Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Strongest Vote
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Worn-out circular arena, a place like the Colosseum—hunters sat there.
Exactly 500 in number.
The hunters summoned to the 30th floor had gathered in groups, forming their own sections in the Colosseum's spectator seats.
"That side is Illibatus, left is Wolf Fortress, right... not sure. Looks like a bunch of demon contractors, though."
A Deus hunter to the right of Ju Gonghyeok gave a brief explanation.
Their group, including Ju Gonghyeok, numbered a mere 10.
The smallest among all the groups here.
Originally, Ju Gonghyeok was supposed to tackle the 30th-floor mission with his Company companions, but he'd forced his way into Deus and joined their summon circle.
It was a deeply personal reason.
"Sigmund. Long time no see."
Ju Gonghyeok gave a small wave.
Sigmund nodded without a word.
To meet him, Ju Gonghyeok had gone through the 30th floor with Deus.
Ju Gonghyeok sat in the seat next to him.
[Avatar Progenitor (SS----) first ability 'Blackout' activated.]
He threw up a barrier to block out surrounding sounds and spoke lightly.
"Came to keep my promise."
"Understood."
He answered while staring straight ahead, without even turning to look at Ju Gonghyeok.
"I'm fine with dying. In exchange, show me the future you promised."
"Got it."
Three demons appeared in the center of the Colosseum.
The familiar succubus spoke first.
"Hunters, I am Lilianne, the knight assigned to oversee this 20th-floor mission. Thrilled to meet you all."
As her greeting ended, the two demons behind her bowed their heads.
"I am Knight Randarma, in charge of mission proceedings."
"I am the lowly Zoroaster, assigned as overseer. I will be monitoring your actions."
Randarma resembled a wolf with long, sharp twin horns, while Zoroaster was a hooded, ordinary-looking humanoid demon.
Once their greetings concluded, Lilianne cleared her throat.
"Then, our angel friend will explain the details."
Lilianne pointed to the sky, and a massive pair of eyes materialized there.
"I am Angel Sandalphon. We've met before, so I'll skip the introductions."
Sandalphon was the angel who provided dice missions to every hunter entering the 5th floor.
The hunters were awed by his form, still impossible to gauge in size, like a giant beyond measure.
"This mission is called 'Strongest Vote.' You will first be divided into groups of 10."
Sandalphon's mountain-like finger descended from the sky and swept through the air once. White walls rose in the Colosseum's spectator seats, separating the hunters into groups of ten.
"From your group of 10, select one representative. He will face the trial."
A message window appeared before the hunters' eyes.
[Strongest Vote Stage 1.]
- Select a representative from your group of 10.
- The representative will face the trial on behalf of the entire team.
- If the representative dies, the entire team dies.
A Wolf Fortress hunter spat on the ground.
"Fucking rules again."
"Handing my life over to someone else like that... kinda scary."
As people exchanged uneasy glances, a sharp-eyed hunter focused on the message window's title.
"'Stage 1' means there are Stage 2 and 3 too."
"Let's just proceed for now. Our team's got some familiar faces, but plenty of strangers too."
The 50 teams each held discussions.
Choosing a representative to fight on their behalf was a thorny issue.
Stats and avatar info were secrets not to be revealed lightly.
You never knew when an ally might become an enemy and exploit your weaknesses, so even within the same faction, such info was shared sparingly.
"Our team's strongest is this guy, so let's go with him as rep."
"Who says? How do you know he's stronger than me?"
"Hey, there's only two of us—shut it. We know."
"Hah, damn. It's not just your lives on the line. Mine too!"
Unless someone boldly revealed their avatar, they went with a rough consensus, pushing forward folks from the same city.
A few teams erupted in major discord, drawing avatars and blades to settle it with a quick bout.
[Non-representatives are prohibited from combat actions.]
[The representative may only fight in the trial arena.]
The message windows popped up, preventing attacks on each other.
All skills were sealed from activation. Touching and talking were fine, but harming anyone was forcibly banned by the 'law.'
"Even if the rep dies, this law'll just snap us out of existence."
"Probably."
It was obvious how the surviving team members would die if their rep fell.
No need for demons to lift a finger—the world's set laws would handle it naturally.
Some hunters eyed certain teams with envious glances.
"That team's enviable."
"Yeah. No need to fight over who reps."
While most teams bickered tediously over selecting a rep, a few did not.
Teams boasting powerhouses renowned in Babel.
"With big bro here, no worries."
"We trust you."
The team led by Biro of the Leaf Wolves was one such.
A swift swordsman among Wolf Fortress's top five, captain of the elite Blade Wolf Squad 3.
No debate—he was the rep.
'Same for that guy over there.'
Biro side-eyed the Deus hunters.
There, Company leader Ju Gonghyeok—the man debated as humanity's strongest—lounged, puffing a cigarette.
"Time limit's up."
Demon Randarma stopped grooming its fur and stepped to the Colosseum's podium.
"Representatives, gather in the trial arena center. Laggards will be punished without delay."
"Ah, we haven't decided yet."
"When did time run out...?"
"We believe in you! Go fight hard!"
At the demon's call, 50 hunters converged on the trial arena in the Colosseum's center.
It resembled a massive pit arena with a sand floor.
Randarma surveyed the hunters.
"First, we'll check the vote tallies."
Numbers floated above the hunters' heads.
5/10, 7/10, 4/10, 8/10...
"This can't be...?"
A hunter who caught on muttered, and Lilianne crossed her legs seductively, flashing a coy smile.
"Yes, that's the number of votes agreeing to you as rep. Oh my, someone came out with only 2 votes? How intriguing."
The hunters' faces hardened.
Showing vote counts signaled something was coming based on them.
Especially those dragged out reluctantly, with no volunteers—ones with 3 or 4 votes at best—felt deeper dread.
[Penalties applied equal to shortfall in votes.]
[Each missing vote reduces stats by 10.]
As expected, the message windows rose, and the reps cursed up a storm.
Their teammates, now stuck entrusting lives to them, naturally turned pale.
"No! Fuck, this is too much, you sons of—"
"Was waiting for that."
Randarma lunged at the pointing hunter in an instant.
Its elongated horn pierced the hunter's shoulder.
"Gh, gaaak?"
Randarma hoisted him up, the impaled hunter dangling helplessly from the horn, terror-stricken.
More than pain, the fear of imminent death sealed any groans.
"Hmph!"
Bored, Randarma shook its head, flinging the hunter's body.
It sailed to the wall and crashed.
Sandalphon's eyes in the sky narrowed.
"Harsh."
"That vermin insulted me first. If there's issue, punish me."
Randarma stood defiant, unfazed by Sandalphon's gaze.
Zoroaster, who'd been quietly observing like an assistant, glanced between them and descended to heal the hunter.
Sandalphon had no grounds to object further and stayed silent, but another angel's eyes blazed with fury.
- Where does that thing get off? I'll beat its ass later.
"Don't worry. Already reserved."
Nonsense to onlookers, but Lilianne nodded knowingly.
'Oh~ he's as good as dead.'
Lilianne clapped to lighten the tense mood.
"No need to get so worked up, everyone. This trial's a group challenge, after all. See?"
She extended one arm, and the Colosseum's iron gates swung open, unleashing armored knights.
"Death Knights."
"Low-tier dungeon boss level."
As about thirty knights emerged, a massive hand gripped the Colosseum's entrance.
A hulking 7-8 meters tall, wielding a flaming whip in one hand.
A beast-like creature with a blazing mane strode into the arena.
A Doom Giant, one of the demons' kind.
"Whoa, what a Balrog-lookin' fucker."
"Cut it—that name's from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, a fictional creature. Forbidden to mention here!"
"Hey, no need to freak. Just saying it looks like one!"
With Death Knights and the Balrog-like Doom Giant out, the hunters gripped their weapons properly.
But it didn't end there.
The opposite gate opened, and roars from dozens of monsters echoed.
They took to the skies in a flash.
Drakes covered in tough green scales.
"Goddamn, not going down easy, huh."
"But not impossible."
Drakes and Death Knights—classic low-tier dungeon bosses.
The Doom Giant was a snag, but these were 30th-floor veterans; they could handle it.
'No sacrifices avoided, though.'
So thinking, Biro summoned his avatar 'Otsirbani.'
The mythical hero who became a falcon and slew a giant serpent—others followed suit, calling their avatars.
"Clear the ground Death Knights first, then skies' Drakes! Ranged avatars, block Drakes as much as you can; vanguards, advance and smash the Death Knights one by one!"
The 50 hunters split roles and engaged the monsters.
But without deliberate role balance in selections, ranged, support, and healers were pitifully few; vanguards dominated the frontlines.
"How we gonna handle those drake bastards? We'll get shredded!"
"What can we do? If shredded, rip the asshole, dive in, gut the belly, and crawl out!"
"Dead serious—if you go inside, dragon heart heat and stomach acid'll melt you half to death!"
They strained to block the Doom Giant's whip, shouting.
"Where's Biro!"
"Here—going in!"