Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Tower of Proof (2)
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[Amazing feat! You've one-shot enemies 1,000 times in a row.]
[Title acquired: 'One-Hit Man'.]
[You are the first to acquire this title.]
[One-Hit Man][Rare]
Your audacity in one-shotting 1,000 monsters weaker than yourself leaves us in awe!
You are the ultimate underdog hunter.
[Effects]
-One normal attack drops HP to 20% or less: instant death
-Infamy -500
An ability that instantly kills those so-called 'one-shot' types. This was the title perfectly optimized for 'massacring the weak.'
Sure, it came with the jeer of 'underdog hunter' and a drop in infamy, but 500 infamy was nothing to Rokan.
Not after the infamy he'd racked up dismantling the Black Dragon Legion.
This was something he could accept with a smile.
The effect only applied to the first strike, but instant death even at 20% HP remaining would let an attack-specialized powerhouse like Rokan wage war single-handedly.
'This might just...'
Plus, though unconfirmed, he had hopes it might apply to 'critical hits' too.
Critical strikes from skills were one thing, but criticals on normal attacks weren't skills, right? It was definitely worth testing.
"I'll find out as I climb."
His business on the first floor was done. Now he just had to rocket up.
But the accumulated fatigue was immense, so he opted to bail for now and exited the Tower of Proof.
[You've climbed to the 1st floor of the Tower of Proof.]
[New top record achieved! Results reflected in rankings.]
[Current ranking: 1st (1st floor)]
[Tower of Proof rankings reset monthly; rewards based on top 100.]
[Time until Tower of Proof reset: 30 days]
Solo 1st place on the 1st floor.
It felt a bit ridiculous, but no one was breaking this anytime soon.
No telling how lucky they'd get, but qualification for the Tower of Proof started at level 200.
Heck, maybe no one would top it for the full month.
All core Central Continent features gated at 200, so even if players pushed in faster than expected, no real worry.
The only change might be hunting level 190 monsters with better EXP than around third cities.
Might hit 200 a tad quicker, but they'd lose out plenty too.
'Means they skipped race quests and main scenario quests for straight grinding.'
For now, they'd prioritize fast levels, but soon it'd change. Main scenario and race quests had EXP and rewards leagues above normal.
Rokan flashed a satisfied smile and logged out to rest his weary body and mind.
* * *
"Ryeong, turn on the TV and computer."
The AI responded instantly to Rokan's command upon logout.
A million-won AI assistant he'd splurged on.
Back in the day, he'd freak at 100,000 won, thinking he'd rather buy more gold in The Lord. But now, with YouTube ad revenue, donations, and gold sales, he could drop cash freely.
Still unfamiliar to most, but he knew how it'd transform daily life—worth every penny.
"Pull up The Lord-related channels, and gather posts from the homepage on Central Continent, seas, and regular ships."
TV and PC screens switched automatically.
From here on, it'd be a race of time and info—no time for manual searches.
"Of course."
He gauged others' progress from the gathered posts.
[Holy shit, is the Central Continent update even live?][Author: Fried]
Central Alliance 163 Lvl Magic Swordsman Fried here. Y'all know my guild set sail for Central yesterday? Here's the sink story.
Day one was decent. Blew a ton renting a whole ship, but figured first to Central meant big gains.
But fuck!
Wtf is this ocean monster raid midway? Hundreds of level 180s swarm, some won't even board, just attack from underwater.
If you could block or dodge, fine—but they straight sink the ship, wtf?
This screams 'don't go.' Devs not ready with Central update, blocking on purpose? Not just us sinking...
No.... (omitted)
"Block map my ass. Just pure trash."
Truth was, level 180s were low-end for raids. Even repelling meant bracing for attacks every two-three days.
But the poster and guild wiped anyway.
Average player level was that low.
Unless multiple outliers like Rokan, even all-170s would need miracles. A 163 whining showed how reckless the push.
"Was rushing too hasty?"
Sure, big gains, and leveled right for Central activity, but reckless in hindsight.
Waiting longer would've spread water-combat gear.
"Key is what changes from this mess..."
Scanning more posts, Rokan confirmed masses had bailed and stopped checking progress.
About 100 guilds joined the Central rush.
Most underleveled, sank before halfway—but now the real game began.
What would this frenzy—absent in his past life—shift?
Like how Rokan's Crossroads antics dropped the area's overall level, would it slow user growth? Or would miracle successes spark rapid rises? Time would tell.
"Hmm..."
Mid-thought, sorting Central priorities, Young-min's rarely ringing phone buzzed.
"Ah..."
[Son, exam time right? Dad's wondering when you'll visit on break. Busy studying, but call when you can~ -Mom]
"Damn it."
'Been so deep in The Lord, barely contacted parents lately.'
They didn't even know about his leave of absence.
Like past life, Dad would explode, cut ties with his 'game addict' son.
"Photoshop a transcript maybe?"
Money cutoff? Fine. But Dad's rage was indiscriminate—worrisome.
Exams end, he'd demand transcript. Fake Photoshopped image it was.
"Sigh, after finals, gotta ask Chan-eop for a favor."
Scratching his head, thinking of his sole college buddy stuck going solo thanks to his leave, Young-min refocused on TV and monitor, hunting key info.
Past life's big names/guilds, checking if era's incidents matched, nap, then refreshed, back to the grind.
* * *
[You've cleared the 54th floor of the Tower of Proof.]
[Move to 55th floor/Retry/Quit]
Reconnecting straight to Tower redo, Rokan rocketed up nonstop.
Slight detours snagging hidden titles, but straight to his max floor.
"I quit."
[You've climbed to the 54th floor of the Tower of Proof.]
[New top record achieved! Results reflected in rankings.]
[Current ranking: 1st (54th floor)]
[Tower of Proof rankings reset monthly; rewards based on top 100.]
[Time until Tower of Proof reset: 29 days]
Level 200 monsters from 50th, so Rokan halted at 54.
Full HP/mana restore per floor, all ailments cured—but fairness kept Berserk cooldown.
He'd just used Berserk on 54.
"Rest is meh. Wait for ranking rewards?"
Tower gave consumables, gold, infamy every 10 floors—useless to current Rokan.
[Bulging Pouch of Coins][Magic]
[Magic Scroll Bundle 5-Pack][Magic]
[Infamy 300]
[Free Gear Repair Voucher x10][Superior]
[Free Gear Enchant Voucher x20][Magic]
[Master of Prolonged Battles][Magic]
Applause for your focus sustaining combat with one foe for over an hour.
You are the first to acquire this title.
[Effects]
-Stamina use in combat -30%
-Vitality +10
[Master of Evasion][Magic]
Applause for your senses succeeding 500 straight dodges without a single hit.
You are the first to acquire this title.
[Effects]
-Agility +30
-Move speed +5%
-Passive skill acquired: [Sixth Sense]
[Sixth Sense][Lv -]
Sense enemy attacks via instinct.
Titles were the salvage.
Just Magic-grade, but stamina cut and Sixth Sense mattered. Boosted Rokan's sustained combat in fierce fights.
Sixth Sense especially—level-less meant complete as-is.
Nearly rage-quit once from a careless slip, but worth it.
Above all, month-end 1st place reward hype.
"Time to snag some easy wins."
Light-hearted, leaving Tower, Rokan strolled to Taimura's central arena building.
Creak. Zap.
Door open, hostile glares poured, but he ignored, straight to counter.
"I want to register for the arena."
"What's your rank?"
"Soldier rank."
"Soldier rank confirmed. Wait for your turn—you'll be summoned. Fight now?"
Clerk noted info, handed bronze tag.
Tag for Soldier rank fighters—hold it anywhere in arena, teleports to match when called.
"Of course."
Rokan grinned grabbing the tag; wary onlookers shuddered in unison.