“You can clear the rehearsal with matchmaking…?”
Yoon Seah asked in surprise.
“Ah, of course uncle can smash them all no matter what other races appear, but… we humans would get in the way.”
“I’m at a level now where that won’t happen.”
Martial Soul 200.
This ability, completed through the fragments of a dead star, boasted overwhelming power.
‘Now I’m definitely stronger than my previous life.’
Although he was 7th in the world rankings in his past life, in reality he was the strongest on Earth.
He wondered when he would catch up to that level, and through this Chaotic Battlefield he was definitely able to surpass it.
‘Level 183… With this I probably won’t become a Diamond even after clearing the Chaotic Battlefield.’
The official opening match of the Space League on January 1st.
There, Seong Jihan had to be ‘Platinum’.
He could have gone up to Diamond and fought enemies as Earth’s representative, but.
‘There’s no way to deal huge damage to them.’
Recalling the shocking incident that occurred in the opening match of his previous life.
Seong Jihan once again made up his mind to remain Platinum this year.
“I do feel a bit sorry for the people who worked hard until now, they trained for a long time.”
“The people from the expedition?”
At Yoon Seah’s words, Seong Jihan recalled the expedition members who worked quite hard recently.
They were probably grinding their teeth because they couldn’t clear early due to the People’s guild’s suicide chaos.
‘I’ll have to take care of them.’
They invested time and effort so he couldn’t just give the stat bonuses to some random matchmaking players instead of the expedition team.
“I’ll have to contact the expedition members. And ask if they’ll come for matchmaking.”
“Ah, that’s possible with matchmaking?”
“Yeah. I decide the rehearsal game team composition.”
“So in the end, the expedition without the People’s guild?”
“It’ll change more if some don’t come.”
“Who wouldn’t come?”
With the +7 stat points, they even gave up on the promotional matches.
“Will they attend on Christmas Eve?”
“Christmas Eve… it’s already that time?”
“Yeah, the day after tomorrow.”
Seong Jihan nodded as if it worked out well.
“Okay. Then let’s set it that day.”
In order to remain Platinum in December,
Seong Jihan decided to end the rehearsal on the 24th.
* * *
Christmas Eve of 2020.
With the rehearsal game issues amid the approaching Space League opening,
“Everyone, it’s been a while.”
When Seong Jihan turned on his BattleTube, countless viewers flocked in.
-Oh….
-The broadcast is on!
-It’s the rehearsal waiting room.
-Did he finally reach an agreement with the Association?
People wondered about the rehearsal game resuming like this, but
“I haven’t reached any agreement with them. Today, I will end the rehearsal game with matchmaking.”
-Th…through matching…?
-No way. Allies keep dying and the game ends every time.
-How can we break through with random matching?
Most people reacted worriedly when Seong Jihan said matchmaking.
With allies dropping below 10% survivors each time, ending around 6,000-7,000 points.
“It’s possible now. Ah, and the original expedition members worked hard until now, so I plan to prioritize them for matchmaking. Excluding the People’s guild of course.”
-Giving expedition priority is better I guess.
-Yeah, lots of warriors and supporters.
-Oh, but that leaves 60 spots from the People’s guild right…?
-Getting in those 60 spots would be a jackpot for whoever’s picked!!
-Right? Is this a Christmas present?
-Is there a level limit?
“No limits on level, class, anything. Anyone can join.”
At Seong Jihan’s leisurely declaration,
The eyes of Platinum players worldwide flipped over.
-Please start a bit later! I’ll wrap up my Christmas Eve date and drive over.
-For real, the +7 stats are way more precious than some date.
-You’re not even guaranteed to clear the game this time…
-No, no. Seeing Seong Jihan so confident, it seems like something’s going to happen..
That’s how the team formation began.
“I’m Dennis, a member of the expedition team from Ireland!”
“Okay, please wait.”
As if they’d been waiting, expedition members started entering one by one, and
“439 members of the expedition team have all participated. Now, let’s proceed with the random selection of 60 spots.”
As Seong Jihan started the game like this,
-Seong Jihan! To proceed with the game like this…! The alliance will never overlook this!
-To proceed with the game excluding the People’s guild. Is it really going to be like this?
The World BattleNet Association and People’s guild strongly protested through BattleTube, but
He lightly ignored them and continued the random matching.
“I… I’m very sorry about last time. But please, just once…!”
“Leave.”
“Seong Jihan! I’m Wang Lin! Please give me one chance…”
“I won’t accept players from that guild. Go away.”
Various happenings occurred, like problematic expedition members from the People’s Association trying to sneak in,
And Heavenly Demon Wang Lin attempting to cling on before being forcibly removed, but
“That’s everyone.”
He was eventually able to complete the 500 player composition.
‘The randomly added 60, didn’t even check their levels and accepted all besides that guild.’
‘Will we really be able to clear it..?’
Among the completely randomly selected 60 were players who just reached Platinum at level 100-something.
And many were Archer classes most useless for survival.
With teamwork harder to coordinate than the original expedition, clearing the mission would be difficult right?
The expedition’s worries weren’t unreasonable.
“Don’t defend from now on.”
But Seong Jihan was nonchalant.
[All players have gathered.]
[Commencing game.]
[Assigned map: Chaos Battlefield]
And so the game began.
As always, the moment the map opened,
The concentrated attack of species waiting in ambush poured out.
Swoosh…!
The attack this time was green smoke breathed out by massive snakes,
Containing strong toxins that immediately threatened the expedition.
“Cast Shield Binding…!”
To block the powerful poison attack, the expedition team tried to establish defenses like before, however
“It’s fine.”
Swish…!
Seong Jihan, holding the eclipse shadow sword, took out two more swords from his inventory
And stabbed them into the ground.
Nameless Divine Arts, Annihilation God’s Secret – Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods.
The Myriad Ghost Sealing God’s pattern was barely visible when Martial Soul was low.
But the pattern Seong Jihan drew now was different.
The Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods was large enough for 10 people to stand on densely covered ground.
And unlike usual, the three swords didn’t break, remaining intact.
After the patterns were all drawn with the swords.
Seong Jihan smiled slightly at the expedition.
“Rest a bit, it’ll be over soon.”
Swoosh…!
Right after he finished speaking.
“Huh?”
“Wha, what is this?”
The patterns shone and the entire 499 expedition members started getting sucked into them.
‘No need to only use Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods to confine souls.’
Like how he also used Blood Cross as a shield.
Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods didn’t have to only be used to dominate enemies’ souls.
Using it like this to simply contain allies hindering them, blocking death penalties, was fine too.
Of course.
‘I couldn’t have modified it without Martial Soul’s growth.’
With Martial Soul at 150, Seong Jihan struggled just to draw the patterns.
But now it has grown to 200, he clearly had leisure to use Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods for purposes besides its original use.
Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods which should’ve confined souls and annihilated them
Just quietly contained players now.
That 50 point difference in Martial Soul made a tremendous difference.
“Uwaaaaah…!”
Before the toxic gas could reach them, Seong Jihan’s Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods sucked in the entire 499 expedition members.
After tidying up the burdens together, Seong Jihan.
[…What is this?]
[An internal conflict?]
[The summoned race seems strange this time.]
Faced the giant snake species looking at him strangely, and picked up his Phoenix Flag.
“Give me your kill points.”
In response to the words uttered by a lifeform that was less than 1/10 of its size, the giant snake swarm opened its mouth wide.
[A madman it was.]
[Quickly take care of him. We need to move locations.]
[Got it.]
As the smoke was about to emerge again from the snake’s mouth, Seong Jihan’s figure disappeared in an instant.
Whoosh!
In the entire body of the snake that had opened its mouth, a red current surged.
Whoosh…!
The giant snake burst into flames and disappeared in an instant. The disappearance of one happened so quickly that there was no time to scream.
[What… what is this?]
When the giant snake, unable to comprehend the situation, momentarily shrank its body,
“You guys give 25 points per one, huh?”
Seong Jihan appeared in front of them, extending his spear once again.
Nameless divine art, Fusion of Divine thunder and phoenix – Crimson Thunder cannon
The crimson thunder released from the spear spread like a tidal wave, knocking down the entire group of giant snakes, numbering up to 19.
[This power is…!]
[Unbearable…!]
[We’ve lost this battlefield it seems…]
[NO. 4212…! I’ll remember it….]
When Seong Jihan led the human expedition in the chaos battlefield for a while, many enemies knew about NO.4212. However, the snake species, unfamiliar with humans and coming after a long time, had no knowledge about it.
After the snakes were annihilated by Crimson Thunder in an instant, Seong Jihan glanced at the Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods.
“Please rest for a bit. I’ll quickly end this and come back.”
Swish!
Seong Jihan’s figure disappeared, and soon after…
[This guy! He’s still here…]
[What, he got stronger!]
[I-I can’t escape. He’s so fast…!]
Screams from members of other species echoed in the distance.
* * *
Chaos Battlefield.
A map where species worth 500 points gathered for team play.
But the game today completely differed.
[Is this guy… a boss monster?]
[No! He’s from a race! NO.4212!]
[At that level… he’s worth 500 points alone!!]
[Is humanity… a new divine existence?]
Was it because Seong Jihan’s might was so overwhelming?
The species facing him mistook Seong Jihan for a godly race.
-Whoa… this map was so easy?
-Sealing the burdens makes it end in one go…
-But Seong Jihan seems stronger, right?
-Yeah, he’s shooting crimson thunder in barrages now.
Viewers familiar with Seong Jihan’s broadcasts could sense that he had upgraded another level. Despite not playing games lately and being in a seclusion, how did he become even stronger?
‘Chaos Battlefield. It was indeed a grateful map.’
Rumble…!
As the ground vibrated, a chaos rift appeared. Seong Jihan gazed affectionately at it.
The fragments of dead stars hidden within the Rifts.
Thanks to those, his Martial Soul which hadn’t been growing well had grown tremendously.
He would’ve wanted to keep staying here mining star fragments if Martial Soul’s growth didn’t stop now.
‘But growth has ceased now, so I should end it now.’
And the Space League opening match was approaching soon, so he had to prepare for that too.
Seong Jihan looked at the scoreboard.
1st – NO.4212 Humanity – Kill Points 9994
Just 6 more points to hit 1st place and end Chaos Battlefield.
Seong Jihan went around looking for prey and
[Oh, run…!]
[It’s him!]
The gargoyle species he massacred before.
The enemies who immediately turned away seeing him.
However,
“How many points were you guys again?”
[What, how did he suddenly…!]
The ones who had only grown to platinum couldn’t escape from Seong Jihan, who had grown even stronger.
“Okay. Just the six of you come out. I’ll spare the rest.”
[What nonsense is that…!]
[We’re only 2 points! You just need to deal with the three of us!]
[Hey! What are you saying!]
[Who are you to say we should die?! It’s just a game, we have to preserve our strength!]
[This punk…!]
Snap!
Seong Jihan beheaded the gargoyle making a fuss alone and checked the scoreboard.
“Really 2 points each huh.”
[…….]
“Then just 2 come out.”
[I, I’ll go…!]
“Again?”
The gargoyle who talked realistically earlier volunteered, but with no other volunteers after,
Seong Jihan looked around at them before beheading the gargoyle most heavily injured.
[Kuk…!]
“It’ll be better for you guys once we leave, right?”
[Ye, yes! Let’s hurry!]
As the realist gargoyle hurriedly rushed him,
“You guys left your friend very well.”
Seong Jihan chuckled and moved towards where Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods was installed.
And pulling out the Eclipse sword among the 3 swords stabbed into the ground.
Swish…!
Smoke seeped from the ground and
“Oh…”
“What, what is this?”
The players trapped in Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods began pouring out in bundles.
With clueless expressions, they looked at each other then
“Now, everyone.”
Seeing Seong Jihan call them, they looked his way together.
“You’ve worked hard. Here’s your Christmas present, now.”
Boom!
Once he finished speaking, the gargoyles’ bodies exploded.
[You’ve achieved 10,000 kill points.]
[You’ve conquered Chaos Battlefield.]
[You’ve cleared a special mission.]
[Entire race gains growth bonus for 5 years.]
[Additional 7 stat points given to participating players.]
The same message popped up for all players who quietly remained trapped in Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods.
“Uh…”
“We, we cleared it?”
“When?”
After first going blank from the message, just for a moment.
“Whoa, crazy!!”
“7 points…! They really came!”
“Whoa!!I got picked randomly today so I got in… jackpot!!”
The players who gained additional points went nuts.
Just remaining docility trapped then released, yet
What was this absurd reward?
-Wow, this is amazing! lol
-The expedition team was quite tough, but look at them!!
-Those who got picked hit jackpot luck
-People’s guild kept saying they’d struggle without their players
-Clearing it in just one day~
And Seong Jihan’s reward message was similar to other players’,
However
There was an additional line at the end.
[Selected as the race MVP, additional MVP rewards will be given!]
‘MVP reward…,’ considering how much he gained on this map.
They even gave a gift until the end.
Seong Jihan faintly smiled collecting his reward,
Meanwhile, from the Star of the Wandering Martial God.
[Hmmm….]
Seeing the changed form of Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods Seong Jihan used, the star’s owner
[As expected… It’s still useful.]
Expressed satisfaction.
*****
*****
