It didn’t take long to realize that there was a significant issue with the tournament bracket.
-Clang!
A sharp metallic sound reverberated as steel clashed against steel.
As if it were a signal, the two scimitars in Friede’s hands moved like the wind.
This was Friede’s dual-blade technique, one never seen before.
The dazzling coordination of her curved blades, like a breeze escalating into a storm, left her opponent completely disoriented.
‘Inexperienced.’
Compared to her previous opponents, this one was pathetically unskilled.
Guided by her elegant movements, the trajectory of her blades pierced her opponent’s defense.
Her motion, like a cobra lunging at its prey, was electric and precise.
Within the flamboyant dance of her blades lay a deadly dagger.
The opponent tried to block with their buckler, but the other scimitar struck a blow at their waist.
-Swish!
It grazed them.
Though not a fatal strike, it was a decisive hit.
Capitalizing on the momentum, Friede charged forward.
The opponent, overwhelmed, had no choice but to focus entirely on defense, retreating with clenched teeth.
The dazzling footwork and hand movements created the illusion of her two curved swords dancing in midair, nearly impossible to track with the naked eye.
Had they brought a tower shield, they might have tried to push back with a shield bash, but their small buckler proved a fatal hindrance.
-Thud, thunk, clang, thud, thunk!
The successive impacts sounded like a drummer furiously pounding their instrument.
With a barrage of short strikes, Friede was exhausting her opponent’s stamina, leaving them no choice but to eventually yield their neck.
“Damn it!”
Unable to bear it anymore, the opponent swung their buckler with all their strength in a desperate attempt to parry.
At that moment, Friede, who had been moving like a dancer with curved blades, came to an abrupt stop.
Or perhaps she had merely slowed her tempo slightly.
The buckler swung wildly into empty space, leaving her opponent exposed and defenseless before her.
Realizing their folly, they let out a bitter laugh.
Friede, already assuming a practiced stance, unleashed her scimitars explosively.
Battle Skill – Dance of the Crescent Moon
Like a raging vortex, the scimitars lashed out relentlessly.
***
Without even their buckler left, the opponent, like clothes in a washing machine, was torn to shreds by the endless assault of the curved blades.
“Congratulations on your victory, Friede!”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
Perhaps because it had been too easy, Friede’s response to Jiyoung’s congratulatory words seemed slightly awkward.
[Friede! Goddé! Legendarydé!]
[Practically the best player in STK!]
[Our queen! Sniff sniff TT]
[You’re amazing, sis!]
[Soul Warfare is now ruled by Friede!]
[Friedethe Hero is a legend!]
Unlike the noisy comments in the chat during her previous matches, the atmosphere now felt oddly subdued, which made Jiyoung feel a bit uncomfortable.
Compared to the round of 16 or the quarterfinals, this was entirely different.
From the moment the semifinals were set, Friede’s victory had been all but guaranteed.
Perhaps because things were unfolding as expected, the chat lacked the fiery enthusiasm usually seen during such epic moments.
“That was a truly dominant performance. You’ve won the STK melee tournament. Could you share your thoughts on your victory?”
“Ah, I don’t have much to say. I’ve only been thinking about my final match with Lotus…”
[Thump thump thump thump thump!]
[The big one is finally coming!]
[Hey, Friede! Are you going to use the broken greatsword in your match against Lotus or not?! Tell us!]
[LMAO this dude’s having a full conversation with himself!]
“Yes, Friede, there’s one topic everyone is curious about. Will you bring out the broken greatsword that you’ve been saving for your final event match with Lotus? Could you give us a hint?”
The broken greatsword…
It was certainly something Friede had given a lot of thought.
The online chatter, and considering who her opponent was, only made the decision harder.
She even sought advice from her close friends.
“Hmm, well, about that…”
Friede recalled the gathering they had a few days before the final match.
***
When it was hard to meet in person, they usually convened in the MS Room.
For those without VR devices, like Pepe and Ajin, voice chat linked through their AlphaCode IDs was the alternative.
Friede’s Moses Device MS Room served as the virtual reality hideout for her hero party.
Inside, Dayoung’s voice rose slightly as she asked, “Do you think using the broken greatsword might seem unsportsmanlike?”
“Yes.”
Her calm nod made them realize how naively she had approached the game.
[D-Don’t worry, sis! Anything you use will still be… honorable!]
[Just do whatever you want, Friede. Since when did you care about that stuff?]
“Shut it, you two nerds.”
‘Are they trying to ruin my reputation on purpose?’
Dayoung clicked her tongue, deep in thought.
She considered the influence of Sehee—Friede’s in-game alias—her notoriety, and her opponent, Lotus, who represented the STK team and its massive fan base.
She analyzed the in-game reputation of the broken greatsword, the impressions it gave in actual gameplay, and the tendencies and reactions of the tournament audience.
After calculating and piecing together countless factors, Dayoung arrived at a clear answer without much difficulty.
The real issue was whether this sister of hers would accept it or not.
“Unnie.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s use a different weapon.”
That was the right answer.
There was no way she’d throw fuel onto the fire and then toss in a spark.
No, it would be more like setting an entire mountain ablaze.
“Honestly, if you were fighting another high-ranking player, using the broken greatsword… well, it could work. There might be some backlash, but none of your previous opponents had large fan bases. Lotus is different.”
The significance of STK in e-sports was immense.
Its fandom was colossal, for better or worse.
Lotus, alongside Warden, was STK’s franchise star.
Not only was she STK’s second-best player after Warden, but she also boasted a proud personality and elegant beauty, which made her universally appealing.
Her fanbase was extensive, with both male and female supporters.
Furthermore, she was one of the few players with a high-profile career, having won the international Soul Cup league twice alongside Warden.
“In e-sports, a player’s fans are essentially the team’s fans. Lotus, along with Warden, probably accounts for half of STK’s fanbase. If you defeat Lotus using the broken greatsword, her fans won’t let it slide. I wouldn’t be surprised if they storm your stream and cause chaos.”
Lotus’s prominence made her an exceptionally burdensome opponent for Friede.
“If Friede mocked Lotus with the broken greatsword, Soul Warfare’s fanbase would split into three groups:”
“The majority, who would attack Friede in support of Lotus.”
“A minority of Friede’s loyalists.”
“And the rest, who would just watch with popcorn.”
Friede had risen as a brilliant newcomer streamer, but no individual could take on the fandom of a franchise star.
“Unnie, you’d rather have calm admiration than endure chaos, wouldn’t you?”
“True.”
“So why not pick a proper weapon instead? You’ve been winging it with your weapon choices, haven’t you?”
“Ah, you noticed?”
“Maybe others wouldn’t, but we know.”
She hadn’t even practiced.
Dayoung and Ajin, who were closer to Sehee than anyone, could see that she wasn’t taking the tournament seriously.
She hadn’t even bothered to use a sub-account to deflect attention.
If she had taken it seriously, she would have practiced and gotten accustomed to a weapon.
“I’m not picky with weapons, but practicing is just too much effort.”
“Don’t you dare say that outside. There’s already a controversy section on the World Tree Wiki, and I’m not watching it grow.”
[H-Hey! St-stupid! Don’t try to c-control our unnie!]
“What’s that?”
[A fight? Count me in! Friede, how about you unlock their powers for some chaotic fun? That’d be hilarious!]
Dayoung shook her head at Pepe overreaction.
“No way. Do you want to see this country collapse?”
[Aww, boo~.]
Friede’s clear rejection ended Pepe tantrum.
From AlphaCode, Ajin’s voice came through.
[U-Unnie, w-when I think about it… though my r-reason is different… I think it’d be b-better to use another weapon and g-give it your all.]
[Haha, your wording is such a mess, Ajin.]
[S-Shut up, you pest!]
Even Friede and Dayoung widened their eyes slightly at Ajin’s input.
That Ajin, of all people, would say this? It was unexpected.
[W-Well, as a pro… it’s your j-job, isn’t it? To always give your b-best. And Lotus, being a pro too… if you think like that, it might feel a bit p-pitiful. Also…]
“Also?”
[I… I’d like to see you fight with a c-cooler weapon, unnie! When I edit your clips, I always think about that!!!]
[Hey, Ajin! Will you stop yelling? My ears are going to bleed!]
Amid Pepe complaints and Dayoung’s sigh, Friede rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
“A pro…”
Dayoung had opposed her choice due to external factors, while Ajin had focused on Friede and Lotus’s personal dynamic.
Both perspectives made sense, leaving Friede deep in silent deliberation.
“Well, since Ajin brought it up, I’ll say this. If you want attention and to win stylishly, the broken greatsword isn’t your only option. I think there’s a weapon out there that can satisfy you. Getting attention by carrying with a lousy weapon is one thing, but the true way to shine is to fight with a great weapon and look amazing doing it.”
[Dayoung and Ajin aren’t wrong, Friede. Whether you take the highway or a mountain trail, the destination’s the same. But why not take the highway? No need for unpaved roads.]
“Hm…”
Friede pondered for a long while.
After what felt like ages, she raised her head with calm determination in her eyes.
“I will…”
“I…”
All eyes focused on Friede’s next words.
“Whether it’s the broken greatsword or another weapon, I always give it my best. So, as for which weapon I’ll use in my match against Lotus…”
Friede paused, taking a breath, then spoke directly to the camera.
“It’ll depend on how I feel that day. The broken greatsword is sealed for now. And honestly? I’d feel mischievous spoiling it for you. If you’re curious, watch the live broadcast that day!”