Chapter 188

There was a limit to hiding. It was because the monsters inside the forest kept pushing Sungminwoo out.

Eventually, his identity was revealed, and he was swept into the center of the battle. Most of the users were in a similar situation to Sungminwoo anyway.

They must have felt like they were trapped alone without any comrades.

Yeah, it’s not just me.

Thinking that way, there was nothing particularly disadvantageous.

“Good, that’s it!”

“Let’s go until the end!”

“Shiba!”

He spewed out curses and attacked the surrounding users indiscriminately.

Then, if he felt like he was being pushed back a little, he would retreat for a moment to assess the situation. It turned out that two users were working together to harass Sungminwoo.

“How cowardly…!”

However, he wasn’t foolish enough to rush at the two users.

He first moved away and began to mingle with other users. Then, the two who were targeting Sungminwoo looked at each other, seemingly unsure whether to join the new battle.

“Tch, it’s your turn!”

They broke their brief alliance and poured out attacks.

Sungminwoo, who confirmed their actions, fled from the user he was fighting.

Heh heh, take that!

He secretly attacked the two users who were focused on the battle.

“Keuk!”

“This bastard…!”

It was such a chaotic battle.

[Remaining number of users: 41]

Thanks to that, the number of users quickly decreased.

Soon, 30 people.

In an instant, it dropped to 20 people.

Of course, Sungminwoo, who was focused on the battle, didn’t know that fact. However, as he gradually found some leeway, he belatedly realized.

“Huh…?”

There were less than ten users left.

Exactly 7 people.

Already?

He hurriedly checked his current state.

His Mana was still more than half full.

It was thanks to not summoning the 12 spirits.

“Heh heh.”

He had been refraining from summoning the spirits because he was worried that it would attract attention, but with the current number, it seemed like there was no need to do so.

Just finish off 3 people.

Just then, one person died.

Two people.

At that moment, two users suddenly rushed at Sungminwoo, targeting him.

“Huuup!”

Sungminwoo was designated as the sacrifice to be among the last two.

It won’t end like this!

He summoned the spirits he had been saving until now.

“Summon!”

As the 12 spirits revealed themselves, the situation was reversed. He overwhelmed the two who had been pushing Sungminwoo.

“Ah, no…!”

“No way!”

Sungminwoo’s fist shattered the user’s head.

[Remaining number of users: 4]

In the end, Sungminwoo was among the last four.

Hwaaa.

Suddenly, a burst of light enveloped Sungminwoo. He couldn’t see anything because of it.

Umm.

His vision returned along with the feeling of his body sinking.

“Huh?”

He saw many users in front of him.

“You’re here?”

Muhyuk was also there.

“What, where is this?”

“It seems to be a place where only those who passed come.”

“Oh oh! Really?”

“Anyway, you passed safely.”

“Of course.”

Sungminwoo pounded his chest with his fist.

Muhyuk chuckled at his appearance, unable to hide his proud expression.

Yeah, let’s be happy about passing the preliminaries for now.

A fight with the strong?

He decided to erase the pressure of having to win there.

There’s no need to win.

Of course, that doesn’t mean he’s going to lose.

He’ll just do his best.

They in their own way.

I in my own way.

Once he came to a conclusion, his mind became at ease.

“What’s next?”

“Heh heh, I’m confident in anything!”

“Really?”

“Then, you wouldn’t know how fierce the preliminaries I went through were.”

“It must have been quite difficult.”

“I was going crazy.”

“If the broadcasting station releases the video, should I buy it and watch it?”

“Don’t be surprised by my performance.”

Even while chatting, users who passed the preliminaries appeared with pure white light.

The mouths of the users who were watching the newly appeared ones were tightly shut.

Muhyuk, who was talking to Sungminwoo, sensed the strange atmosphere and turned his head.

Dark in white armor was visible.

“Yo, you’re finally here?”

His colleague, Kilimanjaro, came out from among the users.

“You were here first.”

“I finished quickly.”

“I’m a little tired. Let’s rest.”

“Oh, okay.”

He didn’t seem to care about the users’ gazes.

Sungminwoo approached and whispered lowly.

“It must be a lot of pressure.”

“He doesn’t seem to care?”

“Is it because he’s used to it? Ugh, I want to be famous too.”

“You can become famous.”

“By winning this competition?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, let’s do it!”

As time passed, those who passed the preliminaries arrived one after another.

Familiar faces were seen in succession.

First, Asura Han.

Muhyuk avoided his gaze the moment he saw him.

Of course, Asura Han, who found Muhyuk, didn’t just pass by. He came to his side and stared at Muhyuk with a fiercely burning gaze.

“You passed.”

“……”

“I’ll be waiting in the finals.”

He walked away.

“As expected, he’s definitely gone mad.”

Sungminwoo laughed while clutching his stomach from the side.

“Puhahaha. You’re completely caught.”

“Haa, I’m going crazy.”

“Heh heh, what’s wrong with that? It’s fun.”

“If it’s fun, you go play with that guy.”

“I’ll decline that invitation.”Are you imitating that guy’s speech style?””

“Don’t judge me like that.”

Muhyuk hit Sungminwoo’s abdomen.

There’s no pain anyway.

It’s just for venting.

“Oh, are you saying you want to compete with me!”

“This bastard…!”

“Puhahat, okay, I’ll stop.”

“Sigh.”

Just as he was about to attack one more time, another passer appeared.

This time, it was Rudolph.

“Hoo.”

“Tch.”

A situation opposite to when Asura Han appeared was unfolding.

Muhyuk smiled while looking at Rudolph, and Rudolph desperately avoided Muhyuk’s gaze and moved to the corner.

Then, he spent time grumbling with Asura Han.

“Quite a few people I know are coming out.”

“Well, it’s hard to say we know each other.”

Even while that was happening, time flowed.

He was also able to see a few users who were considered candidates for the championship.

“Ugh, that size…”

“That person is Martial Artist Gus.”

“I’d be gone in one hit.”

“He’s also there, top Ranker Ares.”

“Kheu.”

He admired and scanned the surroundings.

It seems like almost everyone is here.

It seemed like it was time for the host to come out.

Hoo woong.

Contrary to expectations, another preliminary passer appeared.

Are there still more left?

It’s probably the last one.

Muhyuk’s eyes widened for a moment as he checked the people who appeared.

“Huh…?”

It was because of the female user wearing a pink cloak.

“Wow, amazing…!”

“Huuup.”

It wasn’t because he was surprised by her beautiful appearance that the surrounding users couldn’t help but admire.

It was because he was acquainted with her and was somewhat happy.

Muhyuk took off the helmet he was wearing. Then, Yerin’s eyes, which were looking around, stopped at Muhyuk’s face.

Soon, her eyes sparkled and a smile appeared on her lips.

“Muhyuk?”

She recognized Muhyuk too.

“It’s been a while.”

“Wow, really!”

“I didn’t know Yerin would participate.”

“I’m also a Ranker in my own way. I knew Muhyuk was participating too…”

Yerin made a somewhat sulky expression.

Even that appearance was pretty.

Sungminwoo, who was next to her, was so mesmerized that he spaced out.

“Hey, hey.”

“Hmm?”

“Who, who is this person? No, how do you know someone like this!”

“Ah, we did a quest together before.”

Muhyuk smiled and looked at Yerin.

“She’s my friend. Her nickname is StrongFist.”

“Nice to meet you, StrongFist.”

“N, nice to meet you! You’re very beautiful!”

Yerin’s face turned slightly red.

“Thank you.”

“Hey, what are you doing to someone you just met…”

“Oh, oh? It’s just that she’s too pretty.”

“Sit here for now.”

“Ah, should I?”

Yerin smiled and sat next to Muhyuk.

“Your job was a mage, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Is your goal to be in the rankings?”

Yerin shook her head.

“It’s not like that. It’s just fun, this kind of experience.”

Everyone was silent at that shy smile.

This, really.

He realized once again that a face can also be a weapon.

Step.

At that time, the sound of someone approaching was heard.

Finally, the host appeared.

“Thank you for waiting.”

Everyone focused on the host.

“Now that all the preliminary passers have gathered, I will briefly explain. You will go through the finals starting in 3 hours. Everyone here has passed the preliminaries, so your skills have been sufficiently recognized, but I think there are definitely those who have risen by chance. That’s why a more definite proof is needed in reality. Those who passed the preliminaries by luck will be eliminated in the first preliminary round, and only those with real skills will advance to the second preliminary round. Details about the first preliminary round will be announced in 3 hours. Until then, you are free to do as you please.”

A few things were inferred from his words.

“Ha, there’s a second preliminary round too?”

“That’s right.”

“I wonder if there will be a third round?”

“Well. But it probably won’t be long.”

The memory of the first strongest competition was not clear.

How many rounds were there?

It’s ambiguous, but it seemed like 2 rounds were all there were.

I don’t know.

It was something he would find out in 3 hours anyway, so there was no need to try to remember.

It didn’t seem like knowing beforehand would change much anyway.

“Let’s go eat something for a bit.”

“Huh? Ah, okay.”

Sungminwoo looked at Yerin and asked.

“Oh, by any chance…”

“Yes?”

“Would you like to have dinner with us?”

“Ah, I live in Gangneung. Where do you live?”

Gangneung was quite a distance away.

“S, Seoul.”

“That’s too bad.”

“Me too. Let’s definitely see each other later.”

“Okay.”

Sungminwoo smiled brightly at Yerin’s answer.

Muhyuk roughly wrapped up the situation.

“Anyway, I’ll go eat dinner.”

“Yes, have a good time. Then I too…”

Yerin logged out.

“She’s gone.”

“Oh, she’s gone.”

Muhyuk, who was like that for a while, looked at Sungminwoo and said.

“Well, let’s eat just the two of us.”

“Should we?”

“Let’s meet in the middle.”

“Call.”

Muhyuk, who logged out, drove his car to the downtown area. He met Sungminwoo there and went into a decent restaurant, but there were more people than he thought.

“Welcome!”

“Do you have a seat?”

“Yes, there’s exactly one seat left. Come this way!”

It was a better seat than he thought.

“Oh, I can see the TV well too.”

“Huh? That’s the Illusion preliminaries.”

Most of the people were watching TV.

“Kheu, it’s really popular.”

Moreover, because they only showed the highlights, cool scenes came out in succession. Even the two people who directly participated in the preliminaries were so flashy that they couldn’t take their eyes off it.

“Ooh!”

He became engrossed before he knew it.

“That cowardly bastard! Ha, you can’t do that there! Ugh!”

Sungminwoo’s voice gradually grew louder.

“Excuse me, customer…”

“Th, th, th! Dirty! I’m going crazy, really! Should I go and rampage?”

“Cu, stomer!”

“Huh?”

“When are you going to order?”

“Ah, order?”

“Yes.”

“Right, I haven’t ordered yet. Just give me 2 basic set meals.”

“Okay.”

The employee who received the order left, and Sungminwoo’s rough muttering continued as he focused on the screen again.

“Oh, he’s doing that again! Augh, kwak! Heop, hey, I came out for a bit too. Ooh, cool!”

People’s gazes were focused on Sungminwoo.

“I came out too?”

“He must have participated.”

“Well, he probably failed the preliminaries.”

“But his level must be high.”

“That’s right.”

Without paying attention, Sungminwoo still added interjections.

“Aoh, that, that!”

“Haa.”

The embarrassment was Muhyuk’s share.