Chapter 513 - 513 (1/2)

Su-hyeun's declaration brought about a sizeable ripple to the arena.

Usually, the main competition and the final match would take place over several days. However, by doing what Su-hyeun had suggested, this year's Ranking Wars would be over in one day.

He even placed a significant restriction on himself.

”Well, it's certainly intriguing, but...”

”Wouldn't the tournament end far too quickly in this case?”

”More than anything else, though, would anyone agree to do something like that?”

”He sure has great confidence in himself, doesn't he?”

The crowd was getting curious.

The number of S-Rank awakeners currently in the main competition was about 30 percent of all S-Ranks dispersed throughout the world, and Su-hyeun was saying that he would face them all in a one-on-one fight.

Was something like that even possible, though?

They wanted to see it.

Also, they were curious about the ”one opponent” Su-hyeun was talking about and the potential battle between the two.

”It must be Gordon Rohan.”

”There isn't anyone else.”

The spectators thought that Su-hyeun's only opponent today would be Gordon Rohan, the current number one, the organizer of the Ranking Wars, and the one called the strongest awakener in the world before Su-hyeun entered the scene.

And right at that moment...

The one they were thinking of, Gordon Rohan, finally said something. ”Hmm… That suggestion puts me in a bind. However, it's also a rather intriguing idea, isn't it?”

He revealed himself from the top of the arena.

The wings of an angel were on his back, allowing him to fly in the air. While being subjected to the attention of every single spectator in the arena, he looked down at Su-hyeun on the ground.

Even though he wasn't using a megaphone, Gordon Rohan's voice was clearly heard throughout the arena. Just like how it was with Su-hyeun's voice earlier.

”Why don't you tell us more? For one, shouldn't you also put forward a reward or compensation for the participants who decide to accept your suggestion?”

What Gordon Rohan said just now was indeed correct.

The contestants' goal for entering this year's Ranking Wars was not to win the whole tournament. Gordon Rohan was to worry about, and with Su-hyeun also in the mix, they no longer even dreamed of winning.

What they wanted now was to earn more fame through the Ranking Wars.

However, the opportunity to do that would be gone if they went along with Su-hyeun's suggestion.

”You're right. It's fine even if you don't win against me. If any of you manage to hit me and leave behind even a small nick or a scratch, I'll pay you double the amount of the reward money.”

”From your own funds, I presume?”

”Of course. And also,” Su-hyeun scanned the contestants currently sitting among the grandstands. ”If you want, I'll let you join the Paragon Guild as well. However, if that's not what you want, I can also give you one of the items in my possession.”

”What...?”

”The Paragon Guild?”

”One of Kim Su-hyeun's items?”

Now those were astounding incentives, alright.

It didn't matter even if they didn't win. All they had to do was to hit him somehow.

Winning might be out of the question, but wouldn't something like scratching him a bit be possible to pull off? That was the thought that popped up in the contestants' heads, along with the greed sprouting in their hearts.

If they could join the Paragon Guild, their fame and fortune would get an instant boost. Not to forget, the Paragon Guild was seen as the world's strongest elite guild—a guild that hadn't accepted anyone since its inception, to boot.

The same also applied to Su-hyeun's items. A portion of the awakeners said that the half of Su-hyeun's incredible strength must've come from all the top-class items in his possession, after all.

”This is a jackpot.”

”Hey, this is better than winning the tournament, isn't it?”

”And the reward payout is doubled, too...”

There didn't seem to be any negatives to consider, at least according to the offer.

And so, only two issues remained: one, whether or not Gordon Rohan would agree to this suggestion, and two, solving the dissatisfaction of the spectators who didn't like this suggestion at all.

However, the solution to these two problems wasn't that difficult at all.

”We'll hold it in the event match format,” Gordon Rohan aired his idea after pondering the answer for a little while.

The event match format?

It sounded like a last-minute improvisation, but it didn't sound so bad as a pretext to get things moving.

By holding the competition in the event match format, it would be possible to accept both Su-hyeun's suggestions and continue with the main matches.

With this, the spectators feeling dissatisfied by the shortened length of the competition should be appeased to a degree.

”However, your rankings will still be affected. Any objections?” Gordon Rohan asked loudly.

No one voiced their objections.

The atmosphere had become even hotter, instead.

Gordon Rohan smirked deeply, ”In that case, let's not beat around the bush and get started.”

* * *

Even though he said that time was still required before the event match could get underway, he said that to call for those contestants who were not scheduled to participate in today's main matches. Gordon Rohan also granted the contestants who were already eliminated permission to participate.

It was for the sake of hosting a grander event, even if the scale got grander only by a little bit.

During this brief lull in the competition, Gordon Rohan glanced at Su-hyeun, who was currently standing all by himself in the middle of the arena, and pondered, ”Did his personality change?”

From Su-hyeun's expression to the light in his eyes and the way he spoke or the offer he made, everything seemed different somehow.

More importantly, his unrestrained display of power and judgment was sharp enough to subdue Thomas in one strike.

Every single one of those actions and words seemed a little different to ”Su-hyeun” that Gordon Rohan remembered.

”Still, it suits him well.”

Su-hyeun didn't look awkward at all.

A few among the spectators might think that something was a bit off with Su-hyeun's current behavior. It seemed to be at odds with how he came across in past interviews and such. However, Gordon Rohan didn't think the same as they did.

”The best of the best should act like one, after all.”

No matter what, Su-hyeun was the best of the best.

Even Gordon Rohan, a man with overflowing pride, acknowledged that. Su-hyeun's powers had reached a realm so high that no one could even look up anymore. And it happened a long time ago, too.

However, Su-hyeun's personality didn't suit such a powerful man occupying the ”best of the best” seat.

His usual nature was rather laid-back, and when there was no urgent matter to deal with, he sometimes came across as a hippy. Not only did he lack ambition or desire, but he also didn't have much of an ego or outward confidence.

Yet there he was, standing all by himself in the center of the arena.

The first challenger soon stepped forward.

”Allow me to be the first one.”

He was someone Su-hyeun was familiar with: Bak Yun-gyu, the Korean S-Rank who ranked among the very best in the world—after excluding the Paragon Guild members, of course.

His current ranking was sixth, which was definitely not low by any measure. On the contrary, it was incredibly high.

The crowd erupted in cheers at Bak Yun-gyu's challenge, but Su-hyeun remained standing still. He then slowly nodded as if he couldn't hear them.

He was silently telling his challenger to give his all.

Step—

Bak Yun-gyu took a step forward.

As he yanked his sword out, a humongous image materialized right behind him.

[Heavenly Sword King - One Sword Cutting Through Everything]