Debuff Master-Chapter 866

Before anything else, there was something Siegfried needed to do.

‘There’s just over two days left... I probably should have enough time to kill him at least once more...’

Siegfried was not planning to let things end as they were.

Having three strikes before someone was ruled out was necessary, wasn't it?

He was determined to ensure that Alexei would die one more time, making it a solid three.

With that in mind, Siegfried activated his +10 Black Crow Wingsuit and soared into the sky.

“Kyuuu! Where are we going now, owner punk?”

“I feel like killing Alexei one more time. And I can scout their forces too while at it.”

“Sounds like a great idea! Let’s go! Fly faster, owner punk! Kyuuu!”

Siegfried soared higher with Hamchi perched on his back while scanning the area around the Eastern Great Rift.

The air slowly grew thin, and visibility became lower and lower as he climbed, but Siegfried couldn't care less.

His eyesight was sharper than that of birds of prey, so he could easily see everything below with crystal clear clarity even from thousands of meters above the ground.

‘Whoa... Look at that army. That’s got to be at least five hundred cannons,’ he thought while looking at the enemy’s numbers.

From what he could see above, the size of the enemy army was astounding.

Siegfried proceeded to gather intelligence on the enemy forces stationed around the Eastern Great Rift, taking down notes of their numbers, the quality of their troops, and the defensive fortifications they erected.

[Alert: Video recording in progress!]

[Alert: Screenshot captured!]

[Alert: Screenshot captured!]

(omitted...)

[Alert: Screenshot captured!]

[Alert: Screenshot captured!]

He meticulously documented everything, even going as far as taking video recordings and screenshots for analysis later. It was essential that he understood the enemy’s position and resources before the war began.

Without a doubt, the ability to observe the enemy from the sky provided a massive tactical advantage for him.

Why else would nations in the real world spend billions and deploy drones for reconnaissance?

‘But... where’s Alexei?’ Siegfried wondered while circling above the enemy encampment, searching for his target.

It was then.

“...!”

Siegfried abruptly turned when his sharp senses screamed at him.

‘Huh? What’s this? Someone’s looking at me?’

He was certain. One of the knights below had turned their head and locked eyes with him. The knight’s angle and unwavering gaze left no doubt in his mind.

‘That guy’s no ordinary soldier.’

Being able to spot someone flying at an altitude of two thousand five hundred meters was a feat only achievable by the exceptionally strong or those born with extraordinary eyesight.

‘Time to act like a bird.’

Siegfried hoped that the mysterious knight had yet to recognize him, so he flapped his wings, mimicking the movements of a bird.

His act was super effective...

“Hm?”

The mysterious knight, Duke Kagon, tilted his head as he watched the "bird" circle them from high above. It looked unusually large for a typical bird found in this part of the region, and its flight altitude was absurdly high, too.

‘What kind of bird is that?’ Duke Kagon wondered.

As he closely observed the airborne creature, it suddenly began flapping its wings energetically.

‘Ah, it must be some sort of eagle.’

With that, Duke Kagon lost interest and looked away.

Ironically, he would have covered Siegfried had he focused just a little longer or paid closer attention.

‘Phew! That was a close one,’ Siegfried thought, relieved after confirming that the knight had turned their gaze elsewhere. Instead of retreating from his reconnaissance mission, however, he resumed his search, albeit more carefully this time.

‘Where are you, Alexei?’

He scoured the area for another hour, circling above the enemy camp while flapping his wings.

It was then.

‘There you are! Hehehe!’ Siegfried explained inwardly after finally spotting Alexei strolling through the camp.

He immediately transformed his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp into a sniper and loaded a bullet the moment he found Alexei.

“Kyuuu! Leave calculating the humidity and wind speed to Hamchi, owner punk!”

“Roger that.”

With Hamchi acting as his spotter, Siegfried prepared to snipe Alexei from a staggering distance of two and a half kilometers. He peered through the lens that acted as his scope and activated the zoom function by infusing mana into it.

Lo and behold, Alexei’s figure came into view.

Thanks to his newfound keen eyesight, Siegfried could see Alexei with perfect clarity even at such a far distance.

‘Calm my breathing. Three, two, one...’

His finger pulled the trigger with almost mechanical timing.

Bang!

The nozzle of the +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp spat fire as a bullet zipped through the air toward Alexei.

Given the distance between them, it took a moment for the bullet to reach its target.

‘Did I get him?’

Three, two, one...

Thud!

Alexei suddenly collapsed to the ground.

It was a direct hit.

Siegfried had successfully sniped Alexei from two thousand five hundred meters away.

It was a clean snipe.

The bullet pierced the back of Alexei’s skull, killing him instantly without even being able to utter a groan. He was just walking casually, so he never stood a chance against the unexpected attack.

“All right!”

“Kyuuu!”

Siegfried and Hamchi cheered in triumph.

“You’re amazing, owner punk! A true sharpshooter! Kyuuu!”

“That’s right! This is who I am! Do you know Siegfried?!”

“Kyuuu! And Alexei is down again!”

“Kekeke!”

With a satisfied grin, Siegfried leisurely flew away from the Eastern Great Rift.

“I can’t end things at two, right?”

When it came to tormenting others, Siegfried was nothing short of a master.

***

Immediately after sniping Alexei down, Tae-Sung logged out of the game and made his way to the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center.

The live match this time was not taking place at the familiar V-Sports Stadium in Yongsan. Instead, it was set to unfold in Moscow, the capital city of Alexei’s homeland, Russia.

To get there, Tae-Sung boarded Cheon Woo-Jin’s private jet along with his teammates and headed for Russia.

Before departure, there was something he had to take care of.

“Ugh... This is such a hassle...”

Tae-Sung looked visibly bored as he sat in a salon, getting his hair styled and light makeup applied.

The reason for this meticulous grooming was simple—there were bound to be countless reporters waiting at the airport, so he needed to look presentable to make an impression for the headlines.

It only made sense for him to look his best if the search rankings tomorrow were going to be dominated by his Airport Fashion.

With that in mind, Tae-Sung opted for a more natural look with subtle makeup and a slightly tousled hairstyle that seemed natural yet effortlessly stylish.

He headed to the airport and gave a short interview before boarding the plane.

“I will do my best to win and return victorious. Thank you for rooting for me, everyone.”

A few hours later, Tae-Sung arrived at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport.

The moment he stepped out of the airport, an overwhelming barrage of camera flashes greeted him.

Hundreds of camera shutters clicked simultaneously, making it nearly impossible for Tae-Sung to keep his eyes open. On top of that, V-Sports journalists from not only Russia but from around the world bombarded him with questions, leaving him feeling dazed.

“I won’t be taking any questions,” Tae-Sung said to his security team.

“Understood, sir.”

Escorted by his bodyguards, Tae-Sung swiftly left the airport and made his way to the hotel.

‘Is this what makes away games so exhausting?’ he wondered. He already felt a bit drained, even though it had only been a few hours since he left South Korea.

Upon reaching the hotel, he immediately scheduled a massage to manage his condition, followed by a thirty-minute sauna session.

Soon, he fell asleep.

The next morning, Tae-Sung joined his teammates Yong Seol-Hwa, Gosran, Daytona, Seung-Gu, and Yong Tae-Pung for breakfast at the hotel restaurant.

Unfortunately, he was unable to eat in peace.

“Excuse me, Mr. Tae-Sung?”

The interpreter for the team approached him as he was about to take a bite of oatmeal.

“There is someone who wants to greet you,” the interpreter whispered.

“Who is it?” Tae-Sung asked.

He followed the interpreter’s gaze and turned to look.

“Huh?”

He tilted his head after thinking that the middle-aged Caucasian man looked oddly familiar.

“That is Mr. Roman Arkadyevich.”

“Ah!” Tae-Sung exclaimed, recognizing the man. He smiled and walked up to the middle-aged man.

Roman Arkdyevich was a Russian oil tycoon and a prominent figure in the Russian V-Sports scene, and even Tae-Sung was familiar with him.

“Mr. Han Tae-Sung? It is a pleasure to meet you,” Roman said, extending his hand.

Tae-Sung didn't understand Russian, so he had to rely on the interpreter to translate for him.

“Ah, it is nice to meet you too. My name is Han Tae-Sung.”

“I have been a fan for a long time. It is truly exciting to meet you in person! Hahaha!”

“Oh, you flatter me.”

“Could I trouble you for a photo?”

“Of course.”

Tae-Sung did not hesitate to grant Roman’s request. After all, Roman was one of the event’s biggest sponsors.

Moreover, Roman was so wealthy that he could make someone like Tae-Sung look like a normal person, so building goodwill with a person like him could only be advantageous for Tae-Sung in the long run.

However, Roman was not the only one who wanted a moment with Tae-Sung. Other notable figures present in the hotel restaurant were prominent Russian businessmen, celebrities, athletes, and more.

It went without saying that all of them approached Tae-Sung and politely requested photos and autographs.

And it did not stop there...

Even ordinary people began gathering around Tae-Sung, hoping for a chance to at least shake hands with him.

‘Ugh... I’m so hungry though...’

Despite his stomach growling in protest, Tae-Sung graciously greeted everyone, treating both wealthy elites and normal people with equal courtesy.

As a result, he barely had time to eat, just like back in South Korea.

But he did not mind it at all...

‘I thought people here would be hostile, but I guess not.’

The fact that he had supporters even in his opponent’s homeland moved Tae-Sung deeply, so the fact that he had to delay his breakfast didn't bother him one bit.

***

At the fan signing event, Tae-Sung was stunned to see how many fans he had in Russia. Tens of thousands came to the shopping mall where the event was being hosted, creating a scene of utter chaos.

‘What the heck...? Am I really this popular in this country?’ Tae-Sung was awestruck by his immense popularity.

Tae-Sung diligently and enthusiastically greeted his fans, took pictures with them, and signed autographs. It went without saying that his attitude delighted his fans.

“This fan is asking if she could give you a hug, Mr. Tae-Sung,” the translator whispered.

“W-Why not! Of course!” Tae-Sung replied awkwardly and gave the fan a light hug.

However, she wasn't the only one waiting for a hug, as he was exceptionally popular among Russian women. He ended up shaking hands, taking pictures, signing autographs, and giving hugs to hundreds of Russian female fans.

Many of them were astonishingly beautiful, a fact that completely captured one person’s attention—Yong Seol-Hwa.

Yong Seol-Hwa, who accompanied Tae-Sung as part of the group to the fan signing event, could not suppress her mounting anger. She clenched her fist and trembled while watching the scene unfold right before her very eyes.

“...Seriously?” she growled under her breath.

Meanwhile, Yong Tae-Pung was busy attending to his own fans. He was already famous as a living legend in the gaming world, so he had his own loyal fanbase in most countries.

However, he could not help but fidget nervously as he glanced at his daughter, who was visibly seething with rage. He could not help but be worried that she would explode and cause a scene.

While Tae-Sung was busy with his fans, Alexei was also holding a fan signing event.

Unfortunately, his mood was far from pleasant, as he was barely holding it together after being humiliated by Tae-Sung three times.

To make matters worse, the majority of his fans were men, a stark contrast to Tae-Sung’s fans. Alexei was surrounded by a sea of burly male fans, which killed whatever little enthusiasm he had for signing autographs and taking pictures.

But the real blow came a bit later...

Alexei was lazily signing autographs without much enthusiasm when he looked at his phone out of boredom, and what he saw nearly made him collapse on the spot.

[Photo] Han Tae-Sung Hugging A Beautiful Fan ❤

Alexei was already in a foul mood over various things, but his anger boiled even more after seeing Han Tae-Sung, a foreigner, having the time of his life surrounded by a sea of beautiful women.