Chapter 46
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: National Exchange Meet (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I had said I would participate.
Truthfully, up until that point, I figured the first match would naturally pit me against a hero from another country.
With so many nations competing this time—and hundreds just in this single event alone—it seemed obvious.
No one would expect to run into him right from the get-go.
But...
'Am I seeing this wrong...?'
If I wasn't hallucinating, my first-round opponent was anything but a pushover.
'Why is this guy showing up here...?'
Overwhelm.
America's strongest hero—that man was my opening matchup.
"Isn't this rigged?"
In the end, I had to call out the Thunder Emperor sitting beside me.
Sure, the odds were astronomically low, but maybe they'd redrawn the brackets right as I walked in, and I just happened to get paired against Overwhelm first thing.
Still, the timing felt too perfect, like they'd targeted me on purpose. It was hard not to suspect foul play.
He looked just as dumbfounded by my accusation.
"Yeah, no kidding. That old man's... well, whatever he was thinking, it's bold as hell."
"What?"
"He's got too much influence for it to be impossible. Looks the part, but he's the type who does whatever he wants."
Influence and a stubborn streak—I glanced back at Overwhelm.
He'd struck me as a strict type from the first impression, but pulling something like this at a national event? Really?
Was this just business as usual in America?
"Bold how?"
"Eh, from my view, it looks like my comment about you maybe beating him got his competitive juices flowing, so he rushed to test it out. But you could also read it as him saying anyone who loses to you isn't worth his time... That's how it feels to me, anyway."
"That's..."
"If you win, it kills any shot he has at me. Not saying that's his angle, but..."
Even I didn't buy that as his motive.
There wasn't any reason for him to think that way in the first place.
So either it was pure dumb luck with the draw, or someone rigged it because he really wanted to fight me ASAP. One or the other.
Either way, there was nothing I could do about it here.
Even if my suspicions were spot-on, crying "rigged match" wouldn't fly—and if they weren't, I'd just look like a sore loser blaming Overwhelm for getting drawn against me first.
People had wound up facing him in round one before, no doubt...
"...Hey, Do-yun."
"Yeah?"
"Don't worry about me—just give it everything you've got. Beating him here won't cause any headaches."
"......"
"Win, and you're golden. Your rep skyrockets, Korea treats you like a legend. And that old guy's not the type to hold a grudge anyway."
That so...
"Honestly, you're the first guy I've ever seen snatch me mid-lightning. Even Overwhelm couldn't pull that off."
"Hm..."
"What I'm saying is... uh, getting long-winded here. Anyway, do your thing. No pressure. Got it?"
"......Yeah."
His pep talk settled my nerves a bit.
Whatever I did here, it'd be fine.
"Guess I'll go for the win."
Time to psych myself up.
First match, so straight to the waiting room.
I sat quietly, and soon someone approached.
At this hour, in this room, only one person fit the bill.
[Oh, the kid's guy, huh?]
"......"
Overwhelm.
I wasn't completely hopeless with English—picked up a few words—but I couldn't follow it all.
[Sorry, I don't speak English.]
I said it in English, and he blinked at me before bursting into hearty laughter.
"My bad. The kid's fluent, so I assumed you were too. Should've asked upfront."
"You speak Korean?"
"Gotta, if you're aiming to stay top-tier. Especially with allies."
"Whoa..."
That was surprising.
He'd stuck to English while eyeing me, so I'd figured he didn't.
"Heard from the kid. Said you might beat me."
"Dunno. We'll see."
Truth was, I had no real gauge of his strength.
But the Thunder Emperor said I was the only one who'd ever grabbed him mid-lightning, so at least in speed, I had the edge.
Fast enough, and it's hard to lose, but...
Who knows? Name alone screams overwhelming power—maybe his strength matched mine.
Mostly, I'd only glimpsed his feats online, nothing solid.
From those clips, though, his name fit: pure domination.
First time I'd seen a human hurl a building like trash.
I could've managed it, sure, but for a normie audience, that kind of show earns the "Overwhelming Power" moniker easy.
"Fair enough... Gotta see it to believe it."
"......"
"That's why I'm looking forward to this, kid."
"I'm a kid too?"
"After all these years? Everyone's a kid to me."
He looked pretty old, yeah...
But... really? Grandpa status on par with—or beyond—the Association Chairman? He seemed way younger.
And his build? Leagues beyond that old man's.
No wonder the Chairman called him stronger.
"When the Thunder Emperor calls you a kid who might beat me? How could I not be hyped?"
"...You ever lost?"
"Never. Matchups exist, so I've struggled plenty. But..."
Overwhelm grinned.
"Overcoming that's what makes a true hero, right, kid?"
"Whoa..."
Straight out of a comic book. An American superhero comic.
No wonder they called him America's greatest.
A guy like this in the Exchange Meet? That's cheating...
"If I beat you, America's gonna hate my guts."
"Ho ho... Talking like you've already won, and we haven't even started?"
"Not a sure thing. But I'm confident I won't lose."
No plans to just take this lying down.
He laughed appreciatively at my bold claim.
"Young folks these days got fire. First since the Thunder Emperor to say you'll beat me."
"Really?"
Makes sense—I'd feel the same.
My confidence came purely from the Stat Cheat handing me this overwhelming power.
And it'd let me topple a top Korean hero like the Thunder Emperor, so objectively? Yeah.
"Good look on you. I like it."
"Haha..."
"So don't break easy, kid. Let's clash. I'll be waiting."
With that, Overwhelm headed out first.
I watched him go, then turned to the screen showing the empty arena.
Soon, I'd step out there against America's top hero.
Honestly, with a title like that, wouldn't a finals clash have more impact?
Why round one, of all things...
Not much time left—thought about checking my phone, but imagining the internet blowing up with my name killed the urge.
Probably pity posts already: "Of course it's Overwhelm first? Poor guy."
Better to check after. Post-win, it'd be hilarious.
Not guaranteeing a win, but putting up a fight would satisfy folks.
His rep was huge even in neighbor Korea.
Excitement bubbling, I chuckled to myself.
Wonder how this'll go...