[CrimsonFang has logged in]
PixelDreamer: Oh, the stagnant water is here.
CrimsonFang: Aren’t we all stagnant water, rotting away in this relic of a game? Why is anyone still playing? It’s been more than a decade since it launched.
CyberRonin: Look in the mirror and ask yourself that.
Park Hyun-woo, the man behind the username CrimsonFang, laughed at the reply on his screen.
It had indeed been ten years since the game’s release, long enough for a third installment to come and go. And yet, for the veteran players, this remained the classic.
But why play a game that was over a decade old?
What other reason did they need?
In truth, there was one more, far more decisive reason.
Park Hyun-woo wasn't just one of the longest-playing users of Chronicles of Valor 2—he had long since reached the highest level and ascended to the status of a “rotten water.” He was a ranker.
And in this chat room, there was another rotten water who was every bit his equal.
SolarFlare: You here, Fang? Ready to drop to 2nd place?
CrimsonFang: Oh, you’re still dreaming? Don't strain your neck looking up at trees you can't climb.
SolarFlare: Bullsht. This time, I’ll be first.
CrimsonFang: Yes, yes. Everyone’s free to dream. You dream all you want.
PixelDreamer: Both of you shut up. This month’s rankings are up.
Every month, Chronicles of Valor 2 announced its server-wide rankings, tallying points from various in-game achievements like time attacks. Over the years, this leaderboard had become the personal battlefield of the rotten waters.
[1st Place: CrimsonFang – 315,234,999 points] [23 months in a row!]
[2nd Place: SolarFlare – 315,234,125 points] [22 months in a row!]
SolarFlare: Fck! Wht the fck is tis? Is this brokenn!
Zero: Look at all the typos. Someone’s having a meltdown.
PixelDreamer: I think I can actually hear him trembling!
He could almost hear it himself. After a nervous swallow and a sigh of relief at the results, Park Hyun-woo let a deep laugh erupt from his lungs.
CrimsonFang: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Did you see that?
CrimsonFang: Eternally 2nd place! Always number 2! The silver medalist!
SolarFlare: sdlkghiosdghsodighsdighiofsdoighiosd
Zero: Oh, there it is. The meltdown.
CyberRonin: It’s just more fun to tease him when he reacts like this. shakes head
CrimsonFang: Ah, that was satisfying. I’m going to sleep well tonight. You too, Yellow Second-Place. Try harder next month.
SolarFlare: Hey! The difference is only 800 points!
CrimsonFang: Right. I can’t imagine why you couldn’t manage to get another 874 points. Ah, but I guess that’s the difference between 1st and 2nd place, isn’t it?
SolarFlare: The use of abusive language is subject to sanctions.
SolarFlare: The use of abusive language is subject to sanctions.
SolarFlare: The use of abusive language is subject to sanctions.
SolarFlare: The use of abusive language is subject to sanctions.
SolarFlare: F is an exclamation, not a curse!
CrimsonFang: Anyway, I’m off to bed. Good night. Dream of me ;)
SolarFlare: The use of abusive language is subject to sanctions.
When the chat room fell silent, the other rotten waters, who had been watching the monthly spectacle with metaphorical popcorn in hand, began to chime in.
PixelDreamer: What, did they really just go to bed?
CyberRonin: Did Sparky really log off? Did he run out of things to say?
Zero: They're permanently first and second. Like an old married couple growing old together.
CyberRonin: Sounds like the start of a dark BL novel.
Zero: Oh, shit. Now I’m imagining it.
PixelDreamer: What happened? I can see Fang leaving, but Sparky? He should be raging and talking nonsense by now. Did they really both just go to bed?
[CrimsonFang has logged out.]
[SolarFlare has logged out.]
[Park Hyun-woo has entered Pleiades.]
[Lee Seo-yeon has entered Pleiades.]