The Supremacy Tournament Beckons
To confront Mu-hyuk, Asrahan decided to acquire a hidden class. He hurried to the relevant NPC and received the quest. After investing considerable time, he barely cleared the chain of connected quests.
"Ho, you're done?"
"Yes."
"Your speech really rubs me the wrong way."
"Can't be helped."
"Fine, learn it quick and get out. Stick to what I told you."
"Understood. I'll make sure revenge happens."
The middle-aged man without arms gestured with his chin.
"Come here."
As Asrahan approached, a red light emanated from the man's body, enveloping him.
Once the light was fully absorbed, a message appeared.
Your class has changed to Shadow Dancer.
Existing skill levels are being recalculated.
Levels of newly acquired skills are being adjusted.
In the end, he transitioned from a standard assassin to a Shadow Dancer.
Whether it was a gain or a loss remained to be seen.
Asrahan maintained his characteristic expression as he opened his skill window to check the changed entries one by one.
Clone Technique Lv8
Summons 8 clones possessing 78% of your stats.
No MP cost when hidden in shadows.
8 MP per second when outside shadows.
Shadow Hide Lv9
Hide in shadows. While hidden, HP and MP recovery rates triple. Maintain for 1 minute to apply bonus damage (45%) to the next attack.
Revealed upon attacking or taking damage.
Shadow Assassination Lv7
100% critical hit chance when used from shadows.
Applies bonus damage (75%).
Shadow Power
All stats increase by 10% during moonlight or in darkness-dominated areas.
Shadow...
Asrahan's brow twitched.
There were a total of 9 skills in all.
Each one was extraordinary.
"Impressive."
With this, he figured he could go toe-to-toe with Mu-hyuk.
First things first—time to adapt.
He sought out monsters that would normally be hard to solo.
Clone Technique.
With a poof, dust billowed around him, and eight clones identical to Asrahan appeared.
Their views popped up like CCTV feeds, and Asrahan directed the clones as they charged the roaring monster.
Daggers in both hands flashed like lightning, shredding the monster, but its substantial HP kept it alive.
The monster's follow-up skill swept the area, but Asrahan had already vanished.
Fortunately, the clones didn't drop from a single hit, so he hid in the monster's shadow, leisurely focusing on commands.
Realizing a minute had passed, Asrahan swung his blade.
Shadow Assassination.
100% critical chance.
Bonus damage 75%.
Plus the 45% from hiding in shadows for a minute. Massive damage exploded in one hit, instantly killing the monster.
"......"
Asrahan's lips twisted into a smirk.
*
Sung Min-woo whistled in admiration.
"Whoa, was it always this cool?"
"Yeah."
It was footage of the fight against Asrahan, Rudolph, and the users they'd brought—edited to look slick as hell.
Mu-hyuk came off like a battle master, and Sung Min-woo's flashy combo skills were captured on screen.
A small group overwhelming a larger one.
That alone packed more than enough impact.
After the dominant battle, they re-entered the dungeon and found treasure.
Then they encountered a robed user, followed by Mu-hyuk's decisive punishment.
Boring scenes were cut, leaving only the high-impact moments, making time fly. The clip ended with them getting booted from the Treasure Dungeon, cutting to the MC.
[Treasure Dungeon exploration—fun, right?]
[It's no joke.]
[Next week promises even more thrills.]
[Lots happened outside the dungeon, huh?]
The two MCs bantered.
[True, but I got info on a special event hitting Illusion.]
[Special event? Like what?]
The answer came from Yura.
[The Forma Continent Supremacy Tournament!]
[Supremacy Tournament?]
[Not just meaningless rank numbers—this sets true skill rankings broadcast worldwide. The perfect chance. Beating higher-level users—what could be more fun?]
[PVP's the truth in any game.]
[Exactly. Pure combat sense to conquer the world.]
[Any strength-obsessed user can't miss it. Even if not, anyone wanting to prove themselves has to join.]
[Obviously. Just competing nets tons of EXP, and top ranks? Rewards too massive to describe!]
The vibe was electric.
They chatted about the tournament for a good while before the male MC turned to Yura.
[By the way, one question.]
[Shoot.]
[Why hold it?]
[Figuring that out is part of the fun, right?]
[Fair point.]
Illusion was nearing its end time.
[Catch more details next week!]
The show wrapped with Yura's smile, followed by commercials. Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo finally looked away from the screen and downed some soju.
"Ahh, hits the spot. Tournament, huh? Sounds fun."
"It will be."
"You joining?"
"Dunno."
Nothing wrong with it, really.
Just inefficient.
That was the issue. You'd get EXP from participating, but factoring in wait times, it wasn't much.
Hunting in that time would yield way more.
Rewards were meh too.
First place got some armor, as he recalled.
Good options, maybe?
He didn't remember details, but it didn't excite him much.
"I'll watch and see."
"I wanna join."
"Go for it."
"You?"
"Might. Or just spectate here and there."
"Cool. Then I'm in!"
Sung Min-woo chuckled slyly.
"Least top 3, mark my words."
He had confidence in PVP.
Mu-hyuk smirked.
He was sure he'd win if he entered.
Even take first.
Which made it less appealing.
Unless a real powerhouse showed.
From memory, top rankers mostly skipped this Supremacy Tournament.
Rewards weren't enticing enough.
True reason? They knew grinding levels via hunting benefited the long game more.
A tournament in vast Illusion? Just a blip.
Might as well spectate.
He mulled it over with another soju shot.
"Ahh."
"Oh, and folks at home are starting to recognize us..."
Mu-hyuk listened to Sung Min-woo's chatter as anju.
*
Time passed.
Around then, an event quest popped in Vir Kingdom.
Recruiting for the Supremacy Tournament.
It drew tons of interest from Forma Continent users.
Players flocked to Vir Kingdom. Broadcast crew for filming, crowds for spectating.
Merchants set up stalls to sell gear, and Vir grew bustling as time went on.
Sung Min-woo and Mu-hyuk appeared amid the chaos.
"Damn, it's packed."
"Always draws crowds."
"Can't expand the kingdom?"
"Big enough. Too many users."
"Tch. Anyway, let's line up."
"We?"
"Uh, no—just me. Whatever, bored. Hang with me."
"Grab food."
"Fine, fine."
They headed to the plaza. Temporary booths there handled Supremacy registrations.
After a long wait, it was Sung Min-woo's turn. Mu-hyuk watched from the side.
"Wrist, please."
"Sure."
The NPC pressed a device to Sung Min-woo's wrist.
Beep.
His name, level, HP, MP, attack, defense, and magic defense appeared numerically on the paper ahead.
"Registration complete."
Alphanumeric code etched on his wrist: F Block 61.
His group.
Nickname IronFist etched into the plaza air.
"Done. Let's go."
"Yeah. You really not joining?"
"Not yet."
"Tch. Suit yourself."
Shortly after Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo left, Kalion appeared.
Amon, Kokon, Budongsan...
He scanned the names etched in the plaza air one by one.
One hour... two hours.
Finally, one caught his eye.
IronFist.
Something tickled his chest.
Why?
No clue.
Shook it off.
Kept checking names.
For Mu-hyuk's.
Swish.
Someone approached beside Kalion.
"Crowded."
Asrahan.
He too eyed the block formations floating in the air.
*
Forma Continent Supremacy Tournament.
Ahead of the event, nobles from empires and kingdoms gathered.
Discussions were wrapping up.
"That's why we're offering solid gear as prizes. Still no change to the consensus that most elites will join?"
Hemil Empire's Duke Amur asked, but silence followed. Weibra Empire's Count Kairon broke the long quiet.
He'd been grim-faced after whispering with his aide, finally speaking.
"I'll say a word."
"Count Kairon."
"Yes. I initially agreed..."
"But not now."
"Correct."
"Care to explain?"
Count Kairon's lips uttered Mu-hyuk's name.