Cherreads

Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: The True Sniper

… ─ Mugun (Internet Streamer) Gallery ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …

[This guy's malice is going absolutely wild lololol]

(Keuuk1.clip)

(Keuuk2.clip)

(ThanksForYourDedication.clip)

I know he never curses during viewer queues, even if he does with his friends lololol

(ThisBastard.clip)

And this Mugun guy's spewing every curse word in the book lolol

[Comments]

— Mugun763: Where the hell did this guy even come from lololol

— Mugun292: Never laughed at Mugun's streams before, but today it's straight-up hilarious ffs lolololol I'm wide awake now

 └ Mugun744: Who knew watching a former pro get sniped would be this fun

— Mugun893: But dude, this isn't your average troll lololol

 └ Mugun893: You seen this guy play? He's actually pretty good?

 └ Mugun114: Mugun going quiet = he's actually trying lololol

… ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …

… ─ Mugun (Internet Streamer) Gallery ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …

[This guy's the 'real' deal]

I've watched streams for ages and seen tons of random snipers,

but this is the first one I've seen who's this obsessed with the details.

Most are braindead one-trick ponies with the same boring routine that kills the fun?

Like constantly stealing kills,

teamkilling nonstop,

or being a support who never heals or shields til the end.

But this guy's "real."

He steals a kill and taunts, but Mugun doesn't react, so he flexes his skills to grab even Mugun's attention—someone who ignores anyone short of top-tier.

That's insane right off the bat.

If you're doubting his skill, go check the highlight on Mugun's YouTube front page.

The fact that this sniper kept up with that speed means he's at least Master tier, no cap.

Anyway, once he hooks Mugun's interest, Mugun starts getting antsy.

At first he played it cool, but right after, when heading to clear the cabin on the hill, he panics and finishes with a pistol just to avoid another steal.

But then the sniper switches it up again.

Instead of stealing the kill, he just snipes the heal item from the body.

-> Predicted Mugun's kill obsession -> Lost the mind game.

This all happens back-to-back in minutes, so even Mugun's brain has to short-circuit lololol

[Comments]

— Mugun105: Glad I'm not the only one who noticed lolol

— Mugun864: There's sniping, and then there's *this* sniping lololol

 └ Mugun864: Real stream connoisseurs know the sniper's style is next level

— Mugun949: Feels like we'll see this sniper on a big collab soon lololol

 └ Mugun202: What, without streaming?

 └ Mugun842: Fr lolol

… ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …

* * *

Sniping is an art form.

The ultimate goal is to rattle the streamer and make the viewers laugh and have fun together.

In other words, not for personal fame, but to amp up the stream's entertainment. A pro sniper knows to push boundaries without crossing the line.

That's the tightrope walk that's second nature to me, so even sniping Mugun, I didn't go full villain.

Just enough to be fun.

Maybe aim to earn some praise before bowing out.

[What the hell is this guy...]

So when Mugun drops that line, mission accomplished for me.

— lolololol ultimate praise

— Praise received

— First time outside internal wars, right? lol

Sure, he's the guy I inwardly gripe about every time, but no reason to ruin the stream's vibe by hounding him relentlessly.

Besides, it's about time to watch Mugun's viewers' reactions.

They're laughing at my antics now, but deep down, they're Team Mugun.

If he snaps, they'll turn on me with "Who the hell's this guy?" and sharpen their knives.

Especially Mugun's ex-pro fanbase—they're picky. Keep overplaying without reading the room, and you're done for.

Make too many enemies, and some'll haunt you forever.

Back when I was just some basement troll, who cared about enemies? But now I'm a proud employee of Parallel, the company my boss built.

Sure, the boss is shady, forces overtime daily, it's a black company, pays peanuts and even docks it—but I can't just grab the mic and declare "Never join a company starting with P and ending with L."

Parallel, where sharing an office with the boss is the ultimate perk, is my irreplaceable lifelong job.

So better to back off gracefully, build some goodwill—that's the long-game secret for a company rat like me.

Plus, from here on, win or lose the bet, doesn't matter.

I sniped today to gauge Mugun's skills firsthand, and the bet taunt was to draw out his real fire.

[From now on, real-deal game. You seem skilled, so no more holding back.]

— o_o

— Mugun's pissed!

Time to see just how pro-level his skills are.

Can I keep up?

Or is theirs a world I'll never touch?

Perfect timing—gunfire erupts nearby: tatatatata.

Short bursts kick off, and soon the area echoes with shots.

There it is—the hot drop.

Gotta join in!

I charge excitedly toward the gunfire and nail a perfect headshot on some guy's noggin down the slope.

Bang!

{{MugunIsAFamousMomoAnti >> (Head) JangchungdongGrannyBossam}}

But the kill goes to someone else, not me.

{{MovGun >> (Kill) JangchungdongGrannyBossam}}

What the—? I turn, and there's Mugun, who's caught up to me, sliding past.

He even loots nicely, struts back over all smug, and says:

[Stealing kills hits different. You been hogging these solo til now?]

Thinks he can drag me into the mud?

...Fine. Now I go serious too.

*

Among all the snipers Mugun had faced, MomoAnti ranked top-tier in raw skill and mind games.

He even seemed to know Mugun inside out—predicting exactly how Mugun would react to his moves.

If the target had weak mentality, they might've crumbled in the psych war.

But Mugun was a pro.

He'd endured far worse mental breaks in tournaments.

Plus, with the bet on, time to ditch the gentleman act.

Even in his active days, Mugun did whatever it took to win—as long as it wasn't cheating.

So stealing MomoAnti's kills? Far from poor sportsmanship.

Just the optimal play to clinch the bet.

Nothing wrong with Mugun copying it outright.

Plus, check the top-right scoreboard—survivors were dwindling fast.

- - Survivors: 35 - -

Not even 10 minutes in, and 35 left from 90.

Squads dropping like flies at an absurd pace.

That's pub match speed.

Even ranked grinders who play patient and turtle? In pubs, they YOLO.

No rank stakes.

Translation: No time to play nice.

Who knows when 35 becomes 10, then 5.

Fewer players means fewer kills to chase, period.

Pro means play nice?

Bullshit.

Pros are the most ruthless, greedy beasts in the game—especially when victory's on the line.

The usually chill Mugun turns into a win-or-nothing predator.

— lololololol

— Stream just got filthy lololol

— He started it tho?

— This is 100:0 lolol

:: Anonymous Donor sent 1,000 Clouds! ::

:: Pro for a reason—strategy absorption speed is pro-level o_o ::

How'd Mugun end up trash-talking Momo?

Tournaments, too.

Heat of the moment chasing prize money, and he snapped at Momo's misplay.

Apologized later and became real friends, but it showed how serious Mugun got.

— Charge!!!

— Stolen again lololol

— Wtf he stole *that*?

"Hmm."

— Stole it back!!

— Nooo!!!

— Both sides look so desperate lololol

"Nice."

Then 15 minutes of brutal back-and-forth kill-stealing.

Finally, the zone shrinks to nothing—barely any cover left.

Survivors: 3.

Mugun and MomoAnti same squad, so one enemy left.

Mugun tabs the scoreboard...

1p) MovGun - 13/0/3 - Damage Dealt: 4,201

3p) MugunIsAFamousMomoAnti - 13/0/3 - Damage Dealt: 4,024

— ?

— Pffft lololol

— Tied lolol

— And exactly one left lololololol

Viewers' curiosity about MomoAnti exploded.

What kinda guy could mudwrestle a pro like this?

Sudden mud festival brawl? Normally shrug it off.

But one fighter's a pro? Gotta wonder about the other.

That hype turned straight to mission cash.

:: Mission ::

:: Win the bet to hear his voice - 612,000 won ::

Mugun felt the same.

What does this sniper do for a living to play *this* well?

Not pro-level, but top amateur for sure.

Wanted him to reveal, then invite to internals.

'Shouldn't have used him as promo for this internal war.'

But prior commitment, so win the bet, snag a contact—at least.

Could invite next open slot.

'Win first, figure it out later.'

Mugun fiddles with his sniper rifle, eyeing MomoAnti.

— Dude's not budging first lololol

— Plans to follow Mugun's shots and finisher-steal lolol

As viewers said, he's hunkered down, waiting.

Figured Mugun engages first, then flank for the kill.

Not happening.

Inventory check: 5 smokes left.

Enough to blanket 2/3 of the cramped endgame zone.

Mugun chucks them no hesitation toward likely enemy spots.

Soon, massive smoke cloud—total whiteout.

— Bro you're a genius???

— Kekeke no steal possible now

— Bro go go go!!!

In this fog, even if Mugun spots first, no finisher steal possible.

And Mugun's packing a bow from earlier loot.

Silent shots—no audio cues to pinpoint fights.

Top it with his charged ult? He can track enemies in smoke.

Mugun charges forward.

MomoAnti doesn't follow.

Pokes head out, but just stares blankly at Mugun's direction.

'Giving up?'

Soon, Mugun sweeps smoke, spots enemy.

Arrow 1: Headshot. Shield to 2/3 gone.

Arrow 2: Hits. Shield shatters, enemy HP under half.

One body shot seals the bet for Mugun—

Bang—!

Sharp pistol crack echoes in safe zone.

Rainbow panel spins center screen: game over.

[Champions!]

Mugun checks final kill log.

{{MugunIsAFamousMomoAnti >> (Head)(Kill) BanpoEntranceSurvivor}}

Pistol icon. Headshot mark.

Finisher: MomoAnti, still at smoke's edge.

Pierced the haze for pinpoint headshot.

— Woooooooah!!!!!

— What???

— ????

— How tho???

— Insane wtf lolololol

— ??????

— ??

— Whoa

One viewer drops a theory.

:: Anonymous Donor sent 1,000 Clouds! ::

:: Must've peeked stream view lololol ::

— Oh yeah?

— Makes sense

— Ah that explains it lololol

"No."

Mugun shuts it down flat.

"Not stream view. Just now."

Even stream peekers have angle diffs, 3-5 sec delay.

No way to calc and instant-head in seconds.

Would've missed a few times minimum.

Pure skill. Or hacks.

"MomoAnti. You shot off footsteps alone?"

MomoAnti replies.

[Sound, mini-map small.]

Mugun sighs.

Minimap pings Mugun's gaze as droplets—deduced from footsteps.

But that's luck over skill.

Can guess position, but nailing head through blind smoke? Pros like Mugun say impossible.

"Lucky shot. I lost."

But as if correcting him, MomoAnti says:

[Deny. This is skill.]

Truth is, Mugun hoped for that.

If no hacks, what magic was that in the smoke?

"...Mind if I watch your play? Wanna invite to internal war."

But the casual contact-swap pitch gets ice-cold rejection.

[Unnecessary. You can watch.]

"? What do you mean?"

MomoAnti's follow-up is pure riddle.

[Reason. Revealed in 60 hours.]

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