I Regressed, But the World Isn’t Destroyed - Chapter 86



Only Noblemtl

Episode 86 [Iron Fist] – The Real Monster (1)

The first day of EVO, where Iron Fist and other fighting games were on display.

But most EVO viewers’ attention was focused solely on Iron Fist, and on one player at that.

[Who the hell is Lee Do-hyeok?]

-I don’t know. There is no information. What I have is just strange talk.

[Fucking Wiki. When are these kids going to stop posting whatever nonsense they think is plausible?]

-What did it say?

Lee Do-hyeok. A streamer who has been playing for two months. His full-dive experience is also similar, about two months, and he has played Iron Fist for about a month. He is also currently ranked 1st on the Asia server… …

-What kind of nonsense is that?

[But isn’t it written like that in the Korean version of Wikipedia too?]

-lol

-But looking at your Twitter account, it hasn’t even been two months since you opened it…?

It’s possible that the broadcast has started. But it’s obvious to anyone that the full-dive experience is that level of nonsense. The main character of the agreement is, of course, Lee Do-hyuk.

The appearance of a monster rookie who made a debut that was reminiscent of Kwabna’s debut stage, or rather, even more shocking than that.

But there was something even more surprising.

[Wait a minute… I wonder if this isn’t nonsense?]

(link)

This is one of Anatol’s official interviews… There’s a mention of Lee Do-hyuk in it – WTF?

-It’s really been a month since you started Iron Fist?

-?

-?

At first, it seemed like fake news about the creation of AI was spreading, but it turns out that the information about Lee Do-hyeok’s background was true.

Because of that, the communities in all the countries where Iron Fist was popular were in an uproar.

To summarize the process in one sentence, it was like this.

‘He just started Full Dive?’ -> ‘That’s a joke.’ -> ‘You’re saying that’s a joke?’ -> ‘So a guy with two months of Full Dive experience and a little over a month of Iron Fist experience beat Gatak?’

And there were some who felt a strange sense of familiarity while watching it… .

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋIf you’re really familiar with the way foreigners think, this is a good recommendation]

[Sensei Dohyuk is a real global hook collector]

[(Verified) My friend is a Yankee Api fan and he sent me a WhatsApp message asking if the Reddit post was real lol]

Korean Iron Fist fans have already experienced something similar once.

From their perspective, it was both familiar and welcome to see foreign fans not only bewildered but also shocked when they learned about Lee Do-hyuk.

It’s like, ‘What is this? We did that too, Jja-sha.’

It was similar to how the last week of training felt when the trainees saw the first or second week trainees passing by.

[Wow ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋThis competition is really full of Koreans]

This wasn’t the only news that Korean Api fans could be happy about.

The eight players who advanced to the quarterfinals.

Among them, there were as many as three Korean players.

Three people including Lee Do-hyeok, Anatol, and Beyond.

Besides, the matchup was also great.

Since no other Koreans will face each other in the quarterfinals, it is possible that all three Koreans will advance to the semifinals.

Even that seemed very likely.

It has long been a given among Korean fans that Lee Do-hyeok will advance to the semifinals, and Anatol and Beyond were expected to easily defeat their quarterfinal opponents, considering the form they showed in this tournament.

Just then, Koreans were enjoying EVO in a festive atmosphere, and fans from other countries were rejoicing at the emergence of a monster rookie who would succeed Kwabna, who had announced his retirement at the end of this tournament.

Ugh-

On the other hand, there were those who could not laugh.

“Look at the play just now! Lee Do-hyeok is a monster, a monster!”

The second match of the round of 16 that was held earlier.

This was a commentary when Lee Do-hyeok was taking down Wanted with Trevor in the second set.

It was Asus who said that.

He was a famous commentator who was a huge fan of Kwabna, to the point where he would sometimes forget his duties as a commentator and only praise Kwabna.

Of course, according to Asus himself, he is not a huge fan of a specific player, but rather he just cheers for the stronger player.

Anyway, that’s why Asus called Lee Do-hyuk a ‘monster’.

Of course, Asus knew what the word monster meant within Iron Fist.

A nickname that was given to a rookie player who suddenly appeared a few years ago and defeated a previously considered monster in the quarterfinals of a world tournament he entered for the first time.

[-

“Wow, now that a real monster has appeared, the fake ones are completely out of action.”

]

This is what Asus said at the time.

The person who was called the ‘real exhaust monster’ at that time was, of course, Kwabna.

Since then, the word monster has come to symbolize Kwabna.

“Whoa! A monster? Do you really think so?”

“Of course! Why, does it sound strange when I say this?”

The fact that Asus, who knew that very well, called Lee Do-hyuk that had a significant meaning behind it.

“Of course. Where is the person who cursed at me last year for praising another player for his monstrous physique?”

“Yes. That’s the guy. And I still think the same. But look at Lee Do-hyeok’s play! If he’s not a monster, then what is?”

Even Asus was the first to say that words like monster and genius are only for Kwabna and not for other professionals.

In other words, Asus was giving Lee Do-hyuk the highest praise it could give him.

“You’re not expecting Lee Do-hyeok to beat Kwabna right now, are you?”

「Hmm, not to that extent. It will be difficult right now. After all, it has been several years since Kwabna became the best in the world. However, in my opinion, if you look at talent alone, Lee Do-hyeok is equal to or even higher than Kwabna! If more time passes, I think he may be the only player who can defeat Kwabna.」

At that time, there was one man who could never listen to those words kindly.

In the past, he was the one who told Asus that they couldn’t beat Mac because a real monster appeared.

The first opponent in the quarterfinals where Kwabna was called a monster was Gulov, who was also called a monster by fans before his appearance.

“… It’s too much to give it away.”

He gritted his teeth and spat it out.

Since Kwabna said he will retire after this tournament, is he doing this on purpose?

Because he is Gulov, he knows Kwabna’s strength better than anyone else, so he dislikes it even more.

A memory from two years ago that is still vivid in my mind.

When he recalled that time, fighting spirit and competitive spirit burned brightly in Gulov’s eyes.

At the time, he was considered to be closest to the throne of the Iron Fist, which had not yet been decided.

And the World Championships at that time were the perfect time to solidify Gullov as the world’s best.

[-

“Defeat! Defeat of Gulov! Crazy play of Kwabna! Crazy play! Remember this name! Kwabna! He is the man who will become the pinnacle of this era!”

]

However, Gulov was defeated in the quarterfinals by Kwabna, who suddenly appeared.

In the end, rather than becoming a contender for the throne, he ended up becoming the first sacrificial lamb in the Khwabna Chronicles.

Kwak-

How did he endure the years of humiliation that followed?

Endless training, and more training!

Gulov was the one who pushed himself to the limit at every moment with the sole intention of defeating Kwabna.

[8th Round, 1st Match]

[Gulov VS Lee Do-hyeok]

That’s why he had no idea that he would lose in the upcoming quarterfinals.

For him, the current stage is just like a stone.

A stone I came across while passing by.

I didn’t intend to stumble over something like that.

In the end, you will be the one who wins.

Pushik-

Gullov entered the capsule with that thought in mind.

‘Talent equal to or greater than Kwabna?’

It’s not even funny, but even if it were true, it wouldn’t matter.

[Gulov – Ivanov]

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

‘It’s not just you that I’m after.’

From the beginning, his Ivanov was targeting Kwabna.

He is the strongest of the present age.

[Lee Do-hyeok – Tetsujin]

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Not some ordinary person like that.

“Both players are ready! Who will be the winner of the first match of the quarterfinals? ASUS Commentary Official New Monster, Lee Do-hyeok! Or the Beast of Volga, Gulov?! Let’s meet them right away!”

“Gulov chose his main character, Ivanov, and Lee Do-hyeok chose Tetsujin, just like in the last set. I wonder what mode it will be this time!”

[3… 2… 1… ]

[READY]

[FIGHT!!!]

* * *

Gulov’s eyes moved busily.

This time, the opponent is not holding a weapon.

fault-

At that time, Lee Do-hyeok took a forward step and closed the distance.

It’s pretty fast even though it’s just a light step.

Thanks to this, I’ve already been able to eliminate some of my options.

‘It must be a melee specialized character.’

First of all, it is inferred from the fact that they rushed right in without any particular adaptation process.

If you see him like that, there’s a high chance that he’s a pretty familiar character.

Looking at Lee Do-hyeok’s record on the Asian server, except for Tetsujin and Trevor, he mostly played close-range combat type characters.

In addition, the speed of the forward step and the appearance of trying to close the distance.

Most likely, a character specialized in close range has appeared.

‘Let’s go somewhere… .’

Taat!

Gullov also kicked the ground hard.

The Ivanov he handles is a character optimized for close combat.

There was no reason to avoid the opponent.

hook-!

The moment when the distance between us became narrow.

Ivanov’s kick, aimed at stopping the fight, seemed to be at this moment.

Ivanov is one of the best melee characters in terms of leg reach.

Phew!

An opponent who blocks without responding.

Gulov’s body rotated at that moment.

A roundhouse kick followed immediately.

The impact wasn’t felt.

Lee Do-hyuk countered by swinging his leg.

But that’s also within Gullov’s expectations.

Bam!

A high kick fired again.

When that was blocked again, Gullov immediately twisted his body.

slap!

Then, a fierce wind tore through the air.

If I had reacted just a little bit later, I would have allowed the attack to happen.

Bam! Bam!

And then the close combat ensued.

Their hands and feet kept crossing each other.

“Ooh! This is a proper fight! A close-range battle where both sides are aiming for each other!”

“Both players are confident! But is it my imagination that the two players look similar?”

-oh

-I see Ivanov is here?

-That’s right, yeah

-Kya ㅋㅋㅋ What the heck is this sudden mirror match

‘…Ivanov?’

Gullov also thought the same thing.

I was able to catch a glimpse of his main character’s scent from his opponent’s movements.

His initial guess that it would be a character specialized in close combat turned out to be correct.

It wasn’t intentional, but set 1 was practically a mirror match.

‘then!’

Papak!

Gulov turned around and aimed for his opponent’s face.

A strong spray of the back of the hand using rotational force.

But it gets blocked.

‘surely…’

The level of close combat is high.

Asus wasn’t talking nonsense.

Bang! Bang! Pat!

At first glance, the two sides appear equal.

But Gulov, the person involved, could feel it.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with the opponent’s movements.

But it was okay.

In the first place, his goal was not to defeat his opponent through close combat.

Rather, it was about approaching the opponent at close range.

hook!

Gullov bowed deeply.

Then the opponent’s leg passed over his head.

Gullov didn’t stay still either.

Gullof, who doesn’t just end with evasion but immediately continues his attack.

In fact, Ivanov’s fighting style, Sambo, is not a martial art that consists solely of striking techniques.

Although striking techniques are also excellent, the core of Sambo is the harmony of striking and jiu-jitsu.

In particular, it can be said that Ivanov’s true nature is to pretend to continue the striking attack and then switch to all kinds of grabs and lower moves.

“Put the pressure down!”

Just like right now.

Attempts a Russian hook, cancels, extends leg and hits opponent’s leg.

Bam!

Likewise, Lee Do-hyeok blocks it by stretching out his leg and striking it.

Gullof, who continued to cling on without giving in, tried to catch Lee Do-hyeok.

A movement where one extends one’s arms and attempts to entangle the opponent’s upper body.

Pot, pod!

Lee Do-hyuk solved it without difficulty.

hook!

Gullov, bending down as if he had been waiting, attempts a tackle.

He threw his legs hard and fell on his opponent.

It might have looked a little strange to those who didn’t know.

He tried to catch it, but when that didn’t work, he tried to tackle it right away.

It was a movement that did not seem very efficient at first glance.

But all of this was a connection that Gullov had been planning for some time.

Taat!

Lee Do-hyeok escapes with a backdash.

Gullov’s smile deepened when he saw that.

‘Hehehe.’

One of Ivanov’s weaknesses that occurs in the mirror match between Ivanov and Ivanov.

After performing a release action for a specific grab, a backdash is followed by a slight stiffness.

After the patch, I also experimented with Tetsujin just in case.

And he was able to confirm that Tetsujin, who was in Ivanov mode, also experienced a delay in the same situation.

‘It was your misfortune to have Ivanov attack me. That was your downfall!’

Because it was Gulov who had reduced the character of Ivanov to the limit, and because it was Gulov who had assumed the chance that Kwabna would come out with Tetsujin and Ivanov would be caught, it was the current opportunity that he was able to seize.

Gullov smiled, showing his teeth.

That was the moment.

“…?”

Lee Do-hyuk with a bewildered face,

-Dismissed!

He fired a thunderbolt at Gullov, who was running towards him, saying, “Kill me!”

Electricity crackled through his legs.

Phaaaak!