The Hero Returns

***

The world was torn apart. Not only the broadcasters broadcasting the Ranking Wars but also the hundreds of millions of viewers watching it were surprised. They couldn't accept this result, which overturned all their expectations.

"R-rewrite the article, quickly! Write a headline like 'Gordon Rohan lost the first round!' and upload the article after you summarize as much as possible what just happened!"

"Yes! Yes! Oh, what? Some newspapers already posted about it!"

"What? What crazy bastards! How did they know the results and write already?"

"What about the articles we've already written?"

"Erase everything! From now on, write articles focused on Kim Su-hyeun. Monitor the competition in real-time!"

"Yes, sir!"

Not only the broadcasters but even the reporters got busy. It was such an unexpected scenario that Gordon Rohan would be eliminated in the first game. Even though he was fighting Kim Su-hyeun, people's opinions did not change. 5 to 95. Those were the odds between Su-hyeun and Gordon Rohan.

And the reporters who had written the articles in advance, hoping for the small possibility of the five percent, hit the jackpot. At the moment of Su-hyeun's victory, they upload their articles as fast as possible and got a high view count.

Korean broadcasting stations were also busy. A Korean awakener defeating Gordon Rohan was a huge topic.

"It doesn't matter if he wins the Ranking Wars or not, prepare for an interview with Kim Su-hyeun right now! Take it exclusively, no matter what it takes!"

"Should we get an airplane then?"

"Airplane? Yes. Yes. Good idea. We have to meet him before other people do something. No! They might have already departed!"

"Sir!"

"Why? What is it? Can't you see I'm busy right now?"

"The final round, sir! It seems like it won't go long!"

"…What?"

One producer of CBC broadcaster, busy giving orders, turned his head quickly. He watched the game on the monitor and opened his eyes wide.

"Is he fighting the third one already?"

Gordon Rohan had just lost the fight. But now, in front of Su-hyeun, a third opponent fell to the ground.

***

Boom—!

Su-hyeun grabbed the opponent's neck and threw him to the floor. The opponent was assassin-type awakener who had been moving at high speed to distract Su-hyeun.

"If you wanted to wear out my stamina, you should have thrown your weapon from a distance at least," said Su-hyeun.

"A-argh…"

The assassin's eyes turned white. He started foaming at the mouth and passed out. He had moved so fast, that it took more time to catch him than other awakeners.

"Next."

Su-hyeun shook his hands and stood up. He looked at the stands. Two people raised their hands. Everyone was hurrying to fight with him at first, but there weren't many volunteering anymore.

Puff—

A familiar face appeared before Su-hyeun's eyes. He was a Chinese awakener named Wang Wu.

"The competition was too high."

He had been raising his hand ever since the fight between Gordon Rohan and Su-hyeun was over. And, finally, he raised his hand faster than everyone else. So, he could participate in the game.

"Hey. We've met before, right?" Su-hyeun asked.

"Thanks to you," Wang Wu said, "my wrist was out. Well. I managed somehow to pass the preliminary round though."

Su-hyeun had broken up a fight between Wang Wu and one Japanese awakener from the top floor of Gordon Tower before. That time, he had broken Wang Wu's wrist to subdue him.

"I guess you had a good doctor."

"One of my guild members has amazing recovery skills. He can reattach a broken bone in half a day."

"Then, why did you come out so fast?"

"I know you're going to win anyway. So, I wanted to fight with you when you had more energy," Wang Wu said and put the gloves on his hands. He stared at Su-hyeun. "I don't even think to win against you. I'd be satisfied if I hit you just once."

Bam—!

When Wang Wu hit the gauntlets in both of his hands, a solid sound spread around.

"Then I'll go first."

Whiz—

Wang Wu's big body began to move and came right to Su-hyeun. He wasn't that fast, but the power in his hands was stronger than the last three people. Wang Wu's fist stretched toward Su-hyeun's head.

At that moment, Wang Wu had a revelation.

<<What? He's not dodging.>>

Boom—!

The gauntlet hit Su-hyeun's face.

[Indomitable body.]

Along with the heavy feeling, a solid impact was delivered to the fist inside the gauntlet. And it was at that moment…

Grab—

"Ok. You hit me."

"Argh…"

Su-hyeun grabbed Wang Wu's forearm tightly and said, "Are you satisfied now?"

"What a crazy…"

Bam—!

Su-hyeun punched Wang Wu's solar plexus. His back bent forward and began to collapse.

Flop—

Su-hyeun's cheek that had been hit by the gauntlet felt numb.

He stroked his cheek and murmured, "I guess I should have avoided that." He turned his gaze to the participants again and said, "Next!"

***

Ten, eleven, twelve. The challengers lost one by one. The awakener who lasted the longest among them was Ashlyn. She was American S-Rank awakener, an unusual female one. She was the one who lasted longest but it wasn't that long, either. She was on the stage for three minutes.

1

Adel, who had been watching the matches, thought, <<Something…is wrong.>>

He started to think that way after Ashlyn lost. At first, when Su-hyeun and Gordon Rohan had fought, he let out a cheer. When Su-hyeun won unexpectedly, he didn't think that it was a problem. Whoever won, if they left each other covered with wounds, that was enough for him. He hoped Su-hyeun had run out of his energy and magic and would get injured. Adel thought he could win against him, then. So, he didn't jump to fight right away and waited to see. But…

<<How can he still be so lively?>>

Already half of the finalists had lost. But Su-hyeun was still full of energy.

[1 minute left.]

The announcement came directly to their brains. Adel collected his mind at that announcement. Nobody was trying to challenge Su-hyeun anymore. They all thought that they would wait until he ran out of energy.

<<If nobody challenges in 1 minute, he'll choose one.>>

Time passed slowly. When the time was done, the right to decide was passed over to Su-hyeun.

[Choose a challenger.]

<<Damn it!>>

Adel lowered his head. And he wasn't the only one. Every finalist in the arena avoided eye contact with Su-hyeun. Some people avoided his gaze explicitly. Other people pretended to look at something else. Adel was one of them.

"Damn it! Damn it!" Adel gnashed his teeth and muttered. He still lowered his head.

It had been a while since he'd avoided eye-contact with someone because he was scared. He felt humiliated. His pride was broken. He hoped Su-hyeun didn't point him out. He wanted to wait until the last of the last. He wanted to fight later, when Su-hyeun would be exhausted.

"Adel." Su-hyeun pointed out his opponent.

Puff—

At that moment, the landscape in front of Adel changed. Suddenly, he was at the stadium.

"Did he just choose Adel?"

"For the first point, he chooses Adel!"

"Then, maybe…"

The spectators started to stir. It was the same for the people who were watching the game on Television. Especially European viewers responded instantly. Adel was one of the top candidates for the winner, along with Gordon Rohan. And he was the most famous awakener all over Europe.

<<Maybe if Kim Su-hyeun is tired…>>

<<Adel could win. Possibly.>>

<<If Adel wins at this point, I might have chance to win.>>

Being a winner of the Ranking Wars would come with a great prize. Gordon Rohan had offered an enormous amount of money. If Su-hyeun was full of energy, there would be no chance for Adel to win against him. But Su-hyeun had fought against Gordon Rohan and had been fighting with more than ten S-Rank awakeners. So, Adel thought he might able to win. Su-hyeun and Adel looked at each other.

Su-hyeun grinned and spoke first, "Hey. Long time no see."

Clench—

Adel snarled at Su-hyeun's greeting. Su-hyeun had pointed out Adel without any hesitation. That meant only one thing. Su-hyeun had been waiting for Adel and the chance to fight against him.

"Sure. Long time no see," Adel said.

"You look very different from yesterday? Why don't you laugh?"

Adel had been smiling the day before. He usually laughed a lot. Even if it was faked, Adel was famous for his smiling face. Adel's distorted face wasn't something easy to see.

"Are you scared of me?" Su-hyeun asked.

Adel's eyes were shaking.

"Or are you scared of losing in front of so many people?"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

"Well…" Su-hyeun shook his head as if he was pathetic. "What would be the point of saying it?"

Su-hyeun didn't say it exactly, but Adel could understand what he was trying to say. Su-hyeun was laughing at what had happened the day before. Adel flipped his lid. He clenched his fists and gathered his magic.

<<I am Adel!>>

Rumble—

Adel's hands started to change to a golden color.

<<I can win! No matter how he pretends to be calm, he must be out of his energy!>>

Su-hyeun had used a lot of magic during the fight against Gordon Rohan. Adel assumed his physical strength was worn out as well.

<<I think his Fatigue level should be like 60%.>>

In that case, it was clear that Su-hyeun only could use half or less than half of his power than usual.

<<This is a good chance.>>

Adel made a firm determination. They were ready to fight.

[The game starts now.]

Swish—

Adel launched himself at Su-hyeun. On the other hand, Su-hyeun was standing still. Adel aimed Su-hyeun's neck and stretched his hand.

Clang— Clank— Clang—!

Su-hyeun's sword and Adel's hands hit each other, one after another. Adel didn't feel any pain. At first, his hands couldn't be cut by any sword, no matter how sharp.

[Adamantium gauntlets.]

Adamantium was the hardest metal in the world. It was very rare and priceless. Adel was one of the awakeners who attacked the dungeon where adamantium was found. And his gauntlets were the world's only gauntlets that had been made by smelting adamantium. Adel melted the gauntlets in his body to wear anytime, anywhere, and to use them as part of his body.

Boom—!

Adel's fist hit Su-hyeun's sword. After a couple of hits, his confidence grew. He was convinced that he could win.

<<I can do it!>>

Whoosh—

Adel stretched out his fist. Huge magic gathered in the fist and started to make it turn blue.

[White Dragon Fist.]

Kiyaaa—!

The shape of a giant dragon came over Su-hyeun's body. It was when the fangs of the blue dragon tried to bite Su-hyeun that he lifted his sword up. He didn't even try to avoid the attack.

<<Is he trying to stop it? No. He's not. He's…>>

When Adel realized what Su-hyeun was doing, it was too late.

[One Sword Cutting Through Everything- Cutting the Sky.]

Slash—

Su-hyeun's sword swung down.

Boom—!

The dragon's body was cut in two. The stadium went topsy-turvy again.