Overgeared Chapter 919:
“What made you decide to naturalize?”
When Jair arrived in Australia, he answered questions from reporters . “I wanted to participate in the National Competition . ”
Jair was ranked 1,071 on the overall rankings . He took pride in his skills and wanted to be a star like the high rankers . However, the United States was too big . The country was overloaded with strong and capable individuals, and Jair became weak in comparison . He didn’t even get elected as a representative . The ‘abundance’ of the United States had taken away Jair’s chance .
***
“Zibal? It has been a while . ”
At the New York area selection round, hundreds of participants on stage were focused on Zibal . There were a variety of responses from the people . Those who recalled that Zibal had led the United States in the 1st and 2nd National Competitions welcomed him . Meanwhile, those who were disappointed that Zibal took the path of a hermit after facing several defeats frowned . Some people laughed or mocked him openly .
“Shouldn’t you retire after being called a punching bag? Why did you crawl back?”
“Don’t take away other people’s opportunities . ”
There were even those who seemed hostile . Zibal humbly accepted all of it . He knew their hostility came from affection and expectations .
‘They are those who waited for me . ’
Yes, the United States had been waiting . Zibal had been defeated by Russia’s Kraugel and South Korea’s Grid, but it hadn’t changed the fact that he was still one of the best talents in the United States . The American people had hoped he would play an active role again . They had wished the United States would once again be honored as the number one country in the 3rd National Competition . However, Zibal hadn’t responded to the people’s expectations . He had disappeared without a trace and turned away from the 3rd National Competition . Consequently, the United States lost its first place ranking .
The people felt as much betrayal as they had felt hope . As such, Zibal understood that they felt betrayed by him .
“In any case, we have Kraugel . We don’t need you!” A young ranker, who looked in his teens, cried out desperately . He was a boy who once dreamt of seeing America’s ‘captain’, Zibal . Yet the boy’s expectations had been betrayed, and he resented the monster from the east, Grid, for trampling on the United States .
“Hrmm . ” Zibal had already made a speech in the waiting room . He wasn’t kind enough to repeat the words to the candidates who used the other waiting rooms . After all, he just had to show his strength .
The first selection event was PvE . Zibal summoned the ‘Two-Headed Steel Chariot’ and smiled at the boy after trampling on the small creatures .
“The protagonist becomes stronger after overcoming ordeals . Kid, haven’t you seen it many times in movies?”
“Ah . . . Ahh . . . ” The forgotten light of envy filled the boy’s eyes as he looked up at the chariot . All those who laughed or mocked Zibal were silent . Then the second monster wave appeared . The high-speed flying monsters surrounded Zibal . Their sharp claws aimed at Zibal, who seemed to be in a crisis because the chariot only showed its power on the ground .
Zibal just laughed at the monsters and summoned his second ride, “White Accelerator . ”
It was a white lion with large wings . Zibal abandoned the chariot and flew into the sky . He used a huge trident and was able to penetrate through all the monsters . It happened in an instant . Zibal shouted, “The United States will win . I will make it so . I am different from the other losers who abandoned their country! I have overcome my ordeal and returned! I am the true protagonist!”
Zibal’s cry was enough to stimulate the black flame dragon Lauel, who was watching in the distance . Certainly, Zibal was much stronger than he had been two years ago . He was unique even in the United States, which had humbled numerous strong people . Zibal was comparable to Kraugel of last year .
‘Maybe this year . . . ’
‘The combined power of Kraugel and Zibal can beat Grid . . . !’
The American rankers, who still shrank back from the Grid they witnessed last year, started to feel hopeful .
“Victory will be made by me, not you . If you’re done then get out of the way . ”
Step, step . A man pushed his way onto the stage . The young rankers didn’t recognize him, but those older than 20 were amazed and shocked .
“Haster!! It’s Haster?”
The emperor of FPS games—Haster was the mythical pro gamer who created the golden age for America . He was comparable to the Korean FaXer and Lim Xhan . The person who retired from the game world with the release of Satisfy was appearing here . . . ? The emergence of the unexpected figure shocked people .
‘What is with all the fuss?’ The younger generation who didn’t know him felt doubts . Then Haster showed off the power of his unique class, Red Sage . The 1st and 2nd wave monsters were blocked by ice barriers and burned by flames . It wasn’t as exciting as Zibal’s display, but it was neat workmanship without any flaws .
‘Pretty good . ’
Skull and Zephyr watched Zibal and Haster quietly .
‘However, that is all . ’
Skull, 10th on the overall rankings, and Zephyr, 20th on the overall rankings—they had played for the United States in every national competition and knew the harsh reality .
‘They shouldn’t feel elated just by catching a few monsters . ’
‘They can never beat that monster . ’
The monster was Grid . They had met Grid or seen him for three consecutive years and knew how steep Grid’s growth curve was . It was a strength that extended beyond the concept of stats and skills . Rather, it felt like an evolution of a species itself .
‘Grid has already surpassed the limits of a player a long time ago . ’
‘He is someone who has faced a dragon, not just these petty monsters . In order for us to win against South Korea, the United States needs a transcendent who is beyond the limits like Grid . ’
Did they believe this transcendent person was Kraugel? Well, let’s see? Most people didn’t know it, but Skull and Zephyr clearly saw the difference between Grid and Kraugel . At last year’s PvP finals, Grid hadn’t used all his power, but he had broken Kraugel . The person who people had called the ‘sky above the sky’ for several years had been like a child in front of Grid .
‘We should give up on the 1st place spot . ’
Nothing would change even if Zibal and Haster came back . The presence of Grid meant the United States would forever remain in second place . Skull and Zephyr smiled bitterly as the gloomy reality filled their minds .
[The second test will begin . ]
A new system message popped up, and a boss monster appeared . It was an earl grade direct descendant vampire—a monster known to be monopolized by the Overgeared Kingdom .
“I want food . ” The pale vampire revealed his sharp fangs as a **** magic power swirled around him and took control of the stage . It was the manifestation of Blood Field, which weakened all players .
“Let’s move . ” Skull and Zephyr rushed forward . In order to get a high score in a boss raid, they had to accumulate damage on the boss or pull the boss’ aggro to survive . Skull and Zephyr had no plans to be eliminated in the selection rounds . However, they couldn’t help freezing in place, while the other contestants stepped back or ran into them . The sky was suddenly filled with darkness and thunder . The thunder in the sky split apart .
“What?”
The participants were confused by this turn of events and cried out .
“A-Avoid it!”
A giant descended through a gap in the sky . It was close to five meters tall, and its white coating was reminiscent of a white dragon’s scales . Someone muttered, “Gundam . . . ?”
The emergence of something beyond the vampire earl wasn’t in the participants’ event information . The confused people scattered everywhere, including Haster .
‘What is that monster?’
Mental Protection, the passive skill of the Red Sage, was being threatened by the descent of this giant enemy . Haster’s legs were shaking, and he couldn’t move . Haster bet that most participants were likely to be in a ‘fear’ or ‘confused’ state . What was the identity of the giant that threatened hundreds of rankers just by appearing? Except for one person, all of those present were overwhelmed .
“Come on, Raiders . ”
“ . . . !”
The pressure was lifted the moment the giant appeared on the stage . Haster’s legs stopped trembling while the other participants regained their freedom from the abnormal conditions . Zibal was boarding the giant .
[Synchronizing with Raiders . ]
. . .
. . .
[Synchronization successful!]
[Raiders is operating!]
[The maximum mana is low!]
[The maximum time you can activate Raiders is 21 seconds . ]
“I . . . ”
[Blue Sky Rider]
It was the growth type unique class that Zibal managed to obtain after meeting the 4th imperial prince Edan and carrying out the class quest .
“I am the protagonist . ”
The presence of an artifact class item, Raiders, was enough to place Zibal as the protagonist as he claimed . The parthenon pillars fired and blew away one of the vampire earl’s arms .
‘Maybe . . . !’ Delight filled the faces of Skull and Zephyr .
‘Is this the Zibal that I knew?’ Haster’s eyes shook .
Additionally . . .
‘The Saharan Empire . . . ?’ Lauel witnessed the symbol of the empire engraved on one side of Raiders’ chest .
Now, they had a common idea, regardless of individual circumstances . The winner of this year’s PvP event would be Zibal, and the United States would rise to the top again .
Simultaneously, in South Korea . . .
[Overgeared King Grid declares his non-participation in the 4th Satisfy National Competition . ]
The breaking news from various media outlets caused a buzz among the people . The real-time search queries of the portal sites became filled with Grid, Shin Youngwoo, Overgeared King, and so on in less than one minute .
Ttang! Ttang! Ttang!
“Good . ”
Grid ignored the flood of requests for interviews and hammered an armor that closely resembled Valhalla of Infinite Affection . He was mentally and physically tired from working for a long time, but Grid forgot his fatigue once he confirmed the results .
[You have created a myth rated item!]
[* When myth rated items are produced, all stats will permanently rise by +20 and reputation throughout the continent will rise by +1,000 . ]
[Your reputation points has exceeded 200,000 . It is recommended that you use the Reputation Store . ]
[The blacksmith **** Hexetia has praised you . ]
[God Hexetia has given you a benefit . ]
[Your dexterity has risen by 100 . ]
“Placing armor on this noble body . . . I don’t like it but I will try it on now . ” Noll couldn’t hide the joy of being with Grid for three days . His eyes lit up and he immediately wore the armor .
Grid nodded as he confirmed that Noll wearing the armor looked exactly like him . “It is like watching my childhood self . ”
Noll was like the star in a night sky while Grid was a pig’s **** . The gap in appearance between the two people was this huge . Grid had no conscience when he said Noll reminded him of his childhood . However, Noll was pleased instead of offended .