Chapter 124

— The pinnacle event of our world, the World League, is finally culminating in its ultimate phase! The championship match is upon us!

— South Korea versus England, and England versus South Korea! The grand finale takes place right here in London! The anticipation is absolutely thrilling!

— What an unpredictable journey… life brings incredible developments, and the fate of entire countries is no exception. Who could have foreseen these two nations clashing for the crown?

— Simply making it to this concluding stage reportedly guarantees incredible wealth for each competitor. Furthermore, rumors suggest it yields tremendous advantages for their respective homelands, isn’t that right?

— Indeed. Though such grand political matters are far beyond our scope. Haha.

The air buzzed with frantic energy.

From the streets of Seoul to the heart of London.

Massive assemblies filled every public square.

“LET’S GOOOOO!”

“Baek Jinwoo! Bring home the championship!”

“Honestly, just do your best, but a victory would be legendary!”

“Drill Sarge, you’re the absolute best!”

Glow sticks illuminated the dark, banners displaying Baek Jinwoo’s face waved high, and onlookers wore masks painted with the Taegeuk symbol……

Fans even held plush, stylized versions of the iconic Ramba, Stormy, and Drill Sarge trifecta.

— Baek Jinwoo’s bold challenge was accepted by Rachel! Consequently, both sides have formally agreed to settle the title via a solo confrontation!

— According to Yu Jia, the spokesperson for Yubaek, the terms involve a decade-long pact of absolute loyalty between SKY and Red Rose, correct?

— That is accurate, and it is truly astonishing.

Spectators could hardly believe it.

To agree to such an unorthodox challenge for what seemed like a minimal concession.

Actually, could that even be considered a penalty?

Wasn’t this arrangement incredibly advantageous for SKY?

After all, Red Rose held the title of the planet’s premier guild!

— This clearly demonstrates the immense respect Rachel harbors for our very own Baek Jinwoo!

— In any case, the moment is here! The competitors are entering the arena!

Thud, thud.

The grand entrance mirrored all their prior encounters.

The team leader marched at the vanguard, with the remaining squad members following in a disciplined sequence.

“Jinwoo.”

Rachel, drawing parallel to his stride, initiated the conversation.

He immediately called forth his translating avian beast.

“Yes.”

“Our clash is imminent. Are you fully prepared?”

“Completely.”

To be fair, he hadn’t slept a wink the night prior.

Disregarding his physical fatigue, he had pushed himself to the absolute limit mastering Rolly’s mechanics, continuing until Drill Sarge finally nodded in approval.

Just moments ago.

— You have proven yourself worthy, my lord.

He had successfully secured the veteran warrior’s validation.

“Baek Jinwoo, your talent is undeniable, and I have no doubt your power will eclipse mine in the future.”

“What brought this on suddenly?”

“However, for this specific battle? You need to prepare yourself.”

“……”

“I don’t intend to taste defeat.”

Ha.

Intimidation tactics right at the threshold?

Baek Jinwoo angled his head, locking his gaze directly with hers.

Her jaw was set firmly, channeling the aura of a commander on the brink of a decisive campaign, her eyes burning with resolve.

Complacency was entirely absent. She had refined her strategy to perfection, focused solely on triumph.

“Regardless of the outcome, thank you.”

Baek Jinwoo offered his appreciation before the hostilities commenced.

She likely endured significant scrutiny from her peers on his account.

Failing to acknowledge that would make him truly ungrateful.

“……Appreciation?”

“Indeed, for agreeing to an unorthodox arrangement like this one.”

Hearing his rationale, a smirk graced Rachel’s lips.

“In that case, consider this.”

“What is it?”

“The debt from when you rescued me during that casino crisis. Can we consider that account settled now?”

“If that satisfies you, I am more than happy to agree.”

True enough.

That chaotic event had indeed occurred.

Baek Jinwoo let out a gentle smile, comforted by Rachel’s practical demeanor.

“One more thing, Jinwoo.”

Before they realized it, their steps brought them to the threshold of the combat zone.

Crossing this boundary meant the automated match rules would engage, setting destiny in motion.

“Once this tournament concludes, the leaders of our newly allied organizations should share a meal. Before your departure back home.”

“I would enjoy that.”

Wow.

An invitation to dine paired with a high-stakes duel!

Clatter!

Baek Jinwoo resolutely swung the massive barrier doors open.

And in that final moment.

“Listen, Rachel.”

He offered a parting counter-warning of his own.

“You should make sure you’re ready as well.”

“Because I have no intention of losing this match either.”

Both competitors pressed their lips into thin, determined lines.

Their mutual gaze severed as they refocused on the path ahead.

It was time for absolute concentration.

Baek Jinwoo took a deep, centering breath and dismissed the translating avian.

Then, he stepped forward into the combat zone.

The championship match had commenced.

The system determined participant selection entirely by chance!

Strangely enough, any competitor who neglected to register a designated combat roster was immediately disqualified from selection.

[The initial combatant chosen is ‘Song Yeonhui’!]

[‘Song Yeonhui’ has omitted her roster registration and is stripped of eligibility!]

Representing the Korean roster.

[The opposing combatant chosen is ‘Olivia Abernathy’!]

[‘Olivia Abernathy’ has omitted her roster registration and is stripped of eligibility!]

Representing the English roster.

The automated system cycled rapidly through the names until it finally landed on Baek Jinwoo and Rachel, the lone pair who had properly organized their combat teams.

[The fifth selection designates ‘Baek Jinwoo’!]

[The seventh selection designates ‘Rachel Rose’!]

Within moments, the chosen duo materialized upon the central battlefield.

Whirrrr.

The moment his feet touched the ground, Baek Jinwoo signaled with a raised hand.

Words were entirely redundant now.

Everything required had been stated prior to entering the threshold.

His opening move was deploying the A-rank sylvan entity.

Fsssssh.

The emerald-tinted ethereal entity immediately commenced synthesizing a debilitating mist meant to target the opposing player.

Yet, precisely at that transition.

BOOM!

A distant, sharp report echoed across the battlefield as a projectile tore through the air.

A marksman strike……!

Judging by the acoustic signature, it originated from a B-rank Battle Warden, aligning perfectly with his tactical forecasts.

Its offensive output was modest, but its execution range was immense and its precision hovered near absolute perfection, making it the ultimate tool for erasing unexpected threats.

“All forces, manifest.”

Shhhkt!

Stormy, Ramba, Drill Sarge, and Rolly.

The quartet of entities materialized in rapid succession, yet the velocity of the marksman’s bullet bypassed their defensive lines.

Thwack!

The sylvan entity’s vitality plummeted to absolute zero, causing it to dissolve into a faint mist, completely removed from the field.

She must have equipped the ‘First Strike’ sigil.

A specialized enchantment for combatants that guarantees the initial offensive priority in direct engagements.

Utilizing it ensured an unavoidable opening strike the moment the timer started.

“Stormy.”

— ……!

Stormy whipped her draconic staff through the air in a flawless arc.

BLAZE!

An ocean of crimson fire saturated the entire arena.

Storm Dragon Arts.

Hidden Method.

Shift.

The technique stretched the destructive force of Dragon Burst into an incredibly broad, thin layer.

Instantly, it coalesced into a fiery dome, completely isolating Rachel’s immediate territory.

“Drill Sarge, the frontline is yours.”

Understood, my lord!

Drill Sarge inclined his head in acknowledgment and lunged forward.

Simultaneously.

Ramba, Stormy, and Rolly pivoted in unison, retreating at full speed.

Swish swish swish swish swish!

Naturally, he maintained absolute focus on accumulating Ramba’s scaling enhancements.

The designated focal point was Rolly.

From this juncture onward.

His singular objective was elevating Rolly to the absolute peak of its capabilities.

Ah, as expected.

Rachel experienced a wave of relief the very instant her Battle Warden’s pinpoint accuracy neutralized the sylvan entity right at the onset of the bout.

Had I not anticipated that opening move, this engagement could have turned perilous immediately.

Realistically, there was every reason for Baek Jinwoo to deploy that wood spirit.

Its utility against a premier S-rank golden dragon offered incredible tactical value—neglecting to utilize it would have been an amateur mistake.

She promptly materialized two additional entities.

The majestic golden dragon and the fierce beast Baekho.

She positioned the golden dragon protectively around her person while sending Baekho to anchor the vanguard.

And in that exact fraction of a second.

WHOOSH!

A delicate veil of scorching, infernal fire began obscuring her entire field of view.

What sort of maneuver is this?

The destructive output didn’t appear severe.

Which implied its primary function was to sever her line of sight?

“Baekho.”

— Grrrr……

“Advance.”

— Rrrrgh!

Baekho bounded toward the left flank while Rachel maneuvered rapidly to the right.

Yet, as if an unseen force was tracking their coordinates with absolute precision.

The expansive infernal fire abruptly condensed, narrowing its focus tightly upon Rachel’s position.

Baekho lashed out with sharp talons, attempting to shred the magical manifestation itself, however—

FLARE!

“What?”

The narrowing blaze smoothly veered away from Baekho’s strike, gathering into a concentrated stream before morphing into a direct torrent of liquid fire.

As if retaliating for the initial marksman strike, the conflagration descended directly upon the Battle Warden.

“……Wow.”

Rachel’s features dulled in sheer amazement.

She observed her Battle Warden becoming entirely consumed by the flames and whispered to herself.

“Achieving that degree of micro-management is actually possible?”

She had faced countless entities wielding the fire element, including legendary Phoenix variants, yet she could state with absolute certainty—she had never witnessed an individual command fire with such flawless autonomy.

The title of JinuGod was thoroughly earned.

Crackle, SWOOSH!

The blazing torrent that had just eradicated her marksman now veered sharply toward Rachel herself.

However, she was far too skilled to be overcome by an ordinary offensive maneuver.

— ROOOOOAAAARRR!

A spiritual projection of the golden dragon manifested from her core, entirely devouring the incoming stream of fire.

Sssss!

The blazing torrent was completely extinguished in a heartbeat!

Where did JinuGod vanish to?

Sharpening her focus, she surveyed the environment—and caught sight of Baek Jinwoo sprinting toward the outermost boundary of the arena stage.

Has he lost his mind?

What tactical purpose could he possibly have?

Attempting to flee?

The designated combat arena provided a considerable amount of space.

Yet it remained an entirely exposed battlefield devoid of defensive structures, meaning a retreat like that would only result in him being cornered rapidly.

Escaping beyond her visual field was fundamentally impossible due to the terrain, and she was well aware the arena boundaries would halt any evasion past a set threshold.

Furthermore.

He left Drill Sarge to face her forces completely unassisted?

Clink!

She observed the warrior unsheathe his weapon, methodically angling the blade toward his right side as he dropped into a low combat stance.

He was likely attempting to stall for time to accommodate the Wind Fairy, but that strategy felt deeply flawed.

The premise that a lone Drill Sarge could buy any meaningful amount of time against her roster simply lacked logical backing.

“Well now, we certainly have a habit of crossing paths, don’t we?”

Rachel let out a confident smile.

She possessed unsettled accounts regarding Drill Sarge.

He had managed to claim the champion spot right from under her nose during the Battle Royale event.

“Rip him to shreds, Baekho!”

— ROOOOAAAAR!

The colossal tiger bounded toward Drill Sarge with blinding velocity.

The very instant Drill Sarge raised his blade to execute a precise thrust aimed at the charging predator’s eye—

SWISH!

Leaving a blur in its wake, Baekho evaded the incoming point and lunged forward, raking its sharp talons directly across Drill Sarge’s ribs.

Hmph.

Drill Sarge felt a wave of genuine respect.

So this represented the true capability of an S-rank entity?

He quickly aborted the forward thrust, wrenching his upper body out of the path of destruction to narrowly avoid the brunt of the strike.

Yet that initial parry had only accounted for the left paw, and already the creature’s right limb was slashing inward with a vicious, continuous assault.

— Khkh!

Ultimately, he had no alternative but to press the flat of his blade securely against his midsection to brace for impact.

BANG!

The strike hit home.

The sheer kinetic force propelled him directly into the air, his form sailing helplessly off the ground.

Incredible power.

Now that he had engaged the beast in direct combat, the reality of the situation became clear.

He could temporarily delay Baekho, but achieving an outright victory was entirely outside the realm of possibility.

And should Rachel’s golden dragon decide to integrate into the assault?

The scenario would rapidly deteriorate.

“We have quite a few matters to settle, wouldn’t you agree?”

CRASH!

The majestic golden dragon swooped down upon the airborne Drill Sarge without a moment’s hesitation.

Clang!

He managed to raise his weapon by pure instinct to deflect the blow, but the sheer momentum shook him to his core regardless.

A synchronized assault from a pair of S-rank entities……!

It’s becoming difficult to maintain focus.

As the crushing aura of the two celestial beasts pressed down upon every nerve in his body, he felt as though he had been submerged into the deepest ocean trench, his ribs compressing under an intolerable weight.

Nevertheless, his commander had given explicit instructions.

Maintain the defensive line for as long as humanly possible.

The more time Ramba possessed to accumulate attributes, the greater their prospects of securing a victory.

However.

Clang, CLANG, SMASH!

The relentless sequence from Baekho and the golden dragon was so overwhelming that maintaining a proper guard took everything he had.

And the pressure didn’t stop there.

BOOM!

The golden dragon, which had been striking him without pause, suddenly traced a wide arc through the air around his position.

— ROOOOOAAAARRR!

It discharged an earth-shattering bellow, glaring down directly at Drill Sarge from its elevated vantage point.

An absolute, crushing weight!

The sheer acoustic force was potent enough to cause every nerve ending in his form to freeze in place.

“Attempting to withstand the combined might of the golden dragon and Baekho utilizing nothing more than a solitary E-rank entity…… Even for someone of JinuGod’s caliber, that borders on pure arrogance.”

The combat instructor Rachel recalled from her data was fundamentally classified as an E-rank asset.

Regardless of how many rare opportunities he had capitalised on, no matter the hidden talents he had managed to unlock, and irrespective of how exceptional his equipped runes were—

Certain foundational boundaries were simply unalterable from birth.

“Let us bring this encounter to a close.”

Targeting Drill Sarge, who remained suspended helplessly in midair.

Baekho executed a head-on charge from the front lines. Concurrently, the golden dragon lunged downward from the heavens.