1.

—Justice prevails.

—That's Hyeseong for ya. He's even lucky.

—This is how it should be. The levels are different, so it's better for him to wait at the top than to make us watch another boring match.

Shin Hyeseong's fans were in a frenzy. They, too, had seen Kim Buja's match. How could they not, when latecomers had flooded their forums, drowning them in talk of Kim Buja? They watched the video, looking for anything to criticize since they couldn't match his clear time, and they found it.

—Kim Buja was clearly cheating. Shouldn't something like that be a disqualification?

—How can he just change weapons like that? Isn't that a Legendary-grade weapon ability?

—I thought all the other players had their item abilities sealed.

—It's cheating.

Kim Buja's weapon ability was right there on the video channel for all to see. And it had appeared, without any restrictions, in the National Team Selection Match, where everyone was supposed to be on equal footing. It was a clearly unfair situation!

—I heard that's a Legendary-grade weapon. If he can use its full power, how can anyone win?

—Isn't he using a bug?

Or rather, these were their efforts to eliminate the only competitor who posed a threat to Shin Hyeseong in this selection. The fans' faith in Shin Hyeseong was absolute. But the fantasy of him being the best in the world was bound to hit the high wall of reality. At the very least, the position fans envisioned for Shin Hyeseong was to make it as the national representative, fight a close battle with Fly, and then lose.

That was why they were anxious. Instinctively. What if he met Kim Buja and lost? And in the quarterfinals, no less, not even the finals. That was the reason Shin Hyeseong's fans were ecstatic that he got the bye, essentially getting a free pass for two consecutive matches, and it was the fundamental psychological reason they were already making excuses for a potential loss. Of course, this kind of talk didn't work at all on the fans who purely enjoyed the game of players and dungeons.

—Do they think this is some kind of game? What bugs are you talking about?

—Look at them making excuses because they're scared he'll get stomped by Kim Buja. It's pathetic.

—The fact that he can use it means it's a class option, not a Legendary-grade weapon option. Do Hyeseong's stans really think he's a bug player? lolololol If a bug like that exists, let me know so I can use it too. If there was a bug that could bypass the Hologram's restrictions, why would Kim Buja be doing this? If it were me, I'd get to level 99 right away and run a 9-star dungeon.

A rational suspicion of that sort was impossible in the first place, because this was reality. If this were a game created by a perfect AI that appears once in a millennium, they might have harbored a tiny bit of doubt. After all, even an AI is ultimately made by humans. But this was different. These bizarre phenomena happening in the world have led to the sudden appearance of a phenomenon called awakening in people. Delving into its origins was no longer meaningful, so no one mentioned it. However, for the past five years, not a single bug or error had occurred.

If it seemed that way, it was merely due to petty and narrow-minded human prejudice. Besides, in Kim Buja's case, testimonies from people who had been watching his videos for a long time came pouring in.

—We knew his class was that type since before he got the Legendary-grade weapon, back when he was shooting arrows.

Along with that, expectations soared.

—Is he really going to win? For real? Honestly, there have been tons of people who were amazing at 1-star, so I've been watching with skepticism, but seeing him take down a ranker over level 60 makes me think he might actually have a chance under the same conditions.

Expectation was soon followed by curiosity and interest in change. As dungeons gradually increased, players developed, and the moment it became a stage for challenges rather than a land of death, the rankings and vested interests had solidified. The ever-growing power, authority, wealth, and fame of the top players had risen so high that even ordinary players had to crane their necks to see them.

The countless players who challenged that golden tower were forced to their knees by the barriers of time, know-how, and the massive wall of veterans. Among them, the very few who broke through were those who were scouted for being a good fit for the group. And then there were the geniuses, born with both luck and skill. A few of them existed, still quietly active and holding their names high among the top rankers.

Was another such genius appearing now? One who, unlike other geniuses, didn't play for personal satisfaction but boldly challenged the establishment? players hoped, and the general public anticipated. Change could alter many things and cause harm, but society always develops through change.

—The quarterfinals of the national qualifiers haven't even started yet. Let's not get ahead of ourselves and just watch.

Of course, this too was a dream, no different from—or perhaps even greater than—the wishful thinking of Shin Hyeseong's fans. Some people changed the mood, steering the conversation to a different topic.

—I'm gonna go take a nap.

—This is so damn fun.

—I took tomorrow off. Good luck, everyone.

Time passed quickly.

* * *

[The 'Individual Match (Provisional)' for Groups A and B will now begin.]

He woke up, ate one of the many foods prepared in the waiting room to fill his stomach, and was transported to the arena as the hologram appeared. His opponent, visible at a moderate distance, was a mage holding a short wand.

"The sixth-ranked guild's dueling specialist, a debuff wizard, I believe."

He was a bit hazy on the name. This wasn't a university orientation; in a setting where the opponent's name wasn't that important, it was easier to match the information to a face. Of course, it could be difficult to recognize a face if it didn't have any striking features, but he recognized his current opponent quite easily.

"She primarily uses restraints, debuffs, dark-type attack magic, and her feminine wiles."

She was the only female player among the ten participants.

"Awakening doesn't discriminate by age or gender, but the timing of the world's change wasn't great."

After the awakening, the physical disadvantages a player faced were not very significant. In fact, there were areas where women, with their greater flexibility, had an advantage. Nevertheless, the fact that the rankings still reflected old societal biases suggested that most people, and newly awakened players, couldn't easily shed the shackles of society before they could even utilize the human-transcending Hologram. Those who could decisively cast such things aside would rise higher than others by leveraging their strengths, just like the player before him.

"Hmm, feminine wiles."

Moreover, her attire showed that she actively utilized the advantages she definitely possessed in a battle like this. Armor that barely covered what needed to be covered. A toned body with tanned, bronze skin was clearly visible. Her looks didn't have any effect on Kim Buja, who saw Jeong Seora every day. Still, even without makeup, Seora had a pleasant face—one that naturally drew a second glance.

From her tricky class to her ability to use her strengths, he had to be on guard, especially since he'd seen the video of her defeating a player from the second-ranked guild in the preliminaries. Her skills themselves were good, too. But she had been in danger midway through. That's how formidable the second-ranked guild's player had been. The matchup was also clearly defined. The second-ranked player had pushed her with speed, not giving her time to utilize her debuffs and magic. But at the decisive moment, he couldn't finish her.

"It's an honor to face the most anticipated star of the qualifiers."

She offered a bright smile, a greeting, and kindness first. Even high-level rankers have prejudices. No matter how much you try to erase them, the ethics of society that are ingrained to the bone do not disappear so easily. That's what she was aiming for. Indeed, as she offered her greeting, magic was gathering in her wand. She was clever.

This wasn't a weak person resorting to tricks; it was someone who approached every match in a way that was advantageous to her. Just like how Kim Buja had created an opening by catching his opponent off guard in the previous match. Just like how she had overcome the moment she was about to lose. Naturally, he had no intention of falling for it.

"Nice to meet you, too."

He smiled back and raised his right hand to wave. A smile for a smile. As his hand waved from side to side, a dagger was suddenly in it. Much faster than the magic gathering in her wand. The experience of a level 60+ mage couldn't overcome innate talent. Besides, the difficulty of the skills being used was on a different level.

'Whoosh—'

The wave of his hand transitioned from a greeting into a throw as the dagger flew. The weight of the steel flew with enough force to tear through air resistance. Its destination was precisely the spot between her eyes. He could clearly see her expression crumble as she realized her ploy had failed. As always, Kim Buja's specialty was inducing carelessness to create an even bigger opening. The opponent, who hadn't expected him to close the distance and attack like this, had to make a choice. No, she was forced to choose.

"Fuck!"

With a curse so harsh it was hard to believe she was the same player who had just offered a benevolent greeting, the magic gathering in her wand scattered, and she rolled on the ground. A very wise choice. She quickly backed away and chanted simple skills.

"Vines! Briar Patch!"

Vines and thorns sprouted around her. The words were simple, but the magic-infused vines and thorns formed a wall, completely blocking the space between her and Kim Buja, as if creating their own territory. It was like she was inside an egg! At least one attack would be blocked by the vines, and in that time, she would prepare another attack or debuff.

'Tap!'

Without breaking stride, Kim Buja didn't stop the steps he had taken the moment his opponent rolled. Instead, he sped up. He charged straight at the vines. Through the tiny gaps in the tangled vines, he could see her preparing a skill. It wouldn't be long. A skill that took tens of seconds to cast would be meaningless in a duel. A mere few seconds. At most, three to four seconds. As the debuffs stacked up one by one, Kim Buja's only advantage would fade. He would end the fight while he still had the upper hand.

'Hum—'

As he neared the vines, a long spear formed in his hands. With a couple of steps left, he planted his foot and, using the momentum, thrust forward with all his might.

'Stab—'

The tangled vines, trying to protect their master, tried to grip the sharp spearhead, but it was a meaningless gesture. The vines she had created now were not an iron fortress built on the overwhelming magic of a player over level 60 or someone of similar power. It was magic with a value of just over 100, at best. The power of an equal level, plus the attack power of Gold Enhancement. There was no way it could hold. The shell of the egg that was supposed to protect the cramped interior was broken. And the spear that broke the shell was long enough to pierce through the other side.

"'Gaaaaah!"

A scream of pain erupted from within the vines. Naturally, the debuff magic never reached Kim Buja. The vines also lost their binding power after a brief duration and collapsed.

"P-please, save……"

Inside, he could see the opponent's face, tearful and pleading. A scene he'd seen before. It was similar to her previous match, which he had watched out of boredom just twelve hours ago. Back then, it wasn't a fatal wound like being pierced through the abdomen with a spear, but she had induced a moment of hesitation to turn the match around. It was the same now.

Kim Buja's eyes saw a woman striking a pose to draw as much attention as possible while pleading desperately, and the magic gathering in the wand she still hadn't let go of behind her back. Impressive.

"This is what a player is."

The will to never give up. That was the driving force that allowed one to overcome countless crises and the brink of death to rise to the level of a ranker. He knew that better than anyone, so he didn't hesitate or waver.

"Kegh."

The withdrawn spear now aimed precisely for her heart and plunged in.

[You are victorious.]

[Moving to the waiting room.]

* * *

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