The scene was chaos. Flames licked the skies of the Dreadforge Citadel, an in-game fortress that had withstood countless sieges over the years. Thousands of players filled the battlefield, their avatars clashing in a kaleidoscope of magic, steel, and fury. Guild banners snapped in the digital wind as the coalition surged forward, determined to claim victory.
At the center of the carnage stood Gok Sun Ji, the "Madman," clad in his infamous black-and-gold armor. His Mythic-tier sword, Heaven's Maw, rested lazily on his shoulder, glowing with an ominous crimson hue. Around him lay the remnants of elite raiding parties—players who had dared challenge his supremacy and paid the ultimate price.
"Are you sure this is enough?" Gok muttered to himself, his voice dripping with mockery as his avatar flicked its gauntlet, taunting the oncoming horde.
The chat exploded.
> [World Chat]: Madman is taunting them AGAIN? What's his deal?!
[World Chat]: Coalition is 20 guilds strong, and he's still standing! Is this guy human?
[World Chat]: Get him off the throne already!
The coalition surged forward, led by Leodra, the Rank 3 player and commander of the Blazing Sun guild. "Your time is up, Gok!" he roared, activating his ultimate ability. The skies darkened as a massive phoenix of flames descended upon the battlefield, its screech shaking the game world.
Gok tilted his head, unimpressed. "Rank 3, huh? Let's see what you've got."
As the phoenix plummeted toward him, Gok activated Shadowstep, vanishing into thin air. The beast struck the ground, incinerating everything within a hundred meters. Players cheered, certain the Madman was finally defeated.
Then, his voice echoed through the battlefield. "Nice move. My turn."
From the shadows, Gok reappeared behind Leodra, his sword humming with power. "Abyssal Rift!" he shouted, unleashing a devastating wave of black energy. The ground beneath them cracked and shattered, sending players sprawling in all directions. Leodra's health bar plummeted to zero before he could react, his avatar collapsing into pixelated fragments.
The chat exploded once more.
> [World Chat]: HE ONE-SHOTTED LEODRA?!
[World Chat]: Is this even fair?
[World Chat]: Madman's a cheat code, confirmed.
As the battlefield descended into chaos, Gok's private message inbox lit up with pleas, insults, and bribes. Ignoring them all, he opened the global leaderboard. His name, Gok Sun Ji, gleamed at the top of the rankings. Below him, other Rank 10 players watched the spectacle unfold in silence.
But then, something strange happened.
A new system notification appeared, one that no one had seen before.
> SYSTEM ALERT: A new challenger has entered the field.
*Rank 0 questline initiated.
Gok's smirk faltered for the first time in years. His mind raced as the notification repeated itself across the Rankers universe.
"Rank 0?" he murmured, gripping Heaven's Maw tightly. "So, it's real…"
The coalition, unaware of the announcement, regrouped for another assault. But Gok's focus was elsewhere. If Rank 0 existed, then his throne wasn't secure—not yet.
And for the first time in a long time, the Madman felt something unexpected: excitement.
"Alright," he whispered, his grin returning. "Let's see what this game really has to offer."
As the next wave of enemies charged, Gok prepared for battle once more. But in the back of his mind, a single thought lingered: What lies beyond Rank 10?
---