Chapter 396
Chapter 396
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 396
Chapter Title: Ranking War - Main Tournament (3)
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“I forfeit.”
“......?”
A forfeit in the finals? What kind of nonsense was this?
The crowd, roaring at the top of their lungs just moments ago, fell silent in an instant.
Did they hear that wrong? They must have.
It was enough to make them want to deny reality.
“What the hell is that bullshit!”
“Boooo! What do you mean, surrendering without even fighting in the finals!”
[Final Winner: King of Violence Rokan.]
[The official rankings will now be tallied based on the Ranking War results.]
[The rankings, from 1st to 10,000th place, can be viewed on the homepage.]
[Rewards for each ranking will be distributed in bulk.]
An uproar erupted. The system announced the end of the Ranking War, but furious voices exploded from all directions, refusing to accept it.
‘This guy’s full of secrets, huh.’
But Rokan could understand it.
Someday, he’d aim to surpass him. That’s why he wasn’t showing all his cards now.
Securing second place meant he’d have a shot at claiming first by overtaking him eventually.
The rankings could shift through arena battles starting a month from now, so he was clearly planning to hit level 400, master creation skills, and harness apostle power to steal the top spot in that time.
Heh.
Oblivious to just how arrogant and foolish that plan was.
“Well, it was entertaining enough, I guess.”
[The Ranking War has ended.]
[1st place privilege has been granted.]
[You have acquired a Random Item Box (Rare ~ Legend).]
[You have acquired a Level-Up Potion.]
The Ranking War was over, regardless. The rankers from 1st to 10,000th were set, serving as the simplest gauge of each nation’s and guild’s strength.
How many rankers did they have?
Those plotting schemes and guild leaders began rapidly tapping at their calculators.
‘Hm, kinda feels like it ended on a boring note.’
Rokan’s thoughts, on the other hand, were simple.
He’d gotten the Level-Up Potion, so that was that.
But he didn’t chug it right away like an idiot.
It granted one level up regardless of required EXP, so the obvious move was to save it for the very last moment—at level 448.
That way, he’d hit 449, pick up the promotion quest, and reach 450. Perfect scenario.
[Sudden Event. Infinite Battle begins now.]
[Among users ranked up to 10,000th, applicants will form a ‘raid.’ Rewards are granted after each round’s raid ends. Up to 1,000 participants max—hurry! Applications are first-come, first-served. If a top 100 ranker applies, they displace the lowest ranker regardless of order.]
[Infinite Battle provides no full recovery after each raid. Full recovery is only given right before the final 5th round.]
[However, the #1 ranker cannot participate.]
“Huh?”
Then, a sudden event kicked off.
Infinite Battle.
It gathered rankers together and pitted them against boss monsters in raids for all to see.
Whether it was planned from the start or a hasty addition because Rokan had ruined the Ranking War, it was undeniably intriguing content.
Spectators got a free show of top rankers’ hunting prowess and high-level boss monsters’ might, while rankers snagged extra rewards and flaunted their skills.
Just one catch: the #1 ranker couldn’t join, which irked Rokan.
“Damn. Treating me like an outcast? Raid monsters would give some juicy EXP, too.”
Five rounds total—who knew how many would spawn?独占 them, and he could rack up serious EXP.
Nah. Considering other players’ levels, they’d probably throw in some level 400 as the “boss.”
If so, joining would be a loss for everyone. He’d waste time on meager EXP and loot, and they’d lose the fun thanks to his overwhelming power.
“I wonder how much intel they’ve gathered on dragons......”
Resigned, he licked his chops and prepared to head back to the heavens—when a notification window appeared before his eyes alone.
Heh.
A wicked grin crept across his lips.
***
“Gather over here!”
“We don’t know what’s coming—spread out!”
“No main healer! Focus skills to block first and figure it out!”
Soon after, a hefty number of rankers joined the Infinite Battle.
Some top rankers sat it out to stay hidden, but most, figuring they were exposed enough already, dove in for any extra gains.
Thrown into the battlefield, they floundered at first, unsure of the monsters, but as elite rankers took command, they swiftly formed up.
They waited tensely for the first raid boss.
[First raid begins. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Go.]
[Good luck.]
“Keeeaieieieieek!”
The first raid monster revealed itself with a demonic shriek.
“......Huh?”
The rankers eyeing it wore strange expressions.
“Bonus stage right out the gate?”
A golden goblin. The first raid boss was a 5-meter golden goblin.
A walking treasure trove, its entire body sheathed in gold, waddling along while swinging a golden staff.
“No need to freak. First to grab wins!”
The rankers’ morale soared. Seemed like the devs’ way of saying “you worked hard, so easy first round.”
‘As if.’
Not everyone was cheering. When had this damn game company ever been that nice?
Even with the risk of it losing all its treasures, a few held position, watching closely.
“Keeet!”
Thud.
The next instant, the golden goblin slammed its staff into the ground.
Hundreds of goblins poured out of thin air.
“Cute trick!”
But goblins nonetheless.
That’s what the frontliners thought as they charged—only to sense something off as the goblins rushed them.
“Kikikikikik!”
Not goblins. More like little imps.
The madness—or demonic energy—flowed from their slitted eyes, and they lacked signature poison needles or pocket knives. Instead, they led with sharper, eerier claws, charging rankers fearlessly.
“Gasp!”
It wasn’t just their vibe.
Goblins were cowardly by nature. They clustered for safety, loyal to kin, but fled at the sight of overwhelming power.
Not now. They ignored death, swarming rankers, locking down weapons, arms, legs to create openings for allies.
Crunch.
“Grahhh!”
Claws stabbed like awls, serrated teeth tore flesh.
Crunch crunch. Crack crackle!
And they began evolving bit by bit.
“What the hell is that?”
“Its form’s changing!”
“Crazy! Eating corpses to grow?”
The sight was utterly grotesque.
Monsters devouring the living and dead to evolve? Where did these things even come from?
Fear of the unknown bloomed in everyone’s hearts.
[Ancient Goblin][Lv 376]
Finally, their hidden info revealed itself.
Ancient Goblins. Level 376, no less—barely below their own levels.
Gone were the looks dismissing them as mere goblins.
They resolved to treat them as proper foes.
“Goddamn game devs!”
The ancient goblins were strong.
Individually tough, and their golden goblin leader was no slouch either, commanding and buffing them.
With minions, it spammed buffs and heals; alone, devastating spells—forcing some to pop master skills in round one.
But that was it. Once players regained composure and strategized, the goblins couldn’t hold.
Those with AoE or multi-target skills cleared summons first, single-target specialists hammered the golden goblin.
A high elemental resistance tank kept aggro locked with endless taunts, as standard.
Minus the surprise of “goblin power,” not a tough foe.
Soon, the golden goblin fell.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Gold coins and treasures erupted from its body like a fountain as it collapsed.
“Yes!”
“First picker wins!”
“Damn it, I did the most damage!”
No auto-loot here. Infinite Battle rewarded only manual pickups.
Guaranteed rewards for full 5-round clear, but the sheer volume of golden goblin drops made even partial grabs worthwhile.
“Whoa, look at that.”
“All rewards? Insane.”
“Picking up just that scattered gold could upgrade a full gear set.”
Spectators could only envy.
Some cursed the rankers hogging loot; others gazed in admiration.
Most common? Aspiration.
The burning desire to level up, become a ranker, stand in that spot. A spark reignited in those stagnant for so long.
[Second raid begins.]
[Third raid begins.]
[Fourth raid begins.]
The rankers breezed through the next raids too.
Casualties mounted each round due to tough foes, but true to top rankers, about 700 of the 1,000 survived to clear the fourth.
They’d nearly taken heavier losses, but knowing full recovery hit post-fourth, they’d unleashed skills freely—smart play.
One raid boss left.
Full recovery restored HP, mana, debuffs—even master skill cooldowns reset. The rankers brimmed with confidence.
Even a mangled level 450 boss wouldn’t stop them; some sacrifices, sure, but victory assured.
[Fifth raid begins.]
Then, when the final raid boss appeared moments later.
Despair washed over every face.
Slinging a battle axe over one shoulder, swaggering in: none other than The Lord’s official #1, Rokan.
“Gale Incarnation!”
He assumed a raid-boss-worthy giant form and charged the rankers.