Chapter 226
Chapter 226
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 225
Chapter Title: All Master Emperor
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Honestly, Revenge isn't that great a game for the average person.
"Actually... yeah. It's not just that level."
Revenge is a trash game.
It's not because Revenge has poor build quality, lots of bugs, or sloppy management.
In those aspects, Revenge is actually a pretty decent game. It boasts the best graphics even among the technologically advanced 34th Earth, and constant patches squash any bugs that pop up in an instant.
The problem lies elsewhere.
"The game's direction."
Revenge isn't a game for everyone. Just play it for a month without spending a dime, and you'll feel that bone-deep.
No matter how hard or skillfully you play, in front of paying users, you're nothing more than an extra swept away like fallen leaves by a single swing of the protagonist's sword.
And even the paying users—do they just have fun playing?
No. They're trampled by those who pay even more.
"In a way... it's too realistic."
Everything is competition. If you dive in naked, chasing just 'fun,' you'll get nothing but the dirty experience of being trampled and ignored.
If that feels too unfair and frustrating?
Then spend some money.
"Pleased to meet you all! Your daily MC and Nemesis family member! The universe's hottest guy, Lee Sung-jae!"
After watching Sung-jae energetically shout from the stage, I turn my gaze to survey the surroundings.
The banquet hall is so luxurious it's hard to believe this is a user meet-and-greet combined with an update announcement.
The snacks on the tables are top-grade creations made by the finest patissiers trained in relevant abilities, using expensive ingredients and time. The sofas made from spirit beast hides and tables from world tree logs are luxury items money alone can't buy.
What about security? The ultimate spells embedded in the building— even my transcendent senses gave up counting them.
The attendees are no slouches either.
"Corporate execs, space mercenaries, high-ranking officials, chaebol heirs, top-tier celebrities."
Just the atmosphere here tells you Revenge isn't your average game.
"Yeah. They really raked in the cash."
Revenge isn't a company earning a little from many users. It's one earning a lot from a few.
And that revenue comes fundamentally from conflicts between users.
Revenge constantly pits users against each other, creating chronic deprivation.
Competing users cross the line into excessive spending out of pride... and Nemesis's profits become utterly unimaginable!
"Honestly, it's thug behavior."
Revenge has no spending cap. If you have 100 million, it goes in; if you have 10 billion, that goes in too—insane spending.
It tarnishes the game's image as it sucks users dry, but even so, it's too alluring a business.
Earning far more than invested... such an easy path.
Naturally, pay-to-win games copying Revenge sprang up like weeds.
Even the 34th Earth's trend of revering games—thanks to Game Masters—couldn't stop it.
Nothing in the world can block the desire for an 'easy big buck.'
"Last year's operating profit... whoa! Up 743 percent! Shall we see what Nemesis did with that massive profit?"
I think while watching Sung-jae host the event on stage.
"Normally... Nemesis should've crashed hard. Or cashed out big and bailed."
It's the natural flow when profiting from spicy paywalls, not unique gameplay.
No matter how you treat customers like pigs, they're still human.
People aren't dumb enough to keep opening their wallets forever to endless cash grabs.
Plus, anyone can copy the business model, so with dropping reputation and chasing newcomers, Nemesis was doomed.
If Nemesis were a normal company chasing 'profits,' that is.
"But Nemesis was different."
Nemesis reinvested over 90% of earnings, gave bonuses to staff but took almost none extra for the CEO.
"Not just that—they poured in personal funds."
I've talked a lot with her and heard about selling an In-Grade Giggas, a friend-level asset, to fend off Sky Soft's attacks.
I know.
Baek Sarang, the person... is dead serious about Revenge.
Users curse it as a money-grubbing game, but to her, profits were just a means.
"Now, let me introduce! Director of the Hyper-Reality Lab! Mr. John Smith!"
Sarang constantly reformed Nemesis and added new systems to Revenge.
Not to make a great game, of course.
"Too far gone for that."
Turning Revenge into a so-called god game now? Impossible. Too many better, more fun games out there.
So she invested all revenue into tech development.
Instead of fitting Revenge into the god-game mold, she aimed to elevate it to a unique realm no game could match.
Not just a mere game.
But a second life.
"Our Hyper-Reality Lab has filed for three patents, recognized not only by the Great Universe academic body Uroboros but by the Alliance itself."
"No way... three patents? Recognized by the Alliance too?"
"Impossible. With the Science 4 Civilizations' Candler Saints out there..."
"Recognition from the Alliance including dragons means tech not even in the Magic 4 Civilizations?"
Murmurs ripple. Sure, 34th Earth has unique tech recognized by the Alliance and coveted but unobtained by them.
But a mere game company getting universe-level patents? Not Steel Realm with top gods and Game Masters, or national agencies?
To the buzzing crowd, John Smith, lab director representing Nemesis Soft on stage, speaks confidently.
"We'll distribute related materials. Please review them as I explain."
"Yaong."
Chada, sitting quietly beside me, mews softly.
I shift the Revenge auto-hunt window to my back and check the documents.
[Full Virtual Reality]
[Love-Style Mana Bank]
[Astral Network]
"Hmm... expanding service scope, huh."
The meet-and-greet continues as I skim the summary paper. Lab director exits; Sung-jae returns.
"And the long-awaited major update is finally here! The veiled new continent! New castles and new enemies await! But you care more about something else, right?"
Grinning, Sung-jae shouts.
"The one and only Emperor class! All Master!"
With his words, class info appears on the massive display.
[All Master (Emperor)]
All stats +60.
All speeds +100%.
All elemental damage +100%.
All skill corrections +100%.
[Emperor]
[All Master]
"Simpler description than expected..."
I check the first of the two traits.
[Emperor]
A cosmic being, mid-tier transcendent.
Has comprehended the world's principles and shattered the limits of all races and existences.
Includes Transcendent Realm trait.
Limit stat (999) unlocked.
Trait stats (1,000+) gradually increase SP consumption.
An enhanced Transcendent Realm trait. Powerful, but effects I expected.
The issue is next.
[All Master]
Can acquire & use 'all' passive and active skills.
Can equip 'all' items.
Can designate & equip '6' of owned 'class traits.'
Can designate & equip '6' of 'class skills.'
"No freaking way..."
Truth be told, I came prepared. No matter how broken the skills or traits, I'd humbly accept.
It's an Emperor class, after all.
Mid-tier transcendent: unconquerable by [civilizations]. Unlike low-tiers sortable by superior Giggas or fleets with some losses, these monsters can't be handled even by spacefaring civs swarming them.
Beings so advanced civs ditch democracy overnight to crown as emperor.
But even so.
"My god. What is this...?"
"Isn't this balance-breaking? Even all mythic players couldn't beat it, right?"
"Well, Emperor class should be unbeatable by a dozen low-tiers, that's normal."
Even the relaxed listeners buzz.
Everyone here is top ranker material with sharp minds—they grasp the terror of Emperor traits, especially [All Master].
"Wait. What if you pick [Lord of Great Nature] and [Dimensional Drifter] together? Isn't that broken?"
"Divine Sword Emperor trait plus Sword-Unity? Even Void Lord's Predation Sword together..."
"Is this allowed? Just spitballing, I see four impossible combos..."
Why separate classes?
To preserve individuality and balance. Even trivial traits explode when combined with incompatible ones from other classes.
"And not random—choice..."
Not the only issue.
"Ability to learn all skills is insane too."
Actives? Fine. Limits on simultaneous use.
Passives? Different.
Every class has passives. Warrior: strength up; thief: agility; mage: mana—job skills boosting main stats.
Devices distinguishing classes. Bonus stats are free, but similar trees emerge due to these passives.
Learn them all...
"No joke. All stats could hit 899... maybe even 999."
Stunned by the absurdity, I chuckle dryly and look around. My eyes meet other players doing the same.
We all realize it.
"No matter current faction or combat power... getting Emperor class flips the board."
"Thank you for listening! This has been your daily MC and universe's hottest guy, Lee Sung-jae!"
Amid applause, I head home.
"Welcome back?"
Flower, in stage outfit, greets me with a bright smile. Looks like a concert tonight.
"Yeah. You, Flower?"
"All good. You seem in a better mood?"
"Ah, yeah, something like that."
The Five Dragons must've been watching me. They know my all-out [training] ended in failure.
"Technically, not failed yet."
I change and head to the training grounds.
Sitting before the recovery room, I mutter quietly.
"Log in."
Enter Ardenia.
[Just now? Feels like you left moments ago?]
[Indeed. Time axis is warping.]
[Amazing. Is this the 'protagonist's' power?]
[Good we caught this one. No clue on one's identity, and the weakling's too elusive.]
[Problem started with 9 of 12 dead from the get-go.]
[Wonder if we can fulfill Mother's wish like this...]
Monsters gathered before me converse. Big ones loom nearby, gazing down.
Irritation surges; I speak.
"Ah, still ridiculous on rethink."
I grit my teeth at the 12 transcendent-grade monsters.
"No way they'd say one couldn't handle alone... all 12 gathered here."
Thinking I need All Master ASAP.
I recalled when I met Replie.