Chapter 181

Around the time I was getting tired of sightseeing the kingdom.

Clack, clatter.

A knight in armor and a middle-aged man in noble attire emerged from the royal palace. The imposing aura emanating from them captivated the users’ attention.

-All those participating in the competition, follow me.

Users gathered at his words.

The middle-aged man glanced at them gathering for a moment, then turned and moved to a large training ground located at the rear of the castle. A group of users were already taking their places here and there.

“Are they going to give a speech here or something?”

Sungminwoo’s words made Muhyuk laugh.

“Maybe?”

“Ugh, that’ll be boring. What I hated most during my school days was the principal’s speech.”

At that moment, the middle-aged man stopped walking.

-Group A to the far left. Group B to the right of that, and Group C to the right of Group B. Each group should line up according to your number.

Users moved at his words.

Muhyuk and Sungminwoo as well.

Then they spotted a few familiar faces.

“Huh? That guy…….”

It was Asura Han.

Ugh……!

The moment Muhyuk saw him, he felt a chilling sensation.

Something felt dirty.

The good thing was that their groups were quite far apart.

“PK Beom is wandering around brazenly.”

“Let’s ignore him.”

“Tch, okay. Oh, there’s that guy too.”

“That guy?”

He turned his head again.

It was Rudolph, who had a contract with Muhyuk. He also spotted Muhyuk but soon made a displeased expression and avoided his gaze.

Everyone’s really gathering here.

Sungminwoo’s fuss was still not over.

“Huh? Jackpot. Hey, hey. Over there.”

“What is it this time?”

The user Sungminwoo pointed to this time was Dark. The moment Muhyuk confirmed him, his playful expression hardened.

Dark.

No matter how great Muhyuk was, he could never match Dark in terms of gaming talent.

Unlike Muhyuk, who came this far based on already known information, Dark was maintaining the top spot without knowing anything.

Moreover, his job was a Holy Knight, which was practically a natural enemy to a Necromancer.

At that moment, Muhyuk’s eyes met Dark’s, who had turned his head.

An electrifying sensation pierced his chest.

Thump.

This emotion was hard to describe.

His fist clenched unconsciously.

Kilimanjaro, a user who was with Dark.

“Hey, who are you looking at?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

He turned his head, having made eye contact with Muhyuk.

But Kilimanjaro’s personality wouldn’t let him miss this opportunity.

Dark could only click his tongue inwardly at the reality that he knew this fact but couldn’t deny it.

“It’s nothing? It’s not often you stare at a user like that, is it?”

“Ahem.”

“Who is it?”

Kilimanjaro carefully examined where Dark’s gaze was directed. Then, he let out a subtle exclamation as if he had found Muhyuk.

“Ah, that user?”

It seemed he had been caught.

Dark deliberately didn’t answer.

“That was the Gangster Necromancer, right? Were you interested in that user?”

“Crazy bastard.”

“Huh? Denying it makes it even more suspicious. It can’t be that you’re interested as a man. Then all that’s left is that he stimulated you…….”

Kilimanjaro closed his eyes for a moment and thought, then clapped his hands.

“Ah, I remember. You planned to catch a Boss Monster a while ago, but that user hit you once, right?”

“…….”

“Hehe, that’s right. So you got a little curious?”

Dark’s lips twitched.

“Uh-oh, what’s this? Are you going to hit me?”

“Maybe.”

“You’ll get caught by the guards if you do that.”

“Haa, annoying guy.”

“That’s my charm.”

Dark shook his head and moved his eyes again.

Muhyuk was nowhere to be seen.

“Looking for that user?”

“No.”

“He went to Group B over there? Your groups are quite far apart.”

“So?”

“Just saying.”

“Don’t think whatever you want. Do you think a Necromancer can be my opponent?”

“Oh, that’s not true. You’re a Holy Knight, after all. In fact, Necromancers are the easiest to deal with. If you fight, the result is obvious, isn’t it?”

“Of course.”

“Tch, now that I think about it, that’s true. The user who hit you once happened to be a Necromancer. That’s a shame.”

At that moment, a group of people approached Dark.

“Excuse me!”

“Who are you?”

“Ah, we’re from the broadcasting station. If you have time, would you like to do a short interview…….”

“I’m not interested.”

“Oh, please. Just one word is fine!”

Kilimanjaro, who was next to him, stepped forward.

“Can I just talk while looking at that side?”

“Of course!”

“Ahem, ahem. Then I’ll just say one word.”

Kilimanjaro smiled slyly.

“Nice to meet you, pretties! I’m Kilimanjaro. This wonderful oppa will definitely win, so cheer me on!”

“Uh, well…….”

“Come on, Dark. You have to say something too.”

The official couldn’t help but shut his mouth at his actions of inducing Dark.

Why?

Because he was a user famous for not doing interviews.

The filming staff from various broadcasting stations took their places at the end of the line.

“Make sure you get a good shot.”

“Yes, Director!”

The Capsule for filming was different from ordinary users, allowing for various types of filming. Because of this, the competition to get a good spot was fierce.

“Keuh, anyway, it’s a series of jackpots.”

“Right? The Treasure Dungeon was amazing, but even the Tournament of Champions……!”

“Hehe, it’s really a money pit. Ah, and did you get the interviews?”

“Of course. I got almost all the championship contenders. Except for the people with really nasty personalities.”

“Who are those nasty people?”

“Well, Dark, for example…….”

“…….”

The director’s expression distorted.

“This bastard, Dark?”

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

“He’s ranked 1st!”

“Th, that’s right.”

“Then no matter how nasty his personality is, you should have gotten it no matter what!”

“Oh, Director. You know very well that that user is famous for not doing interviews. No matter how much I ask, he doesn’t budge like a stone, so what can I do?”

“Tsk, you useless guy!”

“Still, I got an interview with that user, Muhyuk.”

“That Gangster Necromancer?”

“Yes, the user who opened the Treasure Dungeon!”

“Hey, hey. Okay. What’s important now isn’t the Treasure Dungeon, but this competition. Besides, if he’s a Necromancer, he’s weak against Holy Knights, so what are you thinking?”

“We, we never know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know! I know everything!”

Meanwhile, the Forma Continent Tournament of Champions was about to begin.

Quite a few people came up to the front of the huge hall, onto the high platform. Among them, the one who seemed to be the representative stepped forward.

-Nice to meet you. I am Duke Amur.

Thanks to the use of magic amplification, his voice could be heard clearly far away.

-I stand here as a representative of each kingdom and empire. As the atmosphere is heating up, I will not make a long story. Do your best to show your skills and prove yourselves. We will prepare appropriate rewards for that. That is all.

It was a short and impactful comment.

“Hoo, not bad?”

“It’s good because it’s not boring.”

After that, the host wrapped up the opening ceremony.

-Now, before we start the first preliminary round! I will tell you how the preliminary round will be held.

Everyone focused on the host’s words.

“Make sure you get a good shot.”

“Of course.”

It was the first time the preliminary round method was being revealed.

-It’s a 500-person deathmatch!

A slight commotion followed.

“Deathmatch?”

“Ah, damn it. Are 500 people fighting together?”

“Crazy.”

Some nodded as if they had expected it.

“Of course. There are so many participants.”

“Well, I don’t care.”

“But if there are 500 people, even skilled people can fall, right?”

“I guess…….”

“Weak guys should stick together and get rid of the strong ones first.”

“I hope we’re in the same group.”

“You idiot, who knows how many will survive, so what’s good about it.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

The host, who had been watching quietly, continued to speak.

-Now, let me explain.

The commotion disappeared at those words.

-First, 500 people become one group. Of course, group assignments are divided according to the existing alphabet. A1 group is from A group number 1 to 500, and A2 group is from 501 to 1000. A3 group is from 1001 to 1500, right? B1 group is from B group number 1 to 500. B2 group is from 501 to 1000. When the groups are divided like this, each group must enter the magical space we have prepared and compete. In order to survive in each group of 500 people, you must survive until only 4 people remain.

There were so many participating users that the groups were huge.

“Even though only skilled people participated…….”

“It’s amazing.”

“There will be a lot to see.”

In particular, the 500-person deathmatch, which was the preliminary round, would be a spectacle. 1-on-1 is fun, but the war in which many users are entangled and slaughtering each other would surely capture everyone’s attention.

-That’s the end of the explanation…….

The host’s voice spread softly.

-Now, let’s start the preliminary round!

The users were already lined up according to their groups and numbers.

Muhyuk was number 98 in Group B, so he was in the B1 group. The members of Group A in front of him followed the guides and entered the building erected in the corner. Soon, the B1 group to which Muhyuk belonged also began to move.

“Please come in.”

When they entered the building, a huge hall appeared.

They took their places where the lines were drawn.

-Before summoning, let me explain. After the transfer, don’t panic and find and eliminate the opponent somewhere. Of course, there is magical power there, so don’t worry because you won’t actually die even if you die or kill. Please note that all injuries will disappear when you are re-summoned here.

The man’s voice lowered.

“Any questions?”

“…….”

“Then, let’s start the summoning ceremony.”

Soon, he began to chant incomprehensible spells. Soon after, light poured out from inside the line, engulfing all the users at once.

Muhyuk opened his eyes and looked around.

It was a shabby and narrow room.

It’s starting.

The other 499 users would also be summoned here and located somewhere.

Perhaps he would meet another user as soon as he left this room.

Muhyuk summoned one Hydra in advance and was about to summon a Skull Snake, but stopped.

Hmm.

There was no need to unnecessarily alert the users he might encounter.

It wouldn’t be too late to summon them after the battle started.

He was confident enough to do that. Soon, he moved his steps to the front of the door. When he grabbed the handle and pulled, a unique creaking sound rang out. He frowned slightly at the louder-than-expected noise and went outside.

A vast plain was visible.

A forest with a bleak atmosphere in the distance caught his eye.

At that moment.

Whoosh.

Something popped out right next to him.

It was a sharply honed blade.