Chapter 249
Chapter 249
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 249
Chapter Title: 2024, World Ranker Announcement Ceremony (1)
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- Alright, alright! Has everyone got their New Year's preparations ready? In exactly 30 minutes, the Eastern Board will reset once again in a big way!
- Whoa! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am! Can you hear that right now, by any chance?
- Huh? Hear what?
- Thump thump! The sound of my heartbeat! Hahaha! I wonder which hunter will shock us this time?!
Originally.
The year-end events announcing the New Year in each country were held at midnight based on each nation's local time.
More precisely, they counted down right up until the New Year, viewing January 1st at 0:00 as the true 'New Year.'
But.
After the 「World Ranker Announcement Ceremony」.
Clocks around the globe began to move based on the US East Coast time.
An omnipotent existence.
The true New Year acknowledged by the unknown transcendent, the 「System」.
As a result, in Korea, they always ended up ringing in the New Year while the sun was still up.
- Hehe, last year was truly shocking, wasn't it? Our pride and joy, Hunter Joo Dong-hoon, climbed into the high ranker spots and elevated Korea's status once more.
- Yes, exactly! But because of that, the biggest point of interest this time is Joo Dong-hoon, right?
Laments echoed from all corners of the world.
‘Joo Dong-hoon.’
The hero among heroes who had single-handedly supported them against monstrous beasts of extreme ferocity.
The ill-fated high ranker who vanished after taking a nuclear strike from Klaus—the villain who had once been president but etched his name into history as a terrorist.
‘Is he really still alive?’
That.
Was the greatest topic of interest worldwide.
Experts and enthusiasts across the nation offered countless opinions.
But the mainstream views boiled down to just two.
First.
Joo Dong-hoon is dead.
He's dead, but due to a glitch, his name is still on the ranking board.
His name will probably disappear once the New Year hits and the board resets.
Second.
Joo Dong-hoon is alive.
The ranker system is assigned by a transcendent existence beyond our judgment, so it must be believed absolutely.
Many people clashed fiercely over these two opinions.
Reporters seized the moment, pumping out articles day after day.
Bait threads showed no signs of dying down across communities and platforms.
- Rankers are rankers for a reason. Out of 8 billion people worldwide, only 1,000. Even by probability, you have to be in the top 0.0000125% to be called a ranker. Those kinds of people say Joo Dong-hoon is alive. Believe it. The system says so, the rankers say so—why kill off our Joo Dong-hoon?
- Our Joo Dong-hoon my ass. Rankers are human too. The system can have bugs. Honestly, has any ranker ever actually taken a nuke hit?
- Yeah, if he's alive, he should show up. It's been half a year already with zero news—doesn't that mean he's dead?
- Guys, do we really need to argue like this? We can just watch this New Year's, right?
The same old arguments, the same old content every time.
Endless debates that led nowhere.
But that's exactly what made it burn even hotter.
And one more thing.
Among the opinions drawing attention was this one too.
- Hey, what if... just hypothetically... Joo Dong-hoon's ranking... goes even higher this time???
Joo Dong-hoon was the hunter who had entered the high ranker tier in record time.
On top of that, he had earned the recognition and support of countless rankers.
Korea's star.
A hunter packed with elements that stirred the public and drove them wild.
That's just how people are.
Rather than someone vaguely exceptional, when someone is overwhelmingly superior and even wins global acclaim, it brings a satisfying thrill all on its own. It makes you want to cheer them on.
Like how people go crazy for Messi.
Like how they go crazy for Jordan.
More and more people were starting to harbor strange expectations for Joo Dong-hoon.
- He was originally 69th— what if he jumps up another 30 spots or so?
- Holy shit. You think that's possible?
- If that happens, it'd confirm he's definitely alive lol. High ranker spots don't fluctuate much anyway.
- I'd prefer that.
- Yeah. Honestly, every Korean thinks that. The ones saying he's dead are all foreigners.
- Ahh, time! Hurry up already! I'm so excited! World Ranker Announcement Ceremony!
- Everyone ordered chicken and draft beer, right?
- That's sold out nationwide already.
Like this.
While the whole world buzzed with excitement.
Kim Jin-ah's group.
In other words, the Star Heaven members couldn't fully enjoy the moment.
“Goddamn it.”
Pazzzik.
Thunder roared as electricity crackled.
“Even the Bugilma being too smart is a problem sometimes. I had my doubts, but I never thought Calipena would just show up like this.”
It was exactly like this.
It felt like it had come true because Kim Jin-ah had predicted it.
Over the past half year, Floa's awe for Kim Jin-ah's intuition had only grown.
She was practically a shaman with a 100% win rate.
“Haaap! Die, you bitch!”
Pazzzzik!
Floa spat curses as she unleashed a torrent of electricity straight ahead.
Precisely at the woman before her eyes, the Sea Goddess (Doris) Calipena.
But.
Srrrrk!
The full-force strike didn't even scratch her body before being absorbed.
At the same time.
Puuuuk!
A water jet appeared from nowhere and slammed hard into Floa's abdomen.
“Guhk!”
Floa gasped for breath as she scanned her surroundings.
Gush gush gush!
Water pouring down the walls.
Seaweed sprouting from the building floor.
And Star Heaven's rankers scattered everywhere.
“Ha, shit... We're screwed.”
Was the wall of the world number 12 rank really that towering?
Thunderclap Floa furrowed her brow as she recalled what had happened just moments ago.
About 10 minutes earlier.
Calipena had strode boldly up to the Demir Workshop entrance and declared.
- Hello, everyone? Nice to meet you. As of today, Star Heaven is mine.
Without a single subordinate.
Without a single ally.
Her proclamation upon entering alone.
“Who the hell is that bitch?”
Crack!
Berserker Jang Dae-woong cracked his knuckles as he rose.
But she shut him down with just a few words.
- You'd better sit this one out, Berserker. Hmm, let me see. The Hellhound should be arriving at the orphanage soon, right?
“Orphanage?”
Even Jang Dae-woong, who had been radiating savage aura despite her higher rank, looked suddenly flustered.
- Yeah, where was it again? Loving Care Orphanage? Whatever. Who would've guessed the world's craziest bastard was secretly an angel sponsoring an orphanage?
“......It's just fulfilling my social duties and obligations as a ranker.”
The Berserker reacted.
Normally, he would've laughed heartily and charged in for a refreshing brawl, but for some reason, he stayed quiet.
No, he was shaken.
- Of course, of course.
- I know all about it.
- So why don't you just fight me here? Hehe. No skin off my back.
- The orphanage kids? Hellhound will take good care of them. He's a gentle guy, after all.
Woooong!
Calipena smiled sweetly as she drew up her energy.
At that sight, Jang Dae-woong glanced back at Kim Jin-ah.
“Kim Jin-ah.”
“......”
“Sorry. I have to step out for a bit. I'll be right back. I'll explain later.”
Taat!
He kicked off the ground and shot into the sky.
“......”
Kim Jin-ah sighed inwardly.
Who could've guessed the great Jang Dae-woong had a weakness?
At the same time, she had to admit it.
Calipena was dead serious about taking down Star Heaven.
Not a hint of carelessness—she was going all out.
Predicting Jang Dae-woong might show up at year-end and striking first? That said it all.
“Everyone.”
Pazzzik!
With the senior high ranker Thunderclap taking the lead.
“Get behind me! Focus up! Our opponent's a monster at rank 12!”
A situation leaning more toward despair than hope.
And so the battle of roughly 10 minutes began.
“Fuck.”
As you could see, the outcome was this disastrous.
Star Heaven's rankers were no match for Calipena at all.
“Fucking hurts.”
Floa rubbed her belly—hit so hard her organs felt twisted—and surveyed the area.
“Goddamn it.”
The situation was utterly wretched.
The sturdy Iron Fist was crawling on the floor, while Asura and the Druid were already passed out and sprawled.
The Guide, who had been searching for a weakness, was slumped against the wall with what looked like a broken spine.
Absolute Invincibility Mak Si had dropped his sword and was vomiting on the floor with a wretched heave.
Kim Jin-ah was already tightly bound in persistent seaweed and floating in midair.
Only herself and the Dark Emperor remained.
‘Gi So-yul.’
Floa braced her hand on the floor and glanced up at the ceiling.
She was still hiding there, waiting for an opening.
Honestly, even to her—a high ranker—it was nearly flawless stealth.
‘Current world ranking 146.’
But her skills were already high ranker level.
‘Well.’
Floa smirked.
Anyone who knew how brutally she trained daily would nod in agreement.
Maybe.
She had already stepped into high ranker territory.
Major changes aside from death only updated at New Year's anyway.
‘From now on.’
Floa endured the surging pain and stood.
‘I have to create any opening I can.’
Her opponent was the infamous Calipena.
Fight her ten thousand times, and you'd lose 9,999.
‘But.’
Floa thought of Joo Dong-hoon.
The resolve he had shown in Delaila’s trial.
That mindset, that venom, never giving up even in a 0.1% win-rate scenario.
“Haaaap!”
Pazzik!
In that instant, Floa coiled her body as she summoned her energy.
Kurrrung!
At the same time.
With the thunderous roar that was her trademark, she charged at Calipena once more.
She wasn't letting her guard down at all.
She poured out every ounce of strength she had, electricity surging.
Kwagagag!
The current slashed through the air with a brilliant blue glow.
However, Calipena simply shifted her body slightly to dodge.
“Wow, really... You're persistent, Thunderclap.”
Calipena said calmly as she gestured with her hand.
Sea Attack.
Energy infused with deep-sea pressure grazed Thunderclap's side.
The skill that amplified damage by 300% in water or ocean environments was being unleashed inside the Demir Workshop building.
“Krk!”
Even just grazing it delivered massive impact to Floa.
It was due to Calipena's special effect.
The area within 50 meters of her became an ocean-like environment.
“Hup!”
She could still breathe, but her body felt heavy.
The ocean pressure was constantly bearing down on her.
“Hehe.”
Calipena watched the struggling Thunderclap and laughed as if enjoying it.
“Just give up already. Haven't you realized it yet? If I wanted to kill you all, I could've done it dozens of times over by now.”
She was right.
100% spot on.
Floa knew it down to her bones.
The reason Star Heaven's rankers were still breathing.
Was purely Calipena's mercy.
“Bullshit. Your schemes are obvious as day.”
“Oh dear, isn't your language a bit too rough? Mind your manners.”
Calipena swung her hand once more.
“Kk!”
Floa scowled and was pushed back sliding.
“Well, I suppose calling it a scheme isn't entirely wrong?”
Step step.
She leisurely walked across the room.
Toward Kim Jin-ah, bound in seaweed.
“Well then. Now that we've exchanged light greetings, shall we get to the real negotiations?”