In the Superhuman Academy of Korea, there was an annual event. It was the Superhuman Olympics!

These were not the regular Olympic events held before the great upheaval, but rather the Olympic games of superhumans, for superhumans, by superhumans. Events such as the Gate Dungeon Time Attack, 1 VS 1 Tournament, 2 VS 2 Tournament, and 3 VS 3 Tournament, where superhuman capabilities were tested, were held.

Among the events, the 1 VS 1 Tournament was called the crown jewel. Who is the strongest in our Superhuman Academy? Who is the most powerful?

This was, without a doubt, a topic that stirred the primal instincts of humans, sparking the competitive spirit in those who thought they were strong. Therefore, it was the most watched event, and the prize money or rewards were the largest compared to other events.

"Wow, Sungshik, you should definitely join the 1 VS 1 Tournament. You might win a prize."

"Right. Why have you suddenly gotten so strong? Did running through the Gate and fighting in real battles help?"

Kim Subin and Sung Jihwan, with their mouths open, stared at Sungshik. It made sense, considering the sight of Choi Moonguk lying sprawled in front of Sungshik.

Sungshik and Choi Moonguk had held a celebration party for their promotion as promised, and the following day, they proceeded with a sparring session. Sungshik did not know it, but Choi Moonguk was a student known for his exceptional combat sense and strength.

Knowing this, Kim Subin and Sung Jihwan had predicted Choi Moonguk's victory. But the result was:

"That's not how you defend."

"Don’t try to predict the opponent’s movements with your eyes, feel them with your instinct."

"You shouldn’t fall for such simple fake moves."

Sungshik was overwhelming. Moreover, throughout the sparring, he pointed out Choi Moonguk’s weaknesses as if he were the instructor.

"Haha. Sungshik, you’re really strong."

Choi Moonguk, lying flat on the floor, said joyfully, "Why is he laughing even though he got beaten like a sandbag?"

"Isn’t Moonguk...?"

"What?"

"You know, M......"

"What, seriously?"

Upon hearing the two whispering about him, Choi Moonguk quickly wiped the smile off his face.

"I heard everything. It’s not M."

"Your hearing is incredibly sharp."

"Is it because of the M?"

"Damn it, just shut them up!"

Sungshik, watching the three, chuckled.

"Choi Moonguk, you’re more than I expected."

Sungshik replayed the sparring in his mind.

Choi Moonguk’s combat sense was better than expected. Armed with higher specs and traits than Choi Moonguk, Sungshik had thought that Moonguk wouldn’t even be able to follow his reactions. However, once the fight started, Moonguk managed to follow his movements to some extent.

"Even though he doesn’t even have a trait like mine—something like Hyper-Senses."

Was this talent? Sungshik felt satisfied. It was like finding a diamond lying on the street.

"Choi Moonguk, if you're rested, get up. Let's continue."

"Ugh, you’re really good at sensing when I’ve recovered some energy. Are you a dog?"

Moonguk groaned but quickly stood up. The one-sided sparring continued.

"This time, I’ll go even harder."

"Are you really going to go harder?"

"Yes."

"Hah, fine. I’ll focus as well. Come at me."

Moonguk said that with a smile, and Sungshik charged in. The wooden sword, imbued with the secrets of the Heaven-Splitting technique, relentlessly attacked Moonguk.

"Wow... he might seriously hurt him."

"Should we stop this?"

Even Sung Jihwan and Kim Subin, who were watching, were worried.

However, Sungshik had a reason for pushing so hard.

"Knew it."

[SSS Rank] Indestructible Vajra Body (Currently Sealed)
– Sealed for unknown reasons. The first clue condition to break the seal:

• 1. Toughness
• 2. ?
• 3. ?

One of the conditions for breaking the seal of the SSS rank "Indestructible Vajra Body" was toughness. Therefore, Sungshik enjoyed beating Choi Moonguk even more.

"Ah, this feels good."

"What? What did you just say? Agh!"

"Ah, sorry. I put too much strength in my hand."

"No, you just said it felt good... Ow! Not there!"

It looked as though Sungshik was beating Moonguk like a dog catcher would beat a dog.

"Ah, this isn't me relieving stress; it's all for Moonguk's sake. Yeah, that’s right."

And so, the one-sided beating continued until the two onlookers stepped in to stop it.

Having poured all his energy into developing Moonguk’s traits, the day of the Superhuman Olympics arrived. Sungshik was only planning to participate in the 1 VS 1 Tournament.

"Sungshik, are you really not going to join the team event?"

While filling out the application form for the 1 VS 1 Tournament, Sung Jihwan came up and asked.

"Yeah. The maximum is 3 VS 3. You three do it."

"If you join, Sungshik, I’ll gladly sit out."

"No, it’s better for you three to play. It’s balanced well in terms of positioning. Should I be your coach?"

"Ugh, I’d rather pass on that."

At the mention of coaching, Choi Moonguk, who was standing next to them, quickly refused. Sungshik smiled and finished filling out the 1 VS 1 Tournament application form.

At that moment:

"Hey, looks like that guy is entering the 1 VS 1 too?"

"Who?"

"That guy, Lucky Punch."

"Ah, the guy who just goes for lucky hits?"

They mocked loudly enough to make sure they could hear.

"Isn’t he talking about Sungshik?"

"Looks like it, but let it be."

"Seriously, now even those nobodies are trying to pick a fight?"

Sungshik glanced over toward where the voices were coming from.

One was a boy with a shaved head and a menacing look, and the other looked like a quick-witted weasel.

After glancing once, Sungshik didn’t bother paying them any more attention. To him, they were nothing but air, not worth considering. However, Sung Jihwan was different.

"Hey, what’s your problem?"

Sung Jihwan, feeling more agitated, stepped forward and confronted them.

"Who is that guy?"

"I don’t know. He’s probably just a follower of the lucky hit guy."

"It’s obvious that he’s another weakling hanging around the lucky hit guy."

The two boys ignored Sung Jihwan and dismissed him with disdain.

As their behavior became too much, Sungshik looked at them again. If they were trying to attract attention, they had succeeded.

"Knew it."

Name: Jo Jeongchi
Rank: 2 Star (★★)
Trait: [E Rank] Assassin’s Virtue

Name: Kim Sangsoo
Rank: 2 Star (★★)
Trait: [E+ Rank] Enhanced Strength

"What’s this?"

Sungshik scanned their status windows with his Insight, feeling puzzled. He wondered if they were confident enough to pick a fight because they trusted their own strength or if they had high potential traits.

"But they’re just extra 1 and 2. They’re nothing special."

When Sungshik used his instinct to scan their status windows, he realized they were just ordinary extras with no remarkable traits.

Unless they found a way to break through their limits, their potential would be capped at 2 stars. Sungshik found it puzzling.

"Those guys will be the first to be eliminated when the Gate Break happens."

In the future, the Gate Break would happen, and the world would collapse. In that moment, brute strength would be the most valuable asset. Those who had been acting like they could make a difference with their poor skills would be the first to be weeded out.

Sungshik shook his head side to side and stopped Sung Jihwan, who was about to rush out in anger.

“They’re not even worth looking at, just ignore them and move on.”

“Hey, but doesn’t this piss you off?”

“Not really. They’ll probably enter the 1v1 tournament too, so we can just get our revenge there.”

“Hah, fine. Hey, you guys! See you at the tournament. You’re dead meat.”

Even as Sungshik was holding Jihwan back, the duo kept at it.

“Wow, they’re just handing us a free win. Are they charity angels or something?”

“Hey, hey. Yeah, make sure you win and get to us. That is, if you don’t drop out before then.”

They kept running their mouths, and by this point, even Sungshik was starting to get annoyed.

‘Alright, just you wait until we meet.’

“Ugh, so annoying. What’s their deal?”

“Probably just jealous that I aced the written exam.”

Recently, there had been more and more people showing this kind of petty jealousy. The written exam at the Superhuman Academy was quite difficult, and many struggled with it.

So from their perspective, some random guy coming out of nowhere, getting a high-tier ability, and then scoring a perfect mark on the test—it was enough to make them envious.

‘Honestly, all of this is meaningless.’

It was true. Soon, the world would descend into chaos, and the scores earned at the academy would become utterly meaningless.

There was no need to look as far ahead as when the Lord of the Night would emerge. Even before that, in just two years, the world would fall into chaos due to the phenomenon known as the Gate Break.

At that time, academy grades and rankings would be nothing more than a pointless game of numbers.

‘Yeah, I definitely need to talk to the headmaster before I leave the academy.’

Sungshik didn’t have the power to stop the upcoming Gate Break. But at the very least, he wanted to bring some changes to Korea’s Superhuman Academy.

That’s why he decided to tell the headmaster to reduce the increasingly academic nature of theoretical lessons and instead focus on practical training—like real gate simulations and improving tangible combat skills.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye. It felt like they had just signed up for the tournament yesterday, and now, the Superhuman Academy Olympics had begun.

―Hello, viewers! Maha here, greeting you all!

―Hi everyone! Soha here too!

At the venue of the Superhuman Olympics, a boy and a girl dressed in Superhuman Academy cadet uniforms greeted a broadcasting magic sphere.

The boy had messy hair and a slightly rustic look, but his mischievous expression was his charm. The girl had her hair neatly braided into twin tails, looking adorably cute.

[Maha. Soha.] [ㅎㅇㅎㅇ] [Today’s broadcast is obviously about that, right?]

└ㅇㅇ Of course, the Olympics!

The magic sphere displayed the two students and the academy’s surroundings, while a flood of chat messages filled one side of the screen.

That’s right. This was a private broadcast meant to stream the Superhuman Academy Olympics.

While external personal broadcasts were prohibited, streaming within the academy was allowed. This meant that all the viewers were also academy students.

―Yes, everyone, you got it right! Today's broadcast is about!

―The Superhuman A. C. A. D. E. M. Y. Olympics! Whoo! Everyone, give it up! Clap clap clap!

[ㅉㅉㅉ] [ㅉㅉㅉ] [👏👏👏] [So, what event are you covering today?] [Obviously, the 1v1, right?]

└ㅇㅈ

└222 ㅇㅈ confirmed.

[I kinda want to see the 3v3 team match, though.]

└What, are you blind?

└Sorry 😢;

―Alright, everyone! You’re all wondering what event we’re covering today, right? Well, of course! This broadcast is by you, for you, and because of you!

―That’s why we’ll be covering the crown jewel of the Superhuman Olympics! The 1v1 tournament!

[Good, good. The Olympics are all about the 1v1 tournament!]

└Educated take.

[Nice, let’s go!] [Let’s do this!]

―Yes, yes! This year again, we’ll bring you an amazing 1v1 tournament broadcast!

[Maha, move your face and show us Soha.] [Yeah, we wanna see Soha.] [Maha, just hide your face and broadcast.]

―Come on, guys! That’s too much! I’m actually pretty good-looking, you know?

―Ew, I can hear the viewers gagging from here! Hoho, dear viewers, I sincerely apologize for your suffering. Bow.

[Ugh, I almost threw up, but then I saw Soha and felt better.]

└You too? Me too!

[Shining Soha! Only you understand our hearts!]

―Alright, alright! Since you all want it, let’s have Soha take over! Maha, step aside, please!

―Hmph, what a filthy world obsessed with appearances!

―Quiet down, ugly! Now then! We’ll be covering the 1v1 tournament preliminaries!

―Oh, but first, a surprise event! Guess the champion!! If you have a prediction for the winner, tell us now! Among those who guess correctly, we’ll be giving out some small prizes!

[Owoosik! Right?]

└Who’s Owoosik?

└Obviously, Park Tae-sik is gonna win!

[You mean that third-year Park Tae-sik?]

└Yeah. To give a quick explanation, this is his final year before graduation, but he’s a monster who won the tournament as a first-year. He won again as a second-year, and if he wins this time, it’ll be a triple crown.

└Wow, he won as a first-year? Weren’t the third-years back then mostly three-star ranks or higher? How did a first-year beat them?

└Go look it up yourself.

└Okay, okay.

[Third-year Han Hyeryeong isn’t an easy opponent either. She’s determined since it’s her last chance.]

[Oh, right. Hyeryeong’s in this too.]

[Damn, looks like the finals are set: Park Tae-sik vs. Han Hyeryeong.]

[I dunno, I feel like an upset might happen. Like, what if it’s Park Tae-sik vs. Heo Sungshik?]

└? Who’s Heo Sungshik? Never heard of him.

└Oh, is he that guy? The one who got caught up in the grade-rigging scandal, and Yun Gardes came in with the Light of Truth?

└Oh, yeah! That was hilarious. 😂

└😂 If he calls Yun Gardes to fight for him again, he might make it to the finals.

―Lots of viewers have made their predictions! But as expected, one person is getting overwhelming support!

―That’s right! Given his record, it’s no surprise! Now, let’s see if he can do it again!

―Oh! The prelims are starting now! Shall we move over?

―Okay~ Let’s go, move, move!

At that moment, none of them knew. That the joke prediction thrown out by one viewer would actually come true—an upset that no one could have expected.