Ch.271Cheer up

-“Privileges will be granted according to the pre-test order.”

-“Starting from the top ranks, participants can choose their opponents in order.”

-“Therefore, the first participant to designate an opponent is.”

-“Group A’s Kim Donghu.”

As soon as the broadcast announcement ended, people instinctively looked at Kim Donghu.

Who would he choose, and what kind of strength would he display?

‘According to the broadcast, there are three arenas in total: a playground-like area, a mud pit… and a cage.’

‘Does this mean those with higher rankings get to choose both the battlefield and opponent?’

‘That’s definitely an advantage. Choosing both the stage and opponent.’

While various thoughts circulated among the participants,

Kim Donghu stood up from his chair with remarkable composure.

His face showed he had already decided on his opponent.

And the direction he headed wasn’t toward the bottom ranks where the spotlight didn’t reach.

“Cade Walker, shall we have the finals right here?”

He was looking directly at the seat below his own.

The place where Cade Walker sat in the TOP 10 position.

“…Seriously? Are you being serious?”

“Yes, I’m asking. If you’re willing, I’d like to choose you.”

“…”

Cade Walker’s pupils dilated at this bold question.

Having been an athlete for many years,

And always maintaining the top position,

He clearly understood what Kim Donghu’s intentions were with such a statement.

“I didn’t know you were the type to intimidate people like this.”

“It’s fun, isn’t it?”

The person with the right to choose gives that choice to his opponent.

The higher-ranked person gives the right to decide the match to the lower-ranked one.

This wasn’t consideration.

It was a challenge saying “take it if you’re confident.”

An action meant to overwhelm the opponent with sheer pressure.

‘And against me, Cade Walker, of all people.’

Height 191cm, average weight 110kg.

Currently using PEDs, so his physical abilities were at their peak.

And he’s trying to subdue someone like me with this tactic?

He couldn’t help but scoff.

“Ha.”

He scoffed, but…

“…”

Despite his attitude, he couldn’t readily accept the offer.

Though Kim Donghu was clearly shorter and weighed less than him,

Why did he seem larger somehow?

Still, he had to accept.

He had to.

Just as Cade Walker was about to open his mouth,

“I’m joking. Cade, you’re too strong, honestly, I’m scared.”

Kim Donghu said with a playful smile, quickly stepping aside.

‘This should have created enough of a scene.’

Although Physical 300 was a program that tested physical prowess,

Its core was still entertainment,

So creating these kinds of scenes was extremely important.

So after creating an appropriate scene,

Kim Donghu approached the opponent he had in mind from the beginning.

The person he had promised himself he would face if there was a ball-stealing game.

Step, step, step.

“Hey, hey, hey, wait, where is Kim Donghu going?”

“No… who is he approaching?”

“No way, right?”

“Wow, no way? But it looks like it!”

Pre-test ranking: 263rd.

“Let’s do this together.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes, of course. Let’s create a spectacular scene in the mud pit.”

Height 2m 3cm, weight 186kg.

Angus the Highland Wall.

The 2021 World’s Strongest Man champion.

++++++

Kim Donghu vs. Angus the Highland Wall.

The moment this duel was decided.

“Holy shiiiiiit!!!”

Physical 300 PD Ji Yonghu couldn’t help but shout.

Normally, he detested profanity,

But he simply couldn’t contain his excitement when the match was confirmed.

Even though quite a few exciting matches were arranged afterward,

None of them produced as much dopamine as “Kim Donghu vs. Angus.”

A battle between the man called the strongest in the world,

And the man currently evaluated as the most powerful on Earth.

‘This is like something out of a manga.’

Starting with Kim Donghu’s match decision,

The 300 participants quickly paired up,

And since there was no need to delay,

They decided to proceed with the ball-stealing game after about 20 minutes of warm-up.

“…Wow, both Donghu and Angus are warming up intensely without saying a word.”

“Their concentration is insane, even with so many people around.”

The game mechanics were extremely simple.

Whoever holds onto the leather ball, about the size of a person’s torso, until the end wins.

The match lasts 3 minutes total, and of course, striking is prohibited.

Wrestling-like physical confrontation is inevitable and therefore allowed.

Deliberately striking an opponent results in immediate disqualification.

If no one holds the ball for 3 minutes, there’s a 2-minute extension.

It was very similar to the ball-stealing games played as children.

Just a bit more aggressive now.

‘Me… he chose me.’

Angus was hurriedly warming up while processing the current situation.

He needed to quickly generate heat in his body and loosen his muscles.

‘This will be recorded as the biggest and most glorious battle of my life.’

Kim Donghu.

An Asian man smaller and lighter than himself.

In the past, he might have simply dismissed him,

But the moment their eyes met, he realized:

‘He’s like a massive fortress.’

That this small Asian man possessed tremendous strength.

But still, he believed his victory was inevitable.

Because weight class differences are impossible to overcome.

Of course, technique is what can overturn that.

Angus wasn’t just a strong man.

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt.

As someone who only needed to pass the black belt promotion test,

He understood the use of strength and weight transfer better than anyone.

Therefore.

-“Shortly, the first game, ball-stealing, will commence. All participants please move to the filming location.”

When the announcement was heard,

Angus wore a confident expression.

He understood that Kim Donghu wanted to beat him and requested this match.

He also understood that Kim Donghu had tremendous talent in striking.

‘But this is strength against strength. The weight difference will prevent him from applying techniques properly.’

He couldn’t help but think that Kim Donghu had made a foolish mistake this time.

++++++

In reality.

“But isn’t this too much?”

“Strongmen are disadvantaged in long-distance running… but in a 3-minute match, he’ll be the strongest.”

Most people predicted Kim Donghu’s defeat.

They acknowledged he was strong and powerful,

But the prevailing opinion was that he had chosen his opponent very poorly.

“We’ll just have to watch. It’s not like we’re going to miss it.”

“It would be hard not to watch this.”

People gathered at the second-floor railing to look down at the first floor.

A battle in a trench filled with mud.

The area outside the trench was mostly dirt too, giving it a truly wild feel.

“Since this match is so big, it’s a standalone match this time.”

“Nobody would watch anything else during Kim Donghu vs. Angus.”

Normally, since all 150 pairs needed to compete,

Three matches would be held simultaneously.

But for Kim Donghu vs. Angus, they scheduled it as a standalone event.

Evidence of just how big this match was.

-“Contestants, enter.”

As the announcement sounded,

Kim Donghu and Angus lined up at the starting line before the official match.

They each entered through individual tunnels,

With gates closed to prevent them from rushing out like racehorses.

In the tense atmosphere,

Splash!

A leather ball dropped from above into the middle of the trench.

A scene deliberately designed to encourage trench combat.

“No matter how strong you are, you’ve made a big mistake this time!”

Before the match began, Angus boldly taunted Kim Donghu,

And simultaneously,

-“Beeeeeep!”

As soon as the signal sounded, the gates opened.

Thudududu!

The moment the gates opened, Angus sprinted straight into the trench.

He calculated that if he grabbed the ball first, he would never lose it.

‘Got it!’

Angus quickly grabbed the ball, and then,

‘But how did I grab it so quickly?’

As that thought crossed his mind and he turned around,

Step.

Step.

Step.

“…!”

He saw Kim Donghu leisurely walking toward the trench.

Not running, but casually.

As if out for a stroll.

“Feels like a mud festival, they say this is good for your health.”

Seeing this relaxed entrance into the trench,

“You crazy bastard!!!”

Angus was genuinely enraged.

During an ongoing match after being specifically chosen,

To display such nonchalance?

This was an obvious provocation he couldn’t tolerate.

“I’ll kill you!”

Roid rage.

The side effects of anabolic steroid use erupted.

Splash!

As if the ball-stealing game no longer mattered,

Angus tossed the ball aside and charged straight at Kim Donghu.

It should be extremely difficult to run properly in mud,

But Angus overcame this with pure strength.

Moving like an enraged bull charging,

Splash! Splash!

Cutting through the mud,

He reached out to teach this insane Asian a lesson.

“I just need to knock him out!”

With agility that seemed impossible for someone weighing about 190kg,

Angus expertly applied a wrestling technique on Kim Donghu,

And in the blink of an eye, he took his back.

This was wrestling that brutally exploited the weight advantage.

What followed was a quick Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu move.

Dominating his opponent’s back,

Immediately slipping one arm under Kim Donghu’s chin,

Squeeze!

He applied a choke hold.

There was no need for complicated two-handed techniques.

His forearm was as thick as a woman’s thigh,

So without complex techniques, he could directly compress the carotid artery.

‘It’s over!’

He didn’t care if he was disqualified for excessive aggression.

He’d be satisfied just teaching this arrogant guy a lesson.

Just as he was about to make Kim Donghu pass out,

Thunk!

Kim Donghu lightly grabbed Angus’s choking wrist, and then,

Crack!

With grip strength alone,

“Aaaaargh!”

He broke the choke.

“Strongman, put some effort into it.”

These were the first words Kim Donghu spoke to his opponent.