Chapter 302


    ***


    [Trantor – Asura]


    ***


    Chapter 302


    The Champions League Finals.


    For the first time, South Korea made it to the final, facing off against the United States, which had consistently reached the finals in almost every Champions League.


    Many people thought that the United States, with their superior strength, would once again im victory. However, there was one variable.


    -Is there no way to lift Seong Jihan’s bans just three times?


    -We had bad luck in the previous games, it’s time for some good fortune.


    -If Seong Jihan ys, we will definitely win!


    Ranked 1st in yer rankings, Seong Jihan was undeniably the core of the South Korean team, even though he had only yed one game due to bans in the tournament. Everyone acknowledged that if he yed, no matter how strong the US team was, they would lose 100%.


    Therefore, BattleNet fans of all ages expected the US team to default to banning Seong Jihan.


    But then…


    =What’s happening? Why aren’t they using the ban card on Seong Jihan?!


    =What is the coach thinking? Isn’t it basic to ban Seong Jihan in all 5 games?!


    =Instead, they choose to ban two yers in the top 10…


    =Oh, Seong Jihan isn’t banned! Instead, it’s his teammate, the 2nd-ranked yer in Korea, Sword King, who’s banned.


    =Coach, what on earth are you doing?


    The USmentators raised their voices, criticizing the coach’s iprehensible decision.


    -What? Why no ban?


    -Wow, this is great LOL. Can we finally enjoy the 1st match without stress?


    However, the joy of the Korean fans was short-lived.


    -But… it always seems a constetion descends whenever Seong Jihan isn’t banned —


    -Right? Remember the Russia and Taiwan matches…


    -But we still won in the end. Those games were hrious, haha.


    -I can’t rx until I see how the game unfolds.


    When Seong Jihan wasn’t banned, constetions would always pop up and drag the game in strange directions.


    Nervously, everyone watched the game’s progress.


    =The 1st match map is chosen as ‘Lone Bridge’!


    =A map where two sides sh over a bridge. Given its short length, the warrior’s strength is most crucial… and just when Seong Jihan wasn’t banned!


    =Truthfully, regardless of whether the map was short orrge, facing Seong Jihan would always be difficult… but this does not look good. Why would the coach let him free?


    =Is there a hidden card up their sleeve against Seong Jihan?


    =Let’s hope so!


    With Seong Jihan’s ban lifted and the map selection seemingly favoring Korea, the 1st game started off positively for Korea.


    However, the national team yers remained tense despite the situation.


    ‘They wouldn’t just let Seong Jihan y without reason.’


    ‘There must be something they’ve prepared.’


    ‘Another constetion perhaps?’


    Assuming the opponent’s choice had a reliable n behind it.


    Simrly, Seong Jihan thought,


    ‘Did Gilgamesh interfere somehow?’


    Thinking this, as soon as he was summoned to Lone Bridge, he prepared himself fully.


    Not only did he gather all his strength, but…


    “Sophia, can you give me a buff right now?”


    “Of course!”


    With the divine buff from Sophia and his own strength at its peak, he looked across the bridge.


    ‘No need to approach, I’ll annihte them from afar.’


    Suspecting Gilgamesh’s scheme within the US camp, There was no reason to y into their hands.


    The most crucial thing for Seong Jihan now was winning this game.


    ‘Though he said it was for humanity, he tried to brainwash, not convince me.’


    Constetion Gilgamesh.


    He was fundamentally supportive of Seong Jihan, but it was more about treating him as a useful pawn in the long run rather than as a true ally.


    Even if he was hostile to the Martial God, it didn’t necessarily mean he was on their side.


    ‘I will go all out from the start.’


    Seong Jihan took out the Phoenix g and threw it into the sky.


    The spear, mixing the power of fire and lightning, disappeared into the heavens and then,


    Krrr…!


    Ripped a huge hole in the blue sky.


    =Ah, is that Seong’s Phoenix Spear…?!


    =It was so reliable in the Space League, but to be on the receiving end is terrifying!


    =The hole seems bigger than before!


    =But still, there must be a way to block it… since he was not banned, right?!


    Seen repeatedly through broadcasts, the Celestial Judgment, nicknamed ‘Phoenix Spear’ abroad, was the most visually memorable skill of Seong Jihan.


    Though everyone expected the massive fissure to soon unleash a lightning spear,


    =Uh……


    =mes are spreading in the sky……?


    Seong Jihan’s full-powered skill wasn’t the Celestial Judgment.


    Whoosh!


    The edge of the huge circr hole pierced by the spear was engulfed in mes, and the sky filled with white mes in an instant.


    Then, Crimson Thunder bloomed above it.


    The concentrated thermal energy of the sun focused on the fissure.


    Fundamental Martial Arts, Divine Dragon Decree – Celestial Dragon Thunder Fire


    The sky crumbled, bringing down intense mes like lightning bolts.


    The target was the US team’s camp.


    No, to be precise, the entire terrain across the bridge.


    =Is, is this… Dragon Breath?


    =Team USA! You have to block it!


    The U.Smentators screamed, urging the national team to respond, but even if they were considered the strongest national team in the world, there was no way to stop the mes.


    sh!


    The world across the bridge, which was instantly dyed in white light, was engulfed in mes.


    Crimson Thunder streaked through, and then,


    Whoosh!


    The sturdy ‘Lone Bridge’ that connected the twonds was also quickly engulfed in mes and turned to dust and vanished.


    The Korean team across simply watched in awe.


    “Wow…”


    “The bridge is burning…”


    “Wasn’t this bridge unbreakable no matter how hard you hit it?”


    “Is the bridge the issue right now? Look at thend over there.”


    “…The ground itself has copsed.”


    The cliff on the other side where the US team based their camp was already being erased by the white mes.


    Everyone knew Seong Jihan was strong, but


    Could the game terrain be eradicated like that?


    “What… did you do, Uncle?”


    Yoon Seah, who was pulling her bowstring ready to fight vigorously with Sophia’s buff,


    Stared dumbfounded at Seong Jihan as the enemy lines vanished before their eyes.


    She had indeed grown mightily, facing usations of cheating, But there was always someone flying above those running.


    Seong Jihan’s power was growing leaps and bounds every time she saw him.


    “I just swept them away before they could do anything funny on that side.”


    “Even against Team USA… that’s incredible.”


    “Used my power to its fullest with a buff.”


    Celestial Dragon Thunder Fire,


    Recalling the sensation of being hit by the ‘First Breath’ of the Dragon Lord, this improved version of the Celestial Judgment waspleted.


    It had fulfilled all conditions except thest piece of the puzzle until now.


    But,


    ‘Collecting videos in BattleNet was a help.’


    Collecting videos indiscriminately for the Heterogeneous Martial Resolve ss,


    There were experiences of dragons and their allied races embedded in those recordings.


    After watching and feeling how they exerted their power… Seong Jihan surpassed Celestial Judgment, eventually harnessing the Dragon Lord’s power.


    ‘The problem is that my stats are insufficient, so once I use it, my energy is depleted.’


    Celestial Dragon Thunder Fire relied on the enemy’s power as its core, leaving Seong Jihan energy-drained.


    In the current state, he’d need to avoid fights until his energy recuperated.


    However,


    The US team wasn’t such a formidable foe.


    [The enemy has been annihted.]


    [Match 1 has ended.]


    With over half of the opponent’s cliff terrain deleted, there were no survivors left within it.


    * * *


    =Unbelievable…


    =What in the world is going on?!


    =This is why you shouldn’t have let Seong y…!


    The first game ended as soon as it began, leaving the U.Smentators in shock and criticizing the coach’s decision for the first game.


    However, that was just the beginning.


    =Oh,e on, he’s still not banning him, even after that?


    =Is the coach out of his mind?!


    =F***!! What the hell is going on?!


    Entering the second game, the U.S coach still didn’t ban Seong Jihan. A furious caster couldn’t contain his anger and unleashed a string of curses.


    -Are the U.Smentators crazy? They’re cursing on a live broadcast, lol.


    -That’s how frustrated they are, lol.


    -But seriously, Seong Jihan is way too strong.


    -Didn’t that breath seem like a Dragon’s Breath?


    -Yeah, it was even more powerful than a dragon’s.


    -He deleted the game map, lol.


    Seong Jihan’s Celestial Dragon Thunder Fire.


    Witnessing its overwhelming power, Korean viewers were exhrated, acknowledging Seong Jihan’s might.


    And as Seong Jihan wasn’t banned again for the 2nd match,


    Some even spected that this might be the moment they would witness Korea’s first championship victory.


    On the other hand,


    =Why isn’t the coach selecting the map?


    =Did he just lose his mind? Why bother unbanning if he’s going to waste the bans like this?


    =Shouldn’t the staff intervene? How can they just stand by and watch this?!


    The U.Smentators erupted, suggesting that the staff should intervene, but the game proceeded as usual.


    =Ah… the game will continue as is. The map is South Gate.


    =Oh no! South Gate! If Seong Jihan uses his breath attack on this map, it’s game over!


    =He should have at least chosen the map wisely. This is insane! What are they even doing?!


    The second match proceeded unchanged. With Seong Jihan still in y and the advantageous map of South Gate, it seemed like the US national team had given up on the game altogether.


    -Why is the U.S team acting like this?


    -Are they trying to hand the victory to Korea?


    -Well… we’ll dly ept it ^^


    Though the Korean viewers couldn’t understand English, the sentiment of gratitude was predominant.


    -F***! Even a seven-year-old kid could manage bans and map selects better than this!!


    -My seven-year-old son is throwing a fit at home. He’s crying, asking why Seong Jihan isn’t banned and why they didn’t select the Mage map!


    -Let’s send that kid to be the coach.


    -That would be better. What a mess is this?


    The U.S viewers were in chaos, flooding the chat with curses andints.


    The oue of the second game was as expected by everyone.


    =Aaargh!!


    =South Gate is crumbling!


    =Another breath erupted! The entire castle is disappearing…


    =Heh… haha! The U.S is going to lose 3-0 for the first time in the finals.


    The U.Smentators screamed in agony, and the second game was just as one-sided as the first. When Seong Jihan threw his spear into the sky, it descended like a dragon’s breath. The fortress vanished into dust along with the US national team. The Korean team had already taken a 2-0 lead in the finals.


    Now, if they just get one more win, the championship is within reach.


    =What on earth is going on?!


    =Why didn’t they select maps for the first and second matches?! Does U.S think they’re the World Tree Elves?


    =Uh… huh? The third match. Is he finally going to ban Seong Jihan?


    = The Coach. Has he finallye to his senses?!


    =W-well, as long as he bans Seong Jihan, there’s a chance!


    From the third match onwards, the US national team’s strategy was back on track. They banned the overwhelmingly powerful yer, Seong Jihan, employing a strategy known even to a seven-year-old:peting among human yers without Seong Jihan’s domination.


    =But why… isn’t he selecting the map?


    =It’s okay! At least he banned Seong Jihan!


    =Hmm… Is he saving their map selecting card for the 5th match, thinking they’re World Tree Elves?


    =Well, who knows! I don’t understand why he’s doing this, but…


    As they entered the third match, the US national team showed apletely different sidepared to the first two matches. The match waspletely dominated by the US from start to finish.


    =T-the United States. They win!


    =It starts from the third match. They just need to turn things around now!


    =If Seong Jihan is banned again in the 4th match… It’lle down to a 50% chance in the 5th match!


    And the 4th match proceeded as the USmentators hoped.


    Seong Jihan was banned, and the US team overpowered Team Korea.


    Continuing their momentum from the 3rd match , the 4th match was also a crushing victory for the US.


    -US is damn strong…


    -I guess it’s tough without Seong Jihan —


    -True, getting here was a miracle.


    -Sword King’s movement in the 4th match was disappointing… he yed too aggressively…


    -Ah, so ites down to the 5th match. It’s all about luck now?


    -Will the final game be decided by mere chance?


    With the score tied at 2-2, Korea and the US entered the final game. People naturally expected Seong Jihan to be banned again at this point.


    But…


    =Coach!! Why! Why aren’t you banning him again?!


    =Have you really lost your mind?!


    To everyone’s surprise, the US coach didn’t ban Seong Jihan at thest moment.


    “What’s going on?”


    “Why would he do that, seriously?”


    Even the Korean national team yers couldn’t understand the opponent’s strategy.


    Just as people were scratching their heads in confusion…


    =Oh, but wait, Look at the coach. Suddenly, he’s gathering the select cards to designate a map…


    =It’s like he was waiting to choose the map!


    =The map name is… ‘Tuseong’…


    The US coach decisively chose the game map ‘Tuseong’.


    ***


    [Trantor – Asura]


    ***