Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: While It's On, King Too
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Lee Soo-hyuk's broadcast title made viewers instantly forget the three-day hiatus.
The sudden three-day break.
Viewers saw it as a well-deserved rest period for the On-King himself.
It wasn't entirely wrong.
During that time, he had indeed received treatment from Jin-un to prepare for the next trial.
Standing just one step away from the pristine white portal ahead, marking his advance for the trial.
There, Lee Soo-hyuk turned on the broadcast after so long. After a brief cough, he awkwardly opened his mouth.
"Everyone. Long time no see."
The broadcast atmosphere was the same as ever.
Despite the few days off, the viewer count hadn't dropped—in fact, it felt higher than before.
Just five minutes in.
And already over 10,000 viewers.
The influx of viewers was unusual. Even after days off, it felt faster.
He had a hunch why.
'The challenge, huh.'
It was thanks to the recently uploaded video.
"The Lee Soo-hyuk Challenge is more popular than I thought. High views, and with Hawk's Eye offering prize money, lots of streamers are trying it."
Lee Soo-hyuk Challenge.
Hawk's Eye's bold claim that no one but Lee Soo-hyuk could succeed had turned it into a viral trend, boosting the streamer's fame.
Every time confident control freaks among other streamers failed in droves, Lee Soo-hyuk's reputation soared.
He couldn't do it, but he did?
Curiosity about streamer Lee Soo-hyuk spread like wildfire. To satisfy it, viewers eagerly awaited his broadcast.
A flood of requests poured in.
Some even came with small donations, making it awkward.
Regardless of amount, he couldn't just fetch a scarecrow and leave the trial grounds right now.
"Lots of new viewers today. Sorry, but no challenge in today's plans."
"Not sure what'll come up, but..."
Plans.
Honestly, there were none.
The goal of this broadcast was singular.
"I'll show you something more fun than the challenge. Promise."
To pass the trial with the best possible result and ascend upward.
His words ignited the chat like fire. Just one sentence, but it built 'expectation' for something special in today's stream.
Seeing that reaction reminded Lee Soo-hyuk.
Of what he needed to deliver to his viewers.
Not shattering that expectation was his ongoing homework as a streamer.
'Wonder what it'll be.'
And for that, the trial itself was crucial.
The 5th floor held special meaning for players. It marked mid-tier status, and from here, trials tailored to each person's 'personality.'
'Lightning for me.'
Lee Soo-hyuk's had been lightning, naturally.
Post-5th floor, he'd gotten lightning-related trials consistently.
And perhaps...
This one too.
"Alright then..."
Step-.
Lee Soo-hyuk took one more step forward.
"Let's begin."
Color returned to the faded world. His blurry vision cleared slowly, revealing the surroundings.
"...aya."
The ringing in his ears sharpened into words. Quite a rough start.
"...just rot and die!"
A hulking, dark-skinned spear knight with bulging muscles.
He glared at Lee Soo-hyuk, bellowing.
What the hell from the jump?
The system filled in the context.
Stage 1.
Seemed like a scenario-type trial with consecutive stages, like the one on the 2nd floor.
'Valhalla?'
He'd heard the name.
Grave of great warriors. Where gods go upon death.
Defeat its warrior? Big scale right out the gate.
The battlefield was the mouth of a cave. The warrior stood guard before it.
'Guarding that?'
Lee Soo-hyuk eyed the cave behind him.
Suspicious as hell. Beating the warrior seemed like the path in.
At his glance toward the cave, the warrior lost patience and aimed his spear.
"Looks like..."
Whoosh-.
He leaped several meters high, spear arcing over Lee Soo-hyuk's head.
"...words won't cut it!"
Whooosh-.
Considerable power behind that spear.
Enough to cleave a human body—or rock—in one go.
'Schneider level.'
Solid skill. Could one-shot most 5th-floor players.
But Lee Soo-hyuk wasn't 'most.'
Clang-.
The swung spear stopped in his grip.
"...!"
The warrior's eyes bulged.
Like embedded in rock, it wouldn't budge.
As question marks filled his head—
Boom-!
Lightning exploded from the warrior's chest.
His grip slackened. Body launched back with the blast.
Clang, thud-.
Armor and body tumbling across the ground.
Lee Soo-hyuk had grabbed the spear and punched lightning straight into his solar plexus.
A message appeared before his eyes.
+ Strength +1
+ Agility +1
+ Focus +1
One level. One item with unknown options.
A bit meager for a stage clear, but not bad.
The trial's difficulty was low overall.
'Or maybe not entirely easy.'
First stages gauge trial difficulty.
This warrior matched Schneider. Average players would burn time just beating him.
"Can't go past here..."
Stagger-.
Then, the 'defeated' warrior struggled to rise.
"Go... no..."
Sway-.
He kept standing, falling solo. System acknowledged defeat—he was combat ineffective.
Yet he persisted.
Impressive mental fortitude.
"What's ahead that's got you like this?"
Simple curiosity deepened.
Lee Soo-hyuk approached the barely-standing—no, already downed—warrior.
This guy was the trial's sole clue and starting point. No reason for him to be here otherwise.
Enemy? Ally?
Or neither?
The answer lay with him.
But.
"Just kill me, you bastard!"
Totally unexpected.
Viewers echoed Lee Soo-hyuk's thoughts.
Genuine question, hit with 'kill me.'
Misunderstanding for sure.
"Not killing you. So..."
"Kill me!"
"Agh, should I just do it?"
Awkward.
His eyes screamed resolve. Dead serious.
No info from this warrior.
'Gotta check myself.'
As he turned toward the cave—
"No need for that."
Step-.
From the dark cave.
Someone emerged, voice like jade beads.
"He's not an enemy."
Lee Soo-hyuk was speechless at the woman.
Slender golden hair like drawn silk. Huge comic-book eyes.
Silver armor hid her figure, but it suited her perfectly, like intentional flair.
Among women he'd seen this life, she rivaled Unhyang in beauty.
Now he got the viewer frenzy.
But Unhyang, always by his side, was no slouch either.
"Va, Valkyrie..."
The downed warrior's words shook Lee Soo-hyuk's eyes.
'Valkyrie?'
Silver-armored female warrior.
He'd met one long ago in a trial.
Noble warriors standing at the forefront with great god Odin.
That was a Valkyrie.
But.
'Why's a Valkyrie here?'
On a hunch, he asked.
"Is this Valhalla? Or Asgard?"
"See?"
She chuckled back.
"You don't even know where this is?"
"Would I ask if I did?"
"Thought you weren't hostile, but this is unexpected."
Caught off-guard, she introduced herself.
"I'm Viola. Valkyrie, as you heard. No idea how you know us, but this isn't Valhalla. Nor Asgard."
"Then?"
"Somewhere on the border of Conrad Kingdom."
Conrad Kingdom.
Familiar. He'd trialed there on the 3rd floor.
"What brings you to the mortal realm?"
"A mission. Failed... though."
Painful topic; Viola continued haltingly.
A Valkyrie failing a mission?
He sensed it.
This trial tied to Viola's mission.
"What mission?"
His eyes gleamed as he pressed. The warrior revived.
"Valkyrie! Be ca-careful. If by chance..."
"No 'if,' Vigo. You know who I am and didn't attack."
"B-but..."
"Besides—"
Viola met Lee Soo-hyuk's eyes.
"He wields the power of thunder."
That was why she trusted him.