Chapter 394
Chapter 394
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 394
Chapter Title: Ranking War - Main Draw (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It might not have been "spectacular" by any means, but after Rokan's overwhelming victory, thirty-one matches followed in quick succession.
Yesterday, games had unfolded simultaneously across multiple arenas, but today was different.
The audience wanted to focus on each bout, so the matches proceeded one after another in the same stadium, following the bracket.
Yet, as clashes between top-tier players, the fights were fierce. Even those wielding an Apostle's authority couldn't settle things easily. Each matchup dragged on for quite some time.
"Hmm, can we even wrap up to the quarterfinals by tonight?"
Rokan had finished his opponent in about a minute—the shortest time and an outlier case.
Sure, some whispered it was because his foe was too weak, but anyone who knew better wouldn't dare say it aloud.
Soul Knight Dohun. His other moniker was Soul Harvester.
He was the hottest name climbing the PK rankings lately.
"Boring."
With no idea when the other matches would end, Rokan couldn't even slip out for a quick hunt. He returned to the waiting room and killed time, bored out of his mind.
The massive monitor in the waiting room broadcast the next fights live, but none of them seemed capable of rattling him.
An Apostle's power looked impressive enough, but since the users themselves were stuck at High Master level, how could they pose a real threat?
He might even summon Nightmare like in the first round—or Unicorn or Caiman—and still take the crown. Every one of those beasts was over level 400, after all.
'The gap's pretty wide, huh.'
That realization hit Rokan anew, highlighting the chasm between him and the other players.
'All thanks to my hard work.'
But he wasn't complaining about unfairness. This was his strength, earned through his own efforts—what was unfair about that?
Past-life memories? Even with those, not everyone could reach this level.
Rokan puffed out his chest proudly and dozed off.
"Lord Rokan, please wake up. Your match starts in five minutes."
"Yawn."
Completely unfazed, he'd been snoring away in the waiting room when a staffer approached to rouse him. Thirty-one matches were already done; the round of 32 was underway.
Round of 32, 16, 8, 4, finals.
Just five more wins, and he'd level up.
That would leave three levels to go.
At this rate, he could time his level-ups perfectly with the Blue Dragon and Gold Dragon hunts, right?
Grinning at the happy thought, he made the staffer flinch for some reason.
"W-Well then, I'll be going."
The man bolted with a terrified look in his eyes.
[Teleporting to the arena in 5 seconds. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.]
Moments later, Rokan was summoned back to the arena.
"Wooooaaah!"
Cheers erupted once more.
Rokan glanced indifferently at his opponent.
"Huh?"
A familiar face. A burly Westerner with a massive build.
But not one of the key figures from the Russian or American guilds he'd taken out on commission.
'Why does he look so familiar?'
He rarely remembered foreign players otherwise.
As he tilted his head, the match began.
[Match starts in 5 seconds. Both players, prepare. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Fight!]
"Oh?"
His opponent darted back swiftly.
The next instant, Rokan spotted the weapon the guy drew and finally placed him.
A cute little wand, straight out of an anime magic girl show.
"That magic girl?"
"Pfft!"
[Star Child Sorakan][Lv 380]
Rokan's reaction, as if it had just clicked, drew laughter from the stands.
Everyone thought the same but hadn't dared voice it amid the sharp glares. Rokan had said it for them.
"Shut your mouth!"
Sorakan's face flushed red as he bellowed, but Rokan wasn't one to flinch.
"Or middle-aged perv, then?"
"Khkhk!"
Undeterred by Sorakan's shout, Rokan kept firing off quips.
Laughter bubbled up here and there, stifled or slipping out.
No need to mention how Sorakan's rage boiled over. Realizing words weren't working in his favor, he unleashed his power.
A nonexistent, overwhelming Apostle's might.
"Star Crystal Power! Hiya!"
He spun the wand nimbly on his palm.
Some power-up incantation? Mystical energy infused his gear. Not a full transformation, but his god's power was now upon him.
"Kekeke! Magic girl for real."
Rokan tossed in another jab at the ridiculous sight.
What a weirdo god this guy served. If handing out powers like that, why pick a buff Western meathead instead of a woman?
Wiping tears of laughter, Rokan finally gripped his battle axe.
He'd already burned time laughing, so shattering the shortest-match record was off the table. Still, he had no intention of dragging it out.
He'd glimpsed the guy's style before.
"Mini Galaxy!"
Wuuuung!
In that moment, countless beams of light burst from Sorakan's wand.
Not even aimed at Rokan.
The arena sky filled with them, etching stars that glowed brilliantly despite the daytime.
"Whoa......!"
Everyone lost themselves in the beauty.
Everyone but Rokan.
"Steps of Valor!"
"Eek! Light of the Guardian Throne!"
Thud!
He aimed to cleave the weary Sorakan—who'd just embedded those stars—straight in half, but a barrier blocked him.
"Shooting Star!"
He considered smashing through with a few more strikes, but Sorakan countered faster. He manipulated some of the stars he'd summoned, hurling them at Rokan.
Craaash!
"......!"
Rokan swung his battle axe casually, figuring it was nothing, but his expression changed.
Pea-sized, yet impossibly heavy.
Like it carried a star's full mass—his muscles twitched slightly.
The price of underestimating and swinging sloppily.
"Heh heh heh, the stage is set. Too late for regrets!"
Sorakan gained confidence from the sight.
Others hadn't noticed yet, but up close, he'd spotted Rokan's trembling arm.
"Shooting Star!"
This time, bigger star shards rained down.
Kaboom! Boom boom boom!
Even Rokan couldn't shrug them off; he dodged.
The stars that hit where he'd stood unleashed massive shockwaves.
Normally, they'd crater the ground huge, but the indestructible floor merely quaked.
Still, taking one head-on? He could guess the carnage.
'Star power, huh......'
Luckily, Rokan's arm steadied.
The stiffness faded, murder in his eyes.
"Annoying."
"Magic Force of Galaxy!"
Sorakan fired back with his next skill.
The floating stars linked up, forming constellations.
Each granted him unique effects.
"Perfect!"
Random buffs, but lady luck smiled—a level booster, exactly what he craved.
Twenty stars connected, elevating Sorakan's presence.
[Star Child Sorakan][Lv 380 + 20]
Level 400. Grand Master tier, forced.
The Authority of Skill Creation descended on him.
"Meteor."
A skill on another level from Shooting Star activated.
All stars not fueling buffs converged into one point.
Forming a colossal sphere.
No real meteorite, but matching its mass and devastation—a monstrous weapon complete.
"Die!"
It plummeted toward Rokan, the arena.
Risky enough to catch Sorakan too, but he was smug. An absolute barrier protected the caster during cast.
Even Rokan couldn't shatter it and reach him, he believed.
"Pulling out all the stops."
But he'd overlooked one thing.
His creation was a meteor—but his foe wielded planet-shattering force.
"Hah!"
Rokan leaped.
A plain jump. Utterly unremarkable results? Hardly.
Bam!
One strike. Meteor split like a ripe potato, all power spent.
"H-How......!"
Sorakan, safe in his absolute barrier, faltered.
Bad luck—he'd rarely faced Grand Master might or creation skills, but he'd confirmed this one's power before.
A force that massacred armies in one blow, crushed foes beyond level 400.
Yet it shattered to a single, skill-less slash.
"Can't have you yapping with company around, right? Aura Barrage!"
Kaboom boom boom!
Rokan didn't stop, swinging his battle axe again.
The twenty linked stars exploded, links severed, buffs lost.
"Urk!"
Rokan did nothing, but the level-drop backlash wracked Sorakan.
Not mere level loss—his very presence warped, soul-tearing agony inevitable.
"H-Ha, surren......"
Splat!
Clutching his chest, mid-surrender, Rokan hurled his battle axe—nailing Sorakan's skull dead-on, stealing even the words.
[Winner: King of Violence Rokan]
"Wooooaaah!"
The stands ignited again.
Sorakan was the real deal.
No one blamed or mocked Rokan for crushing him.
Especially that final Meteor—it could sicken spectators with dread.
Rokan split it casually, but could they?
Everyone shook their heads inwardly. Just imagining it soaked them in cold sweat.
Bad matchup, that's all. Anyone but Rokan, and Sorakan could've hit semis or won—no one would've batted an eye.
Not the most honorable rise, but a new star dawned in The Lord.
And for the waiting contenders watching? Crushing pressure.
They needed flashier, mightier displays.
The ranking war wasn't just for standings—it carried side benefits.