Chapter 154
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: 10th Round Begins
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[Breaking News! ISIS Leader al-Baghdadi Posts Suicide Video on NewTube...]
[ISIS Leader Suicides? Shocking Video Rocks the World.]
[The video claiming to be from ISIS's leader spreads like wildfire but gets taken down after just 15 minutes...]
The sensational headlines made eyes widen, but Ryu Min knew the truth.
It was a fact, without a shred of fabrication.
“M-Min! Is this for real? Did the ISIS leader really die?”
“Who knows.”
“What’s this about a suicide video?”
“I was curious too, so I looked it up, but it’s gone.”
The video he’d ordered al-Baghdadi to upload to NewTube had already been deleted.
But it had been up for 15 minutes, racking up 10,000 views in that short time—no denying its existence.
“Huh? Check this out. Someone summarized the situation on a blog.”
Just as Min Ju-ri said, someone had captured the video and laid out the details clearly.
The post, up for only 30 minutes, already had over 100 comments.
└Is this legit? The ISIS leader killed himself?
└How do we even know it’s the ISIS leader? Fake news, right?
└lololol Journalists all high or what? Pulling off fake news this coordinated?
└I live in the US, and yeah, it’s real. Even CNN’s reporting it, total chaos.
└Doesn’t look like fake news. Foreign articles popping up easy on Google too.
└So it’s real? ISIS leader offed himself?
└Can’t tell from the screenshot.
└Guys, I dug around and got the video. It’s real. This dude claims he’s the ISIS leader, says there’s proof he’s the boss somewhere in Nigeria, then something about Black Scythe? Says all his operatives are dead, no face to show Allah, slits his throat and suicides. Shocking stuff.
└Top comment real?
└Where can I see the video? Pls email it: [email protected]
└Me too: [email protected]
└333333 Me too: [email protected]!
└Writing fanfic now? Why would ISIS leader suicide? Idiots.
└Lol yeah, this blog’s just chasing views pretending they saw it, top guy’s an attention whore faking it, and suckers believe it.
└Two idiots up top. 10k people saw it, global news blowing up real-time, quit the bullshit.
└lol For real. At this scale, believe it already.
└But did the ISIS leader really mention Black Scythe before dying?
└Articles say Black Scythe wiped out his men and org, reality hit, so suicide.
└lololol How many’d he kill for reality to hit?
└Who’s Black Scythe? Only me out of loop?
└Newly appointed CPF deputy commander. Called a monster among players, that strong.
└If true, serial killer? Dozens to hundreds dead.
└Killing terrorist scum who kill people is “justice,” but Korea treats it like murder
└Trash anyway, and with major player laws, no murder charge.
└Crime in Nigeria, so their laws apply.
└Nigeria’s thrilled. Bug extermination for free lol
└Funny asses. Zero proof Black Scythe did it, yet y’all believe lol
└Check flight records to Nigeria that day, easy.
“Black Scythe...?”
Reading the comments, Min Ju-ri decided to ask him straight if she met Black Scythe in the other world.
Whether this story about crushing ISIS was true.
‘It is true.’
Some didn’t buy it yet, but time would reveal everything.
‘Flight records alone prove it, plus tons of evidence in Nigeria.’
Just the people Ryu Min saved that day numbered over a hundred.
One or two going public would boost Black Scythe’s rep big time.
‘Interview requests incoming too.’
He hadn’t checked yet, but Lost Ark’s phone was probably blowing up—obvious.
Sure enough.
While Min Ju-ri was in the bathroom, he peeked at the phone: dozens of missed calls and texts.
Media interview requests, as expected.
‘Good thing I silenced it beforehand, or Min Ju-ri would’ve caught on.’
Making al-Baghdadi film and post that suicide video instead of just killing him? Smart move.
‘FBI and Interpol know his face. And with the evidence he left, proving he’s ISIS’s second caliph is easy.’
US and Nigerian govs chasing ISIS would issue proper statements and articles soon.
Black Scythe dismantling ISIS would spread worldwide.
‘Even searching now, hard to find ISIS remnants. Told al-Baghdadi to gather and kill all survivors—no bugs left.’
Might be diehard followers, but Ryu Min had done his best for world peace.
Well, more for building Black Scythe’s fame, really.
“Black Scythe’s amazing... When’d he go abroad and pull this off?”
“Yeah.”
“You didn’t know, Min? You see the future.”
“Nope. Can’t pick and choose what I see.”
“Oh, gotcha.”
Min Ju-ri dropped it there.
Prophet class: perfect excuse.
* * *
Amid the ISIS uproar, time marched on.
October 1st, midnight.
Roughly 2,700 players gathered.
The last ones left in South Korea.
‘After today, only 25% of them survive.’
Harsh, but even Ryu Min couldn’t rewrite system rules.
‘Can’t save everyone? Then save max who’ll help me.’
Those helpful ones approached Ryu Min.
Min Ju-ri, Ma Kyung-rok, Ahn Sang-chul, Seo Ah-rin, Heo Tae-seok, Jo Yong-ho, Yamtti.
“Black Scythe...?”
Spotting each other approaching Black Scythe, they eyed rivals.
-Why so many people?
-All here to talk to Black Scythe?
-Why stick to him? Scraps?
Negative vibes, but no one showed it.
Couldn’t look ugly before the absolute being Black Scythe.
“Hello, Black Scythe.”
“Hello.”
“Hel...”
They vied to greet first, but Ryu Min ignored all.
Essential assets, all of them.
So he asked the group.
“What brings you all to me?”
“Uh. Who goes first?”
“W-We heard you crushed ISIS.”
Min Ju-ri spoke first.
“Wanted to confirm if true.”
“True.”
Clean admission, no bullshit—they stared shocked.
“Y-You really took down ISIS...”
“As expected of Black Scythe... CPF deputy commander.”
“Even abroad, purifying the world—impressive!”
Heo Tae-seok, usually shy, suddenly over-the-top.
Mind read: deliberate attention grab.
Something to say.
“NoPainNoGay. Got words for me?”
“Y-Yes, Black Scythe. You read my intent.”
“Answer the question.”
“W-Well, I’m starting a religion this time.”
“Religion?”
“And who’s it for...?”
Heo Tae-seok spread arms slow, then thrust toward one person powerfully, like lifting.
Ryu Min.
“A faith worshiping Black Scythe as god!”
“I’m no god.”
“Depends on belief. In our Reaper Church, Black Scythe is god!”
“Reaper Church?”
Cringy name, but Heo Tae-seok beamed proud, shameless.
“Yes! Cool, right? Reaper Church! Already six followers. I’m the high priest. This is Archbishop Eom Jun-seok.”
“Ahem...”
Eom Jun-seok beside him, arrived unnoticed.
Face down, embarrassed by “archbishop.”
“Anyone interested, join Reaper Church! All who love Black Scythe welcome with open arms!”
Unexpected pitch—Ryu Min almost spoke, then held back.
Some players watching curiously.
‘Min Ju-ri, Seo Ah-rin, Yamtti... even Jo Yong-ho?’
No outward sign, but keen to join.
Then.
“Ah! There he is!”
Another group seeking Black Scythe.
“Deputy Commander!”
CPF squad from reality.
Custom faces differed, but nicknames memorized—easy ID.
“You guys.”
“Deputy Commander, disappointing! Going to Nigeria solo!”
“If hunting ISIS bugs, should’ve brought us!”
Playful tone, but Ryu Min serious.
“You guard Korea. Where you going?”
“Share some credit for slaying ISIS.”
“Hey, think they’re pushovers? Hundreds of suspected player ISIS.”
“Yeah. You’d just hinder. Needs my level.”
“Bull. I’ve got more criminal kills than you.”
“Different thing.”
“Cut it. None of us handle hundreds of ISIS. Only possible for Deputy Commander.”
“True that.”
Ryu Min sighed inwardly, listening to squad nod agreement.
‘How’d it get this rowdy?’
Last regression, solo for his gain only.
Now, people everywhere.
‘No more vanishing from lack of numbers, like before.’
Assuming he leads them well through trials to round 20.
Then, sky flashed—winged being.
[Hello, humans? I’m the angel Nel handling 10th round briefing. I’ll explain, so pay attention. Unless you want your heads exploding.]
Grinning after creepy words, Nel addressed all.
[Congrats on reaching round 10. Halfway already—thrilling! Amazing folks! But ditch the arrogance today. Tough round: only 1/4 survive.]
“What? One fourth?”
“Damn...”
Nel smirked at spooked players.
[Scared? Then let’s check next round info?]