Chapter 44

The qualifying tournament had finally come to an end!

The roster of competitors who would represent the country on the international stage at the conclusion of the year was officially locked in.

The lineup, determined entirely by cumulative match points, was distributed as follows:

[National Team Player Roster]

[1. Non-ranker, Baek Jinwoo]

[2. Ranking 1st, Kang Geonho]

[3. Ranking 2nd, Park Ho]

[4. Ranking 3rd, Hong Ari]

[5. Ranking 15th, Ki Jaehyeok]

[6. Ranking 8th, Hwang Juwon]

[7. Ranking 4th, Ahn Gijeong]

[8. Ranking 25th, Kang Jiho]

[9. Ranking 6th, Bok Jeonghui]

[10. Ranking 7th, Seo Sangwon]

While these tryouts were traditionally known for producing unexpected twists, the results of this cycle were completely unprecedented.

To begin with, Oh Seonyeong, who held the 5th seed, alongside the headquarters-affiliated Oh Jimyeong and Park Hoseop, who occupied the 9th and 10th positions respectively, were all knocked out during the group stages.

Because of this massive shake-up, three competitors from outside the elite top ten managed to force their way onto the roster.

These rising contenders were Baek Jinwoo, Ki Jaehyeok, and Kang Jiho.

A competitor completely absent from the leaderboards, alongside the 15th and 25th seeds.

└ Wow, seriously?;;;

└ I can definitely see Ki Jaehyeok and Kang Jiho making it though

└ Those two were playing like absolute demons out there, no joke lmaooo

It turned out that Ki Jaehyeok and Kang Jiho were members of the exact same organization.

Carpe Diem.

Ki Jaehyeok held the title of guild master, while Kang Jiho served right alongside him as the vice guild master.

└ The younger generation is just built different, honestly.

└ You have to give them credit. High-level gaming has always favored youth because of those insane reaction times.

└ They didn’t back down for a second during the group phase, and their 1v1 sets were just brilliant. They absolutely earned those jerseys.

Furthermore, their youth was undeniable.

They were literally still in high school.

Ki Jaehyeok was currently 19, and Kang Jiho was only 18.

Carpe Diem itself had originally been formed by gathering the most exceptional young prospects from a network of local high schools.

Under normal regulations, minors were strictly forbidden from registering independent guilds, but the administrative headquarters had granted them a special dispensation.

The reality was that when a prospect with the potential of a top-tier ranker expressed a desire to establish a faction, the authorities lacked the leverage to turn them away.

This was particularly true for South Korea, which was widely considered the underdog nation within the competitive landscape.

└ Heck yes, the future of our scene is looking incredibly BRIGHT!

└ Ki Jaehyeok in particular managed to take down the 4th, 6th, 7th, AND 8th ranked players based on point totals, what a legend lol

└ You can’t deny tournament bracket luck played a massive role though, since he managed to avoid Baek Jinwoo completely.

└ True statement. Kang Jiho had the misfortune of matching against Baek Jinwoo, which is why he plummeted all the way down to 8th.

└ Hahaha it doesn’t matter how talented you are, going up against Baek Jinwoo means getting knocked out in under sixty seconds flat.

Yet, beyond all that.

The single greatest shockwave of the entire competitive cycle came from Baek Jinwoo himself.

An unranked wildcard who had completely flattened the opposition on his way to an undisputed crown—he had instantly transformed into the most talked-about phenomenon across South Korea!

Commercial advertisements, the trio of major television networks, digital forums, streaming channels—virtually every electronic display nationwide was dominated by loops of Baek Jinwoo’s tournament run.

By remaining entirely undefeated through such staggering displays of dominance, he had ascended to the status of a national icon practically overnight.

└ Wow.

└ This is completely mind-blowing~!

└ I could literally leave Baek Jinwoo’s tournament highlights playing on a continuous loop all day and never get bored of it.

└ Wait, Baek Jinwoo… doesn’t that specific name ring a bit of a bell for anyone else?

└ Are you seriously not tracking the theory that Baek Jinwoo equals JinuGod? Jinwoo, Jinu, come on, they’re practically identical. Plus he’s young, and that handle screams maximum edgy energy.

└ Oh wow, that actually tracks perfectly lol

Predictably, the faction of spectators who suspected he was the elusive JinuGod expanded rapidly.

The linguistic similarity of the names combined with such an utterly dominant competitive display made it a highly logical deduction for the public to make.

└ JinuGod, the literal boogeyman that even the absolute best international players are terrified of facing.

└ Shouldn’t the Five Emperors be putting out an official statement regarding this by now? lol

└ Have any of them even acknowledged it yet?

The entire community was desperate for a definitive answer.

They wanted to know if Baek Jinwoo and JinuGod were truly the same person.

Meanwhile, at that precise moment over in England.

Ding!

A digital chime echoed from the coat pocket of a young woman with fair hair who had just exited a localized dungeon instance.

Swish.

Deliberately retrieving her device, she opened the interface to review a video clip that had been forwarded to her.

[Xenos: Everyone needs to look at this footage immediately. Things are going absolutely wild in Korea right now.]

A recording?

The young woman, Rachel, tilted her head slightly in curiosity before striking the playback icon.

A compilation of Baek Jinwoo’s most impressive tournament moments immediately occupied her display.

Huh?

A sudden spark of curiosity ignited within her gaze.

[Sugoi: Wait, what the heck?! Is that actually the Drill Instructor? It feels like an eternity since I last saw that particular entity active!]

[Baekcheon (白天): My friend, there is a Wind Fairy present as well, not to mention a Storm Dragon Sorcerer. Those are all specific combat entities that were completely scrubbed from existence years ago following the rebalancing update. Seriously, that Storm Dragon Sorcerer used to be the absolute pinnacle of aesthetic appeal.]

[Sugoi: The Wind Fairy…… I was well aware of how overtuned it became after its modifications. It builds up acceleration attributes at a terrifying rate. But how are those specific combat entities even manifesting right now? Nobody has managed to call forth one of those in the past three seasons, correct? I was under the impression they had been permanently restricted from the global pool.]

[Baekcheon (白天): Precisely my thought.]

Following the massive upheaval of the global order, Rachel’s initial priority had been systematically locating the scattered individuals who comprised Ilcheon Oje.

Subsequently, she had utilized digital platforms to organize a collective messaging channel, though regrettably, any direct communication from the legendary figure Ilcheon remained entirely out of reach.

On the bright side, all five individuals who held the titles of the Five Emperors had been successfully brought together.

[Xenos: The Korean community is currently pushing the narrative that this individual is the actual JinuGod we have spent so long discussing. What is your assessment of the situation?]

“……”

Rachel remained perfectly still, her eyes locked onto the glowing display.

Then.

Right there.

Her focus narrowed in on a highly specific sequence of events.

It was the precise frame where a massive dark polearm materialized out of thin air, cutting a devastating path through everything in its immediate vicinity.

Though her recollections of the event had grown faint over time, the manifestation bore a striking resemblance to an ability that had once claimed her own life in past conflicts.

…Could this truly be JinuGod?

It was certainly within the realm of possibility. Then again, perhaps it wasn’t.

At the very least, the tactical methodology was a mirror image of his signature approach.

That absolute, suffocating control over the battlefield, coupled with the fluid, effortless commands issued to the summoned entities.

Yet, why would he choose this specific moment to surface?

After remaining completely off the grid for such an extended duration, why suddenly step into the spotlight now?

Furthermore, if this individual truly was JinuGod… what reason could he have for failing to initiate contact with them? Though looking at it from another perspective—

Actually, that behavior aligned perfectly with his character.

This environment was no longer a mere digital simulation; it was tangible reality. Extending blind trust to old acquaintances under these high-stakes conditions would be the truly bizarre choice.

[Rachel: To be perfectly candid, I cannot say for certain. I would evaluate the probability at a strict fifty-fifty split right now.]

[Xenos: Would you like me to initiate contact directly and interrogate him about it?]

If this competitor truly was JinuGod.

There was absolutely no scenario where he would fail to recognize his historical connection to the Five Emperors.

Even though their interactions had been confined to digital networks, a span of five years had forged a camaraderie significant enough to withstand the test of time.

A brief exchange of dialogue would clarify the situation almost instantly.

After all, the community had seen no shortage of fraudulent players attempting to pass themselves off as JinuGod over the years.

Without exception, every single imposter had been thoroughly unmasked within a matter of a few sentences.

[Rachel: The primary complication is this: even if someone initiates the conversation, is there any guarantee he would actually provide an answer? And moving past that—would he even appreciate us encroaching on his privacy in the first place?]

[Xenos: That is a legitimate point, considering he has made zero effort to seek us out. Even so, if his identity as JinuGod is genuine… wouldn’t re-establishing a line of communication be immensely advantageous for our faction as well?]

The figure known as JinuGod was an anomaly.

An invaluable asset to the entirety of the human race.

He stood alone as the sole individual to have successfully cleared the peak of the 100th floor within the Tower of Trials. If humanity ever hoped to fully dominate that structure, his expertise would be absolutely vital.

Be that as it may, this perspective was not universally shared among the rest of the Five Emperors.

[MoscowMan: If I am being completely transparent? The prospect causes me a bit of anxiety.]

Hailing from Russia, MoscowMan maintained an entirely separate outlook on the matter.

He had always been the outlier.

The raw potential of JinuGod filled him with genuine apprehension.

[MoscowMan: Our current situation is incredibly stable; we are all living comfortably and enjoying our high status independently. If JinuGod re-emerges into the world, won’t every single one of us inevitably be demoted down the rankings?]

[Rachel: Do not let your thoughts wander down such dangerous paths, MoscowMan.]

Rachel immediately offered a stern piece of advice.

This role was natural for her.

Serving as the foundational pillar of Ilcheon Oje, she possessed a natural talent for managing the abrasive personalities of the veteran competitors and maintaining structural harmony.

If MoscowMan were to take some volatile, unprompted action, and the target turned out to be the authentic JinuGod, the consequences would be catastrophic.

The entirety of the Five Emperors could find themselves blacklisted by an unstoppable force for absolutely no justifiable reason.

In Rachel’s estimation, JinuGod occupied the highest echelon imaginable.

The singular summit.

Ilcheon.

[Rachel: We still lack definitive proof regarding his identity as JinuGod. The possession of legacy-patched summons could easily be attributed to a rare, randomized compensation package issued by the Tower of Trials.]

The distribution of wealth from the Tower of Trials was dictated by pure probability, meaning virtually any anomaly could be explained through its rewards.

It was entirely possible the man had simply struck gold, receiving a set of altered legacy summons bearing an explicit Unique classification.

The Drill Instructor, the Wind Fairy, and the Storm Dragon Sorcerer.

Admittedly, possessing all three simultaneously was an extraordinary coincidence.

[Rachel: Remind me, did JinuGod actually employ those specific combat entities during his early days?]

[Xenos: I cannot recall with absolute certainty. However, I do distinctly remember a rumor from back when the Drill Instructor was officially removed—there was talk that a specific user’s developmental trajectory flattened out at an absurdly accelerated pace.]

[MoscowMan: Is that so? To be completely honest, I have zero recollection of whether JinuGod ever deployed those entities or not.]

[Sugoi: It makes perfect sense that none of us would know for sure. Our awareness of JinuGod only really began around the fifth anniversary of the service launch… and those specific summons were completely phased out well before that timeline.]

Hmm.

That logic was difficult to argue against.

Even so.

An underlying intuition within Rachel’s core insisted that JinuGod had indeed utilized those specific entities in the past.

[Rachel: For the time being, our best course of action is to simply observe the situation.]

Click!

Rachel restarted the video playback once more.

She then proceeded to conduct a highly detailed, mechanical breakdown of Baek Jinwoo’s operational tendencies.

Given that she was scheduled to cross paths with this individual in roughly six months regardless, there was absolutely no reason to act rashly based on mere public speculation.

The administrative center for players.

The main assembly chamber.

The presiding Director along with the full roster of ten governing council members had convened to assess the outcomes of the recent national selections.

Naturally, Park Changseok occupied his designated seat, as did his rival, Im Huisu.

“To begin our session.”

Park Changseok stood up from his chair, a relaxed, confident expression visible on his features.

“A gentleman of character always honors his formal agreements, does he not? We possess the signed documentation right here, and the Director himself presided over the agreement as an official observer.”

He casually gestured with the sheet of paper in his hand.

The terms of the covenant were explicit: whichever council member’s backed prospects failed to perform would be required to publicly defer to the victor and immediately step down from their administrative position.

“The financial default penalty for violating this agreement sits at precisely one billion won. Then again, given your extensive personal assets… perhaps you would prefer to simply write the check?”

The moment had finally arrived where he could deliver such a devastating line directly to Im Huisu’s face without any repercussions!

Park Changseok experienced a profound sense of validation, a feeling of absolute triumph.

And every bit of this is a direct result of Jinwoo’s performance!

In all honesty, Park Changseok was so profoundly grateful that if Baek Jinwoo ordered him to drop to all fours and mimic a canine, he would likely comply without a single complaint.

Woof!

“Moving past that, however.”

One of the nearby council members shifted his attention toward Im Huisu, a look of profound bewilderment painted across his face.

“Councilman Im, what on earth occurred to your visage?”

Crunch!

Im Huisu clamped his jaw shut with immense force, keeping his gaze directed firmly at the tabletop in a state of absolute misery.

At this very moment, the overwhelming sense of degradation prevented him from even making eye contact with his peers.

Furthermore, his left eyelid was completely swollen shut, surrounded by a deep, dark discoloration that made it painfully obvious he had sustained a severe physical assault.

The sight was thoroughly distressing.

Damn it all.

Im Huisu’s mind drifted back to the harrowing events of the previous evening.

A significant amount of time after the tournament broadcasts had concluded, Oh Jimyeong and Park Hoseop—individuals who had previously operated as his loyal enforcers—had abruptly arrived at his private residence.

They had chosen the absolute dead of night to confront him.

“Wh-what is the meaning of this intrusion?!”

Im Huisu had been completely caught off guard, instinctively adopting a defensive posture.

“Why are you acting so incredibly defensive?”

“Exactly what he said. It isn’t as if we are apex predators roaming around from the ancient dynasties.”

Their demeanor had been far more aggressive and disrespectful than he ever could have anticipated.

The core of their message was brutally simple:

You were the incompetent leader who lacked the vision to see what we were dealing with when you ordered us to target Baek Jinwoo, which means YOU are going to bear the consequences!

You will financially reimburse us for the fact that we have incurred his severe animosity, as well as for every single professional opportunity we have now lost because of your terrible direction!

And should you choose to refuse?

We will let you visualize the outcome!

Following that declaration, they proceeded to physically assault him.

An active member of the governing council. They had literally laid hands on a high-ranking official.

“Feel free to attempt to contact the authorities. By the time anyone responds, I will ensure my associates take care of you alongside your entire immediate family.”

“Let’s ensure we maintain a cooperative relationship, understood? You certainly enjoyed reaping the rewards of our labor for an extended period, Councilman.”

Even as they mocked him while delivering a relentless beating, Im Huisu found himself entirely powerless to resist.

“P-PLEASE STOP!”

The only recourse available to him was to desperately clutch at the fabric of their trousers and implore them to show leniency.

Every ounce of authority and prestige he had meticulously accumulated over his lengthy career had been utterly demolished during those hours.

Informing the authorities?

The current state of civil law enforcement and the conventional military possessed absolutely zero capabilities when it came to neutralizing or detaining high-ranking competitive players.

Antagonizing them further would only escalate his personal danger.

Exactly as they had threatened—what if they truly transferred custody of him to a criminal syndicate and had him removed from society permanently?

Ugh…

An involuntary tremor passed through Im Huisu’s frame as the terrifying memories washed over him once more.

Park Changseok monitored his rival’s behavior in absolute silence.

How does an individual allow themselves to degenerate to such a pathetic state?

He could deduce the general trajectory of the previous night’s events simply by analyzing the severe trauma present on Im Huisu’s face.

Yet, he harbored absolutely zero pity for the man.

He viewed it as nothing more than a textbook scenario of an individual facing the exact consequences of their own malicious actions.

“I… I will step down.”

At long last, Im Huisu forced the words past his lips.

“I will concede to all terms and… formally vacate my position on this governing council.”

In reality, his singular desire now was total extraction from the situation.

He wanted nothing more than to flee the borders of South Korea entirely, relocate to some completely isolated corner of the globe, and live out the remainder of his days in absolute obscurity where no one could ever trace his whereabouts.

Regardless of his underlying motivations.

The assembled council members were collectively paralyzed by Im Huisu’s sudden, dramatic capitulation.

Even those who had an inkling of the structural power shifts were profoundly jarred by the finality of the statement.

The specific faction of council members who had previously aligned themselves with Im Huisu’s agenda and participated in the mockery of Park Changseok looked particularly despondent.

“Excellent, let us consider that specific item on the agenda officially concluded,” Park Changseok noted with an air of complete composure. “Director?”

“Y-yes? Please, continue.”

“Don’t you agree that it is high time this administrative headquarters began tailoring its operations to be immensely accommodating toward Baek Jinwoo?”

Park Changseok deliberately highlighted the administrative leader’s prior monumental lapse in judgment.

“W-without a doubt.”

“Are there any dissenting opinions on this matter?”

“Dissenting opinions? Absolutely not! Why would you even suggest such a distressing concept! You are well aware of my stance—I have been exerting immense personal effort to establish a line of communication with Baek Jinwoo the very instant I recognized the nature of my error!”

The Director was left with no strategic alternative other than to completely defer to Park Changseok’s current political momentum.

An administrative council term lasted for a duration of four years.

Within the span of another single year, Baek Jinwoo’s influence would undoubtedly reach astronomical heights, and when that occurred, the likelihood of Park Changseok supplanting the Director to claim the highest seat within the organization would increase exponentially.

“Hahaha, Councilman Park. Surely there is no lingering animosity between the two of us, correct?”

“Lingering animosity? If I am being entirely transparent with you—there has been a tremendous amount of it.”

When Park Changseok refused to sugarcoat the reality, the Director’s composure visibly fractured.

“What! What could you possibly be holding a grudge over!”

“Is it truly necessary for me to articulate the specifics?”

“Hahahaha, no, certainly not! A person of status should possess the awareness to comprehend these matters implicitly. Quite right, quite right. So, what specific actions are required on my part to rectify our relationship?”

“I have already laid out the terms, Director.”

“Hmm?”

“For the remaining duration of your administrative tenure, ensure that this entire headquarters operates in a manner that is completely aligned with the interests of Baek Jinwoo.”

That stood as his singular, genuine objective.

Furthermore, it represented the absolute only pathway through which the current Director could hope to maintain his professional survival.

“To begin.”

Before anyone in the room truly registered the transition, the administrative assembly had begun executing its agenda entirely under the strategic guidance of Park Changseok.

“Shall we commence by reviewing the specialized development strategies for the newly formed national roster?”