Chapter 175
A video just over a minute long played here and there.
The Wealth Gap team had started their stream the latest, but their content progressed the fastest. The other teams were still doing introductions and making small talk.
So even if Seo-jun’s video played out of the blue and people stirred up an issue, it wasn’t a big deal.
Normally, mentioning another stream could be grounds for a ban, after all.
Unlike Seo-jun’s team, who had already become united as one through exercise, the other teams needed time to introduce themselves to their coach and break the ice.
Honestly, it was Seo-jun’s team that was the strange one for immediately feeling inner closeness despite just meeting because of the workout.
It wasn’t something easily felt—that kind of emotion you’d have for a comrade you’d crossed the same battlefield and the same line of fire with.
Seo-jun had pulled off that difficult feat unconsciously.
Anyway, that was the result.
[My data’s already been learned. We just need to learn this round’s data, so it should be simple. From now on, I’m at Level 10.]
All the streamers on Rios, the pro players, and the viewers ended up watching Seo-jun’s gameplay.
A video of him taking down a Level 10 AI in one minute.
The ripple effect was, naturally, bound to be huge.
“Hmm? Is it really always this easy to take down?”
“The sword moved somehow, but Seo-jun’s HP didn’t even drop at all.”
“Um... ”
They felt an urge to ask Baek Do-yul, who was right next to them.
Even Wave didn’t dare step up in front of the Champion.
But when Baek Do-yul, silent, replayed the video he’d been watching, no one could get a word out.
Because it was still awkward.
It couldn’t be helped.
Thankfully, though, there are shameless types here, or more accurately, it’s the internet where you don’t have to face anyone, so people could just bluntly ask whatever they were curious about.
- Champ, please explain
- Is that how it normally goes?
- Does that mean they’re at least pro level?
- Explain the movements too!
- So was that unknown actually you? Or not? lol If it was you, you’d be pretty pissed, huh? Getting handled that easily.
- Champion’s nothing special
- The jerk who said “nothing special,” are you in your right mind? lololol
For a while, Shin Ha-yeon, Taker, and Baek Do-yul had taken turns occupying the throne.
To be precise, when Seo-jun had just given up on the training ground and Shin Ha-yeon and Baek Do-yul got caught up in a subtle pride battle, attention-whore Taker had barged in. Everyone knew about that period.
That easily defeated alter ego was definitely one of those two, and if so, one of their prides must have taken a crack.
As expected, they flooded into Lane’s team too.
To poke at Taker.
- Was that you?
- That’s you, right, pro?
- But if it wasn’t Taker, then you just lost to Baek Do-yul?
- And if it was Taker, he lost to the host over there. Yikes.
- Unblockable attack, on!
- What are you lowlifes doing pestering such a noble person?
- These viewers are so shabby, they can only do shabby things lololol
- Everyone stop! He’ll leave at this rate.
Of course, Taker didn’t care one way or another.
He wasn’t the same type as Lee Dong-su.
‘A tree with deep roots isn’t swayed by the wind.’
While Lee Dong-su turned a blind eye to malicious comments, Taker was more of a “my way” type who’d actually look at each one and think, “Huh, go ahead.”
Simply put, his ego was strong.
Back when Shin Ha-yeon and Baek Do-yul were having their fierce duel in the training ground, he’d jumped in and got cussed out as a tactless jerk, but he wasn’t the kind of person to care about that.
Almost as if he’d planned it with Baek Do-yul, he kept replaying the video.
- What’s this
- Why’s this guy watching the video too?
- Anyone watching Ha Yun-ho, Mental, and Lane’s streams right now, thumbs up lololol
- I’m so damn curious what’s going on
- Tell us the answer!
‘The answer?’
The answer, huh.
What the viewers were currently curious about was whether Seo-jun’s play was normal.
Because, in reality, most pros who’d won against Level 10 never made that footage public.
There was no way to gauge it.
Was this typical or not?
‘Definitely... ’
His skill was truly exceptional.
To the point of admiration.
It wasn’t that his movements couldn’t be read, or that I couldn’t think of a way to block them.
But ending it in one minute without taking a single hit.
‘That’s not something you can just do lightly.’
Taker wondered what that streamer Seo-jun was thinking.
And also, what Baek Do-yul’s next move would be.
‘That was that hyung’s alter ego.’
Just for the record, Taker was a year older than Lee Dong-su.
Baek Do-yul was in his mid-twenties.
‘Anyway, I should watch the reactions.’
“My way” doesn’t mean he was completely reckless.
“Hey, team members.”
“Y- Yes! Yes!”
“Just give the order, Coach!”
“I shall receive your command.”
- Bull guy lolol manly “I shall receive” lol
- Shouldn’t it be “Let’s have a go at it” here?
- Why a go at it? lolol
A slightly peculiar bunch.
“Why don’t we all watch together for a bit? I think something interesting’s about to pop off.”
And watching something like this together was good for getting closer.
Originally, he’d joined because Lee Dong-su made it look fun, but all the other competitors had shown up.
It had become a battle of pride.
A competition using the results of the teams they were helping had begun.
So he now had an obligation to teach them more properly.
To do that, getting friendly was a good start.
The other four players were probably in the same position.
My way.
Just because he didn’t care what others said didn’t mean he was okay with losing a match.
That, he wouldn’t tolerate.
“Sounds good!”
“It really does feel like something fun’s about to blow up.”
“Hyung, aren’t you going to jump in? That time you provoked him was cool.”
““That was cool to you?””
- The handsome guy lolol
- A provocation that totally compliments the opponent
Anyway, they settled in and, sitting down, went into viewer mode watching Mental and Ha Yun-ho’s streams.
- Ack lolol all 6 teams are watching now lolololol
- This is legendary
- So what matters in the end is Baek Do-yul and Taker
- But why’s Taker just sitting there spectating! lololol
[Hmm. I’ll just wait and see for now.]
Seo-jun said this.
He had no intention of drawing more aggro here. It was something he said to check how the opponent reacted before making a move.
Seo-jun didn’t even know who that Level 10 was in the first place.
Of course, no one guessed Seo-jun’s inner thoughts.
- So once he finds out who the Champion is, he’s going to attack like crazy?
- ???: Well, I thought your posture was a bit off there.
- ???: It looked easy though?
- ???: I was going easy on you for that one minute.
- That really does sound like him lolololololol
So, the people’s gaze shifted from the spectating Taker, from the yielding Seo-jun—
Onto Baek Do-yul.
And finally.
Baek Do-yul opened his mouth.
[Everyone.]
The Champion’s words.
There might be room to debate calling him the best gamer in the world, but at the very least, there was no argument that he was one of the best.
Because he’d won the championship.
That Baek Do-yul spoke.
[First of all, the AI just now was me.]
- So Taker lost to Baek Do-yul lolol
- You guys backed him into a corner no matter what he does
- Are you a Taker fan?
[Hahaha. He certainly played well. But I can’t just sit still here, I suppose. Is that okay, Mental?]
[Of course! It’s actually what I was hoping for!]
- Ohhh
- Yeah, this is what I wanted to see
- Are we getting a real-time duel?
- Yeah, call for an answer! lololol
- So what about that one minute? Not getting hit once?
[Don’t worry. What I’m about to show you will be answer enough. Now then, let’s head to the training ground.]
Baek Do-yul moved to the training ground with a relaxed attitude.
* * *
Surrounded by the circle of Mental’s team members, Seo-jun’s data clashed with Baek Do-yul.
Baek Do-yul’s sword was fast.
And domineering.
The Supreme Tyrant.
A tyrant sword is nothing special. It simply means a powerful sword.
It means overwhelming with skill.
It was the sword of the first user to ever obtain the title of Grandmaster, the person who had climbed to the very top.
Even if the level had been raised, no AI that hadn’t reached the pinnacle, the utmost limit, could withstand their sword when they put their mind to it.
Baek Do-yul knew this well.
And to make use of it, he’d watched the video one more time and had run a simulation in his head in advance.
He, too, following Shin Ha-yeon’s lead, had been someone who’d trained using Seo-jun’s AIs.
The previous data he’d already mastered long ago, and the newly added parts he’d learned just by watching now.
The result.
[HP 0]
He won.
In under a minute.
- Ohhh!
- Isn’t there anyone who can properly explain this?
- So at least it’s confirmed that Seo-jun wasn’t insanely crazy. Baek Do-yul just showed it like that too.
- So that’s why he said it’d be the answer.
- lololol watched both, good job.
- Yeah. Pros can all probably do this much. And even if that bastard Seo-jun is crazy good, he’s probably not at a level where he can do things pros can’t.
- Should I give it a try? Holding out a bit might be doable?
- People saying “should I try” characteristic: can’t even handle Level 5, let alone Level 9.
Taker clicked his tongue as he read the chat.
‘Pros can all do this much?’
Just because the result looks easy and effortless doesn’t mean it was easy.
From what he could see, it was clear that both had gone at it seriously.
- So how’s that villain bastard going to react? lolol are we going for another duel?
No way.
Judging by the level he’d assessed, it already looked like they’d nearly hit their limit.
‘At most, if the owner changes three more times, anything after that would be a failure.’
Ending it in one minute.
On top of that, without taking a single hit.
If a pride battle broke out here and they kept taking it back and forth from each other, eventually one of them would end up losing for real.
Since it wasn’t certain who that would be, to save face and protect their pride, he judged that ending it here was the right call.
Taker now waited for Seo-jun’s mouth to open.
What would his reaction be?
‘Will he let his pride get the better of him and take it further?’
Against pros like us?
Believing he could win?
And then Seo-jun’s mouth opened.
[Huh? Well, an AI is still an AI, so it has its limits. I guess that’s why he took it down so easily. Honestly, if either he or I really wanted to do it fast, I think we could probably take it down within 30 seconds.]
- lololololol crazy
- He said that with a completely straight face, so it actually sounds legit.
- Then Baek Do-yul could do it too.
- For real lol
Hm?
[Yes. You want me to show you? Come on. I already fought it.]
- No fun
- For real lol
- Smooth escape lolol
Heh.
Hehehe.
30 seconds?
This streamer hyung, you see this?
‘That streamer knows that if he keeps going, it’ll be a disaster.’
So he made an excuse. After bluffing. And at the same time, he laid the groundwork by saying Baek Do-yul could do it too.
He’s certainly smart.
But.
Something about it was off.
Specifically, that “30 seconds” remark really grated on Taker.
A bluff is only acceptable if it’s kept within bounds.
‘Hmm.’
I can’t let this slide.
“Lane? I think I’ll need to head to the training ground as well.”
I’ll have to shatter that excuse.
* * *
Seo-jun was fairly surprised watching Baek Do-yul’s fight.
‘He really took it down so easily.’
His level was higher than Seo-jun had thought.
Of course, it was because Baek Do-yul already had experience fighting Seo-jun’s AIs, but there was no way Seo-jun could know that.
So, misunderstanding the situation, Seo-jun genuinely got ready to offer some coaching.
But.
- Breaking) Taker declares he’ll beat his own alter ego in 30 seconds, then heads into the training ground lolololol
- Ah lol “prove what you said yourself”
- You disliked fighting Baek Do-yul once? Okay, so we gave you Taker instead lololololol
- Turn on the video! Hurry!
- Is Taker going to take it down in 1 minute too? No, in 30 seconds? lololol
Seo-jun let out a sigh.
Why had he drawn aggro?
Looking at it, he’d said it because it seemed like even doing it casually would end it in under a minute, and if he focused to the max, 30 seconds would be plenty.
Maybe it bothered them that he’d put himself on the same level as a pro.
‘The world sure loves to screw me over.’
Prove it, they said.
Seo-jun looked at Lee Dong-su.
Lee Dong-su was currently wearing an expression that said, Why on earth does the situation keep unfolding like this?
Seo-jun conveyed his intent through his eyes.
‘I’m not holding back anymore.’
‘Hyung, please hold it in. I’m begging you.’
‘No.’
In the midst of that, the viewer count for Seo-jun’s stream, which had started late, was stealthily, continuously climbing.
[Viewer Count – 27,000]