Chapter 39

Baek Jinwoo’s daily agenda remained exactly the same.

Repeatedly clearing mid-tier Day Dungeons, followed by intense training sessions!

The sole alteration in his routine was that his attention had now transitioned completely toward Rolly.

Krrk, krrrrk……!

To be perfectly blunt, there wasn’t anything extraordinarily complex about Rolly’s toolkit when dissected.

[Skills Owned]

• Assassinate: Briefly grants concealment. The initial strike inflicts 100% Critical Damage.

• Gale: Rotates the death scythe in a complete circle, inflicting area-of-effect damage.

Creep up while concealed, then bam! A singular, sweeping rotation of the weapon. That was the entirety of the sequence.

However.

What would occur if that mechanical execution was accelerated to its absolute pinnacle?

A rapid succession of high-speed rotations, and every single one of an opponent’s summoned entities would be wiped out instantly.

Similar to dragging a powerful vacuum through their ranks, everything in the vicinity simply vanished. Complete, gratifying destruction.

This occurred because the Gale ability functioned as splash damage, but mere words failed to convey the sheer impact of it.

It required firsthand observation.

The selection trials or whatever they called them. Seven days remained.

And that was precisely where Baek Jinwoo’s dilemma began.

Ramba, Drill Sarge, Stormy.

Was it truly a wise decision to deploy these specific entities into Player vs Player combat?

Casual competitors might not realize it, but anyone who had spent significant time as an experienced combatant within 「Battle of Summoners」 would instantly recognize that trio.

Wind Fairy (E-rank), Drill Instructor (E-rank), Storm Dragon Sorcerer (D-rank).

Each had enjoyed substantial popularity as summons in past seasons.

Particularly—

The Five Emperors, who currently held the top global rankings, would recognize them without question.

Yet, what did it truly matter?

What would change if they managed to piece it together?

Perhaps it would have been a concern in the past, but he was finally gaining serious momentum.

Especially after acquiring Rolly, the notion of deliberately concealing his identity had not even crossed his mind.

If they figured it out, so be it. If they didn’t, that was fine too.

He would simply summon them all.

Had his true objective been to remain entirely anonymous, the correct course of action would have been to bypass the national selection trials altogether.

But that was a prize he couldn’t leave on the table.

There was a specific reason he had relentlessly pursued Player vs Player matches back in 「Battle of Summoners」.

The rewards were absolutely massive.

Within the game, monthly leaderboards determined the standings, and immense compensation was distributed to individual players.

And JinuGod had maintained a firm grasp on the number one spot for roughly seven years straight.

That precise achievement was why he was regarded as the ultimate veteran among veterans: Ilcheon.

Such rewards materialized in the physical world as well.

The only distinction from the game environment was that the leaderboard calculated standings over a span of one full year!

Furthermore, while individual competitors received prizes, rewards were also distributed on a national scale!

Upon the conclusion of the world league, the system evaluated participating countries and granted vast quantities of raw resources and items based on tiered placements.

These raw resources encompassed petroleum, various minerals, advanced technology, and more… The technology, in particular, consisted of mysterious scientific breakthroughs that completely eclipsed modern engineering capabilities.

To put it plainly!

League outcomes held tremendous sway over a country’s global standing.

As a prime example: England, the base of operations for Rachel, had experienced such a monumental surge in development that even America was forced to treat them as an equal.

Additionally, Taiwan, the territory represented by Baekcheon, had successfully liberated itself from China’s intimidation.

That reality was why the entire globe locked its focus onto the league.

We cannot afford to fall behind either.

As calculating as Baek Jinwoo tended to be, he wasn’t the sort of scum who would betray his homeland for personal gain.

He possessed a genuine sense of patriotism, having shouted himself hoarse during past World Cup tournaments.

South Korea had failed to advance beyond the Round of 16 for three consecutive years.

Consistently knocked out during the preliminary stages!

Every single year, the nation had swallowed that bitter pill of disappointment, but the current paradigm was about to shift.

Because I am standing here now.

Baek Jinwoo squeezed his fist tightly.

Bring honor to his country and claim the massive payouts.

Time to get to work.

Yu Jia took charge of the trial applications and managed all the necessary bureaucracy.

Baek Jinwoo was left with nothing to do but focus entirely on his training.

After embedding the ideal runes onto Rolly, Jinwoo poured all his energy into boosting the level of the diminutive reaper.

Then, the final day arrived prior to the national selection trials.

While heading toward the Player HQ auditorium to complete his competitor check-in—

“Haha, Mr. Baek Jinwoo! Right over here.”

He crossed paths with the heavily bearded gentleman, Park Changseok.

“It has been a while.”

“Have things been going well for you?”

“Oh, you know how it is. Things are fantastic, all thanks to your help.”

Jinwoo felt a sincere appreciation for Park Changseok.

Had it not been for him, he never would have crossed paths with Yu Jia, and his steady progression wouldn’t have been nearly as seamless.

“Heh heh, the pleasure is mine. To think the player under my supervision is competing for a spot on the national roster.”

“I managed to catch wind of the rumors.”

Each morning, Yu Jia would meet him at the open training lot to exercise, filling Jinwoo in on various updates.

Among those details was the wager Park Changseok had entered into.

“I understand you placed a rather substantial wager on where I’ll place.”

“Ah, that… my apologies for that. Just an old man acting rashly.”

“No, you made the correct call.”

“Excuse me?”

“It indicates that your confidence in my abilities is that high, does it not?”

Absolutely.

Confidence deserved to be matched with equal results.

In all honesty, Jinwoo wasn’t feeling a shred of anxiety regarding the competition.

Regardless of who he found himself facing.

There was zero nervousness, and the concept of suffering a defeat hadn’t even entered his mind.

If I cannot secure the top spot within South Korea… I might as well discard the title of Ilcheon entirely.

Experiencing a loss while commanding his current tier of EX-rank summons?

That scenario was completely implausible.

“By the way, could you provide me with a brief summary?”

“A summary regarding…?”

“The selection trials. The identity of the other competitors, the structure of the tournament, details of that nature. I am walking into this entirely uninformed.”

“Ah, naturally! Shall we step inside? I can break it down as we walk!”

Park Changseok offered a polite wave of his hand, guiding the way forward.

The expansive interior of the auditorium.

The area was absolutely swarming with people.

“Wow, that is quite the turnout of contenders, isn’t it?”

“It isn’t so much that individual entrants are high in number… rather, everyone arrived surrounded by entourages.”

Competitors, accompanying guild representatives, and headquarters administrative staff.

They had all converged en masse to finalize their registration paperwork for the trials.

Exchanges of pre-battle bravado and loud cheers echoed through the hall as a background element!

“The reality is, the applicant pool is restricted by nature. It operates on a seeding framework.”

“A seeding framework?”

“Indeed. Thirty slots are allocated directly to the top 30 individuals on the leaderboard, ten are granted to the primary national guilds at one per organization, and ten are given to headquarters councilmen at one per representative. That totals fifty slots… though in practice, typically only about thirty individuals formalize their entries.”

“And the goal is to filter that down to ten?”

“Precisely.”

It made logical sense.

If any random amateur could walk in and register, it would result in an inefficient expenditure of logistical resources and time.

The framework favored established rankers but maintained wild-card slots for councilmen and guilds to ensure any unranked prodigies could surface from obscurity.

A solid arrangement.

Baek Jinwoo had not secured a spot on the leaderboard just yet.

That explained why his participation relied entirely on Councilman Park Changseok’s designated slot.

“Hmm.”

Jinwoo offered a quiet grunt, surveying his surroundings.

Every single gaze directed his way was incredibly intense.

They were sizing him up as an opponent, without question.

Just as he and Park Changseok moved into the queue to finalize his registration—

“Well look who it is, Councilman Park Changseok.”

An individual approached, wearing a mocking smirk.

Im Huisu.

Park Changseok’s expression immediately darkened.

That rodent-faced individual.

What reason did he have to be hanging around here, attempting to initiate dialogue?

Hadn’t that previous confrontation been settled already?

Im Huisu walked right over, completely unbothered by Changseok’s hostile demeanor.

“Ah, I see the recently discussed competitor Baek Jinwoo is present as well. A pleasure. I am Councilman Im Huisu, representing headquarters.”

Positioned directly behind Im Huisu’s mocking grin were two active players.

Oh Jimyeong, who held the current Rank 9 position.

Park Hoseop, who held the current Rank 10 position.

What exactly do these guys want?

Jinwoo tilted his head slightly to the side.

The pair were staring directly at him with zero attempt at discretion, practically salivating at the sight.

Like predatory reptiles spotting a defenseless snack.

They possessed incredibly irritating countenances.

Nonetheless, looking annoying wasn’t equivalent to actively launching an assault, so Jinwoo offered a brief, polite nod.

“Greetings. I am Baek Jinwoo.”

“Haha, your reputation precedes you. Quite as striking in person as you appear on broadcasts. It appears you are entering these trials to gain experience, so I trust it will prove educational, and I shall be cheering for your progress.”

Hmph.

Flattering phrasing, but the underlying expression in those eyes was purely derisive.

They weren’t sharing a pleasantry. They were mocking him.

An unranked nobody showing up at the selection trials? That was the silent message.

The two high-ranking players stationed behind the councilman didn’t bother to offer even a basic greeting, continuing to stare.

Not that Jinwoo lost any sleep over it.

He possessed zero curiosity regarding their identities or backgrounds.

“Right, I anticipate it will prove highly educational as well.”

Jinwoo refused to take the bait.

Offering another brief nod, he stepped right past the group.

A transparent snub: this conversation is concluded, move aside.

“Were those the individuals?”

A brief moment later, he questioned Park Changseok.

“The ones tied to the wager you placed?”

“…Indeed they are. Did that encounter cause you discomfort?”

“No, not particularly.”

Changseok’s stomach was turning.

He was plagued by anxiety that his wager was subjecting Jinwoo to unnecessary hostility.

Particularly given that those particular adversaries were far from easy targets.

Oh Jimyeong and Park Hoseop.

Both had secured positions on the national roster the prior year, and both commanded significant public popularity.

“Their expressions are… a bit unappealing, though.”

In contrast to the highly stressed Park Changseok, Jinwoo’s evaluation remained straightforward.

Those two.

Should the opportunity present itself to eliminate them from the bracket, he would do so without hesitation.

If the chance didn’t arise, so be it.

“You observed him, correct?”

Im Huisu directed his words toward the two high-ranking competitors once they had relocated to an isolated section of the hall.

“Throughout these selection trials, your sole directive is to eliminate that specific individual from the running. You two obviously possess the capability to secure spots on the final roster. Are we confident?”

The Player vs Player structure utilized two distinct modes.

A group skirmish, followed by one-on-one duels.

Because the system-managed world league incorporated a blend of both paradigms, the national selection trials similarly initiated the opening phase with a group skirmish format.

And—

The lesser competitors were invariably filtered out during the group skirmish.

“Well, dispatching an unranked newcomer is an afterthought, but… securing a final roster spot might present a minor challenge.”

“Heh heh, indeed. Making the cut is no simple feat. We barely managed to squeeze into the final slots last year.”

Oh Jimyeong and Park Hoseop let out quiet chuckles.

“Pay attention.”

Im Huisu pressed his thumb against his forefinger, creating a circular gesture.

“Just lock down your spots on the roster. For anyone who succeeds, I will personally guarantee another massive financial windfall this season.”

Securing a position on the national squad granted access to extensive state subsidies.

Operating as a councilman, Im Huisu maintained the institutional channels required to divert those funds into private accounts.

“Well, when framed in that manner, it looks like we’ll have to deliver a flawless performance.”

“Baek Jinwoo. Can we just target and demolish that pretty-faced fraud during the group skirmish and put an end to it?”

Ah.

Highly reassuring.

Regardless of how thoroughly Baek Jinwoo cleared Day Dungeons, Player vs Player combat operated on an entirely different level.

Standings weren’t validated by speed-running instances. They were forged in the fires of Player vs Player arenas!

“Precisely.”

Im Huisu smirked.

“I am eager to witness Park Changseok’s expression when that transpires. Can you picture the look on his face?”

“It ought to be highly amusing.”

“Understood.”

The pair of rankers remained entirely unconcerned.

They carried the immense self-assurance of top-tier competitors, after all.

How could they possibly suffer a defeat at the hands of an unranked outsider?

“Tomorrow, I will settle the matter the moment the gate opens. Swift and decisive.”

The formal check-in process was concluded.

The selection trials were scheduled to commence the following morning.

Slurrrp!

Baek Jinwoo took a sip of his iced coffee while browsing through various streams of data on his device.

He had gathered the foundational details from Park Changseok, but nothing compared to conducting personal due diligence.

So that is the structure they utilize.

After pulling up archived match recordings from the past two seasons, he developed a comprehensive understanding of the competitive layout.

The opening phase was the group skirmish.

Every single contender was dropped into an expansive battleground to participate in a survival elimination match.

Following that was the individual duel phase.

Exactly as implied: single combat.

A total of ten rounds would be contested in a league format dictated by accumulated match points, and only the top ten point-earners would be awarded slots on the national squad!

The projected frontrunners were already well-established.

Spanning from the top 10 names on the leaderboard to the leaders of the primary guilds.

The online forums were already saturated with heated arguments regarding who would secure a roster spot and who would claim the ultimate victory.

What about my standing?

Jinwoo ran a quick search on his own name, just to see what was being said.

└ Baek Jinwoo? He’s actually on the roster? What is his objective in even entering?

└ lmao facts. He’s been gaining traction recently but he isn’t anywhere near that tier, is he?

└ The media built him up so aggressively that he likely believes his own hype at this point lmaooo

└ Betting on a 1-minute elimination during the group skirmish.

└ Sure, he’s an absolute beast in Day Dungeons, but he only clears mid-tier content lol. Got noticed purely for his appearance and the association with Yu Jia.

Jinwoo’s brow furrowed slightly.

The vast majority of public sentiment was highly cynical.

Hah.

These arrogant trolls.

An impulse rose within him to locate every single commenter and personally educate them.

Whatever.

He simply needed to demonstrate the reality of his capabilities on the field.

It wasn’t entirely their fault, in truth.

If they were guilty of anything, it was a profound lack of awareness.

Evaluating the competitive benchmark based on the prior year’s performance, he wouldn’t even need to call upon Rolly.

In all honesty, deploying Drill Sarge on his own might be more than enough to wrap up the entire event.