I Gave Up Being Stronger

Chapter 168

Oliverne was the type who took pride in his size and muscles, and he always fought shirtless. Jin-Hyeok remembered that Oliverne used to claim that the truly formidable did not rely on armor.

‘But right now, he’s wearing armor.’

Before Jin-Hyeok’s regression, Oliverne had claimed in an interview that he never wore armor from the very beginning. He had said it was something only cowards and the faint-hearted used, which had his hardcore fans praising him as the epitome of manliness.

‘I guess his younger self wears armor..’

This meant that Oliverne did not always shun armor. As for why he did that later on, Jin-Hyeok could guess the reason without much difficulty.

‘He must have later acquired a Mystery or special ability that makes wearing armor decrease his defensive capabilities.’

Surprisingly, quite a few such Mysteries and abilities existed.

‘This bastard! So he was lying back then.’

Despite his strong dislike for Oliverne, Jin-Hyeok begrudgingly respected parts of him. Oliverne’s audacity in discarding his armor and fighting like a wild dog was something Jin-Hyeok could not help but admire.

‘All that was a sham?’

Jin-Hyeok scowled and asked, “Were you fake all along?”

“Is that your way of introducing yourself?”

[LV138/Dao King/Skills/Blessing of the Fighting Dog]

‘His Job is just an average 9-Star Job.’

Oliverne was the top-ranking Daoist on the American Server. It would be strange if he did not have a 9-Star Job.

“I feel insulted. I thought at least your Level would be high,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“Do you not know that Level is just a number?”

“Even so, isn’t 138 too low?”

“You fail to realize that you could level up quickly only because you are a Streamer.”

Oliverne was not entirely wrong. Jin-Hyeok was a Streamer, and Streamers did level up quite faster than Players with other Jobs.

Oliverne laughed heartily. “Like a coward, you sneak a look at my information. Go ahead, look all you want. I will give you all the time in the world.”

This was when Jin-Hyeok sensed something else amiss.

‘From what I remember before my regression, Oliverne would have already drawn his axe and attacked without bothering about having a conversation.’

This Oliverne was quite different from the Oliverne the world knew before Jin-Hyeok’s regression.

[...#I will show the world. #The limits of a fake. #I can wait as long as you want.]

This guy knew how to calculate his moves. As things progressed, Oliverne only disappointed Jin-Hyeok.

‘So his madness was just a show. Then what about when he provoked me before my regression, wanting to fight? So he had calculated that thoroughly as well? That I wouldn’t be able to fight?’’

When Jin-Hyeok thought about it, he realized that Oliverne the Berserker engaged only in battles he was sure to win. Oliverne had never provoked Lee Hyeon-Seong, who was significantly weaker than Jin-Hyeok, although Hyeon-Seong thought otherwise.

‘My head is spinning from the betrayal.’

At that time, Jin-Hyeok used to think Oliverne was quite decent. Now, it turned out that the Berserker had been picking on the weaker ones to obtain fame.

‘That’s why he could survive even after pulling off such insane stunts.’

Even Jin-Hyeok could see that Oliverne had done too many crazy things. Even after winning his fights, Oliverne would still brutally wreck his opponents.

‘So that wasn’t an insane frenzy born from battle. It was cold and calculated brutality?’

“You should be ashamed of yourself.”

? ? ?

Jin-Hyeok faced Oliverne, meticulously examining him with Broadcaster’s Clairvoyance.

‘This bastard is wearing the Phaelon’s Necklace!’

In this world, there was no such thing as an all-purpose item. If an item excelled in one aspect, it was often lacking in another. Some items could be stronger than others, but weaker than different ones. Oliverne’s Necklace of Phaelon was a counter to Jin-Hyeok’s Berklev Necklace.

‘I have to make sure this does not appear on the livestream.’

Jin-Hyeok felt a sense of pride as he edited out this detail. Editing a livestream in real-time was a sign of growth in his skills as a Streamer.

‘I might need to use this information later, so I better take a screenshot.’

[Phaelon’s Necklace.]

[A necklace imbued with the magic of the Curse Mage Phaelon.

It adds a curse buff to all damage reflection abilities.

However, the wearer’s defense is reduced by 20%.]

Typically, such items always carried a curse that ate away at the wearer’s abilities.

As Jin-Hyeok pulled out Rule Breaker, Oliverne’s expression soured and he said, “Aren’t you going to draw your sword?”

“To deal with a fake like you, a hammer is more fitting.”

“Then, I too shall not resort to using a weapon.”

Jin-Hyeok laughed as if the situation were absurd. Oliverne kept acting as if he were a madman, though he was perfectly normal. True madmen did not have such mundane eyes.

“You are similar to me,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“What?”

“You are not crazy, so why pretend to be one?”

‘Aren’t you sorry for the actual madmen?’

Jin-Hyeok kicked off the ground and leaped. He swung Rule Breaker at Oliverne, who stepped back twice to dodge the attack.

“Too easy.”

As Jin-Hyeok’s attacks continued, Oliverne began to gain confidence.

‘What is this? He is not as great as I thought!’ Oliverne wondered.

The attack patterns were simplistic and the timing obvious. Chul-Soo was fast for a Streamer, sure, but still within expected parameters.

“The fake can never surpass the real, Kim Chul-Soo.”

Jin-Hyeok’s ferocious attacks kept coming from left to right, then from right to left.

Despite the Streamer’s surprisingly quick and powerful strikes, Oliverne gradually became more laid-back. Easily dodging the attacks, he said, “You are a bubble.”

Many watched the battle, and quite a few began to subscribe to the Kim Chul-Soo Bubble Theory.

-Chul-Soo is attacking so earnestly but not landing a single hit!

-I’ve had a similar experience before. When it’s like that, it feels like hitting a wall, for real.

-Was he actually just riding on the coattails of the Guardian Tree?

Jin-Hyeok furiously swung Rule Breaker, but none of his attacks even grazed Oliverne’s clothing.

-Come to think of it, Chul-Soo is physically talented, but he has never shown exceptional skill as a Swordsman, right?

-That’s the limit of his Job. Eventually, as the Level increases, Streamers like him will inevitably become obsolete.

-Even if he becomes obsolete, he will still be much richer than you.

-That’s not the point. Why are you trying to pick a fight?

-Guys, Oliverne just started to fight back.

After dodging and waiting for an opening, Oliver threw a punch. It landed squarely on Jin-Hyeok’s forehead.

Thud!

A hefty impact noise filled the air.

Oliverne almost winced.

‘What kind of defense does he have?’

Oliverne had broken through the Broadcaster’s Barriers of many Streamers before. However, he had never encountered one as solid as this.

‘My fingers are fractured.’

Oliverne had not even put much force behind the attack, yet his bones had broken. Chul-Soo’s Broadcaster’s Barrier was so sturdy it almost seemed like it had the ability to reflect attacks.

‘Wait, are his fingers broken?’ Jin-Hyeok thought.

It seemed likely and would explain why Oliverne showed such a big opening.

‘Really... is this some kind of joke?’

Jin-Hyeok immediately closed the distance between them and swung Rule Breaker. His attack pattern was the same as before, but Oliverne could not dodge it this time.

Clang!

Rule Breaker struck Oliverne’s chest with a loud noise. Oliverne hastily swung his right arm to create some distance and catch his breath.

“Hey, Oliverne. Do you know what is harder than getting a perfect score on a test?”

“...What are you talking about?”

Jin-Hyeok would have been really disappointed if Oliverne had taken a potion right then, but Oliverne did not seem that desperate. The Berserker kept his guard up against Jin-Hyeok, ready to draw his axe at any moment.

“It’s getting zero on the test, and that is so because you have to know all the answers to get zero.” Jin-Hyeok approached him with the same speed and trajectory as before and swung Rule Breaker again.

Many viewers began to snicker and type in the chat.

-He’s doing meaningless things again, LOL.

-Maybe that’s the only attack he can do?

-He’s not drawing his Greatsword of La’kan, probably prepping excuses for losing. Haha!

-Today is the day when the Chul-Soo bubble bursts, LOL.

As Jin-Hyeok’s popularity rose, so did the number of his haters, and today seemed to be the day for them.

-This is proof that Chul-Soo is a brainless idiot. He’s just a bubble! Can’t do anything!

-Busting his bubble is so refreshing~~☆

-Without his Guardian Tree, he is just a nobody. His Level means nothing!

-He always talks shit about Level Grinders, but he’s one himself! LMAO!

Closing in on Oliverne, Jin-Hyeok said, “Two steps back.”

Oliverne immediately retreated two steps, and Rule Breaker sliced through the air.

“And now dodge to the left.”

Oliverne moved as if he were enchanted, following Jin-Hyeok’s instructions.

“Now, you will have an opening.” Suddenly, Jin-Hyeok shifted Rule Breaker to his left hand and tapped Oliverne’s temple with his right palm. “Now, you will jump back counterclockwise in surprise.”

Jin-Hyeok moved first, and Oliverne followed suit in the same manner. Jin-Hyeok tapped Oliverne’s forehead with his right hand. “Your movements are so predictable.”

And with that, he kicked Oliverne. He had fortified his foot with Broadcaster’s Barrier, concentrating the energy on his foot. It didn\'t seem like a very strong kick at first glance, but Oliverne staggered back several steps and repeatedly coughed.

“Do you now understand why scoring zero is harder than scoring one hundred?” Jin-Hyeok could see Oliverne’s weak points all too clearly. “I was trying to get a decent amount of content.”

He immediately brought up the previous video on the screen again. It was the scene where Oliverne had hit Broadcaster’s Barrier and fractured his fingers.

“If you expose such a big gap here, I can’t really get a good battle scene for my livestream.”

The gap was too obvious.

-What gap? What is he talking about?

-I can’t see anything.

-It seems Chul-Soo can see something that we can’t.

Only a veteran Swordsman who had gone through numerous battles and had crossed the boundary between life and death countless times could discern such a gap, so it was not easily noticeable to the average user’s eyes.

“It’s no fun if it becomes too obvious that I am going easy on you. Why aren’t you cooperating?”

“...”

“How dare you provoke me with such lowly skills?” Jin-Hyeok said.

Beyond his physical prowess, Oliverne lacked a lot as a fighter. He had far too little experience, especially since it appeared he had never fought against an opponent who was better at fighting than himself.

“Why does someone weaker than the Anal Destroyer act so cocky?”

Oliverne trembled. Thick veins stood out on his forehead and nape, showing his fury.

-Oliverne is pissed!

-The Berserker has appeared, LOL!

-Now it’s gonna get real.

-Chul-Soo talks big only to get beaten up, LMAO!

Oliverne spat on the ground and drew his twin axes, his prized golden and silver axes. He held the golden axe in his right hand and the silver one in his left.

“The joke ends here,” Oliverne said.

“Oh, it was a joke till now?”

“I will kill you!” A mirage flickered around Oliverne the Berserker. It was a Skill known as Frenzy, which greatly amplified all his physical abilities.

‘Hm... This is somewhat decent to look at.’

Oliverne was fast now.

‘But still slow compared to Black Butterball and the Seo sisters.’

Having grown accustomed to his party members’ speed, Jin-Hyeok was not surprised by Oliverne’s speed.

‘I’ll separate your head from your body!”

The golden axe drew a golden trajectory as it flew toward Jin-Hyeok’s neck. At the moment when Jin-Hyeok tried to use Broadcaster’s Barrier, the silver axe followed with a slight delay, aiming at Jin-Hyeok’s head.

Egan, who was livestreaming this, applied a slow-motion effect to enhance the viewers’ experience.

-That is Oliverne’s signature move! The Synchronized Attack!

-Chul-Soo can’t dodge this!

-He was the one insisting on a fierce fight, and now he can’t keep up. LOL

-Farewell, Mr. IntenseMan.

Oliverne’s silver axe touched the top of Jin-Hyeok’s head. However, Jin-Hyeok, as shown on Egan’s screen, was smiling.

-Huh? He’s smiling?

-What?!

Many speculated the reason behind that.

-The Berklev Necklace!

-Doesn’t that item reflect damage?

-Wait, Chul-Soo had an item that powerful? That’s crazy!

Egan cleverly switched the screen to display his pre-recorded interview with Oliverne.

?In the end, Chul-Soo will try to use the Berklev Necklace, but I also have my plans. I will burst his bubble!?

And when Egan switched back the screen, it showed Oliverne grinning slyly. It seemed he already knew that Jin-Hyeok would use the Berklev Necklace.

“I knew it all along!” Oliverne shouted.

However, an unexpected situation unfolded.