though the plan had changed slightly. Besides, since the coach, Dianna, was his lover elf, there would be no problem with the team’s command even if they played differently from the plan.

“Okay, then what exactly should I do?”

“Just before the two teams clash, quickly break away from the formation and take a position on the back right side of the Black Cats.”

“Okay, you mean go that deep? What if the Black Cats team gives up attacking the main camp and sends a large number of gladiators to catch me?”

“It doesn’t matter. That’s what we’re aiming for. No matter how many they send, they won’t send more than four for you alone. I can handle that much.”

With a reluctant expression, Zelsomina hesitated but eventually nodded. She was uneasy, but seeing his confident face, she trusted him.

Meanwhile, the whistle signaling the start of the match echoed through the arena. The God Knights and Black Cats moved their formations left and right, checking each other, and then, as if by agreement, they all rushed towards the opponent.

“Zelsomina, now’s the time!”

With Beomseok’s shout, Zelsomina burst out of the formation as if she had been ejected and sprinted towards the rear of the Black Cats’ formation. As if waiting for this, Black Cats gladiators number 3, 11, and 17 eagerly chased after her. If they could catch Zelsomina, they could overwhelm the God Knights based on their numerical advantage. However, they didn’t know one thing: to chase Zelsomina, who was positioned in the rear of their formation, they had to show their backs to the God Knights. Beomseok quickly grabbed the katana in his hand in reverse grip and threw it with all his might at gladiator number 3, who was running at the very back.

Whoosh! Thwack!

The katana, making a rough sound, flew in a long trajectory and accurately struck the back of gladiator number 3. Gladiator number 3 fell forward, sliding with an absurd expression. However, because they were running in front, gladiators number 11 and 17 didn’t realize that their teammate had been hit.

In response, Beomseok grabbed the other katana in reverse grip and threw it at gladiator number 17.

Soon, as she fell forward, raising a cloud of thick dust, gladiator number 11 noticed that they were being attacked from somewhere and stopped in place, looking around. And after confirming that all the teammates who had come out to mark, except for herself, had been hit, she wore a shocked expression. Feeling extremely uneasy, gladiator number 11 gave up chasing Zelsomina and began to retreat towards the Black Cats’ formation. She felt like she had fallen deep into the enemy’s intentions.

However, seeing Beomseok rushing towards her, she stopped retreating and raised her sword to the upper guard. Even though he was a grappler, she believed she could handle him since he was empty-handed. Even though two of her teammates had been hit, if she could catch Beomseok, it would be as good as winning this match.

“You don’t have a sword! Prepare yourself!”

Whoosh!

Beomseok slightly tilted his head to dodge the sword that was being thrust sharply towards his face, and then grabbed gladiator number 11’s wrist. And after twisting her arm slightly, he immediately attempted an over-the-shoulder throw.

And the grotesque sound of bones breaking was heard. Gladiator number 11, who had collided with the ground, grabbed her right forearm and rolled madly on the floor.

“Agh! My arm! Agh!”

At the same time, the clock on the scoreboard stopped, and the medical staff rushed out from the Black Cats’ team. Beomseok glanced at this slightly, made a bewildered expression towards the camera, and stepped back a few paces. Soon, the approaching medical staff put gladiator number 11 on a floating stretcher and retreated, and a referee approached him.

“Gladiator Oh Beomseok, did you use a joint lock?”

He did use it. Gladiator number 11 was the next best player after the ace in the Black Cats. Injuring her would make the upcoming plays easier. That’s why he had left her as the only one among the three who had rushed out as markers. However, on the surface, it was just an over-the-shoulder throw, so no one could recognize it as a joint lock, only as an accident.

“How could I? I just attempted an over-the-shoulder throw. You can see it clearly if you watch the slow-motion replay.”

As if to prove his words, a hologram screen floating in the air showed the scene of Beomseok knocking down gladiator number 11 with an over-the-shoulder throw technique. There was a slight twist in her arm, but it was difficult to insist that he had used a joint lock. The referee, judging it as a mere coincidence, waved his hands down in all directions and returned to the referee’s seat.

Following this, the announcer in charge of the broadcast began to explain the match using the interlude.

– This will be a big blow to the Black Cats team. Gladiator number 11 is one of the top players in the team, but she was injured early in the match.

The commentator’s explanation continued as if in agreement.

– That’s right. But before that, we need to watch Oh Beomseok’s play. It was really amazing, although it was passed over as an accident. After placing gladiator Zelsomina in a dangerous rear position, he threw a sword into the blind spot of the Black Cats team gladiators who were chasing after her, making two of them unable to act. And somehow, gladiator number 11 was also caught up in his play and injured. As expected of Oh Beomseok. It seems that the Black Cats are not having any luck this year. Usually, they have a strategy that would be enough to win the promotion tournament, but they are meeting strong opponents one after another and suffering like this.

– That’s true. By the way, if the Black Cats lose this Round 1, it will be a really painful result. Isn’t it possible that they could get caught up in a physical fight and struggle like the Splash Mouses team, the God Knights’ first opponent?

– Yes, that’s right. Most of the starting gladiators of the God Knights have good physical conditions, so they can definitely play three rounds in a row without any problems. On the other hand, the Black Cats team is not like that. They will definitely have to put second-tier players with lower skills on the front line in Round 3, so if they lose this round, they have to approach the game with the thought that they will have to take two losses.

– Hahaha. The problem is that if they take two losses, it will be difficult to win the game. If they draw even once, it will be a showdown involving Oh Beomseok, so it will be a difficult situation for them.

– That’s right. So, the Black Cats will have to make a draw in this round no matter what. It will be difficult to overwhelm the Guts Knights team with Oh Beomseok joining them in a situation where they are short of two gladiators. Fortunately, the God Knights have excluded all the vanguards and filled only 6 rear position gladiators, so it won’t be too difficult.

The announcer nodded silently as if expressing agreement.

Currently, the God Knights had 6 sword shields and dual wielders. They were specialized in defense but vulnerable to attack, so it was thought that the Black Cats would not lose if they were careful. Coach Robs seemed to think the same way, as he replaced the injured gladiator number 11 with rear member number 27.

‘Huhu. You’re going for a defensive battle? Since there aren’t many spearmen, it won’t be a circular formation, it will definitely be a phalanx. I’m very grateful.’

Beomseok, who picked up his sword that had fallen on the floor, chuckled. The characteristic of a phalanx is to strengthen defense through density. If it is breached, it would be a melee [confused hand-to-hand fight or struggle among several people]. It was the situation he wanted most right now, and if the plan succeeded, he could destroy the Black Cats team today.

He returned to the main camp with Zelsomina and approached Erpina.

“Erpina, if the Black Cats take a phalanx, I will play a free role with Venus, Agelia, and Zelsomina and aim for the rear.”

Erpina looked at him with surprised eyes.

“What? You’re turning four people into free roles? Is that okay?”

“It doesn’t matter. I have a plan.”

“What plan?”

Beomseok drew a square shape in the air and pretended to press down on the front and back with his fists.

“In this way, we use the sword shields and dual wielders to simultaneously dig into the formation from both sides.”

“Then are you planning to divide them?”

“No. I’m inducing a melee.”

“Then we’ll suffer a lot of damage too?”

He shook his hand as if it wasn’t true at all. This plan would be over in an instant, so there was no reason to suffer damage. Of course, if they were unlucky, one or two might get hit, but it was necessary to endure it for the remaining rounds.

“It’s okay. The Black Cats team will suffer more damage.”

“Still, you don’t know what will happen in a melee. We might get hit.”

“It doesn’t matter. This time, the goal is the Black Cats’ gladiator number 2.”

Gladiator number 2 was the leader gladiator who commanded the Black Cats. If so, Beomseok’s aim seemed certain to be to crush the formation and then defeat gladiator number 2 to win. However, she was not an ace, but one of the few talented players in the Black Cats with excellent skills. Moreover, she was wearing a sword shield, so it would not be easy for Beomseok to defeat her in a short time.

However, Erpina, the leader of the God Knights, was also confident in her own skills. She was a veteran gladiator who had been active in the Wide League for decades and had experienced many matches, so she had experienced countless melees. If there was no one with the skills of her master, Beomseok, among the opponents, she thought she could protect herself enough.

“Okay. I’ll trust only you, Master.”

“Okay. Then please take care of it.”

Then, Beomseok gestured to Agelia and Venus to come out and left the main camp with Zelsomina.

After a while, the arena was cleaned up, and the game started again. As expected, the Black Cats formed a phalanx, trying to draw this round, and stood in the center. In response, Beomseok led his three teammates and slowly moved to the rear of the Black Cats.

“Agelia, Venus. Listen carefully. When I send the signal, put your shields in front and charge towards the Black Cats team’s leader gladiator. Got it?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Beomseok, looking at the Black Cats team forming a dense group, chuckled. No matter how specialized in defense a phalanx is, its efficiency was greatly reduced in a situation where there were only four sword shields. If he wanted to break through, there was no way he couldn’t. He looked at gladiator number 2, who was in the center, and shouted to all the team members through the microphone.

============================ Author’s words ============================

It’s snowing a lot. If it keeps snowing like this until morning, there will be a traffic disaster tomorrow. Sigh~. But on the one hand, I can’t help but wish that it would snow heavily until the evening, not just the morning, and fill my heart. Then everyone would be stuck in their rooms, and I think it would be the first equal Christmas. Huhu. Of course, that shouldn’t happen. Hahaha. I’m just saying.

Then everyone, have a Merry Christmas. I’ll see you again tomorrow.