Chapter 121 : Uninvited Guest
Chapter 121: Uninvited Guest
“Finally, this moment has arrived, viewers.”
Cha Seongcheol opened his mouth with a very serious expression.
With a deliberately lowered voice and solemn tone added to it, a tension akin to facing the World Championship finals flowed.
Indeed, he was someone who participated as a commentator in last year’s World Championship finals, so it was even more so.
Of course, it was only setting that atmosphere. What was actually at stake was literally a difference between heaven and earth.
There’s no way a simple individual win streak record and the championship of the most prestigious international tournament could be on the same level.
Even if you’re a fan of Baek Woohyun, you wouldn’t deny that much. Unless you’re deliberately trying to make him get hated.
“Hackphysical is currently on a 75-win streak, with the immortal record of 76 consecutive wins set by player Battler in the past just before his eyes.”
One more win for a tie record; two more wins for a new record.
It means that the record, which seemed absolutely unbreakable, is on the verge of being conquered by Baek Woohyun.
Thus, Cha Seongcheol continued with a calm, yet faintly heated voice.
“Whether Hackphysical can achieve a new record, or whether he will be broken here. It’s truly an anticipated moment.”
-I’m a legend for witnessing this live.
-On to breaking the record let’s gooooo!
-He came all the way here despite sniping and forced hate ㄷㄓ.
-Just two steps to the new record.
Cha Seongcheol, taking his eyes off the cheering chatbox, glanced at Jeong Nayeon.
While he opened his mouth once to set the atmosphere, Jeong Nayeon was supposed to do her own work as well.
Namely, communication with Baek Woohyun.
“Did you convey the request to Hackphysical to play the next two matches with the Hackphysical build?”
“Yes, I conveyed it!”
The reason for requesting Baek Woohyun to challenge the record using the Hackphysical build—referring to the Superhuman build—without spinning the recommended build roulette was simple.
Because the viewers watching the broadcast wanted it. Even an overwhelmingly large number that couldn’t be ignored.
The Hackphysical-exclusive build, or Hackphysical build for short, was like Baek Woohyun’s symbol.
It wasn’t simply because he used it first, but because no one else could bring out the maximum performance of the Hackphysical build, it naturally became so.
Therefore, there inevitably had to be quite a few people who wanted him to use the Hackphysical build for the moment leading from tie record to new record.
Cha Seongcheol and Jeong Nayeon conveyed that fiery request to Baek Woohyun.
“What did Hackphysical say?”
“Well—”
Jeong Nayeon shrugged her shoulders at Cha Seongcheol’s question.
“As always, he didn’t seem to care much?”
“That’s very Hackphysical-like.”
“Even if we told him to use some weird build instead of the Hackphysical build, he probably wouldn’t have said anything.”
-lol true.
-Can’t imagine him being flustered lol.
-Anyway, feels like he’ll win somehow.
-That one ‘line’ is enough, bye.
‘WannabeBuilder’ donated ‘1000 won’!
[He just went with it even when we gave him the Welcome Swordsman build lololol]
“That’s right. Oh, and also.”
Jeong Nayeon, who had been nodding at the donation, clapped her hands with a Clap!
While Cha Seongcheol was building up the mood, she had been continuously talking with Baek Woohyun, and there were other things besides the build.
For instance, how she would like him to handle the next two matches, which are quite meaningful…
“I requested that since the next two matches will be more attention-grabbing games, could he please win with his full strength. He said he understood.”
-Oh lol Hooked and killed lol.
-Hackphysical going all out? This can’t be stopped.
-Using his symbolic build and going all out? lololol
-Starting to feel sorry for the opponent.
“Oho? Hackphysical’s full strength…”
Cha Seongcheol stroked his chin with an interested face.
He and the viewers knew that Baek Woohyun had never once gone all out so far.
Actually, anyone who watched the ‘Hack Tour’ content would find it hard not to know. He showed it to an extent that was impossible to ignore.
Baek Woohyun not only never seemed struggling during PVP, he never even showed panic or surprise.
He simply crushed his opponents with overwhelming strength.
Since that was the case throughout the ‘Hack Tour’ content, one had to know he had been holding back.
Therefore, many were also curious about what abilities Baek Woohyun would show if he went all out, and Jeong Nayeon had precisely scratched that itch.
“Perhaps we might see the ultra-high speed movement he showed in ‘Survival’ during this ‘Duel.'”
“Ah, I remember! You’re talking about when Woohyun said he’d pick up the tempo, right?”
-I remember that insane speed.
-Just watching made me dizzy lololol.
-There’s a first-person edited version on Miss Jeong’s iTube Shorts, and it’s crazy lololol.
-Even at 0.25x speed, it was still fast lol.
“Correct. And I guarantee that ordinary Challenger tier users won’t even be able to stand against Hackphysical moving at that speed.”
“Is it that much?”
“It is that much.”
Cha Seongcheol answered decisively.
“To counter that, pro players, and at that, players referred to as World Class, would have to come. To my knowledge.”
“Like player Battler or player Endless?”
“Correct. Actually, World Class players’ training process includes dealing with high-speed movement, so I think that level is needed.”
“Wow…”
“Well, a World Class player wouldn’t snipe to stop Hackphysical’s win streak record, so it’s practically irrelevant now.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
-Listening to this, I kinda want to see it heh;
-Sniping now would be righteous sniping, agree?
-Can’t he make a surprise appearance as an uninvited guest?
-Uninvited guest lol crazy talk lololol
Since a World Class pro player sniping a mere personal broadcaster couldn’t happen, it was just fantasy—everyone in the studio thought so.
It was truly a natural conclusion. Because a sensible person wouldn’t do something that’s a loss whether you win or lose.
[PVP ‘Duel’ mode game matching successful]
[Moving to the arena]
That’s how it was while they chattered, even as Baek Woohyun started a new match, left the battle preparation room, and moved to the arena.
To be precise, until he faced the ‘Duel’ opponent in the arena he moved to.
“Finally! The 76th ‘Duel,’ which will determine if Hackphysical can tie Battler player’s record, has begun! The opponent is─ Huh?”
“─That person is.”
-Wait a minute
-I see a familiar face, am I mistaken?
-Bro, why are you there…?
-Wtf lololol Is he for real lolololol
‘Alcoholic’ donated ‘10000 won’!
[It’s a real uninvited guest lololololol]
Cha Seongcheol with his mouth agape and frozen, Jeong Nayeon with surprised wide eyes, and viewers pouring out all sorts of chats half out of their minds.
It was natural for them to react like this. Because Baek Woohyun’s ‘Duel’ opponent this time was someone so famous they all knew.
Moreover, it was someone they never thought they’d see here, a character from their fantasies.
“Wow.”
A member of ‘DH Empire,’ a prestigious Korean 1st division league team that won last year’s World Championship, and evaluated to have narrowly missed the Finals MVP─
A bona fide World Class pro player.
“He pulled it off. Nice to meet you!”
It was the appearance of ‘Nicky’ Lee Geonwoo, referred to as one of the two pillars of DH Empire alongside Battler.
“Why is player Nicky Webhere?!”
“Isn’t the foreshadowing recovery too fast, Seongcheol-nim?! Like this, immediately?!”
“No, I’m surprised too?!”
-No wonder he suddenly brought up pro talk.
-The ability to call Nicky to snipe ㄷㄓ.
-For real?
-Is it for real lololololol
The studio was in an uproar looking at Lee Geonwoo, who was grinning.
It couldn’t be helped, since he popped up immediately after mentioning that a World Class pro player level was needed to handle Baek Woohyun’s full strength.
Considering there are still many people waiting to snipe, it was probably just a strange coincidence, but it’s intriguing anyway.
-If it’s Nicky, he probably came running excitedly on his own lololol.
-lol There’s a 100% chance he was having fun sniping by himself.
-Just a crazy guy doing crazy guy things lol.
-“Nicky did it” explains it all.
But the commotion didn’t last long, because Lee Geonwoo’s fans popped up saying that’s just how he is, and everyone else accepted it.
Lee Geonwoo was already famous for his trash talk and crazy actions as much as his performance, so others agreed.
Since he had caused countless incidents, they accepted this sniping as just another one of them.
“……”
Unaware of the studio’s reaction, Baek Woohyun remained silent even to Lee Geonwoo’s greeting.
He didn’t know his opponent was a pro player of Reverse Planet. As is common for those not particularly interested in the pro league.
Then the only thing left is the fact that Lee Geonwoo sniped him. In short, it means the Lee Geonwoo he sees is merely a sniper bug.
The very sniper bug Jeong Nayeon had told him to thoroughly trample whenever seen so they could never snipe again.
Moreover, there was the new request to go all out, so what he had to do from now on was crystal clear.
‘Go all out and trample him.’
It shouldn’t be too difficult.
For this very purpose, hadn’t he even brought his most preferred weapon, the greatsword Soul Eater?
Baek Woohyun, resting the blade that began to swirl with a pitch-black light on his shoulder, looked at the enemy with an indifferent gaze revealing no emotion.
“Ahaha, you’re quiet. Well, this is also just as I saw on the broadcast!”
Lee Geonwoo, completely unaware of how Baek Woohyun viewed him, let out a hearty laugh.
It was a laugh overflowing with playfulness.
But that was only for a moment.
[Time remaining until first round start – 10 seconds]
“Let’s have a go!”
As the system message announcing the imminent start appeared, Lee Geonwoo’s expression changed instantly.
A fierce, beast-like smile spread thickly across his lips.
He even looked somewhat like a hunter eyeing prey.
Additionally, shadows danced and naturally enveloped his body.
“It seems player Lee Geonwoo brought his secondary Great Crow build.”
“Is it confidence that he can win even with a non-main build?”
“Hmm… I think it’s more of a contract issue. There must be a clause prohibiting the use of the main build outside the league.”
-So there’s such a clause ㄷㄓ First time hearing it.
-Can’t risk having it leaked or weaknesses exposed by using it somewhere other than the league yep.
-The Great Crow build is plenty strong on its own.
-Skill is eternal, even if the build changes, no?
“……”
Baek Woohyun, having noticed that his opponent possessed extraordinary skill, also had his pupils blaze white.
To the point it looked like flames were left in his eyes.
As intensely as when he revealed it while playing ‘Survival’ in the past, or even more.
His preparation didn’t end there.
Calmly regulating his breath and naturally entering the ‘Slowed World,’ he adjusted his stance.
He revealed his intention to charge in and finish it the moment it started, without hiding it. An attitude of ‘try to stop it if you can.’
[Within 3 seconds] Taking a deep breath in.
[2 seconds] Leaning his body forward to an extreme degree.
[1 second] Perfectly completing preparations to charge.
And.
‘Now.’
[First round, start!]
Baek Woohyun, who had stepped forward just before the system message appeared, precisely kicked off the ground the instant the system message announced the start of combat.
Thus completed was a rush achieved at the exact same moment, not even a comma’s difference from the start of combat.
The next moment, having seemingly disappeared from his original location and reached in front of Lee Geonwoo, Baek Woohyun thrust Soul Eater without hesitation.
Thud!