Chapter 40: Gunner’s Ground, I

CHAPTER 40: GUNNER GROUND BLACKOUT (I)

The Gunner Ground logo appeared and disappeared as soon as he started up the game. The location that loaded next was familiar to Lee Kyungbok.

“Oh, this is the shooting range. Ahjin really did a great job replicating it.”

It resembled the shooting range from Anatomy of a Craftsman, which served as the tutorial for Gunner Ground.

-No other modern FPS can hold a candle to Gunner Ground! LOL

-Whatever else I’m playing, I always come back here.

-I wish those damn devs would make Rainbow Seven already…

-Still believing in them? Really?!

-Warfield ain’t bad either!

-Nah…Educated gamers know better.

-Skip the chat and let’s get going!

As suggested by one of the comments, Lee Kyungbok reached for the skip button but paused before grabbing an assault rifle instead.

“Oh, I’ve tried pistols and shotguns before but never rifles in games like this. Let me at least give it a whirl.” He grabbed the assault rifle, swiftly loaded it, and took aim at his target.

…Hmm?

He squinted slightly as he gently pulled the trigger. With each gunshot, bullets left clear holes squarely in the center of targets positioned at varying distances. It was almost as if someone had simply copied and pasted them onto different spots on the wall.

-LOLL

-Another perfect shot?!

-Is this really your first time shooting?

-Accuracy: 100% (first attempt)

-I checked his broadcast history, and yeah, it’s true LOL

-Wow… Impressive!

-Just like Jang Ochang, just perfect!

While most of the comments expressed that they expected nothing less from him, quite a few were genuinely surprised. This was partly due to the influx of new viewers who had come across Lee Kyungbok’s stream through the community post.

However, Lee Kyungbok frowned slightly and cocked his head.

“Hmm… Hold on a sec. Something feels different this time…”

He raised his pistol again for another test shot. As before, it hit its mark perfectly.

-WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT IT?

-Didn’t he usually suck at Bark?

-No, he actually did better back then

-LMAO! He’s legendary for taking down a boss with just a handgun, remember?

-Jang Ochang says there might be something else going on here.

-All hits but definitely not the same!

-Maybe it has to do with ballistics?

Most viewers didn’t understand what Jang Ochang meant, but Lee Kyungbok’s eyes locked onto the chat message.

“Ballistics?”

This question changed the tone of the chat room instantly.

-Looks like it.

-Info: Ballistics applied to Gunner Ground is completely realistic.

-Haha, if shooting from afar, you have to aim higher.

-The bullets follow a parabolic trajectory.

-Ah haha, so many comments here.

-Wind speed also matters haha; that’s why I lick my finger before firing.

-Crazy talk!

-Nope… Did he figure it out just now?!

Lee Kyungbok finally relaxed. The nagging sense of unease had bothered him, but realizing his perception was accurate brought him relief.

Just then…

-Ah haha, this is too much.

-How can ballistics be felt at this distance? Hahaha

-Liar! You knew it beforehand but pretended not to, right?

-Ha ha ha ha, what a performance!

The troublemakers, who had been waiting for an opportunity, now started stirring up conflict by accusing him of putting on an act.

“An act? I just mentioned it because something felt different.”

-Ha! Trot user said it was a ballistic trajectory, so what’s this nonsense?

-Haha, these trolls always give themselves away. Ha!

-Dumbass, utterly pathetic. Ha ha ha!

-The pattern is clear, ha ha ha! They’ll claim there’s a mole among the Trot users, won’t they?

As Lee Kyungbok responded, counterarguments flooded the chat window. Despite his explanations, perhaps sensing an opportunity, the troublemakers refused to back down easily.

-Prove that it’s not an act, huh?

-Why can’t you let people speak their minds here?

-Can’t we simply ask questions?

—Nah; he’s overdoing it.

Lee Kyungbok frowned slightly.

I can’t believe there are people like this.

Instead of enjoying the stream together, these trolls were blinded by jealousy and envy. They were insecure individuals trying to boost their self-esteem by bringing down those more talented than themselves.

It’d be better if I got rid of them quickly.

He debated whether to wait for Park Juhho to handle it or address the issue himself when…

—LOL, what kind of amateurs are they?!

—Do they not know ballistics apply even to Bark?

—Info: Ballistics are applied in most first-person shooter games.

—It’s not about having it or not but rather the degree of its effect.

—Isn’t that impressive though? —I mean, is perception real or what?

—Noobs don’t get it!

-Trolls spew nonsense without any basis for their claims.

Streamers weren’t the only ones who disliked trolls causing chaos during broadcasts. The strong backlash from viewers made it difficult for troublemakers to stir things up.

-The manager has kicked out the viewer.

-Ha-ha-ha! He’s making them dance on a sword edge.

-The manager has kicked out the viewer.

-[BlackEnterprise] may be shady, but they get the job done!

Park Juhho promptly dealt with the situation, bringing order back to the chat. Lee Kyungbok lightly clapped his hands and drew attention away from the incident.

“There was a bit of commotion just now, so let’s dive right into the game.”

-Soo…there was some disturbance earlier~

-Trolls need to die quickly!

-Cleaned up after clearing the trolls

-WHY do you keep dropping those corny jokes? LOL

Lee Kyungbok started matching while observing the lively chat window. As expected of a popular game with numerous users, he was quickly matched and transported to another location.

“Wow.”

He found himself sitting inside a military aircraft. The loud engine noise and fierce wind made his ears ring. Looking around, he noticed many other people in the same situation.

“Let’s hit the school!”

“Druwa! Druwa!”

Some players provoked others by immediately jumping from the plane.

“The school?” Lee Kyungbok muttered skeptically as players began standing up one by one and leaping out.

-LMAO Gadfly, you’re joking, right?

-Even if it’s still early, why go for the school?

-Downtown is safer, isn’t it?

-No, noob rule: always choose Uptown.

-LMAO, if you’re Gadfly rank, head to the military base.

-Rofl, Jang Ochang rank should go straight there too.

Lee Kyungbok’s suggestion caused chaos in the chat window. However, most viewers recommended the “military base.”

“Military base? What is that?”

-LMAO, it reeks of noobs over there.

-Shush… The newbie smell is so strong… Always exhilarating…

-Gadfly or not, newbies will always be newbies.

-Military base acronym LOL

-It’s a great farming spot!

-Let’s farm away!

After checking the chat, Lee Kyungbok swiftly activated his in-game smart link. A holographic map appeared before his eyes.

“The military base… Ah, here it is. Oh boy, I need to jump now.”

Just then, the plane was approaching the military base. As predicted by the viewers, it seemed to be a popular farming spot as numerous players started parachuting down.

-Looking good ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Hurry up, old man ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Cute ㅋㅋㅋ

-But won’t you die before even starting to farm if not careful?

-No matter how skilled Gadfly is, without a gun, he’s doomed ㅎㄷㄷ

-Ah ㅋㅋ so many people lack faith

-[Amen][Hallelujah] (Prayer emoji)

Lee Kyungbok glanced at the chat with a smile and leaped out of the plane. The sound of fierce wind filled his ears as he plummeted.

“Aaaaaaaaargh!”

“Whooooooo!”

Several screams erupted from among the dozens of players present.

The chat window immediately filled with laughter emojis at his display.

-Lookin’ fearless!

-I seriously thought I was gonna die on my first jump

-Newbies always hesitate…

-Gadfly seems so chill

-Awww, they’re already opening their parachutes.

In this virtual reality, fear reached another level entirely. Gunner’s Ground was one of those games impossible to play for anyone with acrophobia.

Some players eventually deployed their parachutes early and began descending slowly.

This is how you reach your destination faster.

Meanwhile, Lee Kyungbok maneuvered himself into a vertical dive after observing more advanced players ahead doing the same.

-Wow!

-Trying a straight drop on his very first game?

LMAO Gadfly just said he has balls of steel!

Info: Gadfly once mentioned that his balls were huge.

LeeWaejin?

His pose is [p][e][r][f][e][c][t].

The ground rapidly approached as structures within the military base grew larger before their eyes like someone had zoomed in with binoculars.

One by one, the players ahead of Lee Kyungbok began deploying their parachutes…but not him.

-Huh??

-WTF is he doing?

-WTF? Why isn’t he opening his parachute?

-Why no alert message???

Normally, when reaching a certain altitude, the system would send out a warning notification to deploy the parachute. Most Players used this signal to open theirs, but Lee Kyungbok didn’t receive any such prompt.

-Ah! He doesn’t have a HUD!

-What’s going on? How did he do that?

-Info: Purple is playing with immersion level set to ‘max’.

-Mystic forgot about it LLOL

-Did he just wing it?!

-Is this his first crash landing?

Even regular viewers hadn’t caught on initially because during previous Mystic League broadcasts, Lee Kyungbok had kept the HUD activated for orders and map reading purposes.

Just a little longer…!

The audience was anxious, but Lee Kyungbok remained focused, oblivious to their concerns. As he descended, his heightened perception pushed him to his limits. And at the brink…

With a whoosh, his parachute opened, jolting his body violently. An ordinary person would have been thrown off balance by the force of the recoil, but not Lee Kyungbok.

Perfect!

Lee Kyungbok swiftly adjusted his direction to release excess momentum and executed a perfect landing.

“Whoa!”

“Did he just…?”

“The landing was p-e-r-f-e-c-t, so what’s the problem?”

“Ha-ha-ha, now that’s perfection, ha-ha!”

“Oh man, should I subscribe?”

“Wow, this is already entertaining.” Lee Kyungbok briefly marveled at the situation before discarding his parachute pack and turning around.

…Is this…?

His heightened senses refused to diminish. In fact, they seemed even sharper after touching down on solid ground.

Could it be an item?

It felt like sensing a sweet aroma. The enticing sensation permeated the area, and Lee Kyungbok headed toward its strongest source.

“Hurry up and start farming!”

“The backup squad is coming!”

“Ha-ha-ha, this is what military life is all about!”

—Whoa… How many people are there?

—Including the noobs, looks like over twenty?

—Niceeee, loot heaven!

—Isn’t it a bit far though?

Lee Kyungbok headed toward an abandoned supply depot. It was known as one of the best places to farm within the military base due to its abundance of hiding spots and cover, making it easier to deal with other players.

Someone’s already here.

Lee Kyungbok’s brow twitched. He felt uneasy, like a rotten clot of blood had spoiled his sweet treat.

There are three of them, but why aren’t they fighting each other?

Despite being close enough to encounter one another, no battle ensued. Once he assessed their positions relative to the item, everything became clear.

Is that item bait, and have they formed a temporary alliance?

They were positioned around the item Lee Kyungbok was after. If he had tried to farm it without realizing their presence, it would’ve been game over for him.

Then…!

He faced three against one with no gear at his disposal. A normal person might have opted to run away, but Lee Kyungbok wasn’t like most people.

“Gotcha!” One of the Players hiding behind a large box aimed and fired at him unexpectedly.

“What?!”

“Is this some kind of troll?”

“Trolling is prohibited by the code of conduct!”

The viewers instantly foresaw his demise. As the gun went off, though, Lee Kyungbok slid out of harm’s way.

“Wha…what?!”

Caught off guard by the sudden disappearance of his target, the Player panicked as Lee Kyungbok kicked him squarely under the chin.

“What kind of agility is that?”

“Wow! Look at those reflexes.”

–Yami: Is it my turn now?!

–Nah… Not Mystic but good job!

–What’s with that Hokage martial arts?!

“W-What the hell?!”

Another hidden Player emerged and aimed a submachine gun at Lee Kyungbok.

–There was one more?!

–These guys are teaming up in a solo game

–Exploiters, go die.

–Damn, he looked cool though…

–RIP

–Should we report this?

The viewers couldn’t hide their disappointment. It wasn’t just any pistol; it was a submachine gun. However, Lee Kyungbok had no intention of dying easily. He grabbed the staggering man by the collar and pulled him close as gunfire erupted, illuminating the armory like lightning strikes.

Yet, Lee Kyungbok remained unscathed.

[HanwooGalmaegi>>MicroUzi>>OnniOneGround]

None of the bullets reached his body.

–Wow ᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏ

–Is this kind of play allowed?

–Nah ᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏ---

—Friendly Shield activated!

—It’s Enemy Shield because they’re enemies! LOL

Lee Kyungbok had used one of his opponents as a bulletproof vest. He promptly snatched up the dead player’s pistol from where it fell to the ground.

“S-sleep…!” The man’s eyes widened just before a bullet pierced them.

[PerfectPlay >> P1911 >> Hanwooeatswhat (Headshot!)]

The man collapsed with a thud.

—Wow hahahaahaha

—Already a legend haha

—He gave them a lesson on abusing the system for sure

—Ha, he was fishing but caught a whale instead?

While viewers cheered him on, Lee Kyungbok remained vigilant.

There’s still one more.

Three enemies had entered, and only two were down. As expected, another player soon appeared. However, instead of targeting Lee Kyungbok, this opponent made a frantic dash toward the exit.

Lee Kyungbok aimed and pulled the trigger but only heard clicking sounds.

–Huh? No bullets left.

–I didn’t know because there’s no HUD!

–Kkabii…!

–Wow, if he missed earlier, Purple would’ve been dead now?

–Missed? That isn’t ‘p-e-r-f-e-c-t’.

The viewers breathed a sigh of relief as their opponent stopped running away and charged towards them instead.

–Oh oh, what is Joma doing?

–Dokgi! Dokgi!

–Reload! Quickly reload!

–Pull back for now!

Kyungbok couldn’t obtain a gun due to being pushed aside by his teammates, so he held a close-range weapon called a hand axe. He had returned after realizing Lee Kyungbok was out of ammunition.

“Die!” A faint smile spread across Lee Kyungbok’s face as he watched the approaching enemy yell defiantly. Initially, Lee Kyungbok already knew that his pistol was empty.

“If you just ran away, you might have survived longer.”

The moment his words appeared in the chat window, there was a sound like wind whistling through the air. It literally split the air as Lee Kyungbok evaded with footwork and weaving to approach from the side. Then a clean hook struck the opponent’s jaw.

“Ugh!” With a single scream, the opponent collapsed on the spot.

[A ‘Headshot’ using your ‘Fists’ has knocked out ‘MagneticForce’.]

This message caused further confusion in the chat window.

-What is this? What is happening?

-WTF… Is it a bug?

-LMAOLOLLOL

-A headshot with fists originally existed?

-I thought it only happened when you had a ‘Dokki’?

-WTFLOL This is crazy LOL

-[P-P-Perfect Punch!] [P-P-Perfect Punch!]

-Got a taste of Gadfly’s spicy fist LMAO

In gaming lingo, “getting knocked out” meant receiving a headshot while wearing a helmet, referred to as “tdown” or “tdowned.”

“Oh, really? Does that mean there’s no headshot with a fist?” Lee Kyungbok casually asked while flipping his empty pistol upside down and finishing off his unconscious opponent with a punch.

[Perfect Play >> P1911 >> Electromagnetic Punch (HEADSHOT!)]

The system message sparked laughter and confusion in the chat room.

-LMAO WTF was that call?

-No need for bullets anymore?

-Maybe it depends on what weapon you’re holding LOL

-Since we got a headshot notification, fists should work too, right?

-LMAOOO not a bug then?

Naturally, nobody could provide a clear explanation. Meanwhile, Lee Kyungbok promptly located the green box containing the item he had been aiming for.

With a click, the box opened to reveal…

“Oh, it’s a matching set.”

Inside were an assault rifle, dot sight, vertical grip, and quick draw magazine.

-Wow! Empo!

-Farming full parts for real?

-Crazy haha

-No way… Usually, there is only one or two accessories haha

-Luck is also [p][e][r][f][e][c][t]

-Ah haha, pure [p][e][r][f][e][c][t] itself!

-He was great without a gun, but now he’ll be unstoppable haha

The viewers unaware of Perception thought it was simply good luck. Lee Kyungbok smiled faintly at their reactions while quickly assembling the firearm and its attachments. His smile widened as he spoke:

“It seems farming and cleanup in other areas are wrapping up.”

An ominous feeling gradually intensified, accompanied by distant gunfire echoing through the air. The intense battle within the military base had officially begun.