Echoes of the Reverse Planet

Chapter 111: Viewer Mission

“I, I can’t do it anymore…”

“It’s too hard…”

The Beau-tiful Twins muttered in weak voices.

Having died twenty times each, forty times in total, they no longer had the same vigor as at the start.

Well, it made sense—they had continuously overcome situations where they would die immediately the moment their concentration broke even briefly or their breathing fell out of sync.

No matter how painless it was, the feeling of dying with large holes pierced through their bodies couldn’t have been particularly pleasant either.

However, despite their exhaustion, the expressions on their faces as they sat slumped on the floor were quite bright. Because the compensation for their hardship had been certain.

The two’s coordination had developed rapidly upon meeting the trial named Baek Woohyun. Later on, they even blocked the fragments he shot quite well.

This meant that the absurd theory of throwing people into life-threatening situations and forcing them to cooperate naturally leading to development had proven perfectly correct.

“If our skills improved this much, maybe we can do it…?”

“I’m definitely doing it, at least.”

-ㄹㅇㅋㅋ Me too

-Why wouldn’t you after suffering for an hour and improving this much??

-Hackphysical-style education was rightㄷㄷ

-So when are you accepting the next students?

The Beau-tiful Twins weren’t the only ones who felt their development. Rather, it resonated even more strongly with those watching them.

Jeong Nayeon, Cha Seongcheol, and the viewers who had been giggling at the twins’ suffering at first couldn’t help but admire their increasingly developing coordination.

Belatedly, they realized that even though Baek Woohyun appeared to be recklessly beating them up, he had been delicately adjusting while making the twins grow.

‘Like… a blacksmith’s forging.’

Just as a blacksmith strikes iron strongly yet delicately to harden it, Baek Woohyun had struck the Beau-tiful Twins to make them grow.

Though it seemed questionable to compare humans made of flesh and blood to iron, anyway, wasn’t that the revealed truth?

He had actually struck them—or rather, beat them up—after all.

‘What’s even more surprising is that this is the first session of ‘Hack Disciple’.’

The first session, and barely over an hour had passed.

Yet if their skills improved this noticeably, it was clear how much stronger the Beau-tiful Twins would become in the future.

Enough to be confident they could reach Grand Master, or even higher, just as Baek Woohyun had guaranteed.

‘Life Achievement Geuma’ donated ‘10,000 won’!

[Don’t tell me what you said about sending them to Geuma if they properly followed along was actually true…?]

-Hackphysical doesn’t lieㅅㄱ

-Getting a life achievement for freeㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Silver and Gold going to Geumaㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Don’t get ahead of yourselfㄴ

“Don’t tell me Geuma rhymes what!”

“I was also half-believing in Hackphysical’s guarantee, but I was certain of one thing. That it would take quite a while to get there.”

Cha Seongcheol spoke in a calm tone.

He had thought they would only achieve results that could prove Baek Woohyun’s coaching ability properly around when the SSR Cup started.

Since it was teaching people in not-so-high tiers like Silver and Gold, he figured it would take time to build them up from the basics.

Though he now knew how foolish that speculation had been.

“But watching today, I realized how soft that thinking was. The growth rate is… truly tremendous.”

Being a current Struggle League commentator who had seen numerous pro players, Cha Seongcheol could guarantee it.

Right now, the Beau-tiful Twins had skills that could easily reach Platinum. Though that was when playing as a duo rather than solo.

Even so, the fact that those who had been struggling in lower tiers until just recently had grown to Platinum in one leap was equally astonishing.

If they could continue growing at this rate, they would soon meet truly encouraging results.

“Hmm.”

However, even this didn’t seem like a satisfactory result to the monster named Baek Woohyun.

After briefly gauging something, he declared:

“Let’s move on to the next stage right away.”

-What

-Right away after grinding them like this?

-This is ㄹㅇ Spartan styleㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Hackphysical doesn’t understand human hearts…

“R-right away?”

“Really?”

The viewers were startled at the words that he would continue without rest after grinding people to the point of near-death—or actually killing them.

Even Jeong Nayeon behind the unconsciously questioning Beau-tiful Twins let out a lament like “Hackphysical-style education is harsh!”

Of course, Baek Woohyun wasn’t one to change his policy based on their reactions. He continued speaking boldly.

“As I mentioned earlier, skills can only develop when you push one step further in situations where you’re driven to the extreme.”

“I’ve heard this somewhere before?!”

-Isn’t this just common grit theory?

-Skills do originally grow like that though

-Tear those RePla muscles!!

-Somehow this reminds me of a fitness trainer

“Ah, right! Fitness trainer! When I was getting PT, the trainer said exactly like that! Saying let’s do just one more as the last one!”

“……”

Baek Woohyun chuckled and lifted the Beau-tiful Twins to their feet with a single gesture.

Seeing this, Cha Seongcheol clicked his tongue.

While blasting out strong techniques was somehow possible by exerting yourself desperately, delicate manipulation like now required thoroughly dominating the supernatural ability.

“To do telekinesis this naturally… Woohyun-nim. Tell me honestly. Can’t you use supernatural abilities in reality too?”

“Eh, no way! No way… Right?”

-That scene I saw in a clip

-If even Jeong-ssi is uncertainㄷㄷ

-What, supernatural abilities appear in reality too??

-Status window!! Status window please!!

“Then you’re saying all your long-range supernatural ability use right now is entirely talent, but honestly that’s more unrealistic to me.”

“I’d rather believe the story that you can use supernatural abilities in reality,” Cha Seongcheol added, shrugging his shoulders.

It was half joking, but half serious. That’s how much Baek Woohyun’s skills were in the realm of incomprehensibility to him.

“I think everyone watching the broadcast probably felt the same way.”

Using close-range build abilities freely with no assistance? That was possible. Up to that point, it was barely acceptable as the realm of talent.

Anyway, it made sense if you said it was possible through the talent of fighting while maintaining high concentration. He also had the career of being a ranker in ‘Colosseum’ in the past.

But in addition to that, handling long-range builds perfectly well was a different story.

Especially considering the fact that Baek Woohyun had never once practiced using supernatural abilities during broadcasts.

As Cha Seongcheol said, it was to the point where it would be more realistic to say he could use supernatural abilities in reality and thus handled them skillfully in-game too.

-There’s… persuasiveness!

-Violent talentㄷㄷ

-Who would’ve known he could handle long-range builds so ㅈㄴ well

-So Hackphysical can use supernatural abilities in reality too?

“……”

Baek Woohyun smiled bitterly. Because it was a story he had no way to deal with.

To properly explain why he handled long-range supernatural ability builds well would inevitably require talking about ‘that side’, so he could only gloss over it as talent.

Rather, it would have been easier to make excuses if he had at least been stagnant water in ‘Reverse Planet’, but that wasn’t the case either.

[Mission ‘Use New Supernatural Ability Build to Prove Amazing Talent<100,000 won>’ has been created]

Perhaps feeling intrigued after hearing Cha Seongcheol’s argument?

A mission was suddenly created.

It was a mission with content wanting Baek Woohyun to prove his talent by using a new supernatural ability build.

“Ah. Mission! Use a new supernatural ability build to prove talent? Uh- Um. What do you think, Woohyun?”

Jeong Nayeon glanced at Baek Woohyun.

Since the mission’s content was what it was, it couldn’t proceed unless he accepted.

“…I don’t mind.”

“Then accepted! Oh, everyone. What kind of supernatural ability would be good to show newly?”

-Something difficultㄱㄱㄱㄱ

-Let’s exclude close-range buildsㅇㅇ Nothing to see

-Isn’t long-range also cut since he uses telekinesis?

-Then just choose from summon types

-Summon is boring, let’s do long-range instead

-There’s lots to see in close-range tooㅋㅋㅋㅋ

“Mm. Opinions are really divided. Is the person who created the mission here? Do you have a build you want?”

‘Yongyongjukgetji’ donated ‘1000 won’!

[I’m the viewer who made the mission. Please do Thunder Dragon build]

When the mission creator requested the ‘Thunder Dragon’ build belonging to the transformation category, Cha Seongcheol exclaimed “Oho.”

“Good idea. Yongyongjukgetji-nim. Actually, I also wanted to recommend a transformation category ability. Especially types like the ‘Thunder Dragon’ build.”

-Oh right, there was transformation

-Will Hackphysical use transformation category well too?

-If he uses this well too, it’s ㄹㅇ his talent is crazyㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Besides, isn’t Thunder Dragon build a ㅈㅂ difficult build to useㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Generally, transformation category abilities referred to builds that changed one’s body into a different nature or form.

Since there were many abilities that were hard to even use without control ability over the transformed body, it was also a very suitable category for the purpose of testing talent.

Especially in the case of the ‘Thunder Dragon’ build, it was an ability that completely abandoned human form and transformed into dragon form.

To move as a dragon without assistance required truly beyond-common-sense talent, and knowing this fact, Cha Seongcheol also admired it.

“At least it’s fortunate it’s the ‘Thunder Dragon’ build. If it had been the beast transformation side, suspicious people would have come flocking.”

-Huk

-What

-Those who have suspiciously large amounts of money will come

-What’s wrong with furriesㅡㅡ

‘lIIIIIIlIIII’ donated ‘1000 won’!

[Furry trait) Don’t even hide it anymore]

“……”

Baek Woohyun let Jeong Nayeon’s joke pass and examined the ‘Thunder Dragon’ build that had been sent to him, and after checking the content, slightly frowned.

Because he felt uncomfortable realizing it was a transformation category supernatural ability build that departed from human form. This was discomfort stemming from past experience.

When he had used a similar ability on ‘that side’, while still inexperienced in ability control, he had been half-devoured by the instincts created by transformation and rampaged.

After his comrades barely managed to stop him from going berserk, naturally he hadn’t even looked at transformation category abilities since then.

‘To use that now… Well, it should be fine.’

However, soon Baek Woohyun’s expression returned to its usual indifference. Because he thought what did it matter using transformation category builds here, not ‘that side’.

In the first place, he and his inexperienced past self were on different dimensions, so there was no room to be devoured by abilities.

“……Hu.”

After applying the build, Baek Woohyun closed his eyes and concentrated.

He felt the torrent of power writhing boldly and burning brightly inside him.

Starting from the Core Element [Dragon’s Heart], passing through [Mystical Power], [Reverse Scale], and completed with [Cintamani]—it was the inherent strength of the ‘Thunder Dragon’ build itself.

He tried to calmly place it under his control. Fortunately, it wasn’t too difficult. The control reaching the realm of ‘Transcendence’ remained consistent here too.

Thanks to this, when he opened his eyes again, his eyes were gleaming golden with vertical pupils like a reptile.

Following this, pure white scales sprouted from his face hidden by the mask, and his body instantly transformed into dragon form.

A body like a snake with bird-like legs, a deer’s antlers and fish scales—it was an Eastern dragon.

“……Krrr.”

-It’s a dragon

-Whoa

-If you call it dragon I’ll kill you ㄹㅇ I’ll kill you

-“Dragon”

‘Yongyongjukgetji’ donated ‘1000 won’!

[Lee gwo gwo deun~]

“Wow—”

“So cool…”

“To transform this naturally without assistance.”

“If I ask him to let me ride on his back, would he?”

Huak—!

Baek Woohyun, floating a cintamani as white as his white scales beside him, soared upward just like that.

Since the mission asked him to prove his talent using the supernatural ability build, he intended to properly show off the power of the ‘Thunder Dragon’ build he could draw out.

To prove he could produce this level of power even with a supernatural ability build used for the first time, so that no one could bring up words about it.

Thus, his figure freely swimming through the sky truly suited the single character word dragon (龍) perfectly.

Not only the viewers, but even the twins, Jeong Nayeon, and Cha Seongcheol watched with admiring faces.

However, the proof of power was only just beginning.

Uuuuung—!

An intense resonance affecting the entire sky and earth!

Simultaneously, pitch-black clouds suddenly gathered in the air and completely covered the training ground ceiling exceeding ten-plus meters in height.

Through the clouds spread like this, thunder and lightning flowed, and the pure white dragon appeared briefly then disappeared, making it truly feel like entering a legend.

Next.

Kwareureureung—!

A bolt of lightning struck from the thunder clouds toward the ground. Like judgment from heaven.

The lightning strike accompanied by a flashing light burned the place it hit pitch black. If anyone had been there, they would surely have become a lump of coal by now.

Even if they had endured, it wouldn’t have mattered. Because they would ultimately disappear before the wrath poured by the dragon still swimming through the dark clouds.

And indeed, as such thoughts predicted, Baek Woohyun’s overwhelming majesty was only just beginning.

The divine beast wrapped its body in clouds and swept through the empty training ground, dropping lightning and wielding wind as it pleased.

Truly a Heavenly Dragon itself!

That figure flying aloofly from the heavens beyond human reach and dropping heavenly punishment was rather even awe-inspiring.

“To handle a supernatural ability build used for the first time this perfectly…!”

It was natural for admiration mixed with shock to burst from Cha Seongcheol.

The ‘Thunder Dragon’ build was niche among niches. A build with almost no users, not an exaggeration to say it had been practically abandoned.

Therefore, there was no way he had practiced beforehand, so this must be Baek Woohyun’s first use. Yet what did it mean that he handled it this perfectly?

“To be able to show a Hackphysical performance without practice regardless of which supernatural ability build. Huh—”

Of course, this was close to Cha Seongcheol’s misunderstanding.

No matter how much Baek Woohyun, showing ‘Superhuman’ build or ‘Annihilation’ build level performance with a supernatural ability used for the first time would be impossible.

That was a result created by mixing innate talent with experience from ‘that side’, after all.

But he truly thought so, and the viewers listening to his admiration were the same.

Since there was what Baek Woohyun had shown until now, they couldn’t help it.

He had shown skills to the point of being mistaken for a hack, so one more small misunderstanding piled on top wouldn’t be a problem.

-All Masterㄷㄷ

-Why else would we call him Hackphysicalㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-What use are builds before true talent?

-Geniuses exist, it’s frustrating but

[Mission ‘Use New Supernatural Ability Build to Prove Amazing Talent<100,000 won>’ Success!]

“……”

Amid admiration, Baek Woohyun descended from the sky dispersing the clouds and returned to human form.

However, even though he had returned from dragon to human, the two deer antlers and golden eyes with prominent vertical pupils, plus the cintamani floating beside him, remained the same.

Additionally, the hair that had been dyed ash-gray when using the telekinesis build was now pure white like the scale color.

Clap clap clap!

“As expected, Master!”

“Amazing!”

“Hehe— They say geniuses are beings beyond common sense…”

The Beau-tiful Twins giving seal applause while admiring, and Cha Seongcheol shaking his head.

Baek Woohyun swept his gaze over them and chuckled.

Because he felt that while he had briefly performed the mission, the twins’ stamina had recovered considerably.

“Now that you’ve rested enough, let’s start training again.”

“Ah!”

“W-we should.”

However, the Beau-tiful Twins who seemed to be agreeing soon raised their hands high.

“Master! Master!”

“Can we ask just one favor?!”