Chapter 46: Press Conference (1)

The entire stadium was steeped in silence.

Everyone was left speechless by the unexpected outcome.

“……”

“……”

Those in attendance had to be shocked twice over.

The first shock came from Chun Yuseong’s ability to completely dominate players of the same rank.

The second was the realization that even when Chun Yuseong gave his all, there was still a monster he couldn’t defeat.

It was an overwhelming show of power.

The hair on their arms was still standing on end from the shivers.

How many minutes had passed in this way?

Someone’s words finally broke the seemingly eternal silence.

Technically, it was more of an expletive than a statement.

“This is crazy……!”

Swearing was unavoidable.

The situation turned common sense on its head.

It led to an outpouring of sincere feelings.

The murmurs of the crowd began to surface.

“Did you see that? Even the sword qi was blinding, but what about the magic skills he used?”

“And those were far beyond auxiliary level. That white light just shattered the barrier made from magic stones and even pierced the outer wall!”

“Is he even human? It’s more plausible to think that a top-tier boss monster broke loose or something.”

“I still can’t believe it. Damn it. Is this a dream or reality…..”

In the midst of the chaotic atmosphere,

Jinhyuk approached two people standing near the stadium.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Jinhyuk gave a small smile.

“……It has. This is our first meeting since the museum.”

“Agh……”

Min Jungwoo and Lee Yoori flinched.

They recalled the thorough defeat they had suffered at the National Central Museum.

“Though our first encounter was a bit fierce, we can’t forever cling to the past, can we?”

“Hm. I don’t wish to be at odds with you either. Honestly, I feel it would be impossible to survive if we were enemies.”

“Me too.”

The two nodded in agreement.

“Then, as a gesture of moving forward, would you do me a favor? I’d be grateful if the summoner Lee Yoori could lend her strength.”

“What? A favor?”

“Yes. Feel free to refuse after hearing me out.”

“Well, if that’s the case…”

“Of course.”

Jinhyuk’s smile deepened.

“If you plan on flushing our future relationship down the toilet, you’re welcome to decline.”

“……!”

Lee Yoori’s eyebrows trembled.

It was a request that technically offered a choice,

but refusal might lead to unknowable consequences.

“If it’s within my power… No, by all means, I will absolutely comply.”

“Thank you.”

Jinhyuk explained what he needed,

a prerequisite for tackling a boss challenge, something a summoner like Yoori could prepare much more easily.

“How long do I have?”

“Day after tomorrow. Send everything to this address by then, please.”

“To prepare so much in only two days?”

“Why? Can’t you do it?”

“No, no, of course I can do it.”

Lee Yoori grimaced, yet pocketed the note Jinhyuk handed her.

“Then, I am in your debt.”

With these words, Jinhyuk was about to leave when something halted him.

‘What’s this?’

He instinctively turned his head.

Something had caught his senses.

It was coming from above!

Kuwoong!

A man leaped from the stands.

His huge, muscular build was unmistakable.

It was Jung Dohyun, the man he had also encountered in front of the association.

“This is truly unexpected. Who would have thought a mere cheerleader had such power up his sleeve?”

“If you’re looking to start something, you’ve picked the wrong guy. I can’t quite control my strength right now.”

Jinhyuk’s voice was frosty as he covertly checked out the other man’s status with the ‘Eyes of Truth’.

Name: Jung Dohyun

Gender: Male

Age: 33

Level: 21

Strength 40 Agility 17 Stamina 18 Magic Power 8

Stat Points Available: 0

Coins: 8,535

Occupation: Borrower of Strength

Unique Ability: Giant’s Strength

Skills: Lv5 ‘Grip of the Giant’, Lv5 ‘Shield of the Giant’, Lv5 ‘Pain Dullness’, Lv5 ‘Deep Breath’, Lv4 ‘Contempt for the Weak’

[Copy Condition: The target has approached you with ulterior motives. If you understand their intentions, you may copy the target’s skill ‘Grip of the Giant’.]

Ulterior motives?

So it isn’t just a provocation?

But how could the system know what Jung Dohyun intends?

Faced with a different copy condition than before, Jinhyuk frowned.

However, it was only for a moment.

Discovering the secrets of the Tower of Trials could wait until later.

There was no room to worry about a problem with no immediate answer.

“Whoa, ease up there. I’m not looking for a fight.”

Jung Dohyun raised his palms towards Jinhyuk, bristling with aggression as if to show he meant no harm.

“So, why are you bothering me?”

“Just wanted to say… we’ll be seeing a lot of each other. Nice to meet you.”

Jung Dohyun japed, extending his hand for a shake.

But Jinhyuk didn’t take his hand.

Making nice now?

It was unlikely.

Jung Dohyun was not the kind to engage in such a diplomatic pivot, especially when he was known for looking down on others.

Certainly, as the system suggested, there was another motive at play.

Jinhyuk’s thoughts raced.

Though not as strong as Chun Yuseong,

Jung Dohyun was considered quite powerful compared to those of the same rank.

So why had he not appeared at the masquerade?

And unlike other large guilds, why had the guild master, Hwang Deokpyo, come here in person?

‘There must be a reason they had to come here.’

He may not have known exactly what it was but it was clearly important.

Jinhyuk looked at Jung Dohyun.

Beneath the facade of calm, a mix of inferiority and fury was apparent.

Jung Dohyun was not here to make friends.

Rather…

He came to show off something that only he could do.

A handshake. Jung Dohyun’s ‘Giant’s Strength’ unique ability. A player spared from the masquerade. A guild master eager to grow his guild.

Pieces clued together.

Then suddenly…

It clicked for Jinhyuk.

‘The journalists are here.’

That was it.

Hwang Deokpyo sent Jung Dohyun to keep a rookie from stealing the spotlight, fearing his lack of raw power.

If Jung Dohyun were to overpower this highly visible newcomer, not only would it tarnish the latter’s image but also enhance his own worth.

It made sense – it was not a bad strategy at all.

‘Had it not been me he picked on.’

Then the alerts rang out.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

As if to confirm Jinhyuk’s hypothesis, the status window for meeting copy conditions started appearing one after another.

[Conditions met.]

[You have obtained skill ‘Grip of the Giant(B)’.]

[Grip of the Giant]

Difficulty: B

Description: Allows the user to wield the strength of a large monster, a giant. Especially enhances gripping power, enabling free manipulation of items up to ten times one’s body weight.

Indeed.

His guess was spot on.

‘He had that up his sleeve.’

This was turning into quite the interesting scenario.

Jinhyuk wore a full-faced grin as he used his newly-acquired unique ability.

[Activating unique ability ‘Judgment of Anubis’!]

Whoooooosh!

The air subtly vibrated.

The user must ask three questions, and once the target answers all three, the conditions are met.

“Is this handshake on behalf of the entire Black Cloud Guild?”

Jinhyuk posed the first question.

“Of course. Deokpyo hyung is interested in you too. It seems you have no guild, so if you join us, we’d offer you special treatment.”

Special treatment…

Empty words he could spout all too easily.

Knowing his intent made these words grate on Jinhyuk’s nerves.

But he didn’t let it show.

The question and answer session was not over.

“Speaking of which, I need some cash urgently. If I join will you advance me a hefty signing bonus? Sports stars get a tidy sum upfront when transfer season comes around, right?”

“Puhaha! But of course, what else would you expect? Just name the amount and we’ll match it.”

That was the second one.

‘Judgment of Anubis’ was indeed overpowered.

Even mere chit-chat satisfied the conditions.

Best of all, unless the opponent was extremely sensitive, they wouldn’t even realize they were under the effect of a skill.

As long as he used it sparingly, not to provoke the Egyptian gods, it could be quite convenient.

“I’ll consider it seriously.”

Jinhyuk reached out his hand towards Jung Dohyun.

And so.

Their hands touched.

＊＊＊

‘He’s hooked!’

A sly smile crept across Jung Dohyun’s mouth.

At long last, his foe had taken the bait.

‘No matter how skilled at sword and magic, pure strength must be his weakness.’

Overpowering him now would ensure the best outcome for the press conference.

The journalists, sensing something was up, began to edge closer, cameras and smartphones in hand.

All eyes were fixed on the two.

“Who is that?”

“Judging by the emblem, seems like he’s from the Black Cloud Guild?”

“Ah! They’re trying to recruit that player before anyone else – this is definitely an exclusive.”

“A grand guild and a rising star meeting… This story’s got top headlines written all over it.”

‘It’s the perfect timing!’

[Jung Dohyun activates Lv5 ‘Grip of the Giant’!]

Jung Dohyun’s forearm swelled rapidly.

The power of a giant, able to crush even steel, was now channeled through a human hand.

But then…

“……?”

The face that should have been contorted in pain was far too serene.

Shivering.

Their clasped hands trembled violently.

A sign that the balance of strength was held in a delicate equilibrium.

Impossible…

‘Could it be that he matches my strength even in gross muscular power?

That defies logic.

A player perfect in every sphere, a true all-rounder, simply didn’t exist.

Yet no matter how much strength he exerted, the balance did not break.

As if his opponent was using the very same ability.

Then…

“One last question.”

Jinhyuk parted his lips slowly.

“Crap! What do you want to know?”

A crimson-faced Jung Dohyun barely managed to respond.

“Do you really believe that on sheer power alone you had the upper hand?”

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I? You, a puny guy like you, versus me… argh?”

As Jung Dohyun responded to the question,

suddenly the taut balance of power unraveled.

Had the opponent become stronger?

No. That wasn’t it.

The one grown weaker was…

‘Was it me?’

It was hard to accept, but he was in a state where his unique abilities, even his skills, were all sealed away.

CRACK!

The pressure he felt on his hand began to exceed his tolerance threshold.

It would snap.

If things kept up, without a doubt, his fingers would be utterly crushed.

“Let go… let it go, I said!”

“Huh? Does it hurt?”

Jinhyuk smirked.

“Stop it, it—ahhhh!”

“Quit whining. After all, you looked so confident in your strength earlier. Big men shouldn’t cry about a little squeeze.”

“Enough, I said enough!”

Eventually, Jung Dohyun twisted himself in agony, buckling to one knee.

The playful thought of toying with his rival was long gone.

All he could think about was escaping this excruciating pain.

THUMP!

Instinctively, he flailed his fist in a desperate act.

Less of a counterattack and more of a struggle for survival.

Of course,

such a feeble strike couldn’t possibly land.

Jinhyuk observed the punch buried in his midsection, unruffled.

“……”

That was the end of it.

BOOM!

His counterpunch, swift as lightning, found its way to Jung Dohyun’s abdomen.

“Ulwaaargh!”

His body bent at a right angle.

Vomit, mixed with blood, was an inevitable outcome.

Yet, Jinhyuk did not relent.

He was determined to crush him completely, if only to show Hwang Deokpyo.

But just when he was about to do so,

Fzzt… Fzzt!

A foreign magic force interfered.