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Chapter 163
Chapter 163
As the preliminaries began, the entire stadium became engulfed in white light.
First-time spectators of the Counter-Fight murmured with amazement.
People expected the match to unfold in the wide arena, but the participants had disappeared into the light as soon as the event commenced.
Un Hyang and Cheon Ryang, having seen Counter-Fights before, were not particularly surprised.
Cheon Ryang, excited to witness the event live after a long time, held a bunch of snacks in his hands.
“Watching live is the best. The screen is just stunning.”
The white light cluster acted as a colossal screen.
Once all preparations were finished, that place would display the scenes of the participants.
“What were they talking about?”
“Talking? What do you mean?”
“I mean the stream. You’ve been just eating since earlier and not monitoring properly.”
Cheon Ryang flinched at Un Hyang’s nagging. The excitement of being back at the stadium had caused him to neglect his monitoring duties.
With a small sigh, Un Hyang explained.
“We’ve been on mute for a while now. It seems like Cha Minwoo and him are having a conversation...”
“Yeah, the viewers are going crazy.”
“Is something happening?”
“What’s the big deal? They’re probably discussing their next collaboration.”
“Would they really mute it for that?”
It indeed seemed strange.
After all, they had only met for the first time today. What secret could they possibly have to discuss in private like this?
Pondering for a moment, Cheon Ryang muttered with a mouthful of snacks.
“Anything could happen if they end up meeting. Wouldn’t that be amazing content?”
“It won’t be easy. The preliminary map is too vast.”
“You never know, maybe they’ve arranged to meet somewhere.”
“If they have, it would indeed be interesting...”
As Un Hyang was speaking, her face turned increasingly white. Her expression caused the atmosphere to freeze instantly.
Only Cheon Ryang seemed to notice this change.
The surrounding spectators continued to cheer, completely focused on the stadium screen and oblivious to the shift in the atmosphere.
“Hey, what’s wrong with you?”
Cheon Ryang shook Un Hyang’s shoulder.
For a brief moment, she felt detached from the tens of thousands of spectators. No matter how he thought about it, something wasn’t right.
“Why....”
She asked with parched lips.
“Why did you come personally?”
‘Personally?’
Cheon Ryang’s eyes widened. His gaze shifted to the masked man sitting next to Un Hyang.
A man with his face half-covered by a bamboo hat.
The moment the man’s face became partly visible, Cheon Ryang froze.
“You.......”
Un Cheon-guk.
He was sitting right next to Un Hyang.
‘Does no one realize?’
Cheon Ryang glanced around at the surrounding spectators and then back at Un Cheon-guk.
Un Cheon-guk was the second most powerful figure in Murim. He was comparable to Kim Ilsoo, who had just given an opening speech over there.
If it got out that he was sitting in the middle of the audience, there would be chaos.
Yet curiously, no one seemed to notice his presence.
“Don’t make too much noise. You wouldn’t want to ruin a delightful festival just because of me.”
“Why did you come here?”
“It’s disheartening that you’re so hostile. Isn’t it permissible for a father to visit his daughter?”
Though he smiled kindly, Cheon Ryang felt that his demeanor was serpent-like. Each time Cheon Ryang faced him, he was reminded of a white snake disguised as a human.
Un Cheon-guk, with his arms folded, greeted Un Hyang who was seated right next to him.
“How have you been? My daughter?”
“Who are you calling your daughter?”
“You’re still saying that.”
“I’m not going back. Never.”
It was hard to tell if those words were directed at Un Cheon-guk or at herself.
One thing was clear—her determination was unwavering.
However, her resolve meant nothing to Un Cheon-guk.
“Going against one’s natural relationship is as hard as defying the heavens. If you intend to defy it, you should have the capability.”
“Leave me alone.”
“Have you been whining too long?”
Shuaaah-!
The bright light that had continued for a while gradually faded.
Like someone blinking to adjust after being temporarily blinded by a strong light, colors returned to the surroundings and a new field appeared.
Cha Minwoo checked the field where the preliminaries would be held with his eyes.
‘A cloudy urban field.’
Patter, patter-.
Rumble-.
Raindrops fell from the sky. Even though it was midday, the weather was cloudy, and faint thunder and lightning rumbled from the thick dark clouds.
It was a terrain he had practiced on many times if it was an urban field. With the guild’s help, he had also learned how to utilize the terrain.
‘Finally, it has started.’
His heart beat quickly. He was finally standing on the stage of his first Counter-Fight, which he had been waiting for.
The weather was just right. A rainy city. Wasn’t it romantic?
Players who had fallen not too far away were visible.
Unlike him, seemingly indifferent to the Counter-Fight, they had already started moving cautiously.
『The Counter-Fight preliminaries are starting.』
『The rule of the first trial is ‘Deathmatch’.』
『Survive until the total number of participants reaches 100.』
『After time elapses, the 100 participants with the highest number of kills advance to the finals.』
『06 : 00 : 00』
The rules were simple.
Survive until the number of participants reaches 100. If time runs out, the one with the most kills wins.
Surviving was crucial. However, merely surviving was not enough to ensure advancement to the finals. To guarantee a place in the finals, one had to raise their score by killing opponents.
There were two choices: either hide or hunt down weaker opponents somewhere.
Step, step.
However, Cha Minwoo’s destination was already decided.
‘Lee Suhyuk.’
The designated meeting place with him was the center of the map.
The city center.
Identifying the exact location was not difficult.
In the distance, a lone, towering conical building reaching up to the sky stood out prominently.
That was precisely the center of this map.
Just as Cha Minwoo began heading toward the center of the map...
Whoosh-!
A spear flew past, narrowly missing Cha Minwoo’s head.
Bang-!
Rumble-.
The missed spear struck the wall of a random building. The impact caused the several-story building to collapse into rubble.
Cha Minwoo turned his gaze toward the direction from which the spear had come.
And at that moment.
Flash-.
Cha Minwoo’s figure vanished from his spot.
“Damn, you missed! Can’t you throw properly?”
“You insisted on forming a team first, but your skills are pathetic...”
“Ugh, be quiet. I couldn’t concentrate because of the noise.”
On the rooftop of a building.
Three participants gathered, quarreling loudly.
One held a spear, while the other two held an axe and a sword respectively. The participant who threw the spear stood closest to the edge.
“Next time, I’ll definitely hit...”
“Seeing you team up with just anyone shows your skills.”
“......!”
The three participants widened their eyes at the unexpected voice. Reflexively, the spear and sword moved. Quick and nimble. Participating in the preliminary round of the Counter-Fight meant, at the very least, they were players of semi-ranker caliber.
However, their opponent was a poor choice.
“Three of you, not bad.”
“... What?”
“My sword...”
The axe and sword were gone from their hands. Somehow, Cha Minwoo had them in his possession.
In the mere moment of realization from the three participants...
Slashed-.
Shatter-.
The rooftop of the opposing building and the waists of the three participants were sliced through.
Cha Minwoo.
He had been called the next Lee Suhyuk, before Lee Suhyuk even appeared.