Chapter 236. Special Rule
[Have you been waiting long? If you’re ready, we’ll start the game now!]
At the same time as the angel’s cry, a message appeared.
[1st Wave]
[Players 4,608 vs Skeletons 9,216]
[The next wave will begin in 30 minutes.]
“Skeletons?”
After checking the opponents, the players let out snickering, derisive laughs.
“Guess it’s easy mobs because it’s the start.”
Even if nearly ten thousand skeletons appeared as the enemy, the players didn’t feel intimidated.
No matter how many mice showed up, would a cat ever be scared?
Maybe in the past, but the skeletons of today were no different from mice in front of a cat.
Because among the players, there wasn’t a single person who wasn’t Master rank.
“For skeletons to come out as the opponent.”
“What do they take us for?”
“Those frail skull-buckets? Three times the number of players? No—five times would show up and it still wouldn’t be a problem.”
People scoffed as if they were facing goblins, but Ryu Min alone showed no change in expression.
Because he knew it wouldn’t end here.
Sure enough.
[For balance adjustment, special rules will be applied for 30 minutes.]
[The special rule for the 1st wave will be revealed.]
<Special Rule: Physical damage received by skeletons is reduced by 70%.>
As the new message appeared, the players’ faces changed.
“W-What? What is this message!?”
“Damage the skeletons take is reduced by 70%?”
“Are you kidding me?”
“They never said there were rules like this!”
In simple terms, it meant something that should die in one hit would die in three.
Bones that had been nothing special were, in an instant, reinforced into diamond bones.
Unlike the flustered people, Ryu Min and the Reaper Cult followers had the look of people who already knew.
‘This is what the angels were aiming for. To see the players panic.’
They were probably up in the sky snickering at the panicked faces, but who cares?
‘Even if they reduced damage by 99%, skeletons like this are still one hit.’
As Ryu Min confidently stared ahead, the monsters were summoned.
Clatter—clatter—
Before anyone knew it, thousands of skeletons filled the grassland.
The pressure made the players hesitate—but only for a moment.
“Don’t get scared of trash mobs like that!”
“Let’s go!”
“Uwaaaaaa!”
Was their pride stung that they’d flinched at skeletons?
The players crashed into the skeletons, morale brimming.
KABOOOM—! BOOM!
CLANG—! CLANG!
CLICK! CLACK!
All kinds of skills flew between the monsters and the players.
There was no need to worry about allies getting hurt.
After all, they were in a party, so they didn’t take damage.
“Since we can’t hurt each other, don’t hold back—attack as much as you want!”
Their confidence was overflowing, but the skeletons were tougher than expected.
The bones that they thought would shatter in one hit endured two hits, three hits, under the special rule’s effect.
And with the counterattacks that followed, the players had to suffer for it.
“These guys should die to one basic hit—why won’t they drop!?”
“X, this is ridiculous!”
They were at the point where you had to use a skill to kill one in a single blow.
But the only ones panicking were the melee dealers.
The mages in the back were relaxed.
“One fireball coming through! It’s hot, so be caref—ah! No need to be careful, right?”
KABOOOM-KABOOOM-KABOOOM!
To them, skeletons were nothing but trash mobs.
Because the damage reduction applied only to physical damage.
‘In other words, it’s a wave where mages can rack up contribution easily.’
With a grin, Ryu Min swung his scythe toward the charging skeletons.
CRRRAAACK—!
With a single swing, twenty skeletons turned to bone dust.
It was only possible because he had greatly expanded the area of the god-grade weapon [Thanatos’ Black Scythe].
“W-What just went by?”
“It whooshed past and they all turned to powder?”
The players who turned around could finally see it.
Ryu Min’s scythe, enlarged massively, sweeping the battlefield like a giant’s hand.
CRUNCH-CRUNCH-CRUNCH!
CRAAACK-CRAAACK!
CRRRAAACK—!
With each swing, dozens of skeletons were swept away.
Ten swings became over a hundred, and a hundred swings became thousands before they knew it.
“Is the damage reduction really being applied?”
“They’re just getting wiped out in one hit.”
“That just means his damage is insane.”
“Huh…”
Some simply watched the process of skeletons being cleaned up with blank, stunned faces.
It was that unbelievable a sight—an overwhelming spectacle that made them forget the battle itself.
[Time remaining until next wave: 00:24:20]
[Remaining monsters: 97]
Players who opened the quest progress window were dumbfounded.
Only five minutes had passed, and there weren’t even a hundred left.
CRRACK—!
And even that got cleaned up in under five seconds.
[There are no remaining monsters on the field.]
[Dead players: 0]
[Please wait for the next wave.]
The scattered fragments of skeleton bones lying across the grassland vanished without a trace.
On the grassland, now neat as if it had been swept clean, only the players remained—standing there with hollow, helpless smiles.
“hyung-ssi, how many did you catch?”
“I only got five…”
“Wow, you got more than me. I got three, maybe?”
“Black Scythe probably killed half the monsters by himself.”
“First place in contribution is locked in again.”
“We’re in a party anyway—couldn’t he leave some for our share…”
Leaving the murmuring players behind, Ryu Min looked for Min Juri.
“So you were here. And Seo Arin, too.”
“Ah… Black Scythe-nim.”
Min Juri and Seo Arin’s faces were filled with shock as well.
“You’re incredible. To take down that many all by yourself…”
“It’s nothing. Anyway, I came because I wanted to get some buffs.”
“Ah! I should’ve come to you, but I forgot. I’ll put them on you right away.”
Min Juri placed a set of three buffs on Ryu Min.
In truth, he was strong enough even without buffs, but you never knew.
‘An archangel might appear, like last time.’
Ryu Min was taking buffs in advance so he could use the devil’s blessing.
After that, when 25 minutes passed, the second wave began.
[2nd Wave]
[Players 4,608 vs Gargoyles 9,216]
[The next wave will begin in 30 minutes.]
[For balance adjustment, special rules will be applied for 30 minutes.]
[The special rule for the 2nd wave will be revealed.]
<Special Rule: Gargoyles’ movement speed doubles.>
This time, it was a monster considered weaker than skeletons: gargoyles.
‘But if their movement speed doubles, that changes everything.’
People say offense is the best defense, but in truth, the best defense is dodging.
If you don’t get hit in the first place, that’s zero damage—and being fast means you can strike first.
In other words, if you took doubled movement speed lightly, you’d pay for it.
‘Even the mages will struggle this time. A buffed gargoyle can dodge magic easily.’
If it was hard for mages, it went without saying for melee dealers.
How easy could it be to fight monsters that fly through the sky?
Of course, none of that really applied to Ryu Min.
“Kyaaaak!”
“Keek!”
When he swung his scythe at the flying gargoyles, dozens died at once.
Even if they tried to fly higher to avoid Ryu Min’s attacks, it was useless.
“Area Discharge.”
BZZZZZT—!
Every gargoyle within a 30-meter radius crumbled, leaving not even leather behind.
‘With the Rune of Lightning, they’re easy to catch.’
Attacks using the Rune of Darkness were pretty useful, too.
KABOOM-KABOOM-KABOOM!
Dark daggers that flew like throwing knives pierced straight through gargoyles’ heads without giving them any chance to dodge.
Because of that, it didn’t even take five minutes to clean up nearly ten thousand gargoyles.
“Hey… how many did you catch?”
“Zero…”
“So it’s not just me…”
“Do we even need to be here?”
“Guess we’ll just space out for 25 minutes again.”
At Ryu Min’s behavior of monopolizing contribution, the players let out quiet sighs.
Thanks to Black Scythe, they were clearing easily, but at this rate, they themselves might end up being erased.
‘Up to the 2nd wave, I killed almost everything.’
At this level, first place in contribution was basically guaranteed.
‘Now I can take it easy, then step in during the most important 10th wave and drive the nail in.’
Thinking that, Ryu Min turned his head.
Where he looked, there were many familiar faces.
Min Juri, Seo Arin, Christine, Jeffrey, Yamtti, Ju Seong-tak, Heo Tae-seok, Eom Jun-seok, Jo Yong-ho, and others.
And even Reaper Cult followers of many nationalities he had recently recruited.
All of them had gathered here after following Ryu Min’s order to assemble by the time the 2nd wave ended.
“Just like we agreed, everyone’s here. Since we’re a party, it’ll be safer and more efficient to fight together as a group.”
Everyone focused on Ryu Min’s words.
“As I said I would, I handled most of the 1st and 2nd waves. But starting from the 3rd wave, I won’t step in—I’m going to leave it to you. Believe it or not, I’m not so heartless that I’d steal even your share.”
The followers, who had already heard the plan in the real world, nodded along.
“I’ll keep an eye on things while occasionally dealing with monsters that look dangerous. So don’t worry—do your best to build up contribution. This is as far as I can help. Whether you get erased or not depends on you. Understood?”
“Yes!”
Leaving the resounding reply behind, Ryu Min took a rest.
There were still many waves left, but there was no risk of his companions dropping out.
They were comrades with that much talent and skill.
“Black Scythe-nim.”
Just then, a welcome face came to find Ryu Min.
“Victor, Russell, Sophia.”
Victor the alchemist and Russell the blacksmith came looking for Ryu Min.
Victor’s younger sister, Sophia, was with them too.
“What brings you here?”
“I wanted to give you some newly made potions.”
“Potions?”
Victor pulled out a bundle of potions from his inventory.
“They’re potions I made after reaching Master rank, so the effects should be better than the ones I gave you before.”
They were high-grade potions that raised stats by 16 each.
“Thank you. This will help.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Compared to the debt I owe you for saving me, Black Scythe-nim, it’s a completely insignificant help. Hehe.”
Victor smiled, and Sophia also looked at Ryu Min with eyes full of fondness and respect.
Since he had saved her brother from danger, she couldn’t help but look at him like that.
Then Russell looked at Ryu Min and said,
“Black Scythe-nim. Now that I look closely, you’ve changed to a new weapon. May I take a moment? I’ll give you a buff.”
“Sure.”
Russell touched the weapon, armor, and more, placing buffs on them.
Reading his thoughts, it seemed he had come purely to give buffs.
‘What did I even do for so many people to come looking for me…’
It brought back, anew, what he’d been like in a previous run.
The image of himself struggling alone after experiencing dozens of regressions.
‘Compared to then, I really have so many companions now.’
Without realizing it, Ryu Min let out a small, amused chuckle.
“Then since I’ve given you everything I brought, we’ll be going now.”
“Ah, wait a moment. While we’re at it, why don’t you join the Reaper Cult too?”
“The Reaper Cult?”
“Cult Leader Heo.”
“Yes!”
When Heo Tae-seok ran over, Ryu Min smiled and introduced them.
“They’re acquaintances who helped me. Explain the Reaper Cult to them, and if they want, help them join.”
“Understood. It won’t take long. This way for a moment…”
After hearing the explanation, the three stepped forward readily, saying they would join.
Since they had only good feelings toward Ryu Min, in a way it was a natural result.
‘With this, all my acquaintances have joined the Reaper Cult.’
Now, because they were Reaper Cult, he’d be able to take care of them every round.
After trolls came blood orcs, golems, minotaurs, even high orcs.
As various monsters appeared, growing stronger step by step, not a single player was hurt.
Because they had Black Scythe—the last bastion they could rely on.
“Kueeeik!”
The high orc that had appeared as the 5th-round boss collapsed weakly under the players’ group assault.
A Master-rank player who had gone through countless battles wasn’t someone you could ignore—no matter if the opponent was a high orc.
“Wow! It’s finally the 10th wave!”
“What kind of wave will the last one be?”
“Black Scythe-nim, do you know anything?”
“The only thing I can tell you is not to step in.”
After giving the followers brief advice, Ryu Min prepared for the final wave.
‘Now I need to get ready to achieve the sub quest.’
They had managed to clear up through the 9th wave somehow, but the 10th wave wouldn’t be easy to beat.
Even for Ryu Min.
‘That’s why I chose the invincibility skill as the special reward.’
It didn’t mean the opponent was so strong that he had to use invincibility.
But it was certain that it was dangerous, so as planned, Ryu Min intended to step in personally.
‘But is the archangel not going to appear?’
Even in the chaos of battle, Ryu Min expanded his senses and poured all his attention into the surroundings.
Even so, there was no sign of an archangel appearing.
‘They’re definitely not the type to back down like this…’
Or did this incident make them feel a sense of crisis, so they were drawing up some kind of plan?
Like taking one step back to advance two?
‘No way to know. But I can’t let my guard down until the end.’
Even if it was the 10th wave, he needed to handle it cleanly and achieve the sub quest.
With that thought, he turned his head—then saw a man hurriedly avoiding his gaze.
‘What is that guy doing? Wait.’
Ryu Min looked closely at the man who was pretending nothing was happening.
It was a nickname that looked familiar somehow.
‘The nickname is… Sosohan Mukbang?’