Chapter 130

Chapter 130:

The elite elite of the global stage.

Combatants who occupied the very pinnacle of power—the legendary titans.

The mightiest individuals on earth, selected by a system whose absolute authority could not be challenged.

Securing a spot on that list guaranteed royal treatment across the globe, regardless of the nation.

Regimes and massive conglomerates alike.

Every single one of them scrambled desperately to establish the minor connection with these individuals.

• We harbored a solitary dream! We genuinely prayed that just one of our own could shatter the barrier of the global leaderboards. At this very moment, that lifelong aspiration has been realized!

World ranking 91st, Hwang Juwon!

That marked the historic opening.

[World Ranking 90th, Maimoena (Indonesia)]

[World Ranking 89th, Yatsuka Rie (Japan)]

[World Ranking 88th, Donovan Tatum (America)]

The names flashed across the display in rapid succession, before unveiling another celebrated figure from South Korea.

[World Ranking 87th, Ahn Gijeong (South Korea)]

“WOOOOOO!”

“LET’S GOOOOO!”

Ahn Gijeong, previously holding the number four spot nationally, had successfully entered the upper echelons of global combatants.

“Just as we anticipated from the Poison King!”

“Naturally! Since Hwang Juwon secured a place, it was only a matter of time before Ahn Gijeong followed!”

“They are the legendary former Ilwol Hyungnims, after all!”

The entire country celebrated with raised glasses once more.

“Hmph.”

Ahn Gijeong lightly ran a hand over his jaw, his muscles twitching as he struggled to maintain a stoic expression.

“So, I’ve officially joined the ranks of the titans, have I?”

He spoke with casual indifference, yet internally, an immense wave of relief washed over him.

Along with pure exhilaration.

I was genuinely terrified of falling behind Juwon Hyungnim, but thank heavens it worked out.

The two had clashed in training sessions hundreds… no, thousands of times over the years.

They possessed a flawless understanding of each other’s combat capabilities.

Because of that fact.

He cast a sideways look.

His gaze swept across the fellow guild associates who were glued to the live stream.

Virtually everyone in the room was visibly anxious.

Excluding Song Yeonhui and Hwang Jiwoo, who had already ascended beyond standard comparisons, the rest of the group assumed that the remaining core members would easily make the cut, correct?

Right at that moment.

[World Ranking 47th, Oh Seonyeong (South Korea)]

Flash!

Oh Seonyeong claimed the 47th position.

“Huuuuh—!”

A massive breath escaped her lips as the revelation appeared, her entire frame quivering while the words forced their way out.

“……I truly… it actually happened……”

Her features were masked in sheer, overwhelming sentiment.

She had initially been excluded from the official national selection, but through the intervention of Baek Jinwoo, she had been granted the opportunity to participate in the World League……

And against all odds, she had secured a spot on the global leaderboard.

“You did it, Unni.”

“Brilliant work! Noona!”

“Bwahahaha! A toast to the entire family of Seonyeong as well!”

“Pour the drinks!”

Yubaek City transformed instantly into a massive carnival.

With each new position revealed, the pyrotechnics orchestrated by Yu Jia streaked into the sky, while households everywhere hoisted their beverages in celebration.

Swish.

Oh Seonyeong stood up from her seat.

She advanced toward the spot where Baek Jinwoo was resting and lowered her upper body profoundly.

“My deepest gratitude, Master.”

She maintained a flawless, ninety-degree posture of respect before speaking further.

“I am committed to remaining by your side moving forward, regardless of the path. I ask for your continued guidance.”

“Understood.”

A faint grin played on Baek Jinwoo’s lips.

For whatever reason, he consistently utilized informal speech with her, despite her having a two-year age advantage over him.

Could it be attributed to her status as his foundational pupil?

“The credit belongs entirely to your own dedication, Seonyeong. You earned this.”

“Thank you so much, Master!”

And the cycle repeated.

[World Ranking 46th, Benyapa Jinprasom (Thailand)]

[World Ranking 45th, Chen Chaowen (Taiwan)]

[World Ranking 44th, Iosif Zasulich (Russia)]

[World Ranking 43rd, Guillermo Montiel (Argentina)]

[World Ranking 42nd, Ian Hayes (France)]

[World Ranking 41st, Ryan Cork (England)]

Descending further down the ladder.

The roster continued to unfold.

As the positions grew higher, the enthusiasm within the real-time chat room escalated dramatically.

└ Incredible

└ What exactly am I witnessing right now

└ For real?

└ The absolute madness that they haven’t even been mentioned yet lmao

└ Are they genuinely positioned above these tiers? That is completely mind-boggling

A total of five prospects had yet to make an appearance.

Hong Ari, Ki Jaehyeok, Kang Jiho, Kang Geonho.

And finally, Baek Jinwoo.

└ Though honestly, Ryan Cork sitting at 41st is pretty wild, isn’t it?

└ Absolutely

└ That guy is the 10th-ranked combatant in England

└ lol 10th place? lmaooo The sheer scale of England’s talent pool is terrifying right now

└ Their 10th best is holding down 41st globally……

However, that did not diminish their spirits.

After all, one of their own national icons had soundly defeated that exact same Ryan Cork.

[World Ranking 40th, Kang Jiho (South Korea)]

“RAAAAAAAAAGH!”

Kang Jiho unleashed a thunderous shout that threatened to crack the walls of the chamber.

Achieving this milestone as a mere high school senior!

The precise second he ascended to the status of a global titan!

“Jiho!”

“JIHOOOO, sniffle sob!”

His relatives instantly swarmed him, wrapping him in tight embraces.

To his kin, this milestone was infinitely more glorious than securing admission to Seoul National University or any elite institution across the ocean.

A global ranker?

Even within the realm of international athletics, this eclipsed an Olympic gold achievement.

It existed in a completely distinct stratosphere.

Shwiiing!

His summoned entities, the Mad Berserker (A-rank) and the Snowflake Berserker (B-rank), sliced through the atmosphere with glittering trajectories from their edges, signaling their joy for their commander’s newfound status.

└ Holy crap

└ Kang Jiho landing exactly at 40th!

└ Total madness.

└ If he’s there, what does that mean for Ki Jaehyeok and Kang Geonho? And don’t forget Hong Ari!

└ Hold on, so those three are situated even further up the ladder?

└ Without a doubt. Judging by the domestic ladder alone, that’s the only logical outcome!

└ Baek Jinwoo is obviously going to be lightyears ahead.

Be that as it may.

There remained a solitary individual who found himself unable to participate in this grand triumph with the same unbridled delight as his peers.

“……”

That individual was Kang Geonho.

He was painfully aware.

Aware that his innate capabilities fell short when measured against the likes of Ki Jaehyeok or Kang Jiho.

He had locked blades with them on countless occasions during practice, and he had never emerged victorious. Not once.

Confronting the brutal reality.

His dedication to practicing had been far from sufficient.

Those two had been the primary beneficiaries of Baek Jinwoo’s concentrated tutelage from the very dawn of their journey, whereas he had not.

The logical conclusion?

I failed to achieve a position on the global stage.

Kang Geonho pressed his teeth together with force, drawing blood from his lip.

He had harbored a desperate glimmer of optimism, yet…

To drop below even Hwang Juwon Hyungnim and Ahn Gijeong Hyungnim……

Where exactly had he fallen short?

His fingers compressed into a rigid fist, his lower jaw quivering with emotion, yet… malice was entirely absent from his heart.

Instead, he felt a profound sense of inadequacy.

An overwhelming frustration directed inward for his lack of dedication, for his failure to earn a place within that joyous inner circle.

[World Ranking 39th, Roberto Nesta (Italy)]

[World Ranking 38th, Didier Jaquet (France)]

[World Ranking 37th, Julian Kimmich (Germany)]

[World Ranking 36th, Gabriel da Silva (Brazil)]

This segment of the roster unveiled the premier champions representing various domains.

Every single entry was the undisputed number one of their respective homeland—icons recognized by virtually every soul in their native territories.

From the 40th spot onward, without question……

The true heavyweights of the world stage were making their grand entrance.

[World Ranking 35th, Ki Jaehyeok (South Korea)]

“Jaehyuk!”

“Jaehyuk Hyung!”

“THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!”

Ki Jaehyeok secured the 35th position.

An incredibly respectable showing.

The room showered him with the identical level of enthusiasm they had displayed for Kang Jiho, causing Jaehyeok to blink back tears of joy as a massive grin overtook his face.

Moving forward.

[World Ranking 34th, Casey Ravel (America)]

[World Ranking 33rd, Ella Toone (England)]

[World Ranking 32nd, Emily Sonett (America)]

[World Ranking 31st, Ellen White (England)]

[World Ranking 30th, Pham Luu Tuan Tai (Vietnam)]

[World Ranking 29th, Janella Salvador (Philippines)]

At this juncture, the elite forces originating from the principal territories of the Five Emperors began appearing in high concentrations.

These were the intermediate combatants chosen from the English and American international rosters.

Regarding the entries from Vietnam and the Philippines, these individuals represented the premier rankers of their respective borders.

And at long last!

[World Ranking 28th, Hong Ari (South Korea)]

Hong Ari made her grand entrance at the 28th spot.

Her unmatched achievement of decimating the entire Venezuelan lineup Single-handedly during the current tournament had undeniably yielded an immense bounty of points.

└ Hong Ari!

└ The breathtaking Hong Ari!

└ RAISE YOUR VOICES!

└ Thank goodness, for real ㅠㅠ

└ So that leaves only Baek Jinwoo and Kang Geonho unannounced?

└ Looking at the current bracket, Kang Geonho’s prospects are appearing incredibly grim.

└ True, based purely on their actual combat displays.

└ Yeah, regardless of how you analyze it, when contrasted with the explosive performance Hong Ari delivered, Kang Geonho didn’t really contribute anything legendary

Simultaneously.

The general viewing audience was starting to realize that Kang Geonho had likely been excluded from the rankings entirely.

Once the list breached the top twenty.

This territory belonged exclusively to genuine anomalies of nature.

[World Ranking 27th, Shi Jinhang (Taiwan)]

[World Ranking 26th, Cai Yingwen (Taiwan)]

Shi Jinhang and Cai Yingwen occupied the second and third positions within Taiwan.

Revered as the essential right and left instruments of Baekcheon among the legendary Five Emperors—combatants possessing staggering levels of might!

[World Ranking 25th, Dmitri Tarasov (Russia)]

[World Ranking 24th, Denis Glushakov (Russia)]

This particular duo held the second and third rankings within Russia.

Serving similarly as the vital right and left instruments for MoscowMan!

[World Ranking 23rd, Bangladesh Police (Bangladesh)]

[World Ranking 22nd, Takahashi Shusuke (Japan)]

[World Ranking 21st, Keira Walsh (England)]

[World Ranking 20th, Jonathan Pacheco (Mexico)]

Police stood as the undisputed number one of Bangladesh!

The familiar figure of Shusuke represented the third-tier champion of Japan.

The terrifying realization was that England’s Walsh only occupied the seventh slot within her native territory.

Meanwhile, Pacheco maintained the apex position within Mexico.

Up next, the elite span covering positions ten through nineteen!

[World Ranking 19th, Evan Parker (France)]

[World Ranking 18th, Amanda Rizkaputri (Indonesia)]

[World Ranking 17th, Lanre Kehinde (Nigeria)]

[World Ranking 16th, Jackson Singh (India)]

Every single one of these names stood as the premier vanguard of their respective nations!

[World Ranking 15th, Sandy Mackiver (England)]

[World Ranking 14th, Emily Fox (America)]

[World Ranking 13th, Shirato Sakura (Japan)]

[World Ranking 12th, Joel Deng (England)]

[World Ranking 11th, Rory Sharp (England)]

[World Ranking 10th, Clint Jones (America)]

From this boundary onward, the leaderboard was almost entirely monopolized by the sovereign super-states.

└ England and America are fundamentally on a different level

└ Christ, how is it even possible for them to possess individual fighters who outclass other nations’ absolute number ones all clustered in a single country like that

└ That is precisely why they hold the title of superpowers

└ I’m fairly certain our own nation will mirror that reality in the near future?

└ Word on the street is they are broadening the SKY lineup lol With the mythic JinuGod’s raw power, we are fully equipped to stand toe-to-toe with England

└ Absolutely true! Did you witness that battlefield display lolol

└ That’s pushing it a bit lol

└ Baek Jinwoo belongs to an entirely separate classification of existence, honestly

[World Ranking 9th, Coby Pochettino (America)]

[World Ranking 8th, Gareth Bale (England)]

• Securing the 9th position is none other than Pochettino! Renowned globally as America’s principal second-in-command! And occupying the 8th spot is England’s third seed, an exceptional combatant whose reputation has been skyrocketing alongside Olivia!

What lay ahead?

[World Ranking 7th, Olivia Abernathy (England)]

[World Ranking 6th, Zhuo Longtai (Taiwan)]

Olivia and Baekcheon made their appearances.

• Holding 7th is Olivia! A completely foreseeable outcome! And commencing from the 6th position, we officially encounter the Five Emperors! Which implies directly……! Baek Jinwoo might genuinely be locked in a struggle for the absolute first or second place on the global leaderboard!

└ Zhuo Longtai! The venerable master Tak Yeong-tae is sitting at 6th?

└ Exactly lolol

└ Unbelievable, an actual member of the Five Emperors has been relegated to 6th?

└ He was demoted by a single placement! All due to the presence of Baek Jinwoo!

└ Baek Jinwoo! SECURE THAT NUMBER ONE SPOT!!!

For the first time in an unbroken span of exactly four years.

The elite circle known as the Five Emperors had been forced down a notch.

[World Ranking 5th, Alexandr Beskoff (Russia)]

[World Ranking 4th, William Xenos (America)]

One name followed by another.

As the global leaderboard neared its absolute climax, a profound stillness blanketed the entirety of South Korea.

The widespread shouting faded away, replaced by an intense, breathless quiet.

Every citizen clenched their fists tightly, perspiration coating their palms, their gazes locked onto the broadcasting monitors with expressions frozen in absolute suspense!

[World Ranking 3rd, Yoshida Hikaru (Japan)]

The incredible Hikaru, who had permanently occupied the number two position for as long as anyone could remember, had been dislodged down to 3rd.

└ I beg of you

└ PLEASE LET IT HAPPEN

└ thump-thump thump-thump thump-thump

└ We are collectively praying, pleading here

└ UNLEASH THE GLORYYYYY!

The exact moment the shared hopes of an entire populace manifested upon the display screen.

Ding!

[World Ranking 2nd, Rachel Rose (England)]

The grand scoreboard delivered its ultimate verdict.

The absolute termination of England’s global dominance!

And the dawn of the historic era of Baek Jinwoo!

“WUUUUUUUUUUUAAAH!”

“YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!”

The collective voices of the people pierced the atmosphere, and Yubaek City instantly dissolved into an epicenter of unbridled, ecstatic chaos.

“GUILD LEADER!!!”

“JINWOOOOO!”

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

The reality that Rachel, who had appeared completely immovable at the apex for an eternity, was now relegated to the 2nd position carried one solitary, undeniable implication.

Baek Jinwoo had claimed the absolute summit!

An additional ten seconds ticked away into eternity.

Ding.

[World Ranking 1st, Baek Jinwoo (South Korea)]

The unveiling of the global leaderboards reached its ultimate conclusion.

An indisputable, definitive 1st place!

It marked the precise moment JinuGod rightfully reascended the throne of Ilcheon.