Chapter 56 : Distribution is from the enemy

Enhanced Exoskeleton Suit.

The concept itself is quite old. Simply put, it’s powered armor that enhances the wearer’s physical capabilities.

However, even in our modern era with advanced technology like virtual reality, it’s a piece of equipment yet to be realized.

Or to be precise, it lacks practicality.

In the first half of the 21st century, exoskeleton suits were considered viable military equipment, and several prototypes were developed.

The problem, however, lies in the fact that enhanced exoskeletons, by their very nature, are not well-suited for large-scale, all-out war.

First, the cost is substantial. Also, in a full-scale war scenario, repairs and battery supply become major issues.

Moreover, most recent wars have indeed been full-scale conflicts.

The Sino-Korean War, the Chinese Civil War, the 5th and 6th Middle Eastern Wars, and so on.

Thus, even with the advent of virtual machines in the modern age, enhanced exoskeleton suits remain in the realm of science fiction.

Even more so for equipment like this, that goes beyond a simple exoskeleton.

“This equipment… I think I’ve seen it in old game footage.”

A suit seemingly designed to mimic human musculature.

While MegaCorp’s equipment felt like attaching a frame to one’s limbs, this was more akin to wearing a body suit.

[Ahh, the Nanosuit, you mean?]

[LOL]

[Military gear is seriously unbelievable]

[Tier 1 equipment, nice]

[So he really *was* the Golden Goblin, LOL]

[If you wear that, you become a Super Soldier]

Indeed, it was exactly as they said.

My strength increased dramatically, and my body movements became entirely different. I could jump about three meters from a standstill. I was a true super soldier.

Of course, perhaps for balance reasons, the in-game health didn’t increase. Starting with such equipment would be cheating. However, true to its appearance, the full-body bulletproof function was fully implemented.

My durability, which should have been in tatters, was also fully restored. This was because, when I killed the Golden Goblin, I specifically targeted the face, the only part not protected by this suit.

“It’s good, but it’s a bit lacking.”

I got a good gun and found armor.

But I’m short on supplies.

Shouldering the rifle, I smiled.

“Since I’m low on supplies, I guess I’ll need to hunt and resupply.”

[Let’s go hunting~]

[No, why are they treated like prey? LOL]

[???: If they are weaker than me, aren’t they prey?]

[Streamer thoroughly abiding by the law of the jungle…]

[Whether veteran or newbie, all become equal under the status of prey… That is… Communism]

[LOL]

* * *

“Phew, so easy! This is way too easy. Why is everyone so bad at this? Is this… Is this supposed to be hard?”

Bibivik, a popular streamer on Patchik and a renowned Titan-tier shooter from the previous Black Ops season, spun his pistol while boasting to his viewers.

“This place reeks of minerals. I can’t stand it. Ugh, the smell of metal makes me want to puke. Seriously, gotta go up.”

For a former Titan-tier player to make such a condescending remark while stomping on average Silver-tier players was quite low, but the viewers didn’t seem to mind his arrogance.

[What do you expect from those getting massacred by a pistol? LOL]

[LOL]

[The metallic smell is strong, let’s go to the giants’ place, shall we?]

[Can we reach Immortal this time?]

[A Titan gatekeeper going where? LOL]

[How can Bibivik reach Immortal? LOL]

Watching his viewers tease him, Bibivik smirked. Like a character from an old movie, he twirled his pistol and shrugged.

“Hey, I might be able to. Why the doubt? They say if you rack up wins quickly at the start of the season, your rating skyrockets. This time, it might be possible.”

[This time is different]

[What’s different? LOL]

[I bet he’ll fail at the edge of Titan and whine again]

[Inherent giant]

[You gotta be good with a gun to reach there]

“Hey, I’m good with guns, alright? Why the hate and slander?”

[Oh really?]

[Bibivik…good with guns…claims so]

[I will believe]

[0% credibility]

“You know, when I was in the military, I was a top marksman. Like, you know? There’s only one hole in the target, because I shot through the same spot so many times. Know what I mean?”

[That usually means you missed, sir]

[LOL]

[What is this, robin hood? LOL]

[Bragging mode: On]

“Whatever.”

Clicking his tongue, Bibivik picked up the equipment from the enemy he just defeated. Nothing useful. Perhaps because this was a low-tier area, few carried decent gear.

‘The pistol-only mission might be tough.’

Well, even those with decent gear rarely carry Tier 1 pistols. It’s better to have a submachine gun.

And even if they use a pistol, there’s no reason to use a heavy Tier 1 one. Those are for show.

Just as he thought this, a donation notification popped up.

[Zollarikheun donated 10,000 won!]

[Bibivik, you know what? SeongWon is in this match.]

“Huh?”

SeongWon?

Tilting his head in confusion for a moment, Bibivik quickly recalled who SeongWon was. Wasn’t she the exceptionally skilled, beautiful streamer who recently ranked 1st in SoulFrame?

Bibivik himself had been impressed by her unbelievable plays. The way she super hard-carried with ‘that trolling character’ was truly eye-opening.

He was somewhat envious. While Bibivik was a named shooter in Black Ops, in SoulFrame he was just an average player barely clinging to Diamond rank.

Of course, what impressed Bibivik the most about SeongWon wasn’t her skill, but her beautiful face. Sure, there were probably filters, but her natural looks must be decent.

Bibivik quickly asked.

“Really? SeongWon is here? How do you know?”

[Zollarikheun donated 10,000 won!]

[It popped up on the kill log earlier.]

[Oh really?]

[OMG]

[Meeting the SoulFrame rank 1 player]

[Bibivik’s made it!]

[Military man Titan vs. Non-military rank 1?]

[Isn’t he military man Diamond? LOL]

[Hunt her?]

Bibivik’s eyes twinkled as he read the chat.

“Hmm, should I?”

SeongWon was SoulFrame’s rank 1 player. She was also the hottest streamer recently. Hunting her down in Black Ops, even if it wasn’t SoulFrame?

‘I could make a great YouTube video out of this.’

As if knowing Bibivik’s thoughts, his viewers ridiculed his remark. Because the atmosphere in his channel was usually like this, even the chat moderators didn’t intervene.

[LOL]

[How can a Diamond scrub catch the Soul Queen Goddess?]

[LOL]

[Rank 1? LOL. You’re the prey, LOL]

Bibivik feigned indignation.

“Hey, SoulFrame and Black Ops are completely different games. I’m not just a Diamond player in SoulFrame for nothing. They’re totally different games, so they require different skills. How can you compare skills based on SoulFrame rank?”

[Oh really? Of course they are different LOL]

[Prove it]

[I’ll admit it if you catch SeongWon LOL]

[Can he even do it? He’s a ‘Diamond scrub’ LOL]

[A Diamond catching rank 1?]

[Absolutely impossible]

“Give me a mission, then. I won’t do it for nothing.”

[This dude openly asking for money LOL]

[Money-grubber On]

[He’s a mercenary~ Won’t move unless paid~]

[Mercenaries move when the payment is made]

[Okay, I’ll set one]

And just like that, a mission alert popped up.

[AgatholGateGuardianAshtray set a mission!]

[Mission: Hunt down SeongWon and teabag her]

[100,000 won]

“Whoa, 100,000 won. That’s a bit cheap, don’t you think?”

[Cheap?]

[Where’s your conscience? LOL]

[LOL]

[Too stingy for the giant to move for a mere 100,000 won]

[But why is his nickname like that? LOL]

“Right? What’s up with your nickname? You’re timed out.”

[Why are you picking on my nickname?]

└Inappropriate nickname. 5-minute chat ban.

[A viewer getting timed out after setting a 100,000 won mission, and the streamer timing him out… My heart swells with pride.]

[Baby room guardian ashtray LOL]

[It’s Agathol Gate, you know]

“Alright, let’s go. You guys called me a Diamond scrub, right? Said I couldn’t catch her, right? It’s a safe bet, then, what are you waiting for? Chicken?”

Bibivik subtly provoked his viewers.

Whether they took the bait or just wanted to have fun, several viewers started adding to the mission bounty.

As the 100,000 won mission quickly climbed to 300,000 won, Bibivik smirked.

“Wow, thanks for the donations! Having received this much, I have to catch SeongWon! That’s a mercenary’s duty, isn’t it?”

[It’s not deposited yet LOL]

[He’s already celebrating LOL]

[Haven’t given it to you yet, old man LOL]

[Seriously]

[Mercenary’s stir-fried declaration]

[Can already see him getting destroyed by SeongWon LOL]

[Opening his jinx mouth again?]

“Hey, I’m a passionate Busan man! If I can’t keep my word, am I even a man? Huh? Just wait, SeongWon. I’ll catch you and teaba…”

-Bang!

At that moment, Bibivik’s head snapped back. His body slumped lifelessly, and the death log appeared.

[YOU DIED]

[Killed by ‘SeongWon’]

“Huh…?”

Staring blankly at the log as a ghost, Bibivik looked down at his corpse. A familiar female face approached to check his belongings. Watching SeongWon rummage through his gear, Bibivik wore a dumbfounded expression.

“No way… What… Is this a hidden camera prank or something…?”

Killed right after declaring he would hunt her down?

What? Stream sniping? It didn’t make any sense otherwise.

[Declares a hunt, gets hunted immediately LOL]

[This is totally a hidden camera prank LOL]

[What a jinx mouth LOL]

[Voice-activated streamer LOL]

[LOL]

“No, this is unfair! Is this stream sniping?”

Bibivik pleaded his case, but none of his viewers believed him.

[Yeah, yeah, let’s say it’s unfair]

[Typical Diamond scrub talk]

[He’s no different from when he plays SoulFrame]

[LOL]

[Meanwhile, SeongWon didn’t even loot after the kill LOL]

[???: Ah, so poor]

[Diamond scrub loot is useless]

Because it wasn’t stream sniping at all.

“Hmm… Nothing much on this one either. I guess Golden Goblins aren’t common. Such a shame.”

[LOL]

[If they were common, would they be called Golden Goblins?]

[Are you going to kill until a Goblin appears?]

[SeongWon is still hungry]

[14 kills and still hungry? That’s a problem.]

[Hey, the guy she just killed was Bibivik]

[Really? Why was he standing there like a fool?]

[No idea]

It was just a huge coincidence.