38. End of Round 3
★ Round 3 Results Tally ★
[All Areas]
└1st. Black Scythe (Lv30 Reaper) 3,631 kills
└2nd. Stupid Idiots (Lv13 Shaman) 982 kills
└3rd. Sky Horse (Lv13 Dark Knight) 963 kills
[This Area ESKS45-5]
└1st. Black Scythe (Lv30 Reaper) 3,631 kills
└2nd. An Sang-cheol (Lv11 Knight) 687 kills
└3rd. Seo Arin (Lv11 Summoner) 576 kills
People were surprised at the tally results for a different reason.
"Black Scythe killed 3,600 alone?"
"The 2nd place didn't even kill 1,000?"
Black Scythe being 1st was an expected result of course.
But they never imagined he'd kill this many.
Moreover.
"Look at the level. It says 30?"
"Wow... That's insane."
"Did he receive some experience bonus or something?"
Everyone clicked their tongues at the overwhelming level difference.
Except for Ryumin himself.
'I did receive an experience buff. They wouldn't even know such a thing exists if they don't rank 1st across all areas.'
The 1st place across all areas receives a special reward selection box.
The 3x experience benefit can only be obtained by opening the box.
'2nd and 3rd across all areas receive much lower rewards. Not to mention 1st, 2nd, 3rd in each area.'
Still, it's better to rank in the top 3 and receive additional rewards.
There's definitely a difference in growth rate.
'Plus, with higher growth, the chance of ranking in the top 3 next round increases too.'
As rewards accumulate, growth snowballs, and eventually one becomes a being on a different level from other players.
'That's why ranking is important.'
Sure enough, [Sky Horse] Ma Gyeong-rok ranked in the top 3 this time too.
[Stupid Idiots] was the same.
'That Stupid Idiot is quite talented too.'
Is it easier to rank if you have psychopathic tendencies?
As he was thinking that, a message popped up.
[Congratulations! You have achieved the quest as 1st in this area!]
[Congratulations! You have achieved the quest as 1st across all areas!]
[Black Scythe's current ranking is 1st across all areas, 1st in this area.]
[You receive 'Mid-grade Rare Ring Selection Ticket' as reward for 1st place in this area!]
[You receive 'Special Reward Selection Box' as reward for 1st place across all areas!]
'A mid-grade ring selection ticket came in.'
The reward received differs based on player level.
'If another player became 1st, they would have received a low-grade one.'
After confirming the rewards came in, Ryumin immediately used them.
[You can select one of the following rare rings.]
[Please touch the reward you want.]
└ 1. Ring of Swift Wind
└ 2. Blue Mana Ring
└ 3. Ring of Resistance
Ryumin's finger moved without hesitation.
'I select number 3, Ring of Resistance.'
[Ring of Resistance]
-Category: Ring
-Grade: Rare
-Effect: Luck +4, Resistance +35%
-Durability: 450/450
-Usage Restriction: Regular grade or higher
-Description: A ring that provides resistance to status effects.
Information for items given as choices cannot be checked in advance.
'You have to infer what kind of item it is just from the name.'
Probably almost no one would choose the Ring of Resistance.
It sounded weak just from the name.
But resistance is essential for survival.
'There's no answer if you get caught in status effects.'
The system has numerous status effects.
Stun, bind, sleep, fear, silence, freeze, bleed, burn, blind, slow, weaken, etc.
'There are monsters that inflict status effects, and some player skills have them too.'
Though it's not clear yet, encounters will increase as rounds progress.
And they'll realize.
'How important resistance is for survival.'
No matter how high your stats, you're as good as dead if caught in a status effect.
Moreover, resistance can't be raised through stats.
There aren't many items with resistance options either.
In other words, it's hard to obtain.
'It's better to have it even if I don't use it right away.'
I should wear it since it raises Luck stat too.
Ryumin then used the special reward selection box.
'There won't be a 3x experience buff this time.'
Sure enough.
[You can select one of the following special rewards.]
[Please touch the reward you want.]
└ 1. 50% Stat Increase Buff (Limited to Round 4)
└ 2. 4,000 Gold
└ 3. Information about Round 4
The 3x experience buff that was always in option 1 is gone.
In other words, that means there won't be monster killing.
It was actually like that.
'Round 4's goal isn't killing monsters.'
But he doesn't need the stat increase buff substitute either.
Ryumin moved his finger without hesitation.
'I select number 2, gold.'
4,000 gold entered his possession as soon as he selected it.
There was no other choice.
[Now, humans? You've each checked your ranking in the message, right? The cutoff is 1,225th place.]
"A-angel! Wait a moment! Something's wrong here!"
"The system seems to have calculated incorrectly! Please check!"
"That's right. How could my ranking be this low when I killed so many..."
Players who didn't make the cutoff protested, but.
[Then I'll proceed to eliminate the bugs who didn't even make 1,225th place.]
Olive proceeded with elimination mercilessly.
With an evil smile that didn't match her appearance.
Whoosh-
Half of the 2,400 who survived the waves were eliminated.
◀ ROUND 3 End ▶
[All Areas]
└Survivors: 214,007,550
[This Area ESKS45-5]
└Survivors: 1,225
[Your soul will soon transfer back to your body in the original dimension.]
[Round 4 will begin at midnight on April 1, 2022. We'll see you in the next round. Congratulations on surviving.]
* * *
"Hah!"
Seo Arin opened her eyes and checked her surroundings.
'I'm back. I survived Round 3 too.'
Not just survival.
She even obtained the Summoner job.
She used her skill again while thinking of it.
'Summon Fairy.'
A small fairy that appeared with light fluttered around.
It was a summon that casts a protective barrier.
Though it had no combat ability, thanks to it she could safely clear the 5th wave.
'The bodyguard drawing attention beside me helped a lot too.'
She should thank him later.
This wasn't the only good thing.
She even achieved the overflowing record of 3rd place in the area ranking.
'To think I ranked 3rd...'
Though it was just area ranking, her nickname was listed for the first time.
She also received a purple magic stone as reward.
Seo Arin took out the magic stone and examined it curiously.
'Would Black Scythe like it if I give him this?'
Though she didn't know what it was used for, it should be useful since it was given as a reward.
She carefully put the magic stone back in her inventory.
She planned to find Black Scythe in Round 4 and give it as thanks.
'I hope he likes it...'
What if he doesn't like it?
What should she give then?
'I need to give him something. That would make me feel better.'
Seo Arin was someone who could give even more to a benefactor who saved her life.
* * *
As soon as he returned to reality, the first thing Hwang Yongmin did was open his status window.
[A penalty is in effect.]
[All stats are permanently decreased by 50%.]
Sure enough, his stats were halved.
'Ah... damn it.'
Regret clouded Hwang Yongmin's face.
If he knew this would happen, he wouldn't have ordered to destroy the relic.
Just then, his phone vibrated.
The caller was his delinquent friend.
"Oh, Seung-han."
-Hey, are you crazy?
"What are you saying out of the blue?"
-Look at this bastard playing dumb? You know we're all screwed because of you, right?
His friend's voice was trembling with anger.
-How could you control your friends with Command Authority? Are you even human?
"Hey! It was an unavoidable situation. I could have died by Black Scythe if I didn't do that."
-Why didn't you just die then?
"What?"
-You should have just died instead of harming your friends.
"Hey! I'm wronged too, damn it! My stats decreased for being Area Representative!"
-Did only your stats decrease? We were used by our friend on top of that.
"..."
-This wouldn't have happened if you didn't covet the Area Representative position in the first place, you traitor.
Hwang Yongmin, at a loss for words, kept silent.
-You bastard. You're not even a real friend.
"Hey..."
-Don't contact me anymore. Don't act like you know me in reality or the other world. I might kill you if I see your face because I'm so pissed off.
With those words, the call ended.
He seemed quite angry.
'Did I do something so wrong? Damn it, I'm a victim too.'
Though he felt wronged, he still needed to appease them.
With that thought, he tried contacting other friends but they didn't answer.
Looking at KakaoTalk, he had been expelled from the group chat too.
"Wow... These bastards are abandoning me without even trying to listen."
Friends who can't even understand him.
At that moment, a sneer escaped his lips.
'Friends? I don't need such things. Life is lived alone anyway.'
Though abandoned by his friends, he didn't feel lonely.
Rather, his eyes were burning with anger.
'What? You might kill me if you see my face because you're so pissed off? You worthless bastard, you want to try me?'
Hwang Yongmin inwardly vowed.
'Yeah, just try meeting me next time. I'll kill you all.'
He decided to take revenge if he sees his friends.
* * *
"Welcome, Director An. You survived this time too."
As the owner Ma Gyeong-rok greeted him with a smile, An Sang-cheol scratched the back of his head embarrassedly.
"I was lucky, haha."
"Round 3 must have been a bit difficult, were you okay?"
"Yes. Since the monsters were weakened, there wasn't much trouble."
"Did you get a job? What's your current level?"
"11. I changed to Knight."
"Knight... What a cool job."
"By the way, Ms. Seo Arin is the same level. Though her job is different, Summoner."
"Summoner?"
Ma Gyeong-rok showed a better than expected reaction.
"That's impressive. It doesn't seem like a common job."
"I was surprised too. When she changed class, she summoned a fairy. It cast a protective barrier, thanks to which we could hunt safely."
"That's great. Maintain a close relationship with Actress Seo like now. You can even date her if you like."
"Date? What do you mean..."
"I'm saying it's easier to find weaknesses if you date. I don't mean date seriously."
"Ah..."
An Sang-cheol didn't think much of the order to find weaknesses.
He had carried out even harsher orders before.
"Sh-should I date her?"
"Hahaha! It's been a while since I've seen Director An flustered. There's no need if you're uncomfortable."
"Ah... yes."
An Sang-cheol sighed in relief.
"Ms. Seo Arin probably doesn't have feelings for me anyway."
"Why, Director An is so dependable and manly."
"She still calls me 'Mr. Bodyguard' politely."
"Is that so?"
Ma Gyeong-rok swirled his whiskey and smiled.
Teasing An Sang-cheol was one of his small hobbies.
"By the way, what was the urgent report?"
"Ah!"
An Sang-cheol, who belatedly remembered, bowed his head first.
"First, I'll apologize."
"Why?"
"I couldn't carry out the order to help Black Scythe. I couldn't convey your words either."
"Is that so? There must be a reason?"
An Sang-cheol nodded and reported Black Scythe's exploits in detail.
Ma Gyeong-rok wasn't surprised even when told he was so overwhelming that he blocked an entrance alone and didn't need help.
He had guessed from the tally result of 3,631 kills.
However, even Ma Gyeong-rok couldn't help but be surprised when told a sub-quest appeared because the relic broke.
"The sub-quest appears when you break the relic? Our area protected the relic and received 2,000 gold as reward?"
"Yes. It was a quest to endure for 30 minutes from a being called the Agent of Divine Punishment..."
When told Black Scythe killed it instead, Ma Gyeong-rok's eyes widened.
"It sounds like a strong being, but he killed it?"
"Yes. He dealt with it with overwhelming skill as if he knew the strategy."
"..."
He could tell just from the tally result of level 30.
How great Black Scythe's dignity was.
'I feel foolish for being happy thinking the Rune of Black Knight was overpowered when I first got it.'
There was someone whose very existence was overpowered.
"Black Scythe wasn't a being who needed help in the first place. There was nothing to help with no matter how hard I looked."
"I understand."
Ma Gyeong-rok nodded.
If Black Scythe was that strong, there would have been no need for Director An to step up.
'Black Scythe. I'd like to meet him if I get the chance.'
It would be good to know his real identity, but there's no way to find out.
But he can't even see him in the other world.
It was just a shame they were in different areas.
"Since there's a reason, I won't hold you responsible."
"I'm sorry."
"By the way..."
Speaking of real identities, some guys came to mind.
"How's the tracking of those thugs going?"
He was referring to Hwang Yongmin's group.
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