The park was quiet again. The last traces of Slimes flickered out like smoke, and Jihoon felt the weight of the sword vanish from his hand.
His arm still trembled faintly, the memory of strain lingering even though the blade was gone.
Nari ran to him, her Lens bobbing slightly on her nose. "Uncle, you were amazing! You didn't even respawn once. Look, you got a Slime Core!"
She pulled up her screen and shoved it toward him. A glowing icon pulsed inside her interface—a tiny crystal-shaped core.
Jihoon let out a breath, rolling his sore shoulder. "So that's… good?"
"It's not just good, it's great!" she said, bouncing. "You can sell it at the Exchange or use it for crafting later. Most people don't get one on their first hunt."
Her words carried such genuine excitement that Jihoon couldn't bring himself to shrug them off. Instead, he just nodded.
They left the park and stepped onto the main avenue. By now, the city had transformed into a festival of light.
Neon signs overlapped with AR projections, holographic displays covering entire buildings.
It didn't take long before something caught Jihoon's eye.
A skyscraper wall shimmered, blooming into a massive holographic broadcast. The image showed a city street—Busan, according to the overlay—except this one was alive with chaos.
A world boss had spawned, a colossal centipede bristling with armored plates and glowing eyes. Players swarmed it, blades and skills cutting through the night.
Jihoon stopped walking without realizing it. Around him, dozens of pedestrians had too.
Even people without Lenses were watching, thanks to public projection screens. The battle played like a national sports match.
"That's Team Genesis," Nari whispered, almost reverently. "Number one guild in Korea. They take down most world bosses before anyone else. See that guy in the front? That's Min Jae-ryu, their captain. He used to be a taekwondo medalist before going pro here."
Jihoon studied the screen. Their formation was clean, every movement polished. These weren't amateurs flailing against Slimes. They were professionals, athletes who treated AR like blood and bone.
The crowd around him clapped as the centipede's HP dipped another bar. Jihoon could almost feel the vibration of their cheers in his chest.
Then the screen shifted, transitioning into a new display.
[Grand AR PVP Tournament – Registration Now Open]
Flashes of last year's duels played across the building façade—players dueling in abandoned stadiums, swords ringing against shields, daggers flashing in blur-fast movements.
The crowd in the replay roared, confetti and fireworks raining down as a victor raised his blade high.
Text scrolled beneath the highlight reel:
Prize Pool: ₩2,000,000 + Exclusive Gear Sponsorship (AresTech, NeoDrink, HyperLens)
Qualifiers: Open to All Players.
The ad ended with a shot of last year's champion grinning into the camera, his name floating in gold beneath him: Kang Doyun – 2030 Champion.
Nari nearly jumped. "Two million won! Uncle, that's enough for a car! Or like—five more V-Lenses!"
Jihoon's lips twitched faintly. "I don't need five."
"But you could!" she argued, eyes shining. "That's real money, Uncle. And a sponsorship. Do you know what that means? Free gear. Exposure. A whole career if you win."
Jihoon didn't answer. His gaze lingered on the replay of Kang Doyun's victory pose.
The way the crowd screamed his name, the way the stadium lights washed over him—it was different, yet familiar.
He'd once stood under lights like those. Different arena. Different sword. But the roar of a crowd was something you didn't forget.
"Uncle," Nari said softly. "You were a champion once. You can be one again."
Jihoon closed his eyes for a brief second. The ache in his hand flared, as if reminding him of the reason he stood here instead of a kumdo hall.
When he opened them, the billboard replayed the ad again. Players clashed, blades sparking, sponsors glowing at the edges: AresTech. NeoDrink. HyperLens. Companies already cashing in on the spectacle.
Two million won. Not life-changing. Not yet. But enough to prove something. Enough to test himself.
Jihoon turned away at last. "Let's go home."
Nari pouted, but she fell into step beside him, still humming about tournaments and prizes.
Jihoon said nothing more.
But in the quiet of his chest, the spark had been lit.