Dawn of the Final Tournament
With a powerful explosion, the last user from Team 20 was flung out of the arena.
Was the number one ranker truly deserving of the top spot?
A genuine powerhouse?
Overwhelming destructive power?
None of that could even be confirmed.
Because Dark hadn't moved a muscle.
Not even once.
Including him, not a single finger had twitched all the way up to Team Kilimanjaro. The remaining two members of Team 1 had dominated all four of Team 20 on their own.
"……."
Everyone held their breath.
"Team 1 wins!"
Only then did they snap back to reality at the judge's declaration.
"Whew."
Some users let out long sighs.
It had been that tense.
"Just two of them."
"Holy shit."
"Way too overwhelming."
The broadcast director filming it all on screen felt the same.
"Scary stuff."
"The top ranker really is on another level."
"Dark didn't even move."
"His presence alone is on a whole different plane."
"Yeah, fair point."
They had no choice but to acknowledge it.
He was truly impressive.
His sheer presence was worlds apart.
"Still, we don't know yet."
"Know what?"
"Who'll take the championship."
"You think so?"
"Definitely."
There had to be someone capable of challenging Dark.
The question was, who?
The director captured a few promising users on camera. Mu-hyuk was among them.
*
Asrahan and Rudolph teamed up for the 4v4 match.
Thanks to each pulling the weight of one-and-a-half players, they breezed through the second preliminary round.
"Ha, that was brutal."
"More fun than I expected."
"Fun my ass. Picked the wrong two idiots and suffered for it."
Asrahan chuckled.
"They were weak."
"Weak? Who, me?"
"Who else?"
"Fine, whatever. No energy for a pissing match."
Rudolph clamped his mouth shut and turned to glare at Mu-hyuk.
"Tch."
When the hell was he going to ask for help?
He shook off the stray thoughts and took a rest.
Meanwhile, the second preliminaries reached their end.
"This is the last one."
Finally, the final 4v4 matchup.
"Team 27 wins."
With that, winners and losers were split exactly in half.
"The 64 winners advance to the third preliminaries. This will be a tournament format—the final stage to determine the champion of this event."
"Tournament."
"Finally, the endgame."
"Third preliminaries begin tomorrow at 2 p.m."
The users nodded.
They were definitely worn out.
It was late, too.
"For today, rest in the rooms we've prepared."
The judge led the users.
Rooms were assigned one per person—spacious and comfortable enough for proper rest.
Of course, everyone would log out anyway.
"Rest well."
"You too."
Mu-hyuk logged out the moment the judge passed.
"Haa, wiped out."
He showered and hit the bed.
His brow furrowed instantly.
"Ah……."
The mattress sagged with a creak, one side caving in.
Damn.
Couldn't swap it out right now.
He was beat anyway.
Just crash for tonight.
He scooted to the unsunk side, curling up like a shrimp. Pillow between his knees, arms crossed—he tried to sleep.
Five minutes passed?
"Grrr……."
His snores filled the house.
The next day.
Mu-hyuk woke and immediately braced his lower back with one hand as he sat up.
"Ugh……."
It ached way more than usual.
His eyes drifted to the bed.
He leaned down, pressed the mattress with his hand.
"Haa, gotta replace this thing."
He checked the time while muttering.
9 a.m.
Tournament at 2 p.m.—plenty of time.
Buy now?
No telling when the tournament would wrap; postponing was risky. Worst case, another night on the sunk mattress.
No thanks.
He steeled himself against the hassle.
No same-day delivery online.
Department store it is.
Showered, dressed sharp, headed out. On the way, he pulled up the app to check Illusion stock.
4.9 million won per share.
He held 170 shares.
Cash equivalent: about 830 million won.
An insane sum.
To think I earned 830 million on my own power.
Impossible in his old life.
Plus, 50 million in living expenses tucked away.
A satisfied smile crept up.
Might as well go all out.
Into the car in the parking lot, engine on. Headed to Daehan Department Store, not far off.
Parked, took the elevator to floor 7—home appliances and furniture.
Browsed leisurely, checking prices.
Sofa at 2 million won.
Old him would've gasped.
What the hell, so expensive?
Now? Numb to it.
Spending had ramped up.
Passed by casually, entered the bed section.
"Welcome."
"Uh, yeah."
"Looking for something specific?"
"Hmm, something soft but comfy?"
"Too soft isn't good."
"Oh?"
"Yep. Folks with back issues? Super plush beds strain it more. Needs balanced cushioning."
"Ah, my back's bad too."
"Try this one?"
"Sure."
Kicked off shoes, lay on the recommended bed.
Not super plush. But oddly cozy, relaxing.
Hmm?
Closed his eyes briefly.
Back felt good, for sure.
But a tad lacking.
Checked the price.
2.6 million won.
"Kinda meh."
"How about this?"
Price jumped.
3.5 million.
Not quite a slam dunk.
"Try this one?"
The priciest in the store.
6.5 million.
The moment he lay down, Mu-hyuk let out a gasp. His lips curved into a crescent moon. That comfortable.
Like lying on a cloud.
His whole body melted into languid bliss.
"This one."
"R-really?"
The clerk looked shocked—didn't expect an instant buy.
"This way, then."
"Same-day delivery possible?"
"One sec, I'll check."
Clerk headed to the computer.
"Lucky—stocked one each size."
"So……?"
"Same-day delivery, yes."
"Great."
Parents crossed his mind.
Theirs sucked too, probably.
Over ten years without an upgrade.
"Three available, right?"
"Yes."
Family, after all.
Sis too.
"King, queen, double—one each."
"Th-three?"
"Yeah."
"Got it! Delivery addresses?"
"Seoul……."
Two to parents' place.
One here.
"All set. Oh, hold on, sir."
"Yeah?"
After a wait, the clerk smiled.
"King: 7 million, queen: 6.7 million, double: 6.5 million. Total 20.2 million, but max discount—1.9 million."
"Nice cut."
Still a hefty sum.
But whatever.
Money's for spending.
When you gotta, you gotta.
"Here."
"Months?"
"Lump sum."
"Right."
"ETA?"
"Your preferred time?"
"This address: king and double, ASAP. King around 7 p.m."
"Noted."
Clerk handed card and receipt.
A fortune gone in a flash, but satisfaction swelled.
They'll flip.
Grinning at the thought, he headed to the gym.
*
Post-workout, a female trainer approached.
"All done?"
"Yeah."
"Your membership ends in two days."
"Really?"
"Didn't know?"
"Nah, been distracted."
"Figured."
She smiled softly.
His eyes kept drifting to her figure, not her smile.
"Ahem."
"Renewing?"
"Gotta."
Mu-hyuk pulled out his card.
"One year."
"Whoa, a full year?"
"Yep."
"See me longer, then."
Flirt or not?
He shook his head.
Just service, probably.
"Looks like it."
"Thrilled."
"Haha, me too."
"See you tomorrow."
"Sure."
Parted ways, grabbed a quick bite en route home, logged into Illusion.
Stepping out, Sung Min-woo pounced like he'd been waiting.
"What? Why you here?"
"Why're you so late?"
"Not late."
"It's past 1 already!"
"Starts at 2, right?"
"Yeah, but……."
Sung Min-woo looked wronged.
"What? When'd you log in?"
"Me? Right after waking."
"What time?"
"Uh, 9?"
"You maniac."
Mu-hyuk snickered.
"How long you wait?"
"Forever?"
"Log out and back in, duh."
"Nothing else to do……."
"Sigh, whatever—starts soon. Let's go."
They headed to the hall together.
Third preliminaries.
Users for the final tournament gathered.
Judge at center.
"20 minutes left."
His voice echoed.
"Headcount first."
He scanned the users.
"One missing. We'll wait a bit."
No sooner said than the straggler appeared. All eyes turned; the guy forced a grin under the pressure.
"All here—quick rundown. The alphabet-number from the start is still on your wrists."
Mu-hyuk checked his.
Group B, 98.
"Matches by that order."
Mu-hyuk glanced at Sung Min-woo.
"What number you?"
"F-61."
Mu-hyuk was relieved.
Far apart.
"64 players: one win to round of 32, two to 16. Six wins—you're champ."
Six matches.
Shouldn't take forever.
"10 minutes. Follow me."
Followed the judge down the hall. Opened massive doors. Light and cheers erupted.
"Wooooaaah!"
"Been waiting!"
Huge crowd packed the stands for viewing. Broadcasters too.
The unexpected spectacle stunned them briefly. Excitement surged, hearts pounding.
Thump, thump.
It had finally begun.
The final clash to crown the strongest.