Episode 203

The concept of special abilities in this world was akin to the trends on InstaStarGram.

It meant that it was similar to the trendy, photogenic food often sold in cafes.

-Guys, why has the Rider suddenly become a trend?

-You don’t know? Please DM for inquiries 🙏

-Why are you telling me to DM when I asked on KnowledgeIn? -_-

Just like how Dalgona coffee once became a trend through internet video sites, leading many to try it, special abilities also become a trend.

-The era belongs to the Rider!

-Nonsense. That’s all a scheme by Haegneul to sell off Rider suits. Look at the new releases in April. Isn’t Haegneul selling these suits to ability users for millions of Won each?

-Are you suggesting that the Goblin has some kind of collusion with Haegneul?

-Not exactly, but Haegneul is using the Rider as a commercial tactic. Geez, people. There’s supply because there’s demand. Why on earth are people so keen on buying a villain’s appearance?

-Well… because it’s cool…!

Since I first revealed myself as Dodjirider, many have wanted to emulate the Rider’s appearance, as this world naturally gravitates towards ‘cool’ things.

-What? People are interested in the Rider?

-Yes. This is an opportunity. Since there is an original, if we mix it up a bit…

-Good. I’ll take responsibility. Proceed.

And the place most sensitive to this was ‘Haegneul’.

-Trends turn into money!

Haegneul quickly commercialized trends to milk money from ability users whenever possible.

-Selling Rider suits! From E to A grade, differentiated Rider suits!

-Customize your Rider color! Try the ‘Changyeom’ edition, a mix of Iolite Blue and Goblin Black! Make your suit with your color!

-At Haegneul Bike, for an additional 2 million Won, you can get your bike painted in Rider style. This color is our signature design, using premium synthetic leather and pigments…

Haegneul didn’t just dip a toe in the water; they dive headfirst.

-Selling Rider jelly!

-This is a bit much.

Just as you could tell a trend was at its end when convenience stores started carrying related products, Haegneul’s production of goods signaled the fading of the trend.

-Getting tired of seeing Riders everywhere. Anything else?

In other words, the Rider trend was ending.

After the big sports festival, Rider suits will likely end up stored away or just worn as regular clothes.

Why?

-Damn! Thought I was invincible as a Rider, but I lost!!

-Thought wearing a Rider suit would guarantee a win…!

-You did win because you wore a Rider suit. Not you, him. He’s in a full-option Rider suit, and you’re in a tin can suit.

-Aaaaah!!

Because even wearing a Rider suit, one could lose.

The feeling of invincibility wearing a Rider suit faded as everyone, whether buying from Haegneul or making their own, started wearing them, turning into indistinguishable mass-produced goods.

-Riders are boring. I’m over it.

Even the most unique clothing becomes common when everyone wears it.

The trend is over.

What started when a trend ended?

A new trend begins.

-Any new techniques? Not something that E or F grades use, but something unique that I can showcase…

-Mana Energy Maxㅡㅡㅡ!!

This was it!!

-But I never imagined the next trend would be ‘Divine Summoning’ as demonstrated by the Dark Charisma from the Sephirot Knights.

[Hmm.]

Far from the large stadium where the sports festival was held, I checked the venue’s footage on a second-hand tablet from a blind spot where others couldn’t see.

[Didn’t expect someone to use that already.]

[Susanoo has already revealed the principle.]

Doul, merged with me, responded to my words from within.

[Unlike converting complex magic power into suits, making such huge ether masses is no different.]

As Doul said, such techniques were indeed accessible if one simply managed to properly form magic power.

In terms of difficulty, it’s probably between C and B grade.

‘Just ‘release magic power outward to fix its form’, ‘just make it incredibly large’, ‘of course, it takes a tremendous amount of magic power to create such size.’ Thinking along these lines shouldn’t pose much of a problem.

Frankly, even something like ‘Summoning a Giant Stickman’ was possible.

It consumes a lot of mana to maintain, and if the user did not specify the shape precisely, it collapses, which is a downside.

It’s a skill anyone can use.

[The type of shape one summons varies by individual, but who would have thought they’d create a general like that.]

Behind Ray Huang, a giant half-visible general roared towards the sky.

Its size may differ from the giant soldier of Sephiroth I once summoned with a punch, but the vibe was somewhat similar.

Though it’s smaller, and only the upper half up to the diaphragm protruded from the ground.

[Is this really becoming a trend now?]

[Probably. As he said, it feels like a ‘finishing move’, though he calls it an ultimate technique.]

Finishing move.

Ultimate technique.

That’s something ability users couldn’t resist.

[But I have a real question.]

Imitating the Dark Charisma? Doesn’t matter.

Summoning a being with three fathers as a god? That’s also fine.

What I was truly curious about was one thing.

[Isn’t he a gunner?]

A guy who neither wielded a spear nor wrote plays, still holding a gun, summoned Lu Bu as a spirit?

The moment I thought it didn’t fit.

-You’re a marksman, why are you summoning Lu Bu?

Yoon Iseon pointed it out.

[…Hmm.]

[Isn’t that dangerous?]

[I guess we should go.]

Sometimes.

It’s better to keep some questions quietly buried in one’s heart.

“What… did you say?”

“You use a gun. Lu Bu was, what’s it called, an armed warrior who used a halberd, right?”

“……”

Ray Huang’s words halted.

He looked stunned, like a child who just learned Santa doesn’t exist, mouth agape.

“No, I mean, what I’m saying is.”

Yoon Iseon was the one flustered now.

“If it were me, I’d summon someone from a Hong Kong action movie who uses guns. Why Lu Bu?”

“Uh, uhh…!”

“And if it’s the Three Kingdoms, I’d choose someone other than Lu Bu-”

“Woahhhhh!!”

Ray Huang roared.

The bullet he fired at his head didn’t injure him, but his state clearly changed after shooting himself in the head.

“Lu Bu is strong! Invincible! The strongest warrior of mankind!!”

As if that was all he wanted to think about.

Shooting himself in the head shook his brain, focusing all thought on summoning Lu Bu, setting aside any other rational thought.

“Strong! Invincible! The strongest! This is the life of the martial god Lu Bu! I will show you! The martial might of Lu Bu!!”

Like a mechanical soldier programmed only for combat, Ray Huang, with eyes rolled back, aimed his gun forward.

“Dieeeee!”

“!!”

It was absurd to openly call for death during a duel, but seeing Lu Bu, transformed into ether and enlarged, spread his arms to wreak havoc was also absurd.

Click, click.

“…A robot?”

Tudududududu!!

As Lu Bu’s chest armor opened wide, revealing numerous holes, bullets began to spread forward.

“What kind of Lu Bu is this!”

“Silence! Before the absolutely invincible martial god, kneel!!”

Tududududu.

As a purple bullet feast adorned the sky, Yoon Iseon turned her gaze to the judges’ stand in disbelief.

The judges were flustered, too, and the bullets were now flying high into the sky, about to descend to the ground.

“Take this, Lu Bu’s shooting! A thousand Halberds covering the sky, this is the Rain of Paintings from the Heavens (滿天畫雨)! Hahaha!!”

Pababat!

The bullets transformed in the sky, raining down towards the ground like Halberds.

“Judge!”

Yoon Iseon urgently looked for the judge, but Principal Kim Seok-dae, who had entered the judges’ stand, grabbed the mic and declared.

-No issue with the use of abilities. Continue the match, Iseon student. This, too, is a trial. Kekeke.

“Ah, seriously…!!”

Yoon Iseon bit her lower lip, watching the sky.

Within the feast of countless halberds raining down, she found a ‘path’ through the barrage of attacks.

That path led her as if it were the wind itself.

“……!!”

Yoon Iseon dashed forward along that path.

Simultaneously.

Whoooosh.

Three fox tails blazed behind her, each splitting into three, expanding into nine tails.