Chapter 109: Education Stream (3)
Their collaboration's main content was watching Almond suffer while teaming up with Bubblegum. Bubblegum had a talent when it came to this. He could make his coaches suffer without even trying.
All Bubblegum needed to do was immerse himself in the game. That was enough to make the coach suffer.
However...
'This is just Almond's montage.'
There was something different about the guy firing shots toward the players beneath them. There was no waste in movement. He looked like a machine programmed to win.
'His mentality is on another level.'
Not only were his gameplay skills impressive, but so was his mentality. He seemed not to mind Bubblegum dragging him down. It didn't feel like he was holding it in. Instead, it looked like he didn't feel any discomfort at all.
There was inner peace in his expression.
'What is this guy?'
Since Bubblegum didn't know Almond's past, he was curious. He had no idea that Almond's mentality grew stronger from the pressure as a former professional archer.
'Interesting.'
It was a virtue that couldn't be seen in people who only played video games. Being good at games didn't mean a person would have a good mental state.
On the contrary, it was often the opposite. For example, there were pro gamers who broke their keyboards while playing.
It was the same for full-dive gaming. Players would suddenly throw their guns away, shout uncontrollably, or bash their heads into the wall. In this virtual gaming world, it was harder to control one's emotions, which resulted in strange actions.
However, Almond had no signs of that.
Bubblegum started worrying about the stream.
— I love a clean, painless stream!
— For real. After seeing some insane coaches in the past, it's refreshing to watch a normal person for once.
— Almond isn't normal either. He's just sturdy...
— Better than the ones who have anger issues.
The chat had a good reaction. Was it because they've only seen coaches act angry and shout? Almond's character was new to them.
— There's no reason for him to get mad because he's so good. He can just kill everyone anyway.?
— For real. Those who have weak mentalities aren't skilled enough.
— That's true.
Some people said it was peaceful because of his skills. It made sense because there was no reason for Almond to get angry. He could kill all twenty players in the Arsenal by himself if he wanted to. Who cared if Bubblegum was slightly hindering him?
For Almond, he was taking care of a child. No adult would get angry at a child for being unable to ride a bike.
That was the skill gap between Almond and the players in this rank.
'It seems like it's working out. I'll just keep focusing and try hard.'
Seeing as things were, Almond decided not to worry about their stream and focused on improving his skills. Almond didn’t force himself to act a certain way. For him, the stream naturally became interesting when he put in the effort.
He was going to stick with that strategy today.
As Almond finished cleaning up the first floor, Bubblegum asked him, "What should we do now? Teacher?"
"Now, we can go down to the basement. Let's get you equipped and get you first place."
"Yes!"
Almond skillfully tied a rope. Clearly, it wasn't his first time.
"Alright, grab onto this and come down."
Almond grabbed onto the rope and dropped his light body down. The landing was so soft that it seemed like he didn't need a rope in the first place. Almond motioned for Bubblegum to quickly come down.
"Come!"
"..."
Bubblegum hesitated, "Uh... D-Do I have to go down like this? Wahaha!"
Bubblegum's body became stuck between the ledges.
— LOL
— Wow, he looks like a sandbag!
— Hahahaha, he can't even jump off from that?
— Hoho... how will you get through this, Almond?
Almond just shrugged without getting upset.
"Just use the stairs if you can't. All of them are dead anyways."
There was no reason for him to get upset because this was why he killed everyone in the first place.
— So that's how he's going to get through this.
— How to survive with Bubble Gum: just kill everyone on your own.
— The secret to Almond's mentality: be good.
— Forbes most voted survivor.
***
Bubblegum had no choice but to take the stairs. In the end, the two safely entered the basement where a gunfight was happening.
Tududududu!
Tudududung!
Despite holding high tier weapons, their terrible aim resulted in no deaths and left many players alive.
'Wow...'
Almond was impressed by the Bronze rank.
"The air sure is different here."
— He's so honest. LOL
— Coming from a higher rank, I don't blame him.
— Bronze rank: #1 tier to have fun.
— Ouch, the truth hurts.
.
— For real
"Let's hide for now."
Bubblegum and Almond decided to hide behind a large pillar until the enemies finished fighting. They were hidden well because the environment was dark and noisy from the gunfire.
"Let's go behind there."
"Okay!"
Tadadak!
The two quickly ran and successfully hid behind the pillar.
Bubblegum spoke up as he was trying to catch his breath, "Huff... puff... I think this is my first time in the basement in two months."
"There's nothing to be nervous about. We just need to wait until those players kill each other. Then we farm up and leave."
"Okay, okay."
"You're pretty good with the sniper rifle, so I'll get you that."
"Okay, okay."
Bubblegum just kept on nodding.
— Pretty good, LOL
— Bubblegum: okay, okay, just carry me.
— Bubblegum: okay, I get it, just kill them all, please.
— He's just reacting to him, haha
There were several chats making fun of Bubblegum, but he didn't have time to read them.
Tududududu!!!
Tududu!
Around four teams were fighting in the basement. It was so chaotic that Bubblegum feared they'd be caught in the crossfire. The other players were farming with guns, but Almond only had a bow.
'I-Is this going to work?'
Bubblegum peeked behind the pillar to take a look.
Tudududu!
The gunfire continued. The opponents switched out their pistols for a hero tier rifle.
'Even Almond...'
The bow would be rendered useless against guns. Would they be able to fight?
"Uh... T-Teacher? Are you sure we're at an advantage?"
"Yes, we are. They don't know about us, but we know that they're there."
"B-But the guns..."
"Ah, in here, this is better."
Chuk.
Almond proudly lifted his recurve bow. Bubblegum's expression visibly said,?'How's that possible?!'
— LOL, look at his expression!
— No faith haha
— I've never seen someone who says the bow is better than a gun in the basement.
— He looks so proud of the bow.
— Bubblegum couldn't keep a straight face, LOL
Shortly after their conversation…
"Oh, a team died."
There was a change in the environment. After one team died, there were three more left. However, one of the teams only had one player remaining.
This was the perfect time to strike.
"I'm going to stand near that one player and start fighting," Almond said as he readied his bow. "As soon as I kill one team, I want you to run and grab whatever gun you can, sniper or not."
He talked about eliminating a team as if it weren't a big deal, but what surprised Bubblegum was what he said afterward.
"S-Sorry? M-Me? Run there?"
"Bubblegum, you're good with snipers. There's a legendary tier sniper over there."
"Y-Yeah... b-but it's too dangerous... Let's just kill everyone from here..."
— LOL Bubblegum is trying to take the easy way out!
— ??? Then you shoot them all!
— Run! Listen to the teacher, you piggy!
Almond nodded while smiling, "Since I can't kill them all, you need to help me with it."
He was lying. With Almond's curve shot, he could locate and kill everyone in the basement. He only intended to train Bubblegum.
"Ah, alright," Bubblegum nodded and didn’t suspect anything. Then he asked his viewers, "H-Hey guys? Was there a sniper there?!"
— LOL
— Uh...
— I'm not sure...
— Hoho? Is there?
"These freaking guys."
As soon as Bubblegum finished talking, Almond released his bow.
Pang!
However, he fired while aiming at the pillar.
'...?'
Bubblegum was wondering why he aimed there.
But—
— Wow, the arrow's bending again!
— Holy shit!
— What the? Is this a targeted arrow?
The arrow looked like it was headed for the pillar, but curved and hit one of the duo players' heads.
Thwack!
[Almond -> SaladRitty]
[Knocked Out!]
"W-What the?!" the player beside him shouted.
"Where?!"
He aimed his gun toward the source of the arrow, but no one was there. Instead, another arrow flew toward them.
Thwack!
[Almond -> Turerere]
[Double Kill!]
[78/100]
A duo team was eliminated.
"Now!" Almond shouted.
'Right!'
Bubblegum was dumbstruck while watching Almond's gameplay. He came back to himself and started running.
'Sniper, sniper, sniper...!'
He looked for the sniper that Almond mentioned. His eyes were spinning.
'Oh!?'
He found it. It was there. Shining in gold! It was a legendary-tier sniper, but it was too far.
'It's a bit far. Is it possible?'
He had no time to think. Bubblegum ran for now.
Tuddududu!
He heard the opponent's gunshots. He peeked, and it looked like the player was shooting in Almond's direction. They figured out where Almond was, but hadn't seen Bubblegum yet.
Almond was attracting all the attention toward him with his arrows. Not only was he drawing them, but he also eliminated another pair of players.
Now, only one player remained. The last player furiously fired his shots at Almond.
[Bubblegum, you need to kill the last one.]
Almond spoke into their team voice chat.
Bubblegum couldn't respond as he furiously ran.
Tak!
"Got it!"
He grabbed the sniper. Upon checking it out, he thought it was a legendary weapon. He skillfully reloaded the gun.
Chul-kuk!
'Even I can...'
He aimed his sights and got into position.
'If it's a legendary sniper, I can do it!'
Bubblegum's only skill he could show off was his sniping skills. For some reason, his aim was good when he aimed with a sniper.
'It's a little shaky.'
Since he ran, his aim shook a little.
Huff.
He held his breath and waited for the aim to stabilize.
The opponent continued to shoot at Almond. Since the opponent was shooting, his head was exposed as well.
Bubblegum's shaky sight stabilized onto the head of the player. There was a moment of silence.
Bubblegum's thick finger pulled on the trigger.
Taaang!