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Chapter: The Soul Warfare Collaboration

“Friede, please hold strong just like that. Yes, very nice. Let’s keep it going!”

“Is this really okay? Aren’t we going too far?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got your back from behind.”

“Isn’t this the first time Forming is in this position? LOL.”

“Not as Forming, but more like Human Wall Forming!”

“Still, those archers can’t hit for the life of them.”

“If you’re just standing there behind a big shield, of course they can’t penetrate you. They’ll need to pound on you for more than five minutes.”

“Normally, a close-range weapon would crumble if poked in the side, but damn, Beach Sister is holding strong behind you.”

“What’s this, Beach Sister running over to cut down any threats as soon as Forming’s shield durability and stamina run out? So sweet! 😭💖”

“What is this, a boss mentality up there?”

Is this the nature of collaboration through virtual reality?

It’s quite a unique experience, being able to see the chat not only from the host but also from me.

Winning the game will undoubtedly boost our firepower.

Since we’re in a duo, we naturally headed in the same direction.

Right to the mid lane.

The only point in the Soul Warfare group match where both sides’ infantry clash.

In the center, Forming was wielding a large shield known for its balance along with a Moonblade combo.

Blocking the incoming enemies with an infinite guard.

The rapier, aiming for Forming’s side like a shark going for tasty bait, and the massive glaive keeping me at bay to support our team.

If left unchecked, it would be tough for Forming to handle it alone.

‘I might be a bit early on this…’

I decided to dive in first.

I dashed towards the enemy’s knight with the glaive while calculating my quickly depleting stamina, sensing an archer’s arrow flying from a distance.

Unlike the cautious approach of measuring distance as we encountered each other, this was a boldly aggressive approach.

After all, the archers from each team were eyeing each other.

The glaive didn’t bother to retreat, perhaps thinking about hiding behind the infantry if it saw our archer.

Well, I couldn’t blame them.

Since I was charging in first.

They’d just have to wait for an opening to hit me as I blocked or dodged the archer’s barrages.

Whoosh—!

‘Here it comes!’

Is there any way to be called a hero if I just stand there and take it?

As the arrow came toward me, I executed a shoulder bash.

Ping!

The clear sound of metal ricocheting off echoed.

Although my health was drained equally, the super armor from the shoulder bash let me reach right in front of my opponent without being staggered.

The first strike would definitely be theirs.

As I got in close, the glaive executed a signature sideways slice.

The motion, nearly touching the end of the blade, was filled with a desperate intent from my opponent aiming for the disappointing reach of the Broken Greatsword.

If I allowed that blow, the ensuing tower attack would follow, and I’d be staring at a gray screen.

‘Now!’

I rolled and plunged the Broken Greatsword into the ground in front of me.

—Thud!

With a rough sound shattering the ground, I made my hand, gripping the hilt tightly, the center of my pivot.

Using the momentum from my roll, I twisted and spun, like drifting with my body.

The glaive swung too late, but my eyes had already caught sight of my opponent’s undefended back.

Swish!

Blood spattered between the crossing blades.

Whoosh—!

My blade landed a solid hit while my opponent carelessly exposed themselves afterward.

Light Hero Friede 🗡️ Cute Dragon Girl

“Phew.”

Checking the kill mark, the tension in my body relaxed, and I let out a sigh of relief.

That dive was somewhat reckless, a choice that could’ve turned against me.

But with games like this, the higher the risk, the bigger the reward.

Next, I shoved the bad guy harassing Forming down the cliff.

“Woohoo!”

The rapier tormenting Forming… wasn’t so easily finished off.

Even though we were barely into the mid-game, two of them had emptied the lane, so we needed to push harder.

“Friede: We should start pushing the lane. Forming, step back for a moment to regain your stamina and let’s take out the other two.”

“Light Hero, God Hero, King Hero!”

“Hey, seeing you drift like that is so amazing!”

“Did you see that drift? It’s like Initial Light!”

“Pulling off stunts like that with a Broken Greatsword, is this Soul Warfare or Soul Circus?”

“Your acrobatic moves are pure art, sir!”

“I’m heading off to practice my action moves, gulp!”

“Master Rank and below, don’t even think about imitating that. If you try, you’ll just end up dancing like a clown in front of the enemy.”

For a moment, I stepped back to regroup, savoring the heat of the chat cascading like a barrage.

Constant praise poured in.

The subtle heat tickled my heart, and I felt a thirst for that quirky energy.

Perhaps… this is what sex feels like for me.

Just then, Forming, who had fallen back, broke my thoughts with a surprised voice.

Ah, I wanted to enjoy this more.

“Hero Forming: Wow, what was that dive just now? You actually succeeded!”

“Light Hero Friede: I got lucky.”

“Hero Forming: That glaive is Grand Master ranked, so does luck really fix everything?”

“Light Hero Friede: Turns out it works, huh?”

“Hero Forming: ….”

* * *

Games are the kind of fun where adhering to rules and teamwork leads to enjoyment.

In a virtual reality space where one cannot display their Hero’s Power.

Winning intensely while carrying the game with a body closer to that of a commoner gave a thrill like no other.

And….

“Hero Forming: Everyone! I made it to Master Rank!”

“Light Hero! God Hero! King Hero!”

“Carrying with a Broken Greatsword? That’s something rare!”

“After three sets… 54 kills?”

“There’s a reason we need to duo.”

“Forming finally broke into Master Rank!”

“Wow, if only God Friede’s skills matched her voice, and her face was as beautiful, that’d be wonderful.”

“The Broken Greatsword is invincible, and Light Hero is a deity!”

“Hmm, if the golden-haired goddess of the opening match is Light Hero, should I hit a Like?”

“Don’t overreact, but if it’s real, it’d be sweet.”

“Our Forming didn’t just board the bus; she turned out to be a bomber!”

“That bomber is a Master Rank bomber!”

“LOL.”

A badge adorned with brilliant golden wings.

A proud symbol announcing Master Rank had my friend Da-young chattering excitedly.

Light Hero Friede, seeing her in such joy made me feel the worth of taking her along.

“Hero Forming: Wow, I really enjoyed the ride. Light Hero, you did so well with that Broken Greatsword.”

“Light Hero Friede: You did great too, Forming.”

It wasn’t just flattery. Da-young’s skills were genuinely commendable.

Se-hee wasn’t one to give cold orders based on the flow of the battlefield.

If anything, she’d be classified as an aggressive style, going beyond mere tactical play.

Yet Da-young synchronized her steps and breathing well with Se-hee’s aggressive approach.

At that skill level, it was certain that Master Rank entry was merely a formality, even without duo matches.

“Hero Forming: But is there a specific reason you’re sticking with the Broken Greatsword? With your skill, using a weapon like Blade of Rebellion would let you shine even more.”

“Seriously, why are you using a weapon like that?”

“Is Beach Sister going for a frying pan next?”

“A frying pan is a weapon too! Stop the discrimination!”

“Hey, a frying pan is a kitchen tool.”

“I’ll hold my breath until Beach Sister uses the Dual Queen’s Greatsword! Gulp!”

“[●▅▇█▇▆▅▄▇ I’m already dead inside.]”

“Hero Forming: See, everyone says that. I want to show off my skills fighting stylishly with another weapon too!”

A shabby sword with half of its blade broken in my right hand.

“Light Hero Friede: There’s no particular reason….”

“Hero Forming: Come on, you must have a reason for choosing it! I’m really curious.”

Se-hee scratched her cheek and replied slightly awkwardly.

“Light Hero Friede: Hmm… I want to show that even weapons like this can perform beautifully… Guess it’s just personal satisfaction.”

“Beach Sister and the Broken Greatsword are mutually sweet.”

“The Broken Greatsword getting the soft touch from the Heroine? Whoa.”

“I’ll soon break my own sword and use a Greatsword!”

“A frying pan is a weapon! A weapon!”

Watching the chat reactions, Se-hee let out a small laugh.

“Light Hero Friede: Was that too sudden?”

“Hero Forming: Nope, it’s just so emotional! Just like a real Hero!”

“Light Hero Friede: I’m not a hero or anything.”

“Hero Forming: Huh?”

As Da-young posed a question, the lips that peeked out from beneath the visor were graced with a gentle smile.

Like a flower blooming in the desolate fields of Soul Warfare, she spoke with lips that wiggled softly.

“Light Hero Friede: I’m a real hero, you know.”

* * *

Flow is a scary thing.

It pushes you toward the unknown that cannot be refused, where you cannot predict what’s at the end.

After achieving Master Rank, her broadcast continued on.

It had been a while since it started, but there was no sign of ending it….

“Hooray! It’s a Hero collab! Let’s have a chat with my buddy Hero Forming and the Light Hero Friede!”

Originally, I thought we’d just play Soul Warfare and watch the stream together, yet I had long been sucked into her pace.

“Beach Sister and Forming’s collab! Whoa!”

“Is this what we call a Hero Classic?”

“It’s definitely different, dumbass.”

“Instead of a kid, they stuck a hero in this playlist.”

“Zoom! There’s a viewer talking to viewers?!”

MS Room offers most of the services that virtual reality gamers use.

As part of that, virtual reality collaborations with friends in a room are also possible.

And here I was, seated in her MS Room alongside Hero Forming.

‘Chatting with viewers as if I’m a viewer myself…’

Looks like people would think we’re streaming together as influencers.

But it wasn’t bad.

I didn’t dislike this kind of attention.

‘They’d either welcome or be curious about me.’

Wearing a helmet, I did not feel the burden of being offline.

Just casually… let’s think of this as a chat session.

That’s what Just Chatting is all about.

“Then I’ll start! Is your character made by you?”

“Wow, you really nailed the concept!”

“Hey, do you plan to sell that skin?”

“Did you create it offline?”

“Um, the questions are piling up. First off, I made the character offline by myself, and I haven’t thought about registering it for sale yet because I have a lot of affection for it.”

Did my outfit spark such interest?

Even after I answered, questions regarding the Hero’s Equipment kept coming.

“The detail on the cape is incredible! Can you tell me the fabric? I’m studying clothing design, so I’m genuinely curious.”

“This doesn’t seem like ordinary fabric; is it woven with golden thread?”

“What’s the weight of armor made offline?”

“Can I find out the armor-making maker? Considering it’s plate armor, it looks like it’s imported from abroad, and the design seems like it had a hard time.”

“Um, I’m sorry, but I can’t reveal detailed information as it’s a trade secret.”

“A trade secret? Is it that much?”

Surprised by my remark, Forming looked at me in reply with a positive silence.

The Hero’s Equipment was made from materials that don’t exist in this world, so revealing it would be pointless.

Now, is it my turn?

“Okay, my turn. Forming, is there a reason why ‘hero’ is in your nickname? Because using the word ‘hero’ while streaming seems unfamiliar.”

“Oh, that?”

“Yeah, because only the Beach Hero counts.”

“A Beach Hero is quite rare.”

“Nothing wrong with having two heroes.”

Seeing her hesitate as she glanced at the chat, she soon smiled at me.

“You said to me earlier, right? That you were a real hero….”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I feel the same. I’m a hero too. If you’re a hero, wouldn’t you take pride in that title?”

Raising both hands to her chest, she displayed a warmly genuine expression.

“Even if no one else recognizes it, it’s something I accomplished….”

“…….”

Resting my chin on my hands, I silently listened and felt a ticklish sensation within my heart.

‘Perhaps…’

There’s no way to reveal this suspicion inside the virtual reality, but eyes filled with such genuine sentiment are rare.

“It doesn’t seem like a lie.”

“Hehe, do you really believe me? When I mention it, people don’t usually believe me.”

As she stuck out her tongue playfully, I couldn’t help but reach out, drawn by her face.

Through the metal of the gauntlet, I felt her warmth emanating from the slight contact.

Perhaps surprised by the sudden gesture, her eyes widened as she looked at me, and I smiled gently.

“I trust you, Forming. I’m a hero as well.”

“…Huh?”

Pop!

If expressions could make sounds, that’s what it would sound like.

“Hero! Kim! Broth! Stock!”

“Hero (Broth).”

“What is this? Are you implying something about a military high school girl?”

“The chemistry between the hero sisters is insane right now! 😭”

“Just hearing Beach Sister’s voice makes me swoon!”

“[Tamnan’ge ‘hmm’ just donated 50,000 won! Just like two heroes cozying up together, I ought to mix this with some rice!]”

“Oh, thank you, broth benefactor! The vibe is so good but what does cozying mean?!”

What I saw was the most chaotic message I’d ever encountered during a donation so far.

“Is this room always like this?”

“Ah, no it isn’t!”

Forming… turned out to be quite a fun-loving hero.

* * *

The broadcast was slowly heading toward its finale.

I exited the MS Room, once more watching Forming’s stream from a viewer’s perspective.

“It feels like a really enjoyable day. This is what happiness feels like.”

“Today Forming has a great vibe going!”

“I was worried since she kept the stream going, but today she nailed it!”

“We really need to duo again with Beach Hero someday!”

“Viewers who stream together are valuable, teacher!”

Watching her wrap up her concluding comments, I re-opened the donation window.

Even with little time remaining, I ought to treat them to a proper finish for their service.

Infusing a hint of Hero’s Power into my finger, I clicked the mouse.

Cursed energy, come taste a minuscule portion of the Hero’s Power that infiltrates the wires.

「’Light Hero Friede’ donated 100,000 won! Host, today’s game was really fun. Let’s duo again sometime!」

“Friede! Thanks even until the end! To all viewers, please look forward to the next broadcast. Hero Forming will return with another fun stream! Goodnight everyone!”

She flashed a radiant smile, forming a perfect V with her fingers.

And with that, the broadcast came to an end.

I felt the weight of the curse underlying her broadcast begin to grow lighter.

The true remedy for such curses lies in the financial support infused with the Hero’s Power. Of course.