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Chapter 188 – End of Round 11
“O-Our country is in first place?”
Jo Yong-ho stared at the results window, mouth hanging open in disbelief.
He rubbed his eyes and looked again, but it was unmistakable.
With 34 million, Korea was in first place.
But what was even more shocking than that was the individual results window.
“B-Black Scythe-nim is first!”
“He collected 20 million points alone? Is that even possible?”
“What is this? Isn’t it a bug?”
It was nonstop shock, full of things they couldn’t understand—but one thing was certain.
“The only reason our country can be number one is because of Black Scythe-nim.”
At Jo Yong-ho’s undeniable words, the mercenaries nodded.
Normally, Korea would’ve been stuck around the 90s with 13 million—but he alone pulled 20 million points and shot them straight into first place.
There probably wasn’t any special reward for first place, but it was undeniable that Korea’s status had been raised.
“He’s insane. 20 million by himself…”
“Black Scythe was a Korean Player, right?”
“He’s truly an amazing Player.”
“Makes me want to visit a country called Korea.”
Players from other countries who were watching also clicked their tongues at Black Scythe.
Even angels were shocked, so that said it all.
[W-Wow… how did you collect 20 million points all by yourself? This is the first time I’ve ever seen anything like this. Don’t tell me you won 200x at the final gamble? Black Scythe?]
Ryu Min didn’t deny the angel’s question.
“That’s correct.”
[Khuh… it couldn’t have been easy to bet your entire fortune on a 1.5% chance. Is this what it means to have the makings of a gambler? What an incredible human.]
Black Scythe made even an angel spill admiration.
Some people trembled and glared at Black Scythe with fury, but—
[Then as promised, the Zone Representative of the unified zone will be assigned to first place—Black Scythe! For your information, the other representatives’ authority will be revoked!]
[Player ‘Black Scythe’ has become the new Zone Representative of CA-EA001.]
At the message window, Ryu Min let a faint smile form.
‘At last, I’ve become the sole Zone Representative.’
Until now, because there were many zones, integration happened often and the representative changed often too—but not anymore.
Now that the zone had been unified into one, he was the only Zone Representative, and he alone could use dominion.
‘If I wanted, I could now command the Players however I like. Well… I plan to conserve it as much as possible for the end.’
Since opportunities were limited, it was best to conserve dominion whenever possible.
[Now that the results are out, we’ll take some time to erase all teams ranked 95th and below with low points.]
“N-No! Angel-nim!”
“Please don’t—!”
At the angel’s signal, erasure began.
With screams, half the teams scattered into ash.
[Now the remaining number is exactly 40,021 people. More survived than you’d think, right?]
‘More survived my ass…’
Only 30% remained compared to the beginning—so saying that had to be mockery.
[Congratulations to the 95 teams who survived. And as for individual ranks 1, 2, and 3, we will now distribute rewards.]
The instant the angel finished speaking, messages poured down in a stream.
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest by ranking 1st in this zone!]
[Black Scythe’s current rank is 1st in this zone.]
[As a reward for 1st place in the zone ranking, a ‘Material Bundle’ will be granted!]
[As a reward for 1st place in the zone ranking, a ‘Rune Bundle’ will be granted!]
[As a reward for 1st place in the zone ranking, a ‘Special Reward Selection Box’ will be granted!]
They said rewards were generous starting this round, and sure enough, three items came in.
Smiling, Ryu Min used the Rune Bundle first.
[You have used the Rune Bundle.]
[Congratulations! ‘Rune of Expansion’ has appeared!]
[The acquired Rune will be automatically engraved onto the player’s body!]
[Rune of Expansion]
-Effect: You can equip one additional ring item.
‘Oh? That’s a decent one.’
Normally, you can only wear one ring.
But thanks to the Rune of Expansion, he could wear two.
‘Since items carry huge weight, being able to equip one more is an enormous advantage.’
Satisfied with the rune, Ryu Min rode the momentum and used the Material Bundle too.
[You have used the Material Bundle.]
[Congratulations! Black Iron Powder has appeared!]
[Congratulations! Bubbling Magical Power Solution has appeared!]
[Congratulations! Glossy Horse Tail has appeared!]
[Congratulations! New-Material Leather has appeared!]
[Congratulations! Blueprint: God-Grade Gloves has appeared!]
At that, God-grade materials flooded into Ryu Min’s inventory one after another.
They even handed him a blueprint outright, basically telling him to craft a God-grade item.
‘The blueprint isn’t necessary for me. I’ve memorized all the recipes.’
Even if he just posted the blueprint on the market later, he’d make an insane profit.
Because it was a God-grade item crafting blueprint.
‘Everything’s here except the hardest material to obtain—Condensed Aether.’
It didn’t matter.
Because Ryu Min had Condensed Aether that had dropped after he killed the archangel Remiel.
‘With this, I can make my third God-grade.’
The crafting pace was faster than he’d expected.
Because he hadn’t expected Condensed Aether to drop from killing an archangel.
‘For now, I’ll craft the God-grade gloves after we return…’
Ryu Min used the last remaining Special Reward Selection Box.
[You may choose one of the following special rewards.]
[Touch the reward you want.]
└ 1. Double EXP Buff (Round 12 only)
└ 2. Stat +50% Buff (Round 12 only)
└ 3. Information about Round 12
Seeing the list, Ryu Min chose option 2 without hesitation.
‘From here on out, stat increases matter more than EXP. I can raise levels later.’
The angels who suspected him as the culprit wouldn’t just sit still forever.
To prepare for a possible ambush, raising stats in advance was the better choice.
[Everyone’s received your rewards, right? Then I will now open the Special Shop!]
The moment the angel finished speaking, a message appeared.
[A Special Shop has opened in the shop window!]
[The Special Shop is a shop where you can purchase more special items with points. The shop will remain open even after the round ends, so take your time browsing and buying. Ah—points will not be awarded again in the future, so you should use them carefully!]
Even with the angel’s additional explanation, people only half-listened.
Everyone was too busy browsing the shop.
Ryu Min could also check the Special Shop, but he didn’t.
It wasn’t too late to browse comfortably after returning.
[Congratulations, everyone. Then I’ll see you in the next round!]
◀ ROUND 11 END ▶
[Zone: CA-EA001]
└Survivors: 40,021
[Your soul will transfer to your body in the original dimension shortly.]
[Round 12 will begin at midnight on December 1, 2022. Then I’ll see you in the next round. Congratulations on your survival.]
After Round 11 ended.
The guide angel Millen let out a sigh and returned to Heaven.
[He really is no ordinary human. To survive that difficult high-risk method…]
Millen thought of the human called Black Scythe.
Even though he was merely an avatar created in the other world, he was a human who gave off a vicious aura.
‘Did that guy called Black Scythe really kill the archangel, like the rumors say?’
Remiel’s death still hadn’t been officially confirmed, but every angel who needed to know already knew.
That he had gone to face a human and died.
‘If the archangel still hasn’t returned all this time, it’s certain.’
An archangel killed by a human?
It was still hard to believe—but if he truly was dead, then the possible suspect narrowed to one.
‘Black Scythe—showing an unrivaled path at level 90. It has to be his doing.’
Even with the suspect identified, the higher-ups still hadn’t taken any particular action.
It was hard to understand the fact that they hadn’t dealt with him yet, when he ought to be killed immediately.
[Hmph, you really can’t know what the people above are thinking… huh?]
At that moment, an angel appeared before Millen in a burst of radiance.
Seeing the majestic, beautiful wings, the handsome features, and the deep gaze, Millen froze as if he couldn’t move.
He was overwhelmed by the other’s presence.
[I-I greet the Heaven above Heaven… the Archangel among Archangels, Michael-nim.]
Shaking, he offered a greeting—afraid Michael might’ve heard what he’d said just earlier.
Michael looked down at Millen, then asked in a low, heavy voice.
[I heard you were the angel assigned to guide this Round 11.]
[H-Huh? Y-Yes. Th-That’s right.]
Perhaps feeling pity for the trembling Millen, Michael gave a gentle smile.
[I appeared because I wished to hear the results early, so do not be afraid.]
“I was just on my way to record the results.”
[Good. How did Round 11 turn out?]
[Here is the recorded screen. Please take a look.]
Michael examined the compiled results window Millen offered with serious eyes.
[Black Scythe took first again. And by an overwhelming margin.]
[It seems he won big in the latter gambling hall using the high-risk method.]
[Understood. Take it as-is to the Hall of Records.]
[Y-Yes, th-then I’ll be on my way…]
As Millen withdrew awkwardly, Michael fell into thought.
‘While others struggle to earn even 200,000 points, he alone earned 20 million.’
Since this was the round where you earned the points needed for the Special Shop, this round had been very important.
Once this passed, earning points would become impossible.
‘As if he knew that fact, he earned an enormous amount of points and created a gap no one could ever catch.’
A monopolizer.
Dangerous.
If Black Scythe was left unchecked, not only would the game’s balance collapse, but even the angels would be in danger.
Wasn’t he already a serial killer who had killed dozens of battle angels and even one archangel?
‘And yet… and yet I must only stand by and watch…?’
Michael recalled a conversation he’d had with Luvaiah not long ago.
-When Round 11 begins, we should aim for him.
-I recommend you wait a bit longer, not Round 11. That will be far more helpful in fulfilling your great cause, Michael-nim.
-What did you just say? Say it again.
-I said keeping Black Scythe alive will help fulfill your great cause, Michael-nim.
-You—mere observer trapped in some hidden room—do you even know the great cause I carry?
-Of course. An observer who contemplates all knowledge in the world—would I not know even an archangel’s true feelings?
-……
-Let’s speak plainly. Michael-nim, you wish to become a god, do you not? And you also know well what item is required for that.
-Are you telling me to use Black Scythe?
-Yes. If you watch the path that Player called Black Scythe has taken, you’ll see it—he is one who walks a road no one has ever walked before. The only existence who can fulfill your great cause of becoming a god.
-Continue.
-If you kill Black Scythe now under the charge of murdering an archangel, your great cause will once again grow distant. The reason you take such interest in the humans’ game—is it not to become a god?
-It is.
-Right now, the person closest to the wish of Round 20 is Black Scythe. If you use him well, Michael-nim, you can become a god. Conversely, if you kill Black Scythe according to Heaven’s regulations, your great cause will once again become distant.
-……
-What will you do? Will you delay Black Scythe’s death for the sake of your great cause? Or will you kill him now for the sake of Heaven’s order, and aim for the next opportunity?
-…This is not something I should decide right now. I’ll think about it.
Finishing his thoughts, Michael let out a quiet sigh.
Back then he’d said he would think about it, but he still hadn’t reached a conclusion.
‘That damn librarian bastard. What the hell does he want from me, saying things like that and shaking my mind?’
Judging by the fact he’d brought it up out of nowhere, it did seem like he wanted Black Scythe not to be killed.
No—more than that, it looked like he wanted Michael to become a god.
‘If I become a god, what does he plan to do?’
No matter how hard he turned it over, he couldn’t read the true intentions of that thought-form.
It only made his head more complicated.
‘For the sake of a “great cause,” you want me to leave that impudent mutt alive—even after he disgraced an angel?’
It was absurd, but Luvaiah’s words had a point.
To achieve a great cause, sacrifices were sometimes necessary.
An opportunity like this might never come again.
Justice, or great cause.
Heaven’s order, or personal desire.
After wrestling with it again and again, Michael finally made his decision.
‘…Angels are, by nature, a selfish race.’
He would overlook Black Scythe’s crimes.