The Fate-Seeing Genius Streamer - Chapter 21

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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20. [Infinite War] Um, Is This How You Do It? (5)
The Lakranz Style.
[Eternal Saga]. A gaming martial art passed down from Lakranz, who was said to possess exceptional prowess—ranking among the top ten champions in the history of that world championship.
A martial art engineered solely for maximum efficiency, maximum effectiveness, and irreplaceable mastery in reaching the pinnacle of [Eternal Saga].
Of course—because this gaming martial art was ‘optimized’ for [Eternal Saga], there were also many techniques that didn’t translate to [Infinite War].
No.
It would be more accurate to say that in [Infinite War], I could barely employ the core techniques of the Lakranz Style used in [Eternal Saga].
Unlike [Eternal Saga] or [Gun Ground]—which could manipulate virtual energy called ether or mana—[Infinite War] took the form of a pure fighting game, save for the player character’s martial skills.
The Lakranz Style’s emphasis on boxing and wrestling-based unarmed combat was ultimately designed to secure technical superiority in preparation for unforeseen circumstances.
In [Infinite War], the advantages the Lakranz Style possessed were scarcely manifested. Yet, that did not mean the Lakranz Style was flawed.
Quite the opposite. Over decades, the Lakranz Style had continuously refined its techniques, achieving practical application that was unparalleled.
In [Eternal Saga], through repeated technical development accounting for every conceivable scenario, the tradition and practicality of the Lakranz Style—among the schools derived from gaming martial arts—was evaluated as among the highest tier.
In fact, Crack had applied the Lakranz Style across numerous games beyond [Eternal Saga], accumulating countless victories.
From the moment Crack joined the pro team academy of team VEN, his innate talent was recognized, and he received the essential insights from the contemporary master of the Lakranz Style. ───Thus, he had come to understand something.
Cough, cough───
Lying face-down on the Training Ground floor, Crack couldn’t help but gasp even as bodily fluids spilled from his mouth.
‘It has to be… that’s the Lakranz Style…! This isn’t a mistake…!! Definitely, it was the same gaming martial art as mine…!!’
He was certain. Joo Seo-jin wielded the same gaming martial art as Crack—the Lakranz Style. But how? It made no sense.
‘What… how is this possible? The Lakranz Style… isn’t taught to just anyone…?’
It was only natural.
The Lakranz Style was transmitted almost exclusively through a contract with ESK’s affiliated team, VEN. There was no way someone else could learn the same gaming martial art.
If both were learning the same Lakranz Style and were Korean, the only conclusion that emerged was that they were both from the same VEN pro team academy.
But───
‘I couldn’t possibly not know about a promising student from the same pro team academy as me… especially one learning the Lakranz Style.’
That was an impossible scenario. Crack had never heard a single word about Joo Seo-jin. The possibility of being fellow disciples didn’t exist.
Because of this, Crack stared blankly with unfocused eyes before, unable to contain himself, opening his mouth and blurting out his confusion. He couldn’t hold back.
“How… exactly… are you wielding the Lakranz Style…?”
He hadn’t expected an answer. After all, if the source of learning the Lakranz Style was uncertain, there was a high probability he wouldn’t speak of it. But that wasn’t the case.
“The Lakranz Style? Ah… so that’s what it is. That unique movement…? I suppose that’s what they call the Lakranz Style.”
“What do you mean…?”
“I simply… tried to imitate it. I thought I could do it… so I just tried. It didn’t mean much.”
“You just… imitated… it…?”
Joo Seo-jin spoke the plain truth matter-of-factly, then tilted his head slightly and answered with pure curiosity, showing little particular interest.
“Well… honestly, it wasn’t that difficult. Crack…? You showed it to me clearly enough.”
“Huh…?”
“I see. I realized that being a pro gamer isn’t something anyone can do. [Infinite War]… you said you’d teach me one-on-one, and I really feel like I’m learning well.”
“What are you…?”
Crack was at a loss for words. The moment his eyes widened and his expression seemed ready to crumble, Joo Seo-jin asked back, purely curious about the other’s evaluation.
“Um, is this how you do it?”
“….”
In that instant, Crack’s face contorted, and despair—an overwhelming sense of defeat that could never be washed away—laid bare.
* * *
Genius.
People call those who break free from their ordinary standards and advance faster than others a gift from heaven itself.
And Crack, too, had been lauded as a genius among geniuses, worthy of being chosen as Heuk-wol’s partner. But that was wrong.
━Hmm. You’re competent enough, but nothing more than that. From now on, don’t think or act on your own. Just do exactly what I tell you.
Heuk-wol, a two-time consecutive World Championship winner of [Eternal Saga] and simultaneously the youngest champion ever, had never once truly regarded Crack as a genuine partner.
━You. Want to win Worlds? But you can’t do that with those other bastards. They’re all half-baked idiots. But me? I can do it. So shut up and just follow me.
My pride was wounded. At first, I wanted to see how well he’d perform. But it didn’t take long before advancing to the world stage made me realize it.
How meaningless the word “genius” that people spoke of truly was. Watching genuine, heaven-blessed talent up close, I understood.
Mediocrity.
That was my position. What people called genius was nothing more than a tortoise crawling on the ground before truly blessed talent.
Still, I had thought myself fortunate. As a professional gamer for [Eternal Saga], facing talents from around the world alongside Heuk-wol, I had learned one fact—there existed no talent beyond Heuk-wol’s.
I believed I would never again be blocked by a wall of talent as I lived on as a professional gamer.
I was wrong.
━Lakrantz Style? Ah… so that’s what it is. That unique movement…? So that’s what they call the Lakrantz Style.
…That was a monster.
━I just… tried to copy it. I thought I could do it too… so I just tried. It didn’t mean much.
A talent to understand the essential principles of systems and techniques merely by watching with one’s eyes, to learn them, and to apply them effortlessly in actual combat.
Moreover, to even innovate and apply what was never demonstrated. Only after being completely mimicked in the Lakrantz Style did I realize.
Standing before me was the incarnation of absolute talent that could never be surpassed even with a lifetime of effort.
From the beginning, not a single word Joo Seo-jin spoke had been a lie.
The claim that he had only just started virtual reality gaming yesterday was likely the truth as well.
‘Ten years… no, I’ve been at this since elementary school, so it’s more than that. Everything I’ve worked toward all this time—is that just one day’s worth of learning for this person… Damn it.’
I knew the world wasn’t equal. I wasn’t trying to deny that outright either. Because saying everyone is special also means no one is special.
So I had worked hard.
I lived gritting my teeth, to the point where days without training felt like happiness.
But even so, there was a wall I could never overcome.
Just like now.
Grraaah.
Crack lowered his head, both hands clenched into fists.
…Amid a self-loathing so intense I felt like retching, I saw the streaming window.
《 [Infinite War] : 「VEN」 Crack ) This morning, I’ll take a break and challenge [Infinite War]’s ‘Lord of Martial Arts’. 》
━「VEN」 Crack(skdlemfrltlfgek3717)
*Viewers : 19,791
‘Damn it.’
Nearly twenty thousand viewers. I don’t know when or why so many people came to watch. But one thing was certain.
…All these people were witnessing the desperate moments where I was being utterly beaten down one-sidedly by Joo Seo-jin.
A sense of helplessness washed over me, wondering what to do going forward, but it was only momentary.
‘Ha. Fine, let them all talk. Soon enough, they’ll all know what kind of monster I lost to.’
Crack held a bitter smile, thinking to himself. An unprecedented genius. A mass of talent that might leave a significant mark on the history of the e-sports industry.
If someone like that debuted as a professional gamer, the outcome was obvious, wasn’t it? Whether it was [Eternal Saga], [Gun Ground], or [Infinite War]—a seismic shift would occur.
Even if, by some chance, he didn’t debut as a professional gamer, there was a high likelihood he would be remembered as a figure of great significance in the gaming industry.
By then—or rather, he might even be reevaluated as the person who gave enlightenment to Joo Seo-jin. It really could happen that way.
After grasping the situation with reasonable objectivity, a sense of peace began to settle over me.
‘Yeah. This is—my limit, then. I should accept what needs accepting. Though it tastes like shit, honestly.’
And then….
Thud, thud.
That was when it happened.
Whoosh—
‘!’
With a somewhat dazed expression, there was someone extending a hand to Crack, who sat slumped on the ground with his head bowed. …It was Joo Seo-jin.
Snort.
‘Damn. Even his character is good. Extending his hand like that, trying to help me up. Is this sportsmanship? How romantic of him to look after me.’
If I didn’t accept, wouldn’t he look pathetic? Crack let out a hollow laugh and grasped the extended hand in return. And then…finally, when I grabbed that hand and stood up—I could see it.
“…What are you doing?”
“?”
Joo Seo-jin, with his eyes narrowed, was directing a fierce gaze at Crack.
“…That. I wasn’t asking for a handshake, exactly. I’m grateful you taught me [Infinite War], but.”
“Huh? …Oh. No—wait, weren’t you helping me up? That—wasn’t that sportsmanship or something───”
It was only natural.
“…Sportsmanship? …I don’t see how that’s relevant here. I was simply receiving instruction one-sidedly.”
“?”
“That’s not it. You promised me something. …That. If I win, you’d give me a UG Corporation Ultra Capsule—you didn’t forget that, did you?”
“….”
“You should give it to me.”
The streaming chat window, which I had deliberately been ignoring, erupted with question marks. …Naturally.
-?
-What is he saying now..
-What even is this..
-Was this a viewer participation event? Did Joo Seo-jin come to get a capsule through a viewer event..? What is this???;
-Damn.. So.. the reason he fought Crack was… because he wanted to get a new capsule as a prize..?
-Wow.. I’ve seen a lot of crazy people.. but this guy is seriously on another level.. Is this what true madness looks like??;
Crack felt the same way. He too wore a dazed expression before nodding his head a few seconds later.
‘Ah…’
Well… a promise is a promise. I should follow through on what I said I would.
‘Yeah… thinking about it, this was a viewer participation event, wasn’t it? That’s… that’s right. He should take what he’s supposed to take…’
───UG Corporation. The latest Ultra Capsule model, L-78123K1. …This top-tier capsule device, valued at approximately 30 million won, was a major matter for Joo Seo-jin.
* * *
At the same moment.
About three minutes had passed since Joo Seo-jin’s overwhelming victory against Crack when a seismic shift occurred in the trending hot clips ranking within Space Stream’s video section.
「Space Stream: Video Clips」
━Trending Hot Clips
*1st ┃ Joo Seo-jin VS Crack (Highlight Reel)
└Views: 312,111 / Likes: 18,371 / Comments: 4,819
*2nd ┃ Joo Seo-jin VS Crack (2nd Match Footage)
└Views: 301,231 / Likes: 17,171 / Comments: 3,911
*3rd ┃ Joo Seo-jin VS Crack (1st Match Footage)
└Views: 117,411 / Likes: 8,892 / Comments: 1,823
*4th ┃ Joo Seo-jin VS Crack Ending…real (Legend Moment;)
└Views: 102,212 / Likes: 7,561 / Comments: 1,914
#5 ┃ Geom-hu’s legendary extreme rage lol (Joo Seo-jin VS Crack’s reaction lol)
└Views: 99,313 / Likes: 5,181 / Comments: 2,818
#6 ┃ Heuk-wol wow wow wow today legend character update damn;
└Views: 59,313 / Likes: 3,181 / Comments: 2,377
…
…
…
Space Stream—the world’s largest personal broadcasting platform—was shaking to its very foundation.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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