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The news from the BattleNet Association in New York quickly spread across the globe.
Those who thought they were just getting a bonus after three matches had ended began to immerse themselves in analysis like experts after seeing the option items.
-Bonus option? Was this what we were supposed to choose?
-So there was a choice for the representatives of the Eight Countries and Seong Jihan?
-If this wasn’t made public, we would have never known;
-Why did they disclose it? Wasn’t this supposed to be agreed upon behind the scenes? LOL
-The national bonus seems to be the most efficient, right?
-Only 20 countries actually benefit from it, isn’t choosing it somewhat unfair? Won’t it cause issues of equity?
-Still, players from those 20 countries make up 90 percent of the human representative team… Shouldn’t we just focus on training the elites?
The national bonus was certainly the most controversial among the bonus options.
Its efficiency was far superior compared to other options, which led to heated debates among people.
Then, three days after this fact became known.
“Starting now, we will begin the meeting to select the bonus option.”
In the open meeting room of the New York BattleNet Association,
representatives from numerous countries’ associations were gathered, cautiously exchanging opinions.
“What’s the procedure today?”
“The representatives with choice rights will speak, and then the heads of each country’s association will vote on the bonus option.”
“It’s surprising. Only representatives of the Eight Countries and Seong Jihan have the right to choose options, right? They could have just decided among themselves…”
“It was Seong Jihan who insisted on a public meeting.”
“That’s fine by us, but why go to such lengths…”
Normally, the heads of the associations would have no voting rights.
One way for these association heads to gain authority would have been through an opportunity given by Seong Jihan.
But it led people to wonder why he made such a decision.
“Well…”
“Seong Jihan will take the podium last. Then we’ll understand his thoughts.”
“But where does the Mexican association head plan to cast their vote?”
“We’re leaning towards increasing the probability of gift occurrences. One exceptional player can change the rank of a country. We must also seek such luck.”
While the national bonus might seem better for the efficiency of humanity as a whole…
For countries not in the top 20, it was like being cheerleaders for the leading nations.
In light of their own interests, people were guessing which option would be chosen amidst subtle exchanges.
Drrrrrrr!
“Oh.”
“They are finally entering…”
The representatives of the Eight Countries, along with Seong Jihan, entered the meeting room.
* * *
“…Hence, we in the UK have concluded that we must choose the ‘national bonus’ option.”
The representatives of the Eight Countries, taking turns to give speeches, stood before the world’s focused attention advocating for the selection of the national bonus option.
-Of course, the powerful nations speak in their favor tsk tsk.
-But isn’t that a good thing for us too?
-Right… isn’t our battle industry line considered one of the powerhouses?
-Recently we’re raking in so many ranking points. TOP 10 next year seems guaranteed, and even rank 5 is attainable, right?
-Not just Seong Jihan, but Sword King and Yoon Seah are earning a lot of points in BattleNet…
-Yeah. We’re also doing well, aren’t we? So we should support the national bonus?
Although Korean viewers favored the national bonus,
-National bonus… Doesn’t that mean the top countries will monopolize the benefits?
-If this goes on, the gap between countries will never close.
-The mood might be good for now but if our BattleNet rankings fall, aren’t dungeons going to pop up like mushrooms…? Shouldn’t we aim for balanced development among players?
People from nations not in the top 20 were not pleased with the idea.
This sentiment was evident among the attending representatives from various countries.
“We’re supposed to represent humanity but… isn’t this just national self-interest?”
“For mid-tier countries, this bonus would be nearly ineffective.”
“We oppose the national bonus option.”
Many representatives publicly expressed their opposition.
‘Figures this would happen.’
‘Shouldn’t have made the option public…’
‘This was good for Korea and him. So why did Seong Jihan make this choice?’
The chaotic meeting room was being broadcast live and the representatives looked at Seong Jihan with a mix of complaints and expectations.
Why try for the difficult path when an easy agreement could be reached?
Meanwhile, Seong Jihan, with arms folded, was simply watching the situation unfold.
If Pythia’s prophecy was accurate, revealing everything should lead to a new option.
But no such option had emerged yet.
‘Prophecy… Useless, perhaps. They said a new option would arise.’
If he recalls correctly, Pythia claimed to be Nostradamus, but the world didn’t end in 1999.
“So. Last but not least, a word from player Seong Jihan.”
After the representatives had finished their speeches,
Seong Jihan, who had received Pythia’s prophecy and was climbing the steps toward the podium, was greeted by a round of applause far stronger than the rest.
Knowing he had insisted on the public meeting, association presidents from other countries displayed a favorable attitude towards him.
Then,
-Oh, it’s Seong Jihan’s turn?
-I’m so relieved I turned on the broadcast in time.
-In the office secretly watching, even the team leader is watching the same thing LOL
-Our company just had it on for all employees LOL
Just as Seong Jihan’s turn arrived, the number of viewers tuning into the conference, which had already been drawing the world’s attention, skyrocketed.
They wanted to know why the best player in humanity went to such lengths to hold a public meeting space.
Seong Jihan, facing everyone’s gaze, remained calm.
Making such a meeting public meant he had a plan of his own which everyone anticipated.
‘Though I have no such thing.’
Seong Jihan, with a wry smile forming at his lips, was about to speak.
[You are ranked 1st in the world.]
[You belong to the ‘Space 4’ elite area.]
[You have received MVP three times or more in the Space League.]
[Your race ‘humanity’ has 1/5 of the Constellation’s attention.]
[There exists a constellation fully encompassing your planet… It does not exist.]
[You have achieved all the conditions to be a ‘Constellation Candidate’ of planet ‘Earth’.]
Following the completion of all conditions,
[A hidden bonus option is revealed.]
[Hidden bonus option, ‘Star Chaser,’ is activated.]
Pythia’s prophecy came true.
* * *
Seong Jihan, right before giving his speech, gazed at the newly added option.
[Star Chaser]
All players start chasing after the ‘Constellation Candidate’ who gained the right early on.
The wider the gap from the first rank, the greater all aspects of their growth rate become.
The longer the 1st rank maintains their position, the stronger this effect becomes.
If this option is in effect and the 1st rank maintains their position for more than 300 days,
That player will officially become a ‘Constellation Candidate’.
‘Hmm…’
The ranking 1st and future ‘Constellation Candidate’ player’s gap closing bonus option.
The provided buff was overwhelming just by a rough calculation, significantly surpassing the much-debated national bonus.
‘But for me, it’s actually useless.’
The bonus option ‘Star Chaser,’ urging everyone to catch up with the front-runner, did not provide a growth bonus to the actual leader.
It instead gave a chase opportunity to those behind, an apparent loss for the option holder.
However, Seong Jihan focused on the last line.
‘If I stay on top for 300 days, I can become a Constellation Candidate.’
Since the fight with the Dragon Race in the Space League, Seong Jihan had been ranked 1st,
his margin over second-placed Oliver, though narrow.
Seong Jihan was confident in maintaining the top spot.
‘Not sure how this relates to my life but…’
Even if it didn’t align with saving his life, as Pythia’s prophecy had mentioned,
‘Star chaser’ was compelling enough to be chosen.
“Player Seong Jihan… Why are you silent?”
“Are you nervous?”
“Would he even feel nervous? It seems like he’s looking at something…”
“He seems to be tapping the air, is that a system message?”
The murmuring heads of the associations watched as Seong Jihan stood quietly on the podium.
“Ladies and gentlemen. A new option has just been added. Would the Eight Countries association heads like to check for themselves?”
“This, this is…”
“Just moments ago, there was nothing…!?”
With Seong Jihan’s prompt, the association heads checked the options and their eyes widened in disbelief.
An option that hadn’t been there just moments ago, had suddenly appeared.
“The newly added option is known as ‘star chaser.’ The ‘star’ referred to here is, of course, me.”
While sharing the option content,
-Wow, what’s this… The further behind from 1st place, the bigger the buff?
-This suits humanity, doesn’t it? The effects are far better than the national bonus.
-But Seong Jihan won’t get the buff then ‘-‘
People marveled at the buff effects, yet showed concern that Seong Jihan himself was excluded.
But on his part,
“Let’s go with this bonus option.”
“…Is that really alright, Player Seong Jihan? You won’t receive the benefits.”
“It’s fine. Even without that, I’ll keep the top rank. The Constellation Candidate, that sounds tempting.”
Seong Jihan expressed confidence in keeping the top position for over 300 days.
“If the player himself says so…”
“Then we are also in favor.”
Except for Seong Jihan, the new bonus option conditions were advantageous for everyone else.
Though there was some trepidation over the ‘Constellation Candidate’ provision,
‘Constellation Candidate… It’s only a candidate in the end, isn’t it?’
‘Perhaps it’s better if a modern human like us becomes a Constellation instead of others.’
‘This option gives an incredible advantage to those behind. Growth is the priority now.’
The association heads, viewing ‘Constellation Candidate’ as something distant and intangible, opted for practical benefits.
“Let’s proceed to the vote.”
“The results of the vote are…”
“By unanimous decision, ‘Star Chaser’ has been adopted as the bonus option!”
Bang! Bang!
The bonus option was unanimously agreed upon.
A meeting room that had been on the brink of conflict over the national bonus was now harmoniously united thanks to this development.
“Was the public conference for… this option…?”
“Player Seong Jihan. Did you foresee this? We had no idea!”
“What a revelation. It would have been good if you had tipped us off in advance…!”
The representatives, who looked markedly different from a few days’ prior, approached and bantered with bright faces.
“Had I informed you earlier, it might have clouded the prophecy.”
Seong Jihan, with a slight smile, responded while still mulling over one part of the message that had activated ‘star chaser’.
[The existence of a constellation that fully encompasses your planet… it does not exist.]
‘What does this mean… does it exist or not?’ There were Constellations from humanity.
Even among the disciples of the Martial God, from Longinus to Pythia, all were Constellations.
Whether they fully encompassed Earth, however, was uncertain.
‘I need to ask Pythia about this once I contact her.’
* * *
In the star of martial gods, Tu seong.
And at its center, the throne seized from the Thunder God, blazed brilliantly.
Flash! Flash!
While explosions echoed,
Shhhhh…
The seat on which the Martial God had been sitting earlier now collected a fierce surge of electrical energy.
One element in the throne remained unabsorbed, streaks of red lightning resisting to the end.
‘…Master has failed to absorb these fulminant red currents completely.’
Dongbang sak observed the spectacle from a distance, his gaze settling.
Then,
While immersed in absorbing energy, the Martial God spoke softly.
[Dongbang sak.]
“Yes, Master.”
[How goes the pursuit of the remnants of the Thunder God?]
“Pythia is on it.”
[Join her, capture them.]
Crackle…
With a pensive look, Dongbang sak gazed at the fulminant red lightning, the last resisting presence in the throne.
“…Understood.”
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