Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Translation: godtl
The Gold-rank Debut Match of South Korea.
The screen of Channel 1's National Arena Program, which was broadcasting the event, changed moment by moment.
-After a prolonged battle, the winner of Island 11 has been decided! However, one contestant is severely injured!
-Another battle is breaking out on Island 7!
Sometimes split into two or four screens.
When a decisive moment or intense battle occurred, the entire screen would focus on it.
As one of the National Arena Program's most popular contents, the screen transitions were smooth yet swift.
And in sync with them, the MC and commentators tirelessly continued their commentary.
Especially when...
-Ah! The Hansung Guild is collapsing like this!
-The Myth Guild is strong. Too strong!
-Is this even a plausible level of combat power?
Most of the National Arena Program's screen time—
In fact, practically all of it—was dedicated to broadcasting only those from prestigious guilds.
It was only natural.
After all, the players who could participate in this Debut Match were exclusively those who had gone through the guild's prospect system.
Of course, there were exceptions where unaffiliated players were shown.
Just like right now.
-Ah! Player Kim Si-mun has wiped out yet another team!
-Haven't I been saying this from the start? The standout player of this Debut Match is none other than Kim Si-mun!
Si-mun, sweeping away a three-man party that had been holding out underwater.
-Is Player Kim Si-mun some kind of mermaid? His movements underwater are astounding.
-I can see something like gills near his ears. He must have an artifact or related ability!
-Ah! And he finishes them off perfectly! Is that really a player who just reached Gold-rank?
At the sight, commentator Song didn't stop talking, even spittle flying from his excitement.
-W-Well, yes. Player Kim Si-mun is undoubtedly showing an incredible performance.
MC Choi Gang-yeop, glancing at the staff in front of him, continued the commentary.
-MC Choi, do you remember? Even four years ago, during the Generation of Stars, there was a player who showed a similar performance in their Debut Match!
-How could I forget? Isn't that Kim Si-hyeok, who earned the title of Sword Saint after the last National Representative Selection?
After the last National Representative Selection.
Kim Si-hyeok, who earned the title of Sword Saint.
He, too, had dominated his Debut Match as an unaffiliated player, wiping out entire parties.
-It's a bit daunting to say this outright, but personally, I think the current Kim Si-mun is even more impressive than Kim Si-hyeok was back then.
-Woah! Commentator Song, isn't that a dangerously bold statement?
Choi Gang-yeop teased jokingly.
But his eyes were genuinely filled with astonishment.
How could they not be?
Wasn't the current Sword Saint Kim Si-hyeok's status already surpassing even the elite players of the First Generation?
Regardless of whether the statement was right or wrong, considering even Kim Si-hyeok's fans—
Such commentary on air was quite risky.
-Ah! I hope there's no misunderstanding. I'm only referring to Kim Si-hyeok during his Gold-rank days.
Perhaps commentator Song was aware of the danger.
-It's very simple. As you know, back then, Kim Si-hyeok was unaffiliated but still technically formed a party, right?
He carefully elaborated with examples.
-Since you, MC Choi, were the one commentating back then, you'd remember—Kim Si-hyeok formed a party with Lee Yu-jeong.
-Ah... I remember. They were the first duo to participate in a Debut Match, making headlines. Of course, they also set the record of winning as a pair.
MC Choi Gang-yeop, while keeping an eye on the staff positioned in front of him.
-Exactly. But look at Kim Si-mun now. Like Kim Si-hyeok, he's unaffiliated, but isn't he the only solo participant in this Debut Match?
-W-Well, yes. When you put it that way, it does make sense.
Commentator Song had no choice but to nod.
Because it was the truth.
This wasn't a matter of whether one knew about the Galaxy Arena or not.
Anyone with half a brain—
Couldn't possibly ignore the stark difference between participating solo and as a party.
But.
-Ah! The Scorpion Guild's performance is also incredible!
Under the silent pressure of the PD's visibly contorted face—
And with the screen abruptly switching, Choi Gang-yeop broke into a cold sweat and shifted the focus.
If there was one saving grace.
"That's right! The Scorpion Guild is no pushover either. Particularly, the sibling duo of Yu A-yeon and Yu A-jun—their coordination could hold its own even on the world stage!"
Perhaps because this was his first time commentating for a broadcast?
The commentator, Song, raised his voice enthusiastically about the other talents' performances without any suspicion.
Only then did the PD's tense expression relax.
"Haha! Hearing that makes me all the more excited for the Platinum Debut Match these newcomers will showcase!"
Choi Gang-yeop, having regained his usual composure, continued his commentary with a smile.
"Hmm... The kill conditions are stricter than I expected."
Si-mun's eyes, which had been gazing into empty space, narrowed slightly.
At that moment.
"You damn bastard!"
"What are you looking at when there's someone right in front of you!"
Two enraged voices came flying at him.
Blades aimed at his neck and chest from both sides.
A deadly coordinated attack targeting different vital points simultaneously.
But—
Swish.
With movements as fluid as water, Si-mun evaded with minimal effort.
At a glance, it resembled the advanced technique known as "Deflection"—shifting the body to minimize damage from incoming strikes.
Of course, it wasn't the real Deflection.
The stat boosts from consuming the Spirit Elixir, the divine demonic martial art Heavenly Demon Divine Art,
and the addition of human body transmutation had resulted in evasion achieved through sheer, absurdly high specs.
One.
"Wha—what?!"
"Deflection?!"
Even if they were promising talents participating in the Debut Match, there was no way Gold-ranked players could discern the difference.
'Even if they could, nothing would change.'
With an indifferent expression, Si-mun exploited the openings in the two swordsmen's stances and drove his fist forward.
Thud.
The sound of a heavy iron mass striking home.
Without so much as glancing at the two swordsmen sent flying through the air,
Swish.
Si-mun tilted his head to avoid the incoming arrow,
then flicked his finger in the arrow's direction.
Crrrk.
Stone spikes erupted instantaneously through transmutation.
"Not a chance!"
But as archers typically do,
she avoided the rising spikes with her keen senses, spinning mid-air and drawing her bowstring.
"W-when did you—?!"
As if waiting for this moment,
Si-mun's leg, which had somehow closed the distance to the archer, struck the back of her neck.
Crack.
The archer's neck snapped limply.
But it didn't end there.
Si-mun kicked off the archer's lifeless body as it fell, propelling himself back into the air.
"Guh...!"
"Ugh!"
He soared toward the two swordsmen who were using their blades as canes to stand.
Whoom.
Following the incantation of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art,
the reckless Demonic Energy originating from the Philosopher's Stone roared as it surged through Si-mun's legs.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Strike: Tyrant Emperor Break.
KWA-BOOOOOM!
The explosion was so intense it felt like the small island might sink from the impact.
A few seconds passed.
As the thick dust settled, a massive crater—as if a meteor had struck—was revealed.
-......
-Holy...... fuck!
-Every time I see that technique, it's awe-inspiring.
-Wasn't that supposed to be a fist technique?
-Nah. It's a type of martial art move, but that's just one application.
-Do Gold-ranks these days even know how to adapt martial arts?
-Does that look like a Gold-rank to you, bro?
The chat exploded after a brief silence.
-Just to clarify for those who might be mistaken: This guy's a mage. Not a combatant.
-Oh right! Forgot about that lololololol.
-Combat mains struggling in Gold weep at this.
-Add some Platinum viewers here too. T_T.
While the chat was unanimously marveling at the might of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art,
the creator of this monstrous crater didn't look particularly pleased.
'The Demonic Energy consumption is still too high.'
After recent events, his Transmutation Power had increased, and his Demonic Energy stats had risen significantly as well.
Yet, the Tyrant Emperor Break—a basic technique of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art—still came with a hefty cost.
'Being an alchemist probably plays a part... but the main issue is the 1-star proficiency.'
As martial arts proficiency increases, so does their Demonic Energy requirement.
However, if you only adjust the power output, higher proficiency can drastically reduce consumption.
'Since I've already sent the address, it'll be resolved once Mal-suk arrives...'
Tapping his chin thoughtfully, Si-mun opened the Arena Board.
1st Place - Yu A-yeon, Yu A-jun, Kang Cheol-min - 15 Kills.
2nd Place - Choi Jin-su, Jang Ji-soo, Cha Hyun-woo - 12 Kills.
3rd Place - Kim Si-mun - 9 Kills.
4th Place.......
.......
'Still in third place, huh.'
Considering there were 110 participants, it was a high rank.
But given that he possessed strength second to none, this ranking clearly didn't make sense.
The reason was simple.
'One hand can't keep up with ten.'
Solo queue.
No matter how strong he was, the fact that he was alone inevitably put him at a disadvantage compared to those who formed parties.
'They're all top prospects, after all. The biggest issue is how much time they take to deal with.'
Given that this was the Debut Match, it was only natural.
The best approach would be to eliminate them quickly with powerful techniques like the Tyrant Emperor Break.
But the Demonic Energy cost was too high, which was why his kill count was lagging.
Above all, the pressing issue was—
'There aren't many participants left.'
Just tallying the kills from 1st to 3rd place alone amounted to 36 kills.
Adding the kill counts from the remaining ranks meant that over half the participants had already been eliminated.
So, to secure victory, he had to sweep them away before others could claim the remaining kills.
'In the end, the only option is to spam Achievement Points, huh?'
Well, it wasn't a waste.
This Arena was meant to be fought with everything he had, after all.
It was just a shame to burn through his hard-earned Achievement Points in an attrition battle.
Then.
[The Constellations, who had been enthusiastically waving their cheer sticks, begin whispering among themselves.]
[Four Constellations have issued you a mission.]
[Mission]
Achieve 1st place in this Arena, the "Gold-rank Debut Match."
Reward: 5,000 Achievement Points.
Four Constellations had boldly issued the mission, as if to make a statement.
After checking the mission, Si-mun let out a quiet chuckle and accepted it.
'This changes things.'
Si-mun immediately raised his hand, envisioning a transmutation item suited to the current situation.
An island, the sea, and the efficiency to monopolize the remaining kills.
There just so happened to be a transmutation item that fit these conditions.
Before he could even say anything.
The Philosopher's Stone answered on its own and sent a signal.
[Insufficient Transmutation Power to meet the requirement for this transmutation.]
[To compensate for the lack of Equivalent Exchange, the Philosopher's Stone requests 2,000 Achievement Points.]
[Will you accept? (Yes / No)]
A familiar message window appeared before his eyes.
Si-mun tilted his head.
'2,000 points?'
Astrapē only cost 500 points, but this requires 2,000?
As if anticipating his confusion, the Philosopher's Stone chimed in.
'So, like with the Staff of Asclepius last time, we're temporarily boosting its power?'
The Philosopher's Stone chattered on.
'That puts it into perspective.'
Without hesitation, Si-mun nodded.
2,000 points wasn't an unreasonable price.
In fact, it was a relief that he could sweep the entire island for that cost.
Soon after.
Whoosh.
The moment Si-mun tapped "Yes," a surge of energy—converted from his Achievement Points—gathered at his fingertips.
Flick.
With a snap of his fingers.
Whoooooosh—
The seawater surrounding Si-mun's island began to churn violently.
Like a curtain woven from fine silk,
it billowed outward, swallowing the island whole.
Even the ground beneath Si-mun's feet was consumed as the water surged higher and higher.
The only oddity was that, despite the turbulent waves,
Si-mun remained perfectly steady, as if still standing on solid ground.
And before him,
Sssss—
A rod, forged as if from mithril and sapphire, rose from the depths.
Like Astrapē, it was a somewhat degraded version of its original form.
But unlike Astrapē, its three-pronged tip exuded a distinctly different presence.
Yes.
Like a trident.
[Constellation Zeus smiles with satisfaction.]
[Constellation Poseidon nods approvingly as he observes you and the surrounding Constellations.]
Ignoring the messages that appeared,
Si-mun thrust the three-pronged tip into the sea and murmured,
"Turn everything upside down, Trident."
And then—
Rooooooar—!
The sea roared.