Chapter 137
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Subjugation End
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“Hiss!”
“Keeek!”
Screams from lizardmen echoed from all directions.
Slash! Slash!
Slaaaash!
The sound of something being sliced apart in droves rang out as well.
The players’ gazes converged on the source of the noise.
And without exception, their faces twisted in disbelief.
“W-what the hell? Isn’t that Black Scythe?”
“Black Scythe chose the lizardmen subjugation?”
“And what’s with that weapon, anyway?”
“How’s he dropping a dozen at a time with one swing, like they’re matchsticks?”
It was a bizarre scythe.
Its blade extended like a whip, slicing through a dozen waists before retracting.
Its attack speed was so blindingly fast that the swing itself was invisible.
All anyone could see was lizards being chopped to pieces with every blink.
The very hand of the reaper.
A hand of death that dismembered monsters.
“But looking at the numbers, it seems like they spawned one per person...”
“Black Scythe is hogging them all...”
Monsters meant for one per player, and he was soloing the lot?
It wasn’t even infuriating—just absurd.
“......”
Even the NPCs stood in silence, watching.
Min Ju-ri stared blankly at Black Scythe’s rampage until realization dawned.
*Ah, now I get why Black Scythe said his fights wouldn’t help.*
He was massacring them like civilians in a war zone. Who had time to analyze attack patterns or traits?
Better to learn from other players’ battles.
With that thought, Min Ju-ri shifted her position slightly.
Players were desperately hunting lizards anyway, terrified Black Scythe might steal their share.
Ryu Min, oblivious, focused solely on the slaughter.
*No need for Moonlight Slash after all?*
He’d planned to go all-out with it, but the damage numbers said otherwise.
*I knew the scythe was great for crowd control, but this is insane.*
Thanks to Min Ju-ri’s buffs, it felt even faster and stronger.
“Keeek—!”
Only after felling the last lizardman did Ryu Min turn around.
Players glared at him with resentment.
*Did I overdo it?*
He’d cleared them like it was his personal playground. No surprise they were salty.
His gaze flicked to the corner of his vision.
[Current Kills: 823/100]
*402 when I came down from the tower, so 421 since?*
With 602 players, that meant 602 lizardmen.
421 was about 70%—all his.
*No wonder the looks.*
Ryu Min didn’t avert his eyes.
The players flinched and looked away first.
Infuriating, but they were weak. No choice.
*If it bugs you, get as strong as me.*
Strength was skill. Clearing more was skill.
No reason to resent talent.
It was all earned through effort.
They’d get it—they lived in a competitive world.
That’s why no one dared speak up to Black Scythe.
Of course, fear of retaliation loomed larger.
*Good thing it’s not a party.*
In a party, the no-friendly-fire rule might embolden complaints.
*They’d whine for sure. ‘Hunt moderately already.’*
Ryu Min had no plans to keep soloing anyway.
Leave some for others to boost survivor count, right?
As that thought crossed his mind, Min Ju-ri approached and gave a thumbs-up.
“Wow, Black Scythe. That was incredible. I had no idea the weapon was that good. Well, it’s your skill making it shine, of course.”
“It’s a hard-earned weapon. Obviously.”
Even praise got a deadpan response from Ryu Min.
“Fought any lizardmen yet?”
“Yeah. Took down two. Easier than I thought. Way easier than my first orc.”
“Told you. You’ve gotten stronger.”
“Hehe, guess I really have. Might even hit 40 this round if I play it right?”
Her smile was bright, but inwardly, worry gnawed.
*If Black Scythe keeps hogging kills like this, it’ll be tough... Not even 40—can I rank?*
Life-or-death stakes made it natural.
A common fear among players.
*I know. You think I’d wipe everyone for scraps of EXP? Relax.*
Ryu Min planned to cap at a thousand and quit.
*A thousand guarantees zone-first.*
No one else hit it last regression.
*Just a bit more. Almost there.*
Tower kills counted, so 200 more.
Safe passage guaranteed.
“What’s your level now?”
“Me? 38.”
“Two more for a skill.”
With that, Ryu Min dove back in as lizardmen respawned.
Players panicked at the scythe’s return, but briefly.
After 200 more, Ryu Min stopped.
Confusion mixed with their glares.
*Why’d he quit?*
*Taking a break?*
*Our chance! Who knows when he restarts!*
But Ryu Min ignored fresh spawns entirely.
Relief washed over the players amid their bafflement.
“Black Scythe? Why stop now?”
To her innocent question, Ryu Min replied magnanimously.
“I got plenty. Grabbing more would just screw over other players.”
“Ah... So you held back for us?”
*Us? If anything, for you.*
The words nearly slipped out, but he swallowed them.
She’d blush and fantasize again.
“Plenty of monsters left. Hit 40 fast. Curious what skill you’ll get.”
“Yes! Just wait!”
Energized, Min Ju-ri reached 40 after 280 kills.
“I did it! Expert rank!”
“Congrats. Skill?”
“Applying now!”
Light flowed from her hands.
True to form, a buffer’s new skill was another buff.
[Safety Barrier applied.]
[Protected from one physical attack.]
[Duration: 00:29:59]
Safety Barrier.
An absolute shield blocking one physical hit.
*Most shields have limits, but not this.*
Any physical attack, guaranteed block.
Even Ryu Min’s full-power strike.
Perfect for ambushes.
“Blocks any physical attack once. 30-minute cooldown per target.”
“Worth it for a skill that good.”
Personal cooldown made sense for an absolute defense.
*Later upgrades block magic too.*
At 60, it covers physical and magic.
Beyond that? He’d never seen her survive that far.
“Bless and Swift upgraded too. Want ’em?”
“Sure.”
Her buffs boosted all stats, attack speed, and move speed by 70%.
The upgrades’ doing.
“Much better. Don’t stop at 40, though. Keep hunting.”
“Yes!”
Subjugation dragged on.
Some players hit 40 too, cheering.
Three hours later, it ended.
Subjugation leader Kalts turned to the players with a satisfied grin.
“Men, the swamp of demonic beasts is cleared. You culled the lizardmen to near-extinction. Brahm Kingdom merchants can travel safely for a while. Thanks to you all! Worth hiring otherworld warriors!”
His praise flowed freely until his gaze locked on one man.
The one who dominated early, then idled.
Kalts stared at Black Scythe in awe.
“Well done, all. Subjugation over. Dismissed!”
Messages popped up immediately.
[Lizardmen subjugation complete.]
[10,000 gold as subjugation reward.]
[Your mercenary record updated.]
[Your mercenary rank: ‘Apprentice’ → ‘Skilled’.]
“Ooh, 100k gold?”
“Jackpot!”
“System’s got deep pockets!”
Unexpected rewards drew cheers.
Ryu Min? Meh on the gold.
He had 1.5 million already.
*Tower gave a million. 100k’s pocket change.*
Tower climbs netted gold from mobs and floors.
100k was nothing.
*Most at 40 now. Gold trading incoming.*
Trading unlocked.
Post-return, gold over cash.
Vendors offering skills for gold.
*Corpse disposal with Trace Erase, tracking with Pursuit, gear repair with Repair...*
PlePle markets too.
Gold for items.
Ryu Min had Ma Kyung-rok prep direct gold trades.
Round end activates it, but he was stocked.
*Legendary mats on PlePle aside, no big gold sinks.*
So where to spend?
*On NPCs.*
Gold was fantasy-world currency.
Trading enabled NPC deals.
*Not much use now, but later? Tons.*
Tithes for temple rep, smiths for mats/items.
*Bribes for bigwigs. Versatile.*
Stockpile now; more the better later.
[Subjugation ended.]
[Returning to start point shortly.]
Blink—the swamp vanished, replaced by grayscale void.
Starting area.
Players popped in together.
Thousands gathered, angel appeared.
[Subjugation go well? As expected, #1 easiest?]
Nods.
Experience confirmed the order.
[Notice fewer people than start?]
“Hmm, yeah, now that you mention...”
[Sadly, all 571 who picked #5 wiped.]
“Gasp...”
#5: Minotaurs.
One per? Brutal.
[Other subjugations had deaths too, but don’t mourn. Fewer rivals—good thing, right?]
“......”
No one grieved strangers.
Blood ties snapped easy; others? Please.
[Results time!]