Chapter 216 - Information Exchange
[Hero Runes]
Effect: Accumulates 1 stack (up to a maximum of 100) each time another person is saved.
As stacks accumulate, all statistics increase. On the other hand, if the stacks decrease, the increase also diminishes.
100 stacks can be consumed to apply "Hero's Protection" to a desired person, offering absolute protection for 10 seconds.
During the activation of Hero's Protection, the caster can use "Hero's Touch".
Hero's Protection ▶ Activates upon receiving an attack, providing an absolute protective barrier that blocks any attack for 10 seconds.
Once applied, it persists indefinitely until triggered. It can only be applied to one target and cannot be used on oneself.
If stacks are accumulated again to apply to another target, the application to the original target is released.
Hero's Touch ▶ Can move or summon the target protected by Hero's Protection.
It can only be used during the 10 seconds following the activation of Hero's Protection.
"I finally got it. The Hero Runes."
It is one of the 18 essential runes to obtain, being useful in protecting a specific target.
"The target becomes invulnerable for 10 seconds when attacked, and during that time, you can move to the target or summon it with Hero's Touch."
For example, if you apply this skill to your brother, he becomes invulnerable for 10 seconds when someone attacks him.
At that moment, you will receive a notification and have two options available to Ryu Min.
You can use Hero's Touch to summon your brother, or you can move towards him.
"It's really an optimized skill to protect your brother."
Furthermore, it's not bad that all statistics increase when you accumulate stacks.
Although it only increases when there are stacks, it can be considered as an additional statistic increase.
"Still, where else can you get a 100-point increase in all statistics? This rune alone is worth it."
The only condition is that you must save 100 people in crisis, but there's nothing to worry about.
Aren't there many people here?
"You can use some clever methods, like summoning a demon again and defeating it to be recognized as someone who saved people."
"The problem is that once you save someone, you can't save them again."
Since the 100 people have been used, new people were needed to fill the rest.
Fortunately, when all procedures were completed, the number of followers exceeded 170, including members and non-members of the Pseva sect.
Considering there are 175 Korean players, practically all have joined.
"It's more than expected. Gathering so many people."
Although I spent 1.7 million points, I don't regret it.
Considering it's easy to consolidate players, it turned out to be a profitable investment.
"It would have been better if it had reached 200, but opportunities don't last forever."
Ryu Min, believing that everyone had arrived, executed his plan.
"Leader."
Heo Taeseok, who received a signal with a glance, nodded once again.
He already knew it was time to summon the second demon, as he had already given a signal.
Walking among the crowd, Heo Taeseok secretly planted a seed in the ground.
Plop.
Planting a black seed wasn't difficult.
Simply, by activating the skill, the black object infiltrated the ground as if sliding.
Heo Taeseok nodded slightly as he looked at Ryu Min.
It meant that the preparation for the second summoning was complete.
Ryu Min adjusted his mask and sent a signal while watching the timing.
Suddenly, a sprout as thick as a tree rose.
"Kkieeee!"
Since it was summoned randomly, he didn't know which demon would appear.
However, even Ryu Min couldn't help but be surprised this time.
"Isn't that Requiem, which ranks among the highest-ranking demons?"
With the sudden appearance of the second type of demon, the players fell into confusion again.
But it was only for a moment.
Clang!
When Ryu Min's scythe cut the head directly, the situation was immediately resolved.
"Despite the warnings, they continue to summon demons. It seems my words have no meaning."
Although Ryu Min spoke as if he were angry towards an imaginary enemy, his face hidden behind the mask was completely calm.
Rather, he was smiling as he saw the message that appeared in front of him.
[Effect of Hero Runes: 70/100]
[All attributes increase by 70 due to the effect of Hero Runes.]
"Good. I just need to accumulate 30 more stacks now."
With 100 stacks, he could protect his sister with Hero's Protection.
He wasn't in a hurry, so gradually accumulating it wouldn't be a problem.
"With this, my work here is done."
Or rather, there was still one more thing.
There was information he needed to share with the 170 followers gathered here: the strategy for the next round.
"From now on, I can't just worry about close friends. The more, the better."
It would be ideal for as many players as possible to survive until round 16.
But that didn't mean he had to care even for the wicked.
"Although I've reviewed the feelings of each of you, there are no people with character problems. There shouldn't be any issues in revealing the strategy."
Of course, he had no intention of revealing the existence of the Prophet.
The information for the next round he obtained through a special reward box, and that should suffice.
"Immediately after, there will be speeches from the church leader and Black Scythe. Those who have joined, please, come in."
Following Eom Jun-seok's guidance, people entered the building.
As they settled into the large prayer hall that could accommodate 700 people, Heo Taeseok stood up on the platform.
"A pleasure. Followers, I am Heo Taeseok, the leader of the Church of the Four Gods. My real name is Heo Taeseok. I thank everyone for coming in greater numbers than expected...".
Heo Taeseok began his speech.
It wasn't anything special, just a simple greeting.
The important person who would make a significant statement was about to arrive.
"...That's all I have to say. Thank you. Now, I await the words of Black Scythe, which all of you were waiting for."
Ryu Min, still wearing the mask, looked around from the platform.
The 170 followers stared at him intently.
"Greetings. As you know, I am Black Scythe. For personal reasons, I cannot reveal my face and real name. I appreciate your understanding."
The followers nodded.
Although they were curious about Black Scythe's identity, it wasn't important for now.
More than that, they were eager for the information he would reveal.
"I want to take this moment to share important information with all of you. It's highly confidential information that should not be disclosed elsewhere."
"Confidential?"
Among the murmurs of the crowd, Ryu Min's startling declaration continued.
"I have information about the next round. I plan to share it here and now."
The commotion in the room suddenly quieted down, like cold water poured among the crowd.
They had never thought they could know the next round in advance.
"Surely you wonder about the source of the information, but it's simple. If you get first place in the zone, you receive a special reward selection box. You can choose the information for the next round as a reward. I often chose that reward and could easily overcome the next round."
Among the astonished believers was Min Juri.
"Ah... so that's why Black Scythe conquered the rounds easily."
It made sense now that she understood why he was considered so astute.
"Revealing this fact now is inevitable, as we cannot allow the number of players to decrease further. That's why we want to share the information about Round 13 with you. To survive together."
Giving up personal rewards for the sake of survival and willingly sharing information.
"Ah..."
"Oh, Black Scythe..."
The believers were moved by his leadership appearance.
Seeing that scene, Ryu Min smiled deeply inside.
"I hope you survive for Round 16."
His lips slowly revealed the strategy.
--------------
[Sariel won't return. Presumed dead.]
There were angelic sighs at the news as shocking as a celestial bolt, but some simply scoffed.
[Well, I expected that. If the seventh fell, it's not strange for the sixth to fall too.]
Raguel, fifth in the hierarchy and the archangel of justice, chuckled.
From the beginning, he didn't like sending the sixth instead of himself.
[What was Michael thinking deciding it's enough even by himself...?]
[Raguel. Are you defaming the supreme archangel among the archangels in his absence?]
When Gabriel sternly warned him, Raguel pursed his lips in disdain.
[I'm not lying, am I? By sending the sixth, it reduced to 5 archangels. It's an obvious mistake.]
[Try saying that in front of Michael. We'll watch if you get punished or not.]
[...].
The punishment was to be thrown into an insect prison, a celestial punishment where you were locked in a venomous cell.
Raguel, with his sharp tongue, couldn't help but shut his mouth at that.
[Don't complain so much. Michael's judgment wasn't wrong. Sariel was strong enough by himself. Reaper class darkness and an archangel's darkness are different.]
[But why did it happen like this?]
[That's something even I don't know.]
[Even the Gabriel of prophecies and revelations doesn't know?]
[I was assigned those titles simply because my body is composed of materials good for conveying God's word. My shell is just a means to convey God's message.]
Even in the face of Gabriel's words, Raguel showed no different expression.
Anyway, wasn't Black Scythe the one who couldn't be captured?
[It seems you're unsatisfied with the situation.]
[Honestly, yes. If I had intervened, it would have ended conclusively.]
[We don't know. Even if you had intervened, the result might have been the same.]
Faced with the calm provocation, Raguel grew angry.
[Lord Gabriel. Are you treating me as equal to those wastes in the sixth and seventh places?]
[Those insignificant ones, mind your words.]
Faced with a solemn voice, he turned his head to meet the Archangel who appeared bathed in light.
Michael, undoubtedly the number one in the hierarchy, was there.
[Where is the Archangel who despises his fallen comrades as insignificant?]
[I'm sorry, I misspoke.]
Raguel's imposing voice immediately rang out, bowing his head in apology. But he didn't know.
He didn't know that the one responsible for sending the angels to the abyss was right in front of him.
[I accept that Sariel's death was unexpected. It was my mistake.]
[No, Michael didn't err in his judgment. The human called Black Scythe turned out to be much stronger than we thought.]
[That's right. I didn't even know that Sariel would die.]
These weren't empty words, but sincerity.
Though Raguel seemed weaker than Sariel, he still had concerns because he was the natural enemy of the reaper.
What if Black Scythe is dragged up to heaven and stripped of his status as a player?
And thus, would his aspirations of becoming a god remain unattainable?
'But it seems my concerns were unfounded.'
Michael, who had already obtained information from Rubuahi through the Akashic Records, thought.
'Didn't he suffer even a scratch against Sariel?'
Therefore, despite his serious expression, Michael could feel relieved.
Now he believed that Black Scythe could beat even the next Archangel they sent.
[It seems the time is right to send Raguel.]
[Really? Michael?, Are you giving me a chance?]
[Yes, so you can fulfill your sentence. You must bring him back alive here. Can you do it?]
[Of course! Trust me. I'll bring him back making sure that despicable insect gets what he deserves...]
[That's not going to happen.]
A voice interrupted, and both angels' heads turned.
Who expressed their disagreement was none other than Gabriel.
[Raguel is strong, that's true, but sending him alone is dangerous. It would be better if he went with Uriel, who holds the fourth place.]
[No, Michael, I can do it alone!]
[Yes, it would be better if we send Uriel as well.]
Even when Raphael, who was in third place, intervened, Michael found himself undecided.
'Sending both, fourth and fifth place? That's a bit...'
He thought that if it was only Raguel, Black Scythe could be defeated.
But the idea of adding Uriel, the archangel of light and flame, made his concerns increase.
'Can Black Scythe defeat both?'
Michael nodded slightly in silent agreement.
Even though he defeated Sariel without injury, he wasn't sure if he could handle both.
Even if he defeated Sariel without injuries, it might be too difficult to deal with both.
Whether in terms of combat strength or in numerical terms, Black Scythe was on a different level than Sariel.
[Michael, make a decision.]
Faced with Gabriel's urgency, Michael had no choice but to concede.
[Instead of repeating the same mistake, sending both to ensure putting an end to this would be best.]
As he muttered, Michael spoke again with solemn voice.
[Uriel and Raguel, listen. In Round 13, make sure to bring back Black Scythe.]
[Understood, Michael. Don't worry, we'll follow your orders.]
[We'll bring him back in an orderly manner.]
Both archangels responded with confidence in their voices.
---
(Up to '45' more ch4pt3rs)
Publication of up to 6 weekly ch4pters, thank you.