Battlenet.
Even during the tutorial period, people followed this game blindly.
Losing interest in sports or games that you originally enjoyed.
The entire human race was fascinated by watching this cruel game where blood and flesh were splattered.
In the past, there were scenes that children would not be allowed to watch because they said they were emotionally unfavorable.
It's gotten to the point where I'm actively encouraging people to watch it, saying that you too will become a player in the future.
Humanity was so enthusiastic about Battle.net, as if they were collectively hypnotized.
Since Battle.net entered the mainstream, not only was there interest in this game.
'In earnest, I was afraid... … .'
Robert Gates looked at the screen.
There, the leaderboard of the Space League to which humanity belongs was displayed.
Humanity is still ranked 4th.
However, there was a significant difference in the amount of points earned per day for 5th place, so it seemed like they would be pushed out at any moment.
'Humanity maintained this ranking because of sex. If it weren't for him... … .'
Seong Ji-han, humanity's greatest warrior, emerged like a comet last year.
If he was absent.
They might have been lower on the rankings than the Join people, whom the public now ignores and ridicules.
'If that were the case, dungeon portals would have appeared all over the world. Cooperation depending on the issues of each country's associations would have been impossible.'
Thanks to the Holy Land, humanity is currently maintaining peace without much difference from the tutorial period.
There was a risk that this situation could be overturned at any time.
Because, objectively speaking, human capabilities were not great enough to be ranked at the top.
Humanity maintains an unstable peace, relying only on one sacred site.
People can no longer just enjoy the game like they did during the tutorial.
instead.
I wanted to somehow maintain my top rank and escape this battle game where I never knew what would happen.
'It was like that before the league competition started.'
The reason why the perception of Battle.net, which was once the object of fear, has been reversed.
It was as 'planetary exploration' progressed.
Robert Gates watched Internet news.
[Battle.net's benefits for all mankind: lighter mornings.] [The medical field cannot help but smile when it comes to improving vitality. The number of patients plummets.] [Hair loss was not a disease.] [The Battle.net Association is closely monitoring resources for planetary exploration and whether there are any side effects.]'Planetary Pioneering', where Seong Ji-han became the leader and participated in the war.
Under his leadership, humanity built the base camp.
At first, I just wanted to get good results here and maintain my league ranking.
but.
'The summoned dwarf harvested too much... … .'
In the name of resource collection, 10 biological robot dwarves were summoned by Seong Ji-han.
As the players ripped out the hearts of the native creatures they hunted, they brought them back to base camp.
At first, viewers wondered why they collected such a thing after asking for resources.
[The vitality of the human race is slightly improved.]After this message was sent to all of humanity.
The story has completely changed.
-shit. castle! One day, my mother stopped coughing in the morning. love you! however… … What happens to your hair?
-Hair loss is not a disease? It's just an innate personality. Blame it on your hormones.
-Individuality? Do you think you won't fall out?
-Is this really okay? In the past few days, I feel like I've become 10 years younger.
-Then don't collect resources? They say you'll get healthier?
-The color returned to my father's face. Pioneering must continue… … .
Robert looked at the comments on the news article, then got up and looked at the mirror.
'Even if it's not 10 years. 'I feel like I'm five years younger.'
A face full of blood.
My eyes, which had become sunken due to too much work recently, were regaining their shine.
Most of the phlegm that was always stuck in my throat due to being a heavy smoker has disappeared.
Even though vitality was only slightly increased, this effect is amazing.
Robert's eyes lit up.
'Is this a weak medicine? If your vitality improves further here... … We can enter a new era.'
I experienced firsthand the benefits of Battle.net.
This was even sweeter than expected.
'Before you leave Battlenet, you should take advantage of this benefit as much as possible. To do that... … .'
Robert looked at the monitor on the side.
There, a video of a biorobot dwarf moving about the body of a native life form was being played.
* * *
"… … "Can't I buy more dwarves to collect resources?"
"yes. Seong Ji-han!"
"well. "This is pretty expensive."
"ah. GP is ok! "American First and the People's Association are joining together to contribute funds!"
The representative guilds of the U.S. and China, who are almost like friends, are joining hands?
Seong Ji-han tilted his head after hearing the story of the American First Guild member.
'Why is this happening all of a sudden?'
After base camp construction.
Build buildings that can be constructed subsequently, such as watchtowers and resource warehouses.
He was busy scrambling to earn planet points when he ran out.
I didn't know what was currently happening on Earth.
However, there was some speculation.
"Has the vitality boost shown any effect on people?"
"yes! you're right!"
"It may not be noticeable to high-level players like us, but ordinary people say that their health has improved noticeably."
"My mother also said her eyes lit up and asked her to say thank you!"
Enhancement of vitality experienced by all mankind.
The medicine is fine, so how much healthier it will be if more resources are collected here.
"The Arab royal family also said they would invest generously in GP."
"Some people are worried about side effects, but people are ignoring it because they can feel how healthy they are."
"… … Well, I understand. "Let's ask him about it."
Anyway, in order to get into the Hall of Fame, you need to earn points through resource mining.
I'm not buying it with my own money, and if the rich people on earth buy it for me, it's good here too.
Seong Ji-han sent a message to Artmu.
-Artmu. Can I buy more dwarf biorobots?
-sir. That junk… … Do you want to buy more 22nd evolved biorobot dwarves? Why suddenly?
-When our people tasted the increase in vitality, their eyes rolled back.
-hmm… … Are you really giving up your own money for your own people?
-No, you have to pay with what you invested.
No matter how much Seong Ji-han has a lot of GP, there is no need to save money and spend your own money to give it to him.
When he sent the message, Artmu, who had not responded for a moment, sent the message.
-Then how about this? Selling 20 units for 4 billion GP each.
-4 billion? Want 4 times more?
-Hehe... … Instead, I will give you 1 billion GP each. Aren't we the only ones who know the old transaction anyway?
-You're including me too.
-okay. In the first place. Are you the person who acts as a purchasing agent for them? A player who shows overwhelming power even in Space 4. Even if you become the king of your race right away and spread your seeds everywhere, it won't be enough... … Tsk tsk. 1 billion GP is, of course, the fee you have to take.
Seong Ji-han clicked his tongue.
There's a long story to be said about selling junk.
still.
'You have to take care of what you need to take care of.'
Seong Ji-han accepted Artmu's plot.
We went one step further here.
-Add one more thing to that, and please accept any inquiries.
-Well, I received 20 billion GP, so what is the inquiry?
-I have a Dragon Heart. Is there anything I can use it for?
-… … Dragon Heart?! You saved it?
-okay.
A dragon heart received from the Dragon Lord.
Even while competing in the league, Seong Ji-han took advantage of the power of fire contained within to make it his own.
Rather than just leaving it in the inventory and absorbing it, I was thinking of finding other ways to use it.
-oh… … really? for a moment. Oh oh… … Dragon heart... … I have a bright idea! But that can only be handled by repairing the blacksmith.
-okay?
-good. I'm going to sell off the junk right now and start repairing the blacksmith shop with the GP. Let's go do the packaging. Collect your GP! … … hmm?
-why?
-no. for a moment. My blacksmith… … I'm shaken now. It seems like there was some external shock. Come see me.
Artmu, who was talking excitedly alone, fell into silence.
Seong Ji-han spoke to the American First Guild member who came to see him.
"4 billion GP each. "They say 20 are possible."
"Does that mean 4 billion GP…? … !? Wow, it's expensive after all. So, is it a total of 80 billion GP? … ."
"It's expensive, right? Should we just not deal?"
"Oh, no! "I will report it to the higher-ups first!"
After hearing the price from Seong Ji-han, the American First Guild members left.
Yoon Se-jin, who was watching this from afar, approached Seong Ji-han.
"Jihan. "They say that in the south, what you mentioned appeared."
"If that's what I said… … "Has the tree come out?"
"okay. I found it at the People's Association. According to them, a huge tree can be seen in the south that reaches all the way to the sky. "It's an alien tree that doesn't match the desert terrain at all."
Seong Ji-han heard those words and nodded.
"It must be a World Tree elf."
"Jegal Heon was also worried about that, so he sent a message saying he saw it from afar and retreated."
It's been 4 days since the league competition started.
After wiping out the Join race on the first day, humanity had not yet met the next race.
However, the second thing I encountered was the World Tree Elfrani, who are of a higher rank than humans.
Sejin Yoon frowned.
"It would have been nice to meet someone a little easier... … "I guess the World Tree Elf is a close second."
"no. It worked out better. "You can take out strong enemies early on and slowly gather resources."
"hmm… … I envy my brother-in-law's leisure. "I still vividly remember being hit by a wooden sword."
Yoon Se-jin, who was sighing as he entered the Battle.net game and said that he was getting hit here and there.
"hmm… … what?!"
His face suddenly became serious, and he looked back.
What he is looking at is precisely above the sky.
Phew!
Five ball-like objects were falling from there.
"… … Um, that… … neck?"
Tuk!
Below the floor where Seong Ji-han and Yoon Se-jin are standing.
Five necks falling precisely.
They were all players from the People's Association who had gone on a scouting trip to the south.
"eww. Ah, it hurts… … ."
"Elves, what on earth have you done… … ."
"I can't even log out… … !"
"Lord, please kill me!"
They move their mouths with only their necks remaining.
Everyone had half their faces chopped off.
A half face, like a blank sheet of paper, as if the face had never existed in the first place.
'This… … .'
When Seong Ji-han looked at that and frowned.
Zhuge Heon, who led them with only his head left, slowly opened his mouth.
"You… … ! You see it here. It went well. "Even though I couldn't go back then, it's different here."
Unlike other People's Association players, he doesn't complain of pain or ask to be killed.
Rather, Zhuge Heon is happy to see Seong Ji-han.
"Enjoy your free time now. "I'll be there to tear it up soon."
After spitting out that one word.
pop!
The head exploded.
Then, the People's Association players followed him and exploded in succession.
"hmm. She sent a message saying she had clearly retreated... … "Did they get caught just then?"
When Yoon Se-jin was embarrassed after seeing the People's Association players explode.
When Seong Ji-han looked at the faces of only half of the five people left, he remembered one person.
'Are you the old elf who failed the invasion last time?'
Tried to descend to Earth.
A half-masked Go-Elf who only told us that it was a world where experiments had already been carried out.
He is powerful enough to be compared to a constellation.
It was in this world.