Chapter 181: Throwing the Baton to the Anchor at Full Force

"No, I said it's sushi."

"You don't even say 'good work' to me? I'm emotionally wounded, so it's yakiniku."

"I really don't care either way..."

"I don't think it's very nice for Katzo-kun to just gloss over things without giving a clear black-and-white answer."

"That's exactly why you're a 'Can't-Trigger-Unique-Scenarios-On-Your-Own-Man.' Have some shame."

"Why the hell do these guys sync up so perfectly just to diss me? Wait, regardless of what we eat, I'm the one paying anyway, aren't I...?"

"More importantly, Pumpkin-kun, why don't you offer a little fanservice to the audience?"

Eh...? You really shouldn't be dropping impossible requests like that on a normal high schooler... Or rather, you really shouldn't be hoisting up a player who technically lost like some grand spectacle.

Umm, let's see... Geh, why is it that only at times like this, Sasakure Graphite-san—or whatever his name is—shows up with perfect timing to shove a mic in my face?

『Ah, um... If you drink Riot Blood, you too can put up a good fight against a Pro Gamer. Please give it a try.』

"Are you an employee of Gatling Drum Corporation or something...?"

S-Shut up! I don't sell my sociability cheap enough to casually blow kisses to the crowd like you do!

Damn it, my head hurts. I'm completely out of Fuel (Caffeine). Overdosing on Riot Blood is way too risky; logging back into ShanFro today is going to be tough...

"Mr. Pumpkin Head!"

"Whoa?!"

Suddenly, someone firmly grabbed both of my arms from the side. When I turned to see what was going on, Sylvia Goldberg was standing right there, her eyes sparkling. Just as I suspected, she didn't look exhausted in the slightest.

"Good Game! Good Game! Omigoto! Appare!"

"Eh, ah, thanks..."

The way she was violently shaking my hand up and down perfectly conveyed just how hyped Sylvia Goldberg was... Wait, didn't that normie white macho guy speak Japanese?

Hey, come over here. Babel isn't installed in the real world, so we need an interpreter. Alright, okay, make sure you translate this properly, got it?

"Fufufu, that's a shame, Sylvia Goldberg."

"?"

"I was just the opening act. Our Kat... no, our boss declared, 'With how I am right now, I can sweep Sylvia in a straight victory.'"

"Wait, I never said that."

"That's right, he also said, 'When I win, I'm gonna make Sylvia cosplay as a catgirl maid, guhyohyo.'"

"I definitely never said that?!"

"T-That's right! Kei is going to end your undefeated legend! ...Is what he said, I think?"

"Meguuu!!?"

You really think after I busted my ass stalling for time, he's just going to accept a normal loss?

After a brief lag, it seemed our words were finally translated for Sylvia. The meticulously sculpted face that supposedly graced magazine covers twisted into a ferocious grin.

"Don't worry, we'll take full responsibility and set up the stage with your back to the wall."

"If he's the star Pro Gamer taking the grand finale, he should be able to climb back up even if we push him off a cliff, right?"

"D-Do your best!"

"You guys are actively trying to kick me off the cliff with everything you've got... Whatever."

Katzo shot us a deadpan stare, but regardless, he had no intention of fighting to lose.

We had actively adjusted his strategies by having me play Metius as a "Virtual Sylvia" for him, and we even verified the NPC behavior patterns and building layouts with Pencilgon. Natsume-shi, though, needs to put in a bit more work.

"Well, you know, we set the table this perfectly for you... Don't go leaving half-assed results behind."

You better show us a legendary match that won't lose out to Pencilgon thoroughly ravaging the city, or me going toe-to-toe with Metius.

"...When I win—no, if I win, I get to decide what we eat for the after-party."

"Yakiniku."

"Sushi."

"I'm voting for Italian."

Italian yakiniku...?

"This is the first time we've spoken clearly like this, Kei."

"You were always using suspicious Japanese and English... Sylvie."

If it's a Hero vs. Villain matchup, the Villain character spawns about thirty seconds earlier. However, when both players pick Hero characters, or vice versa, they spawn at the exact same time.

In a Chaotic City where the atrocities committed by the plant lady, the destruction brought about by the bomber, and the scars carved by the cursed armor had been wiped completely clean, two Heroes faced off.

"I'm surprised you didn't pick Armed Lava."

"Those Idiots spew whatever nonsense they want, but sometimes they aren't completely wrong."

Against the undefeated Meteor, the young man draped in a silver jacket pointed his index finger forward.

"Today, I'm going to beat you. Using... Silver Jumper."

A resolute will. It wasn't big talk or a bluff. That intense fighting spirit of absolutely securing victory transmitted its heat to Sylvia even through the digital cityscape.

A man who never gave up, relentlessly devising countermeasures no matter how many times he was struck down, until he finally managed to push Sylvia into a corner. It was that exact stubborn refusal to give up that Sylvia found so endearing.

"Well, well... I'm really looking forward to this. Oh right, I wanted to ask one thing... Are catgirl maids your hobby?"

"Ah, they're completely out of their minds. It's pure nonsense, so just ignore it."

"Really? That's a shame. Then one last thing... If I win, I want you to tell me the real identities of those Real Villains."

"Ahahaha! If the price is just doxing those guys, bring it on."

They had treated him like a restroom fairy; this level of payback was completely justified. And that was the signal to start the match.

Silver Jumper. He's a side character who appears in the comic Gold Edge and holds the position of being one of the oldest characters in the Galaxia Label.

Because of his long history, he's had settings added and changed countless times, but his core concept has always remained remarkably consistent.

"He's simple, which makes him easy to use, but incredibly hard to master!"

"Now, how do you intend to beat me?"

The blue meteor "appeared" completely untouched by fatigue. But Kei's analytical eyes were certain of it: the fierce struggles of Clockfire and Cursed Prison... the desperate efforts of his friends had undeniably created a fray in the undefeated champion's armor.

It wasn't a drop in performance due to fatigue, but the optimization of performance through continuous action. To put it another way, the mix of familiarity had caused her movements to become patterned.

"Just beating the opponent to a pulp isn't the only 'way to win' in this game...!"

After testing and verifying things between the four of them—Kei, Pencilgon, Sunraku, and Natsume—they had reached the conclusion that the playable cast in this game broadly fell into three categories.

First, the "Fighter type," like Cursed Prison and Metius.
This is the fundamental archetype that shines in pure brawls; the most traditional fighting game characters.

Next, the "Fixer type," which includes characters with low raw combat specs like Clockfire.
They don't rely on brute strength, but instead use intelligence and schemes to manipulate the battlefield from the shadows as technical characters.

And finally, the category Silver Jumper belongs to... the "Seeker type."
They lack the raw power to fight head-on, and their kits are far too straightforward to rely on hiding in the city's shadows. So, what exactly is this category of characters good at?

"The System has changed. If you keep relying on pure strength forever... you'll get left behind, Metius."

Sprinting freely in every direction, Metius unleashed a strike—only to reap empty air. He didn't vanish. He dodged it.

Looking up, a streak of silver had leaped high into the air, kicking off the walls and the empty sky before disappearing around the corner of a building.

Silver Jumper's ability is incredibly simple. He doesn't possess the light of the stars, nor can he pull endless explosives from a mystic eye. He can simply jump high... that's it.

But do not underestimate it. That jumping power is overwhelmingly prominent among the entire cast, allowing him four consecutive mid-air jumps, surpassing even Prison Breaker using his Super Art.

Of course, conversely, compared to Metius or Prison Breaker—who, while not able to jump as many times, can move much faster and unleash far sharper attacks—his lack of raw horsepower is undeniable.

But for Silver Jumper, that wasn't necessarily a disadvantage.

There are two definitions of victory in this game.
One is the simple and clear path of defeating the opponent in a "brawl." And the other is...

"Securing the Chaos Cube...!"

The keystone supporting this fictional city, hidden somewhere within it. Securing the cubic object known as the Chaos Cube—essentially, a "treasure hunt."

But that doesn't mean it's a clever idea to just avoid combat entirely. Securing the Cube requires Gauge, and in order for a Hero to accumulate Gauge...

"Ugh, he's targeting the NPC Villains...!"

Come to think of it, Nutmeg had definitely been aiming for a victory by securing the Chaos Cube. But the ensuing rampage from No Name and No Face had caused everyone—even Sylvia herself—to completely forget about obtaining the Chaos Cube.

No, calling it "forgetting" isn't quite accurate. Had their awareness been actively diverted?

"Well, it's a modest little present from me, since I couldn't shave down Sylvia-chan directly."

"Ah, I get it. Like, that thing... like Abyss Destruction..."

"Do you perhaps mean Misdirection?"

"Ah, yeah, that's the one. Natsume-shi sure is smart."

"Since you've got a pumpkin for a head, did someone hollow out your brains too, No Face-kun?"

"Shut up, Zombie Female Knight. Go get soggy in the restroom."

"Could you please stop talking about me like I'm a rice cracker?"

(I was late on the initial read. Kei's goal is securing the Cube? Then I need to farm Gauge off the NPC Villains...)

"According to our more vindictive fiend: 'If you want to create an opening in PvP, mix one part truth into seven parts lies.'"

"Kuh?!"

By the way, the remaining two parts are "incredibly vague deflections."

The exact moment Sylvia's mindset switched from "Combat" to "Pursuit"—the instant her body's movements shifted from instantaneous reactions to continuous motion—Silver Jumper dove parallel to the ground from her direct flank, slamming a tackle into Sylvia and sending her tumbling across the asphalt.

"And according to our more chaotic fiend: 'If you want to gain the advantage in PvP, make the unexpected your ally.'"

The moment Metius picked herself up and glared at Silver Jumper, the building wall shattered. Violently intruding directly between the two Heroes, a massive lump of flesh let out a deafening roar.

"This is no longer a polite, well-mannered coliseum battle. Now then, what are you going to do, Sylvie?"

Author's Afterword
Katzo: "I'll borrow my friends' strength!"
Pencilgon: "Let's actively lie to her."
Half-Naked: "Let's actively do completely unhinged things."
Katzo: "You guys are such absolute fiends... Well, I'll do it anyway."

Actually, as of yesterday, I completely rewrote Katzo's entire battle scene.
I'm hoping to wrap up the Galaxia Heroes arc in about two chapters and get back to ShanFro... (Wishful thinking)