The Legendary Old Man Becomes a Dungeon Streamer: When the World's Strongest Tried Streaming in His Second Life, He Instantly Went Viral and Gained S-Class Disciples. - Chapter 13

Ten minutes after the battle royale began. We’d moved fairly far north. Just ahead of us, the jungle gave way to higher ground. Terrain transitions are always danger zones. I called out to Karin up ahead.

“First safe zone contraction’s coming soon. Any updates on other teams?”

“Three teams eliminated, seventeen remaining. No details on who took out whom though.”

“What can we infer from that?”

“Fighting probably occurred near the northern safe zone. Probably skirmishes over prime positions.”

“Good work. So what’s our move now?”

Karin stopped at the jungle’s edge, studying the high ground. That plateau would become the next safe zone soon, meaning this jungle would soon be out of bounds.

Our choices were charging the plateau or taking the long way around. Technically we could operate outside safe zones for limited periods, but exceeding that meant instant disqualification.

“Three minutes total outside safe zones. Can’t afford to waste any.”

My detection showed one team lying in wait on the plateau likely the snipers who’d taken shots at us earlier. They were hunting teams trying to enter the safe zone from their elevated position. Taking the detour might be wiser, but Karin stepped forward.

“I’ll go. If combat starts, stay hidden here.”

“Understood.”

“Not even going to ask why?”

“Actions speak louder. We’ll see.”

Karin nodded and liquefied her body, flattening into a puddle-like form essentially low-crawling. This drastically reduced detection risk as she carefully infiltrated the plateau while concealing her mana. No attacks came as she approached.

Time for me to enter combat mode.

I inhaled, regulating my mana flow before suppressing it completely. Unless someone got extremely close, no one would detect me waiting here.

Several minutes passed until I sensed mana fluctuations combat had begun. Here’s how commentators later described it:

“So how would you assess that engagement?”

“Karin expertly infiltrated the plateau and created a diversion, deliberately provoking the other team hiding deeper in. Brilliant play, she clearly predicted Melonde Panna couldn’t afford to move north.”

“Melonde Panna specializes in sniping, not mobility. So they abandoned the plateau to flank through the jungle?”

“Exactly! Though still in the safe zone, staying put would’ve left them on the outermost edge for the next contraction. They panicked and rushed for better positioning.”

“Only to run straight into the legendary old man lying in wait.”

“Team OldMan&Peach’s tactics worked perfectly. The diversion was flawless.”

Sniper teams typically struggle in close quarters common knowledge Karin exploited by using me as ambush support. When Melonde Panna appeared before my hiding spot, their long-haired leader shrieked in shock:

“What the—? You split up?!”

Understandable reaction abandoning the plateau only to find me waiting.

“What now, Leader?!”

“No retreat! Four against one, finish this fast!”

Decisive, but desperation showed. Their mana flows were already chaotic, leaving countless openings.

First strike sent their leader flying.

Chain of command broke. Panic became disarray.

Positioning was already perfect.

Closed distance. Three more strikes.

One clean hit per remaining member.

Four precise blows annihilated Melonde Panna.

“Oof! Even legends struggle against unexpected encounters, eh?”

“They likely had countermeasures, but this was unfortunate. Melonde Panna’s sniping could damage even S-ranks with proper setup.”

“But that’s the key, they weren’t prepared! Close quarters remains their weakness. Better luck next time!”

Post-combat, I joined Karin on the plateau. She’d already driven off the other team and was lounging, watching clouds.

“Damn, Teach. Felt your presence, but was that four one-hit KOs?”

“Pure long-range specialists. Get inside their guard and it’s over. That said in a ranged fight, you’d have lost against them.”

“Probably. But Melonde Panna never had the option to fight me.”

“True. Excellent strategizing.”

They’d assumed I’d also infiltrated the plateau, rushing them into a mistake. With more time to assess, they might’ve spotted the ruse but safe zone pressure forced errors.

“Honestly, if they’d recognized your strength, they’d have sniped me first. Their detection was sloppy.”

Also correct they only noticed me when charging straight in.

“Flawless execution.”

“Hehe, praise me more~”

Karin’s bashful grin was oddly endearing.

“Speaking of which, the team hiding deeper in?”

“Team Ironclad Construction defense specialists. Close-quarters fighters, so they retreated fast.”

I’d checked their profile earlier civil engineering company awakened, manipulating earth/wood for instant fortifications. But against Karin’s liquid form? No countermeasures. Smart withdrawal.

Avoiding bad matchups is Battle Royale 101.

“Thirteen teams left now we’re thinning out.”

Mana clashes erupt everywhere during contractions encounters and fights multiply as safe zones shrink.

Our real threats remain ambushes and pincer attacks. Taking enemy first strikes or fighting multiple teams simultaneously those are our true dangers to avoid.

“No more slip-ups from here.”

“Roger that! Let’s crush it!”

[Team Profile]

Melonde Panna
Members: 1 A-rank, 2 B-ranks, 1 C-rank
Specialty: Air bullets, movement enhancement, camouflage, super vision
Details: Long-range specialists
vs Karin: Mid-range air bullets penetrate liquid form
vs Reina: Black hole negates projectiles
vs Legendary Old Man: Insufficient firepower
Elimination quote: “Told you we suck at close quarters!”