Chapter 371
Chapter 371
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 371
Chapter Title: The Grand Confrontation Begins
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The next day, Cheongryang visited the Blue Eyes lodging.
Having diligently prepared for the trials, Cheongryang had finally reached the 8th floor. Now, he was truly beginning to dream again as a player and as a martial artist—dreams he had once abandoned.
Of course, that didn't mean he wanted to join Blue Eyes.
"......It's burdensome for me. Really."
He knew his place well.
"If you force it, you'll end up splitting your pants. Please spare my crotch."
Cheongryang belatedly greeted each guild member one by one. Excluding Unhyang and Soo-hyuk, there wasn't a single easygoing person among them.
No, even Soo-hyuk wasn't entirely comfortable anymore. It had been hard to believe, but ever since learning that Soo-hyuk was truly Lee Soo-hyuk...
"It doesn't feel real."
Having been apart for so long, Cheongryang felt dazed.
"Soo-hyuk is really Lee Soo-hyuk... and the legends of the Blue Eyes are here together. A grand archmage, a master of formations known by rumor. And here I am, sitting among them."
"What about me?"
"You're just Unhyang."
Unhyang jumped up at Cheongryang's response. As if saying, Are you ignoring me?
But it was true that Unhyang seemed much more at ease with Cheongryang around. It hadn't been noticeable in his absence, but the difference was stark now.
Cheongryang seemed to realize this too, teasing her even more mischievously.
"I bet she doesn't cause trouble when you're not looking. She snores like hell, so everyone must be exhausted sleeping... Ow! That hurts! Aaaah!"
Cheongryang let out a scream as if his side hadn't just been poked but shattered.
Laughter erupted around them at the sight of the two. Jin-un smiled quietly and warmly from the side.
The two found a private spot. Cheongryang clutched the spot where he'd been hit, groaning exaggeratedly.
"I thought I was dying. It's not broken, is it?"
"I hit you lighter than before."
"True. You're not as strong as you used to be. Holding back because of Soo-hyuk?"
"No one's around here, right?"
At her question of whether he wanted a proper hit, Cheongryang shut his mouth and grinned.
"Ugh, I should've kept my mouth shut."
Sighing, Unhyang brewed some tea.
It was the tea they used to enjoy together, but it had been ages since they'd sat down just the two of them to drink it.
Then, out of the blue, Cheongryang asked,
"How many viewers do you think the Heavenly Demon's daughter would get if she streamed?"
Unhyang's hand paused for a moment. She had confided in Cheongryang before the article came out.
But this was the first time facing each other and talking about it directly.
"A ton, right?"
"The team leader was right. You really should've streamed."
"Is it too late now?"
Cheongryang shook his head.
"When is it ever too late? It's just that it feels that way."
The playfulness vanished from Cheongryang's expression and voice.
"So don't worry about me. Don't stress over telling me too late or disappointing me by hiding such an important secret."
Unhyang had been pretending otherwise while gauging Cheongryang's reaction despite it being their reunion. He had noticed right away.
"How did you know?"
Cheongryang rubbed the spot where he'd been hit as he replied.
"It didn't hurt as much."
On a mountainside midway up, Hyomin was with the animals.
In front of Hyomin was a small lynx. In front of the lynx was a monster dozens of times larger.
Kyaak—the lynx bristled its fur. The monster was a beast resembling the lynx, but with pitch-black fur and a tail writhing like a snake.
"You can do it."
A forest-green energy flowed from Hyomin's hand. The energy seeped into the lynx's body.
Then, something amazing happened.
Paat—.
The frightened lynx shot forward at incredible speed. With claws extended, it leaped onto the monster's neck and began tearing its body to shreds.
It all happened in an instant.
The lynx lightly landed after swiftly shredding the monster. Hyomin muttered while gazing at the corpse.
"One more time."
It wasn't an unsatisfying result by any means. At least it wouldn't be a burden anymore.
But she still felt it wasn't enough.
At that moment, a presence appeared behind Hyomin.
"Did that little thing take down that monster?"
The presence from behind was now right in front of her.
It was Ye-ryeong, who had come looking for Hyomin.
She looked with wonder at the lynx wagging its tail and the monster corpse bleeding out on the ground.
"Impressive. With that buff, you could take down even the Heavenly Demon."
"No, you can't. I've told you over and over—it's addition, not multiplication."
Hyomin's buff was closer to adding power rather than multiplying it.
"Why are you out here suffering again? Come inside and rest. The lynx is tired too. Right, meow?"
Kyarruk—.
As if understanding, the lynx replied. Hyomin chuckled at the sight.
But her words contradicted her smiling face.
"No."
"Why?"
"Unlike you all, I've been standing still."
"Soo-hyuk's the same way, isn't he?"
"That's the problem."
A long sigh escaped Hyomin's lips.
"He's like me, but different. Soo-hyuk is."
Ye-ryeong had meant to comfort her but nodded unwittingly. It was spot on.
Truth be told, Hyomin's talent was remarkable. Not just hers—everyone in Blue Eyes. Why else would they have become legends together?
But even among those remarkable people, Soo-hyuk stood apart. The wall of talent that Cheongryang felt toward Unhyang.
They felt it from Soo-hyuk too.
Before, they could at least keep up with effort.
"This time's Soo-hyuk... is even more so."
He should have fallen behind since starting over from scratch, but Soo-hyuk did the opposite.
He surged ahead, defying everyone's expectations. That included herself and Si-woo, who had watched him up close. Soo-hyuk had grown at a speed even they hadn't anticipated.
There was one reason he could do that.
"It feels like his weaknesses are gone."
Sometimes, it really seemed like he'd overcome Lightning's flaws.
"So he seems invincible......"
"That's why it's more worrying."
Ye-ryeong nodded vigorously in agreement as Hyomin finished her thought.
It was truly strange. The stronger and more flawless he became, the less at ease they felt—quite the opposite.
The reason was obvious.
"There's a reason he's going this far."
He wouldn't push this hard just to catch Kim Il-su. Soo-hyuk harbored anxiety about something he'd face from even higher up.
The bigger Soo-hyuk grew, the bigger the enemies he'd have to face. To confront those massive foes, they had no choice but to grow alongside him.
The day of the Grand Confrontation dawned.
The massive arena was swarming with countless people. All players participating in the event.
Every time a notable ranker appeared, eyes gathered.
"Emily? Is Emily participating too?"
"Who's that clueless kid next to her?"
"Watch your mouth. That's Ripley."
"......Ripley? Even Ripley's here?"
"Elfrado's really grinding their teeth this time."
"They must think it's a chance to win."
Even famous high rankers who usually ignored the event were joining in droves.
The grand archmage had left Red Tower, and Jin Do-ha, known as Murim's strongest, had died. With the top two favorites gone, they saw an opportunity.
"This win will probably go to Elfrado or Earth."
"Blue Zone's still strong."
"Think they'll be okay? I heard they're on bad terms with Blue Zone."
"Them?"
"You know, the new ones this time......"
A player in the group covered another's mouth, signaling silence. At that moment, a group of players entered the venue.
People waving a blue flag.
It was Kim Il-su, Pierre, and the Blue Zone rankers.
"Will they be the protagonists or the supporting cast?"
Emily and Ripley from Elfrado showed interest in their arrival. Kim Il-su was someone every high ranker gunning for victory had to watch out for.
"Who's next to him?"
"A masked woman?"
"Never seen her before."
Where the vice guild master should have been beside Kim Il-su was a strangely veiled woman. Pierre had been appointed as the new vice guild master, according to rumors.
Few knew her identity. And among those few was Ripley.
"Jang Se-ri."
Her innocent eyes sharpened for a moment.
Ripley touched her neck. There was a small scar there. For some reason, it ached today.
Emily beside her asked,
"That girl, right?"
"Yeah."
"First time at the Confrontation. She stays hidden except for Guardian raids."
Ripley gazed at Kim Il-su, who wore his usual serene expression.
"Means he's cornered."
Jang Se-ri was a player who lived in shadows, not light. Bringing her to the Confrontation showed how seriously Kim Il-su took this event.
And soon, the entity that had cornered them revealed itself.
Flutter—.
A new blue flag appeared.
A small one with a blue eye emblem.
Unlike Blue Zone's group of over a hundred with a large flag, this was small and the group much smaller. Yet it drew all eyes.
Those gazes seemed to say: Yes, that's the Blue Legend we remember. Not swarming with numbers for power, but that—that's the real deal.
More than the flag, what captured attention was the man in the familiar mask.
No one dared dismiss him as just a streamer anymore.
A year ago, he'd entered alone, boldly challenging the Heavenly Demon and leaving a strong impression.
Back then, everyone thought the same.
Could that streamer someday become the real Lee Soo-hyuk we know?
But no one expected 'someday' to come this soon. While everyone else stagnated, it felt like they lived in different time.
And at that moment.
Kyaaaaah—!
A roar echoed through the venue, and Vulcanus appeared overhead.
The arena buzzed again as the grand archmage who left Red Tower returned. Everyone had thought she wouldn't participate.
But the surprise didn't end there.
Hailz floated down from Vulcanus and landed beside a flag. Right next to Soo-hyuk, under the Blue Eyes banner.
It wasn't coincidence or mistake. Her position declared her affiliation.
The eyes behind Soo-hyuk's mask curved in a smile, as if saying, I'm back.
Unlike a year ago, Soo-hyuk wasn't alone. His comrades stood with eyes burning to devour this place.
And with them, Soo-hyuk's first broadcast began.