Chapter 28 of 100
Chapter 28
6 min read1,617 words
<Chapter 28: The Warrior Who Regressed to Level 2>
* * *
“Mashid, thank you for today.”
Unlike the imposing presence he had when he split the Flash Golem in half, Seong Jihan now seemed like a polite salaryman as he offered his thanks.
The clean suit, thanks to Pose's Absolute Domain, only added to this impression.
“...It’s fine. The thanks... I already received it earlier.”
Mashid, however, responded with a somewhat displeased expression.
The gap between his appearance when he struck the Flash Golem with the True Demon Blade and his current demeanor was too great.
Especially after witnessing that powerful strike, which made him break out in a cold sweat, he could no longer treat Seong Jihan as he did before.
“No, the help you gave me was too significant to just say thank you. If it weren’t for you, Kim Kyouhyuk would have insulted me and my nephew and escaped unscathed.”
“I couldn’t just stand by and let someone insult a child.”
However, when Seong Jihan expressed his sincere gratitude, Mashid seemed to relax, sensing the sincerity.
“So, I want to repay you...”
“It’s fine. You’ve already completed the mission.”
But that was a different matter from receiving a reward.
Just a thank you was enough; he didn’t need anything more.
As he watched Mashid refuse the reward, Seong Jihan thought to himself.
‘It’s better to build a connection with Mashid.’
Diego Mashid, the last hero of Argentina.
Though he now looked disheveled, the performance he showed in the future was remarkable.
Before Argentina’s fall, he was a magician who could rival the American Baron.
In fact, Seong Jihan, thinking of the Baron’s immature control, found Mashid to be a more outstanding talent.
In other words, Diego Mashid had a high potential to become the best mage on Earth.
Therefore, Seong Jihan decided to awaken his abilities early.
“The repayment won’t be material. It will be related to your abilities.”
“...What do you mean?”
“Your Gift, it’s related to a ball, right?”
Seong Jihan’s words made Mashid nod slightly.
He didn’t doubt that Seong Jihan knew about his Gift.
After all, Diego Mashid was recognized as the world’s best soccer player in 2010, before BattleNet was introduced.
Even after other professional sports declined due to BattleNet, he received the SSS-grade Gift, “God of Soccer,” and made headlines multiple times.
Though ten years had passed, and he was now considered one of the three major troublemakers in the Gangnam Bronze League, his past glory was undeniable.
“That would fit the Mage class the best.”
“...Mage? Me?”
A mage?
Mashid looked at Seong Jihan with disbelief.
What connection could there be between a soccer ball and a mage?
But.
If someone else had said this, he might have dismissed it as nonsense.
‘He showed an amazing performance just now.’
After witnessing Seong Jihan’s transcendent martial arts, Mashid felt a glimmer of hope in his confident words.
SSS-grade Gift, God of Soccer.
Despite the numerous guilds trying to study this ability due to its incredible grade, all their attempts ended in miserable failure.
As a result, people lost interest in him.
Without a guild and having wandered for ten years, Mashid now just kicked the ball in the game out of habit, finding no hope.
‘Mage class...’
But the idea of becoming a mage.
The light in Mashid’s eyes, which had been lost, began to flicker with interest.
Seeing this, Seong Jihan smiled.
“If you’re interested, I’ll give you my contact information.”
“...Okay. But since we’re live, send it in a message.”
“Sure. I’ll send you my contact. Feel free to reach out when you’re free. As a separate matter, I’ll buy you a meal.”
“I like beef.”
“Me too.”
Seong Jihan and Mashid shared a smile.
The atmosphere was warm and friendly.
BJ Geumbit, who had been watching from the side, recalled Mashid’s super save and regretfully slapped her forehead.
‘Oh... Ah... I should have blocked that Fireball myself!’
Still, she couldn’t just let it go.
“S, Seong Jihan! Me too! Include me too!”
Seong Jihan looked at BJ Geumbit with a disinterested expression.
Why?
...was the meaning behind his gaze.
“That’s a bit difficult. This is a place to repay Mashid.”
“I, about the broadcast! I have a good proposal!”
“I’ll pass on that.”
“Jihan, I! I want to be your editor! I want to be an editor!”
“Not necessary.”
Seong Jihan firmly shook his head.
He detested noisy men.
“Please...!”
Despite Seong Jihan’s firm rejection, BJ Geumbit pleaded to become an editor.
[Logging out.]
The game was ending.
- Haha, Geumbit is at it again!
- Still, she has a good sense. Seong Jihan is going to be huge.
- A BattleNet expert from 20 years ago says: Seong Jihan... will skyrocket.
- It’s been 10 years since BattleNet came out!
- What a ridiculous statement? The guy who betrayed Sword King... what’s he going to skyrocket for?
- The Sword King faction is just making noise. Who betrayed who? Haha.
The chat window in BJ Geumbit’s stream was filled with heated debates.
But due to the impressive potential Seong Jihan had shown, the voices suspected to be from the Sword King faction were almost drowned out.
‘Ugh... I need to be an editor before he skyrockets. I want to be an editor. I want to follow Seong Jihan!’
But despite his desire, BattleNet was merciless.
Flash!
“A... No!”
- Yes!
With one viewer’s chat as the last message.
BJ Geumbit’s screen flickered.
* * *
After logging out, Seong Jihan checked the long list of system messages.
[Linked Quest - Origin of the Zombies (2) completed.]
[10,000 Achievement Points rewarded.]
[Crystal Fragment rewarded.]
[The next Linked Quest, Trace of the Apostle (1), will be available in the Silver League.]
‘10,000... Not bad.’
He decided to think about the next Linked Quest, which would be available in the Silver League, later.
Seong Jihan focused on the rewards.
10,000 Achievement Points. Given the difficulty, it was a substantial reward.
‘And the effect of the Crystal Fragment...’
Seong Jihan checked the item description.
[Crystal Fragment]
- Grade: B
- Grants a Divine Blessing to the player for a single use.
- This item can only be used in the Bronze and Silver Leagues.
‘Hmm... It’s a bit ambiguous.’
Divine Blessing is a powerful buff granted by the Saint class, the pinnacle of the Supporter class.
It increases all stats by over 50%, making it a crucial blessing in higher leagues.
Of course, the ability itself was powerful.
‘But it’s a one-time use.’
Combined with the condition that it can only be used in the Bronze and Silver Leagues, it was a rather disappointing item.
In reality, the 10,000 Achievement Points were the main reward, and this was more like a bonus.
However, Seong Jihan carefully stored it in his inventory.
It might be useful someday.
‘Next, the Defense Map Clear Reward, I guess.’
[Recorded 1st place in the Defense Game.]
[1st place reward: 50% increase in experience and GP gain.]
[Bonus Mission completed.]
[Experience and GP rewarded at three times the normal amount.]
[Level increased by 3.]
[6,000 GP rewarded.]
By securing 1st place, the reward experience increased by 50%, and with the bonus mission reward added, his level increased by 3.
His level was now 13.
He was only 12 levels away from the Silver League promotion.
An explosive growth rate that no other player had achieved.
‘Good.’
Just as Seong Jihan was about to happily allocate his stats, a cracking sound came from the True Demon Blade on his shoulder.
At the same time, another system message appeared.
[Completely understood the faith of the extraterrestrial.]
[Divine Power increased by 1. Integrated into Force.]
[The grade of the “Extraterrestrial Relic - Uruk Priest’s True Demon Blade” dropped to D.]
[The “Extraterrestrial Relic - Uruk Priest’s True Demon Blade” has fulfilled its calling.]
[Divine Power increased by 1. Integrated into Force.]
[The grade of the “Extraterrestrial Relic - Uruk Priest’s True Demon Blade” dropped to E.]
Wasn’t it a 1:1 exchange between Divine Power and Force?
Seong Jihan felt a sense of loss as he stroked the True Demon Blade.
It was quite useful, but now it had dropped to E grade.
If it can’t absorb Divine Power anymore, should I buy a new weapon?
At that moment.
[The “Extraterrestrial Relic - Uruk Priest’s True Demon Blade” could not withstand the remaining power and shattered.]
Boom!
The True Demon Blade, which had been struggling to hold on, instantly cracked and exploded.
The weapon he had bought with the GP he had earned from the broadcast and the attention he had drawn.
It couldn’t withstand the power of the Three Stages of Tai Mountain and shattered into pieces.
‘Oh no...’
The problem didn’t end there.
The power that shattered the True Demon Blade was about to explode in all directions.
He had already realized that his control over his martial arts was not perfect when he used the Heaven’s Thunder Step.
But when he used the Three Stages of Tai Mountain, he seemed to have used all his strength, making the power surge even more severe.
‘The game’s events are affecting reality.’
Seong Jihan quickly absorbed the power from the Three Stages of Tai Mountain that was about to burst from the True Demon Blade.
If left unchecked, it could have destroyed his home.
Squeak!
The power from the Three Stages of Tai Mountain was incredibly violent.
Seong Jihan’s clothes were torn in several places, revealing his skin, due to the fragments of power he couldn’t contain.
But since it was the source of the power, the remaining energy in the True Demon Blade was quickly absorbed