There were a few details that needed to be nailed down for the duel: who would fight, when it would happen, where it would take place, and how it would be carried out.

The “who” was basically already decided. Rōnin Guild had already pulled out of Danumine Gorge, so the only one who could step forward on their side was Blood King himself. Do-Jin’s side didn’t even need discussion, since it was just him to begin with.

That left the when, where, and how. Everyone assumed Do-Jin would be the one to set the terms. He had been fighting at a disadvantage from the start, dragging around the handicap of being alone, so it only made sense he’d pick the rest of the conditions. However, he didn’t even bother.

[You pick the time, place, and rules.]

It was just a short and blunt post on his channel.

If Bloodshed wanted to fuck him over, they could have easily stacked the deck and ambushed him. Agreeing to walk straight into enemy territory for a one-on-one fight was borderline suicidal, yet that attitude only made him shine more as the story’s main character.

Still, what looked reckless on the surface was anything but. Do-Jin had thought it through.

After dragging this out so far, if I start hedging over safety and details, I’ll lose all the aura I’ve been farming...

If he was going to play it cool, then he had to see it through to the end. As stupid as Blood King was, there was no way he would risk pulling a cheap stunt in front of this many people watching. The whole scene had eyes on it.

Even if he does, it’s fine, Do-Jin thought.

He couldn’t be one hundred percent certain. A lunatic could always get crazier. If it ever came to that, however, Do-Jin had nothing big to lose. Artifact gear didn’t drop on death, and everything else he could replace with money. Blood King, on the other hand, would be finished. If he tried a stunt like that, it would be total social suicide.

If he’s that desperate to throw his own life away, I’ll be glad to kill him once for free.

Do-Jin remained calm and controlled, cornering his enemy with no way out. It was a perfect display of political maneuvering.

***

The duel was set for three days later at a point upstream in Danumine Gorge. The rules were as simple as they were vicious. They would fight until one of them dropped dead.

Do-Jin should have been resting, but instead he was being bombarded by offers from companies clawing to sponsor the fight. Everyone wanted a piece of the action, and the worst offenders were the capsule manufacturers. For them, this was not just marketing. It was a feeding frenzy. When a fight promised to pull in hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions, of viewers, they went rabid trying to slap their brand on the screen.

“The last company is Metagear,” the Marketing Director said. “They make VR equipment too. They market themselves as high-end, though they’re relatively new. They want in for this fight and long-term sponsorship as well.”

“How much money are we talking?” Do-Jin asked flatly.

“That would depend on the format and the duration of sponsorship, but you may assume 30 billion won as a base figure,” the manager replied with a polite smile.

Do-Jin almost laughed out loud. 30 billion just to stick a fucking logo in the corner of the stream?

The expression on his face must have given him away, because the manager chuckled softly.

“Your channel surpassing fifteen million subscribers has had a major influence, of course. But more than that, the sheer scale of the event has created an extraordinary level of interest,” she explained, leaning in slightly as if to underline the point.

“Advertising is most valuable when the target demographic aligns perfectly with the product, and this is precisely such a case. Also, your image as a highly skilled gamer makes you an ideal partner for companies in this field. Frankly, the staff member who secures this contract will almost certainly see career advancement.”

She shoved the folder closer and gestured at the stack of documents, as if to tell him to hurry things along. The finalists were Cheonggung, Suzume, Bluesmith, RubyEye, and Metagear.

“This one.” Do-Jin pointed to Metagear without hesitation.

The choice was easy, as the other four companies were already on their last legs. Bluesmith and Suzume had been busted for faking performance benchmarks. RubyEye collapsed when its executives’ corruption finally came to light. And Cheonggung went up in flames, quite literally, after one of its capsules exploded.

Metagear, though, would keep rising until it became the face of high-end VR fifteen years down the road. The only complaint people ever had about their products was the price, and that was the safest problem a company could have. He could take their sponsorship without worrying about it screwing over his reputation.

The Marketing Director accepted the decision with a polite bow. “Thank you for keeping your promise.”

Do-Jin frowned. “Promise? What promise?”

“The one you made earlier. You said you’d do at least one piece of content and one advertisement.”

Ah. That.

It was the dumb vow he had made before opening the relic chest, swearing he would do some good if luck came his way. He had completely forgotten about it, but technically this counted.

“This should be enough then, right?” he asked.

Director Kim Young-Hee gave him a thumbs up and grinned. “That’s more than enough.”

For the moment, everyone walked away satisfied. Everyone except the Blood King, who was left stewing in his own rage.

***

Do-Jin stretched as the clock hit 7 p.m. sharp.

“It’s about to start.”

That was the time he had set his stream to go live. For focus, he had blocked out every outside notification, but he knew the world outside was already moving on its own. Now he had to face the fact that from this moment, every single move he made would be broadcast to countless eyes.

He recalled someone mentioning that the first thirty seconds of the stream would just show his face. Maybe he should figure out an angle, something that would make him look good on camera. The thought made him snort.

The hell am I doing, worrying about that? I should just do it the usual way. Putting on an act will only make me look like an idiot. He muttered to himself to stay loose and keep it natural.

When he stood up, the sight below him came into view. There were crowds everywhere. At the center of the audience, guild members planted by the Blood King could be seen snarling. Scattered around the edges were the onlookers, players who had come to watch the duel live.

Anemone’s voice was tight with worry as she took in the view. “Do-Jin.”

Of course it was no surprise. He was about to walk straight into a sea of enemies. Do-Jin stroked the side of her neck as she stepped close. His calm flowed into her, steady and unshaken, easing her tension.

“Shall we?” he asked.

“Let’s go.”

No other words were needed. Anemone bounded down the steep slope with Do-Jin on her back. The crowd spotted him instantly, their attention snapping to the rider on the silver wolf. The Bloodshed members radiated open hostility, every glare like a knife. Anemone stopped at the right distance and bared her fangs in defiance.

Do-Jin dismounted, eyes locked on Blood King. “No point in playing nice and pretending we’re here for tea. Should we just get this over with?”

Blood King ground his teeth. “There’s something I want to propose.”

“You’re bringing it up now?”

“Yes. Whether you accept is up to you.”

What kind of scheme is this asshole pulling? Do-Jin’s curiosity flared.

“All right. Let’s hear it.”

Blood King’s voice came sharp, carrying across the field. “We’ve got too much bad blood to settle with just one duel. So let’s make it final. Whoever loses doesn’t come back, ever. How’s that sound?”

Do-Jin blinked. He had expected a coward’s escape hatch. Instead, the bastard had lit his own bridge on fire. Blood King was calling for what everyone knew as an account wipe duel.

So this was it. No do-over. Whoever lost would erase their character forever.

I guess he’s got nothing left to lose. If he goes down here, the shame alone would keep him from ever logging in again.

Blood King was thinking the same thing. For him, defeat meant complete ruin. For Do-Jin, a loss would sting, but it wouldn’t destroy him. That difference only fueled Blood King’s desperation.

I’ll drag him down with me, even if it kills me, the Blood King thought with burning eyes.

Do-Jin studied him with a flicker of respect. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

As much of a dumb fuck as he is, the guy is strong.

Back in the day, Blood King made a name for himself in PvP, having been a high-ranker in the top 100. His class, Blood Knight, had been notorious for its broken dueling abilities, especially in one-on-one fights. However, Do-Jin knew one thing for certain.

No one on this damn field knows how that bastard fights better than I do.

They had been bound by bad blood even in his past life. Do-Jin had studied Blood King inside and out, desperate for the day when revenge would finally be his. He knew exactly how Blood King would fight against a mage, and especially against someone who relied on summons. He had seen it all before.

Back then, no matter how much I broke down your fighting style, I could never bridge the gap. You were miles ahead while I was just a broken, defective piece of shit.

However, the Do-Jin standing here now stood above Blood King in every way that mattered.

You’ll still try to pull your cheap, cowardly tricks. But that won’t be enough to climb over the wall between us.

With a self-assured grin tugging at his lips, Do-Jin spoke. “Is that all you’ve got?”

If they were going to do this, he wanted it done right. “Let’s make it clear. The loser strips down and crawls out naked, coughing up every last piece of gear. No loot, no pride, not a single thing left to their name. What do you say?”

Blood King’s face hardened. He hadn’t expected Do-Jin to throw down terms this brutal.

This cocky bastard really thinks I’m some pushover.

Even so, Blood King wasn’t shaken. Do-Jin had humiliated his idiot guildmates, not him. He was still carrying a hidden class, still a high-level player in his own right. His gear was top-tier, made to counter even Archmages.

I can win. No... I will win. I’ll take every goddamn thing off his back and make it mine.

He thought of all the hidden quests Do-Jin had cleared, the rewards that no amount of gold could buy. His hunger burned hotter, twisting together with his thirst for revenge until it became something vile and ugly.

“Fine. Winner takes everything. Loser walks away with nothing. That’s the kind of fight I like.”

In the end, both sides agreed to a duel where everything was on the line. One would walk away with it all, the other with nothing.