I Have a Reason to Hate Streamers Chapter 12

For , this "TS Syndro" was mostly a curse.

First, my physical abilities drastically diminished. I went from being a sturdy young man to a short girl, so even without my injured left leg, I had lost most of my physical capabilities. The stamina that once allowed to run full marathons now made it difficult to even walk to the local convenience store.

Strength was also an issue, and since I now had a woman’s body, my muscles didn’t build the way they used to. No matter how much I lifted weights, my arms remained soft and squishy. The pink dumbbells I had bought with such high hopes had beco ghosts, wandering sowhere around my room.

I would spot them from ti to ti when I had nearly forgotten about them, only for them to disappear again. The last ti I saw them, they were sowhere under my bed.

Still, it wasn’t all bad. If your house burns down, at least you won’t have to worry about doing laundry tomorrow. There was no need to think negatively about everything.

"How long will today’s stream last? I’m not sure. I’ll keep going until I fall asleep."

"Spear-hunter build… yeah, it’s definitely strong. I've been seeing it a lot lately."

"It’s tricky, but it’s not unbeatable. If you tweak your build a bit, you could push the win rate to 50/50, don’t you think?"

In terms of taste, there was one improvent. I could no longer eat super spicy ran like I used to, but I could taste the subtleties of food more clearly.

Like the rich, delicate flavor of lted fat in boiled pork belly. The texture of the at as it lted on my tongue, or the sweetness that ca from crushed grains of rice. And when the richness started to beco overwhelming, the sharp tang of cabbage kimchi would cleanse my palate. I could now enjoy sensations I hadn’t noticed before.

It just ant the boiled pork belly I was eating while watching Luce’s stream tasted amazing.

There was still so left from what my instructor had brought over last ti. The power of well-cooked at was as strong as ever. And with instant rice to boot, I felt as fortified as Zhuge Liang was for Liu Bei. No, even more so.

[Infinity Arena 2nd Preliminary Round – First Phase]

[Battlefield: Hall of Duels]

[Opponent: Unknown Adventurer (Hunter)]

Luce's Arena stream was progressing smoothly. Her signature solid playstyle was shining in this one-on-one environnt.

As a Paladin, Luce often played as the frontliner for her team, and there were plenty of tis she had to act solo, fending off the opposing team's main damage dealers all by herself. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this role required the most versatile combat experience in the ga. Naturally, individual combat skills were paramount.

"Looks like it's a hunter. Think it’s the sa build Yu-rang posted?"

"No blind spots in the Hall of Duels…"

"Let’s close the gap quickly. I'm going in!"

In the wide-open corridor, a bullet suddenly flew toward her. The sound of the projectile breaking the sound barrier cut through the air. The shot left a dark mark on her shield.

[Corrosive bullet hit your shield.]

[Physical defense reduced by 20.]

[Guard gauge took an additional 40% damage.]

Her opponent was as tough as expected.

The strear who created this build called it the “Shotgun Burst Hunter.” Later, those who played it began referring to it as the “Spear Hunter.” It sacrificed the hunter class's usual control over the battlefield in favor of extre firepower.

All-in builds like this pop up every now and then, but this one was particularly broken. Tanks with front guards were being shredded along with their shields. The basic ga chanics had been overturned, making this an obviously overpowered build. It was a flaw made possible by the large-scale balance changes in the recent preseason patch.

In the current patch, Paladins couldn’t gain the initiative against hunters, nor could they rely on their guards or shields. The only way to counter this was to restore defense and guard gauge through a unique buff when the hunter fired their burst. If tid correctly, it would leave just enough health to survive.

As soon as the distance closed, the hunter pulled the trigger.

[Front guard destroyed!]

[Divine Blessing has descended upon you.]

[All defenses increased by 15%, guard gauge fully restored.]

[Front guard destroyed!]

"Ooh, clean block. It’d be nice if assassins got a little more guard gauge, too."

Luce succeeded. Despite the storm of shotgun pellets, the Paladin’s life remained intact. The hunter had wasted all their ammo, and their perfectly tid shot had gone down the drain.

She had nullified the hunter's strength and played to her own. The outco was inevitable now. The “Spear Hunter” had no other tricks up its sleeve after sacrificing everything for firepower.

It was ti to finish it.

Her enlarged shield stood like a wall. Luce charged through the crude traps, and the hunter had no ti to reload. There was no way a shotgun could pierce the Paladin’s armor now.

The match ended in a one-sided beatdown.

[Victory! You have earned 13 points.]

[You are on a 3-win streak. The longer your win streak, the more points you can earn.]

[Current record: 21 wins, 6 losses.]

"Ah, that’s the stuff. These one-hit-wonder builds need to be taught a lesson."

It was a satisfying result. Once again, justice was served in Infinity Black.

Players who relied on the ta without mastering the fundantals were always a disgrace. They only cared about raising their rank when the ga was temporarily broken, scrambling to maintain it. How could such players be considered equals, when their rank could rise and fall several tiers with each patch?

The shotgun build, with its wide area of effect and crazy damage, deserved all the hate it got. It turned the ga into a battle of timing. Dueling should be a test of wits and psychological warfare, yet these players were relying on lucky punches in the sacred arena!

It was an insult to dueling itself. No, worse—it was like spitting in the face of every Infinity Black player. The strear who popularized that cursed build had already fallen to my blade twice.

The shotgun’s spread made it hard to dodge, and because of my heightened sensory synchronization, it hurt a lot. If I got hit in the left foot, I could be in real danger.

Normally, sensory synchronization doesn’t affect gaplay beyond 10%. Pro gars set it a bit higher to avoid checking the interface too often. With mine set at 70%, I was unnecessarily sensitive, risking acute shock. There’s a reason the technology hasn’t been fully comrcialized yet.

My early days as a newbie were brutal. The first ti I died in-ga, I logged out, cried, threw up—the whole ss. Even though my body was physically fine, my throat burned.

As luck would have it, my instructor had stopped by to help unpack that day. When she found choking on the floor, she rushed to the ER.

"The tests show nothing wrong with your throat. It’s a little swollen, but is there anything you can think of?"

"Well, um…"

"Your guardian said your throat was sore. Is that right?"

"Yes. When I ca in, she was in terrible shape. I even saw her throw up."

"I see. Could I speak to the patient alone for a mont?"

"Of course. I’ll be waiting outside. Be sure to listen carefully."

It wasn’t my best mont.

The test results showed no real injuries. The doctor saw a flustered patient and an instructor who was convinced I was in agony. Naturally, the doctor ca to a rather uncommon—though not unheard of—conclusion.

"Da-eun, it’s perfectly natural to develop an interest in sex."

"What?"

"There’s no need to be embarrassed. But your throat is quite delicate and, surprisingly, fragile. You should avoid inserting foreign objects or engaging in rough behavior."

"Uh, w-what?"

"I recomnd finding healthier ways to relieve tension."

I couldn’t possibly tell the doctor that “I got hurt because I died in a video ga.” Not in front of my instructor. Not to the doctor, either. So I just bowed my head in silence, too mortified to correct them.

Still, I’ve gotten used to it now. Humans are creatures of adaptation. I can handle most of the pain. As long as I’m careful with my left foot, I shouldn’t have any problems.

“Should I… do the dishes later? I’ve finished the pork belly, after all.”

Enjoying the stream made realize I’d finished eating. With my stomach full, it was probably ti to get back into the ga. But I still wanted to watch more of Luce’s stream.

Well, I still had dessert left. There was a sweet, tangy apple waiting for . It would be a sha to end the al now. Once I entered the system, I wouldn’t be able to get out again, so I might as well eat everything while I could.

It’d be terrible if I saved it and it went bad. If that happened, I’d need to take out my frustration by killing at least three KimchiNinjas.

Besides, it’s also about sizing up the competition. I don’t know when I’ll face Luce, so it’s smart to watch her playstyle and take notes. Back in my pri, I never missed the chance to review footage of my opponents.

So no, this isn’t just about not wanting to get up. Luce said she could beat , right? Then I’ve got to prepare seriously too.

With a strangely excited feeling, I placed my hands on the keyboard.

"April26: I really hope you make it to the finals, Luce."

If I had more money, I’d send her a donation. Maybe if I win the prize money, I’ll donate to her stream at least once.