Overgeared

“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...!’

from the Grid they witnessed last year,

you. If you’re done then get out

A man pushed his way onto the stage. The young rankers didn’t

“Haster!! It’s Haster?”

comparable to the Korean FaXer and Lim Xhan. The person who retired from the game world with the release of Satisfy was

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

‘Pretty good.’

watched Zibal and Haster

‘However, that is all.’

and Zephyr, 20th on the overall rankings—they had played

just by catching a

never

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

limits of a player a long

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

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

should give up on

if Zibal and Haster came back. The presence of Grid meant the United States would forever remain in second place.

test

message popped up, and a boss monster appeared. It was an earl grade direct descendant vampire—a monster known to be monopolized

vampire revealed his sharp fangs as a bloody magic power swirled around him and took control of the stage. It

Zephyr had no plans to be eliminated in the selection rounds. However, they couldn’t help freezing

“What?”

were confused by this turn of events and

“A-Avoid it!”

It was close to five meters tall, and its white coating

earl wasn’t in the participants’ event information. The confused people scattered

‘What is that monster?’

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

“Come on, Raiders.”

“...!”

stage. Haster’s legs stopped trembling while the other participants regained their freedom

[Synchronizing with Raiders.]

...

...

[Synchronization successful!]

[Raiders is operating!]

maximum mana

you can activate

“I...”