Chapter 175

CHAPTER 175

The video, barely over a minute long, began playing everywhere.

Poverty Gap had been the last team to start streaming, but they were also the first to actually get to their content.

The other teams were still introducing themselves, chatting, and breaking the ice.

So even if someone suddenly played Seojun's video or viewers started bringing it up, it wasn't a major problem.

Normally, mentioning other streams could get you banned.

But unlike Seojun's team, who had already become united through the shared suffering of exercise, the other teams still needed time to get acquainted with their coaches.

Honestly, Seojun's team was the strange one.

How often did people instantly develop camaraderie like soldiers who had survived the same battlefield together?

Yet Seojun had accomplished exactly that without even realizing it.

As a result—

"My data has already been learned. It only needs today's match data, so it's simple. Which means from now on, I'm Level 10."

Every streamer, professional player, and viewer participating in League of Streaming ended up watching Seojun's match.

The video of him defeating the Level 10 AI in just one minute.

Naturally, the impact was enormous.

"Huh? Is it really supposed to be that easy?"

"The swords were moving around like crazy, but Seojun didn't lose any health at all."

"Uh..."

Everyone wanted to ask the person sitting right next to them.

Baek Doyul.

Even Wave couldn't bring himself to speak up in front of the champion.

But once Baek Doyul silently replayed the video, nobody could bring themselves to interrupt.

Things were still awkward.

It couldn't be helped.

Fortunately, there were beings in this world who had no such problems.

People protected by internet anonymity.

People who could ask direct questions without hesitation.

• Champion, explain please.
• That's normal, right?
• So he's at least pro-level?
• Explain the movement too!
• More importantly, was that actually YOU, Unknown?
• If it was, that's kind of embarrassing. You got destroyed way too easily.
• Champion ain't that special.
• Whoever said that, are you mentally okay? LOL.

There had been a period when Shin Hayeon, Taker, and Baek Doyul constantly traded the throne.

More specifically, after Seojun had abandoned the Training Grounds and Baek Doyul and Shin Hayeon started having a subtle battle of pride.

Then the attention-seeking Taker had barged in.

Everyone remembered it.

Which meant everyone knew the defeated clone had to belong to either Baek Doyul or Taker.

And if that was true, then one of their prides had just taken a direct hit.

As expected, the viewers immediately migrated to Rain's stream.

To provoke Taker.

• Was that you?
• It was you, right?
• If it wasn't Taker, then it means Baek Doyul got beaten.
• And if it was Taker, then he got beaten by that streamer's clone.
• Checkmate activated!
• Why are you people doing this to our distinguished guest?
• The viewers are too low-class, so low-class behavior is all they know.
• Stop! He's going to leave!

Of course, Taker didn't care.

He wasn't the same type of person as Dongsu.

A deeply rooted tree does not sway in the wind.

Dongsu ignored hateful comments.

Taker looked directly at them and thought,

"Heh. Is that so?"

Then moved on.

In simple terms—

His ego was strong.

Back when Shin Hayeon and Baek Doyul were battling over the Training Ground throne, he'd gotten involved too.

People had called him tactless.

Asked if he couldn't read the room.

He'd received plenty of criticism.

But he simply wasn't the type to care.

So he sat there, repeatedly replaying the video.

Almost as if he and Baek Doyul had agreed to do the same thing.

• Wait.
• Why is THIS guy replaying it too?
• Upvote if you're currently watching Yoonho, Mental, and Rain at the same time LOL.
• I really want to know what's going on.
• Just tell us the answer!

The answer?

Taker pondered the word.

What the viewers wanted to know was simple.

Was Seojun's performance normal?

The reason they couldn't tell was because most professional players who had defeated Level 10 never released the footage.

There was no frame of reference.

No way to judge whether this was ordinary or extraordinary.

'It's definitely...'

His skill was remarkable.

Impressive enough to earn genuine admiration.

The movements weren't unreadable.

Taker could understand what Seojun was doing.

And it wasn't impossible to think of counters.

Even so—

Defeating Level 10 in one minute without taking a single hit?

'That's not something you casually pull off.'

Taker found himself wondering what exactly this streamer named Seojun was thinking.

And more importantly—

How Baek Doyul would react.

'That was his clone, after all.'

For reference, Taker was one year older than Dongsu.

Baek Doyul was in his mid-twenties.

'Either way, I should probably watch the reactions a bit longer.'

Being a free spirit didn't mean acting recklessly.

Taker finally turned toward his teammates.

"Everyone."

"Y-Yes?"

"Just say the word, Coach!"

"Your command is my law."

• Bull LOL. "I shall obey." What a macho way to answer.
• Shouldn't he be saying, "Let's settle this with a duel"?
• Why would they fight? LOL.

Taker was certainly an unusual person.

"How about we all sit back and watch for a bit? Feels like something interesting is about to happen."

And watching things like this together was a good way to get closer.

Originally, he'd only joined because Dongsu was participating and it looked fun.

But now all the other competitors had shown up too.

It had become a matter of pride.

The competition had begun through the performance of the teams they were coaching.

Which meant he now had an obligation to teach his team properly.

And for that, it was best to get close to them.

The other four pro players were probably thinking the same thing.

After all, being a free spirit—

didn't mean you didn't care what happened.

It just meant you didn't care what other people said.

Losing, however?

That was something Taker absolutely would not tolerate.

"Sounds good!"

"Honestly, it really feels like something fun is about to happen."

"Bull hyung, aren't you going to join in? You looked pretty cool when you were provoking people earlier."

"...That looked cool to you?"

• Handsome privilege LOL.
• Even compliments sound like taunts from him.

Anyway, they settled into their seats and became viewers themselves, watching Mental's and Ha Yoonho's streams.

• LOL. All six teams are spectating right now.
• Legendary.
• In the end, this is really about Baek Doyul and Taker.
• Then why is Taker just sitting there watching?! LOL.

Then Seojun spoke.

"Hmm. I'll wait and see for now."

He said it because he had no intention of drawing more attention.

He wanted to see how the other side responded before acting.

Seojun didn't even know who the Level 10 AI belonged to in the first place.

Of course, nobody guessed his actual thoughts.

• LOL.
• Is he saying he'll attack once he finds out who the champion is?
• ???: "Honestly, his stance looked a bit off there."
• ???: "It seemed easy."
• ???: "I was holding back for a minute."
• He really sounds like he'd say that LOL.

The viewers' attention shifted.

From the spectating Taker.

From Seojun, who had seemingly yielded the stage.

To—

Baek Doyul.

And finally.

The champion opened his mouth.

[Everyone.]

It was the champion speaking.

People could debate whether he was the single best gamer in the world.

But nobody could deny he was one of the very best.

After all—

He was the world champion.

And Baek Doyul said:

[First of all, that AI just now was mine.]

• As expected LOL. Taker lost the throne to Baek Doyul.
• You people would've declared Taker the loser no matter what.
• Taker fans in shambles?

[Hahaha. He's definitely skilled. Still, I can't exactly sit here quietly after that, can I? That's okay, right, Mental?]

[Of course! It's what I was hoping for!]

• Let's go!
• This is exactly what I wanted to see.
• Real-time throne challenge?!
• Yep. Gotta answer the call.
• But what about the one-minute thing? What about not getting hit once?

[Don't worry. What I'm about to show you will answer all of those questions. Now then, let's head to the Training Grounds.]

Baek Doyul moved toward the Training Grounds with a relaxed demeanor.

***

Inside the circle formed by Mental's teammates,

Baek Doyul's clone faced Seojun's data.

Baek Doyul's sword was fast.

And overwhelmingly domineering.

The ultimate style of domination.

There was nothing particularly complicated about a domination sword.

It simply meant a strong sword.

A sword that crushed opponents through pure skill.

This was the blade of a man who had become the first player to earn the title of Grandmaster and had climbed all the way to the summit.

No matter how much the level of the Training Grounds had risen—

His sword, once wielded seriously, was something else entirely.