1 VS 1 Tournament

The most popular event at the Superhuman Academy Olympics.

The only students restricted from participating were those who had failed promotion or graduation exams and had stayed at the academy for more than three years. Apart from that, any cadet at the academy could participate, but only within their first three years after admission.

As a result, the number of participants was always high. The Superhuman Academy, based in Seoul, had approximately 2,700 students across three years.

More than half of those 2,700 were either first-year students who had just enrolled or those who had exceeded three years due to failing their exams. Excluding them, the majority of the remaining students participated.

―Wow, so many participants this year too!

―Oh, Soha, how many participants are there in this year's 1 VS 1 Tournament?

―Prepare to be amazed! This year, a whopping 1,012 people have entered! Last year, we had about 900 participants, but this time we've finally surpassed the 1,000 mark.

―Wow, you can really feel the heat of the 1 VS 1 Tournament again this year!

[Oh, we passed 1,000 this time. Isn't this the most participants ever?] └ No, no. Four years ago, the tournament also surpassed 1,000.

└ But back then, all the early awakeners were concentrated in the second-year class, so the number was even higher.

└ That year was legendary. The Scarlet Witch, the Apprentice of Destructive Power, the Grand Mage of Tremors—top superhumans who are now famous out there were all gathered together. It was truly a war of the stars.

└ Did you watch it live?

└ Yeah, it was insane. If Park Tae-sik had competed that year, he wouldn't have even made it to the top 16, let alone won.

└ Whoa, Park Tae-sik? No way, he would’ve at least made it to the top four.

└ Nope. Back then, you could get a certificate after just two years, so all the truly skilled superhumans left early. Park Tae-sik only joined after that and won. His victory was basically an empty-house robbery.

└ Sorry to interrupt, but from what I’m hearing, he sounds like an old-timer from the early days. Why hasn’t he graduated yet?

└ ― ― Don’t poke where it hurts. You need to level up to graduate. 😭

[Anyway, this year’s champion will be Park Tae-sik again! Owoosik Park, make some noise~]

The viewers of the personal broadcast were mostly first-year cadets who had just enrolled, cadets who had failed their graduation exams and couldn’t participate, or a few non-combat awakened individuals.

Most of them watched the tournament to vicariously experience the strength of others. That was why the 1 VS 1 Tournament was the most popular event.

―Now, let’s move on to the preliminary group assignments! So, Soha, how are the groups arranged this year?

―Yes! As you know, Maha, the preliminary groups are once again divided into a total of 32 groups! Only the winners of each group will advance to the main tournament!

―Aha~ So, if someone loses in the preliminaries, they’re out immediately?

―Yes, exactly! It’s a strict tournament format!

―I see~ But with 32 groups and 32 participants per group, that would require 1,024 participants. We only have 1,012. What happens to the remaining twelve spots?

―Great question! Out of the 32 groups, 12 will have only 31 participants. That means 12 lucky individuals will automatically advance past the first round without a match.

―Oh, I see. Thanks for the clear explanation.

[Oh, so the twelve with a bye will go straight to the round of 16 in the preliminaries?] └ Yep, that’s right.

[How are those twelve chosen?] [Groups are usually assigned randomly, so if you're lucky, you get a bye.] [Crap… Even here, it’s just another gacha pull.]

―Alright, the group assignments are about to be announced. This time… Oh! The assignments have just been completed! Let’s go check them out now!

[Okay, okay, let's see.] [Keep the top contenders separate, please~] └ Agreed. No way they make them fight in the preliminaries.

―Ta-da! Here are the preliminary groups for this year's 1 VS 1 Tournament! Oh no! A top contender, Park Tae-sik, is in the same group as another championship candidate!!

[Gasp, no way.] [Wait, who is it?] [It’s not Hyeryeong, right? 😭😭😭😭]

―Aaaaand there is no other top contender! Once again, the championship candidates have been neatly separated into different groups.

[Are you kidding me?] [What the hell. ― ―] [Ugh… Who’s up for raiding Maha? (1/100)] └ I’m in ― ―

[Haha… Ha… Still, thank goodness! The real contenders should only meet in the main tournament~]

―Maha! I told you not to joke about this! Viewers, I sincerely apologize for not keeping Maha in check. This is all my fault. I beg for your forgiveness!

[Aww, Soha did nothing wrong!] [Phew, I was about to hunt down Maha, but I’ll let it slide for Soha.] └ Same, letting it go for Soha.

└ 222 Agreed.

―Haha, I’m really sorry! I just thought the bracket looked really well-organized, and I got carried away!”

―Alright, let’s take a look at the most noteworthy preliminary groups.

―Well, first and foremost, we need to keep an eye on Group 3, where last year’s champion and this year’s strongest candidate, Park Tae-sik, is competing.

―I agree, but aside from Park Tae-sik, I think this time…

As the two continued analyzing the preliminary groups, the viewers also engaged in heated discussions. Thus began the much-anticipated 1 VS 1 Tournament.

At the time of the group announcement.

Sungshik was enjoying tea and snacks with Sung Jihwan, Kim Subin, and Choi Moonguk at a café.

“Oh, the group assignments are out.”

“Whoa, really?”

The moment the groups were announced, Sung Jihwan got an alert. As he mentioned it, everyone pulled out their phones to check the bracket.

“Damn, seriously? Park Tae-sik is in Group 3… and so am I.”

“Wait, let me see… Whoa, you’re right. What are you gonna do, Jihwan?”

“And we’re up against each other in the very first match of the round of 32.”

“Sigh, I was hoping to make it to the main tournament for once, but I guess my luck just isn’t that good.”

Seeing Jihwan’s sudden gloom, Kim Subin patted him on the shoulder.

“Sungshik, what about you? What group are you in?”

“Me? Group 31.”

“Oh, nice. Let’s see… Whoa, Sungshik, you got a bye in the first round!”

Indeed, in Groups 21 to 32, one person per group automatically advanced to the round of 16. Sungshik was one of the lucky ones.

“Wow! Congrats, Sungshik!!”

“What the hell, is this rigged? One guy gets Park Tae-sik in the first round, and another gets a free win? How is this fair?!”

Who’s That?

“What? You just have to do well and make it up there yourself. And who even is Park Tae-sik? Why the fuss?”

“Huh? Sungshik, you don’t know Park Tae-sik?”

At Sungshik’s question, everyone looked at him as if wondering, ‘Is this guy a freshman who just enrolled?’

“Nope. Who’s he?”

“What? You’re joking, right?”

“I really don’t know.”

“He’s the senior who won the championship two years ago and last year.”

“Champion?”

Sungshik searched his memory. For everyone else, last year was just that—last year. But for him, it was a distant past, more than ten years ago.

As he dug through his memories, a faint recollection surfaced. A first-year student who had stormed onto the tournament scene, won, and then continued to secure three consecutive championships until his graduation—he was a legendary senior.

‘Ah, right. He’s the one I mediated between when I was with Kim Hoyun last time.’

Sungshik had been uncertain when he first heard Park Tae-sik’s name that day. In the past, he was considered a superhuman who came close to the 11 Constellations, alongside Kim Subin.

Park Tae-sik was the one who, during the first night’s trial, had fought to the death against the owner of the first night alongside Kim Subin’s ‘Self-Sacrificial Spell,’ ultimately stopping the threat.

He was so skilled with a spear that people called him the ‘Spear King.’ Since Sungshik had no personal connection with him and only remembered his alias, he hadn’t recognized the name right away.

‘I had a feeling when I heard the name that day, and it turns out I was right.’

Recalling this, Sungshik gave Jihwan a pitying look.

“Yeah, Jihwan, you don’t stand a chance against him. Just try to come back in one piece.”

From the faint traces of his memory, he recalled that Park Tae-sik had displayed performance that required at least a 4-star ranking at this stage. Since Jihwan was only at 2-star, even surviving would be tough.

“Ugh, fine. I give up. But look at you—an automatic win and no famous opponents in your group. Wow, you’re going to the finals.”

“Really? I honestly didn’t even check who else was in my group.”

“Wow, look at this guy! He’s acting all chill just because he got a little stronger.”

Jihwan grumbled beside him, but Sungshik had every reason to be confident. At the moment, the highest ranking in the Superhuman Academy was only 3-star. Even among the top contenders, only a few, including Park Tae-sik, reached 4-star, and even they could be counted on one hand.

Sungshik, already at 4-star with an EX-ranked trait, had no reason to be nervous. In fact, even if Park Tae-sik showed up, he was confident he could win.

“Well, it makes sense. Sungshik is strong.”

Choi Moonguk, who was standing nearby, chimed in. Having sparred with Sungshik recently, he understood his strength better than anyone.

‘From what I’ve seen, he’s at least on Park Tae-sik’s level.’

Moonguk had gained a lot of confidence in his combat abilities after reaching 3-star. He loved sparring, constantly seeking out the strongest opponents, and had built up an impressive win record. His confidence was sky-high.

But that confidence crumbled the moment he faced Heo Sungshik.

“Tch, I can’t deny it. After seeing you get beaten like a dog by Sungshik, I have to admit he’s more than qualified for the finals.”

“Yeah, Sungshik is strong! But Moonguk, what group are you in?”

“Group 15. What about you, Subin?”

“I’m in Group 19! Oh, Group 15, huh… Moonguk, you got lucky too! That’s an easy group!”

Everyone, except for Jihwan, had landed in fairly manageable groups. They all had a good shot at making it to the finals.

Just as everyone was feeling satisfied with their group placements, Jihwan let out a wail.

“Why is it always me~?! I want to make it to the finals tooooo!!”

The preliminaries were held quickly. The match-ups had been announced in the morning, and by the afternoon, they had already begun.

―We already have our first finalist! This contestant is incredibly strong! Who could possibly stop them?

It hadn’t been long since the preliminaries started, but the first finalist had already emerged. It was none other than the championship favorite, Park Tae-sik.

―As expected! Park Tae-sik truly lives up to his reputation!

[Park Tae-sik!!]
└ Agreed, agreed.

[Wow, his class is on another level.] [Let’s go for a third win!!] [Wouldn’t this be the first time someone wins three times? We should make a golden badge or something.]

The chat in the personal broadcast run by Maha and Soha was already treating Park Tae-sik as if he had won the championship.

―Now, let’s hear from Park Tae-sik himself!

The screen changed, showing Park Tae-sik standing next to Soha.

―Hello, Park Tae-sik! Congratulations on making it to the finals! Could we have a quick interview?

―Oh, it’s Soha. Of course.

Soha, who had been waiting offstage as soon as the third group’s finals began, seized the opportunity for an interview while the chat was still buzzing.

―Oh, you remember me. Thank you.

―Of course. How could I forget such a beautiful lady? Besides, I even subscribed to ‘Maha & Soha TV.’

Since she had interviewed him both last year after he reached the finals and after he won, Park Tae-sik recognized her.

―Wow, I’m honored! Thank you.

Soha’s face visibly brightened at his words.

[Look at Soha getting happy because he called her pretty.] [She never reacts when we say she’s pretty!] [Betrayal!!]

―Ah, did I make it too obvious? Ahem. No, actually, I like it even more when you all call me pretty!

―Alright, let’s proceed with the interview! Just like last year, you’re the first to qualify for the finals again. How do you feel?

Smiling at Soha as if he found her endearing, Park Tae-sik gave a short response.

―Hmm, I guess I just got lucky again this time. I’ll work harder and aim for a good result in the finals.

[Oh, noted: ‘The fastest way to reach the finals… is to be lucky.’] [Our Tae-sik is even humble!] [Shining Tae-sik, just pure brilliance.]

―Thank you for your thoughts. We’ll be rooting for you to achieve a great result in the finals. Good luck!

―Hearing such a lovely lady cheering for me gives me even more motivation. I’ll do my best in the finals. Thank you.

With that brief interview, Park Tae-sik headed back to the waiting room.

With him being the first to qualify, the other groups continued their preliminary rounds. By the time Soha returned to where Maha was, the second group to reach the finals had been decided.

―Now, let’s take a look at the next match. The second finals group is… Group 31!

―That’s right! Group 31! Let’s see who made it through!

―Oh, this contestant is…?