Chapter 2
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GM was a world with an absurd origin story.
Believe it or not, this game began as a result of the success of a famous soccer game.
― “Wow, it’s a hit even though it was made so sloppily?”
― “I don’t get it. We just roughly assessed stats based on real players and ran it through a simulator, and now we’re printing money.”
Managing your favourite players to build the dream squad you’ve only imagined.
In real life, you’re just a keyboard warrior, but in the game, you become the owner of a club filled with world-class players.
Through the success of this game, they realized the core of nurturing simulations.
By carefully appealing to players’ desires, they raked in money by the shovelful. But their imagination didn’t stop there…
They were so-called nerds, and in the end, their claws reached into the realm of subculture, something they truly adored.
― “Who would win in a fight, Super Guy or Bat Suit?”
― “Wait, are you saying Assembly and Justice can be a game?”
― “Shut up, you idiot! Listen carefully. Potter is a heretic! Only Tolkien is the truth!”
― “Yeah, Dragon Man or nothing.”
Who is stronger?
The fights of favourite characters.
It’s a childish argument fit for elementary school students. The idea of grown adults pointing fingers and spitting over such debates made their hearts feel small…
― “It’s dumb, but… it’s awesome!!”
― “Let’s do it right now!”
…To some people, this childish debate might be their entire life. At least for these nerds, it was.
They didn’t care about wealth or glory. These big kids who loved cartoons quit their jobs that very day.
All for the sake of fun.
They consolidated the world’s superpowers.
Occult, heroes, force, mana, magic, Qi, martial arts, mysteries…
And they created an arena for them.
Gates, raids, showdowns, guild wars, national competitions…
That’s right.
The world of GM that Lee Shin found himself in was the realization of grown kids’ childhood dreams and fun.
.
.
Guild War KOREA League 1
<Kirin Guild> VS <White Sword Guild>
Final Match – Round 7: ‘Raid Mode’
The Flame Spirit LV7—The Palace of Ignis.
Walls of crimson flames surrounded the area. The sky, the ground, and even the walls were all ablaze in a red inferno.
At that moment, a group of people pushed through the flames and threw themselves into the inferno.
Fwoosh!!
An unbearable heat overwhelmed the raid team.
For a moment, the formation faltered.
Then it happened. A man shot forward from the group like a bullet.
“I’ll buy time.” That was what his actions seemed to say.
The man’s silhouette momentarily blurred, and light swirled around him.
One hand on the scabbard, the other on the hilt.
Then, as his eyes flashed, surging mana rippled around him.
The light exploded. A blinding radiance broke free.
What began as a faint glimmer rapidly expanded and stretched outward.
The white light spread in an instant, breaking out and spreading across the blazing battlefield.
The fiery field cracked, white lines cutting through like a spider’s web, a net, or even electronic circuits.
The radiance spread outwards, and even in the crimson flames, it maintained its presence, “claiming” the space and deleting the Flame Spirits that surrounded them.
With their formation regained, the team charged forward—toward the end of this inferno.
-“Guild War Korea Finals, Round 7 of the raid mode. Day 14 for Kirin Guild’s raid. Kirin Guild is leading in all metrics, including time record and monster count. Commissioner?”
-“This was expected. Look at this. ‘Showdowns’ are PvP. But ‘Raids’ are what we’ve always done—gate raids, or monster battles. I’ve always said this: in raids, experience is the most important factor. And All-King is the absolute champion of experience. This isn’t even a contest.”
The situation unfolded as the commentary suggested.
The man leading the charge, All-King, raised his hand high, and the formation shifted.
Tanks in full plate armour moved to flank All-King, forming a frontline with imposing tower shields.
Behind them, close-combat fighters, including All-King, supported the tanks, while agile, evasive ranged attackers spread out to protect the supporters in the backline from incoming attacks.
A diamond formation.
A strategy designed for maximum stability, often called the standard approach in raids. People speculated about All-King’s intentions:
“No tricks. If we stick to the basics, we’ll win.”
It was a fair assessment. Although the match dragged into Round 7, Kirin Guild was Korea’s top guild, maintaining an unrivalled position in the league.
So, as long as they stayed the course, they wouldn’t lose.
But…
All-King seemed to have other thoughts. As soon as he gave another signal, radiant light erupted from the backline.
-“As expected from All-King. He’s playing it safe… Huh? What?!”
-“Kirin Guild’s backline is moving! What is that? Buffs? Yes, buffs! Bless, Haste, and physical enhancement buffs are being applied to the raid team.”
-“Are they going to rush?! Is this the right move?!”
While the diamond formation emphasized stability, the moment buffs were applied, the strategy changed completely.
A chariot of light hit the accelerator.
Even as waves of flames descended, they charged straight through.
Even as Flame Spirits threw themselves at them, they pressed on.
It was reckless, but they crushed everything in their path, racing toward the inferno’s end.
-“They’re fast. So fast. As expected of Kirin! A destructive clutch play befitting Korea’s strongest guild!”
-“Well, traditionally, the final sprint should be saved for right before the boss room. That’s when things are hardest. But if they’re pushing now… I don’t know. Is this the right move?”
Amid everyone’s concerns, the raid team finally entered the last corridor.
With destructive heat surrounding them, they faced a long, straight field.
There, elite monsters, champion monsters, and even the mid-bosses, the Flame Knights ‘Skolkias,’ who had been spread across the field, were now all gathered, standing guard with their greatswords to protect their master’s palace.
There was no escape.
A direct confrontation was inevitable.
However, the radiance enveloping the raid team had already dimmed. The buff effects were nearing their end, while their path was blocked by flames on an entirely different level.
At this critical moment of worry for all—
The chariot of light disbanded. The frontline opened, and Kirin Guild’s long-hidden trump card finally revealed itself.
A woman with hair as fiery as the surrounding crimson flames.
Kirin Guild’s next-generation ace.
The Flame Queen.
The surrounding flames trembled.
Stronger than the Flame Spirits. No, in this world, when it came to the fire attribute, she might well be considered absolute. In an instant, she dominated the field.
The natural enemy of fire is stronger fire.
As if to mark the conclusion of this race, the fiery terrain of the corridor twisted, devouring the Flame Spirits instead.
-“Another legend. Kirin Guild may have struggled earlier due to the absence of All-King, but! Despite their difficulties in the early stages!! They are strong. They are still strong!!”
-“12 Guild War Korea titles! 5 Guild War Asia titles! Guild War Champions winners! Kirin Guild, the absolute dynasty of Korea since its inception! It doesn’t look like they plan to relinquish their throne this year either!”
Before the overwhelming waves of flame, even the concept of time records became meaningless.
It didn’t feel like just another victory—it felt like the beginning of yet another chapter in history.
The already legendary All-King, the soon-to-be legendary Flame Queen, and Kirin Guild, the immortal dynasty that would continue its reign this year.
3 hours and 47 minutes.
When the condensed replay of the Flame Queen’s final sprint, lasting just over ten minutes, concluded—
The deepest chamber of the Palace of Ignis, the Grand Hall, finally opened.
There, seated on a throne, was the being that awaited them.
The Boss of the Palace of Ignis.
The Lady ‘Agni.’
Agni’s crimson dress engulfed her surroundings in flames.
And beyond her awaited…
- ·
[ Revealed in 60 seconds!! ]
…a monster born of capitalism.
* * *
Tick―!
A complex expression reflected on Lee Shin’s face in the now-darkened brown screen. His body trembled slightly.
“Amazing…”
Thump-thump.
His heart raced, swelling with emotion.
The pinnacle of imagination from the world’s greatest nerds was playing out live before his eyes.
“Haha, the community guys would lose their minds if they saw this.”
Jealous? Then go ahead and get struck by lightning!
For someone like Lee Shin, who had enjoyed GM all his life, the thrill was only natural.
The war of superhumans that GM reproduced.
The once-2D characters he had only seen on his monitor now in action.
This world, pulling the unfathomable into the realm of capitalism!
It was a new world where every dream had become reality.
Especially now, witnessing the finals with his own eyes, Lee Shin shuddered. The level of emotion was incomparable.
“Managing unruly gate raids through the ‘Guild War League’ system.”
“Nations benefit from transparent mana stone distribution. Civilians gain entertainment. Hunters earn massive salaries, fame, and popularity.”
The greatest spectacle, tailored to meet everyone’s desires.
“Guild War League.”
Yes, this was it. This was what he had longed for.
Energy surged through Lee Shin’s body. Even a dying man might awaken with such excitement.
His goal was singular.
Lee Shin had no doubts that once again he would inscribe his name at the pinnacle of this dream stage. Just as he had been called the teacher of all players.
“First, I need to find an appropriate lower-league guild. One with history and tradition but now fallen into decline…”
“To make a strong impression, I need a big move. Something impactful! Recruitment is key…”
“One big recruit, the rest as promising rookies. For a lower-league guild, that should be enough… So?”
Ideas surged like a flood, fueled by his ambition.
Honestly, the plan had been complete for a long time.
Would someone like Lee Shin—a veteran of veterans—not have decided on a direction for his character?
The plan had been revised dozens of times since he realized this world was GM’s. It was flawless.
What Lee Shin needed now was one simple step.
One step beyond this suffocating room into the world beyond the walls. Just one step, no more, no less, and the myth would begin.
Lee Shin licked his lips.
He was thirsty.
Like a bear enduring a hundred days in a cave eating garlic and mugwort to become human, he had tried to endure the mess left by this body’s previous owner. But—
Kirin Guild, All-King, Flame Queen…
The moment he witnessed the world he loved so dearly with his own eyes, his crumbling patience reached its breaking point.
“I need to go out.”
The reflection in the mirror showed Lee Shin already on his feet.
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