Chapter 234 - The 14th Round Begins
As soon as midnight struck on February 1st, Ryu Min found himself standing in an expansive meadow.
"It's been a while since I've seen a meadow."
He felt this way because lately he had been starting in colorless spaces.
"First, should I check the special reward I chose last time?"
When he looked at the skill window, he saw there was a limited reward for the round.
[Temporal Skill - Invincible]
Effect: Renders you immune to all damage as soon as it's used. It lasts for 60 seconds and is a one-time use skill.
The invincibility lasts for a minute.
It's quite long for a temporary skill.
"The issue is that it's a one-time use skill."
Since it can only be used once, it must be used carefully.
Of course, Ryu Min knew exactly when and against whom to use it.
"I could use it to complete a side mission and obtain the Predation Rune. But if any variables arise, there will be no choice."
The variable he's talking about here is the 'angels.'
So far, Ryu Min has killed four out of the seven archangels.
He might not know it, but it's likely that the angels are plotting something in the sky.
They will surely send archangels to assassinate him in this round as well.
"Who will they send? Now that only the top three ranked players remain, will they send them to the second and third places? Or to all three?"
Perhaps this round will face a crisis.
As strong as he has become, he can't guarantee he can defeat all three archangels.
"If the situation is desperate, I'll have no choice but to abandon the side mission and use invincibility."
Of course, he'll only use it when he realizes facing them multiple times is dangerous.
"Whoever wants to come, let them come."
As he crossed his arms and waited, more and more players appeared in the meadow.
There were about 4,000 people.
It may seem like a lot at first glance, but they are all the players left in the world.
"After this round, only half of them will remain alive. And then it will halve again in the next round."
Though grim, Ryu Min can't prevent the number of participants from decreasing.
Unless he becomes the game's creator.
"Hello, humans! Welcome to the 14th round!"
When everyone had gathered, an angel appeared with a bright expression.
"Weren't there 4,997 survivors last time? But now they are 4,608, which means they have decreased by 389?"
The angel was surprised, but the people showed no particular reaction.
Of course, they knew why the number had decreased.
"Everyone knows I was the one who killed them."
It's widely known that Black Scythe eliminated criminal players.
The only person who doesn't know is the angel.
"Why did they decrease? Was it because they killed each other to steal items? Was it due to stupidity?"
As the number of participants decreases, so does the survival time.
The angel mocked them for being foolish, but Ryu Min didn't regret killing the criminals.
"If I hadn't killed them, they would have caused more harm."
What if Ryu Min hadn't saved the country in crisis?
The dystopia would have accelerated, and the world wouldn't have emerged from chaos.
The criminal players would have thrived and committed all sorts of wickedness.
And in the process, the number of civilian casualties would be uncountably high.
"It's fortunate to have cleared out that trash now. If I had let them be, it would have been a disaster."
Of course, there was also a way to kill them once their nickname was known.
So, there would be no decrease in the winners TO.
"Instead, we wouldn't have received the treatment of heroes like now."
It wasn't because they were interested in warning and eliminating criminals publicly.
It was to publicize the existence of Black Scythe and increase their reputation.
Even if players around the world were shown what would happen if they committed a crime.
"So they will cooperate with my control in Round 15. With a look like this."
Looking around, the looks of the players watching him were different.
Mixed looks of respect and fear.
No wonder.
If even civilians consider Black Scythe a hero, how wouldn't players?
"It doesn't matter if they fear me. They should fear me."
Just by looking at him, people froze or constantly averted their gaze.
Some even felt guilty and avoided eye contact.
"It's okay. If there are fewer people, all of you will be the losers. Do you understand what I mean? I'll tell you about the mission of Round 14 or I'll leave."
As the angel murmured, a message appeared as he flapped his wings.
◀ ROUND 14 ▶
<MAIN MISSION>
Survive 10 waves of monsters.
Integrated Area CA-EA001
Participants: 4,608
Winners: 0/2,304
"Monsters waves?"
The faces of the players looking at the mission were mostly calm.
They had already experienced similar missions.
"Is it like Round 3, where we just have to survive?"
Round 3 was a mission to protect relics for five waves.
The current round was a simple mission to survive ten waves.
"But that doesn't mean we should let our guard down."
Although there was another rule, the angels, who enjoyed deceiving players, wouldn't reveal that.
They would probably mock by saying it was easy.
Like now.
"This round consists of blocking a total of ten waves of monsters. That's all. Do you really think it will be easy?"
The angel grinned from ear to ear, but no player was fooled by his smile.
"There were times when we naively thought it was easy and then got surprised."
"The monsters will appear every 30 minutes in proportion to the number of players. At first, they'll be weak, but stronger monsters will appear over time."
"What if we don't clear the monsters within 30 minutes?"
Someone asked, and the angel smiled.
"It's simple. When the time comes, the next monsters will appear immediately, regardless of whether there are monsters left from the previous wave or not."
"Oh... so we have to clear the waves within 30 minutes at most."
"Otherwise, we'll get into trouble because of the following monsters..."
"Yes, if we don't clear the monsters quickly, we'll get into trouble because of the following monsters. This vast meadow might get completely filled with monsters."
The key point of the mission was to eliminate the monsters as quickly as possible.
"Sometimes there may be stupid humans trying to survive by avoiding the monsters. For such people, we have prepared something. Do you want to take a look around?"
They looked around the meadow and saw something surrounded by a transparent dome-shaped barrier.
"To ensure they can't escape anywhere, we've blocked all surroundings with a shield. It will be easier to think of this as a kind of combat arena."
The angel seemed to mock, as if laughing at the idea of escape.
"We must stop the 10 waves together..."
"So, do we all form a team?"
The angel pointed a finger in response to someone murmuring.
"You've got it right. Yes, this round will apply to all of you as a team, and experience and gold will be divided among the number of people. However, keep in mind that the contribution will be calculated after all attacks have ended."
"And how will the rankings be calculated?"
"The ranking will also be based on the contribution. Contribution will be converted into points and included in the list of survivors."
Ranking based on contribution?
This meant they had to kill as many monsters as possible or significantly contribute to killing them.
"This round is advantageous for those with more power, like me."
For Ryu Min, who could easily kill dozens of monsters with just a few swings of his scythe, accumulating contributions wasn't so difficult.
It was already assured that he would be number one in the ranking for this round.
"But I can't hog the contributions alone. I must leave something for the others."
He was sure he could take out a hundred or a thousand monsters by himself if he set his mind to it.
But that would mean a decrease in the contributions that would be distributed among the others, which could result in his comrades not surviving.
"I can't allow that. At least I must leave the portion corresponding to the Arcangels Guild."
Ryu Min had already briefed the rookies on the characteristics of the round and how to approach each monster attack.
And not only that, he had also given them unused gear, so it wouldn't be difficult for them to accumulate contributions.
"So get ready for the mission in a moment!"
"What preparations need to be made if we start immediately?"
Ryu Min shrugged, not too worried.
Unaware that the angel had other plans.
And unaware of the threatening look behind him.
-------------
When does life feel unfair?
When you see the disparity of wealth spent like water by the rich?
When others are promoted faster than you due to their closeness to the boss?
When you are forced to submit to greater force and violence?
There can be many situations, but in the end, they can all be summarized in one.
The lack of power.
"Without power, you get trampled. Whether with money, power, or violence."
He had already been trampled in the "Mukbang" experience by Pseva's president.
"What? Don't like being criticized? Am I firing you for saying a single word?"
He was once an important officer of Pseva, but that was all in the past.
Now he was blacklisted and couldn't even access the website.
All because of a word he said 9 months ago.
"Why did Black Scythe apply for membership and then disappear?"
"What if it was never Black Scythe from the beginning?"
"Maybe he's an impostor... that makes sense."
"Black Scythe in this café? How dare he say that about our café?"
"Little Mukbang, from this moment on, you'll be removed from your position as an officer. You'll be included in the blacklist, so adapt to the new time on your own when it comes."
After being mercilessly discarded during a video conference by Pseva's president.
Little Mukbang had endured all of this alone until now.
While seeking revenge against the president.
"I want to kill that bastard of a president, but I can't find his nickname or face, so..."
There was no way to find him.
The president of Pseva was a civilian, not a player.
Little Mukbang didn't know that.
"It's not the real face, so if I know his real name, I'll be able to track him down."
With that thought, he sought help in various places, but in the end, only lost money on commissions.
And now he had almost given up on finding the president.
What more could be done if there was no way to find him?
But his heart was still filled with resentment and frustration from back then.
"All of this is because of Black Scythe. I wasn't fired for talking about that guy!"
If he thought about it, it was his mistake, not Black Scythe's, but Little Mukbang needed a target to blame.
He needed a target to express his pent-up anger.
And that was the current Black Scythe.
"Damn son of a b... die. Damn heroes, damn bastard!"
Month after month, he spat curses at Black Scythe from the other world, but he could only do it in his mind.
Even if he didn't want to admit it, he knew there was a huge power difference between him and Black Scythe.
He knew Black Scythe was an entity he couldn't reach.
"It's an irrational and unfair world. Screw it, let it all go to hell. A shitty world."
While blaming the president, Black Scythe, and the world, Little Mukbang never blamed himself.
It was Little Mukbang who wanted to survive.
Living meant revenge, blaming others did too.
"I will survive. I'll survive until Round 20 and make a wish to get a power that no one can ignore in front of me, so the president, Black Scythe, all those bastards, will kneel before me and beg for forgiveness with hands and feet."
Little Mukbang, with a nasty smile, suddenly turned his head from staring at Black Scythe's nape.
But he was startled to realize someone was watching him.
"Damn, you scared me! Why do you move so fast? You almost gave me a heart attack. Anyway, it looks like Black Scythe is going to be the first again this round, right? Dirty world."
As soon as he heard that the ranking was determined based on monster contribution, the result was already clear.
"Anyway, I have to strive and at least make the cut."
While thinking he had to hunt as many monsters as possible at that moment.
-"Little Mukbang?"
He heard a girl's voice in his head.
"Huh? What's up? Sounds like a voice I've heard a lot before."
-Look at me. Little Mukbang. No, not there. Here above!
When he raised his head, he saw an angel looking at him.
-Yes, here!
"Now, the angel is saying something..."
-Stop pretending you know! Shut your mouth and listen!"
Little Mukbang's mouth was sealed in silence.
I don't know why it's like this
I have something to discuss with you.
"With me?"
Yes, so quietly follow me. Without others noticing.
Gesturing as if to indicate to follow, the angel moved slowly across the sky.
Before that scene, Little Mukbang could do nothing but follow with a perplexed expression.
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