Balak's 13th Ring
The Illusion homepage was on the verge of exploding.
Reactions to Mu-hyuk were red-hot.
Having ended the match as the victor, Mu-hyuk hadn't yet descended from the arena. He was savoring his win amid the roaring cheers.
I won.
He'd made plans, but he hadn't expected everything to fall into place so perfectly.
Luck had definitely been on his side.
But that was part of a tournament's thrill.
At the same time, one realization hit him.
He needed to get even stronger.
The hidden powerhouses and top rankers had displayed astonishing skill.
If just two of them teamed up, Mu-hyuk was certain he couldn't beat them. And if his bracket luck had been worse, he might not have claimed victory here.
In unpredictable Illusion, who knew what lay ahead? He resolved to push for even greater power.
The reward he'd gain this time would lay that foundation. The problem? He hadn't finalized his choice yet. Too many great items to pick from.
"Then please wait in the lounge for now."
"Ah, sure."
Only then did Mu-hyuk step down from the arena and head to the lounge.
As Mu-hyuk vanished from the screen.
The announcer's voice shifted the screen.
Dark plummeting.
Skeletons charging.
The 3rd/4th place match didn't last long.
Less than five minutes, and a winner emerged. Despite his penalty, Miyamoto had beaten Mulan.
Thus, 3rd place: Miyamoto.
4th: Mulan.
The wait wasn't long.
About 15 minutes.
Mu-hyuk had to decide on his item during that time.
What to pick?
He had a few candidates locked in, but nothing finalized.
He'd think one was perfect, then change his mind later.
Spirit King's Ring was tempting.
The Spirit King's Ring boosted the wearer's MP and recovery rate, plus slight increases to strength, agility, and stamina. It came with solid skills too—excellent item.
But that wasn't all, or he wouldn't have considered it. The killer option: all summons' physical abilities +20%.
For summoner users, it was called a god item—no exaggeration.
Drake's Undecaying Corpse was another contender.
A bit more leveling, and with his Dragon Heart and a few items, he could control a corpse.
Corpse control had strict limits on numbers, so not just anything.
Hence, the drake. Reviving it as a summon would outclass even his evolved Armor Knights.
Amanda's Bracelet too.
+10% to all wearer physical stats, various extras. Plus +35 to all summon stats.
Skills were decent.
And more options besides.
No wonder he was torn.
After sitting there deep in thought, Mu-hyuk nodded, decision made.
Lots of amazing items, sure.
But for the long haul, that was best.
Right on cue, the announcer's voice rang out.
"Award ceremony beginning."
"Ah, got it."
Exiting the lounge, he saw seven other players.
The prize recipients.
An impressive lineup—all top-tier talents gathered.
As he glanced at them, a middle-aged man approached from the front.
He ascended the arena, looking down at the eight players. It was Duke Amur, who'd earned applause with his brief opening speech.
"Thank you for waiting."
Before the awards, brief praise followed.
"A fantastic tournament—truly captivating. The frustrations of planning this event melted away watching it."
Not a long speech.
Just right—not boring.
"Now, the awards."
With praise wrapped, Duke Amur called players—starting from 8th.
One by one, they received prizes.
Duke Amur's voice called a familiar name.
"Outlander Mu-hyuk."
"Yes."
"Ascend the arena."
His approach to the arena appeared on screen.
Duke Amur spoke.
Private chat, so informal.
"Congratulations on your victory."
"Thank you."
"Now, what reward do you desire?"
"I want Balak's 13th Ring."
Duke Amur tilted his head.
"Balak's 13th Ring?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. I'll ensure it's delivered by tomorrow."
"Thank you."
The exchange aired live, of course.
That was everyone's shared sentiment.
The boards were ablaze.
Even after the tournament ended and the broadcast cut, the buzz didn't stop.
They talked tournament, Mu-hyuk, the item—through dawn into morning.
Around then, one post grabbed attention.
The post shot to hot issue status in seconds.