Chapter 138
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: 9th Round End
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★ 9th Round Results ★
[All Zones]
└1st. Black Scythe (Lv89 Reaper) - 1,024 kills
└2nd. Cheonma (Lv43 Dark Knight) - 631 kills
└3rd. Dumb Idiots (Lv42 Shaman) - 574 kills
[Current Zone C3-ESKA001]
└1st. Black Scythe (Lv89 Reaper) - 1,024 kills
└2nd. Cheonma (Lv43 Dark Knight) - 631 kills
└3rd. Dumb Idiots (Lv42 Shaman) - 574 kills
Black Scythe had taken 1st place once again, but the players showed no interest in the expected outcome.
Their attention was solely on the ranking criteria.
“It says kill count, so does that mean...?”
[Yes, that's exactly what you're thinking. The ranking this time was based on the number of monsters killed!]
“Ah... So Zone 1 was the honey zone after all?”
“Sigh... Shouldn't have picked 3.”
“We're screwed. I barely got any kills...”
As the players lamented, the ranking messages appeared.
Players clutched their heads upon checking their individual rankings.
Those who made it into the top 3,004 cheered in relief.
Min Ju-ri was among them, wearing an expression of relief.
‘Looks like she made the rankings. Good.’
Ryu Min smirked and looked at his own messages.
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest in 1st place in your zone!]
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest in 1st place across all zones!]
['Black Scythe' is currently ranked 1st overall and 1st in your zone.]
[As the 1st place reward in your zone, you receive a 'Material Item Selection Ticket'!]
[As the 1st place reward across all zones, you receive a 'Special Reward Selection Box'!]
After reading the messages, Ryu Min used the material item selection ticket.
[Choose one of the following materials.]
└ 1. Sturdy Magic Shell
………………
…………
└ 7. Top-Grade Tough Leather
└ 8. Bubbling Solution
└ 9. Non-Coagulating Crystal
└ 10. Buffalo Horn
Most of the options were Unique-grade.
Of course, Ryu Min could tell which was best.
‘Only number 7 is Legendary.’
With the Legendary material secured, Ryu Min next used the special reward selection box.
[You may select one of the following special rewards.]
[Touch the desired reward.]
└ 1. EXP 2x Boost Buff (10th Round limited)
└ 2. Stats 50% Boost Buff (10th Round limited)
└ 3. Information on the 10th Round
He had no need for 10th Round info.
Between 1 and 2, which was necessary?
Ryu Min chose 2 without hesitation.
‘Stats matter more than EXP in the next round.’
Someone might ask if he needed to boost his already high stats even further.
The answer was yes.
‘There are sections in the 10th Round where higher stats give a big advantage.’
That was precisely why Min Ju-ri's buffs were essential for that round.
Not that he had to drag her along everywhere.
[For reference, the sub-quest this round was to find the hidden portal!]
“Hidden portal?”
“Was there such a thing?”
[One player succeeded, but you probably don't care. It's vanishing soon anyway. You've checked your rankings, right? Then, say goodbye to those ranked 3,005 and below!]
“No, don't!!”
“Save meee!!”
Despite their desperate cries, around 2,000 players turned to dust and vanished.
In the past, even seeing allies disappear felt like someone else's problem, evoking little emotion.
“......”
“......”
But the survivors this time couldn't help feeling unsettled.
After all, they were now Korea's last remaining players.
‘Only 3,000 of us left from the whole country.’
A sigh escaped, but he didn't show it.
Catching a breather now mattered more than lamenting their fate.
◀ ROUND 9 END ▶
[All Zones]
└Survivors: 647,681
[Current Zone C3-ESKA001]
└Survivors: 3,004
[Your soul will soon transfer back to your original body in the existing dimension.]
[Round 10 begins at midnight on October 1, 2022. See you in the next round. Congratulations on surviving.]
* * *
The moment Ryu Min got home, he texted Min Ju-ri.
[Ryu Min: Ju-ri, you survive?]
[Min Ju-ri: Yeah! Thanks to picking 1, it was easy. Looks like you made it too, Min!]
[Ryu Min: Yeah. Wanna meet up? I can share next round info. Free for lunch?]
[Min Ju-ri: OK OK, totally!]
[Ryu Min: Sleep well then, see you at lunch!]
Leaving that message, Ryu Min collapsed onto his bed and passed out.
Even with his mental strength and stamina restored, staying awake for 28 hours straight was exhausting.
When he woke, daylight had broken.
At lunchtime, Ryu Min met Min Ju-ri at the agreed spot.
“Ju-ri.”
“Hey, Min!”
“Hungry? Let's go.”
As usual, the two headed to their favorite Korean restaurant.
In the quiet atmosphere, they discussed the 9th Round.
“Min, did you get that message too? Something about your mercenary rank going up after the subjugation ended?”
“Oh, you mean advancing from Apprentice to Skilled?”
“Yeah, that! Rank went up, but I don't know if it's good or bad.”
“It's good. Higher rank means you can take on higher-level commissions later.”
“Oh, so better rewards?”
“Yeah. Being a mercenary has its perks there. Probably one rank higher than us?”
“Really? But how do you know all this, Min? From prophecy?”
“Of course. Think my Prophet class is for show? Can't call myself one without knowing stuff like this.”
“Haha, you talk so funny.”
The mercenary rank story wasn't a lie.
Later, there would be frequent opportunities to experience fantasy worlds like open worlds. Accepting missions from mercenary guilds then?
You could raise your rank, hunt better monsters, and build rewards and fame.
‘That leads to joining territory wars and getting called up for actual wars.’
But the biggest perk of raising your mercenary rank was dragon hunting.
‘Not just anyone can hunt dragons. You need Master rank to join a subjugation.’
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say dragon hunting was the reason to raise your mercenary rank.
The rewards from the strongest monster went without saying.
“Min, did you hit level 40?”
“Not yet. You did?”
“Yeah. Hit 41 this time, and it gave a protection buff. I'll cast it when we go, just in case it's dangerous. World's getting risky now.”
“Risky? Only 3,000 left.”
“Still.”
She said that, but the buff was exactly what Ryu Min wanted.
‘She always buffs me anyway, even without asking.’
Whenever she gave prophecies for the next round, Min Ju-ri would apologize for not doing more and cast buffs.
Thanks to that, when Ryu Min parted ways after the 10th Round prophecy, he got the three desired buffs from her.
“Thanks for the buffs!”
“I should thank you for the prophecy! 10th Round might be a tough one.”
“No worries. I saw you passing it in prophecy.”
“That puts me at ease. Need any gold? Trading's unlocked now.”
“Nah, I have plenty.”
“If you ever need any, just say. I can give as much as you want!”
“Will do. If it ever comes to that.”
Ryu Min grinned and waved to Min Ju-ri in front of the convenience store.
“Catch you later.”
“Yeah. Be safe!”
With the buffs secured, Ryu Min returned home and killed 100 mealworms in the bathroom to grab the Massacre Rune buff.
‘Preparations complete.’
Entering his room, Ryu Min equipped his gear.
He swapped his weapon to Death Side, which had stat options, maximizing his Luck stat.
‘Luck at 1,638 now. Insane.’
Was it because Min Ju-ri's Blessing boosted it by 70%?
It felt massively higher.
‘Time to start.’
Ryu Min pulled an item from his inventory.
It was the Infinite Material Pouch from the Akashic Records reward.
‘With this Luck stat, 5 material items are guaranteed. The question is how many God-grade...’
With Blessing active, more than before.
‘Best so far was 3, so maybe expect 4 this time.’
Even 3 God-grades out of 5 would be a huge haul.
[Use.]
The pouch in Ryu Min's hand glowed brightly and vanished.
[You have used the Infinite Material Pouch.]
[Congratulations! 5 material items obtained!]
[Items sent to inventory!]
Five was expected.
The contents were the surprise.
Ryu Min checked the inventory items.
“Huh?”
He couldn't help being shocked.
All 5 were God-grade.
‘Five God-grade materials? Haha...’
No duplicates among them either.
All distinct.
Of course, the key God-grade material, Condensed Ether, wasn't there.
It never appeared, even in past regressions.
‘Doesn't matter. I have Condensed Ether.’
From the first God-grade crafting bonus before.
He hadn't expected to use it so soon.
‘Might as well craft now that materials are gathered. God-grade gear.’
Weapon would stay Legendary; other slots God-grade.
‘Looking at these, the God-grade item I can make is...’
Ryu Min bought a Normal helmet from the shop.
Then loaded all materials into the crafting window.
[Main Material]
-High-Quality Iron Helmet
[Sub-Materials]
-Condensed Ether
-Black Iron Powder
-Angel's Golden Dust
-Bubbling Magic Solution
-Adamantium Plate
With his materials, the craftable gear was a helmet.
‘Like armor protects the heart, helmet protects the head. Both crucial.’
Ryu Min pressed the combine button without hesitation.
Golden light erupted before his eyes.
[Combining God-grade item.]
[Converting to item suitable for current class.]
[Combination success!]
[Crafted 'Thanatos's Helmet.']
[Thanatos's Helmet]
-Classification: Helmet
-Grade: God
-Defense: 1,600
-Effect: All Stats +50, Enables skill 'Reaperization'
-Durability: 20,000/20,000
-Use Restriction: Master grade or higher
-Description: Helmet made using the divinity of the god of death, Thanatos. Grants additional effects when wearing set items.
The helmet's options were solid.
All Stats +50 was great.
One mystery remained, though.
The Reaperization skill.
‘Most would have no idea what it does. No description, just says usable.’
To see skill details, equip the helmet.
Ryu Min knew without equipping.
‘I've made God-grade before in past regressions.’
He knew just how overpowered Reaperization was.
Even if it had nothing else, it'd satisfy.
‘No other skill like it anywhere.’
Satisfied, Ryu Min equipped the gear.
With God-grade armor and now helmet, the set effect activated.
-Thanatos's Garb Set Effect (2/5)
-2-Set Effect: Resistance +20%
-3-Set Effect: ?????
-4-Set Effect: ?????
-5-Set Effect: ?????
Resistance, which was hard to raise, had increased.
Ryu Min was pleased with this too.
‘Full set equipped, resistance will be pretty high.’
Even Tower of Trials floors 97 and 98, testing mental fortitude, rewarded +10% Resistance.
‘Rainbow Effect 50%, Tower resistance additive at 20%, shared skill resistance 15%, 2-set 20%, and if needed, Java's Necklace 35%, Ring of Resistance 35%?’
0.5 x 0.8 x 0.85 x 0.8 x 0.65 x 0.65 = 0.115. That meant 88.5% resistance to status effects.
‘In other words, 11.5% chance to get stunned for 5 seconds? And if it lands, it wears off in about 0.57 seconds.’
Resistance was plenty high now.
‘No more worries about status effects.’
His skill window now showed 'Reaperization' as a temporary skill.
Ryu Min immediately checked the skill info.