***
***
=Will Russia ban player Seong Jihan or Yoon Sejin? There has been much debate…
=Russia’s choice is to ban the Sword King!
=And the map allocated is… Huh? Lone Bridge!!
While it was a pick between two options to ban the Sword King, Russia’s next choice left everyone baffled.
=Uh… wasn’t this map selected by us?
=Yes, it’s a simple map with a single bridge where both sides clash, with no variables, just a direct confrontation of strength against strength!
=It’s the most advantageous map for Korea, which has strong warriors… it’s puzzling why Russia would choose this!
Lone Bridge,
Known as the arena of all-out confrontation, this map was used as a defense map to stop incoming enemies during the tutorial.
But in national representative matches, it showcased battle dynamics where two teams advanced from opposite ends of a giant bridge to compete.
Considering the map’s nature, where battles end on a single bridge, warriors were crucial.
And Russia picked this, having been trampled on by Seong Jihan when he was gold-ranked?
-Lone Bridge? Is that what they call the arena of all-out confrontation?
-Did Russia give up on the match? LOL
-I’m predicting a clean 3:0 victory.
-At this point, did the coach mistake the select card for a ban?
-That’s a possibility, for sure.
Korean fans were already in celebration mode as if they had won the match.
Meanwhile, the Russian coach, who made such a decision, was sweating furiously, frowning.
‘Damn it, Vladimir!’
Unbeknownst to him, the situation had changed completely.
However, Vladimir was the reason why he had no choice but to make such a decision.
-Set the map for the first match to Lone Bridge. Or I won’t play.
Although he was often called a Berserker due to the Gift ‘Frenzy,’ Vladimir was generally known for his friendly personality. But today, he was different.
[Note:- Changing “Rampage” to “Frenzy”.]
His words were disrespectful, and he used a commanding tone with the coach.
However…
‘I had no choice…’
Vladimir’s overwhelming presence forced the Russian coach to simply nod continuously.
If he had chosen a different map for the first game, Vladimir’s boycott wouldn’t have been the problem. It seemed he wouldn’t let him go unpunished.
‘Well, let’s see how confident you are… I’ll be watching you, Vladimir.’
The Russian coach glared at the game screen as he gritted his teeth.
At the starting point of Lone Bridge, 100 Russian players were preparing.
The Russian warriors typically formed a triangle formation.
[Vladimir sir. Aren’t you going to join the triangle?]
[Please come to the front!]
They intended to highlight Vladimir at the front tip, the focal point.
However,
[Do you guys really need to be there?]
[Yes…?]
As Vladimir waved his hand backward once.
Boom!
The bodies of the Russian players burst in unison.
All 99 players vanished.
“What, what the hell is this maniac doing…!”
When the Russian coach was startled and jumped up from his seat,
Vladimir slowly opened his mouth, looking at the spots where the players turned into blood.
[Transfusion.]
Whoosh…
The players’ remains disappeared in an instant, and only blood remained, all sucked into Vladimir.
As the blood of all 99 players concentrated on him, his figure swelled immensely, wrapped in the blood.
=No, what, what is this? Player Vladimir!
=Did Russia prepare for this in advance?
=Even with such a suicidal act…
As the game began, Vladimir, who had transformed into a giant made of blood by exploding all his fellow players.
-?? What is he doing?
-Wow, but was Vladimir always so strong? One gesture and they all blew up…
-Is this pre-planned by the team?
-It doesn’t seem that way…
As confusion spread among the commentators and viewers who didn’t understand English,
[Great Sword of the Cranium, answer my call.]
The clustered blood dispersed and a giant cross began to take shape behind Vladimir.
The Cross of Blood, the Great Sword of the Cranium.
Wielding a greatsword over 3 meters tall, Vladimir, now larger than life,
[Seong Jihan… Let me properly educate you.]
looked over the bridge at Seong Jihan, flashing a sinister smile.
* * *
‘…Something is off. Vladimir wasn’t that caliber of warrior before.’
Seong Jihan furrowed his brows as he observed the unfolding events from across the bridge.
Vladimir of Russia.
Vladimir of Russia, while consistently ranking high in the warrior rankings in his past life, was hindered by the limits of the Gift Frenzy, and couldn’t grow beyond a certain level. But now, with a single gesture, he had annihilated 99 opponents. Additionally, the enormous blood red blade raised questions.
‘Something has changed.’
This won’t be easy.
As Seong Jihan drew his sword and spear preparing himself,
Swoosh!
Vladimir, shrouded in a blood mist, appeared in front of him in an instant.
‘Fast…!’
An incredible physical feat.
That momentary move had far surpassed the supposed strongest warrior in the world, the Sword King.
Swish!
With the gigantic cross of blood aimed directly at him, and droplets of blood sprouting like a mirage, Seong Jihan was completely surrounded.
Boom! Boom!
His sword and spear moved quickly to defend against the attack, but the droplets spread out in the air, continuing to circle around him.
An attack by the enemy that could not be defended by physical strength alone.
‘If that’s the case, I’ll counterattack.’
Seong Jihan aimed the tip of the Phoenix Spear at Vladimir.
Nameless divine art, Fusion of Divine thunder and phoenix – Crimson Thunder cannon
Zap!
Immense Crimson lightning burst forth.
The crimson electric current fully penetrated the Great Sword of the Cranium and Vladimir.
The droplets evaporated, scattering away,
and Vladimir’s body was instantly engulfed in flames, but…
“Haha… I gotta give you some credit.”
Bubbling…
Bubbles rose in the surrounding atmosphere as blood droplets emerged, attaching themselves once again to Vladimir’s body.
Even after being struck by the Crimson Thunder that had been enhanced in the Void training ground,
Vladimir kept producing droplets in mid-air, reconstructing his body.
An opponent with leisure.
‘He is underestimating me.’
Seong Jihan’s eyes sank with chilliness.
Whatever had made him this strong, it was unpleasant to be looked down upon by the opponent.
‘I’ll use my full power.’
Smoothly…
A purple energy emanated around Seong Jihan, and was then absorbed into his body.
The power of Void which had absorbed the power of death as one of its branches.
The effect that enhanced abilities activated on Seong Jihan.
“Oh… this power. Could it be?”
Vladimir’s eyes widened with interest at the sight.
His response was as if he knew something about it.
Seong Jihan felt an ominous vibe.
Very few knew about the void, yet he seemed to recognize it?
“You’ve meddled with something dangerous. Is this the last desperate struggle to defy your master?”
“You… aren’t Vladimir, are you?”
“Haha… Try your best to endure. Let me enjoy this some more.”
Vladimir, undaunted even by the enhanced Seong Jihan.
“Come forth, Cranium.”
Summoning again the huge sword of blood, he charged at Seong Jihan.
Boom! Boom!
Every collision exuded droplets that burst from the sword.
They morphed into spikes, assailing Seong Jihan from all angles.
With the main attack from the enemy and the by-products created by the bursting sword to consider,
‘It’s troublesome.’
Nameless Divine Arts, Dark Shadow Technique – Dark Soul Vortex
The form of Eclipse, the Shadow Sword, crumbled, transforming into a vortex. It swallowed the blood spikes approaching from all directions.
“Good, good.”
Vladimir smiled, apparently enjoying the sight.
Currrr…
Crimson lightning storms span from the spearhead multiple times, while the Shadow Sword perfectly shielded Seong Jihan.
Externally, it appeared that Seong Jihan had the upper hand in both offense and defense.
However,
=The opponent… resurrects again!
=The Crimson lightning surely burned his body to a crisp! Vladimir keeps regenerating in mid-air!
=I never expected to see such tenacity vitality from our race, surpassing the elves!
Vladimir did not die, no matter how many times he burned.
Not only his body but also the floating blood droplets, despite being completely incinerated by Seong Jihan.
Where was it being produced? Blood kept flowing in mid-air, continually reconstructing Vladimir.
‘Where did such a guy come from?’
Vladimir, who kept reviving despite being slammed by the Crimson Thunder.
Seeing this approach wasn’t going to work, Seong Jihan contemplated his next move.
“…Not a scratch after so many attacks.”
The resurrecting Vladimir wore a different expression from the start; his composure was gone.
In addition to his main attack with the blood sword.
Countless assaults at Seong Jihan through airborne droplets had been executed, yet he remained completely unscathed.
‘Is he worthy of the choice of Martial God after all?’
The one who had seized Vladimir’s body, Longinus, silently admired him.
The vital energy gained by exploding 99 national representatives, though insufficient for his full power, was thought enough to annihilate Seong Jihan.
It seemed he had underestimated the ability of Martial God, after all.
“I need to draw out more power.”
Swoosh…
Vladimir, regenerating for the 17th time, knelt to place his palm on the bridge.
“Blood Cross.”
Then,
The bridge was instantly tainted blood red, and a cross of blood began to emerge.
A menacing aura sprouted among the trembling droplets, affecting not just Seong Jihan but also the national representatives behind him.
“Ugh… my body is bleeding…”
“Get as far from the bridge as you can!”
“Even outside the range… it’s affecting… Heal me, please!”
The players were sweating blood, not normal sweat, even outside the range of Blood Cross.
They were rapidly weakening.
=Uh…
=What on earth are we witnessing? Player Vladimir…!
=Tearing the game apart all by himself…!
=Sweating blood, not sweat… Haven’t we seen Seong Jihan do something similar before?!
=Yes, previously, against Russia! Though at that time, the cross was made of steel…
Vladimir was using a skill eerily similar to Seong Jihan’s.
While speculation swirled,
Seong Jihan, looking at the Blood Cross, was certain.
‘I’m sure now. He’s related to the Marital God.’
An opponent using a power almost like the Blood Cross.
Although it didn’t absorb metal as the original did, Blood-absorbing power was significantly stronger.
‘And that power… what could it be?’
With an endless regenerative capacity surpassing even an elf, and freely manipulating vital energy.
Among the opponents he encountered, Longinus was a particularly tough adversary.
But now, having set apart his Blood Cross with determination,
it was the most formidable power he had seen yet.
‘But is also the easiest to confront.’
Seong Jihan crossed his sword and spear.
Nameless Divine Arts, Annihilation God’s Secret – Blood Cross.
The Blood Cross spread out against the massive pool of blood,
But compared to the Longnius’s Blood Cross, it seemed almost feeble.
Especially the metal across horizontal, which was almost non-existent.
And the vital energy down vertical was completely overwhelmed.
The Blood Cross looked like it would vanish any second.
But
Swoosh…
What seemed to be engulfed by the Blood Cross gradually became clearer with time.
Especially the vertical vital energy takes on a deeper hue.
‘As expected.’
Seong Jihan affirmed as he saw it.
“This is an inferior version of the Blood Cross.”
“…You.”
Vladimir’s face hardened at Seong Jihan’s conclusion.
“I only meant to teach you a lesson… but that won’t do.”
“Lesson? You are the one who needs to learn from me.”
“You insolent…!”
Was it those words that hit a nerve?
His face distorted with rage, as if it was breaking.
“I will give it my all. I will rip you apart…!”
Vladimir, now even more determined to draw upon his power.
Blood energy converged from the Blood Cross on the floor back to him, swelling his body.
But
Boom!
“Wha…?”
Vladimir, inflated like a balloon, couldn’t withstand it and exploded mid-air.
And
[Avatar ‘Vladimir’ fails to absorb the power of the Blood Cross and explodes.]
[The first match comes to an end.]
In front of Longinus, a system message appeared, indicating the end of the game.
