The Roar of Destiny
Right after the game ends.
"Waaaaaaah—!!"
A massive roar erupts from the Overlant Championship Park, packed with hundreds of spectators.
The relay broadcast chat was the same.
Everyone was chanting one name.
Lee Siwoo! He turned the game around single-handedly when it looked hopeless! What do we even call this kind of carry?!
Strangle carry, super carry, hard carry! Not a bus—this was jet-plane level carry!
Lee Siwoo was the star of this tournament.
All the spotlight was on him.
And watching it all from the stands since the beginning—a man—
Just as I thought…!!
Kaiserst coach Shin Seung-hyun clenched his fist tight.
That's right! Show 'em what you've got!
Here, Siwoo shone brighter than anyone. He was proving his worth to the world. Appealing to pro teams. Begging them to take him.
Of course, Shin Seung-hyun had already recognized Siwoo's true value. But others hadn't. They doubted, thinking, "He's just a trainee level, right?"
That's why there'd been so much talk about the contract he'd proposed earlier. Even higher-ups had come questioning if it made sense.
Still, Shin Seung-hyun didn't back down. He insisted this player would make it big, they had to sign him, this was their only shot at a talent like this.
He had plenty of evidence.
Perfect hook shot mechanics mid-air, reaction speed that crushed trainees, and attacker instincts to boot.
Siwoo had only shown it in one game, but there were endless highlights to convince with—like scanning for enemies, pinpoint aim locks.
In the end, he'd won the director's approval, but doubts lingered. Team staff still eyed him like, "Eh, is Siwoo really that good?"
But Siwoo proved it.
Perfectly against Madric.
Madric even had the top academy league attacker duo, Kim Woo-hyuk and Park Jin-woo. Crushing them meant Siwoo had shown his true worth.
Lee Siwoo—we have to sign him.
Shin Seung-hyun burned with resolve.
He'd wanted to offer a better deal, but adult politics made it impossible. Even 100 million won guaranteed for a year was drawing flak.
What Kaiserst could offer was "1st team starting spot." Join us, skip trainee and 2nd team, straight to the pros.
The short-term contract was strategic, thinking ahead. Not because he doubted Siwoo—for a better offer after a year.
Siwoo, we'll make history.
Shin Seung-hyun's lifelong dream: Overlant World Championship victory.
Siwoo would be part of it.
As Shin Seung-hyun grinned with his fist clenched, his smartphone buzzed.
A call from the director.
He stepped out to the emergency exit to answer.
"Got it, this is Shin Seung-hyun."
[Yeah, Coach. Watched the game.]
"Yes, what'd you think?"
[Looks like other teams are drooling too. We'll lift the salary cap to 200 million—sign him no matter what.]
Shin Seung-hyun grinned wide. Even without game knowledge, experience told—the director Kim Sung-wook saw Siwoo's value instantly.
Made sense. Over ten years running the team; no instinct would mean disinterest or incompetence.
"Got it. I'll sign him for sure."
With HQ approval, no more excuses.
He hung up and turned to the cheers echoing from the arena.
The star of those cheers? Obviously, Siwoo.
Stepping out of the capsule booth, Siwoo's eyes widen instinctively.
What the…?
The crowd lingered even after the game.
And then.
"Lee Siwoo! Lee Siwoo!"
"Join our team, Siwoo!!"
"You're Red Force's future!"
"SIUUUUUUUUUU!!!
Siwoo just blinks.
Hundreds of fans still fill the seats, waving cheer sticks, screaming his name till their throats give.
That's not all.
Camera flashes sweeping the arena, soft background music, waves of cheers crashing in, spotlights pouring down, chill AC air prickling his skin—everything engulfs him.
"Whoa…."
Suddenly, something hot surges from deep in his chest. Goosebumps race up his spine, arm hairs stand on end.
Thump, thump, thump.
As the chills sweep his body, his heart pounds deafeningly.
His whole body freezes like an electric shock.
Thrill.
As if he was born for this exact moment.
His mind reels dizzily, vision spins, yet a massive flame ignites in his chest.
…I have to be a pro gamer.
Finally, Siwoo realizes.
Living off attention, admired, cheered—that's his calling.
Not a whim. He'd pondered it forever, doubted if he deserved the dream, feared trusting himself.
But it boiled down to "I want this."
He knows it'll be tough.
Pros aren't all glamour.
Mistakes or losses mean fan backlash, popularity breeds haters.
But more than anything, he wants it.
Han Jiyeon sparked the pro dream, but this game turned it to conviction.
I have to be a pro gamer.
He clenches his fist.
Siwoo thrusts his arm high.
"Waaaaaaah—!"
"Lee Siwoo! Lee Siwoo! Lee Siwoo!"
"That means you'll join our team, right?!"
The waiting crowd explodes. The arena shakes.
"Whoa, what's this? Siwoo doing fan service now?"
"Damn, Superstar SIUU……!! You're gonna drive us fans insane already……!!"
"No victory pose? Your name's blessed by the god of memes!"
His friends poke and laugh.
"Haha… Felt weird just leaving, so I figured I should…."
Siwoo scratches his head sheepishly. He'd acted on emotion without thinking—now embarrassed with friends watching.
"Haha, yeah, you should. Hard carry deserves it."
"Gotta admit. Fan service is basic."
Every sport has one unwritten rule: No fans, no players, no industry.
Siwoo's gesture just extended the game's life—and gave fans their reward.
"Alright, enough chit-chat! Let's go! Eat and prep for quarters."
Han Jiyeon smiles small, shoving friends along.
"What's on the menu today?"
"Dunno, pick something outside."
"Back-to-back nakgopsae is too much."
"Kabe, I was gonna say nakgopsae."
"No nakgopsae. We had it last time."
Siwoo smirks at his bickering friends over nothing, then heads out of the arena.
After parting with friends.
Back home, Siwoo flops on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Like a dream.
Winning the game, stepping out of the booth.
All spotlights on him, crowd chanting his name.
I'll never forget it.
Even recalling it brings a smile.
So fresh, so electric—he wishes it could always be like this.
I can do it.
Siwoo clenches his fist.
Tough road, but he's sure he can go pro. Offers from Kaiserst and Midrider, right?
Kaiserst even dangled nine figures. Proof his talent works. Industry pros noticed.
One snag, though.
Wonder if Sis and Mom will allow it.
Will they okay the pro path? So brutal and uncertain?
If he were guardian, he'd say no. Talent's real, but how far? Unknown.
Ditching #2 class rank to drop out? Even he sees it's risky.
Plus, he'd heard of kids who dreamed pro, wrecked their lives. Big Sis saw it up close in school.
Hmm….
Still, telling them about Kaiserst's offer might shock them into yes?
Guaranteed 100 million salary, after all.
But no contract yet—needs guardian present.
To show proof, gotta bring Sis or Mom to hear them out.
Dunno….
Siwoo pulls the blanket over, closes his eyes.
Not easy worrying over unfixed futures….
That's when.
Bang—!
The door flies open.
"Hey, Siwoo!"
"Wha—huh?"
Big Sis bursts in.
Siwoo jolts up.
"This you?"
She shoves her smartphone at him.
SNS feed open, familiar face in the post.
"Uh, yeah…?"
Siwoo blinks dumbly. His fist-pump photo from Overlant Championship Park, shot like a photoshoot.
"Whoa, you must've killed it? Pics everywhere. Comments all praising you?"
"R-really?"
"Totally! All chanting Lee Siwoo. Check it out."
Lee Siyeon beams, steps in, plops on his bed, shows the comments.
Overlant Korea official SNS account.
His name was blowing up inside.