Monster Revival and the Alliance's Pathetic Failure

In terms of sheer impact, it was a topic that could've dominated global conversations for days on end.

But it was pushed off the international stage far quicker than expected.

Why?

Because the next incident was right around the corner.

Plus, the international scene had been on fire lately anyway?

With Korea and Hitchhiker dropping bombshells left and right, it was hard for anything else to hold attention for long.

Gates opening across nations.

Random items raining down.

The varieties were endless.

But they all shared one thing in common.

Unlike the trials packed with downsides, events could bring benefits depending on the type.

That's why events were the biggest turning points for rank flips.

And the reason the world was buzzing with anticipation over anxiety right now.

A... vote...?

An event no one saw coming.

The world plunged into chaos.

On streets, in offices.

At home, in shops.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared into empty space.

The entire world did.

Because the voting window appeared to everyone, regardless of awakening status, age, or gender.

"One person, one vote?"

"It's a real vote, straight up?"

Voting. The act of picking something.

The most familiar was presidential elections.

Of course, some regimes didn't have votes at all, or pulled off the miracle of more votes than voters.

Anyway.

The key fact now: This vote targeted all Awakeners worldwide.

"Is that button next to the nickname search for national settings?"

"Yep! You can sort by level or rank too."

The world ignited in seconds.

Voting proof posts flooded the internet.

Most people fiddled excitedly with their voting windows.

Guidelines from governments?

Not happening anytime soon.

"Minister! Emergency summit request from the alliance nations!"

"Prep the docs! Steer it toward concentrating votes on our top Awakener—!"

Each country's leaders were in full panic mode.

Korea and the US.

No other nation had predicted this event.

Voting proofs overwhelming the net.

On the flip side, some were freaking out.

Rebuttals poured in.

They double-checked the alert window in a panic.

The message at the bottom read:

Withdraw and recast?

Let me test... Holy crap, it works.

That changes everything.

In the end, the world dove headfirst into a dopamine flood, rankings swinging wildly.

16th to 152nd.

1322nd to 98th.

32nd to 552nd.

The top ranks held steady-ish.

But the rest? Chaos.

Half thrill, half conflict.

People endlessly withdrawing and recasting.

And one more reason.

A single 'vote' wasn't just 1 vote.

No one knew exactly how the system quantified 'gratitude.'

But votes fluctuated massively per target Awakener.

From 1x up to 10x.

Negative feelings could drop it below 1x.

Once the hype settled and the system was understood.

People started voting for their nation's top Awakeners.

Regardless of international rivalries, it was natural national pride.

Multipliers?

Top nations trended toward 1x.

Lower ones spiked toward 10x.

Outrage exploded.

But the reason was clear.

Nations that breezed through rampages vs. those scraping by.

Gratitude levels couldn't be the same.

The former: Admiration and pride over pure thanks.

The latter: Pure gratitude, trailed by extras.

And.

One nation where multipliers were going berserk.

(...)

Who else? Korea, obviously.

The white-horsed superman who lifted rampage-threatened Korea to world #1.

Hero of the nation, Hitchhiker.

No need for government pushes.

Right after the event alert, nationwide voting frenzy erupted.

#Hitchhiker #VoteProof #12xMultiplier

#ThankYou #PatriotProof

Proof posts with screenshots swept the net, hashtags blazing.

"It's climbing—!"

"Broke 50 million! Let's gooooo—!"

Streets echoed like World Cup eve cheers.

They even compared multipliers like power levels.

And then, the nuke dropped.

That was Cha Minhyuk from the Management Agency.

Anyway, past midnight in Korea, votes piled up terrifyingly fast.

Result: 50 million-pop Korea...

Less than an hour in, they staked #1.

But this was just the start.

Most of the nation was still asleep.

US Management Agency top-floor lounge.

America's undisputed top ranker, Killdragon, seethed.

Me, not #1? #2?

He hated admitting it, but the objective reasons were obvious.

First: Vote consolidation difference.

Global top vote-getters' domestic shares averaged mid-70s%.

99.15%?

Makes sense?

Unless Koreans were mass-brainwashed.

Even early on, this insane ratio was headline news abroad.

Meanwhile, his:

72.55%.

Despite national prep, below average.

Or maybe.

Past efforts got him this much.

Melting pot America.

Lots of star Awakeners.

Votes leaned toward relatable identities.

Hispanic to Hispanic.

Asian to Asian.

African to African.

Of course, near end, scattered votes would reconverge on 'Killdragon' for national win.

Uncomfortable.

And second reason Hitchhiker led.

20x?

Not 10x, not 15x—20x?

"This make sense?"

"Urk!"

Rage boiled over.

Killdragon slammed a full-force punch into his attendant's gut.

Thud!

Not enough.

He stomped repeatedly.

Thwack! Bam! Thwack!

20x. Utter nonsense.

But what burned more: American gratitude toward him was low.

Rage spilled to other attendants.

Thwack! Bam!

Final kick done, Killdragon slumped on the sofa, panting.

"Hoo, hoo."

Reason for this nightmare?

America's multi-ethnic mess.

Inferior races mixed like pollutants.

If I could...

Wipe 'em clean.

Like back in the gang days, before the face job.

Heh heh.

Smirking at old memories, Killdragon pulled up the event message.

Yeah. Just hold on a bit.

I can still be king.

Suits a superior like me better than ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠any race.

A king needs subjects to prop him up.

Yeah, I'll be magnanimous.

Understand the inferiors.

Beep. Whirr—

Gail Director entered.

Saw the gasping attendants, clicked his tongue.

"Tsk."

Gestured.

Aides dragged them to medical.

"Still can't control your temper?"

"Confidentiality oaths, no gadgets on duty, fat salaries. Hired as sandbags from the start, no?"

Killdragon grinned slyly.

Gail shook his head.

If not for overwhelming skill and buzz, he'd have scrapped him long ago.

Pulled an item from his pocket.

"Take it. We're ready."

"Oh! Finally!"

Unconquered upper floors, consecutive climbs.

Massive news to swell the chest.

Would rally scattered US votes faster to Killdragon.

And.

"Gratitude-based multipliers were unexpected, but won't change a thing."

Overwhelming unity? 20x multiplier?

Still just 50 million pop.

Votes have a cap.

Plus, only 3 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠days.

"Even if Korea negotiates for alliance votes, meaningful gains in that time? Near impossible."

Meanwhile, US done deals with allies China, Japan.

"Momentum's with America."

"Crown's America's, of course."

The two men grinned.

Hitchhiker and Korea.

Pay for your arrogant solo run.

This time, for sure.

Whoa, impressive.

All Killdragon's feats.

"Master! He used it! That thing from US intel—skip ticket!"

"Floor skip ticket."

"Yeah! That! Consecutive pops!"

Seems so.

Clear time and score blank.

Enter 75th, and speed trial hits worldwide, probably.

"Shameless. Climbing the tower on freebies without effort."

Yulia lamented, munching flounder sashimi.

Nah, who chugs soju on the rocks full?

"I like freebies too."

"Hehe, of course Your Majesty is the exception."

I chewed the flounder Yulia fed me with chopsticks.

Sashimi's best fresh.

—Human, what's freebie?

Fed Hati one too.

"This is freebie."

—Freebie! Good thing!

Anyway, Killdragon's streak was working.

US scattered votes rallying to him fast.

"Nom! Chinese votes, nom! Shifting too!"

"Japanese votes same, piling on Killdragon."

Per Cha Minhyuk's report.

China: Public security door-to-door, real-time checks forcing votes.

Japan: Broadcasts hyping US worship, anti-Korea sentiment.

"Given the situations, pretty effective."

And the flood of articles.

They're working hard.

"Nom! Master! Nom! Killdragon's catching up nom! Not looking good!"

"It's fine. Nom."

Will end at 'not looking good.'

Messaged Cha Minhyuk.

Phew, how stifling under that thick mask all this time?

Time I peel it a bit.