Chapter 323
Chapter 323
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 323
Chapter Title: Large-Scale Update (1)
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[Update Patch Notes]
1. Opening of Blocked Maps
- Maps that were previously inaccessible will now open.
- New lands, villages, and hunting grounds will become available.
- However, 'pioneering' work is required to access these new regions.
- In the case of the Heavens, travel is possible through separate quests.
2. Hunting Ground Level Readjustments
- As player levels rise, some hunting grounds will have their levels readjusted.
- Existing field hunting grounds and dungeons will be strengthened or weakened.
- Whether they are strengthened or weakened can be confirmed through conversations with NPCs.
- Be careful not to get hunted by suddenly empowered monsters.
3. New Items Appear
- In addition to new regions, some new items will drop or be sold in existing fields.
4. Appearance of Heavenly Residents
- Some heavenly residents will take interest in visitors showing rapid growth rates.
- Through relationships with them, you can receive new items, quests, sponsorships, and more.
5. Installation of Rainbow Teleporters
- Rainbow Teleporters allowing direct travel to the Heavens will be installed in some ground regions.
- To use a Rainbow Teleporter, you must complete a special quest or pay a massive amount of gold.
6. Expanded Exchange Between Ground Continents
- Travel to other ground continents via Rainbow Teleportation.
- Now enjoy playing with friends around the world!
"Whoa."
Rokan was genuinely shocked by the sudden massive update patch notification. Even counting his past and present lives, there had never been a patch this enormous.
That was why The Lord was called a completed game, and Rokan had thought everything he'd seen and experienced was the whole of it.
But this out-of-the-blue patch. And a gigantic update featuring entirely new maps, no less.
"Is it because of me?"
Rokan couldn't help but suspect himself. If it wasn't to keep tabs on him, there was no reason for such a sudden patch, was there?
There had been the big war between the Celestial Clan and Demon Clan, but in the grand context of the Heavens, it was just a localized skirmish with a single high-rank demon.
"Guess there was a lock at level 400 for something like that."
But it was hard to say that was the only reason.
His actions might have accelerated the update timing, but for such a massive update to roll out all at once without any delay meant the content was already complete, and some milestone had been hit to unlock it.
The most likely milestone was reaching level 400.
It might seem too early, considering other players hadn't even hit 370 yet, but it would undoubtedly inject vitality into the stagnating ground world—where the Golden Lion faction and Black Dragon Legion's standoff had reached a deadlock—by kickstarting the push into the Heavens.
"Looks like I've got a lot on my plate now."
As a result, just like the ground, Rokan found himself busier than ever.
He meticulously reviewed the update notices, predicting and analyzing the new changes.
"Guess I should head to the ground first."
And he reached a conclusion.
The Heavens had seen various changes too, but the biggest ones were on the ground.
He needed to grasp those to map out his next moves clearly.
"Can't be helped."
He was a bit worried about managing his newly acquired territories, but he figured no one would come charging in right away.
Anyone bold enough to attack him would have to be at least a high-rank demon or equivalent, and if someone like that struck now, he wouldn't have many ways to stop them anyway.
So he collected the hoarded coins from each territory, reinvested them into development and defenses, and sought out a Rainbow Teleporter.
[You have paid 15,000,000 coins.]
[You have acquired the Rune of Heavenly Leap.]
[Rainbow Teleportation commencing. Please remain still and wait.]
He paid a hefty sum in coins and headed to the ground.
"Gasp!"
"It's Rokan!"
"Did he use the Rainbow Teleporter? Whoa, as expected from a mega-rich guy..."
The teleportation method had changed too. Previously, it sent you to random spots on the ground, but this new post-update Rainbow Teleporter took you straight to a built one.
'Hmm...'
It hadn't been long since the update notice, but the area around the Rainbow Teleporter was already packed with players.
They were probably itching to use it for a direct jump to the Heavens.
But while he glanced around at them, no one else used the new teleporter.
'Why?'
Why not? If it were him, he'd empty his entire wallet to hop on immediately.
As the question lingered, Rokan read the text on one wall and understood.
[Rainbow Teleporter Usage Fees]
- Travel to the Heavens: 10,000 gold
- Travel to other ground continents: 5,000 gold
The fees for the Rainbow Teleporter were absurdly high.
For those already registered as heavenly residents like Rokan, it was just 150 million coins—1,500 gold equivalent. But for the unqualified, it cost a whopping 10,000 gold.
'Considering current cash ratios... about 3 to 4 billion won?'
With 1 gold around 30 to 40 thousand won, one trip equated to 300 to 400 million won. Even for those who'd made billions or tens of billions in The Lord, it wasn't an easy sum to swallow. Forget the average players crowding around.
Sure, quests could discount or waive the fee, but the effort for that might as well go toward blasting a path to the Heavens or grinding to level 350 solo.
New hunting grounds opening meant plenty of level 350 spots on the ground now too.
Thus, Rainbow Teleportation might end up a flashy but underused feature, but those who needed it would use it. Players would do anything to stay one step ahead.
'They'd really have to go all-in.'
Whether dumping all their saved gold or scraping together real money.
Having grasped the situation, Rokan left the Rainbow Teleporter area.
Some beggars trailed him hoping for handouts, but a single glare sufficed—they knew his temperament.
First, the imperial palace.
While others scrambled for info not detailed on the homepage, Rokan had millions of excellent informants.
"...And that's all the information we've gathered so far."
Seated on the throne collecting taxes and reserves from his territories, the prime minister had compiled and delivered the intel on his own.
It was no short report.
Still early in the update, so their info was limited, but enough for Rokan to get what he wanted.
"Good work."
Rokan recorded the report as a video, reviewed it multiple times, and reorganized the update details.
First, changes to ground hunting grounds. Mutations, new bosses in existing areas—various reasons, but it boiled down to level adjustments.
'Up to 350 should be a breeze now.'
The key was the diversification of level 300 hunting grounds.
Previously scarce and unevenly leveled, now they were varied enough for steady progression like before.
Then, the opening of new maps.
It started with barriers weakening in demon-sealed regions or NPCs arriving from forbidden mountains beyond.
They hinted at entirely new worlds with different cultures, and some cities/states tasked players with relaying news or pioneering, kicking off new map expansion quests.
The endgame: link them up, install teleport arrays for exchange, or send armies to conquer.
Either way, it would take considerable time.
'Items... meh.'
Among the major updates, new items were less impressive than expected.
Most unearthed were 'unknown material' items that, when appraised, turned out to be scrap metal or 'fallen from the Heavens.'
They often had standout stats or unique options making them usable, but once proper heavenly gear flooded in soon, they'd be average at best.
Even if they had options not on current heavenly items, since those were old gear up there.
"Heavenly residents, huh..."
Finally, the biggest shift: the appearance of heavenly residents.
They'd spawned in major cities or remote badlands players rarely visited, handing out quests.
Some in neutral zones, others Celestial or Demon Clan.
Couldn't recruit them to factions yet without qualifications, but they were gathering and exploiting future 'prospective heavenly residents' for profit.
Their goals and motives weren't clear yet, and it didn't seem entirely beneficial to players.
"Guess I should meet them."
With all info sorted in his head, Rokan got moving.
Some changes he could predict or watch, but heavenly residents were something he could check personally.
'If push comes to shove...'
He was even considering kicking them out if needed.
No way level 450 Celestials or Demons were dispatched to the ground.
So if they got in his way, why not drive them off?
Sure, it'd draw player backlash, and more Celestials/Demons might follow, but so what?
Public opinion meant nothing to him.
Even if players united against him, he could smash them, and level 400 Celestials had limits—especially outside the Heavens.
He'd long known they lost power away from home turf.
Plus, Rokan had an untested trump card.
"Hm?"
Having pinpointed their locations and factions, Rokan sought the neutral heavenly resident first.
But the face was awfully familiar.
"Mr. Sveno?"
It was Sveno, the general store owner from Starter Village.
Surprised but pleased—Sveno was someone he could talk to.
That was why he'd prioritized the neutral heavenly resident over Celestial or Demon ones.
The latter might be hostile, but neutral offered room for dialogue.
Especially the undead Sveno, with whom he'd chatted plenty in Starter Village—he should yield good info.
"Oh, Rokan. I've heard plenty about you. Heh heh heh."
Sveno remembered him too, greeting amid the crowd.
"Gasp!"
"It's Rokan."
And the players parted like the Red Sea.
Sveno had set up in a disputed zone, drawing Golden Lion and Black Dragon players, but all yielded to his arrival without exception.
Fear of total annihilation if they crossed him gripped them.
"Mind giving us some space for a private chat?"
Whoosh.
The crowd scattered at his word.
Now just Rokan and Sveno.
No point in clumsy stealth—they all knew it wouldn't work, so they left without protest.
Their private conversation began.