Dungeon Hunter - Chapter 43
Chapter 43: Episode 12. Ranking Tournament (1)
The ranking tournament!
There were only a few days left before the tournament that would divide the levels of the awakened.
Kim Yongwoo wanted to make the tournament a big deal, so he leaked information related to the ranking tournament to other guilds and posted banners on the website used most by the awakened.
It wasn’t an everyday opportunity to be able to see the fights of the strong awakened. Furthermore, in the cases of the guilds besides the five, it was a great chance for them to check on the strength of the Chun, Myung, and Hwois, and there was no way they would miss such a chance.
For that, Kim Yongwoo didn’t hesitate to release his funds.
The place where the tournament would be held was the Seoul World Cup Stadium. It had taken a huge amount of money to rent at that specific time.
The tickets were free. They invited famous celebrities and prepared many gifts.
But that wasn’t all. They prepared their own information task force for the PR of the ranking tournament and the guild.
There was no need to mention that it almost emptied Kim Yongwoo’s bank account, but Kim Yongwoo thought it was worth every penny. If he could keep his position as a guild master and make people remember him, the investment was worth the money.
His marketing plan received an enthusiastic response.
It was impossible to be broadcasted on the air on a public TV network, since it would be a bloody fight without any script, but a lot of personal broadcasters and journalists from the newspaper requested interviews.
Also, huge cable TV networks specializing in news on awakened heroes wanted the broadcasting rights for the tournament. If this tournament worked out, it seemed like he could organize ranking tournaments regularly to make a profit.
When the ranking tournament seemed like it would become a hit, the other five guilds that were watching Kim Yongwoo’s moves in silence started to feel anxious. They were jealous of the Guild of Heaven’s Will since it was clear that this tournament would establish their position.
“Do you want to participate in the ranking tournament? Sure. Join the tournament, but I’ll take only one attack unit per guild. I’ll let you join the tournament. Bring your best attack unit.”
Kim Yongwoo didn’t care much.
More spectacles meant more in the audience, and that was exactly what Kim Yongwoo was hoping for.
It was decided that all five guilds would participate.
Although each guild could bring only one attack unit, that was enough to create a huge buzz around the tournament.
Everyone had constantly argued who the stronger hero was ever since the awakened heroes appeared. Most of the strong heroes were members of the five guilds. Nobody could predict the results of a tournament including the best attack units of all five guilds.
It wasn’t just the awakened heroes but regular people who were looking forward to the tournament, as well.
Everyone agreed that the champion of this tournament would be named the strongest in the world.
People from all around the country came to watch the tournament. Many awakened heroes from overseas even hopped on flights to watch the tournament.
“Welcome to Korea!”
Kim Yongwoo smiled mildly.
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Du du du—
The sounds of a trumpet filled the air.
Members of a wind orchestra lined up in white suits and played epic music to rile up the audience.
After the orchestra, cheerleaders ran into the middle of the stadium.
The cheerleaders were in mini skirts and crop-top uniforms. They performed a sexy dance while shaking their red and blue pom-poms.
“Whee!”
The cheerleader’s performance made the guys in the stadium smile, naturally.
Over 40,000 people had rushed into the Seoul World Cup Stadium, which had a capacity of 64,000 people. More people kept entering.
After the cheerleaders’ performance, a famous idol group was getting ready to put on a show.
“Mori! Mori!
One of the most popular idol groups, Mori, stood on the stage!
There were five members in the group, and their outstanding live performances made them one of the most wanted idol groups in Korea.
It was an excellent spectacle for everyone when performances kindled the exciting atmosphere.
Mori went onto the stage, and Kim Yongwoo and other members of the Guild of Heaven’s Will walked up to the stage one by one.
There were a hundred and sixty-eight people!
It seemed like every member of the Guild of Heaven’s Will was on the stage.
Kim Yongwoo, the organizer of this event, had to make a speech.
Kim Yongwoo held the microphone arrogantly and started to talk with a smile on his face.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the very first ranking tournament. I’m Kim Yongwoo, the leader of the Guild of Heaven’s Will.”
When he finished his official welcome, Kim Yongwoo turned his head toward his members.
“And I’m proud to present the members of the Guild of Heaven’s Will who will participate in this ranking tournament. We have twenty-one attack units in total, and there are four special attack units who aren’t here on the stage. In a moment, you’ll be able to enjoy a ranking tournament of twenty-five attack units. This is going to be an exciting and thrilling fight of heroes. Who will be the winner?”
Everyone looked a bit nervous, the audience as much as the participants.
Kim Yongwoo finished his words with a grin.
“So, I hope everyone will enjoy this three-day festival. I will cut my boring message short. Thank you!”
“Hurray!”
The noise from the audience was shaking the stadium!
The ranking tournament officially commenced.
The preliminary round was a round to select the attack units for the next round.
Half of the 21 attack units from the Guild of Heaven’s Will would be eliminated in this preliminary round.
The four attack units that were invited would participate in the rounds that included 16 groups, so only 11 attack units from the Guild of Heaven’s Will could make it to the rounds with 16.
Everyone in the 21 attack units was looking at each other with their full guard up.
“Unit leader, our first opponent is the black leopard attack unit,” Kim Chunwoon commented in the waiting room while looking at the bracket.
Lee Jihye continued his words. “Members of the opposing team won’t be easy. All eight of them are founding members of the Guild of Heaven’s Will. They are not only strong, but they also have many magic armors… It will be a difficult battle from the first round.”
“Are you scared of getting hurt?”
When I asked her, Lee Jihye shook her head.
“It’s not that. We have shield items to reduce the damage, and it seems like we’ll be able to use as many potions as we need. But even if we defeat the black leopard attack unit, we’ll continually face strong units. That is my concern.”
It was a tournament with real swords with sharp blades, so there were some safety measures prepared. One of those measures was the shield item.
It was a masterpiece of blacksmiths and enchanters. The level was Normal, but it would absorb a reasonable amount of shock from the attack.
The fight could continue only when the shield was still there. if a unit proceeded to attack when the shield was broken, they would be fouled and disqualified.
Another security measure was countless potions that were in the guild’s warehouse. There were more than a billion of potions found in the dungeon, and all of them would be used during this ranking tournament.
Physical damage wasn’t a huge concern, but Lee Jihye was concerned about the tournament bracket.
Her team had to keep facing strong attack units.
It seemed like someone had messed with the bracket.
“Don’t worry. You guys aren’t too bad.”
It was just on the human level, but it was true that they had become stronger during the three weeks of training. They became much better at using their skills and weapon techniques.
There was a huge TV screen in the waiting room, and everyone was watching the screen to monitor the tournament.
The first match was between “the tough fellows” and “mistake.”
Kim Taehwan was the unit leader of the tough fellows.
Kim Taehwan’s name wasn’t on the list that Kim Yongwoo gave me, but the rumor said that he was supporting the devil hunter unit in a way. It turned out that what I heard in the elevator was sincere advice.
“What is that? Are they pretending to be a SWAT team?” Kim Chunwon murmured when he saw the members of the tough fellows with their faces painted in black and wearing combat outfits.
The Chinese characters “必勝” were written on their combat outfits and meant unfailing victory… They were determined to win at any cost.
With the blow of a whistle, the ranking tournament began.
Yoo Eunhye approached and commented, “Everyone in the tough fellows is a warrior. On the other hand, the mistake unit has both long-distance and close-range dealers.”
It looked like the tough fellows were at a disadvantage in this fight.
A unit only with warriors would give the opponent many chances to attack. They had a limited attack range, and there were only two who could defend if the mistake attacked from a distance.
A TV commentator pointed that out right away.
―Oh no! Everyone in the tough fellows unit is starting to attack. They wouldn’t even place guards in the front? They’re making this fight difficult for themselves!
―That’s stupid. Look. They’ve started to break their shields already.
―Kim Youwon, Cha Doosam out! Oh, too bad! But the tough fellows aren’t stopping!
―Now, more fighting. The mistake unit is in a panic, but what is that skill that Kim Taehwan is using? It looks like there’s a hazy light around his sword.
―It’s a Mana Concentration skill that augments the cutting power of the sword. Ah, ah! A guard from the mistake unit tried to stop him but failed!
―It became a dog fight. Huh… That is a remarkable break throw power.
―Distance dealers of the mistake unit are throwing skills to their own team! That’s a horrible mistake!
―It’s not too early to say game over now. It was clear what the tough fellows unit was planning, but mistake couldn’t stop it. It’s a pity. There are many improvements they need to make for this ranking tournament, but that also makes this tournament so interesting. Let’s keep watching.
The tough fellows unit won an overwhelming victory.
The stadium looked like the Colosseum where gladiators fought. The audience cheered.
Lee Jihee understood the importance of tactics and suggested, “…I did my research on members of the black leopard unit. Should we plan our tactics and formation?”
it was just an eight-on-eight fight, but the psychological warfare was beyond imagination.
But I answered firmly, “We don’t need it.”
“What?”
“I can handle the preliminary round with only Krathra.”
“Leader, I understand, but the black leopard unit is—”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
“…Understood.”
Lee Jihye nodded. She hadn’t seen my strength, so it would be natural for her to think that Krathra was stronger than me.
But this tournament bracket, I really liked it.
It seemed like people who were trying to keep the devil hunter unit in check had changed the bracket…I supposed Kim Yongwoo knew about it as well, which was why he hadn’t tried to change it.
I could surely change how Lee Jihye thought of me by crushing the black leopard unit.
A supporter in a yellow uniform opened the door of the waiting room and shouted, “Devil hunter unit! Devil hunter unit, come out! The next match starts in five minutes!”
It was our time.
The members of my unit looked a bit nervous, except for me and Krathra.
While leading the way, I told them, “Let’s go.”
I couldn’t help smiling.
The overwhelming power…
This was the perfect chance to show everyone.
