Earth, Year 2411, Innerworld’s 8th World Tournament.
"Kang Bael! Kang Bael! Kang Bael! Kang Bael!"
"Xuan Guo! Xuan Guo! Xuan Guo!"
The crowd was ecstatic. The stadium was so loud that the ground was shaking.
Flags of the Phoenix China and Korea Republic waved in the air. The fans were waving them excitedly.
Boom~! Rat-a-tat~! Dum, dum, dum~!
The drums created a thunderous rhythm that echoed throughout the stadium.
...
Inside the commentator’s booth.
The monitors were showing every angle of the stadium. One of the monitors showed the inside of the Innerworld.
Where the final battle would be held.
"It’s finally time!"
Jimmy shouted to the microphone—his voice echoed in billions of households worldwide—one of the most recognizable voices in the world.
"It indeed is. It has been a long week, but it has all come down to the last match. It can’t get any closer than this!"
A commentator next to him said with a smile.
While Jimmy was from New America, he was from Thug America—his name was Jack Dawn.
Next to their booth, there were commentators from Sunny Brazil, Red Russia, Korea Republic, Phoenix China, et cetera.
From every country in the world!
[=LEADERBOARD=]
[1. Korea Republic - 10,456 Points]
[2. Phoenix China - 10,399 Points]
[3. Dragon Japan - 9,467 Points]
[4. Red Russia - 8,935 Points]
[5. Saint France - 8,888 Points]
[6. India Federation - 8,852 Points]
[7. Old Germany - 8,646 Points]
[8. Royal Spain - 8,640 Points]
[9. Thug America - 8,599 Points]
[10. New America - 8,333 Points]
"As you can see in the leaderboards, it’s incredibly close between the two of them—Korea Republic and Phoenix China.
"There have been nine ’games’ held in the World Tournament, and the tenth, and final game, has been full of exciting moments.
"And, of course, the two best players in the world—Korea Republic’s Kang Bael and Phoenix China’s Xuan Guo—found their way to the grand finals.
"They will decide the winner of the World Tournament!"
Jimmy excitedly shouted.
"I can’t even imagine the pressure that those two are currently in. They are both shouldering the hopes of their entire nation."
Jack said.
...
Korea Republic’s locker room.
"How are you feeling, champ?"
A middle-aged man in a black suit asked.
He looked Korean with his slick combed-back black hair.
While he tried to look calm and keep his voice steady, his heart was racing like a racing horse—he was afraid that his heart might jump out of his chest!
A handsome man sat on the bench. He was sitting by slightly leaning forward, with his left hand covering the fist of his right hand.
It was hard to tell what he was thinking about.
He was Kang Bael—the greatest player of Korea Republic, and perhaps even the greatest player in the whole world.
It would be decided today.
"I am fine."
Kang Bael said coolly.
Everyone around him was acting like they were about to pass out from the pressure, but Kang Bael remained calm and composed.
It was as if he wasn’t just about to have the most important fight of his life.
...
Phoenix China’s locker room.
It was silent. Like in a graveyard. There were plenty of people inside the locker room, mostly from Phoenix China’s team.
Every country sent their ten best players to this tournament, but in the end, the final game of the tournament was always a solo tournament.
You couldn’t rely on the strength of your teammates.
"...Whoo..."
One of the Phoenix China’s players exhaled, but then others glared at him quickly, as his exhale sounded a little bit too loud.
They were worried that his exhale might disturb Xuan Guo’s concentration!
At the corner of the locker room, a man with crimson hair sat with his back against the locker—he looked deep in thought as he stared at the ground.
Xuan Guo looked like he was carved from stone. Muscles rippled beneath his skin. It was like he was a Greek god come to life.
"It’s about time."
The team’s coach said.
He wasn’t just any ordinary coach. He was hired to keep all the egos, big personalities, and tempers in check.
This man was extremely respected.
"...Very well."
Xuan Guo stood up. He grabbed the flag of the Phoenix China from the bench. He put it on his shoulders.
"You can do it!"
"Good luck!"
"You’re the best!"
They all cheered him on.
Xuan Guo watched as the door in front of him opened. Lights fell from the top of the stadium. The roar of the crowd enveloped him.
"I will win, as I am Xuan Guo."
Xuan Guo said coldly.
...
Cheeeeeeeeeeeers~!
"...I LOVE YOU, KANG BAEL!"
"...XUAN GUO, YOU’RE THE BEST!"
In front of the whole world, Kang Bael and Xuan Guo walked over from their locker rooms, carrying the flag of their countries on their back.
Korea Republic and Phoenix China!
They walked until they met in the middle of the stadium—they stared at each other—they both started playing Innerworld around the same time.
They both happened to meet each other when they were just new players, and now they were here, facing each other in the most important moment of their lives.
"When I first met you, I had this hunch. That you were a lion in sheep’s clothing. I am glad that I was not mistaken."
Xuan Guo said.
"You were always the man that I chased after. Whenever I got stronger, so did you. It was like I was chasing a shadow.
"I am done chasing."
Kang Bael said coldly.
"Heh... Good luck."
Xuan Guo extended his hand, and Kang Bael grabbed it, and the sight of them handshaking was shown on every television screen across the world.
In that moment.
They sat down on their respective chairs—there was a Virtual Reality Helmet on the table next to them.
"You may put your helmets on."
The referee next to them said.
Xuan Guo and Kang Bael placed the helmets on their heads. They then leaned back against the chairs and closed their eyes.
A large screen stopped being black. It showed a private arena inside Innerworld. And in there, two men appeared.
A battle of a lifetime was about to start!