Chapter 60
“He’s Got Some Skill (2)”
3.
It’s become such a cliché by now, but…
once again, Korea had flipped the world upside down.
Breaking News: “Korea wins the friendly match against Japan in preparation for the 3rd-floor raid! Final score: 5–4!”
“The shameless traitor, Bokusei Jun, pays the price for his sins against Korea’s rising star!”
“Japanese Minister of Paranormal Affairs: ‘Bokusei Jun will not be able to participate in the raid. He sustained severe injuries and will require a long recovery. We regret that Player Meteor’s excessive hand speed led to this tragedy.’”
“The hero who saved Korea from the nightmare of total defeat—Meteor! A dramatic comeback victory!”
“Experts: ‘He’s only a 3rd-floor player, but he’s proven his immense potential. A rising talent Korea must nurture.’”
“Japan’s top prodigy, Kurogane Tatsuya: ‘Mr. Meteor has shown me a new revelation. I will never forget his grace for as long as I live.’”
Ah, this feeling.
The taste of attention.
Because I had fought hard and pulled off that reverse sweep, the media was flooded with my name.
A Korea–Japan match that ended in utter success—
and the rewards I got from it were nothing short of massive.
“…So your subscribers doubled? That’s just depressing. Some of us slave away making content for years, and you just go click once and get 1.5 million? The world’s so damn unfair.”
“Then you should’ve gone and done the Korea–Japan match yourself.”
“Yeah, Inseop, that’s kind of petty. Our MCN’s streamer just went viral worldwide and you’re jealous already?”
“Come on, Kangwoo. After all our time together, you’re already taking his side?”
“What can I say? Meteor here’s a 1.5-million-sub YouTuber. Right, Meteor?”
“Hahaha! Kangwoo, maybe we should just start our own company together?”
“Tempting idea. Let’s talk later.”
We were sitting in the small but cozy office of <Astra Core>, the MCN company Inseop had started.
The big guy joking across from me was Lee Kangwoo, Inseop’s former manager and current CEO of Astra Core.
We’d had a drink together not long ago and decided to call each other “brothers.”
That’s how it works between men—pour each other a drink, and you’re family.
“CEO Chun said he’d love to have you on his show soon. Says you don’t even need to be paid.”
“Fine by me. I like the Mirage Guild anyway.”
The Korea–Japan match had been explosive in its impact.
My YouTube (or rather, MeTube) channel had skyrocketed past 1 million—
and before I knew it, I hit 1.5 million.
Even now, the number ticked up every time I refreshed the page.
I struck while the iron was hot—quickly signed a deal with that editor couple Taeho recommended.
All this happened within twelve hours of the match ending.
“We’ve got interview requests from the press too. What should I tell them?”
“Aren’t those the same people who said I was overhyped and had to ‘prove myself’ when I first debuted?”
“Yeah, most major outlets said that.”
“Then reject them.”
“Got it.”
Still, Inseop was a good kid.
Most people would’ve been bitter watching an old colleague suddenly blow up like this,
but he looked genuinely happy for me.
Yeah, I’d picked a good little brother.
“Oh, and by the way, thanks to you, I hit 1 million too.”
“…So that’s why you look so happy.”
“Already applied for my Gold Button, same as you. Oh, right—your Silver and Gold Buttons should arrive in about two weeks.”
“Damn.”
Silver and Gold Buttons.
They weren’t just trophies.
They were proof that my lifelong dream was actually coming true.
When they arrived, I’d definitely film an unboxing video right away.
As I was lost in that sweet thought, Inseop started fiddling with his tablet.
“Community reactions are going wild.”
So the guy does check online comments, huh?
I leaned over to take a look—and sure enough, the forums were plastered with my name everywhere.
[Title]: All members of this community now swear allegiance to Meteor.
Post: Any attack on Meteor is an attack on us. We will strike the source immediately, no negotiations.
Meteor GOAT! Forever Meteomentum!
How are basement dwellers gonna ‘strike the source’?
Some guy tried spreading Meteor conspiracy theories this morning, so we mass-reported him and spammed his comments section.
Cyber strike complete.
I hereby renounce my support for Meteor… (post cut off)
Honestly, waving that Korean flag at the end was kinda emotional.
Lol, so many people kissing his ass now. Yesterday they were all doing mock funerals for Korea. Still the same hot-tempered Koreans.
LMAO cringe patriots.
Even the toxic communities that usually flamed me nonstop were full of praise.
That’s the power of a Korea–Japan victory, huh?
They called this… the immunity pass from criticism.
“Don’t worry, by tomorrow they’ll be back to roasting you again.”
“That’s the internet for you.”
“Exactly. Oh, and here—this is the video I’m uploading today.”
“What’s with that title?”
“I even made a playlist just for your videos. It’s called ‘Our Bro.’”
“No, seriously—what’s with the title?”
The video title on his screen read:
[Japan’s Live Reaction to the Korea–Japan Match] A Meteor Falls on Japan! “Is this… a Korean Player?”
“Let’s eat together, bro.”
“Still, that’s kinda… nationalist clickbait.”
“Come on, if someone’s gonna post that kind of video anyway, it might as well be me.”
He knew exactly when to capitalize on a trend.
No wonder he’d survived in this industry.
And the video itself—Japan’s live reactions—turned out nothing like what I expected.
lololol as expected of hyung-nim’s country
Beating Bokusei Jun was so satisfying
That’s what traitors get
Did you see Kurogane Tatsuya’s face? Dude looked like he fell in love.
Uh, not gonna lie, that Korean player’s kinda handsome. My type.
The K-wave has hit even the player world!
Did you see that final sword move? Korea’s finally got a real monster.
Subscribed right away! I’m officially a fan!
Are we gonna lose even in the Abyss now…
“Why… do they like me so much?”
“Kurogane Tatsuya’s been talking about you nonstop since this morning. Saying how amazing you are and how much you helped him. What did you even do?”
“I just showed him a technique, that’s all.”
Honestly, I’d just wanted to test my Fusion skill again.
Who knew showing Reverse Heaven once would have this effect?
Still, not bad.
I’d see him again in three days at the raid site anyway—
might as well thank him in person.
And maybe do a joint stream with him and Shiomi Yui after.
Korean and Japanese viewers would love that.
I could even schedule an after-party.
“Kangwoo, think you can get English and Japanese subtitles up?”
“Sure thing. I’ll find someone fast.”
MeteorTube: Now Landing in Japan!
Might as well ride this wave all the way.
4.
The day after the Korea–Japan match was hectic.
After discussing future stream plans with the team,
I headed straight for the Seoul Branch of the Paranormal Management Bureau.
“Whew.”
I’d arrived thirty minutes early,
and they said Chief Choi was still with another guest.
So, with time to kill, I decided to check my current status.
[Unique Trait <Attention Disorder> — 3rd Seal Released]
[Unseal Progress: 20% → 25%]
[Skill Archive – Tower Lord of Madness, Belua]: 3rd Circle Magic Unlocked
[Skill Archive – Battle God Zerach]: Battle Transformation Lv.1 Unlocked
[Skill Archive – Godslayer Rebon]: Archery Form III Unlocked, Spirit Power Enhanced
[Skill Archive – Meteor Origin]: Fusion Efficiency Increased]
My overall stats had risen.
I could feel the power I’d lost to the “Attention Disorder” returning.
Even my mana capacity had grown.
That last line—Meteor Origin—wasn’t anything special though.
It just meant I could freely combine the skills in my archive into new forms.
Basically, Fusion Skills.
The “Reverse Heaven” I’d shown Kurogane Tatsuya was one of those—
the very one Belua had once mocked as “a childish ability.”
“Only a quarter unlocked, huh.”
Technically, 25% might not sound like much,
but my power scaled exponentially with each unlocked slot.
More unlocked slots = more possible skill combinations.
And yet, even with that, I’d barely managed to win that final battle.
That world really was insane.
Oh, and the third unlock had revealed the next condition for the fourth.
[4th Unlock Condition Revealed]
Goal: Secure your own broadcast stronghold within the Abyss.
Hint: This goal is tied to your Statue of the Waiting One.
Complete the quest <True: The Immortal Army> to proceed.
Player, congratulations on reaching 1 million subscribers!
A message bordered in gold.
That last line seemed random, but… hey, I’ll take it.
The golden glow felt different—
not mechanical like the Abyss’s usual system messages,
but almost… alive.
Still, what did it mean by a broadcast stronghold?
Was I supposed to build a studio in the Abyss or something?
“Hmm.”
Well, I’d find out once I cleared the quest.
At least it gave me a hint this time.
Just as I was staring at the quest window deep in thought—
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone rapped on the meeting room door.
Only one person should’ve been looking for me here:
Chief Choi Sunghoon.
“I’m here.”
“Oh! May I come in?”
The voice that answered wasn’t his.
I stood and opened the door—
and there stood a grinning Western man,
holding a large, elegantly wrapped package.
As soon as he saw me, his eyes lit up.
“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Yoo! I must say, meeting you is the highlight of my year!”
“Huh?”
“Ah, but this thing I’m holding is a bit heavy. Would you be so kind as to hold it for a moment?”
Before I could reply, he shoved it into my hands.
I caught it reflexively.
It wasn’t heavy at all—just a solid, flat object.
“…It’s not heavy.”
“Wonderful! Would you do the honor of unwrapping it, then?”
“You’re kind of weird. Why’s your Korean so good?”
“Heh. You’ll understand when you see what’s inside.”
Didn’t feel like a bomb.
Judging by the shape and weight… maybe some kind of plaque?
I gave him a wary look but peeled the wrapping off anyway—
and revealed a massive gold plate.
The MeTube logo gleamed in the center.
“Congratulations on 1 million subscribers, Mr. Yoo! Ta-da! Your Silver and Gold Buttons, hand-delivered! The Silver Button’s pure silver, and the Gold one’s pure gold! But keep that between us—no one else knows!”
Wait—
didn’t I just order those today?
Since when was there same-day delivery for this?
“I’m acting as your personal courier today! Haha! Once again, congratulations! Now, can we take a photo together? I need to send it to my higher-ups.”
“Oh, a photo? Hold on—”
“I’m your biggest fan! Meteor! Meteor! Meteor!”
Just as I stepped beside him for the picture—
BANG!
The meeting room door burst open.
“HEY! RYAN BECKETT! You ethicsless bastard! You said you were just going to the bathroom!”
“Oh, Mr. Choi! This is a misunderstanding!”
“Player Yoo Sung-woo! Don’t listen to a word this lunatic says! He’s a high-ranking official from the U.S. Paranormal Bureau! He’s been trying to recruit you to America! I can’t believe he tried to approach you like this!“
“Noooo! I just came to deliver the Gold Button!”
“Shut up!”
Absolute chaos.
Good grief.
At this rate… what’s going to happen to this country?
