Chapter 490: Continental War: World Championship, Part One (5)
[The Dragon’s Heart exerts its power.]
[It unconditionally raises one rank.]
[The target, Lucky Lump, possesses an extremely high rank.]
[Lucky Lump’s Level rises significantly.]
[All of Lucky Lump’s stats rise significantly.]
[The skills Lucky Lump previously possessed recover a portion of their original power.]
[You learn a portion of the hidden truth.]
Not long ago.
These were the notifications that had rung out when Lucky Lump evolved through the Dragon’s Heart.
The Mascot Selection Match.
Because he had been keeping it in mind, Lee Sejin had also paid attention to those notifications.
And that portion of the hidden truth.
The story related to the Evil God.
The story of crossing the entire continent and gathering everyone together to drive it back.
Shockingly, even Lee Sejin, the CEO of Pureum, had only now learned the details of Lucky Lump’s setting.
In the past.
Lucky Lump hatched from a wolf egg. And the wolf egg grew by feeding on the nutrients of the incredible achievements his owner accomplished. Originally, at most, he should have been Legendary.
But Lucky Lump met Hyunsoo and was born as an existence beyond Legendary.
Had Hyunsoo not filled the nutrient rate to that extent, “Lucky Lump” might never have been born again.
In other words, the existence known as Lucky Lump was born through Hyunsoo’s power.
And Sejin had browsed the information on Lucky Lump after he opened his new power.
(Lucky Lump)
Grade: Legendary.
Type: Pet
Level: 564
Attack Power: 6,415
Defense: 5,015
Special Abilities:
·Active Skill Assemble.
·Active Skill King of Divine Beasts’ Benevolence.
·Active Skill Little Lucky Lump, Big Lucky Lump.
·Passive Skill Unstoppable Growth.
Potential: ∞
Description: As one who was once the King of Divine Beasts, he crosses one rank and establishes himself as Legendary. However, he can still cross two more ranks.
Lee Sejin had been impressed.
All of his Attack Power and Defense had risen higher than Luxiu’s.
That cute and tiny Lucky Lump would completely transform into the dignified form of a wolf.
He did become like that occasionally before, but now that is not the case. Now he can remain in that form continuously.
What was even more astonishing was that two more ranks still remained.
If he crosses those two ranks, he will truly possess the power of a divine beast.
That was right.
Lucky Lump was only Level 564.
Compared to ordinary Legends, he seemed far more outstanding, but it was still somewhat lacking.
And as mentioned, the reason Lee Sejin checked Lucky Lump was to see whether Lucky Lump could become a variable.
The newly opened power.
More precisely, the power that had become more outstanding within the frame he had already possessed, and the power that formed Lucky Lump’s core.
He chewed over it.
It was Assemble.
(Assemble.)
Active Skill
Grade: Legendary.
Mana Cost: 20,000.
Level: None
Effect:
·One who possesses absolute divine-beast power issues a command to nearby monsters of Unique grade or lower.
·Upon activation, nearby beings feel an unknowable pull from Lucky Lump, along with tremendous charisma and an oppressive force.
·Can activate even on beings up to 50 Levels higher than Lucky Lump.
·However, depending on the situation, the target may refuse it.
·An incantation exists.
What a shame.
In the end, Lee Sejin was Korean too.
That was why he felt regret as he looked at the information that came to mind.
Assemble.
It was an incredible and astonishing power.
However, commanding beings of the same class was never easy.
Much less.
Taking command and gaining control over monster pets representing their countries in a place where all of them have gathered?
That itself was difficult.
The phrase “the target may refuse it” proved as much.
It would have been different if it had said, “They are absolutely forced into submission.”
At the time, while looking at it, Sejin had thought Korea would have difficulty even winning bronze.
However, now.
[China’s mascot participant, divine beast Hydra, has died.]
SHAAAAAAA—
Divine beast Hydra, who had possessed nine heads, lost all of them.
Hydra, now only a torso, had one second left before regeneration, but it turned to ash and disappeared.
Watching from one side, Lee Sejin could not hide his bewilderment.
How......?
Inside the screen.
The highlight scene of the Mascot Selection Match was being replayed.
Lucky Lump’s long, white, glossy fur scattered in the blowing wind as he faced it.
Above him, Skyner, standing with Lucky Lump, prepared while carrying the Death Knight and Toasty.
The Basilisk.
The desert king guarded Lucky Lump’s side, while the Twin-Headed Ogre, who possessed more monstrous strength than any monster but was slightly lacking in brains, burst out with a ferocious roar.
The highlight being broadcast seized the entire world once again.
The sight of Lucky Lump charging forward with those lined up to his left and right left people dazed for a moment.
And as he watched them run, even Lee Sejin could not understand it—until he realized.
Was the fact that it was voluntary the bigger part?
That was right.
The skill’s power was weak.
But the situation was not weak.
The hundred or so pets had strong pride, and they were beings fully qualified to have it.
But those beings smelled a “king” and saw one qualified to be a “leader.”
The Azure Dragon was the prime example.
The Azure Dragon was stronger than Lucky Lump.
However, the Azure Dragon understood better than anyone that Lucky Lump was an extraordinary existence.
The pets growled at one another, but they needed a central point, and because of that, they united.
“......Was it something that could not be judged by a mere skill?”
Lee Sejin was impressed.
At that moment.
A man hurriedly ran over.
It was Team Lead Park.
“CEO, do you remember the important notice we posted when announcing Continental War: World Championship?”
“Important notice?”
“Yes, the notice we included to raise high-ranker participation and boost motivation.”
Sejin, who had been wearing a puzzled expression, opened his eyes wide.
[If it is judged that an awe-inspiring and astonishing achievement has been accomplished during the tournament, additional rewards will be given.]
He remembered.
It was a conclusion the branch managers, Lee Sejin, and the supercomputer Ares had reached after a meeting.
However.
Everyone at that meeting had judged that achieving an “awe-inspiring level” in a place where the best users gathered seemed impossible.
“......Are you saying it reached that level?”
“The supercomputer Ares is preparing a reward. The reward will be given soon.”
Lee Sejin was impressed.
What reward would it be?
Moreover.
Even in my opinion, it was an astonishing feat.
In that moment, he too became intensely curious about what price would be paid for it.
*****
The entire world could not recklessly judge whether Lucky Lump’s score in the Mascot Selection Match could surpass Hydra’s.
—The Mascot Selection Match is conducted through viewer voting around the world.
—The core of this Mascot Selection Match is putting forward each country’s outstanding monster. In that regard, China summoned nothing less than divine beast Hydra, and it could be said that, as a single entity, it was the most “perfect.”
—Even if Hydra has turned to ash, divine beast Hydra was far too outstanding as a single entity, and even if Continental War: World Championship continues to be hosted periodically in the future, it seems unlikely that an existence surpassing it will appear.
—The most important point is that Lucky Lump did not fight with the power of a single entity, but by borrowing the power of those around him. As an individual, Lucky Lump still cannot compare to Hydra.
However, opposing opinions were just as fierce.
—The fact that Hydra was an outstanding divine beast does not change. But in the end, Hydra was raided, and people place importance on “results.”
—Also, there are many claims that no existence more outstanding than divine beast Hydra will appear, but in truth, those claims are wrong.
—The Azure Dragon’s voice was transmitted across the world, part of Lucky Lump’s identity was revealed, and currently, Lucky Lump is only Legendary.
—What if Lucky Lump, who showed an upset even in this tournament, becomes the King of Divine Beasts in the next Continental War: World Championship? We must not forget that everything should also be judged by growth potential.
In truth, everyone’s arguments were reasonable.
Some people had been branded by Hydra’s powerful entrance skill, while others had been captivated by Lucky Lump gathering every being together with the voice, “Assemble.”
And the citizens of Korea.
Some of them deliberately voted for Lucky Lump, but others thought carefully about which one was more impressive between divine beast Hydra and Lucky Lump, and which one was more suitable as a mascot.
And amid everyone’s guesses and expectations.
It appeared on screens around the world.
[Korea’s mascot challenger: 96 points.]
The moment it was revealed, all of Korea was dyed in cheers.
—Korea. The gold medal for the Mascot Selection Match is effectively confirmed!
Jamsil Sports Complex.
An indescribable roar of cheers blazed hotly.
Cheers burst out from all across Korea.
—I can’t believe it even after seeing it with my own eyes. Lucky Lump is occupying first place in real-time search terms worldwide.
—Everyone in Team Korea’s seats is cheering passionately.
At that moment, the MC approached CEO Lee Sejin.
He asked, “What do you think is the reason Lucky Lump pulled ahead?”
Of course, the match was not over yet.
Dozens more countries still had to appear and show their capabilities as mascot participants.
However, Lucky Lump’s gold medal had already become a foregone conclusion.
To that, Lee Sejin answered as if it were perfectly obvious.
“Because he’s cute.”
“......?”
The MC was flustered.
The thought, Has this bastard lost his mind? crossed his head, but the whole world was sympathizing.
“In the end, this is a Mascot Selection Match. If the two existences were neck and neck, then naturally, the mascot should be a cute mixed-breed country puppy loved around the world rather than Hydra with its hideous appearance.”
Rather than Hydra balloons rising into the sky.
A balloon with a sleeping Lucky Lump drawn on it.
A mug with Lucky Lump eating his food drawn on it.
A Lucky Lump T-shirt being released and worn by people around the world.
Those were better to look at.
That was what a mascot was.
“You must understand that a mascot is an existence meant to be loved by everyone.”
And Hyunsoo’s heart grew even hotter as he watched it.
At the same time, Hyunsoo felt regret.
The moment Hydra appeared.
[Skill: Gathering shines.]
The skill Gathering shows black light when a monster has “materials that can be gathered.”
The light Hydra had shown.
It was an unprecedented light.
Materials from a divine beast.......
However, it was a tournament he could not participate in.
And most importantly, beings that died in the Mascot Selection Match did not “truly die.”
That meant there was no EXP and no reward.
But then.
[Ares judges this to be an awe-inspiring achievement.]
The whole world was turned upside down.
An awe-inspiring achievement notification.
Ordinary users might hear one on average only once or twice a year, if even that.
Because of that, the notification struck them more powerfully, and as they recalled the contents of the important notice, it made them look forward to what would happen.
Hyunsoo was the same, and he was shocked by the notification that soon followed.
[Contribution to the hunt of divine beast Hydra will be calculated.]
“What......?”
It was nothing less than a divine beast.
One had to consider that not a single god had ever been raided before.
Of course, Chinese rankers had raided and successfully sealed a weakened Hydra, but that was a different story.
At the time, Hydra had not died, so the rewards must not have been complete.
Conversely.
Right now, the system was granting a reward for hunting a “divine beast.”
Moreover, it was calculating something they originally should not have received.
Soon, the contribution scores were revealed to the entire world.
[1st place, Lucky Lump. Contribution 62%.]
[2nd place, Skyner. 11%.]
[3rd place, Azure Dragon. 10%.]
[4th place, Death Knight. 4%......]
[5th place, Basilisk......]
[6th place......]
[Lucky Lump gains a massive amount of EXP.]
[Lucky Lump’s Level rises by 13.]
It was the moment Lucky Lump became significantly stronger.
But in that moment, Hyunsoo could not contain his emotion at the notifications ringing out to him.
[Lucky Lump’s owner is entrusted with all rewards except artifacts and gold.]
[You have acquired 9,904,013 gold.]
[You have acquired Mythic-grade Hydra’s Fang.]
[You have acquired Transcendent-grade Hydra’s Poison.]
[You have acquired Mythic-grade Evil God’s Enhancement Stone (6).]
[You have acquired Mythic-grade One More Time Skill Creation Book.]
[You have acquired Transcendent-grade Hydra’s Tear.]
[You have acquired Transcendent-grade Evargenon’s Poison Spear.]
At that moment, something one commentator said drew sympathy from viewers all over the world.
—He really was Lucky Lump......?
—He brings good fortune with him.
It was the moment when everyone in the world envied Hyunsoo, Lucky Lump’s owner.