READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 51 - Cartographer
Chapter 51: Cartographer
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As with any other game where competition is possible, the highest tier was an object of admiration.
A tier was the most objective indicator that visually confirmed one’s skill, and it was a sure way to determine one’s standing among peers playing the same game.
Although it was undeniable that the rank games had diversified as the game expanded uncontrollably, and consequently, the status of the top tiers had gradually declined, nevertheless.
Additionally, it was one of the minimum conditions that so-called skillful streamers, who proclaimed themselves as such and broadcasted the Dark Zone as their main content, had to meet.
Conversely, this meant that these so-called streamers were relatively concentrated in the higher ranks.
In a way, it was natural.
Streamers were individuals who provided entertainment for viewers, and to do so, they needed something to appeal to them.
Exceptional gaming skills were the most straightforward appeal.
Though even the lowest rank games, where skill, movement, and aim themselves were akin to a comedy or tragedy, had their own points of appeal,
the unexpected strategic plays, exhilarating battles, and the hard-won victories amidst such intense competition.
In short, if the former was a comedy program, the latter was a well-made movie.
Although such situations didn’t exclusively occur in lower ranks, unfortunately, people did not pay attention to the lower ranks by common standards.
Returning to the main point, the highest tier was an object of admiration.
However, if one looked at it from both sides, the reason this point was an object of admiration was that it was truly a hellish land of the inhuman.
It was natural for more brutal competition to follow as the tier increased. Even if one’s skills were good, once the game started, a whole bunch of players with similar skills were waiting.
Moreover, as those who no longer played games to relieve stress but chose it as their future path—namely, aspiring professional gamers—joined in, the competition became even more intense.
To either fall behind or possess the skills to break through and rise up.
There was only one answer that those given these two choices could provide.
In the midst of all this, on a scorching hot day in August.
“We’ve come quite far… Let’s keep going.”
A single person set foot at the edge of this inhuman realm.
Even though it’s a promotion match, huh? Are you confident? Can you handle it? Can you control yourself? Hahaha!
“Hey, you guys. What did I do so wrong, huh? Am I someone who only eats and plays Dark Zone? I may have neglected my main job a bit, but I’m back now!”
Returned (half-forced)
What kind of etiquette calls being dragged back by the leash a return, lol
Fact) If it wasn’t for Russ, he wouldn’t even be playing rank games, let alone participating in the Asian preliminaries
Neglect? If you roam around picking up scraps for fifteen hours a day, that’s called contempt, Kato ^^
So is a jobless person just slightly neglecting making money? Hahahaha!
Next to the incredulous chat, a message popped up with a grand sound, indicating that a rank game had been found.
Five whole minutes.
It took five minutes just to find one competitive match. Even though it was not a normal rank but a tournament rank.
Despite the fact that everyone was running towards the Asian preliminaries, it took five minutes to match him with players of similar skill.
Something felt odd.
However, seeing that the number of current tier rooms exceeded hundreds, it seemed it was just bad timing.
Thinking this, Kato—the streamer nicknamed Cartographer—looked at the rank match guide screen that appeared before his eyes.
[TIER 2 promotion match is starting.]
There wasn’t much excitement.
Looking back a bit, TIER 2 was closer to a gateway rather than an insurmountable wall for him.
His average skill fluctuated between Tier 2 and 1, and at one point, when he was obsessed with battle royales, he had even reached the top grade, Medal of Honor.
In short, while others stared at the wall in front, he was looking at a higher peak beyond it, based on his past experiences.
The ‘minimum’ qualification for participating in the Asian preliminaries was Tier 2, Level 5, and even with last-minute exceptions, it was SOF 1.
Not long ago, he was carrying valuable items stuffed in his underwear with an ax and a pistol, but as the saying goes, even when a rich man goes bankrupt, he lasts three years.
With a confident tone, the ramp rotated, and the lower hatch of the transport plane opened.
The wind howled.
“Alright, let’s go! Even though it’s the end of the season rank, let’s climb quickly! Here we go───!”
Jump.
The transport plane, capable of carrying dozens of people, shrank to the size of a palm, and the matchbox-like buildings below, once small enough to hold in his hand, rapidly grew larger.
The parachute opened with a brisk sound. As the descent speed quickly decreased, those who reached the ground before him hurried into buildings.
Within seconds, he followed the same process.
“Alright, since it’s a promotion match, I’ll focus a bit. The looting order is always skills first, as I emphasize. Since it’s a tournament rank, decent weapons come out immediately. If you want to use your primary weapon, you can get it later through air supply drops.”
With extremely skillful hands, he opened the nearby boxes.
As he said, the boxes contained firearms, ammunition, cash, and bulletproof vests, all ready for a quick skirmish.
He almost instantly equipped himself with these items, and a machine gun, already reasonably set up, was in his hands. The surrounding area was already erupting in combat.
After surveying the surroundings, he moved while continuing his commentary.
“As everyone knows, skills have activation zones. The early skirmishes in the higher tiers are essentially about mind games around these zones. However, near the activation zones, item spawns are really terrible except for cash, so keep that in mind.”
In summary, there were two choices.
Choosing a firearm, obtaining enough money, and fighting against users who had unlocked their skills.
Conversely, unlocking skills first, and then fighting off the swarm of users and others who had unlocked their skills.
In practice, since the performance of skills was significant, the survival rate was about the same regardless of the choice. Balancing items like EMP grenades only appeared in the later stages, so there was no concern about imbalance.
───!!!
The sound of gunfire cut through the air as his finger applied pressure to the trigger.
Sliding, running, and walking to manage his stamina, he aimed and fired at an enemy who suddenly appeared around the corner.
Since it was a high-tier rank game, the opponent’s reaction was quick, but even a slight difference determined life or death.
In an instant, bullets crossed, and the enemy in Kato’s line of fire quickly fell into a dying state, ending the first skirmish.
After finishing off the enemy with a few more shots, he picked up only the necessary items and moved on.
“Of course, you shouldn’t execute them. There are enemies swarming everywhere. If you suddenly feel an urgent need to use the bathroom, you can activate the execution motion and go.”
Summary: Kato needs to poop
You’re very elegant in saying just to dodge^^
Bastard…brilliant!
Even with junk in his underwear, his aim is still on point
It’s like being in the mid-range of Grandmaster in another game; you can’t die here, lol
Indeed, it was as they said.
Despite a few obstacles, he swept through the surroundings at such a rapid pace that the previous intense battle seemed irrelevant. It didn’t take long for the slowing kill count in the top-right corner to climb as it did at the start of the game.
Even though his skills might have seemed to decline from playing other modes, viewers who had initially mocked him were now exclaiming in admiration.
Naturally, using his skills, understanding of the map, and sense, he manipulated the game flow as if assembling a puzzle, driving enemies into corners or flushing them out from hiding spots, and occasionally launching surprise attacks from unexpected places.
Even when things didn’t go as planned, he determined that it was a situation he could overcome.
Meanwhile, he didn’t forget to show respect for his opponents.
“Is it because it’s the end of the season or because it’s a promotion match? Everyone’s playing really well. Normally, I could play comfortably up to this point.”
All the tryhards aiming to make a mark in the preliminaries have gathered here
That’s why I don’t play tournament ranks, lol
Even if your mouth is wrecked, speak clearly. What are these subtle jabs, lol
The source of the massive conscience dump on the second-hand market is here;;
I’m a Tier 2 local, and all my peers agree with this, ~~~
Despite his words, the 3,000 viewers of Kato’s stream already knew.
No matter how much he praised his opponents, the skill gap was evident. Even with half-explanatory commentary, his competitors were falling like autumn leaves.
Moreover, even at this point, the donations and voice messages kept coming, which was a hidden testament to Cartographer’s confidence and skill.
Even in the difficult rank sections where others had to play intensely, he didn’t mind the distraction of donations and managed to climb.
That alone proved a lot.
Driving around in a car, he opened his mouth.
“Wow, it’s already down to 32 people. Everyone saw that, right? If you do well in the beginning, you don’t have to take difficult and exhausting paths later. Kill points affecting RP
are all the same in the end.”
By taking down many enemies in the chaotic early game, refined by the initial pandemonium, he avoided the need to hunt down each opponent individually during the late game when everyone had spread out for defense.
An effective rank-raising method known but not easily executed.
There was a reason it was passed down verbally.
───Tudududududu!
“Damn, what is this?”
However, amidst all this, hundreds of bullets were fired from the second-floor window of a nearby mansion. It was an overwhelming display of accuracy and firepower.
The car’s body was riddled with holes, and the vehicle UI in the bottom left began to turn red.
The fuel tank seemed to have burst, as the fuel gauge plummeted rapidly, and the wheels were destroyed. He himself was hit by a few bullets, reducing his HP to half.
His instincts sent a chilling warning.
“I have to take care of that. It’ll be a big problem later if I leave it.”
Oh, nice lead shot
Look at the car wrecked after a few hits, lol
Showing house-clearing tips after a long time?
This guy knows how to aggro, lol
Alright, get out of the car before it blows up and you’re gone
With decisive movements, he got out of the car, which was more like tossing it aside, a bit away from the mansion. Various sounds were heard around, likely due to the commotion.
Since he got out of sight of the window, there was less concern about immediate shooting.
Thinking of a safe way to enter the mansion, he spoke.
“You can’t climb that house with parkour, but there’s another staircase near the storage. I’ll throw a grenade and flashbang, then move quickly.”
───Drurururuk!
At that moment, a second burst of machine-gun fire echoed from the second floor. Whoever was inside was still fully engaged in combat.
It was the perfect opportunity for an ambush.
With a click, the pins of the grenade and flashbang fell to the ground, and half a beat later, shockwaves spread from the second floor.
Kato stealthily moved towards the open storage area, past the clutter of junk.
‘…Why are there so many fishing supplies here?’
He brushed aside the random thoughts.
Since he had thrown projectiles, the enemy inside would know someone was coming. However, he had the advantage of the first strike, and he had to capitalize on it quickly.
He climbed the stairs as fast and quietly as possible.
Tududududu!
This person, either extremely confident or having given up on crisis management, was still shooting on the second floor. But it was too late to wonder why.
Already familiar with the house’s layout from years of gaming, he knew the structure.
Despite the continuous shooting, the sound of the flashbang pin being pulled was covered, but mere seconds later—with a deafening bang—Kato set foot on the second floor.
No.
He tried to.
───!
“Oof!”
Thud.
For some reason, as he forcefully stepped to clear the second floor, he tripped over something and fell.
The sound of his gear and steel clattering against the wooden floor echoed loudly.
He tried to get up quickly,
“The attempt was good, but a bit lacking in urgency.”
“Ugh, gah…!”
Swish.
His leg was caught in something thick, and with an unbearable weight on his back, he couldn’t move anything but his arms.
At the same time, something tightened around his neck.
Sharp and unbreakable.
As he began to bend like a shrimp, something came into Kato’s view.
It was a machine gun casually placed by the window.
But, something seemed connected to the trigger… a string?
Only then did Kato realize what it was and what was strangling his neck.
It was fishing line.
‘Wait, that means…!’
“It’s always good to have plenty of materials for traps.”
As death approached, the situation became clear.
By tying a string to the machine gun’s trigger, it created the illusion of continuous shooting without actual vigilance around.
But, this direct strangulation…
“Good luck.”
Bang.
The next moment—with an ear-piercing gunshot—he was ejected back to the lobby with a cause of death marked as a headshot.
“…What the hell just happened?”
Of course, it seemed he hadn’t brought his composure with him.