Chapter 111

While the opening day had been defined by Hong Ari’s initial push, the second day of competition completely belonged to Oh Seonyeong.

Her Fenrir (A-rank), Shadow Wolf (B-rank), Hyeolrang (B-rank), and the rest of her pack put on an absolute masterclass against the Spanish squad.

She secured an incredible total of 6 kills!

According to global commentators, she would have likely managed a clean sweep of the opposing team by herself if her seventh opponent hadn’t been a recognized world ranker.

That was a testament to how flawlessly she commanded her wolves. It was truly magnificent.

• This is spectacular, Oh Seonyeong! Absolutely marvelous! Who could have guessed that a five-wolf formation could provide such an immense sense of security!

• She cornered them without giving them a moment to breathe! She even forced a world ranker to burn through three summons! That is going to make the job infinitely simpler for whoever follows her!

• Beginning with Hong Ari’s performance yesterday, doesn’t it feel like our national team has stepped into a completely separate league?

• Without a doubt. The global community is finally waking up to the reality. South Korea has officially joined the upper echelon of international powers!

• Who is taking the field next?

• It’s Ki Jaehyeok! Ki Jaehyeok is stepping up!

• The master of goblins!

Ki Jaehyeok put the finishing touches on the match by claiming the final 4 kills.

The person standing in his way was a world ranker widely referred to as ‘Spain’s Wall,’ but entering the fray with a mere two summons remaining made stopping Ki Jaehyeok an impossible task.

Spain was regarded as a formidable force within their own region, yet just two players from South Korea had managed to dismantle their entire lineup!

“Wow, has the competition always been this underwhelming?”

Oh Seonyeong muttered, a look of skepticism on her face.

“…Honestly, Noona. Why does this feel so effortless? The Spanish competitors didn’t use to feel this beatable. They seem to lack any sense of the basics.”

Ki Jaehyeok shared her sentiment completely.

The spectacular blade work demonstrated by his Goblin Master (A-rank) was so dazzling that it was practically guaranteed to dominate the daily recap videos!

Could they have pulled off a performance like this in previous years?

No. Not a chance.

This drove home the sheer significance of building a proper foundation.

Ki Jaehyeok realized it with absolute clarity once more.

Having an expert map out your path versus blindly stumbling through the dark were two entirely different realities.

If they hadn’t benefited from Hyungnim’s specialized instruction, they would undoubtedly be floundering just like their opponents right now.

Exactly like how they spent the previous three years.

“KI JAEHYEOK! KI JAEHYEOK! KI JAEHYEOK!”

“OH SEONYEONG! OH SEONYEONG! OH SEONYEONG!”

The entire South Korean nation was swept up in a massive wave of euphoria.

Was this the kind of rush that people in Brazil, France, or Argentina felt while watching a football tournament?

A competition was always vastly more entertaining when one side was completely overriding the other.

There was a distinct reason why local audiences only paid attention to archery during the summer games and short track speed skating when winter arrived.

“Haha, if things keep going at this pace, I’m starting to worry that the rest of us won’t even get a turn to show what we can do.”

Ahn Gijeong chimed in, building on the thoughts of Hwang Juwon.

“You aren’t kidding. With only five days remaining, if the opposing teams remain this unchallenging…”

“We still have matches against Indonesia and the Philippines ahead of us. We can make our mark during those confrontations.”

Indonesia, in particular, was a historically strong competitor that had successfully reached the Round of 16 in all three prior iterations of the league.

Their roster even featured three world rankers who fell into the titan-class category!

“That is a fair point.”

“Then again, if our guild master takes the lead-off spot for that round, the entire matchup will be wrapped up before anyone else can even step forward.”

“Ha, you make a very valid point there as well.”

Ahn Gijeong could no longer even picture a scenario where Baek Jinwoo suffered a defeat.

Barring a confrontation with one of the five great powers, it was impossible to imagine an opponent managing to put a scratch on Drill Sarge or Rolly.

“But listen.”

Hwang Juwon offered a gentle smile and gave a slow nod of agreement.

“Let’s just take it all in and appreciate this, alright? It’s a sensation we haven’t been able to experience for three long years.”

To be perfectly candid, Hwang Juwon was beginning to sense the approach of his personal boundaries.

Fresh, gifted prospects were rapidly overtaking him, and maintaining their pace was turning into an uphill battle.

Hwang Jiwoo and Song Yeonhui were examples.

Their development was progressing at a terrifying speed, whereas he felt he had very little personal progress to display.

Even so, there remained one vital task he was uniquely suited for.

“It’s the same principle as always. No matter what we face, we adjust and pour our entire effort into it. That is our sole responsibility.”

Ensuring the players maintained a stable state of mind!

“Hahaha, you hit the nail on the head, Hyungnim! Let’s just have a great time! Let’s go out there and enjoy the experience!”

Ahn Gijeong laughed out loud with genuine warmth.

The tournament pressed forward.

The standard schedule required entering the Arena around 10 AM and wrapping things up by 4 PM.

The fixtures were organized according to groups, and as long as a team adhered to the protocols laid out by the system and participated earnestly, there was zero danger of being penalized with a disqualification.

Given that layout, what did the participants do with their time once their respective matches concluded?

A portion of them chose to unwind at high-end dining establishments.

Others dedicated their time to refinement, focusing on respiratory control, mechanical drills, and similar exercises.

As for Baek Jinwoo, his post-match routine revolved around reviewing recordings.

With the assistance of Yu Jia, he had managed to get his hands on the official match broadcasts featuring the five great powers, allowing him to analyze their members down to the smallest detail.

England is without a doubt an elite squad.

Rachel’s capabilities were obvious, but Olivia was also unmistakably an incredibly dangerous competitor.

And the talent didn’t stop with those two.

Bale, Sharp, Deng, Mackiver, Walsh, White, Toone, Cork……

Virtually every member of their lineup possessed a reputation massive enough to warrant extensive documentation on public encyclopedias, and each individual possessed genuine mastery.

Their underlying fundamentals were rock-solid as well…… it was clear that Rachel had personally overseen the development of the entire group.

The precise manner in which their summons executed movements made it obvious.

If one needed a gauge for just how overwhelming the England national team truly was, a quick glance at their leaderboard placements provided all the answers.

Their entire ten-person lineup was composed exclusively of titan-class world rankers. A genuinely staggering assembly of talent!

[England National Team Roster]

1. World Ranking 1st, Rachel Rose

2. World Ranking 6th, Olivia Abernathy

3. World Ranking 7th, Gareth Bale

4. World Ranking 12th, Rory Sharp

5. World Ranking 13th, Joel Deng

6. World Ranking 17th, Sandy Mackiver

7. World Ranking 24th, Keira Walsh

8. World Ranking 31st, Ellen White

9. World Ranking 33rd, Ella Toone

10. World Ranking 41st, Ryan Cork

It was an intimidating force, pure and simple.

As he observed the match records, it became evident that even Ryan Cork, who sat at the bottom of their list, was executing plays that far exceeded what a 41st-place world ranking would suggest.

The man had clearly achieved a massive leap in capability over the course of the previous year.

Though none of that means a single one of them poses a threat to me.

The true issue lay in the fact that expecting the remaining members of the South Korean national team to confront them in a direct clash appeared entirely unrealistic.

This implied that Baek Jinwoo would be forced to carry the burden of eliminating the vast majority of their lineup on his own.

Am I truly capable of wiping out their entire roster single-handedly?

The lesser members might be manageable, but attempting that with both Rachel and Olivia standing in the line of succession is going to be incredibly demanding……

Heh.

A subtle grin developed on Baek Jinwoo’s face.

This is going to be entertaining.

Facing adversaries that presented a genuine challenge never failed to spark an adrenaline rush.

The more grueling the struggle, the more exhilarating the payoff when you ultimately claimed the crown of victory!

That exact psychological approach was what had driven Baek Jinwoo through his journey in 「Battle of Summoners」.

Baek Jinwoo proceeded to systematically break down and examine the official lineups of Japan, America, Russia, and Taiwan one after the other.

He committed the specifics of their various summons to memory and mentally charted out their personal tendencies and tactical approaches to engagement.

The exact same pattern applies to the rest of these nations.

Every single one of them exhibits the distinct markers of training received from the Five Emperors.

Impeccable structural fundamentals across the entire field.

A few among them even possessed the ability to implement those core fundamentals with a striking level of individual ingenuity.

Even so, it fell short of the standard required to truly impress Baek Jinwoo.

“What is putting such a cheerful expression on your face?”

Yu Jia, who had been sitting alongside him the entire time assisting with the review of the match media, spoke up.

Baek Jinwoo shifted his gaze slightly, looking puzzled.

“A cheerful expression? Me?”

“…Yes. You have a distinct smile on your face.”

“Is that so?”

He let out a quiet chuckle.

Well, look at that.

This is undeniably shaping up to be a massive clash of reputations……

Given that the Five Emperors had personally cultivated their respective protégés, the final standings of this league would ultimately serve as a verdict on whose students reigned supreme, wouldn’t it?

Taking that into consideration, I absolutely must establish total supremacy in the upcoming 5th League.

Staring at the sheer depth of England’s official lineup ignited an intense ambition within him.

The burning ambition to gather every single top-tier world ranker under the unified banner of SKY!

“I suppose… I’m just naturally tailored for tournament environments.”

“…I beg your pardon?”

“In any case, Yu Jia.”

“Yes.”

“It’s just as I brought up previously… I don’t intend to leave the roster of SKY in its current state indefinitely. The moment this tournament wraps up, I want you to comb through every region of the nation to identify raw potential. Specifically, candidates who pass the scrutiny of the Mindreader Eagle and earn the endorsement of Drill Sarge.”

“Understood. What kind of numbers are you envisioning for this recruitment?”

“Somewhere around ten additional prospects?”

Exceeding that number would risk stretching Baek Jinwoo’s capacity to the breaking point.

The overarching strategy was to bring them on board, put them through rigorous training, and then place them into a high-stakes internal ranking system so that only the absolute best performers would secure a spot on the official national team.

Isn’t that the exact methodology utilized by the domestic archery federation?

It was a known fact that earning a spot on that national team was widely considered a steeper hill to climb than securing an actual Olympic gold medal……

Baek Jinwoo aimed to establish an identical structural framework.

Hwang Juwon Hyungnim is an exceptional human being, but……

When evaluating his sheer mechanical execution and combat intuition, he leaves a fair amount to be desired.

That particular individual is far better suited to fulfill the responsibilities of a mentor or strategist.

Providing psychological stability to the competitors, offering guidance from the safety of the bench.

Certain individuals simply possessed a natural aptitude for that side of the sport rather than engaging in direct combat on the battlefield themselves.

Hwang Juwon and Ahn Gijeong fit that description perfectly.

Naturally, I have no intention of casting them aside.

They demonstrated their absolute commitment when they initially allied with me, and SKY will ensure they receive a stable, well-compensated position for the long haul.

That was the correct way to honor allegiance.

Seeking out alliances only when they serve your immediate purposes and then discarding those individuals once their utility expires — a group managed under that philosophy never survives the test of time.

Mainly because once a bond of reliance is shattered, it can never truly be restored.

He would, however, need to assist them in defining specific areas of responsibility within the guild hierarchy so they could go on providing meaningful value to the operation.

“Ten prospects! Got it, I will make a note of that.”

Yu Jia nodded in agreement, quickly transcribing the instruction onto her pad.

Baek Jinwoo experienced a profound sense of appreciation for her presence all over again.

Even at this very moment, while the rest of the organization was unwinding or focusing on their private schedules, she remained dedicated right here by his side, assisting in the granular breakdown of match material.

Moved by the thought, he voiced his perspective.

“I appreciate it.”

“Huh?”

“Just… you consistently provide an incredible amount of backing. Having you here gives me a real sense of certainty.”

Oh.

That came across as remarkably candid…… and yet Yu Jia’s analytical mind was already evaluating the moment.

She was an individual possessing a natural instinct for negotiation at her very core.

A matter she had been consciously suppressing out of courtesy suddenly found the leverage to present itself.

“Is that true? You genuinely value my assistance?”

“…Without a question.”

Receiving his confirmation, Yu Jia gave her bottom lip a gentle, nervous bite.

“If that is the case, would it be possible for you to grant me a single request?”

“A request? Go ahead, let’s hear what it is.”

A personal petition from Yu Jia.

What could she possibly want?

Baek Jinwoo’s gaze widened with genuine interest.

Throughout their entire association, she had never once approached him with a personal demand.

If anything, the dynamic had always been the reverse, with Baek Jinwoo frequently assigning various tasks to her.

“The truth is, my grandfather can be a bit… aggressive regarding these matters, but… it appears he is incredibly eager to arrange a meeting with you. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time deflecting his inquiries, but he has been absolutely unyielding.”

“Your grandfather… that would mean the head of the Daesung Group……”

Yu Jia gave a quiet, affirmative nod.

“Yes. The chairman of Daesung Group, Yu Byeongcheon.”

Ah, Yu Byeongcheon!

Baek Jinwoo assessed the scenario through a straightforward lens.

Daesung Group?

Their organization had consistently maintained an excellent relationship with Yubaek. They were a dependable, cooperative enterprise.

If the supreme authority of such an influential conglomerate wished to have a conversation with him, there was zero basis to turn down the opportunity.

“Of course. That poses no issue whatsoever. Go ahead and arrange the schedule.”

“R-Really?”

Yu Jia stood up abruptly from her seat.

She had fully prepared herself for a much more complicated negotiation, not expecting him to acquiesce with such ease.

While Yu Byeongcheon held immense historical significance in his previous eras, he no longer possessed the sheer leverage required to command an audience with Baek Jinwoo at his own whim.

“The man has expressed a direct desire to converse with me, so it is only natural that we accommodate him. It’s not a difficult request to fulfill…… Furthermore, he is your flesh and blood, isn’t he?”

“Oh.”

“Any date following the conclusion of the current league phase is perfectly fine by me. Simply establish a convenient slot and fill me in on the details.”

He gave his word without a single hint of hesitation or bargaining.

The days rolled onward.

Whether it was Indonesia, the Philippines, Canada, or Belgium……

The South Korean squad executed a series of total demolitions against every single opponent the automated pairing protocol set in their path.

They triumphantly locked down the absolute pinnacle of their group standings, securing an unblemished, direct qualification into the coveted Round of 16.

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!”

“THE ROUND OF SIXTEEN! WE HAVE OFFICIALLY PENETRATED THE TOURNAMENT PHASE!”

“Oh my god!”

The collective passion sweeping through South Korea had already easily eclipsed the historic mania surrounding the 2002 World Cup and the legendary Red Devils.

Virtually every single broadcasting channel and news publication was exclusively fixated on the upcoming Round of 16, while international sports commentators published extensive pieces regarding the terrifying transformation of the South Korean team.

[The selection process for the Round of 16 has reached its conclusion.]

[Commencing tomorrow, the premier stage of the World League! The knockout bracket gets underway.]

The roster of surviving nations that had successfully navigated their way into the Round of 16, alongside the official layout of the competitive bracket, materialized as follows.