***
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With Seong Jihan joining the fray, everyone thought Taiwan’s second match would be an easy win. However, the gameplay turned out to be stunningly unexpected.
=Hu Wootaek is flying in the sky!
=What…what’s he doing up there?
The colossal Taiji summoned by Hu Wootaek devoured the map when it spun one way.
=Even the trains are flying away… Is this even possible?
=Ah, the Taiji is reversing!
=The screen is… suddenly engulfed in darkness.
When it spun the other way, a white sword spewing darkness dyed the world completely black.
An overwhelming dark force that no player could resist.
-What’s that…
-Why can’t we see the screen? Is there an error??
-I hope it’s an error… I can’t believe Jihan has been defeated T_T
-No, that old man has never used this before!
-If it’s to this extent, isn’t he the strongest player in humanity?
-Yeah, why didn’t he compete in the Space League?…
Viewers who anticipated a one-sided match were panicked when the elderly player from Taiwan ended the game in a short time. However…
=Uh… What? The game result. Korea wins?
The actual outcome of the game went against expectations once again.
=What’s going on? How did this happen?
=Ah… The sole survivor is player Seong Jihan. Hu Wootaek is listed as having perished?
When the Taiji reversed and the world plunged into darkness, everyone assumed the game had ended. But the game’s result was a victory for Korea.
Zzzing!
“Gosh…”
“What’s that?”
“Why is that old man using such power here when he didn’t participate in the space league?”
As players emerged from the battle net connector with dazed expressions…
“Huh? We won? What, Uncle… What happened earlier?”
Yoon Seah too stepped out of the connector with a similar look, startled by the game’s outcome, she turned to Seong Jihan.
But he…
“Just a moment.”
“Oh, okay.”
With a serious expression, he reflected on the recent situation.
‘I’ve never faced such a formidable opponent before…’
Since obtaining the Martial Soul and the Void, Seong Jihan hadn’t encountered any threats even in space. The most challenging adversary he faced recently was the self-destruction of Artemus.
His power far surpassed normal standards. However..’
‘The Taiji Sword… it was my utter defeat.’
The white longsword from the inverse Taiji spewed such darkness as to eerily resemble the obliteration of his previous life.
Neither the ability of the Martial soul to command space nor the power of the void could withstood that darkness.
Seong Jihan naturally thought he had perished, too.
However,
‘…Just as I was about to dissipate, I was able to grasp a clue to the fifth annihilation technique, Heavenly Tree Descending Spirit.’
The fifth annihilation technique, Heavenly Tree Descending Spirit, touched upon the wood attribute. No matter how much he trained, he couldn’t grasp its mechanism.
His body shattered by the Taiji Sword, Seong Jihan found the thread of Heavenly Tree Descending Spirit as life force attempted to mend the disruption.
‘There seems to be a connection between the life force held by the elves and Gilgamesh’s authority…’
Seong Jihan recalled what the Ancient Elf had said.
He, who had once rampaged, claiming to invade Earth, now pondered…
“This planet… it was already a world where experiments were conducted… But the races here are too weak to be part of it…”
Since Earth was a “world which has already undergone experiment,” he couldn’t enter the portal.
Could this power of Gilgamesh be related to that?
‘It’s only a small clue for now, but…’
With just a small hint about the Heavenly Tree Descending Spirit, Seong Jihan was able to regenerate his body through the power of life force.
Though the mechanism was similar to his regeneration during Artemus’s self-destruction, this time, he regenerated his body from complete annihilation, reaching a higher level.
Of course, since this regeneration wasn’t complete,
Had the darkness of the Taiji Sword persisted, the newly revived body would have been erased promptly.
‘Hu Wootaek’s body couldn’t withstand the power of the Taiji Sword.’
Despite Dongbang sak’s possession, the Taiji Sword was too powerful for normal players to handle.
When the Taiji Sword unleashed darkness, Hu Wootaek’s body naturally couldn’t endure it.
If Seong Jihan hadn’t regenerated, he would have perished later, albeit not immediately.
However…
Because of him reviving, the game’s outcome was flipped in Korea’s favor.
Perhaps because of that,
A system message from Pythia popped up.
[Dongbang Sak says, ‘You survived the Taiji Sword and revived, junior. I accept my defeat.’ I’ve lost this bet. Disappointed, but I shall give you a free prophecy.]
Dongbang Sak gracefully acknowledged his loss in the battle however, Seong Jihan had no intention of accepting it.
“It’s not his loss. Hu Wootaek’s body simply couldn’t handle it. Tell him I can’t accept victory, so let’s fight properly in another form.”
[No. What are you saying? Dongbang Sak acknowledged his defeat, and I’m offering a free prophecy!]
“Skip the prophecy. I want to fight again.”
[Oh… really? But my prophecy is very valuable!]
“Forget it; I don’t need it.”
Seong Jihan sought to fight once more rather than claim victory in the bet.
As his entire being disintegrated and found the thread to Heavenly Tree Descending Spirit,
‘The Taiji and inverse Taiji unfolded by Dongbang Sak proved to be immense opportunities for learning.’
In less than a year after acquiring the Martial soul, Seong Jihan became the most powerful player among humanity.
Till now, there was not a single player worthy to learn from.
With no one to emulate, he had to carve his own path and push his martial boundaries.
‘But his Taiji was different.’
The Taiji Sword technique exhibited by Dongbang Sak made a profound impression on Seong Jihan.
Even with the martial soul, he couldn’t comprehend its depth.
However, witnessing the Taiji stimulated his subconscious, prompting new thoughts on the martial arts he had honed until now.
‘I can’t pass up the opportunity to learn over some small prophecy.’
Even if it meant facing defeat hundreds of times,
For the exaltation of the martial soul, Seong Jihan was willing to embrace death readily.
“Tell him I want another match. Quickly.”
[…Are you serious about this? For real? Aren’t you curious about your future?]
“I’d rather see or learn more about the Taiji.”
[Humph. I’ve never been disrespected in such a way before… Fine. Just a moment.]
Once Seong Jihan firmly expressed his will, Pythia sent another message after a pause.
[You can fight in the next match. What do you say?]
“Good.”
[Then, just ensure you’re not banned. If you are in game three, you can’t contend after that.]
Seong Jihan nodded to her words and promptly went to Coach Noh Youngjun.
“Ha. Hu Wootaek… was he this powerful all along? Why did he conceal his strength until now?”
“We could simply ban him from now on, right?”
“With no other remarkable key player in Taiwan, we should just ban him and be safe.”
Though Korea won the second match, the coaching staff suggested they include Hu Wootaek in the ban list for safety, as he demonstrated extraordinary power.
Coach Noh Youngjun was also nodding, about to agree to this proposal when…
“Don’t ban Hu Wootaek, please.”
“Ji…Jihan?”
“Just leave him be for the third game. After that, you can do as you wish.”
Pondering Seong Jihan’s words, Coach Noh fell deep in thought.
To the coach, the right move would indeed be to ban Hu Wootaek.
‘Looks like Jihan wants to confront him again…’
That was the issue with it being Seong Jihan’s request.
The hero who single-handedly dragged the Korean team up from last place in the regional league to contenders for the Champions League.
It was hard for even a coach to disregard the wish of such a transcendent player.
“After the third game… are you really sure it doesn’t matter?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“Alright, then Hu Wootaek won’t be banned this game.”
The coaching staff exchanged unsure glances, but none contradicted.
They were well aware of Seong Jihan’s stature within the Korean team.
Who were they to say he was wrong for not banning Hu Wootaek and risking defeat?
Moreover,
‘We won the second game, so…’
‘You never know, right?’
Anyway, since Korea had won the second game,
Maybe it was okay to give Hu Wootaek a pass for one match; they could just ban him in the 4th and 5th game.
With the coaching staff’s consent, Coach Noh began selecting the ban for the third game.
=Ah… Hu Wootaek has not been banned!
=Even after watching game two, they are leaving Hu Wootaek unbound…
=What exactly is Coach Noh thinking!
=The Taiwanese coach isn’t banning Seong Jihan either!
=Instead, Yoon Sejin is banned!
=The map is just Bridge Alone…
=Ah. In that case… won’t it just be the same result as game two?
Nothing changed but the map.
With the same lineup as the second game, Korea and Taiwan were set to clash again.
* * *
Bridge Alone.
Typically a defense map in BattleNet to fend off undead armies, in the national representation matches it turned into an invasion map where both camps clashed across a bridge.
Originally, the game progressed with warriors forming formations and advancing on the large bridge, supported by archers and mages from behind. However, the third match against Taiwan took on a completely different aspect.
“Being willing to forsake prophecy to fight with me again, that’s a big decision.”
Thunk! Thunk!
From the Taiwanese camp walked Hu Wootaek, leisurely approached alone.
With each step, his appearance changed subtly.
His beard grew longer, his hair became whiter.
Originally a middle-aged appearance, he was now completely transformed into an elderly man with lush white hair.
“That is correct.”
And from the Korean camp, the sole player walking forward was none other than Seong Jihan.
He was fully equipped, drawing two weapons at the ready.
“Alas, this time I can’t unleash the Taiji.”
“Why not?”
“This player can’t withstand it anymore. It might kill him.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
The power that erased the map, the Taiji’s force.
Despite his eagerness to experience it once more, it seemed he couldn’t because the incarnated body was too weak.
Seong Jihan felt a tinge of disappointment, but Dongbang Sak stroked his beard.
“Worry not. The original bet was for a minute, was it not?”
With a yank, Dongbang Sak pulled a hair from his beard.
Suuuu…
An intense demonic aura arose behind him.
“I can end this using the Heavenly Demon’s power alone.”
Swoosh!
With just a single hand movement,
The atmosphere stirred violently, and Seong Jihan’s left arm disappeared in an instant.
The formless palm of the Heavenly Demon.
The strike that transcended shape erased not only the arm but also the shadow sword.
“Hmm…”
However, Dongbang Sak appeared unsatisfied after erasing Seong Jihan’s arm, emitting a low chortle.
“The Heavenly Demon’s power seems insufficient.”
But for a good reason.
Suuuu…
Seong Jihan’s vanished left arm was rematerialized.
“It’s only the beginning.”
“Well, show me properly. A minute goes by quickly after all”
Boom!
Before Seong Jihan could finish,
The bridge collapsed, and Dongbang Sak’s body rapidly closed in on Seong Jihan.
“Right. This will end quickly.”
In the blink of an eye, with intense demonic energy surging forth, Seong Jihan smiled amid the pain of his torn body.
While the Taiji Sword was ungraspable,
He instinctively comprehended the martial art of the Heavenly Demon Palm.
“Is this how you use the Formless Palm?”
Swooooosh!
Having recuperated, Seong Jihan mimicked the Formless Palm he had just seen.
A shred of Dongbang Sak’s robe was torn.
And then,
Swoosh!
Dongbang Sak looked sternly at his disappearing clothing.
Seong Jihan’s replication of the Formless Palm.
Having observed it only once, the similarity was strikingly profound.
“…Did you comprehend this with your martial soul?”
“Yes.”
“If you become my successor, never imitate it again,” Dongbang sak warned, his demonic energy growing ominously.
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