Chapter 123

[JiHan publicly challenged the national team's Warriors!]

[Experts weigh in on Sung JiHan's statement!]

[Overwhelming majority believe it's impossible; some think he could beat a few!]

[National Petition surpasses 500K signatures after JiHan's stream?! A new petition demanding a face-off has also been established and already surpassed 300k signatures.]

[Anonymous national team Warrior says, "It's not worth responding."]

[Even a Gold player underestimates the national team… How can they improve?]

JiHan's provocation was very successful, and it was all over the news.

- Wow. Isn't he being too arrogant? How could a Gold say he's going to beat the national representatives?

- That's how bad they are. Why don't they agree to a match if they don't like it?

- For real, they can just teach the Gold a lesson. Why are they trying to avoid it?

- They're scared, lol.

- Honestly, you might be right.

- Other than Kim Dong-woo, it seems like they'd all lose.

↳ Welcome, Kim Dong-woo

- I watched Kim Dong-woo's Taiwan match. He was really bad, LOL. He'd lose to JiHan in seconds.

BOOM!

Kim Dong-woo, the national team's Warrior leader, threw his tablet PC.

"These bastards… are they saying that I'd lose to a Gold?"

He knew JiHan was strong. He'd watched the 'Top 100' match as a fellow Warrior and wondered how he'd been able to accomplish it, but him being strong was one thing…

"That bastard… He would've joined the national team soon anyway. He dares disrespect his seniors like this?"

They would be on the same team once he became a national representative, so it was unbelievable that he would insult them so openly.

'Things can't go on like this.'

They initially intended to ignore the issue, but public opinion was starting to turn on them. Dong-woo entered the national team's Warrior-exclusive chatroom.

- Guys… Things can't go on like this. We'll be flooded with hate comments if we keep ignoring him.

- See? Ignoring him will just lead to us being criticized. We need to teach that arrogant jerk a lesson.

- Yes. We'll have to ask the Administration to prepare a place for us.

- We won't lose, right? That bastard's pretty strong.

- LOL, Jae-ho, are you scared of a Gold?

Then, someone linked the video of JiHan clearing 'One Bridge' to the chat.

- I was so pissed that I went to his channel to see just how strong a Gold could be… but he seems insane.

- This idiot became scared after watching one video!

Dong-woo looked at the video and cursed.

When he saw JiHan solo Hojo and take down the phoenixes, his mouth fell open. How could a Warrior dominate the defense game on his own like that?

"Huh…"

'He's pretty strong…'

JiHan's video reminded him of the Sword King. Though Battle Net international competitions were team-based, Sae-jin had always annihilated everything himself.

It seemed that JiHan had the same sort of potential.

- Fuck, he really is strong.

- Maybe he's using a cheat. Does it make sense for a Warrior to do that? Who is he? The Sword King?

- Honestly speaking, he's strong. That's why it's better to face him sooner rather than later. He levels up really fast.

- Are you suggesting that we face him while he's level 70? Should a member of the national team be speaking like that?

- You dumbass, do you want to lose to a Gold?

Frustrated, Dong-woo typed a message.

- Let's face him soon. If he keeps growing, I think I might even lose to him.

Being upset was one thing, but decisions should be made rationally. Dong-woo, who'd climbed up to become the team's leader thanks to his skills, felt chills when he saw JiHan's power.

Even if they faced him right then, could they be confident in their victory? What if his level went up even more? In that case, it would be a guaranteed loss.

- If Dong-woo says so… Okay.

- I'll contact the Administration. You guys prepare as well.

He took a few moments to regain his composure before giving the Administration a call.

"Yes, this is Kim Dong-woo. I have something to discuss in regards to Sung JiHan's video…"

He asked them to arrange a stage as soon as possible.

Tokyo, Ito Shizuru's residence…

"It seems like something interesting happened in Korea," Shizuru said as she looked over the news articles.

JiHan's provocations were even drawing attention on Japan's news sites.

- What's wrong with JiHan? He's provoking the national team?

- Didn't you see the 'Top 100' match? He's strong.

- The Korean national team is pathetic.

- Ms. Shizuru, please… Use Enchantment on him.

"Hmph, I don't understand why such an article was posted in Japan," the Sword King, who was lying on the bed with her, said. Seeing her get excited about his previous brother-in-law irritated him.

"Ryuhei, what do you think? Will JiHan be able to defeat the national team's Warriors?"

"Yes," he immediately replied. Although it was annoying, he'd analyzed things from an objective point of view. "The national team Warriors are pathetic. They're talentless and lazy trash. He'll defeat them all."

"It's the first time I've seen you speak in JiHan's favor."

"Regardless of my personal feelings, his skills are outstanding. I understand your interest."

"It's nice that you recognize it. If JiHan becomes a national representative and faces our country… You'll be able to suppress him, right?"

"Ha! Obviously." The Sword King frowned as if the very question offended him. "I'll cut his arms and legs apart in 10 seconds. Seeing you so interested in him makes me want to do it right now."

He used to have no particular thoughts on his old brother-in-law, but seeing someone he deeply loved showing interest in him made him despise the man.

"Fufu, then…"

Clap-

As Shizuru clapped, a woman in black clothes came in. She was similar to Akari, the assassin who'd caused a commotion in Korea, in physique, and her face was slightly similar to Shizuru's

"Did you call me, main body?"

She was a 'clone' that Shizuru had created by modifying Akari.

"Why did you call her?" The Sword King asked.

"Our match against Korea is next month, right…?" Shizuru replied.

"I'm not sure, probably."

"Please take my alter-ego to the match. If you can subdue him, she'll finish it by casting a successful Enchantment on him."

"Do you still have lingering feelings…?"

"Yes. I want to make Japan the world's top country."

With a captivating smile on her face, Shizuru turned on the TV and tuned in to channel 0. There, she saw the old 'Top 100' match highlights being discussed by American commentators.

"I wish for Japanese to be spoken on this channel instead of English. Also, I'd like the GP exchange to be displayed in yen, not dollars."

"Pf, what a patriot," the Sword King mumbled.

"Isn't that why I was able to meet you?"

"But all I need is you…"

"Fufu! Don't worry," she reassured him.

Then, she offered a suggestion. "If it helps ease your worries… If I can charm JiHan and bring him to Japan, I will turn him into a woman."

"What…? Turn him into a woman?"

"Yes. You aren't jealous of Akari, right? Let's have him undergo gender reassignment surgery."

"…" The Sword King was momentarily lost for words.

Soon, he smiled and said, "Hahaha… Alright. In that case, I hope he becomes a national representative soon." He was pleased with the fact that she'd come up with a solution to appease him.

"That's why I'm also working on igniting public opinion in Korea."

"Good… I hope it happens soon."

The Sword King sincerely hoped his arrogant ex-brother-in-law would become a national representative.

* * *

[Mr. Sung, Dong-woo, the national team's Warrior leader, has made a proposal. He said he would set a stage for you to prove your skills. Would you be willing to participate…?]

"Yes." JiHan immediately accepted after he received Yoon-sik's call.

[We'll proceed with the test at the Administration's mock battlefield in two days. Ah, Dong-woo suggested streaming the test live. What do you think about that?]

"Live…?"

It would be shameful for them to lose against a Gold, but they were even suggesting a live stream?

[He suggested doing it through the Administration's channel and distributing the revenue from the stream.]

"Understood."

It was clear that they were more interested in publicly humiliating him than they were in making money, but JiHan accepted the proposal without hesitation.

"Woah, Uncle… You're going against a national representative?"

"Yes, it's happening faster than I thought it would."

It seemed they were afraid of public opinion turning against them for refusing to fight a Gold and had expedited the test date.

"Wouldn't it be better to level up a bit more before facing them? Two days is too soon."

"It's okay. I can beat them now."

"But still! Isn't it impossible at level 70?"

"No. I'm at level 72, and… my Martial Power is at 100," he confidently said.

"You already got a stat to 100? Is that even possible?"

"My titles helped a bit…"

The combined bonuses from titles, guild buffs, and other boosts made it possible for his Martial Power to reach 100.

'I should be able to combine the three elixir fields now.'

Although there was only a point of difference between 99 and 100, the three digits weren't merely symbolic. 100 was a sort of breakpoint, and Martial Power had become much stronger after getting there.

'This time…'

He thought he would definitely succeed in fusing the three elixir fields.

"Sae-ah, I'll be doing some closed-door training."

"Ah, to prepare for the test…? Okay!"

"No, it's not about them. It's about my stats. Even if you don't see me leave for a bit, don't worry."

"Okay!" Sae-ah said.

"I'll finish this up quickly and be back before you know it."

Then, JiHan smiled and walked toward the training room.