Chapter 99

JinuGod.

A true myth of Battle of Summoners, the prodigy formerly known as Ilcheon (一天).

Conqueror of Floor 99 of the Tower of Trials, and the reigning undisputed peak of Player vs Player combat!

And his accolades didn’t stop there.

He shattered records across every single Day Dungeon speedrun, and accomplished the unfathomable feat of demolishing the legendary, ultra-punishing Chaos Dragon raid in under sixty seconds. A terrifying powerhouse.

And back then? He did it all completely free-to-play!

Yet despite such an illustrious legacy, JinuGod’s sway over the physical realm was practically nonexistent.

“JinuGod? That mythical figure the Five Emperors are rumored to revere? Does he even exist?”

“South Korea, a country that tiny, produced someone of that caliber? Give me a break.”

“Even if he was real, who cares? The present reality is what truly counts, isn’t it? So who holds the global number one rank right now? It’s Rachel, isn’t it?”

“Apologies, but gaming achievements don’t equate to real-world power. At most, it’s just sentimental pining for an outdated title.”

“Realistically speaking, the highest probability is that he perished somewhere out in the field, right?”

Four entire years passed with absolute radio silence.

Inevitably, the moniker ‘JinuGod’ that individuals had tossed around during the initial era devolved into nothing more than a phantom trace.

Fading from memory.

Losing its luster.

By now, no one gave it a second thought.

And even if he did reappear?

The reigning icon, Rachel, cast a vastly more intimidating shadow.

Nevertheless, a single nation.

South Korea alone refused to abandon the memory.

As a wasteland regarding summoning talent, the country was starved for a glimmer of promise, and a fierce brand of national pride had firmly established itself.

We may be struggling now, but we once possessed a competitor like THAT!

Seriously, a competitor whom the entire roster of the Five Emperors respects without question!

We have always been a powerhouse of competitive gaming! When discussing innate capability, not even the five great powers can look down on us!

JinuGod.

Truthfully, that handle was celebrated only within the borders of South Korea.

In international circles, the response was a blunt: Who the fuck! (Who the fuck is that!)

Even the Five Emperors had only made passing references to him in the beginning, and after that initial period, the handle JinuGod never surfaced once at any official gathering.

Click-click-click-click-click!

Even the journalists frantically firing off their cameras at this very moment couldn’t make head or tail of the situation.

Hold on, why was the British Prime Minister—

Engaging in a handshake like that with the national squad of that particular country?

It couldn’t possibly be due to this single individual named JinuGod whom South Korea still clung to and championed?

Footage of Baek Jinwoo had been making the rounds.

Word was he had delivered an impressive display during the selection matches.

But what of it?

Isn’t that just equivalent to some local street soccer prodigy showing off with a ball?

Overpowering South Korean rookies isn’t exactly a massive achievement. Frogs in a well.

Even if his strength is legitimate, nothing has been validated on the global stage yet……

Journalists representing every corner of the globe watched the interaction with intense scrutiny, transmitting the updates straight to their respective networks.

Whether his reputation was authentic.

Or an outright sham.

It stood as one of the critical narratives to track during this global tournament.

“Nnngghh.”

“Haaaaah!”

Baek Jinwoo and his companions collapsed onto their mattresses, utterly drained.

They were staying in an upscale hotel suite provided courtesy of the English hosts.

Yu Jia observed their disheveled states and gave her head a slow shake.

“Is everyone holding up?”

“Ugggh, do we look like we’re holding up?”

The morning-after ache was punishing.

Never before in his life had he consumed that much alcohol so rapidly. This was uncharted territory.

Even so.

It had been an enjoyable night.

The hours spent sharing laughs over excellent food had been wonderful, and letting go of all their anxieties for once, simply embracing the fun without a worry, had been wonderful as well.

If only this headache would dissipate a bit quicker.

As his proficiency with Geoncheongsimgong advanced, perhaps managing something like that would turn into reality?

“On a side note.”

Hwang Juwon, resting on the adjacent mattress, flashed a grin.

“That British Prime Minister fellow was incredibly warm. Truthfully, I’ve never witnessed a politician behave that way. He seemed like an entirely different individual.”

“Seriously. He shook hands with every last one of us and even posed for pictures with the group.”

The nearby faction members nodded their heads in full agreement.

“Our homeland receiving this kind of prestige on foreign soil! I’m honestly overwhelmed with emotion.”

“Do you reckon people across the globe truly believe JinuGod is out there?”

Baek Jinwoo shook his head.

“I find that unlikely.”

Even through the cloud of intoxication, he had picked up on the vibes from the onlookers.

Skepticism. And nothing but relentless skepticism.

Then what drove the British Prime Minister to extend such warmth toward him?

There was really only a single logical conclusion.

Flop!

Baek Jinwoo stretched out on the bed once more and drifted into thought with closed eyes.

Rachel.

The partnership established this time, the elite hospitality they were currently enjoying — every bit of it was undoubtedly a byproduct of Rachel’s backing.

And yet, she still hadn’t made an appearance to meet him.

Was she exercising extreme caution?

Well, it didn’t matter. They were bound to cross paths once the tournament brackets commenced, so there was no need to dwell on it.

Right at that moment, Ki Jaehyeok spoke up with a smirk.

“But Hyungnim! If you truly are the legendary JinuGod, you must have been quite well-acquainted with Rachel, correct?”

“Well-acquainted……”

Baek Jinwoo muttered, speaking more to himself than anyone else.

“If exchanging a handful of words qualifies as being well-acquainted, then I suppose so.”

“What’s her personality like? Global fans are losing their minds over her. The consensus is that she’s a breathtaking, premier beauty.”

When determining the most stunning individual on earth, various elements enter the equation — presence, charm, sophistication, and beyond.

Among all contenders, Rachel was heralded as the woman possessing the most flawless physical aesthetics, consistently claiming the top spot in annual high-fashion print surveys without dropping a single rank.

“As for her personality, I have absolutely no clue. We literally just had a few conversations inside the game interface. That covers it.”

Though those ‘few conversations’ had stretched across a five-year period……

Regardless, that wasn’t the pressing concern at this moment.

“In any case, everyone focus on getting some quality downtime.”

Baek Jinwoo directed his words to the gathered collective.

“Our training regimen resumes in full force starting tomorrow.”

World League, D-6.

The window to acclimate to the local time zone and apply the finishing touches to their execution parameters.

“Hmmmm.”

London, Red Rose headquarters.

Within the training facility located there, a fair-haired woman dripping with sweat used a cloth to dry her locks.

Rachel, exhibiting a breathtaking physique and impeccable physical form.

A fellow combatant who had been observing her movements stepped forward.

“Unni, don’t you feel like you’re overexerting yourself?”

The woman addressing Rachel as ‘Unni’ was an elite competitor in her own right.

None other than global rank six — Olivia!

“Overexerting? Scarcely.”

Rachel’s deadpan response arrived alongside an expression filled with apprehension.

“Is something wrong? Did something happen?”

“Nothing.”

“Let me guess…… is this regarding that Baek Jinwoo individual from South Korea?”

“……”

Rachel chose not to provide a response.

Olivia let loose a heavy sigh.

“Ugh, I knew it. Just head over and see him. Why stress yourself over an issue you could resolve by simply walking up and initiating a conversation?”

“He isn’t fond of individuals approaching him without prior notice.”

That was the reputation associated with JinuGod back during the Battle of Summoners era.

Touchy.

Prone to harboring resentment.

A challenging personality to navigate.

None of the contemporary top-tier players had any inkling of the lengths Rachel had gone to just to ensure he remained inside the group communications.

“Oh please, who would turn you away if you went to visit them, Unni?”

“Why wouldn’t they?”

“Because you are absolutely stunning.”

Rachel’s features tightened.

This isn’t the sort of basic issue that beauty can fix.

Having observed JinuGod’s raw capability from a shorter distance than anyone else since the inception era, she understood it on a primal level.

He isn’t the type of prodigy that individuals like us can even attempt to measure up to.

He existed as something far beyond standard genius. An entirely different tier of entity.

Otherwise, there was no earthly method for him to have conquered Floor 99 of BoS — universally feared as the ultimate gauntlet of despair — while operating purely on a free-to-play framework.

I must absolutely avoid getting on his bad side.

Do NOT antagonize Baek Jinwoo!

She recognized this truth intuitively, and she had etched it deep into her core.

Like a sacred law burned into the consciousness of a devout follower.

For the time being, I will hold back from approaching him until he initiates contact with me first.

And.

“Olivia.”

“Yeah?”

“This iteration of the World League… securing a victory might actually prove to be an uphill battle.”

“Huh? How does that make a lick of sense?”

Olivia was utterly bewildered.

She comprehended Rachel’s capabilities more thoroughly than anyone else.

“On account of JinuGod? That’s preposterous. I caught that footage making the rounds as well. Putting aside your level, Unni — that’s a threshold I could comfortably manage on my own……”

True.

That assessment could be accurate.

If the Baek Jinwoo depicted in that footage actually engaged in combat against her current self?

She possessed over a 99% level of certainty that she would emerge victorious.

However.

You could not evaluate an encounter against Baek Jinwoo through the lens of mathematical likelihood.

Because he was a competitor who consistently manifested the impossible.

“Oh come on, Unni.”

Olivia let out a soft laugh.

“You’ve been under a lot of pressure from tackling the Tower recently, haven’t you? Give yourself a break.”

“……Well.”

Rachel gave a quiet nod.

There was zero benefit in arguing until her throat was dry in front of an individual who hadn’t genuinely witnessed his true form yet.

She would witness it firsthand during the course of this World League.

His sheer transcendence.

It wouldn’t be too late to offer an explanation after that unfolded.

“Everyone, assemble over here for a quick moment.”

Hwang Juwon displayed his trademark grin and beckoned the faction members to form a circle.

“Guild master, you as well — and Representative Yu Jia, step over this way.”

Having concluded their practice session and brought the group together, he massaged his palms together with an eager look plastered on his face.

“So, I’ve come up with a small proposal.”

What could it be.

What sort of idea required that mischievous look?

Intrigued, Baek Jinwoo made himself comfortable on a nearby couch.

“First — guild master.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you genuinely believe we can advance to the final four or beyond relying solely on our own capabilities?”

“Hmm.”

Following a brief pause for consideration, Baek Jinwoo nodded his head.

Every phase prior to the Round of 16 consisted of group showdowns, but from the Round of 16 forward, it transitioned into a country-versus-country elimination bracket.

As long as Baek Jinwoo remained on the field?

It was an engagement they physically could not drop.

Barring a scenario where they happened to cross paths with Rachel in the Round of 16, of course.

But, realistically speaking.

The concept of losing had never once entered Baek Jinwoo’s mind from the very start.

“The final four, I can’t speak on with certainty. My sights are set exclusively on the grand prize.”

Rachel, or whoever else.

Entering a competition with the expectation of failure?

That simply wasn’t how Baek Jinwoo operated.

“Damn!”

“That’s exactly what I expect from our guild master!”

“Naturally, since it’s our guild master, it’s worth aiming for the absolute peak.”

“Oh my goodness, I’m already getting goosebumps. Our nation taking first place in the World League…… is that even a real possibility?”

Any outside observer would have labeled it pure delusion, but the national squad viewed it through a different lens.

To their eyes, Baek Jinwoo was an absolute pillar that went far beyond basic confidence.

The more intensely they trained, the more inconceivable it became to imagine a scenario where Baek Jinwoo suffered defeat.

Regardless of how intimidating Rachel might appear on paper.

“So here is the game plan.”

Hwang Juwon pressed on.

“What do you all say to placing a wager?”

“A wager?”

Yu Jia’s eyes sparkled with interest as she took in the suggestion.

Wagering — placing financial capital on tournament results and reaping rewards based on the payout rates!

A prime opening to massively amplify Yubaek’s financial portfolio.

“Not a soul in the international community is backing our country to take the tournament. Which implies our payout rates are astronomical, right? Are we seriously just going to let an opportunity like that slip by?”

“No chance!”

“Count me out of sitting this one out! Where are we placing the stakes?”

“Should I risk my entire net worth on us securing a spot in the Round of 16?”

“Whoa, whoa, let’s slow down for a second.”

Hwang Juwon settled the hyped-up faction members down.

Then he directed his attention toward Yu Jia.

“Representative.”

“There is precisely one gaming house formally approved by the English combatant federation. They maintain a strict wagering ceiling of one billion won per individual. The regulatory monitoring is incredibly tight — zero opportunities to manipulate the framework.”

“Hehe, are you suggesting I provide the capital for this venture?”

“No, not at all.”

Hwang Juwon dismissed the notion with a wave of his hands, then focused back on Yu Jia.

“What if we take the 11 billion won we currently have at our disposal and genuinely multiply it? We can allocate the remainder to serve as operational funding for SKY.”

Oho.

Baek Jinwoo, who had been following the pitch, offered a nod of approval.

Hwang Juwon.

The man undeniably possessed strategic foresight.

And he was an individual who prioritized collective advancement over personal acquisition.

With Hong Ari acting as the vice guild master, this man would serve as an exceptional fit in an advisory capacity, wouldn’t he?

“Alright, let’s go ahead with it.”

The confirmation didn’t originate from Yu Jia — it came directly from Baek Jinwoo.

“Where is this gaming house located? Practice is wrapped up for the day, so why don’t we venture out and enjoy ourselves a bit?”

Following his pronouncement, another wave of enthusiastic shouting filled the room.

Lately, these faction members truly were experiencing a golden streak in every conceivable aspect.