The northeastern United States.
Past Washington, in Pennsylvania, Beaver Stadium.
Once a football stadium, it had now been renovated into an arena for the godseats' matches.
With a capacity of 100,000, the stadium was packed with roaring spectators.
And then.
[Can you hear this ovation?!]
[It's an atmosphere on a completely different level from the usual!]
The domain of the Lion Godseat, the United States, was famous as the holy land of arenas.
True to its nature as a combat godseat, each state had built massive arenas for constant sparring and combat simulations.
Moreover, the Lion Godseat's arena system was world-renowned, drawing awakened beings from all over the globe to the matches held in every state.
Not just those from the Lion Godseat's holy city, but awakened beings from other godseats also participated in betting to test their abilities.
Thanks to this, enormous sums of money moved through the Lion Godseat's arena system.
Naturally, even ordinary citizens were accustomed to betting on the matches.
And among them, the most popular events were, without a doubt, the matches of star-grade holy rankers.
If a star-grade holy ranker happened to appear, the day turned into a festival.
They were covered not only by specialized channels but also by prominent figures in global media.
But there was one match that people desired most.
A match that had never happened in history, yet everyone most wanted to see.
A showdown between the superhumans, of whom there were only twelve in the world.
Though, of course, that number had now grown back to thirteen.
As expected.
Waaaaah!
The stadium erupted with cheers that seemed to shake it to its foundations.
Reporters and commentators from various broadcasting stations even covered their ears.
"Incredible! I never imagined this level of excitement!"
"Honestly, weren't the matches of the Ten Stars the most legendary in the history of the arenas?"
"That's right. The match between the Lion Godseat and the Virgin Godseat was it."
"Ah...! Personally, I think the Ten Stars' match of Cheon Yuha was the most legendary...!"
"That's true, but back then it wasn't a match among the Ten Stars but against an S-rank. Anyway, a holy human-grade match really is on another level!"
"It'll just devour the legends of past arenas!"
Roars of excitement burst out again.
In truth, holy human-grade matches had been requested many times but had never come to pass.
Why?
Because a holy human-grade match was practically a war of annihilation for the holy ranks.
On the surface, they said the arena couldn't withstand the clash of holy humans' power, but that was questionable.
A holy human fight became a political battle, where winning was a problem and losing was a problem. Refusing to participate was only natural.
But now, for the first time, a match between holy human-grade figures was happening.
"On top of that, the opponent is none other than Lee Geon! Not only was he the talk of the town after returning after twenty years, but he's the holy human of a new godseat!"
"That's right! The thirteenth holy human! And although he's in the waiting room right now, his presence is immense! His build is much smaller but no less than the Lion Godseat's!"
"But wasn't Lee Geon the one who got knocked out by a single punch from the Lion Godseat's holy human twenty-three years ago?"
"That's true. But he might have been sharpening his fangs for the past twenty-three years! Or maybe the Lion Godseat was his role model!"
"Haha! So what will happen today? Will it be the same outcome?"
"Stay tuned! The match starts in just ten minutes!"
It was then that the stadium was in such an uproar.
"Ha. Look at this bastard."
Opposite Lee Geon stood Steven, his face anxious.
And all around them were reporters with cameras and holy city warriors of the Lion Godseat clad in armor.
That was it.
Lee Geon had been waiting in the waiting room when the Lion Godseat suddenly barged in.
Steven said it was just a pre-match courtesy visit, but the reporters swarmed in after him.
Then, Steven sat down across the table and started spouting strange words.
'I dropped by because I was worried. It's right before the match—are you hurt anywhere?'
'I'm not, you bastard.'
'Ah, no, you might think you're fine now, but you never know. Look closely. Your stomach might suddenly hurt, right? Then you might get stuck in the bathroom and not be able to come out...'
'You go to the bathroom and take a dump yourself.'
'...No, I'm just so worried about your body. Didn't you collapse quickly before because you weren't feeling well? You don't have to participate in an event like this...'
'No problem. There's no problem at all, so I'll see you later? It's been twenty-three years—I'm really looking forward to it.'
'......'
He didn't show it, but Steven's face was a sight to behold.
"As expected of the Holy Lord! To even care about an old colleague's health...!"
Just as camera flashes burst, calling it a heartwarming story before the match.
"Have one."
The Lion Godseat held out a piece of gum to Lee Geon.
Of course, his intention was obvious, and as soon as he took out the gum, just as expected.
This was written on the gum wrapper.
[I'll give you ten billion. Let's make a deal.]
Lee Geon raised an eyebrow.
The reporters were on the opposite side, so there was no way they could see the contents of the gum wrapper.
When Lee Geon looked at Steven, their eyes met, and Steven beamed.
But at that moment.
Crinkle, crinkle!
"!"
Lee Geon mercilessly crumpled the gum wrapper and threw it into the trash.
He chewed the gum deliciously.
But Steven wasn't about to give up.
"Ah, I'll give you one more. It's a specialty of our holy domain. They call it lion gum."
This time he was a bit more urgent.
Written on the outside of the gum wrapper was just one line.
[30 billion!]
Look at this.
Lee Geon laughed as if dumbfounded, and Steven outright thrust the entire box of gum at him.
[50 billion!!!]
What a lunatic.
"Ptui!"
Lee Geon spat the gum into the wrapper.
"!"
He threw the whole box of gum straight into the trash.
By then, Steven's face was priceless.
But regardless, Lee Geon stood up from his seat.
"Ah, I'm hungry. I should buy something to eat before the match."
That was when.
Grab!
As if he had expected it. Steven desperately pressed something into Lee Geon's hand.
It was bread.
And a single line written on the bread wrapper.
[I won't ask you to make me a weapon!!! Please!]
This bastard, seriously.
Lee Geon tore open the bread wrapper, riiiip, and tossed it to his slime.
The slime ate it up, yummy, as if it hadn't been fed in ages.
Eventually, Steven looked at Lee Geon in despair.
His eyes seemed to ask why the deal wasn't working, but Lee Geon smiled fiercely.
Deal, my ass.
'Just crush him and collect twenty years' worth of advertising fees on top.'
If twenty years had passed, how much would the interest have piled up?
As Lee Geon smiled like that, Steven was fidgeting.
Just as Steven seemed to pull out something from his chest as a final resort.
Boom!
Lee Geon slammed his foot down on the table.
"Come to think of it."
"!"
"You laid down other guys in front of me."
Startled by those words, Hugo quickly checked something.
It was the match schedule posted on the wall.
Looking closely, the total match schedule was two hours.
In other words, it wasn't just a fight against Steven.
Steven was the highlight, and before that, holy city warriors from other godseats were on standby.
They were undoubtedly mercenaries Steven had hastily gathered. Of course, they weren't ordinary mercenaries.
'The arena's strongest fighters...!'
His scheme was clearly to drain Lee Geon's strength before their fight.
As expected, Lee Geon grinned.
"So you're struggling desperately to sap my strength."
But Lee Geon, who they thought would be angry, said something unexpected.
"Stop playing tricks and send out all your guys too."
"......!"
Steven doubted his own ears.
But Lee Geon tossed his phone in front of Steven.
Thud!
And when Steven saw his phone, he was horrified.
'This is...!'
And for good reason, because the contents of the phone were photos.
Personnel files of his own holy city warriors. And Lee Geon smiled nonchalantly.
"Cut the crap and send out the ones I've checked."
Sweat dripped down Steven's face as he confirmed the ones Lee Geon had pointed out.
And for good reason, because the ones Lee Geon had selected were, of all people, elites cherished by the Lion Godseat's divine god.
'No matter how you pick them, they're exactly...!'
They weren't first-string, but there were some with outstanding potential.
In the end, Steven spoke while watching the reporters' eyes.
"What do you want them for?"
Lee Geon smirked.
"I still only have one holy city warrior."
"!"
"If there's anyone useful, I'll take them with me."
This time, Hugo was surprised.
'Th-this bastard.'
Could it be that he accepted the match request for this purpose from the start?
Steven was quite flustered too.
Putting aside the first-string, how did he even notice the abilities of the trainees they were still developing...!
But Lee Geon smiled calmly.
In fact, a new mission had come in the moment he arrived here.
[Holy City Warrior Mission]
- Create weapons or gear to supply to holy city warriors
- Add holy city warriors
(Combat Godseat Bonus +200%)
This place was exactly where he could fulfill both conditions.
Well, creating weapon bodies wasn't a problem, but having data versus not having it was the difference between heaven and earth.
'Because the data I've collected so far isn't suited for subjugation purposes.'
Plus, many of the things he had collected had disappeared from experimental use.
'Though I haven't used the important ones yet.'
On the other hand, the Lion Godseat was a combat godseat specialized in battle. Data related to physical abilities would pour out.
It was all good either way.
Beep, beep, beep—
A sound signaling the top of the hour rang out along with cheers.
"Lee Geon— Lee Geon—"
"Steven— Steven—"
The Lion Godseat froze.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that time, Lee Jaewon and Goat were running somewhere with bewildered faces.
It was unmistakable.
That face they had glimpsed earlier in the arena.
'The Scorpion Godseat...!'
And that wasn't all.
"Brother, wasn't that just now the Libra Godseat's holy human?"
"Yeah. Unless they changed faces while I was asleep."
Both had their faces hidden, so no one seemed to have noticed them, but they couldn't escape the eyes of the masters of tracking and surveillance—the hawklike gaze of the Bow Godseat.
And with the Bow Godseat's near-clairvoyant eyes, they had clearly confirmed it.
The betting slips they carried in their chests. Premium betting slips that could only be purchased on-site.
'Could it be they came to bet directly?'
'Strange.'
And it was just then.
"Oh my god, today's viewership ratings are going to be crazy!"
"!"
Lee Jaewon and Goat saw the production crew climbing the stairs in excitement.
Among them was a PD in charge of the broadcast.
"The Lion Godseat's holy city warriors and the arena champions are fighting Lee Geon!"
The best part is always saved for last.
The bout with Steven was in the second round, but the first round also had opponents that would get people excited.
"This guarantees viewership for two hours!"
"Ayy, PD. No matter what, do you think it'll be two hours?"
"What?"
"You should estimate two and a half hours!"
"Hahaha! I guess so."
At those words, Lee Jaewon and Goat looked at each other's faces.
What? Two and a half hours?
Against Lee Geon?
But regardless, the PD shouted in excitement.
"Anyway, let's hurry. We might miss something important!"
"Ayy, what's the rush? The first match just started."
"Right. Wasn't the first one the champion of this arena?"
"Yes! With this guy alone, at least twenty minutes..."
But that was when.
Boom!!!
An explosion rang out from the arena.
"Wh-what! What was that noise!"
"A terror attack?"
No, it wasn't a terror attack.
When the bewildered PDs entered the arena, they froze.
The audience seats and the reporters also had their mouths agape.
In the arena ring stood Lee Geon, dusting off his hands, and the champion had been sent flying out of bounds.
"What the hell. This bastard. They said he was a champion. It's already over before I even checked his stats?"
The match expected to last twenty minutes ended in one minute. And a knockout in the first round at that.
At the same time, cheers erupted.
"Lee Geon— Lee Geon!"
"Yeah! You've got to be at least that much to even attempt to face the Lion Godseat's holy human!"
The emcee was flustered too but shouted in excitement.
[Ah, yes. As expected, a holy human-grade is at least this much! But the next match won't be easy! The next participant is a titan who has won thirty consecutive matches undefeated...!]
But then.
Lee Geon crooked his finger at the emcee as if telling him to shut up.
"Hey, you're noisy."
[Y-yes?]
"It's a hassle one by one, so send out the rest of them all at once."
[Yes?! All of them?]
"Well, if they all attack at once, they might buy some time, right?"
Lee Geon smiled fiercely.
"Why. No matter what, we need at least five minutes of broadcast footage, right?"
"......!!"
And meanwhile.
Watching the scene, Steven was sweating and shifting in his seat.
That was only natural.
'That bastard's strength isn't even drained?!'
But as if knowing this, Oliver, who was watching beside him, furrowed his brow.
"Still, as expected of the first awakened one. He has some skill. Though of course, before our Holy Lord, it's nothing."
Steven's pupils trembled.
Nothing, my ass! Are you insane?!
There was only one thought in the pale-stricken Lion Godseat's mind.
He had to run. If he didn't run, he'd really be killed by that bastard.
What? They were surprised that a match expected to last twenty minutes ended in one?
'Give me a break.'
On top of that, Lee Geon wasn't even at full power. That bastard was leisurely observing the holy city warriors' abilities right now!
To scout them for his own holy city!
"Holy Lord?"
In the end, Steven quietly got up from his seat and tried to leave.
"Holy Lord? Where are you going?"
"Bathroom."
"Understood. Take your time."
At this, Steven smirked as if relieved and headed for the door.
But that was when.
"Hey. Where do you think you're going?"
That chilling voice rang in his ear.
And at that moment.
Wham!!!
In an instant, the Lion Godseat was kicked and sent flying toward the stage.
Boom!!!
Screams burst from the arena.
"Kyaah! What is that!"
"Holy Lord?!"
And as Steven picked himself up on the shattered stage.
He was surprised.
Lying in front of him were all the champions who were supposed to drain Lee Geon's strength in the first match.
And step, step. That bastard came down the stairs.
"Bastard, where are you going? You're up next."
(Continues in the next part)