In fact, I knew earlier that I could produce a stronger power if I used the power of the sun and the wind at the same time. The reason I hadn't done so was because I didn't have a reason. In the Vulcan lava field, I had no reason to use Rising Sun. Then for a while, it was necessary for me to adapt to the power of Blade Wind.

Now it was no longer the case. I couldn't be careless against those in front of me.

“Keuk. It is a tremendous power.”

“What on earth is his level?”

Lewis and Dariya appeared in the midst of the hot smoke with fl.u.s.tered expressions. All the team members behind them had been wiped out in the previous attack. If so, the two people in front of me were the flag bearers. As expected, the two of them couldn't be defeated at this level. Well, it didn't matter.

[You have opened the power of Sun Road.]

[The sun's footprints are left behind in the path you walk.]

[The blowing wind will sing to the sun that doesn't go out.]

A momentum that was like a runaway train burst from both legs. Once the power of the wind was added, a more powerful force than the original Sun Road exploded. The duration of Sun Road was almost infinite and I slowly walked toward them. The sight of a pillar of fire rising behind my back every time I took a step seemed very daunting.

“Excuse me."

“Kyak! What is this pervert doing?”

Suddenly, Lewis' tongue grew longer and wrapped around Dariya's waist, right next to her nine tails. Dariya tried to cut Lewis' tongue with her sharp nails, but Lewis told her, “Let me copy your skill.”

“You crazy... you aren't taking your tongue off?”

“It is only five seconds.”

I just watched them with crossed arms. This was Brookesia's unique ability. Brookesia was the name of Lewis' constellation. The nickname was 'versatile man.' Obviously, he had the ability to copy various skills. The condition was that his long tongue had to touch the other person for five seconds. Then he could copy one of the skills of that person. Of course, it wasn't easy.

“Um, okay. I copied it,” Lewis spoke while sticking out his tongue.

Dariya frowned at him in a dissatisfied manner.

“Really... you are so handsome in reality. Do you know how ugly you look in the game?”

“Huhu. Men aren't all about appearance. Slurp. Cloning...”

There was a burst of smoke and another two Lewises appeared next to him. He seemed to have copied the cloning that was part of the fox constellation, 'Silver Moon,' next to him. It seemed this wasn't the end. Lewis used another skill. “Karas' Wings.”

Familiar black wings spread out behind Lewis' back. This was the power of Fabian whom I had just fought with. However, there were drawbacks to copying these skills.

“In the end, it is impossible to be completely like that guy... Tsk.”

It only copied half of the skill. This was the drawback of Brookesia's copying ability. It could also only copy three skills. Even so, it was still a terrifying ability.

“I'll go first, Honey.” 

The three Lewises spread out their wings and flew forward, causing afterimages. This was one of the powers of the crow constellation, 'Karas.' I was dizzy facing just one of them. Now there were more thanks to the clones.

Then Dariya also used the cloning technique. She created two more clones than Lewis.

[The first apostle, 'Prometheus,' is scoffing.]

I scoffed like Prometheus and ran toward them. “This won't work for me now.”

Keen Insight penetrated through the clones and found their true bodies instantly. I instantly dodged the sharp feathers that were fired from the sky. I dodged the fox claws and tail attacks coming from the distance while dropping both weapons to the ground. Then I used this gap to fire cobwebs.

“......!”

“......!”

The two people had wide eyes from confusion. Meanwhile, I spun around and narrowed the distance between the two of them. I released an inferno toward them.

“Pay attention to the heat wave. Are you ready?”

“This...”

“I was beaten...”

The thing that followed was the presence of the sun. The power of the sun burned endlessly and engulfed the surroundings. All that was left were a pile of ashes and a fallen flag. By the way, why was there only one?

“Keuk. Wait and... see!”

It was Dariya who ran away. This was also one of the techniques of the 'Silver Moon.' It was to change positions with one of the clones. In any case, she seemed to have managed to survive. She added an honorific at the end because I was older, so it was pretty cute.

“Hrmm.”

[The flag has been acquired.]

I picked up the flag that had fallen to the ground. It was the flag that Lewis had dropped. With this, the Korean team was definitely number one. The problem was that the American players, apart from Michael, had scattered while I was fighting and they were following Mido and the others. I was somewhat anxious.

“Well, I have no time to worry about others.”

The surrounding situation right now was chaotic. I had done this much. If they couldn't endure, then it couldn't be helped.

“I don't need to chase after that girl called Dariya... only that place is left.”

My gaze moved to a new place. Zhen Sulong and Michael were there. They were in a dog fight with the British player and Torres. There were three minutes remaining. Then the match would be over. I ran over there without delay.

*** 

“Gasp. Gasp... This s.h.i.+t.”

“...Too strong!”

“Everyone, just hold on! There are three minutes remaining!”

The players squeezed out the last of their strength at Captain Lim Changyong's cry. The Korean team was now under siege by all of the US team, apart from Michael. They took a solid defensive formation and managed to log out two American players, but that was all.

Eun Jeonghyeok's stealth didn't work and he was quickly eliminated. Several other players were also eliminated from a surprise attack. The only ones who remained were Lim Changyong, Kim Hyeonu, Kim Haeil, and Park Jangsoo. Additionally, Choi Mido.

Now they were barely holding on thanks to the Maya Rain Cloud, Kim Haeil's wide area healing skill.

'......'

Damian, the captain of the American team, watched the Korean team with crossed arms. He was a bit surprised that they could hold out longer than he thought. 'They've held on so far... I can't waste anymore time.'

There was now less than a minute left. It was time to settle this. The ident.i.ty of the flag bearer was obvious. The formation was mainly based around the woman called 'Mido' and she was the flag bearer. Damian nodded and spoke to the air, “Come out, James.” 

[The Joker of the US team has appeared.]

“Ah, is it finally my turn? I thought I couldn't appear today. Didn't you call me too late?”

Everyone's attention was focused on the sudden appearance of the Asian man. He was a young man with the username 'James.'

“That's why I called you. You are bored so finish it. It is in one minute.”

“Hmm. It is still my home country so it is more annoying than I thought, Senior.”

James was a card Damian had hidden deeply so his face was still unknown to everyone. He didn't even partic.i.p.ate in the opening ceremony. On that day, he was following Damian's instructions and improving his skills.

“You'll play in the next match.”

“Well, if you say that then it can't be helped.” James shrugged and pulled out a pistol from his waistband. At the same time, the guns of Lim Changyong and Park Jangsoo aimed at him. It was a hair-trigger situation. A cowboy-like tension swirled between the two teams.

It happened in an instant. The heavy smoke of magic bullets flowed between the two teams. It wasn't James but Lim Changyong and Park Jangsoo who fell down. Bullets had clearly struck their heads.

“What...?”

“Keok...”

The two people were about to be logged out, but they still stared at James' hand with disbelief. James hadn't even pulled the trigger. What the h.e.l.l happened?

James walked toward them. “Do you know the unchanging truth about guns?”

“......”

“......”

The two people couldn't open their mouths. It was because they were logged out. James shrugged and murmured quietly while walking. It was toward the Korean team. “The one who shoots quickly wins.”

Click. Tatatatang!

“Kuock!”

“Oof!”

James fired his gun at the remaining people at a devastating speed. The nature of his magic bullet was speed. Additionally, the characteristic of the cla.s.s called 'Desperado' was to fire a gun quickly. Furthermore, if there was a headshot then there was a low probability of the enemy dying instantly.

Kim Hyeonu and Kim Haeil, who had endured for a long time using the combination of a paladin and a monk, couldn't resist and got bullet holes in their heads. All of this happened in less than 30 seconds. The remaining time was 10 seconds.

James quickly loaded a bullet and pointed it at the head of the remaining Korean player, the flag bearer. Then James' eyes shook. “You...?”

“...Eunsung oppa?” Unknown emotions swirled between them. Mido felt her heart beating faster as she watched him walk over. It was because he was Mido's first love. 

“Why are you here...?”

“That's what I want to ask...”

“This—s.h.i.+t.”

“......!”

They realized there was little time left and the two people aimed their weapons at each other.

James had a gun. Mido had a sword.

A moment pa.s.sed between then and then James fired.

Taaang!

“......”

“......”

There was a long gunshot and the two people watched each other silently. The first one to make a sound was Mido.

“Ugh.” Mido groaned and blood gushed from her thigh. James had aimed at Mido's head. Mido initially wielded her sword with the intention of hitting the gun out of his hand, but she managed to s.h.i.+ft the trajectory of the bullet.

'...This is it. I've succeeded.' Mido endured the pain in her thigh and squeezed out a smile.

“s.h.i.+t!” James saw Mido's expression and realized his mistake. He aimed his gun at her again, but the time was already up.

Beeeeep!

“......”

“......”

[The second match has ended.]

[The 2nd stage of the World Compet.i.tion's first event - 'The Flag Battle' has ended.]

[Everyone has suffered a lot.]

[You will be logged out after three seconds.]

[3,2,1…]

Mido and James watched each other while caught up in strange emotions. Soon, their vision was covered with white. Now, the hearts of the two people were beating with indescribable things.