Chapter 203 : The Challengers
Chapter 203: The Challengers
A spine-chillingly massive roar echoed across the battlefield!
The fierce and savage howl—too powerful to believe it came from a human mouth—violently shook a portion of Zone 4: Church.
The overwhelming sound wave that resulted traveled in the direction Baek Woohyun unleashed it, properly striking his opponent.
Bzzzzzzt!
-"Urk?!"
Since the speed of sound was the speed of this attack, his opponent couldn't block it, nor could he dodge it—he had no choice but to take it helplessly.
Because he never imagined that a simple shout could be used to attack him, the damage his opponent suffered was even greater.
The difference between bracing yourself to take a hit and being caught off guard was crystal clear.
But how could anyone blame him?
Especially in a situation where a sound wave attack suddenly burst forth from someone who wasn't even using a sound-related supernatural ability build.
Rather, the fact that he saw Baek Woohyun suddenly take a deep breath and thought 'Something might be coming!' while preparing even slightly deserved praise.
-Kya─!!!
-lmao it's like a lion's roar
-Suddenly using sound attacks here ㄷㄷ
-There it is again! Hackphysical's extraordinary trick!
"How does he even do that... no, there's nothing impossible for Woohyun. Right."
"Never forget. If it's Hackphysical, it's possible."
"Wow, that's a cool catchphrase."
-At this rate he could use air-walking and it wouldn't be weird
-At this rate he'll walk on water too lol
-??? : That's easy, just put your other foot down before one foot sinks lol
-He actually might do that lol
Jeong Nayeon and the other panelists, along with the viewers, were too busy admiring Baek Woohyun's extraordinary technique to criticize the staggering opponent.
Especially the viewers, who were pouring out all sorts of jokes among themselves, saying this was just like the lion's roar from old movies or the reprimanding shout of 'Kat!'
Baek Woohyun's roar was actually closer to "Uaaah─!" than "Kat!" but that didn't matter. For them, as long as it was entertaining, that was enough.
-"······."
Tap!
Unaware of the studio's reaction, Baek Woohyun used his roar as an opening attack to break his opponent's balance, then immediately moved into his next action.
Throwing the military dagger he was holding at his opponent, he instantly kicked off the ground. It was a movement as if he had disappeared from that spot simultaneously with throwing the dagger.
With this, he forced his opponent into the trial of having to block both the military dagger flying toward him and himself, who could come from anywhere.
-"Kugh, [Steel Curtain]!"
The military dagger, or the vanished Baek Woohyun?
With his eardrums ruptured and blood streaming from his ears, his opponent's available options were practically predetermined.
He urgently used a defensive skill, wrapping himself in a veil made of steel. Even while staggering, his skill usage was truly befitting a pro player.
His response showed determination—that if he could just endure once, a counterattack would be possible. Baek Woohyun's response to this was very simple.
Don't use an attack that can be endured—in other words, breakthrough at a single point.
Riiiiip-!
-"Whoa?!"
Arriving in front of [Steel Curtain] a step ahead, Baek Woohyun naturally snatched the military dagger he had thrown and swung it.
The blade of the military dagger, containing superhuman strength, tore through the [Steel Curtain] his opponent had deployed all too easily, revealing his surprised opponent's face through the gap.
If he had narrowed the range and increased the strength instead, this wouldn't have happened, but his opponent had already made the wrong choice, hadn't he?
There's a saying about trying to catch two rabbits and losing both for good reason.
His opponent should have given up responding to the military dagger and focused on keeping in check Baek Woohyun, who had disappeared with ultra-high-speed movement.
Of course, in that case, there would be the disadvantage of the military dagger potentially embedding itself right in the center of his forehead, but at least he would have gained a single opportunity.
"Hackphysical sweeps away the curtain in one go and approaches! The dagger throw wasn't simply to draw attention! He's caught him completely off guard!"
"Who would think he'd go get it first, catch it, then attack with it?"
-Like catching the ball you threw yourself lol
-When you put it that way it's hilarious lol
-Today we have master of playing alone, teacher Hackphysical
-He's so fast he can do whatever he wants
The moment he failed to do so, his opponent's defeat was practically already decided.
After all, to win in battle, one must not be swayed by the opponent, and even if swayed, must boldly make life-or-death decisions.
Baek Woohyun, who burst through the torn [Steel Curtain], was merely the wedge. The wedge that confirmed an already finished match.
Slash!
The blade of the military dagger severed his opponent's neck in one stroke. It was a resolute slash, like an execution that allowed no resistance.
The first attack could be described as merely shouting, so essentially the match was decided with just one real attack.
Truly, what more needed to be said when his opponent felt too weak to stand before Baek Woohyun fighting with full power?
[Final Record -- Baek Woohyun 2:0 (Anonymous)]
[Final Victor: Baek Woohyun]
[Final Defeated: (Anonymous)]
-"Good work! I learned a lot!"
-"Yes, good work."
Despite being utterly defeated twice in a row, his opponent spoke with a bright smile. Even bowing deeply at the waist.
Seeing his face that seemed to have realized something, it appeared the brief battle with Baek Woohyun had helped him considerably.
Since he wasn't the type to coldly reject someone who approached him with a smile—unless they were an enemy—Baek Woohyun lightly returned the greeting.
'NuclearLaunchDetected' donated '1,000 won'!
[After the twins and Team All-In, now even teaching pro players, truly a master teacher ㄷㄷ]
-True? Master?
-lol if you beat them up that's teaching lol
-No joke, he really is a master teacher ㅇㅇ;
-Star tutor Hackphysical
"That's hardly a new assessment. Woohyun has always taught everything when asked, you know?"
"I agree. I've never seen anyone who reveals all their own secrets like this. Ah, of course that doesn't mean hiding them is bad."
"Right. Woohyun's just the weird one. He teaches everything, even secrets no one would blame him for keeping."
-That's actually true
-Seriously! He just taught everything!
-He even revealed his entire build lol
-Isn't he being generous because he knows they can't do it even if he tells them? <- You get out
As Jeong Nayeon said, from the 'Superstar N (meaning Nuclear)' content to personal PVP, Baek Woohyun had never once hidden his secrets.
If someone asked to be taught, he gladly imparted his teachings, and even when no one asked, he would just casually reveal everything anyway.
Just look at his supernatural ability build. No matter how close to an element-neutral build with no counters it was, revealing one's entire build was difficult.
Moreover, those who received his teachings grew remarkably day by day, so Baek Woohyun could truly be said to be worthy of the title of master teacher.
The Beau-tiful Twins went without saying, Team All-In was no different, and even Team B, who had received relatively brief instruction, was the same.
There was a good reason for talk of him being a star tutor. Like his final boss image, this was just another teacher image he had built up over time.
"Hmm, then would pro players come to receive instruction instead?"
"Come on, no way~ ...no way?"
-Hey hey, they say 'no way' leads to trouble
-That's convincing!
-They have Nikki as a solid excuse too
-Can't pass up a chance to improve their skills lol
"That possibility isn't nonexistent."
Cha Seongcheol, joining the conversation between Chloe and Jeong Nayeon who had been joking around, grinned.
"Pro players will do anything to get stronger. And combat experience with Hackphysical is tremendously helpful for getting stronger."
"True. The Reberdin player who just fought also said he learned well."
"And since Challenger tier has relatively few people and you keep meeting the same people, players with free time might come looking."
Cha Seongcheol shrugged as he finished speaking.
His speculation merely left room for possibility, not containing an argument that it would definitely happen.
Some players he knew would have the personality to seek out Baek Woohyun in their thirst for strength, but he couldn't know if all other players would do the same.
But if he had known what would happen next, he wouldn't have simply ended by leaving room for possibility.
[PVP 'Duel' mode game matching successful]
-"Hello! Hackphysical-nim!"
-"···? Yes, hello."
-"I know this request might be rude when we're meeting for the first time! But could I please ask for a match where you give your all!"
The opponent who matched through the new queue saw Baek Woohyun's face and immediately shouted like that. Blatantly revealing he had queued specifically targeting him.
Not particularly surprisingly, this opponent was also a pro player competing in the Division 2 league, like the previous opponent Reberdin.
It was a scene proving that Cha Seongcheol's expression—'Pro players will do anything to get stronger'—was very accurate.
-Another pro this time
-Seeing him ask for full power, looks like he came after watching the broadcast
-This isn't just 'players with free time' level
-Breaking news) Duel solo queue pros rapidly increasing
'SpectatorBug' donated '1,000 won'!
[Right now on the ranking sites, pros queueing for duel solo are increasing like crazy lol]
"Is this for real?"
"Just how much did they increase... What, how many people is this? There's over fifty."
-No way they all suddenly wanted to queue duel solo at this time
-100% came to fight Hackphysical lol
-Real talk, if I was a pro I couldn't resist coming too
-Disciple candidates all assembled lol
The newly matched opponent was also a pro player wanting instruction, and on top of that, pros queuing for PVP 'Duel' mode solo rank suddenly surged?
The studio becoming noisy was a natural progression. Because right now, anyone could see this could only be explained by pro players gathering to target Hackphysical.
Whether wanting instruction, or to challenge him and seize victory against him.
Challenger, the highest tier of 'Reverse Planet' PVP, is a word formed by combining the action-agent suffix '-er' with the verb 'challenge.'
In Korean it's generally translated as 'dojeonja' (challenger), and in that sense, it could be said to suit the current Challenger tier well in many ways.
Because right now, the Challenger tier was overflowing with those wanting to challenge Baek Woohyun.