Chapter 56

An endless stream of videos was uploaded to the Lase channel.

However, only a tiny fraction of these videos survived. Most of them disappeared without even reaching double-digit views.

To survive in the flood of videos, one had to be either incredibly unique or a pinpoint video that accurately captured the audience's demand.

And among such pinpoint videos, the most popular category was 'raid' videos.

-As expected, the highlight of RPGs is raids.

└ What's with this guy always talking about flowers? Last time he said PvP was the flower.

└└ Flowers can come in many blooms. Why are you guys bringing him down?

└└└ But raid videos are indeed the most entertaining. They have a different level of intensity compared to other content videos.

Since raids are high-difficulty content, most players find it hard to experience them in reality.

Either due to poor control, lack of items, or the absence of similarly leveled players to raid with.

While low-level area raids could be somewhat manageable, raids that appeared after the second job advancement were far from easy.

If any one of control, items, or teamwork was lacking, it was often impossible to even scratch the boss.

Therefore, many players sought out raid videos for vicarious satisfaction, and one of the main products of the top 10 guilds was live-streaming high-difficulty raids.

But six months after Lase's release, people began to fall into a rut with the repetitive raid videos.

-Ah, why are there only videos following the strategies of the vanguard?

└ If you find it hard to follow, you'd probably get one-shot in the first phase.

└└ Haha, are you the star of the video? Your control is so poor, it's a waste of your items. If I had those items, I could solo kill.

└└└ Hey, !&^%@&*

Most solo raid videos in the current Lase were by necromancers.

Leading hordes of zombies and skeletons to one-sidedly beat down mobs.

Often, overwhelming numbers could force even raid bosses to crumble.

But players wanted to see the tension and strategy of raids, not just a mob of minions overwhelming the enemy.

-Another necromancer. How dare he talk about solo raids after getting a hidden class by luck?

-Lukan is at least fighting himself, which is better than other necromancers who just buff their skeletons from behind.

-No fun. Absolutely no fun.

Due to most solo raid videos being by necromancers, they had become the subject of ridicule, known as 'another necromancer.'

-Oh, hey, this time it's a real solo raid video, right?

└ If it's another necromancer video, I'll flame you.

└└ No, really. This one is from Cheonma TV.

-Holy crap. A new Cheonma TV video? I'm going to watch it right away.

-A new Cheonma video! This time it's a solo raid!

The community buzzed with the news of a new video from the most talked-about newcomer in the community.

Unlike the conventional, formulaic videos, Cheonma TV always brought something fresh and exciting.

The number of subscribers was skyrocketing.

-But hasn't Cheonma been playing for only a short time? The last video was about the sea cave.

-Then this raid must be the Elder Treant. It's incredibly difficult to solo kill.

-It's hard to break the defense of the Elder Treant with any ordinary class. Could it be a swordsman?

-Why are you guys speculating here? Just go watch it.

The fourth video on Cheonma TV.

Once again, it was an extremely short video.

But its intensity was anything but short.

Punch, punch, punch, punch!

-Crazy...

-This time it's not a sword but punches. What class is this guy?

-But why is the boss mob not reacting to just punches? That's a normal attack.

-And it's not just a boss, but an elite boss. He's really setting the stage.

-Cheonma punch! Cheonma punch!

Cheonma TV's latest video did not disappoint, offering a fresh and exciting experience.

-Wow, his movement is insane. Does he have eyes on the back of his head?

-My friend is a pro gamer in a top guild's raid team... but this guy seems to be even better.

-Cheonma must be a pro gamer.

The amazement was continuous.

However, it didn't take long for the amazement to turn into shock.

The moment the Elder Treant entered phase 2, the video began to defy comprehension.

Punch, punch, punch, punch! Boom!

Indiscriminate bombardment against the Elder Treant in its Earth Power mode.

Until then, people thought Cheonma didn't know how to tackle the Elder Treant.

-Ah, he's done for. He didn't stun it?

-Does he plan to solo kill it all the way to phase 3? That would be legendary.

-That's not possible. Even the top 100 players can't do that.

-How did he solo kill a hell beast in 9 seconds? Cheonma can do it!

But the result that followed defied everyone's expectations.

The Elder Treant, which was charging its Earth Power, suddenly turned gray and disappeared.

-?

-???

-What just happened?

All the viewers started flooding the forum with question marks.

-...Did he just kill the phase 2 Treant without stunning it?

The viewers were stunned.

And as they began to understand the situation:

-What is this...?

-Did he break through the Earth Power mode's defense and self-healing with his attacks? Did I understand that right?

-Cheonma... he's a god!

-What a disappointment. I thought he was a top-tier control player, but he just spent a few billion to deck himself out in unique items from head to toe. He's just another money-spending player. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense.

-Even with unique items, it wouldn't be possible...

-It's a cheat.

-It's a hack.

-I just reported it as a bug.

-Haha, all the noobs are here. How can you guys always have the same reactions?

While Cheonma TV always caused a stir in the forums, this video's impact was even greater.

The other top 10 guilds, excluding the Mammonists, began to seriously pay attention to Cheonma.

* * *

Whooosh.

A blizzard was raging across the snow-white tundra.

“Haaaaa!”

A man, his upper body exposed, wielded a massive greatsword and battled a Yeti.

The Yeti, a representative monster of the 130-level hunting ground 'White Mountain,' was feared even by top players due to its ferocity and ice magic.

“It's over!”

But the man with the greatsword handled the Yeti like a child.

Thud.

The greatsword pierced the Yeti's chest precisely, turning it gray before it could even scream.

“Good job.”

A woman, wrapped head to toe in furs, approached the man. She began to loot the Yeti's corpse.

“Hmm... the Ice Crystal didn't drop again. Is it supposed to drop?”

“Don't be impatient, Kite. We've only been on the mountain for less than a week.”

“I'm just bored. The guild leader is fine because he's hunting, but I'm bored.”

“Then why don't you hunt too?”

“You know my class can't do much in these snowy mountains.”

“Then why did you come along...”

The man called the guild leader.

Gunter Rauhel looked at the woman with a hint of exasperation.

“To watch the number one player in the rankings die, of course.”

“That's a bit mean. An unfulfilled wish for life. Anyway, what have you been watching all this time?”

“I've been watching popular Lase videos because I have nothing else to do.”

“...Is that fun? You'd be better off killing one more mob.”

“It's not just fun, but also to look for talented players to recruit.”

“Did you find anyone worth recruiting?”

Gunter, still feeling the aftereffects of battle, swung his sword several times in the air before speaking.

He then smiled in satisfaction and put the greatsword back into his inventory.

“Yes, there's someone. He's very popular these days. Gunter, do you want to see him?”

“Hmm?”

Kite approached Gunter and activated an internet window.

The video began to play.

“Hoo...”

After watching the approximately 5-minute video, Gunter let out a faint sigh of admiration.

Kite smiled, knowing this was Gunter's reaction when he was truly impressed.

“I didn't know you could kill a Treant like that. What do you think? Isn't it amazing?”

“Definitely.”

“Do you think you could have killed a Treant like that at that level?”

“Hmm...”

Gunter stroked his beard, lost in thought at Kite's question.

He then extended four fingers and said:

“I might have succeeded once in four attempts. I was weaker back then.”

“Okay. We need to recruit him.”

“I'll tell the HR team. If you need money, just ask.”

Gunter then took out his greatsword again and resumed hunting Yetis.

A small smile played on his lips.

“An interesting guy has appeared.”

The North American-based top 10 guild 'The Sun' began to move.

* * *

And at that moment.

“Cheonma?”

“Yeah. He seems to be from the same Lase server as you, Cheonkyeon (天劍). He's Korean.”

“Hmm. I see. Cheonma...”

In the highest-ranked elite guild 'Eden (Eden),' which was not among the top 10 but was considered on par with them:

“Find him thoroughly! How long are we going to play second fiddle!”

In 'Pluto (Pluto),' the weakest of the top 10 guilds based in South America, interest in Cheonma began to grow.

The unprecedented recruitment war was just beginning.

[Level up! You have been granted bonus points.]

“Damn. The experience is amazing. This place is heaven.”

-Damn it, this section is supposed to be a grind!

The subject of all the buzz was enjoying Happy Lase in a forgotten space, unknown to anyone.

A 10-star player who became strong through luck.