Greatest Streamer System

Assassin Run was a pretty simple game.

In a single lobby, 20 players competed to reach the end of the map and grab a secret scroll, supposedly choosing an assassin's school successor.

A map would be chosen from the day's pool. Each day, six unique maps would be put on the dice for randomization.

The game's mechanics were also simple.

Players could find various items on the map that could help them to move faster or take a shortcut. Some items could also be used to hinder the players behind them or catch the players in front of them.

This meant that even if you were in last place, there was a chance to catch up to the player in the first place. It wasn't just a skill-based game, but a luck-based one.

Not even Max was confident to win all the games.

"Oh?"

Teleported into the ruined temple, Max looked around curiously. There was a shining blue barrier that separated the waiting area from the actual map. A timer of when the barrier would be lifted ticked down from 30.

While waiting, someone actually approached him with an expression full of expectation. His face was hidden, but his intention was conveyed through his eyes.

"B-Breeze, I am a fan! Can I get your autograph?"

He was a fan. And when he approached him, many eyes looked at the man in envy. The lucky viewers who joined the room probably thought that they should've done a similar thing first.

"Oh, an autograph?" Max mused. Because he had too few interactions with his fans, he seldom gave anyone an autograph.

'Maybe I can use this?' He thought.

A grin appeared on his face.

"So you want an autograph?"

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"Yes." The fan answered with a nod. "Can I? A VR one is enough too!"

"I can."

"Really–"

"But there is a condition applied." Max continued, interrupting the happy fan and making him look doubtful.

"Please don't look at me like that. This condition isn't impossible to achieve. All you have to do is to reach the fastest 3 in the game, excluding me. If the fastest 3 want to, I will give them my autograph. Ah, the top 3 fastest in a single game, not the entire game. I am not that stingy."

Once he said that the atmosphere in the waiting room changed. The players narrowed their eyes, their competitive spirits were burning.

— Breeze's autograph, huh? I want it. I will get it for sure!

— Look at them. They now take this seriously.

— There will be a bloodbath lol! I can't imagine what happens when those guys are serious about winning this game.

— I shall train my hands for the next game.

Seeing the result of his words, Max was completely satisfied. At least, this would be interesting even without him putting in effort.

The timer almost reached zero. Everyone was ready at the end of the barrier, including Max. Some items could be seen lying on the path in the distance. All players were already thinking about how to use the items they could see.

Not knowing the item's effect, Max planned to just use it by instinct. He planned to sacrifice a few games to learn about the game's mechanics.

When the timer reached zero, the barrier disappeared. All the players began to run without any hesitation. Max was in front of all of them. His reaction was the fastest. A golden number one appeared above his head, showing his position.

However, that didn't last for long. Someone actually passed him by riding on a gale. Max looked at the man and noticed that he was smirking behind the mask.

"This bastard. Run on the ground, dammit!"

— lolol

— He called his viewer a bast4rd

— Breeze never changes. Please don't change.

— Ah, I want to be called that too. Please call me a b4stard while grinding your teeth in frustration!

— This person… Are you an S or an M? Make up your mind!

Max looked at the course and narrowed his eyes. Ruined Temple had many junctions. Some were blocked paths by high walls, while some parts looked like they could be climbed with veins extending from above.

That high wall was apparently a shortcut. If a player managed to climb it, they would be able to save five seconds. How could Max know about it? Simple.

Because there was a sign that said it was a shortcut and pointed above the high wall. There was no attempt to hide it at all because there was no need to. This wall wouldn't be able to be climbed up in five seconds without the help of a certain item.

Going through the normal way would be a safer and faster option.

Usually, that would be the case.

"Let's try the shortcut! Those who don't try it are gay! Mods, take note of their names!"

"Wha– That's dirty!"

"How can you do that?! I don't want to be branded as gay!"

"Damn it! Why would the map be a Ruined Temple?! If it's Mountain Slope, I won't have to suffer from the shortcut!

Max shouted shamelessly without a shred of embarrassment, making all the participating players turn to the shortcut. The first-place player, however, continued to the normal path without even looking at the shortcut.

"Heh, that threat won't work for me. I am gay."

After announcing that, he disappeared into the fork. Max and the other stared at him in surprise.

"Hey, it's not the time to stand around. Let's climb this wall!"

Someone's shout actually brought everyone back to the course. Max immediately took a run and jumped, kicking the wall to change his direction toward a half-destroyed pillar and kicking it once again to return to the wall.

His hands were outstretched in a grabbing motion. With a fluid movement, he managed to grab the rim and pull himself up. Everyone's stare was now at him. He glanced down with a golden number above his head before running away.

"That bastard!"

"Return here, you bastard!"

"Fuck this! I will become gay for a match to punch Breeze in the face!"

"Count me in. I can always be straight again after the match is over!"

"Find the chain! Let's take a turn to punch him!"

No one stayed near the shortcut any longer. They had decided to throw away their dignity just to get back at Max.

— They are extreme…

— If I were in that place, I would make the same decision

— Breeze's face is just that annoying in my opinion

— fyi, that's his smirking face. It's so apparent even when he's wearing a mask

— Using his authority to force his fans… Isn't he an overlordn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

— Anyway, this is amusing lol. I love you guys a lot

— ^ I found someone who doesn't use the shortcut in the chat