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The commentators were still discussing BubbleSniper.

"Killing Almond. That is his only goal since the beginning..."

One commentator reread the phrase, noting how remarkable it was.

"This is no ordinary sniper, is it?"

"Since the beginning? Like since birth?"

"It seems like a blood feud with their parents."

"Ah... There's no such story?"

"!?"

— No way, LOL

— The caster is trying to hold back his laughter, LOL

— BubbleSniper the Motherless…

— No, LOL

— LOL, extreme roast

The commentators continued after a brief silence, "So, whether it's a parental feud or whatever! How humiliated must one be to chase down an offline challenge like this!?"

"Right~! This is practically an invitation for a real-life fight considering they could be right next to each other in the capsules!"

While BubbleSniper's existence as a sniper was somewhat inconvenient for the game developers, it was the most interesting subject matter for this challenge.

Conflict always made matches more entertaining. Didn't mixed martial arts promotions also deliberately create or draw out feuds between opponents? They even staged false conflicts between fighters sometimes.

The conflict between BubbleSniper and Almond didn't need any embellishment.

The commentators couldn't help but enjoy it, "Wow, an invitation for a real-life fight? When you think of it like that, it really becomes exciting!"

"Ah, a real-life PK! Back when online games first emerged, it was really common, wasn't it?"

A real-life PK (Player Kill) referred to escalating online game conflicts into real-world confrontations.

— The days filled with romance... LOL

— The '90s, LOL

— That generation

— Only the strong survived LOL

"Yes, it's nice to see it after a long time. Of course, they won't actually fight in real life."

"Ah! And! We've now confirmed which capsule BubbleSniper entered! It's capsule number eighteen!"

"Player number eighteen is BubbleSniper?"

As they said that, BubbleSniper's screen appeared.

"Oh."

"Ah!?"

The commentators were both surprised because BubbleSniper scored a kill just as the camera switched to him.

"Wow! BubbleSniper with a clean kill!"

"It's like he knew the camera was coming his way!"

— Impressive

— The devil's talent, LOL

— Truly the man of assassination grenades, impressive

— Born to be a sneaky ninja, he’s perfect for this game

"Just from that kill, you can tell he's quite skilled," said a professional commentator who acknowledged BubbleSniper's Battle Large abilities.

"Yes, according to incoming information, he's considered to be an extraordinary player?"

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, if he hadn't manipulated his rank, his true skill is estimated to be within the top three hundred."

— Manipulating rank? LOL

— Top 300? Impressive

— Can't bring up the painful topic of rank manipulation, LOL

The commentary didn't explicitly mention this sore point given that this was an official event by the game company. However, the audience understood the hint.

"Anyway, BubbleSniper is doing well. It’s unlikely he'll die before meeting Almond... That’s what you're implying, right?"

"Yes, unless something unexpected happens, that should be the case."

"So, given the nature of the game, they'll eventually meet as the play zone shrinks if both continue to survive!"

The audience seemed quite excited as murmurs filled the air. They had moved on from their bets on player number forty-two and eagerly anticipated the confrontation between players one and eighteen.

However…

"Ah!?"

Before meeting player number eighteen, player number one faced a complication.

"We're switching the camera back to player number one. It seems he's caught in a rather peculiar situation."

The commentators' expressions became several times more troubled than when they were explaining rank manipulation.

"Ah…"

Teaming up was a more deplorable act in the battle royale genre than rank manipulation.

"Are they teaming up?"

What was the issue with forming teams? In a battle royale where individual combat and survival skills were paramount, teaming up with acquaintances was disapproved of.

Despite this, no battle royale game had yet implemented a foolproof system to fundamentally prevent teaming up. Even though this challenge was hosted by the game company, they couldn’t intervene in this blatant teaming up.

The commentators could only sweat profusely, opting to minimize their description of the situation.

"Ah… this is an unfortunate situation."

Boos erupted from the audience. After all, no player appreciated teaming up.

— Teaming up, rank manipulators, snipers, LOL the total package?

— Typical Fantasia chaotic management, LOL

— Yes, this is Fantasia LOL

— This is Fantasia chaos! To the moon!

— They create a great game but manage it poorly, sigh

***

[The Bamboo Forest]

Almond and the four ninjas had a standoff.

This area was a vast bamboo forest located on the road from the marketplace to the castle. It was said that large bamboo forests were always maintained near ancient castles so that the army could cut bamboo to make weapons whenever necessary.

The four perched up in the trees had no intention of cutting down bamboo for weapons.

"Hey, you're well-equipped, huh? Leave half of it and go."

Four ninjas appeared as if coordinated from the north, south, east, and west. They had identical outfits and weapons, completely blocking any escape route.

It was clear. They were surrounding him and undoubtedly on the same team.

"This is ridiculous."

Teaming up of all things. Almond felt it was unfair to be caught in such a situation, but had no choice other than to deal with it.

"Talk nicely while you still can. Before we come down and strip everything from you," the leader spoke while the rest kept their guard up.

They focused solely on Almond and didn’t make a move.

Almond had to abandon any hope of finding an opportunity to escape. He was truly cornered.

"..."

Although Almond remained silent, the chat was already in an uproar.

— Seriously, this is too much even for chicken

— Teaming up in a challenge hosted by the game company, LOL

— You’re joking, right? LOL. Just die.

Teaming up was one of the most despised strategies in the battle royale genre. While rank manipulation affected individuals and stream sniping was mostly a streamer issue, teaming up could affect every player and disrupt the game's enjoyment.

Viewers blamed the price of chicken.

— All this for chicken?

— The terror of chicken, ladies and gentlemen…

— Chicken soon to be 40,000 won. At that rate, murders will happen, tsk tsk

— It's BBQ's fault

Rather than genuinely blaming the chicken reward, viewers attacked the sponsor to pressure the game company.

[Golden has donated 10,000 won.]

[As the price of chicken rises, leading to poverty, the peasants donned yellow fried coats and revolted. This event was called the Golden Olive.]

— LOL, Golden Olive Chicken, LOL

Viewers were highly agitated, enough to attack the sponsor.

Almond sensed something odd.

"It's strange."

Knowing the strong aversion to teaming up and that they wouldn't be getting chicken for themselves, would they really go to such lengths for one hundred chickens? Especially when the three of them wouldn't even receive it.

Almond spoke to the ninja who threatened him, "Even if you win by doing this, you won't be acknowledged."

The ninja, likely smirking behind his mask, retorted confidently, "Is there even a rule against teaming up? In battle royale, this is natural. Haven't you seen the movies?"

Everyone was left speechless by his audacity.

[MotherNature has donated 5,000 won.]

[Shall we return them to nature, Master?]

— Return them to nature, LOL

— LOL, insane

— It's like the movies, LOL

— Can't Almond beat them one against four? Scared?

Teaming up was natural? That was incomprehensible. Maybe in movies, but it was the most unnatural strategy over any other in this challenge.

Teaming up usually involved acquaintances planning it together, but everyone had walked in here and the challenge was just released today. It was all unplanned. Four people teaming up in the middle of all this was too odd.

Almond continued probing, "Why don't you just join me instead? I just took down two on my way here."

[NutPunkResident has donated 3,000 won.]

[Brother, let's call the new guy Nut because he's nuts.]

— LOL, pro trash-talker

— Team Nuts, scary

— Introducing MixNuts’ new member, "the Nut!”

Despite viewers' high expectations, the ninja in the tree yelled, "That's not even funny! Just drop your gear and leave!"

The one who had been acting like the leader was the only one getting angry.

Almond pointed at the other three, "Seeing the rest of you silent, do you actually want to join me instead?"

Their leader looked momentarily stunned.

— LOL, why's he the only one talking? LOL

— Could it be? LOL

— Really? LOL

The leader hesitated before sulkily saying to his teammates, "You, you guys... Fine, try joining him."

Moments later, the three teammates slowly came down and approached Almond.

— ???

— This is actually happening?

— LOL, unbelievable

— Backstabbers, LOL

They were the ones previously covering the left, right, and rear sides.

Almond glanced at them with a smirk of victory.

Still blocking the front, the leader expressed his disbelief with an incredulous face.

"Are you really going?!" he shouted in desperation. "You faithless bastards! Do you think you can win like this!?" he forcefully squeezed out his voice.

‘Exactly,’ Almond thought while heightening his senses and focusing.

Quietly, the three who approached Almond pretended to surrender and started drawing their blades. They had never planned to betray their leader.

Almond swiftly drew his sword, spinning on his right foot. His blade precisely traced three paths where his gaze lingered. With a single swing, he deflected three swords simultaneously.

— Amazing

— Insane

— Huh

— What? They didn't betray him?! The ambush was effortlessly blocked.

"!?"

The leader, who had been watching from the tree, was shocked.

"How... How did you block that...?"

"How? Since you're controlling them, they'd move the same," Almond retorted.

With a swift motion, Almond's figure spun. Simultaneously, he threw his shurikens in three different directions.

The shurikens accurately struck the three ninjas. They glitched for a moment before disappearing into smoke.

The chat was slow to grasp the situation. It was a clone technique.

— Wow, it was clone technique!

— Amazing

— What the heck, Almond?!!!

— How did he know? Seriously??

Amid the rising white smoke, Almond's eyes gleamed devilishly red. He grinned and extended his hand.

"Give me the clone technique scroll. Then, I'll spare you."

The offer of sparing them was obviously a lie.

— ??? He means he'll "peel" you!

— The clone technique is mine now!

— It was a golden goblin all along.

— "Sparing" you, LOL that's a joke!

— ??? It's true! You won’t die, you’re just returning to nature!

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