NOVPUBThe anchor was still speaking energetically about the clash when a staff member hurriedly approached him, leaning down to whisper something in his ear. The anchor's eyes went wide with shock, and he straightened up immediately.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have just received breaking news!" he announced, his voice rising with excitement. "It has been confirmed that Han Seo is indeed the mysterious new S-Ranker who appeared a few months ago! After months of complete silence, he is making a powerful comeback with this unbelievable battle against Kang Daewon on Elarion Isle!"
Gasps and murmurs filled the studio as the information sank in. The anchor turned to one of his staff, motioning him over and whispering something hurriedly. His voice was barely audible, but the microphone caught a bit of it: "Tell the guy to get a close-up look. We need visuals!"
The staff member nodded firmly and rushed out of view, clearly passing the message along.
Seconds later, the live broadcast on the screen shifted, the camera view shaking as the mysterious person holding it began to move closer to the battlefield. Branches snapped underfoot, leaves rustled loudly, and the camera zoomed in bit by bit, the image becoming clearer.
When the camera finally steadied, there he was—a young man with short, snowy white hair standing firmly on the battlefield. His back was straight, his stance confident. But just as the camera tried to get a better angle of his face, the white-haired figure reached into his inventory space, and with a smooth motion, pulled out a sleek, black mask.
In one fluid motion, he slipped it over his face, concealing his identity completely.
The anchor clicked his tongue, clearly disappointed but still thrilled. "Did you see that, folks? The mysterious Han Seo, now confirmed as the new S-Ranker, just covered his face! But there's no mistake—it's him! The same aura, the same power! He's going head-to-head with Kang Daewon, and from the looks of it, he's holding his ground!"
The screen zoomed in even further, catching every detail of his stance. His white hair stood out starkly against the backdrop of the shattered ground and swirling mana. Even masked, there was no hiding his confidence and strength.
The anchor leaned forward, eyes shining. "Who is Han Seo really? And why has he been hiding all this time? One thing's for sure—his comeback is making waves around the world!"
*****
On Elarion Isle, the wind rustled through the shattered trees, carrying the weight of tension that hung in the air. Seojun now wore a sleek black mask, obscuring his face entirely. His white hair flickered in the breeze, and his eyes—though hidden—were locked onto Daewon, who stood firm with that signature grin.
Suddenly, Seojun's gaze flickered to the person recording from a distance. With a small sigh, he raised his hand, mana gathering at his fingertips, ready to end the broadcast with a single flick. But before it could hit the camera shimmering barrier appeared around the person, crackling with energy.
"Don't mind it," Daewon called out casually, his massive frame relaxed but his eyes sharp. "Let them watch. Let's mind our business, shall we?"
Seojun paused, studying the barrier, then sighed, lowering his hand. He stepped onto the air, using Wind Step, his form hovering just above the ground before he gracefully landed on the highest branch of a nearby tree.
Seojun stood on top of the tree branch, mask firmly in place, eyes locked onto Daewon. Below them, the shaky camera feed captured every moment, the reporter's breath audible as he tried to steady the shot. Despite the urge to end things quickly, Seojun held back his teleportation—he knew the world was watching.
Daewon cracked his knuckles, smirking up at him. "Ready for round two, Han Seojun?"
Seojun tilted his head. "Are you?"
Without warning, both figures shot forward. The tree branch splintered under the force of their departure, leaves scattering into the wind. They clashed mid-air, fists colliding with a shockwave that rippled through the forest. Seojun twisted his body, landing on another branch just as Daewon swung his massive fist. The blow missed, splitting the trunk clean in half.
"Whoa! Are you seeing this?" the anchor's voice crackled through the live feed. "These two... they're fighting mid-air like it's solid ground! And that shockwave... that wasn't magic—that was pure strength!"
Seojun leaped off the branch, flipping over Daewon's head, his feet barely touching the surface before springing back up. His dagger flashed in his hand, slicing through the wind. Daewon blocked with his forearm, sparks igniting from the clash. The force pushed him back, his heels digging trenches into the bark.
"Han Seo—he's controlling the wind itself!" the anchor shouted excitedly. "Look at how he's maneuvering mid-air! he's literally stepping on air!"
The camera zoomed in as Seojun and Daewon danced across the treetops, their movements like blurs of energy. Each strike was precise, calculated, and the trees served as mere stepping stones. Daewon launched himself forward, his fist glowing with condensed mana. Seojun met him head-on, deflecting the blow with his forearm and twisting his body around Daewon's back. Before Daewon could react, Seojun's heel came crashing down on his shoulder, sending him plummeting through branches until he landed with a resounding crack on the ground.
"He got him! He got him!" the anchor shouted. "But wait... Daewon is already getting back up!"
The camera shook slightly, the image focusing back on Seojun still standing on the high branch, his eyes sharp and focused.
Daewon dusted off the dirt from his shoulders and looked up, grinning wildly. "I hope you're not tired yet,"
Daewon cracked his neck, stretching his shoulders as he took a deep breath. His grin widened, eyes sparking with excitement. "Alright, Han Seojun... I guess it's time I stop holding back."
Seojun's eyes narrowed behind his mask as he watched Daewon plant his feet firmly into the ground. A deep crimson aura began to swirl around Daewon, crackling with violent energy. The ground beneath him started to tremble, tiny stones and dust lifting into the air. His muscles seemed to bulge, veins glowing with a dark red light.
"Berserker Mode... Activate!" Daewon roared, his voice echoing across the entire island.
The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere changed. A shockwave erupted from his body, blasting away everything in its path. Trees were uprooted like twigs, sent flying back dozens of meters before crashing down. Grass was shredded instantly, leaving only scorched soil behind. The earth itself cracked and split under the sheer force of his aura, as if bowing to his power.
Seojun shielded his face with his arm as the wind howled around him. Leaves and dirt swirled wildly, snapping branches and scattering debris everywhere. When the dust settled, the landscape looked completely different. What was once a dense forest was now a barren field of dirt and splintered wood. Only Daewon stood at its center, steam rising from his body, his fists clenched and eyes glowing with pure battle lust.
The live broadcast was filled with gasps and shouts from the reporters.
"Are you seeing this?! Daewon... he just wiped out half the forest!" the anchor shouted, disbelief clear in his voice.
Another voice cut in, shaky and stunned. "That's... that's the power of the Berserker Class. They say when someone reaches the peak of it, even the ground can't withstand their rage."
Seojun landed smoothly on the bare ground, dusting off his shoulder. "You like to make an entrance, don't you?" he remarked casually.
Daewon stomped his foot, creating another crack in the ground. "Come on, Han Seojun!" he bellowed, his voice like thunder. "Let's make this fight worth remembering!"
