Chapter 181

CHAPTER 181

 

Looking at the chat, it seemed that the league's biggest event was entering the game world with goals that matched each player's background and creating history there together.

Not only was it a global event, but it apparently drew as much attention as the Probo League itself.

That made sense.

'So it's basically a showdown between masters from all over the world.'

Gather the people who are best with each hero and have them fight over pride.

There was no way viewers with low tolerance for excitement could resist watching that.

And naturally, if they were masters of their respective heroes, they would already be well-known.

On top of that, the results would become part of the league's official lore, so anyone who played the league would naturally understand and take an interest.

Unlike streaming tournaments aimed at viewers, this event targeted every league player.

"Didn't you participate?"

He was asking about this year's event. It was usually held at the beginning of the year, and it was already the end of the year now.

"Pros usually don't participate. Around that time we're busy preparing for the Spring Season. You could say we leave it to civilians."

"Civilians," huh.

Still, it felt like a surprisingly fitting expression.

He'd completely relaxed now.

"No, seriously, whatever happens, just don't do it. Be reasonable and only take first place in one thing. There's no way it'll turn out exactly like you said. Surface isn't stupid."

Was that why?

Now he was even nagging him. Openly, too. What kind of pro worried about things like this?

  • It's worldwide. No way he'll get first in more than one category.
  • Maybe if it's something involving swords.
  • The world is a big place.
  • But he beat a pro.
  • The league isn't a training hall.
  • So when are you checking your compatibility?

"I can't let that slide. Ah, no. Not that."

When Lee Dongsu started nagging again, Seojun corrected him.

He'd only asked because he was genuinely curious, but people kept acting like he had terrible manners.

"Then what can't you let slide?"

  • Hahahahahaha
  • One fourth.

 

 

"Alright then, let's go."

Lee Dongsu opened the display case containing the orbs.

He placed his hand on one of the orbs, then removed it.

Afterward, he touched the air as though manipulating the message window floating before him.

Then Lee Dongsu's body vanished.

While Seojun stood there bewildered, Lumi and Ha Yoonho also touched the orbs and disappeared.

As Wind Sword vanished, Alpaca spoke.

"Mr. Seojun, just think of it as going to a training ground."

"There are training grounds on the first floor too."

"This one's a bit special. It's tailored to each hero and even has minigames and stuff."

"Ah."

So that was how they conducted the tests?

No wonder he couldn't remember ever seeing anything related to it in the interface.

Seojun walked toward the display case.

He reached out and touched an orb.

A message window appeared.

[Would you like to move to the map 'Id's Escape Route'?]

Seojun selected Yes, and his body was transported.

He arrived in a wide clearing deep within a forest surrounded by trees.

A floor made of gray bricks, a dried-up well, and collapsed structures reduced to skeletal frames.

The others who had arrived first were already there.

'So there was something like this.'

Seojun realized he'd unconsciously assumed there was no need to look for features like this in an online game.

Now he understood that assumption had been wrong.

"Even Mr. Alpaca's here. Alright then, for our precious ace—and because he looks like he'll hit us if we don't explain things—let's go over everything we know from the beginning."

Everyone except Seojun chuckled.

"First of all, there isn't much information about Id. Well, actually, that's true for pretty much every hero."

"Because of that history book?"

"Right. To be precise, they probably just can't reveal much. The detailed stuff hasn't been decided yet. They've only set up the basics. Anyway, the first clue we have about Id is the title."

"'Abandoned Automaton?'"

"Yep. You know what an automaton is, right?"

"Basically some kind of machine?"

"You actually know that."

"...?"

  • LOL, was Lee Dongsu always like this?
  • He feels like a younger cousin who's casually talking back.
  • The kid's still in school, hahaha.
  • He's pretty good at streaming!

"Just kidding. Anyway, besides that, there's also a one-line hero description..."

"There is? Then why..."

  • Abandoned Automaton Id: Id is a machine created by someone. Through an unknown power, he gained life, but was abandoned. Fleeing from enemies pursuing him, he escaped. The boy, now alone, eventually meets someone.
  • That's it?
  • LOL
  • Completely useless, hahaha.

"It got posted in chat. Did it show up in your chat too, hyung?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks, explanation-addict viewers!"

Ha Yoonho suddenly cut in.

Ignoring him, Lee Dongsu continued.

"Anyway, that's all we get. And the final clue is the map name."

"I think it was called Escape Route."

The map name.

Id's Escape Route.

"So that's it for the background information. Can't really explain anything more. As for the test—or more accurately, Id's Trial—it seems to be about escaping."

"Just escaping?"

"While dealing with the targets chasing you. You'll understand once you try it. Now then, let's take a look. Id's skill is Orb Summoning..."

Seojun already knew about the skill.

[Orb Summoning]

Rather than summoning a simple magical sphere, it summoned those complex-looking orbs that had been displayed in the showcase.

The orbs came in different types.

Their shape was identical, but they were categorized by size into three classes, from largest to smallest.

The largest orb could only be summoned one at a time.

However, that orb could strike four times.

Medium-sized orbs could be summoned two at once.

They disappeared after landing two hits.

The smallest orbs could be summoned up to four at a time.

These disappeared after successfully landing even a single hit.

"The largest one does the most damage, but the difference isn't huge. Also, once a flying orb gets hit by an enemy, it goes on cooldown before it can be summoned again. That's why having four is always advantageous."

There was a difference in damage, but if the largest orb was countered, you effectively lost access to the skill entirely.

Meanwhile, even if one of four small orbs got hit and went on cooldown, the remaining three could still be freely controlled and used to attack.

More importantly, while controlling four was more difficult, it also made them much harder for opponents to block.

In other words, summoning four not only spread out the risk, but also made successful attacks easier.

Which was why—

"From a balance standpoint, just summoning the orbs is incredibly difficult. Most first-time players can't even summon three at once."

Lee Dongsu said that, spread his palm toward the sky, and closed his eyes.

"This skill is blatantly related to visualization."

Four orbs, each no bigger than a golf ball and smaller than an apple, appeared above his palm in an instant.

Then they began circling around him with a whooshing sound.

'That bastard.'

Trying to look cool, huh?

Seojun clicked his tongue.

  • That's why it's used to judge talent.
  • If you bring a friend who's never played before and they summon four at once, make sure to tease them forever about how talented they were as a newbie.
  • You too?
  • Same here lol.

"Why is it difficult?"

"See how the inside is a little complicated? You have to visualize all of that accurately. You can't just stop at thinking, I'm using the skill."

"It doesn't even seem meaningful."

"True. That's why it's a hero that's openly designed around visualization. Anyway, let's all give it a try."

"Yup!"

Lumi shouted energetically and raised her palm toward the sky just like Lee Dongsu before summoning an orb.

The other team members did the same.

The size was that of a golf ball.

The smallest type of orb.

However, the number was—

"Three? That's impressive."

"I've practiced a few times before... hehe."

The others summoned theirs as well.

Alpaca had three.

"Same as last time. Haha."

Wind Sword naturally had four.

Ha Yoonho did too.

"This is the power of an 80!"

And finally, Seojun.

"Pfft."

Lee Dongsu laughed.

"Uh... so it was actually true?"

"You're not joking, right?"

  • LMAO
  • OMG
  • The streamer actually did it?
  • No way, it's real?

One.

He had summoned a single orb.

Naturally, Seojun wasn't embarrassed.

He simply shrugged and said,

"It's my first time, so it felt a little awkward."

Then he dismissed the orb and summoned it again.

Golf-ball-sized.

Visualizing the form and structure of the four orbs he'd just observed.

However—

"Two?"

"Oh! Then three should come soon, right?"

"Probably not."

'Is two my limit?'

Seojun briefly recalled the sensation from the summoning.

The conditions felt restrictive.

When Evic's magic circles had appeared immediately as he traced their trajectories, this felt like something was blocking him.

'They did say this hero is specifically for visualization.'

Two more orbs appeared.

But because they hadn't been summoned simultaneously, it didn't count.

'Never thought I'd feel something like this.'

Seven years ago, before learning about Synchronization Rate, he'd assumed everyone struggled this much when playing games and had been deeply impressed by it.

Seojun chuckled.

"I'm not pretending to be weak, okay? Think about it. My Synchronization Rate is only 10."

Yakko was short for pretending to be weak.

  • Well, his Synchronization Rate is only 10 lol.
  • Yeah, this makes sense.
  • The world is finally returning to normal...?
  • Did we finally find a weakness?
  • LOL the streamer finally seems human.
  • This is real, right? You're not going to suddenly summon four and reveal you never had a weakness in the first place, are you?

The reaction felt a little strange.

And Dongsu.

'Did you laugh at me?'

Well, that could happen.

Seojun generously let it slide.

'See you tomorrow.'

Anyway, he moved on.

"Hehe. No, Seojun hyung, don't get too discouraged."

He wasn't discouraged.

"Summoning them isn't the whole challenge. Id's Trial is what actually evaluates your fundamentals in visualization. So don't be discouraged. Of course, having only two puts you at a disadvantage, but if you summon medium-sized orbs instead, you won't fall that far behind. Hahaha!"

He'd explained earlier that the trial involved escaping while dealing with pursuers.

Perhaps the more orbs you could control at once, the more targets you could eliminate in a short period of time.

That was probably why he said it.

Then—

Ding.

['Scam Dice' has posted a mission.]

[This one's really a safe investment this time, right?]

[Place within the Top 10 of Id's Trial Rankings]
– Mission Reward: 1,500,000 won

A mission appeared.

For the first time in quite a while.

The main reason was that Seojun had shown both his Synchronization Rate of 10 and the fact that he wasn't a complete beginner at visualization thanks to Evic.

Normally, a total newbie could improve as they accumulated know-how and experience.

But there was no way Seojun lacked skill or knowledge.

The problem was simply his Synchronization Rate.

In other words, it was an innate trait.

Something that couldn't be fixed.

And on top of that, the challenge was placing in the Top 10 rankings.

Which meant—

  • Yeah, this really seems legit.
  • Is it finally different this time?!
  • There's a famous saying in the stock market: Every time, people think this time is different.
  • But I can't resist this one.
  • Lol, after I'd played the game for a while, I could at least summon three during the test.
  • One is a bit... rough, hahaha.
  • And the streamer isn't even a complete newbie!
  • This really feels different!

As over a hundred thousand viewers watched the stream, the prize pool started increasing.

And—

Seojun smiled inwardly.

'Was the fee 10% if they fail?'

Of course, he intended to succeed.

But even if he failed—

[+10,000 won added to the reward]

[+15,000 won added to the reward]

[+100,000 won added to the reward]

  • Let's go!
  • KING OF SAFE INVESTMENTS, LET'S GOOOO!!!
  • We can finally get one over on the streamer!!!

It was still profitable either way.

"You guys are doing this again. Seriously, what are you going to do if I succeed? Save your money. Save it."

So—

He added fuel to the fire.

  • LOL, look at this newbie who can only summon two orbs. Time for a lesson!
  • Opportunities like this don't come often!
  • Let us get just one win against the streamer!