Chapter 185
Chapter 185
Chapter 185: Minor Regular Arena (2)
Translation: godtl
[What is the true nature of the suddenly announced 'Temporary Regular Arena'?]
[Only those with MMR in the top 10% of each rank bracket can participate?]
[Is Galaxy Arena finally abandoning its fairness?]
[Shocking! Death in the 'Temporary Regular Arena' carries over to reality!]
Not just in South Korea.
News articles flooded portals worldwide.
-If you die in the Arena, you die in real life too?
-Hey, high-rankers. Is this for real?
-Yeah, that's what the announcement says, but participation is voluntary.
-Though you can't enter any Arena—regular or otherwise—until you decide whether to participate lol.
-This is insane lol.
-I already declined.
-Even using the Arena Access Device hurts like hell. Who in their right mind would risk their life on top of that?
Arena-related communities across the globe were also buzzing with heated interest over the emergence of the 'Temporary Regular Arena.'
Especially...
-I'm part of American Dream. The top players are calling it the 'Minor Regular Arena'?
-Minor Regular? Cute name.
-Interesting. The Rankers in our Masamune guild call it that too.
-The high-rankers in our Valtenberg guild also refer to it as the Minor Regular Arena.
The top guilds representing each country.
As the elite MMR players from these guilds began calling the 'Temporary Regular Arena' the 'Minor Regular Arena'...
-But is there any info on the Minor Regular Arena at all?
-Barely any, right?
-Just saw an Indian Ranker run it earlier. All sorts of non-human species showed up.
-For real? You can get matched with non-humans?
-Yeah, seems like they're Players too.
The trickle of information only fueled the frenzy.
Of course, there wasn't much to go around.
-I also saw a Filipino Ranker participate two hours ago. Got matched with non-humans. But...
Not only did they barely make any progress due to the increased difficulty...
-You saw it too? They got wiped out and died.
-Yup... And judging by the radio silence afterward, the death penalty seems real...
-Damn, that's terrifying as hell;;
The death penalty.
Because the penalty was clear: die in the Arena, die in reality.
Since everyone who had experienced the Minor Regular Arena had died in the early stages,
it was only natural that information about it remained scarce.
-Looks like the top players aren't running Arenas.
-Check Arenia. There are less than 20 Minor Regular broadcasts lol.
-That's still 20.
-Do those 20 have multiple lives or something lol?
-Just checked. None of the players from major guilds are running the Minor Regular.
-They must know something.
-Yeah, seems like only the top ranks have intel.
And then...
-Reporting in.
The World Awakened Federation, absorbing all this news and intel...
-Another Ranker from India has been found dead.
Since the announcement of the Temporary Regular Arena.
"That makes a total of 19 Ranker fatalities so far."
"Good heavens!"
They had been monitoring the situation worldwide without pause.
"Send another official notice to the Indian Association! 'Strongly recommend' refraining from entering the Minor Regular Arena for a week!"
"Why won't they listen?!"
"How can these so-called top players be so reckless with their lives on the line?!"
Sighs and complaints erupted throughout the conference room.
Especially the Indian representative, who—like the 18 representatives before them—
"That idiot...!"
Bit their lip, trembling uncontrollably.
And who could blame them?
This latest casualty from India was none other than a Ranker.
Watching this unfold, the German representative...
"Unfortunate, but there's nothing we can do."
Milla let out a short sigh.
"The Galaxy Arena offers substantial rewards from the very beginning, doesn't it? Even with lives at stake, it's hard to resist."
Marcus, the U.S. representative standing beside him, nodded in agreement.
"In fact, all reported casualties so far have died immediately after entering while attempting to claim achievement rewards."
"Exactly. And it's all broadcast live. That must be unbearable in so many ways."
Responding to Mila's comment, Marcus loosened his tie slightly and continued.
"Separately, I'd like to offer my sincere condolences to the nations who have lost Rankers."
Surprisingly, no objections came from the typically contentious nations in response to Marcus's condolences.
The reason was simple.
"The United States has also lost Rankers, so we deeply sympathize."
The U.S. side had also recorded Ranker casualties—two, no less.
Observing this, Wei Anhong, the Chinese representative, spoke solemnly.
"China also extends its heartfelt condolences to all nations who have lost Rankers."
"Serbia offers its condolences as well."
"As do we..."
Solemn formalities were exchanged.
Whether it provided even the slightest comfort or not, the representatives from nations that had lost Rankers—including India—gradually smoothed their contorted expressions.
Marcus, who had been quietly observing the room, then remarked,
"Though I notice you're all using the term 'small-scale'... So you're all aware, then?"
"......"
"......"
At his words, the representatives exchanged glances.
Finally, Wei Anhong responded.
"How could we not know? After all, none of the top guilds from each country have reported any casualties, have they?"
"Exactly. The U.S. may have lost two Rankers, but American Dream's Rankers remain unscathed, don't they?"
"So you've all obtained information from the Black Market, it seems."
"Haha! It's refreshing to speak openly like this."
Other representatives nodded in agreement, chiming in.
Among them, a man with a gentle demeanor raised his hand.
"Excuse me... I've been curious since we were urgently summoned—why haven't we discussed sharing this information?"
Somchai, Thailand's representative, posed the question.
"......"
"......"
The World Federation's meeting room fell into abrupt silence.
Embarrassment, awkwardness, blank expressions—various emotions surfaced in the silence, but no one spoke up easily.
Wei Anhong, who had been standing expressionless with his arms crossed, finally broke the silence.
"Officially, it's due to our trust agreement with the Black Market's proprietor."
Somchai blinked rapidly.
"Officially? Then unofficially... there's another reason— Ah!"
A short sigh followed.
Somchai closed his mouth awkwardly, but that was all. Every representative in the room could guess what he was thinking.
Wei Anhong continued immediately.
"As you've guessed. It's all about keeping rival guilds in check. The fewer top Players other guilds have, the stronger their own influence becomes."
"Representative Wei."
"What does it matter? Everyone already knows this."
Wei Anhong shrugged off Marcus's reprimand.
"Ahem! Let's leave the dark talk here. Since none of us are strangers to dealing with the Black Market, we might as well speak freely among ourselves."
"...Let's do that."
"I agree."
Marcus, Mila, and the other representatives nodded one by one.
Beep beep.
Some even signaled their agreement with green lights.
As the mood shifted, Wei Anhong spoke again.
"And Representative Somchai? Though we didn't specify the Black Market's information in detail, we've practically shared it already."
"Representative Wei is right."
Marcus nodded, supporting his statement.
"Exactly one week. Didn't the World Awakened Federation strongly recommend that those wishing to participate in the sub-arena join exactly one week later?"
The World Awakened Federation's strong recommendation.
Though it was merely a "recommendation."
There wasn't a soul who didn't know it was effectively an order issued by the Federation through each nation's Association.
Only.
"Even that recommendation didn't work on some players."
For lower-tier players, it might have been different.
But the top 10% of each rank were all players with power or influence.
No matter how authoritative the Federation's words were, they held little sway over them.
Then.
A hologram rose from the center of the conference hall, accompanied by a mechanical voice.
"Haa..."
"Tsk."
The representatives sighed or clicked their tongues upon seeing it.
'Who died this time?'
'Please, not someone from our country! Please!!'
They silently prayed it wasn't a player from their homeland.
At least, there was some relief.
This time, it wasn't news of a death but of participation.
Yet, none of the representatives' faces brightened.
Entering the sub-arena meant—
"Which country's players are they?"
Just like the previous players.
It was no different from saying they would soon die.
"No!!"
"Oh, Lord!"
A man and woman screamed simultaneously.
"What on earth is the Association President doing?!"
"Leoni! How could you, of all people?!"
The cries came from the South Korean and German representatives.
Their hands trembling, they frantically tapped on their phones before—
Bang.
Storming out of the conference hall.
Most likely to contact their respective Associations or guilds.
'Tsk. What a shame.'
'Weren't they both chosen by Constellations?'
'They're throwing away potential future top-rankers just like that.'
The representatives from other nations felt a mix of pity and relief.
'At last, Allah is avenging our Palestine!'
'Kim Si-mun. I heard he was doing well lately...'
'They must've gotten too arrogant after contracting with Constellations.'
'Jong-ri Chu will be pleased.'
With faint satisfaction in their hearts,
They silently mourned the South Korean and German representatives.
[Welcome to the Galaxy Arena.]
A familiar phrase.
Beneath it:
[Achievement 'First-Day Challenger' completed.]
[2,000 Achievement Points acquired.]
[Achievement 'Into Diverse Worlds' completed.]
[3,000 Achievement Points acquired.]
Achievement rewards popped up.
Si-mun's eyes sparkled.
'Hoh? Just for entering, they give 5,000 Achievement Points?'
5,000 Achievement Points.
For a mere entry reward, it was quite substantial.
Of course.
'Well, it's still cheap considering we're risking our lives.'
Compared to the price of his life, it wasn't exactly generous.
As Si-mun dismissed the achievement window
And was about to survey his surroundings—
[Achievement 'Surpass 5,000,000 Viewers' completed.]
[7,000 Achievement Points acquired.]
Another achievement reward appeared.
Si-mun's eyes widened comically at the message.
And for good reason.
'Five million?!'
Did it just say he surpassed five million viewers?
Si-mun hurriedly opened Arenia's settings window.
Just as the achievement had announced:
[5,779,271 viewers currently watching.]
The viewer count had already blown past five million and was racing toward six.
[5,975,154 viewers currently watching.]
[6,451,763 viewers currently watching.]
In no time, it breached six million and kept climbing.
-Look at those viewer numbers lololol
-Mr. Kim. I knew you'd join the sub-arena.
-It's really Kim Si-mun. That's impressive in its own way.
-Allah will surely praise your courage.
-What remarkable spirit! A truly manly act!
-Look at the foreign viewers going wild lol
-I can't even read the chat anymore lol
The flood of comments was so overwhelming that translations were sporadic at best.
Alongside this, the viewership count continued its relentless ascent.
[7,751,261 viewers currently watching.]
Only after surpassing a staggering 7.7 million did the numbers begin to slow their climb.
Si-mun let out a hollow laugh.
'I expected viewership to increase somewhat since it's the first day of the Survival Special, but...'
Who could have predicted it would exceed 7.7 million?
'Well, I suppose it's not that surprising. By now, quite a few of those reckless players who charged in blindly must have died.'
Though in his past life, the Survival Special had been held in January of next year.
The date had merely been moved up.
Ultimately, the overall flow wouldn't differ much from his previous life.
'In my past life, nearly 50 Rankers died just on the first day, didn't they?'
Rankers—the highest tier on current Earth.
During the first day of the Survival Special in his past life,
close to fifty Rankers alone had become casualties.
And when combined with lower-ranked fatalities, the numbers easily reached five digits.
'The death toll will be lower than my past life now, but it won't be zero.'
It was inevitable.
'Even though I leaked information about the Death Exemption Talisman going on sale in a week, not everyone would have heard it.'
The title of "First" that this damn Galaxy Arena bestows isn't just about rewards.
Doesn't the honor alone turn players into moths drawn to flame?
Si-mun shook his head ruefully and turned his attention to the chat.
-Bro! Get out of there right now!
-No! Why did you even go in there? Haven't you seen the news?
-Isn't it a point of no return anyway?
-I'm all for it hehe. May you return safely ^0^
-Looks like his recent success wasn't enough, now he's putting on a suicide show lol
-This guy's gonna break down spectacularly when it's his time to die lol
-For real, can't wait to see him piss himself crying lol
From concerned fans to antis wishing for his death,
the chat was chaos incarnate.
Then.
"Everyone, please keep the chat civil. With so many viewers, I'll have to strengthen the Slow mode on chat."
Having endured countless malicious comments in his past life, Si-mun set up the stream unfazed.
"Now, I'll focus on the Arena."
He closed the chat window.
Si-mun surveyed his bleak surroundings.
'Dark and desert terrain?'
The deep blue-hued sand.
Though it stretched in all directions, it felt less like a desert
and more like the interior of some impossibly tall and vast structure.
Then.
[This Arena's event is 'Survival,' with 100 participants.]
[The Arena will begin once all participants have appeared.]
As the system message floated up,
pahht—
flashes of summoning light glittered throughout the space.
"Growl! Where is this?"
"Hmm. Quite a filthy bunch here."
"Kehahah! Nothing but inferior species!"
From the beastkin with their half-human, half-animal forms to the tall, pale Vampires,
and even the orcs classified as Green Skins—
creatures he'd only encountered as monsters now voiced their thoughts
as if equipped with advanced artificial intelligence.
Si-mun closed his eyes briefly.
"Haaah—"
He exhaled deeply.
'Now it finally feels like I've come home.'
The diverse races beyond humanity.
Their unique vocalizations and accents—
everything felt intensely welcoming.
'Yes. This is the Galaxy Arena.'
An arena where various races stake their lives in competition.
Though he'd taken measures like the Death Exemption Talisman to minimize death penalties,
the fundamental nature of risking one's life remained unchanged.
Above all—
'In my past life, I could only watch from the sidelines...'
Si-mun, who had been forced to view Arenia broadcasts due to his mana disability,
now stood here with both feet firmly planted. The feeling was profoundly novel.
Just then.
"You're Kim Si-mun?"
A powerful voice called from behind.
Si-mun immediately turned to identify the speaker.
"You are..."
His brow furrowed slightly.