episode_0131

The semifinals of the competition have begun.

As soon as it started, Ignition moved quickly.

I shouted to the party members.

“You have to move to point A from now on! Jae-ho takes the lead, and Si-woo supports Jae-ho right behind him!”

“OK!”

“Confirmed!”

Although the stadium is inside the stadium.

The actual game will be played in augmented reality using Warworld’s VR engine and AR.

All players have completed connecting to the map.

‘I expected it though. The semifinals won’t be easy.’

From the semifinals onwards, unlike previous matches, it is a single-game match.

Instead, there is no time limit like the previous games.

So, this means that the awakened person must pour out all his or her capabilities, just like in an actual battle in a dungeon.

And the map selection for that single match match is random.

However, coincidentally, the map was a city covered in heavy snow.

‘It’s like home ground for Aegis.’

The main dealer, An Yu-min, possesses ice attribute powers.

Naturally, the effect is doubled in terrain with the same attribute.

Whiiig-

A wind blew that felt like it was cutting into my bones.

White out.

Visibility was extremely limited due to the driving snowstorm.

It seems like a serious war has broken out.

Most of the buildings visible in the surrounding landscape are probably destroyed.

Now, even the ruined building could not be distinguished properly.

“It’s open on all sides, so it’s dangerous here. So, you have to move quickly to point A to avoid being ambushed.”

The two people moved faster under my direction.

It was extremely cold, around -20 degrees Celsius.

With strong winds, the perceived temperature will drop to almost -40 degrees Celsius.

Fortunately, Lim Jae-ho, a werewolf, is physically strong enough to withstand the extreme cold.

The problem is the other two people.

Still, the map was announced in advance, so under my instructions, Jeong Si-woo completed preparations for the extreme cold using equipment.

‘It’s inevitable that mobility will be reduced because of that equipment.’

And in my case.

If he had been physically fit before, even if he had the equipment that Jeong Si-woo is wearing now, he would not have been able to withstand the current harsh cold.

A space set up in dungeon-like conditions, not the ordinary cold weather.

Therefore, this space itself is a harsh debuff to the awakened person.

Although the travel time was still short, the snow stuck to my entire body, turning it completely white.

Lim Jae-ho, who took the lead, frequently looked back and checked the condition of the party members.

“Are you both okay?”

Lim Jae-ho muttered.

‘Are you worried about my condition?’

My equipment was actually lighter than Jeong Si-woo’s.

If you don’t have special physical skills, the map situation is not easy even for an awakened person.

His worries were not for nothing. Jeong Si-woo responded to Lim Jae-ho’s words.

“Hi… It’s so cold!! But it’s worth holding on.”

And Lim Jae-ho, who saw me next to Jeong Si-woo, looked momentarily surprised.

“…… Junwoo looks fine too.”

It was a much lighter outfit than Jeong Si-woo’s.

Nevertheless, my expression must have been extremely relaxed.

‘Well, I’m using my powers right now.’

A fire burning from the power mana heart.

My main power is constantly accelerating fire attribute mana from the mana heart due to the passive called ‘Fire Training’.

That effect can create sufficient ice resistance.

However, that method was not the only solution.

The mana that should be used in battle must be consumed to resist the cold. It means a waste of mana.

Compared to Aegis, which was not affected by the map because there was a special priest named Ha Ye-eun, it was like starting with a debuff from the beginning.

‘Well, but it’s no problem.’

Actually, I was using only the minimum amount of mana for the firepower training passive.

In short, I am enduring the current cold with my body.

‘If it were me in the past, it would have never been possible.’

If it were me in those Golden Sun days.

In fact, since he was no different from an ordinary person, he would have suffered from frostbite or hypothermia a long time ago.

But now I am different.

A demonization that has successfully evolved.

As a result, my physical strength became strong enough to be compared to Lim Jae-ho.

‘Thanks to Song Si-ah and Ha Ye-eun.’

This is my first time using this physical skill properly in real life.

Although I expected it to some extent, my physical condition has improved more than I expected.

So, for me, I have no intention of losing to my opponent, no matter how strong Aigis is.

‘Well, that would be the same for the three people of Aegis.’

Rather, before the semifinals.

Through meeting and contacting those three people, my morale was raised to the maximum.

Of course they told me it would be crazy if anyone found out.

If those three people weren’t sincere, it would be more difficult.

‘The main characters of the original work achieved great growth in the semifinals.’

So, as Song Xia told me, if he had deliberately given up on the game due to personal feelings.

That becomes a very unpleasant situation.

Song Si-ah and Ha Ye-eun are my contractors.

As their contract owner and devil, the level of the contract is the source of my power.

‘Besides, those two people are a good means of controlling An Yu-min, who is about to become a villain.’

Then the problem is An Yu-min.

In the future, she, a dangerous person who becomes the story boss, becomes stronger.

There doesn’t seem to be any benefit to me at all.

However, it is hero An Yu-min, not villain An Yu-min, who grows through this semifinal match.

If I encourage An Yu-min and help him grow as a hero.

Of course, it is a great help in suppressing the villainized An Yu-min.

‘That’s not all.’

Above all, the semifinals are a game that attracts a lot of attention.

It was different from before.

This is a game that even the executives of Orifiel and Crimson Teeth are paying attention to.

So, the stronger the opponent, the stronger.

If I catch this match.

This means that Unknown’s presence and location can be clearly imprinted on them.

‘Because come-from-behind wins are the most thrilling.’

The effect will be even greater for Oriphiel, who passed the Eye of Amon and became my subordinate in terms of hierarchy.

This means that it will be of great benefit to me as I am Orifiel, the leader of Crimson Teeth.

Of course, all of these plans are meaningful only if Ignition defeats Aegis.

‘Ahn Yu-min would never want to lose either.’

In order to boost An Yu-min’s morale, I brought up the promise from my high school days.

A promise to go to the cute character theme park together, which is one of An Yu-min’s bucket lists.

‘Knowing that I remembered that promise… An Yu-min was very happy.’

But Unknown’s intuition was whispering to me.

Contrary to An Yu-min’s expectations.

That I would never go to a theme park with her.

Because of that, I thought of An Yu-min’s despairing face.

As expected, I had no feelings towards An Yu-min.

“We will probably face Aigis in 5 minutes. The first battle centers on Jaeho.”

And after a while.

Ahn Yu-min’s sword attack, which appeared at point A, struck Ignition.

***

20 minutes have passed since the semifinals began.

The shape of the game was already predicted from the beginning.

A battlefield that is extremely advantageous to Aegis.

As such, Aegis was completely in control for the last 20 minutes.

Instructor Lee Su-yeon was watching the semifinals from the coach’s seat.

“The map is a field where snowstorms like this are pouring down… It’s too much.”

Choi Hana, who was with Lee Su-yeon, said.

As Choi Hana said.

Ignition was out of luck.

Map selection is random.

As a result, the map was the current heavy snow map, which is the Aigis’ home ground.

‘It doesn’t seem to be purely random.’

It was so exquisite.

Semifinals. This is a game where the Aegis, a very popular team, is attracting attention.

In reality, the party that made headlines in the media was, of course, Aegis.

All three members are already well-known idols.

In addition, the awareness of Jeong Woon-kyung, who is in charge of the operator, has increased significantly.

He said that there are already countless advertisements coming in under Aigis’ name.

On the other hand, Ignition showed off its spirit by advancing to the semifinals as an unknown team.

His activities were not reported in the media as much as expected.

Although it has become quite famous among spectators and community users who attend the stadium.

Its popularity is still incomparable to that of Aigis.

Suyeon Lee already knew the reason.

‘Main sponsor, Apostle of Valhalla. Their influence must have gotten into it.’

Yoon Geon-woo’s Royal Flag, which can already be said to be the apostle’s direct team. The team advanced to the finals.

If Aigis comes up, it will be a dream match.

Although it is not as popular as Aigis.

The Royal Flag was very popular due to its overwhelming strength and media push.

In fact, there was considerable public opinion in some media and communities that if Ignition made it to the finals, it would be a box office disaster.

‘In many ways, we feel like we are uninvited guests.’

So the current map selection couldn’t help but feel unclear.

Even if the battle takes place on an inverted desert-like map, An Yu-min is a threatening main dealer.

Now that An Yu-min has met the attribute map, it’s like giving wings to a tiger.

“Ignition! In the first battle, I succeeded in retreating while narrowly avoiding retirement!”

“Well, but if it continues like this, I probably won’t have to watch the game. It seems that Aigis has already found a way to destroy the tactic of relying only on the physical strength of Lim Jae-ho, a werewolf player.”

So even the game commentators didn’t seem to have high expectations for Ignition.

The battle a little while ago.

As the commentary said, Lim Jae-ho, standing in the front line, withstood An Yu-min’s freezing sword attack.

And although Jeong Si-woo and Lee Jun-woo kept the remaining members Song Sia and Ha Ye-eun in check.

Even in the high class, the individual abilities of the top three were overwhelming.

Ignition seemed to consume a lot of stamina.

Aigis had some time to spare.

“Ha Ye-eun’s expression is full of composure. If things continue like this, the game may end much sooner than the expected game time of 1 hour.”

“Well, since we succeeded in retreating, we’ll have to wait and see until it’s over.”

Su-yeon Lee watched the game with bated breath.

As she is the director of Ignition, she was able to check the entire view of the point where the party hid.

The point where dissemination takes place.

There, three people were quickly recovering their stamina.

‘But the supplies at the supply points are also consumables. There are limits.’

So when Suyeon Lee saw the selected map, she suggested a short game to Junwoo Lee.

As time passes, Aigis becomes more advantageous.

So, when you maintain your physical strength, you have a chance of winning by exploding all your strength in a short period of time.

This is a standard response method that is even included in tactical manuals.

However, Lee Jun-woo opposed Lee Soo-yeon’s words in a calm voice.

– Director. This match will be a very long one.

Suyeon Lee hurriedly looked at Ignition’s expression on the screen.