The Only Truth
Through the foundation Lee Shin had built, Mir Guild carried the momentum all the way to the third set and sealed their advantage.
The waiting room was wrapped in silence.
“……”
“……”
For a guild on the verge of victory, the quiet was strangely deep, yet it wasn’t an unpleasant silence. Everyone knew that behind this profound stillness waited success and pure joy.
People often say the goddess of victory is fickle. They claim you can never be sure of the outcome until the final moment, which is why you must give everything until the end.
They’re right. It’s the correct principle.
Even so, sometimes players just feel it.
A match they absolutely cannot lose. A game where victory feels like destiny.
For them, this finals was exactly that.
It didn’t feel like they could possibly lose. They didn’t dare say it out loud for fear of jinxing themselves, but every single one of them sensed victory in their bones.
‘Hehe, we’ve come this far.’
Yu Ri-ra sipped on her stamina recovery drink with loud slurping sounds, grinning from ear to ear.
She wasn’t particularly smart. She didn’t work especially hard. And she certainly didn’t possess the sense of duty or vision for the future that her soldier family members had.
All she needed was to look at the face she loved.
‘I really was such a brat back then.’
She used to save her allowance to buy her brothers’ albums. She would cry and laugh over those random photocard pulls. She once screamed that whoever made the random photocards deserved to die.
She had fought with friends over album bias. She even stole lunch money for concert tickets, leading to three friends piling onto one lunch tray.
It was a nostalgic past, but honestly too embarrassing to brag about. Yet what was even more chilling was…
‘If I hadn’t met him back then, would I have just lived an ordinary, satisfied life?’
— “Is your name Yu Ri-ra by any chance?”
— “Have you ever seen an awakening? Watch today. Up close.”
The moment she first picked up a gun following Lee Shin that day, Yu Ri-ra’s life did a complete 180.
Eyes that once anxiously checked photocards now searched for enemy weak points. Fingers once used for picketing now pulled triggers.
Oh, and the welfare was the best.
Her eyes rolled around like marbles as she checked everyone from the middle-aged Mountain King to the sly fox-like Genius, then she beamed like a crescent moon.
Because their faces were the real welfare.
From the black sheep of a military family to the league’s top superstar. This was the perfect moment to shout it, right?
‘Director Oppa, I pledge my loyalty! Loyalty!’
While Yu Ri-ra swore loyalty in her heart, Kim Yu-shin was also thinking of Lee Shin as he gazed at a family photo.
‘I can’t believe it actually turned out exactly as he said.’
To Kim Yu-shin, Lee Shin had simply been a capable director. Someone who took good care of hunters, possessed more ability than expected, and was worth working with once. That was it.
Even when he saw Lee Shin playing with his daughter at the playground, that assessment hadn’t changed.
But the recruitment offer completely shattered that evaluation.
— “A position that requires devotion, sacrifice, and high work rate, yet needs no aggression and can care for teammates better than anyone… We both know what that is, right? Supporter. The position that suits you best, Mr. Kim Yu-shin, is supporter.”
— “How about changing positions? Would you try it with me?”
The supporter who sang songs with his daughter So-yeon. The position change he had agonized over for so long.
Even the guild he had shown loyalty to refused and avoided signing him. Even Kirin’s Han Jeong-do had shaken his head.
The only place that said they would at least consider it despite the value of the name Hwarang was one foreign guild. That said everything.
‘If the director hadn’t come, I would have gone there, wouldn’t I?’
Honestly, he had considered it for the sake of his daughter, who was more precious than his own life, but even Kim Yu-shin himself had thought it was a gamble. Yet Lee Shin had said those words himself.
No, he had gone beyond suggestion and expressed absolute certainty.
Kim Yu-shin still couldn’t forget the expression on Lee Shin’s face that day.
— “Listen, Yu-shin. I’ll tell you honestly. You should be grateful to So-yeon for the rest of your life.”
And the result had been more miraculous than anyone could have imagined.
Hwarang Kim Yu-shin, after changing to the supporter position, delivered a performance for the ages.
Together with the Mountain King, he created an entire meta called roaming warfare. He had left his mark on the world, far beyond Korea.
Some officials were already certain that Hwarang’s ranking would rise to top 5 or higher next year.
But such honors meant nothing to Kim Yu-shin. All he needed was laughter. So-yeon’s happy smile in the photo was enough, and he was grateful.
And to Lee Shin, who had given him back this happiness.
“I need to repay this debt.”
Kim Yu-shin whispered quietly as he tucked the photo back into his inner pocket.
The moment the warm touch reached his heart, Kim Yu-shin’s eyes shone with fierce determination.
Just like that, when the bottom duo of Yu Ri-ra and Kim Yu-shin entered battle readiness, those around them each began thinking of Lee Shin as if by some unspoken agreement. They steeled their resolve and became warriors.
The Mountain King, who had been waiting for this moment, spoke.
“Everyone finished their mental preparation?”
“Yes sir!!”
“Anything I need to say?”
“Nothing sir!!”
“Good.”
There was no need for a strategy meeting. No need for encouragement or cheers.
Sometimes silence burned hotter than words. What they needed now was heart. Sincerity.
The pounding of many hearts crying out in one voice.
“We win.”
Never doubt it.
“We will win.”
Pour out everything you have.
Our victory is only natural.
To borrow that arrogant bastard’s expression…
“That is the only truth.”
“That is the only truth.”
As Kim Jong-pil stood up with shining eyes, Kim Yu-shin and Yu Ri-ra flanked him on both sides while Park Su-bin and Baek Yeon-woo guarded the rear.
They strode forward with absolute confidence between the lined-up members of Team 1 and Team 2.
“Let’s go claim that championship cup.”
“Let’s go!!”
The fourth set of the Asia Finals began amid everyone’s anticipation.
Would this become the period at the end of a legend, or the starting point of a counterattack?
With the eyes of Korea, China, and the entire world focused on them, the side that revealed their will first was actually Mir Guild.
“They’re pushing! They’re accelerating the pace!”
“Baek Yeon-woo in top is dragging the wave high and pressuring the Little Sword Dragon. Park Su-bin in mid is also freezing the lane. The bottom duo of Hwarang and Blitz, along with the Mountain King, are aggressively pressuring the enemy formation and increasing the tempo.”
“Keep pushing! Push even harder!”
The moment the speed reached its critical point, all five players’ eyes flashed simultaneously.
The instant Hwarang shot toward the enemy jungle like a cannonball, the canyon itself shook.
“It’s complete. That look we’ve seen from them in the league!”
“Oh my god, it’s too beautiful!”
“Fourth set, the final step. Many wondered what stance Mir Guild would take. I was curious too. And Mir Guild’s answer is this.”
No tricks needed.
We decide the outcome.
Mir Guild’s first option: the endless high-tempo push.
Roaming warfare.
Baek Yeon-woo had already drawn his greatsword and corrected his stance.
The attack-oriented style with his neck extended and body lowered. The Fighting King’s natural state was complete. At the same time, he bared his fangs with a growl.
Swish—!
He charged like a wild beast in an instant.
It was the Fighting King in his prime.
But Mir Guild wasn’t satisfied there.
Let’s raise the speed even more.
Park Su-bin nodded and spread his light orbs thinly over his body. As multiple layers overlapped, his body began to shine like a halo.
Then Park Su-bin leapt into the Sky Sword Emperor’s sword path.
What unfolded with his coat flapping was a spinning kick.
BOOOOM——!!
The collision of sword and foot created a wave of magic power that lifted the entire ground!
“That’s! Oh my god, that’s!!”
“Commissioner??”
“That’s that! It’s the Mountain King’s body technique!”
“!!”
“Just like how the Mountain King strengthens his body with spirits, Park Su-bin is strengthening his with light orbs. He’s a real monster!”
Even though the Mountain King had low physical stats, he displayed close combat stronger than any martial arts ranker through unmatched combat sense and god-given magic control.
And Park Su-bin had learned that very body technique.
All for this final set today.
It was still too early to be surprised.
Now Yu Ri-ra joined in.
Wrapped in lightning from head to toe, she was once again performing acrobatic maneuvers in a 2-on-1.
Up to this point, it was the same as usual. Our Queen of Survival.
But as she flipped through the air, dodging both attacks, Yu Ri-ra timed it perfectly.
At that moment.
“Bam!”
A lightning bullet tore through the bushes and pierced the enemy’s throat with perfect accuracy.
KWAAAAAANG———!!
‘Yu Ri-ra’ has killed ‘Namgoong Su-yeon’.
“??”
One of the enemy duo displayed a question mark.
“??”
“W-what?”
The casters also displayed question marks.
Everyone watching the match displayed question marks.
And their questions soon turned to shock when they saw the ‘sniper rifle’ rising from the bushes.
Yu Ri-ra placed her hands on her hips in mid-air and shouted triumphantly.
“Hmph, did you think I’d just keep rolling around forever?”
On lonely days, on boring days, I make friends~!!
A sniper rifle wrapped in lightning guarded Yu Ri-ra’s back. Beside it, pistols and assault rifles waited in formation.
She took aim.
“Everyone, let’s roll together!!”
Showtime!
The moment Yu Ri-ra smiled brightly, the bottom lane was instantly covered in lightning.
“As expected of the final set, Mir Guild is pulling out every card they’ve kept hidden!!”
“I have to praise Director Lee Shin at this timing. He kept this hidden until the very end to decide the match?”
“That’s right. The hidden trump card! Namgoong Sega is being pushed back.”
“Namgoong is being pushed… Wait, wait, look at the minimap.”
“What is it?…!!”
The pressure top.
The defensive mid.
The survival bottom.
This formation began to transform.
With all their hidden weapons revealed, every lane turned into a picture of total pressure.
This naturally formed a different formation.
Mir Guild’s second option. The lightning war begins.
“It’s a lightning war! They’re raising the pressure level! They’re striking like lightning! Piercing like an awl!”
“This is crazy! Director Lee Shin! Did you see all the way to this point? How much more do you plan to surprise us?!”
Come at me with that pathetic ego sword if you dare.
I’ll show you the difference in class.
The Mountain King’s martial robe fluttered as bombardment rained down across the canyon.
“Mir Guild, Director Lee Shin, Captain Mountain King—they really plan to show everything. They’re crushing Namgoong Sega with the history they’ve walked!!”
“Charge!!”
“Baek Yeon-woo pushes the Little Sword Dragon all the way to the tower!”
“The Hwasan duo dives in immediately! Dive kill!!”
“They even take the tower!!”
Mets Guild.
Selena, the SS-rank genius general manager (real), couldn’t close her mouth as the tower exploded.
“Oh…… God.”
Roaming strategy, pressure, and high tempo.
The trend that had dominated the world league this year. The ultimate form of that trend was right there.
Selena was certain. Mir Guild. They were the future of the league.
“Namgoong Sega, bottom is in danger! They need to help immediately!”
“Can’t you see those guns? That’s Yu Ri-ra who got a kill even in a 2-on-1. Leaving her in a 1-on-1 is basically throwing the game!”
“The moment you say that, Yu Ri-ra closes in like lightning and the enemy ADC falls! Kill! Kill! Yu Ri-ra records the kill!”
Some apartment in Seoul.
“Riraaaaa…… *hic!*”
“Whoa.”
When Yu Ri-ra’s kill rang out, “Rira-noona fan” fainted from joy while “RetireAndDrinkBeer” spilled his beer all over himself, completely lost in awe.
Survival Yu Ri-ra? I won’t let anyone say that anymore. Our Rira is the Princess of Lightning.
“Hwarang uses Shield Charge on the enemy jungler! He’s sticking to him persistently!”
“Because the jungler is coming! The Mountain King is coming!”
“He tries to run but it’s too late! The Mountain King charges like a beast! Together with Hwarang, they dominate the enemy jungler!”
Kim Yu-shin’s house on Yeongdo.
“That’s it, Dad! That’s what Dad created!”
“What’s wrong with her? So-yeon, get down from the table!?”
“Dad is the best! Supporter is the best! Our dad is awesome!”
Kim So-yeon shouted while pumping her fists.
My dad is the coolest in the world!!
So-yeon couldn’t contain how cool her dad looked.
“Look at mid in the middle of this chaos. Does this even make sense? Wow… Park Su-bin isn’t being pushed back at all against the Sky Sword Emperor, one of China’s strongest swordsmen!! I’m so shocked I can barely speak.”
“He really is Korea’s lucky charm, our Bokchi… sob sob.”
“Commissioner??”
Mrs. Jang Eun-soon’s house on Yeongdo.
“It’s true. He really is a lucky charm. Our Su-bin isn’t just Mir Guild’s lucky charm, he’s Korea’s lucky charm.”
“Hey, stop crying so much.”
“Be quiet.”
Jang Eun-soon clasped her hands together tightly.
Watching Park Su-bin charge fiercely, endless tears flowed from her eyes.
With everyone’s performance shining, the end of the match finally came into view.
All towers destroyed. All inhibitors destroyed.
The Sky Sword Emperor and Namgoong Sega were making a last stand in front of their nexus.
Mir Guild charged in to put the final period on this finals.
“The giant roars. Area stun. Namgoong Sega barely dodges but their formation is broken. Bullets fly in. Blades descend.”
“The battlefield is in chaos!! Isn’t this advantageous for us since we have the Mountain King?”
“Maybe that’s why, the Sky Sword Emperor is desperately marking the Mountain King.”
But.
Even so.
“The difference in the other members is just too big!”
Hwarang’s shield blocks Namgoong’s sorcery.
Yu Ri-ra’s bullets tear apart Namgoong’s talismans.
Baek Yeon-woo’s greatsword breaks Namgoong’s will.
Park Su-bin’s giant finally breaks Namgoong’s sword.
And finally, the Mountain King’s fist pierces the Sky Sword Emperor’s heart, and Namgoong Sega crumbled.
“Good work.”
“……Thank you.”
The Sky Sword Emperor scattered away.
When everything disappeared, what appeared before the five was.
The nexus.
“The nexus is breaking!!!!”
“Asia Champions! The Asia Champions are Mir Guild!!”
And at that moment.
The tallest skyscraper in Seoul.
At the top of the main building of the Ido Group, Lee Sang-byuk looked at Seoul’s night view and spoke one word.
“Proceed.”
A moment later.
KWAAAAAANG———!!
The night sky of South Korea lit up with fireworks.
Asia Final
4 VS 0
Winner:Mir Guild
Congratulations. You have become the Asia Champion.
Korea will remember you forever for bringing back the Asia Championship title.
There will be no one in Asia who does not know your name.
You have accomplished a near-impossible feat.
You have accomplished a near-impossible feat.
You have accomplished a near-impossible feat.
You have exceeded all expectations.
Combining all accumulated rewards with the overachievement bonus, rewards will be recalculated.
※ Epic Equipment Enhancement Ticket ×3, Character Exclusive Quest ×3, ‘Inheritance’ Free Pass Card ×3, Random Unique Trait Draw ×5 ……
Congratulations. You have reached 100 Dominance.
You have filled three stats to 100. A manager-exclusive trait has been added.
Shut Up and Get On (???)
: You have solved every problem. Your words carry power. Dignity increases. Persuasiveness grows stronger. Persuasion toward hunters and all characters becomes significantly more effective….
Lee Shin trembled as waves of rewards crashed over him.
“Aghhh, it’s too sweet.”
It was so sweet he felt like he was getting cavities.
Good. So good. Rewards really are the best.
This one for Hye-jung, this for Mal-suk, this for our princess, these for our Team 2. These will be good for the upcoming business.
But then.
An alert appeared at the very bottom of the reward window.
Warning!!
Warning!!
Warning!!
The smile vanished from Lee Shin’s face as he rubbed it.
“I knew it…”