Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Hidden of the Hidden Stage
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Paracelsus's Tear.
The emergence of an ultra-high-end elixir and its debut giveaway—not for sale, but through a lottery for free—served as the first shock.
The talking Black Orc that appeared as the Colosseum's Champion was the second.
The fact that this Black Orc possessed the power to crush even average Diamond players was the third.
And finally, Choi Shin-hyeok's feat of defeating even that Black Orc was the fourth shock.
There were other odd occurrences during the broadcast, like the audio glitching between their conversation or the stream suddenly cutting out, but they were buried under the prior shocks and didn't gain much traction.
No one was particularly interested anyway.
As the shockwaves faded, people remembered one fact.
The Integrated Gold League participants who would face off against that very Choi Shin-hyeok were in deep shit.
Back when Shin-hyeok was in Silver, he wasn't that big a deal.
His actual abilities reflected that.
Impressive, sure, but surmountable?
For players from major guilds and powerhouses, that was a given.
With their skills backed by their organizations' wealth and influence, overtaking him was inevitable.
But less than a month after Integrated Silver League ended, Shin-hyeok qualified for Integrated Gold League, then dropped bombs left and right—things changed drastically.
Choi Shin-hyeok was no longer someone peers could tussle with.
He was their seniors' senior.
The head of their organization had to step up.
And it wasn't just about martial prowess.
Wealth and power too—forcing Integrated Gold League participants to a crossroads.
1. Enter Integrated Gold League and throw down with Choi Shin-hyeok.
2. "I forfeit! Won't fight ya!" and bail on the league.
3. Already quit, scratching belly at home watching on TV.
Three choices.
Unknown which they'd pick, but the pressure to choose had them tearing hair out.
Still, time marched on.
Month-end approached: Integrated Silver, Gold, and Platinum Leagues.
Month-end.
The day the monthly Integrated Leagues fired up.
The day the world tuned in.
World Cup, Championship League, Super Bowl.
Before Dimension Arena, these drew peak viewership—now dethroned by Integrated Leagues.
Ahead of their kickoff, Shin-hyeok calmly checked his gear.
New equipment from three Legendary-grade selection vouchers as Champion rewards.
The first was the Ring of Herculean Strength.
Like the Plus Ultra Ring, base stats were trash, but swapping to a superior stat made it worthwhile.
'Superior stats are at least twice as efficient as normal ones. Gotta swap it later for real superior stats, but perfect for now.'
Not granting real superior stats, just swapping—but still Legendary value. Shin-hyeok picked it without hesitation.
Next, earrings.
'Flat stat gear ain't bad. Boosts the whole class.'
Mana was something Shin-hyeok could never have enough of.
Thanks to Paracelsus's Tear, max mana broke limits; gear boosted regen and base mana—still not enough.
Especially in Integrated Gold League, he'd be every player's prime target.
Planning to face them all, he chose gear boosting total mana volume.
A whopping +1,000 mana—doubling his pool. For Gold tier, Shin-hyeok now had near-infinite mana.
With infinite sustain from mana and devastating offense from Legendaries, his final pick was—
Defense.
Shin-hyeok's defense wasn't even decent on paper.
Except for full-body coverage from Unique+ Armor of Absorption.
Even that armor's defense was mediocre, leaving him deficient compared to others.
He's covered with personal skill till now, but Shin-hyeok admitted limits approached.
'Generals die to stray arrows on battlefields. Challenger tier games no different. Perfect time to shore up defense.'
Pre-regression.
Even Infinite Emperor All Master Shin-hyeok, wielding countless skills, had gaps—lucky punches exploited them endlessly.
Thus.
Despite being untouchable in Gold—even Platinum—Shin-hyeok chose defense.
Preparations done, comrades, friends, family stood before him.
"Damn. If we had more time, I'd overhaul your holy sword to bow completely."
"It's fine. More than enough for Gold."
Se-jin regretted pushing holy sword and bow upgrades post-Colosseum rewards due to time—for Integrated Gold League later.
"Shin-hyeok, fighting! I'll do my best too! Can't tarnish your name...!"
"Su-ah, even if you drop from Integrated Silver, don't name-drop me."
"...Hey!"
"Kidding. Go have fun. You've got talent and gear for 1st place."
"...Yeah."
He teased Su-ah lightly—clad in Se-jin's custom holy plate and robe fusion, holy tome in one hand, holy sword in the other—to lighten the mood.
No exaggeration.
Su-ah maxed growth stats via Hyo-rin's elixirs, broke mana limit with Paracelsus's Tear, and wore Se-jin's meticulously crafted gear. Her loss would be the upset.
Shin-hyeok patted his shoulder with a faint smile; Su-ah gazed resolutely, steeling herself. Behind, sleepy Hyo-rin caught his eye.
"Yaaawn, Daddy. Fighting."
"Grow up a bit. How many hours sleep?"
"None? Daddy, ditch the sleep bias—unlocks way more time."
"...Unbelievable."
Her dark circles nearly to her chin, Hyo-rin looked panda-level exhausted.
Not sleeping days was bad, but her mindset worse—
Chrarararak!
"This... alchemy bombs?"
"Hehe, can't send my one daughter—er, Daddy—to battle empty-handed~ Right?"
Shin-hyeok gawked at heavy alchemy bombs from Hyo-rin's inventory.
Alchemy bombs.
Alchemist attack tech, potency tied to maker's skill.
Hyo-rin's? Top-tier, ultimate destruction.
Perfect trump cards for surprises.
Of course—
"You money-eating hippo, making so many! And straight talk: not for me, just boredom with excess mats."
"...Daddy, just say thanks daughter and store 'em... Gyaaah!"
Each bomb pricier than equal-weight gold.
And "gifts" from boredom? Problematic.
Hyo-rin's cheeks ballooned red from pinch punishment.
"Wuuu..."
"I'll use 'em well."
"...Need more? I'll make—"
"No need. Stop using."
"Tch."
Rubbing persimmon-red cheeks, teary Hyo-rin hinted at mass-production; Shin-hyeok shut it down.
Finally, he bowed to his pleased parents.
"I'll be off."
"Go on."
"Don't get hurt. Come back safe."
"Yes, I will."
Son top prospect, power nexus-bound—parents still fretted his safety first. Shin-hyeok smiled softly, clenching fist.
This warmth.
This happiness.
To never lose it again, Integrated Gold League demanded perfection.
"Bro, bring Melona on way back."
"...You'll be busy, so spared."
"Huh?"
One last glare at childish little bro Shin-woo, then eyes on the popup.
The ticket granted solely to the world's top 100 Gold tiers.
Staring it down,
"Yes."
Shin-hyeok seized it without hesitation.
Integrated Gold League.
Striding toward the stage made for him alone.