Episode 1: Champion

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome!"

The audience stands were packed without a single empty seat.

A spotlight shone on the ring in the center.

The ring announcer held up his microphone.

His skilled eloquence and well-timed audience engagement heightened the excitement within the octagon.

"Kim Jin-ho's 17th title defense! It will begin shortly!"

"Whoaaaa!"

Soon, majestic music echoed.

The challenger, wearing a red gown, strode confidently into the ring.

"Boooooo!"

"Hey you scrub! Ready to die?!"

"Someone like you is no match for him! Predicting a Round 1 K.O.!"

Despite the extreme reactions of the crowd, the challenger didn't even flinch.

From the beginning, this ordeal had to be endured to challenge Kim Jin-ho.

The challenger, now in the ring, removed his gown.

Supple, lean muscles rippled, reflecting the light.

Nevertheless, the jeers from the audience only intensified.

Thump-!

That's when it happened.

"Whoaaaa! It's Kim Jin-ho! Kim Jin-ho!"

"We've been waiting! Champion!"

"Let's go for the defense!"

His entrance music, now a trend.

A record of 37 wins, 0 losses, with a 100% K.O. rate.

The world champion of South Korean nationality.

Kim Jin-ho, nicknamed 'Unbeatable', ignited the hearts of the audience as he appeared.

"Show us a great match, Champion!"

"Came all the way from Busan to see you!"

"No Round 2! Finish it right away!"

Korean and various foreign languages rang out from all directions.

The champion's wave to the audience, who were singing along to his entrance music, was overflowing with composure and grace.

Can you see him, everyone?! The world champion is entering!

As expected of Kim Jin-ho. He doesn't seem nervous at all!

The uniquely excited voices of the commentators were being broadcast live around the world.

UFS, where the strongest being in the world is determined.

The overwhelming popularity it enjoys, far surpassing any other sport, is undoubtedly due to this strongest man.

The saying that roads are deserted on days when Kim Jin-ho has a match wasn't an exaggeration.

It was a day when even noise between floors or loud shouting was forgiven, and the overtime rate was at its lowest.

Even world-class powerhouses couldn't last a round against Kim Jin-ho. Furthermore, no opponent has even laid a finger on him.

He was, without a doubt, the pride of South Korea, and the strongest man on earth.

Kim Jin-ho facing off against Patrick!

Can you feel it, everyone?! A tense psychological battle is already unfolding!

Kim Jin-ho's matches were big events, but today's was receiving an unusual amount of attention.

This was because of the controversy surrounding Patrick's pre-match interview.

Kim Jin-ho hasn't used his legs in his recent matches. It seems he injured his leg during training. I plan to target that weakness.

This bombshell statement was reported on the front page of world news and paralyzed various online communities.

Even the strongest man on earth has a weakness. He was in a car accident and his ankle ligaments were damaged. Maybe Patrick could win.

In reality, Kim Jin-ho hadn't used his legs in his most recent matches.

It was a natural consequence that all sorts of rumors and speculations arose.

How do you think today's match will unfold?

Well. Kim Jin-ho's skills go without saying, but Patrick is also quite skilled.

That's right. He's been showing off an overwhelming KO parade in his recent matches, hasn't he?

Yes, especially his right hook, which he throws in an instant after feinting a leg attack, is truly a masterpiece. Kim Jin-ho needs to be careful of that aspect.

In contrast to Kim Jin-ho, whose leg injury was in question, Patrick was a dark horse at the peak of his prime.

Kim Jin-ho was already in his early forties, so even experts were debating whether a change of generation would occur.

As you're speaking! The match is about to begin! Viewers! Please watch Kim Jin-ho's 17th title defense!

Ding!

As soon as the bell rang, the two fighters stood face to face in the center of the ring.

Patrick's strategy was to take the initiative from the start, but he simply stood still.

Even though his coaches were screaming from behind, Patrick's feet wouldn't move.

'This is an incredible pressure...'

His coldly lowered gaze was staring at Patrick.

Patrick felt his body tremble without knowing why, as Kim Jin-ho's gaze seemed to pierce through him.

His guard was firm as a mountain, not revealing any weaknesses.

His sleek and solid muscles bulged as if they were about to explode.

It felt like a snake was about to snatch a frog; a primal instinct rose within him, warning him that he would be helpless if he moved rashly.

"Patrick! Aim for his legs! You can win if you get his legs!"

"Just do what you trained to do! Don't be afraid, move!"

Thanks to the screaming coaches, Patrick barely managed to regain his composure.

That's right, no matter how good Kim Jin-ho is, I'll have the advantage if I get his lower body. There's no reason to be intimidated by a guy with a leg injury.

He had repeated it thousands of times, learning the optimal timing.

I can do it. Hard work never betrays you!

I will take the champion title that he has monopolized for years. The moniker of the strongest on earth will soon be mine.

It was the moment Patrick thought so and rushed forward.

"Huh...?!"

Instantly, the spectators who were shouting, the coaches who were screaming, the commentators holding the microphones... Everyone watching the match was lost for words.

Someone dropped the hot dog they had taken a bite of, and another spilled the beer they were drinking, soaking their pants.

A single blow.

"..."

"..."

E-everyone! Patrick has fallen! I-it's Kim Jin-ho's picture-perfect turning back kick!

The challenger has lost consciousness! The referee is declaring the end of the match!

Kim Jin-ho! He has successfully defended his title for the 17th time!

"Whoaaaa!!!"

The match ended in just 13 seconds.

Soon, a roar that seemed to pierce the ceiling echoed throughout the octagon.

Even with the decibel level that could cause a headache, Kim Jin-ho's expression remained unchanged. He simply muttered to himself.

"That's why I don't use my legs."

"Kim Jin-ho! Where are you going?! Aren't you doing the press conference?"

"Please take care of it."

"Hey, come on! You have to do it today, no matter what. How many fans are-"

"Good work. Call me when the next match is scheduled."

The head coach rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

He used to be so enthusiastic, never missing a training session even the day after a match, and listened well, but at some point, he started acting however he wanted.

But he wins every match overwhelmingly, so there's nothing he can say...

"I know, so take a car. The weather outside is terrible. What if you catch a cold?"

"That's good. It'll be traffic, so I'll just run."

"..."

Kim Jin-ho, with his hood pulled up, left the locker room without looking back.

The coach looked at the door he had left through, sighed deeply, and shook his head.

"Traffic, my ass."

It's not like he's been acting however he wants for just a day or two. He was about to just let it go.

"Wait?! That guy's house is over 30km away, isn't it?"

Oh no! Just as the coach belatedly tried to catch him, reporters rushed in all at once as if they had made an appointment.

What terrible timing.

"Where is Kim Jin-ho right now?! When is he doing the press conference?!"

"Coach! Please say a few words about today's match!"

"What's the deal with the recent allegations of Kim Jin-ho's leg injury?!"

The coach's brow furrowed at the barrage of questions and shutter sounds that poured out relentlessly.

He wanted to swear, but he had to hold back. Kim Jin-ho's personality controversy was at its peak, so who would clean up the mess if even the head coach acted rudely?

'That brat, really...'

In fact, Kim Jin-ho wasn't a player with a bad personality. Rather, he prides himself on being one of the few players with strong values.

Despite his high popularity and astronomical earnings, he never caused any trouble and never missed a single day of training. He used to be a guy that even a man would admire...

'Yeah. I understand how you feel.'

The recent personality controversy arose because Kim Jin-ho wasn't putting his heart into it as much as he used to. That's because a challenger who could excite him hasn't appeared for years.

'I'm sorry to you, but there won't be a worthy rival until the day you retire. What can I do if you're too strong?'

Why would he train if he could win overwhelmingly even if he fought half-heartedly? It's normal that he doesn't even feel the value of putting his heart into it.

Every time he saw the malicious comments about his personality, he wanted to reveal the truth, but that would only create a backlash from the public.

The coach took a deep breath, his shoulders heaving, and put his mouth in front of the microphone.

"Haa. Leg injury? Do you guys believe those rumors? Look here. It's Kim Jin-ho, Kim Jin-ho. The reason he hasn't been using his legs is that he's giving himself a penalty. An advantage to the challenger. Okay?"

Rumble-! Crash!

The weather was as if a hole had been torn in the sky.

Kim Jin-ho, who entered the apartment building through the storm, boarded the elevator and pressed the top floor.

Rainwater dripped onto the elevator floor, making it wet.

Post-it notes cheering for Kim Jin-ho were attached to the wall.

In reality, Kim Jin-ho had never read them while going up and down the 34th floor.

Ding-!

The elevator door opened. He was about to enter the penthouse when he frowned.

"Ugh. I told them not to leave them at the entrance."

Piled up like mountains were fan letters and gift boxes.

He carelessly kicked them with his foot and opened the front door.

Drip-drip-

Rainwater, tainted with fine dust, fell on the luxurious marble floor.

Kim Jin-ho casually took off his clothes and headed straight to the bathroom to take a shower.

Shaking his wet hair, he headed to a small room in the corner.

Inside the room, reminiscent of a brand-new PC cafe, the flashing computer lights awaited their owner.

"Shall we begin?"

The place where he spent the most time each day, and the only place where he put his heart into it.

Sitting in the plush latex chair and turning on the power, Kim Jin-ho's expression was as pure as a child's.

Console PC game 'Last Savior'

A game that boasts extreme difficulty, to the point that even Korean users have given up, but Kim Jin-ho has played it every day for the past 10 years without fail.

"I probably won't beat it today either, right?"

His expression, as he said that, was full of anticipation.

The reason he played the game was to see the ending, but in reality, Kim Jin-ho didn't want it to be cleared.

Train, and then train again.

Honing his skills to fight stronger adversaries.

Only that was a meaningful goal in life, but it had long faded in reality.

Even if he set his own rules and fought with penalties, there was no adversary who could satisfy Kim Jin-ho.

The only thing that could satisfy his desires even a little was 'Last Savior'.

Even though there was no sense of reality in a game controlled with a mouse and keyboard, he could at least find vicarious satisfaction in his spirit of challenge.

Because there was a strong figure in this game that he couldn't feel in reality.

He had been fighting matches from the champion's position for a long time. But he too was once a challenger.

Kim Jin-ho didn't want much. He just wanted to feel the excitement and thrill of being a challenger again, like he used to.

"Come at me, you bastard."

He had met this guy hundreds of times, but had never won once. The final boss of 'Last Savior', the Demon King Izar, drew his sword.

Very slowly, the corners of Kim Jin-ho's mouth went up.

Adrenaline rushed through him at the thought of competing with this guy, and his heart pounded.

The moment he became a challenger again.

Outside the window, lightning struck fiercely with a storm, but he was completely immersed and only looked at the monitor.

"Huh, what?!"

But today was a bit strange.

He was surprisingly familiar with the boss's patterns, of which there were over 200, and the character in the game moved smoothly according to Kim Jin-ho's will. Normally, he should have lost without even taking away half of the boss's health, but he had driven him to very low health.

"This...!"

He suddenly felt afraid. If he beat this guy too, what joy would he have left in life?

He started the game to defeat the Demon King. He invested 10 years to see the ending.

But now that the time to win was near, he felt uneasy. It was an irony that no one but Kim Jin-ho himself could understand.

"Try harder."

But he couldn't just go easy on him. That's not the attitude of a challenger.

A challenger must do his best to reach the top. He has to dedicate his life and fight with his life on the line.

Going easy or fighting with penalties is a privilege and arrogance that only the champion can afford.

"Put some strength into it. You Demon King."

He had reached the point where he was feeling ambivalent and even cheering him on.

His fingers were performing flashy controls to continue the optimal offense and defense, to the point where he felt a strong sense of disconnect.

But in the end.

[Congratulations! You have defeated the Demon King, 'Izar'!]

"Ha... damn it."

Kim Jin-ho muttered quietly. The ending scene that he had wanted to see so badly, but didn't want to see, was playing.

The strength in the hand that was tightly gripping the mouse was released, and a terrible sense of emptiness washed over him.

"No, how could I not block that at the end?"

Even though the ending comments had finished on the black screen, Kim Jin-ho couldn't take his eyes off the monitor.

This can't be the end, there must be a hidden story or something, right?

But as if to cut off even a glimmer of hope.

"..."

[Thank you for playing Last Savior.]

"Haa-!"

He couldn't help but sigh. The only goal in his life had disappeared before his eyes. Who am I supposed to fight now?

Should I cut off the horns of a bull like Choi Bae-dal?

No, if I'm going to do that, should I fight a brown bear?

He was continuing to have ridiculous thoughts due to extreme loss. His gaze, which had naturally left the monitor, was fixed on the outside window.

When he took off his headphones, the sound of the rain hitting fiercely was especially loud. It was really terrible weather.

Just like my mood right now.

Rumble, crash-!

"...!"

Suddenly, a flash burst, and a bolt of lightning that cut through the sky appeared with a deafening roar.

It struck Kim Jin-ho's penthouse.

Fsssssssss...

The lightning passed, and the surroundings became dark again as if nothing had happened. The faint light of the monitor screen illuminated a corner of the empty room.