Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Twin Kings Emerge
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The national team selection broadcast for the main tournament was just as unmissable for Korean viewers as the opening match had been.
Especially after Shin-hyeok had utterly demolished the opening national team last time, everyone's curiosity was sky-high about how he'd fare against the main roster.
Of course, no matter how elite the main tournament national team was, no one was predicting Shin-hyeok's defeat.
The only question was just how overwhelmingly he'd dominate.
But after watching the main national team selection matches, they realized once again how casually they'd been evaluating Shin-hyeok.
After seeing every single participant in the main national team selection get swept away by Shin-hyeok alone, it was inevitable they'd feel that way.
But the real shock came afterward.
Mujunggeom and the national team's vice-captain.
Even these core pillars leading the current main national team couldn't stand up to Shin-hyeok.
Everyone had no choice but to acknowledge it now.
Beyond the Heavens.
In Korea, aside from the Twin Kings, there was no one who could match Shin-hyeok.
Of course—
Some thought even the Twin Kings could give him a run for his money.
Naturally, with plenty opposing that view, the forums turned into a total mess in seconds.
But then a scene spread across the live broadcast that instantly silenced them all.
Because the Twin Kings they'd been arguing over—the ones they were betting on—had shown up.
Flame King and Sword King.
In other words, the national team captains.
Flame King, Choi In-ho.
Sword King, Lee Ho-seok.
These two, together known as Korea's Twin Kings, appeared simultaneously, but Shin-hyeok remained unfazed.
'The heavy-asses finally showed up. I knew they'd been watching from earlier anyway.'
He'd already sensed they were keeping tabs on him.
He couldn't have missed it.
His spar with the entire national team was being live-streamed in real time, and the Twin Kings wouldn't ignore that. Them personally scouting was a given.
Especially with mana detection and super senses active, the Taereung Athlete Village was well within Shin-hyeok's sensory range.
With auras like theirs not even hidden, there was no way he wouldn't notice.
Anyway, the Twin Kings who revealed themselves were grouped together but starkly different.
In-ho, the Flame King, swept his neatly combed hair back with his usual relaxed smile.
Like a young nobleman, perhaps.
In contrast, Sword King Ho-seok was the opposite.
His tidy hair and swordsman's upright aura sharpened like a blade, radiating an intimidating presence.
If In-ho was a noble scion, Ho-seok was a knight.
The two kings approached Shin-hyeok with opposing vibes despite their rank.
"Hey, All Master Guild Master. Long time no see?"
"First time since the legendary gear crafting rights, so about a month?"
They approached Shin-hyeok amiably.
But battle-hardened Shin-hyeok could see right through the masks.
'Flame King's pissed, Sword King's genuinely happy to reunite after so long. Hilarious. Blood-related one's hostile, the unrelated one's friendly.'
In-ho brought up Shin-hyeok handing the legendary gear crafting rights to Ho-seok, opening the conversation pointedly.
That alone subtly revealed his grudge from back then.
Ho-seok merely nodded in agreement, nothing more.
Seeing these two kings so different despite their status, Shin-hyeok nodded coolly.
"Yeah, long time no see."
"Still dropping bombs after all this time, huh."
"They say people die if they change suddenly. So I never will."
"...Not a shred of humility?"
"Lose once, and you lose twice. Speaking from family experience."
"...You know we're the same kind of family, right?"
"I know damn well. How could I forget?"
"...Hmph."
In-ho probed with a smile, but Shin-hyeok parried without blinking.
In-ho, the provocateur, took the hit and retreated with an amused grin.
But Shin-hyeok knew that wasn't true anger from In-ho.
'Scraped him good. Wish he'd just fuck off from my life.'
Shin-hyeok wasn't satisfied yet.
He inwardly wished In-ho would get pissed and leave, but no such luck.
Taereung was national team turf, and In-ho was one of the captains.
The owner here was In-ho.
Usually, hate the temple, leave the monk—but Shin-hyeok hadn't achieved his goal here yet.
"Wanna spar?"
"...Ha! Gonna take on us too? You've grown cocky, Shin-hyeok."
"Always been big. Flame King's average height, but I'm above."
"...Funny guy."
In-ho was around 178cm, slightly above Korean average; Shin-hyeok was well over 180.
Pointing that out made In-ho's smile crack.
He couldn't even keep the facade—that's how pissed he was.
True to his Flame King title, In-ho's temper flared like fire. He roughly loosened his tight tie and assumed a stance.
"Fine, good. Teaching an arrogant junior is a senior's duty."
In-ho was a dual-class mage-spiritist.
Starting with unique job and trait, he was the pinnacle of fire specialists.
As his name implied, his core was fire magic and fire spirits.
Explosive firepower from fire magic, utility from fire spirits.
Simple, overwhelming.
To break it, you needed superior firepower or a perfect counter—both rare. Thus, In-ho reigned as Flame King, top of Korea's player scene.
'Can I win?'
Against such a foe, Shin-hyeok couldn't predict victory for sure.
Reaching a level to face the Flame King just three months post-awakening was beyond his pre-regression self's dreams.
'Back then, I'd have been flailing in Bronze. Called the Useless Jack-of-all-Trades.'
That was the end of those thoughts.
That useless past was erased. Now, as All Master, Shin-hyeok eyed the Flame King sharply.
'His aura's intensely explosive, fitting the description. As an early player, he's hit Diamond stat caps. But not just that—decades sucking up Myth Group's massive investments in player tech. Probably one or two legendaries, uniques galore, top-tier doping potions rivaling Hyo-rin's. Tricky.'
Flame King and Sword King were Korea's pinnacle, true Beyond the Heavens.
As heirs to top conglomerates Myth and Oseong, they got unlimited corporate and national backing.
Of course, their talent enabled it, but their backgrounds massively boosted them.
Beating such foes three months in was tough, even for Shin-hyeok.
Right then.
"Emergency exit! Gotta see a constellation, so you two decide while I'm gone!"
"What? No, wait—"
Fwaaaaaah!
The emergency escape right activated on Shin-hyeok.
A meeting with a constellation.
Even Beyond the Heavens or their grandpas couldn't refuse it. In-ho couldn't hide his shock and tried to stop him, but Shin-hyeok was already engulfed in light and gone.
"...Ended up like a dog chasing a chicken."
"Hm..."
In-ho was dumbfounded briefly by his ardent courtship target vanishing skyward.
Then Ho-seok, stroking his chin thoughtfully, spoke, shifting the mood sharply.
"So, who fights when he gets back?"
"You're still on that?"
"You giving up?"
"...As if. Obviously me."
"This won't resolve anything. Let's fight first. Winner takes him."
"Ha! A sword hack daring to challenge a mage? I'll teach you your place."
"A mage who cries and runs like a three-year-old when closed in has a lot to say."
"...Fine. Let's settle the pecking order today."
Without Shin-hyeok, their Shin-hyeok obsession boiled over. They drew sword and staff, clashing instantly.
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