The World Cup Begins

A follow-up blow struck immediately after! While the handful of Japanese fans fell into despair, the only ones seriously running the numbers were the Canadian fans.

Korean fans?

Chinese fans?

Japanese fans?

Everyone was absolutely certain of their fate without even needing to think. But the Canadian fans were different.

The first round of the tournament was a best-of-three. If two rounds ended in a draw, or if the score became 1 win, 1 loss, and 1 draw, the match would end in a draw without going into overtime. It was a much easier setup to force a draw compared to the regular league! Furthermore, since they could ban opposing players, they held onto a sliver of hope that with the right strategy, they could somehow scrape by.

"The first match is Korea versus Japan. Korea versus Japan!"

"Uh... isn't the first match a bit... lacking in tension?"

"This feels more like an execution than a match."

Just as the fans said, the commentators thought the same. The balance between the two teams was simply too lopsided. Japan, with its weak esports infrastructure, had an extremely shallow player pool. Even their only team in the 1st Division, the Osaka Dragons, relied heavily on foreign players (half of whom were Korean)...

In contrast, South Korea boasted a long-standing tradition of players who did nothing but eat, sleep, and breathe games. They were widely evaluated as having experienced a grand revival in Pandemonium Online, thanks to the emergence of a stellar cast of top-tier players!

However, a game is never truly decided until it's played, and the World Tree Arena—specifically designed for this World Cup—was being revealed for the very first time. Because of this, a few cautious individuals held their tongues. Besides, from a commentator's perspective, they couldn't exactly say, "Yeah, this is going to be an absolute slaughter, lol," could they?

"The South Korean national team's lineup is terrifying. Just look at the two damage dealers, Kim Tae-hyun and Lee Se-yeon. Doesn't it make your heart swell with grandeur?"

"Isn't this the dream combination we all imagined while watching the league?"

"But there's no need for the Japanese fans to be disappointed. The Japanese players are just as incredible!"

Although the commentators said it out of consideration, it only annoyed the Japanese fans even more. Just be honest, you bastard!

"Ryu Tae-su and Lee Da-bi have already proven their skills in the 1st Division, haven't they?"

"Yes. I believe both of them will definitely carry their weight. Ryu Tae-su has great chemistry with Lee Se-yeon, and Lee Da-bi has worked exceptionally well with Kim Tae-hyun, which is likely why they were selected. While the individual abilities of the five players are important, teamwork cannot be ignored."

"Well said. Exactly. The Arena is a place where harmony between players is just as crucial. It might look simple, but building that synergy is no easy feat! After all, once you reach the national team level, every single player is outstanding."

It was a common oversight, but gathering a group of super-elite players didn't automatically make them a super-elite team. It wasn't rare for them to clash and weaken each other! Team KL had an absolute leader like Tae-hyun, and Yuseong Gaming had an excellent leader like Lee Se-yeon. But when you put these kinds of leaders on the same team, clashes were bound to happen...

"Target number three? Or four?"

"Four."

"And after the first clash?"

"Free-for-all. I'll buy time, so can you circle around the back and pick one off?"

"Of course. I've wiped out five of them by myself before; why wouldn't I be able to handle one?"

"...Don't do anything crazy like that!"

"I don't plan to. It's not like I did that because I wanted to back then."

The reason Tae-hyun had run wild trying to wipe out all five members of the opposing team in the past was partly due to the league's equipment allowance rules, but mostly because his team had too many unstable elements. If they fell behind early on, Tae-hyun's team would find it incredibly difficult to recover. He had to aggressively push the opponents by any means necessary to secure an advantage!

But there was no need for that here. Even if Tae-hyun didn't step up, Lee Se-yeon and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ryu Tae-su could handle it. The burden on his shoulders was far lighter.

"The players' expressions are stiff. Could it be that they're extremely nervous?"

"Naturally. Unlike regular league matches, they are playing as national representatives, aren't they? We can't overlook the psychological pressure!"

Tae-hyun was actually feeling completely relaxed, but the commentators interpreted it however they pleased. That stiff expression must mean he's nervous! Wow, so even Kim Tae-hyun is human after all!

The rules were Payload Escort. The map was the World Tree Arena. For the first round, South Korea took the attacking side.

"You all know the plan, right?"

The Japanese players ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nodded. Although they faced sarcastic remarks from foreign fans like, "Wow! Look at these literal whos! How fascinating!", anyone selected for the national team was at least a high-level Ranker. They weren't the type to get pushed around easily.

Therefore, they had no intention of losing.

"We hold out..."

"...and drag this out as long as possible!"

Their team composition was heavily focused on defense rather than offense, featuring multiple tanks alongside mages specializing in curses and illusion magic.

"*Huff. Huff.*"

"What's wrong with you? Are you nervous?"

"N-no. It's just... I can't believe I'm actually getting the chance to face Kim Tae-hyun like this..."

"..."

"..."

"Hey, you crazy bastard, are you seriously showing off your fanboy side right now? Have you lost your mind?!"

The other players immediately began scolding him. They were about to engage in a bloody battle, and this guy was busy being a fanboy!

The Japanese coach called his players over one last time.

"Listen up. This is different from the league. There are no custom items, and Kim Tae-hyun won't even play in the second round. If we can just survive the first round, the second round will be much easier to defend. Got it?"

"Yes, Coach!"

"None of you are famous!"

"...?"

The players' faces stiffened at the coach's harsh words.

"But that is precisely your weapon. Kim Tae-hyun won't know anything about you. He barely had any time to prepare. He'll have no choice but to be caught off guard by your skills!"

Coach... that just makes us feel worse... It was meant to be an encouraging speech, but for some reason, it only left a bitter taste in their mouths.

"But you know everything about Kim Tae-hyun! Not only that, you know almost all the skills of the other Korean players! Go! Go out there and bite them!"

"Yes, Coach!"

In the Arena, strategies varied wildly depending on the class, but classes like Necromancers were typically slow starters. In other words, they preferred to prepare before making a move, even if it meant giving up some early ground. It was only natural, as they had to summon undead and cast various buffs. Minimizing this preparation time was what set a top-tier Necromancer apart.

As soon as the match began, Lee Se-yeon summoned undead from the barren ground, buffed them, and positioned herself next to the payload. The payload would move automatically as long as players remained near it! The goal of the attacking team was to escort this payload to its destination, while the defending team's goal was to stop it.

"Lee Se-yeon is incredible! That is what a true Necromancer looks like!"

"No corpses needed! High-grade skeleton warriors have appeared in an instant. The opponents must already be feeling the pressure."

"Uh... but wait, player Kim Tae-hyun...? What is he doing?"

Tae-hyun was indeed busy doing something. He was wandering around, gathering various materials, and hammering away.

"Is... isn't that a bomb?"

"He made a bomb! A bomb!! Wow, how on earth did he make that? It's not even easy to gather materials here!"

It was extremely rare for a blacksmith to compete in the Arena, and even more so for a mechanical engineering blacksmith. Thus, Tae-hyun's playstyle was bound to turn heads. To craft a bomb using sheer skill power in a situation lacking both proper materials and facilities!

The damage won't be massive, but it'll be more than enough to startle them. What Tae-hyun loved most was introducing variables. Just forcing the opponent to hesitate for a single second opened up a myriad ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of possibilities.

"The payload is now approaching the first checkpoint. The Japanese players have already set up their formation and are waiting!"

"From curse totems to everything else, it looks brutal!"

"Is Kim Tae-hyun not going to flank and wipe them out single-handedly like he did in the league?"

"That's likely the case. The equipment restrictions probably play a huge role. After all, Kim Tae-hyun is famous for his signature evasion, right?"

"It drives his opponents absolutely crazy!"

"Indeed. Most attacks just miss him entirely, and the only way to lock him down is to weaken him with curses. Without his reliable gear, diving recklessly into the enemy formation would be..."

As the payload drew closer and the moment of collision neared, everyone held their breath.

"*Chwiiiiiiik!*"

"?"

"???"

"Wait, was there an Orc among the Japanese players? I don't think so?"

"*Chwiiik! Chwiiik!*"

"...!!"

Orcs suddenly poured down from the adjacent mountain, a completely unexpected development! Both the Korean and Japanese teams stared at the Orcs in sheer bewilderment. And the first to react was none other than Tae-hyun.

"This is our chance, Se-yeon!"

"I know. Move in!"

Lee Se-yeon immediately summoned her undead to form a defensive line around the payload, preparing to hold her ground in the impending chaotic brawl.

"Kim Tae-hyun is running!"

"How bold! It seems he's treating the sudden appearance of the Orcs as an opportunity!"

While some people panicked when faced with unexpected situations, others seized them as opportunities. Tae-hyun was the latter.

As the Orcs swarmed in from the side, Tae-hyun decided to weave through them and pick off an enemy player. For a damage dealer like Tae-hyun, securing a quick kill in this kind of chaotic skirmish was the textbook play!

"This is exactly the kind of variable this Arena offers! A wild card that keeps everyone on the edge of their seats until the very end!"

"Even so, isn't Kim Tae-hyun being a bit too reckless? The Orcs' levels aren't low! You shouldn't underestimate monsters inside the Arena!"

In the open field, Rankers looked down on monsters, but inside the Arena, their levels were scaled down significantly. Underestimating monsters here could lead to a swift defeat.

The Orc shamans froze, temporarily paralyzed by fear instead of attacking Tae-hyun. That brief window was all he needed. Tae-hyun dashed through the Orcs like a gale.

"Explosive Leap!"

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

As the explosion obscured Tae-hyun from view, the spectators gasped in shock. What just happened?

"The bomb Kim Tae-hyun crafted just exploded! What an absurd mistake... Wait, no, it's not!"

As the smoke cleared, Tae-hyun was already soaring forward. And then, his sword swung.

"Madness Explosion Sword Style!"

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

"Kim Tae-hyun has broken through!!"

The player in the backline screamed as Tae-hyun lunged forward. It was the prelude to the flashy play they had witnessed countless times in the league! At the same time, the watching fans erupted in cheers. It's finally starting!