It felt like my entire body was burning. It wasn't the heat I felt from the sun around me. It was the white thunderbolt piercing me from the other side. The sensation of it burned my skin.

“Ugh.”

Strong. The Zhen Sulong who appeared in front of me was truly strong. The child who needed to be protected in the North Pole not long ago was no more—in front of me stood a warrior, and his name was Zhen Sulong. The sound of thunder was heard from the sky. It was the sound of Zhen Sulong's fist.

“Huup!”

I couldn't help moaning as the power of the thunderbolt became stronger. Still, I smiled the moment I heard the sound. I had heard about the words from Zhen Sulong's teacher. I was glad that my little brother was able to keep his will to become thunderbolt, not lightning.

It was a joy I felt from man to man, not older brother to little brother. Thus, I wanted to congratulate him.

The sharply forged white thunderbolt pierced the sun dragon's mouth and thunder was heard every time it entered. This didn't mean that I gave up. Zhen Sulong might have a reason not to lose, but I didn't think my reason was any less lacking.

“Ohhhh!”

My right foot ignored the burning sensation and swept away the thunderbolt. The ends of my clothing were ragged and burned. The thunderbolt and storm of the sun shook my white hair as the ma.s.sive turbulence and fluctuation of magic power constantly erupted around us.

“Ohhh!”

Zhen Sulong shouted like he was also unwilling to lose. He came closer than before. It was as if the sluice was opened and his penetration speed became faster.

I thought in my head about all the things I could do now. Shadow Play had already been used and I couldn't call Punghee and Chunza. They weren't strong enough yet to endure the thunderbolts. So what should I do? How could I win? Suddenly, I noticed a ring on my finger. Yes. If it was this...!

[Solomon's Ring is preparing Eyes of Judgment.]

[The ring has observed the user 'Zhen Sulong.']

The magic that stretched out from the ring swirled around Zhen Sulong's body. I wanted to cry out, 'That's it!'

However, Zhen Sulong's eyes were still indifferent. He was truly a man of conviction. It was a mentality that didn't dismiss the enemy in front of him.

[The user 'Zhen Sulong' doesn't have a favorite person.]

Huh?

[The favorite thing of user 'Zhen Sulong' is the word 'training.']

What was this?

[You haven't ruled the target as a 'couple.']

[The use of the skill will be canceled.]

The magic of the ring surrounding Zhen Sulong scattered and disappeared. This was crazy. No, he had never liked anyone or an NPC while playing the game? He wasn't married yet, right? What was this...?

“Ah...”

I seemed to understand. He only trained. It was in order to win against me. In order to become stronger. For the belief he sought to keep. He only trained and trained. In the end, he finally fulfilled his teacher's dream.

There was a flash in front of my eyes. My body became cold as there was the sensation of something piercing it.

* * *

-......!

-......!

-......!

A breathless tension slowly swept through the stadium. An hour long b.l.o.o.d.y struggle. It was a true battle between the strong. The duel was enough to be called a sacred duel between warriors and it made people sweat.

Choi Chuntaek used his ultimate move, the sun dragon. Zhen Sulong faced the sun dragon with a fist covered with a huge thunderbolt. The screen flashed after the fierce fighting and no one could pinpoint the winner. Who had won? Who was the truly strong one...?

Gulp.

In the midst of the breathtaking tension, Mido gulped. Park Muyeol breathed deeply and slowly as the tension drained out of his body. “...Sigh.”

He was sighing, but Park Muyeol was truly amazed. He hadn't expected that Zhen Sulong would do so well against Choi Chuntaek. Zhen Sulong became stronger as he fought and Park Muyeol thought that he should change his evaluation of Zhen Sulong once again. This was a true warrior who knew how to enjoy fighting. Park Muyeol never imagined that Zhen Sulong would drive Chuntaek to this point.

“Who won...?” Mido asked without taking her eyes off the screen.

“...I also don't know.”

“Ah, please. Grandfather has to win.”

Mido held both hands together like she was praying. Mido prayed earnestly that her grandfather would win. She might not believe in G.o.d, but she wanted to believe he was listening to her words. She couldn't think of the Korean team without her grandfather. Her grandfather's presence was so huge. It was the same for the other team members.

At this moment—

“Ah.”

“Ah!”

“Ah...!”

A sound broke the silence of the stadium. It was the sound of a capsule opening. It also declared that the winner and loser had been decided. Exclamations of 'ah' burst out. It was a mixture of admiration and regret.

“Ah...”

Finally, the loser who exited the capsule first emerged. It was Mido's grandfather who had white hair—Choi Chuntaek. There was the sound of another capsule opening right after. It was Zhen Sulong who came out. The loser was first and the winner was later. As if to declare it, the message on the screen was clearly revealed.

[The Chinese team has won.]

Wahhhhhhh!

Shouts poured down like rain. They were the loudest screams so far.

Choi Chuntaek wiped away his sweat and tied his hair back with a rubber band. There was a baptism of flashes from all sides, but it was good. He had lost the game anyway. It was enough to just stand here in front of so many people. It had been a long time since he felt so refreshed.

“Brother.” On the left, Zhen Sulong walked over. He was also sweating. It proved how fierce the battle was.

Choi Chuntaek reached out and asked for a handshake. “Congratulations.”

“...Thank you, Brother.” 

Zhen Sulong held his hands together politely and bowed 90 degrees.

“Huhu. Don't do this.”

Choi Chuntaek raised Zhen Sulong up and gave him a light hug. This was his older brother's blessing and the wish for him to grow further in the future. Zhen Sulong liked Choi Chuntaek like this. Zhen Sulong released the hug, grabbed Choi Chuntaek's wrist and raised it high. This time, it was the respect and admiration of the winner to the loser who did his best.

Waaaah!

Screams spread like wildfire and many people shouted, “Choi Chuntaek” and “Zhen Sulong.” Some people were weeping and some were laughing. The Korean cheering team was crying while giving generous applause for the players who did their best. As if to break this sentiment—

“Grandfather—!”

In the midst of the tens of thousands of spectators, a clear cry entered his ears. Choi Chuntaek turned his head. All of the Korean national team, including Mido, were running over here. Mido arrived the fastest and rushed into his arms.

“Heeeng.”

Mido's tears soaked his clothes.

“Haha.”

Choi Chuntaek simply laughed and stroked his granddaughter's hair. The thing that followed was a shout from Lim Changyong. Choi Chuntaek was surrounded in an instant and grumbled with annoyance.

“Aish. What are you doing?”

“Now on one, two, three. One, two, three!”

“Haaayaahh!"

In the midst of the laughter of the Korean team, Choi Chuntaek was thrown into the air. They looked very happy.

* * *

In the US team's waiting room, at Union Square...

“...In the end, the old man lost.” Damian sighed with relief. South Korea had always been a team of variables. They always surpa.s.sed his imagination. For Damian, South Korea was a more demanding opponent. However, it was a bit different for China. He would be able to use his skills to formulate a strategy.

“Don't you think it is a shame, Michael?” Damian asked Michael who was standing in the corner with folded arms. Michael s.h.i.+fted his gaze from the TV to Damian. Then he took a deep breath and stared up at the ceiling.

How could he express his current feelings? Upset? Cool? No. Michael was very sorry.

“What is it? It isn't a shame?”

“No. Just... I don't know. Me too.” Michael murmured.

“Um, I see. In any case, I'll come up with a strategy after a while.”

Damian headed to the inner room. On the other hand, Michael felt feelings that couldn't be described in words. It was definitely a shame, but it was also cool. There were no words in his native English that could express these feelings. Maybe he inwardly wanted Choi Chuntaek to win? It could be because he had more contact with Choi Chuntaek than Zhen Sulong.

'However.'

It was unavoidable. The winner was already Zhen Sulong. If so, he just had to beat Zhen Sulong who had beaten Choi Chuntaek. This way, he could once again prove that he was the strongest in Arkstar.

Nevertheless, what was this unknown emptiness? Why did it feel like something was gone? Why did he have this feeling? Who was Choi Chuntaek and what he had put in Michael's heart?

-a.s.sa! Ucha! Hiyahhh!

Choi Chuntaek's face was very bright as he was surrounded by the Korean national team. Michael didn't know why, but he was annoyed by this mixture of emptiness and regret.

'What the h.e.l.l is this feeling?'

It might be right to call it 'jealousy,' but he wasn't jealous about the loved ones. Michael just had no way of knowing what he was jealous of.

'...Sigh. I've finally gone crazy.'

Michael shook his head as if to get rid of his emotions. It was time to concentrate on the compet.i.tion. It wouldn't be too late to confirm these feelings once the compet.i.tion was over. At this moment...

-Breaking news!

The screen switched to something else.

One day remaining for submissions!

(Submission Final Date: 15th November)