The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player Novel - Chapter 226
Chapter 226 – Round 13 Results Tally
Round 13 Results
[Integrated Area CA-EA001]
└ 1st place: Black Scythe (Lv.92 Reaper) 00:00:00
└ 2nd place: Russell Daniel (Lv.62 Blacksmith) 04:04:29
└ 3rd place: Min Juri (Lv.62 Buffer) 06:08:06
“This time, Black Scythe is in first place again.”
“Yeah, looks like it.”
“Did you notice there’s a significant difference in the times between first, second, and third place?”
“But what does 0 seconds mean?”
The murmuring players’ curiosity dissipated as an angel provided them with an explanation.
[As you can see, the time next to the nicknames represents the moment they reached a very high friendship level. A time of 0 seconds means they achieved it before the round even began.]
“Oh…”
“It seems he had already reached a very high friendship level.”
Though they nodded in understanding, it wasn’t time to relax while looking at others’ scores. For those at the bottom, the dreaded annihilation time was approaching.
[Almost 80% of the population has achieved a very high reputation. That’s good news! There were no failures like in the last round, but the important thing is how quickly they achieved it.]
While the angel chuckled, the players’ faces were full of tension.
They still didn’t know if they had been annihilated or not, as their rankings hadn’t yet appeared as messages.
[So please check your individual ranking messages.]
With the angel’s signal, each player received their own message.
“Ah! I’m alive!”
“Well done!”
“Wait, I’m in 4,998th place?”
“It can’t be! Damn it!”
Laughter and lamentation echoed in different places.
It was the crucial moment where it would be decided whether they’d go to heaven or hell.
[The cutoff mark, ranking 4,997, is 7 hours, 59 minutes, and 05 seconds! Congratulations! Anything beyond this is survival, and everything below means elimination. Goodbye!]
“No, I don’t want to!”
“Save me! Give me another chance!”
Puff-
Ignoring people’s lamentations, ashes scattered.
Half of the already reduced population felt hollow.
[Now, let’s move on to the reward time.]
[Congratulations, you’ve achieved first place in this area and completed the mission.]
[Black Scythe’s current ranking in this area is number 1.]
[As a reward for being first in this area, a “Legendary Potion Box” will be granted.]
[As a reward for being first in this area, a “Special Reward Box” will be granted.]
Seeing the rewards granted, Ryu Min was the first to use the Potion Box.
[Choose the potion you desire from the following options.]
└ 1. Life Potion
└ 2. Rapid Regeneration Elixir
└ 3. Unbreakable Resistance Potion
└ 4. Memory Erasure Potion
└ 5. Immunity Elixir
All of legendary quality.
Each of these potions was beneficial.
“If I hadn’t received the elves’ reward in the eighth round or hadn’t reached the top of the Tribulation Tower up to floor 99, I would have chosen the Rapid Regeneration Elixir to prepare for Round 15. But…”
Ryu Min chose the Memory Erasure Potion, number 4.
The others weren’t necessary at this moment.
He had already become strong enough.
Finally, upon choosing the Special Reward Box, the options appeared.
[You may choose one of the following special rewards.]
└ 1. 50% Stat Boost Buff (Valid only for Round 14)
└ 2. Temporary Skill – Invulnerability (Valid only for Round 14)
Information about Round 14
Whenever it came time to choose rewards, Ryu Min never hesitated in making his choice.
However, this time, even Ryu Min couldn’t avoid hesitation.
“There’s a high chance the archangels will appear in Round 14.”
As a suspect who has killed four archangels, they will seek revenge somehow.
“If you plan to face the archangels, you should choose option 1.”
Boosting your stats will allow you to further enhance the rewards from the devil’s blessing.
Of course, option 1 would be better, but other options also concerned him.
“Option 2, temporary invulnerability. This may be useful in Round 14. You can also obtain the essential ‘Rune of Predation’.”
Without option 2, it would be impossible to get the rune.
It was a rune he thought he should get anyway, so he was even more concerned.
“If the archangels don’t appear, of course, I would have chosen option 2, but…”
Will they just stand by?
This time too, he will seize the gap opened toward another world to aim for his own life in Round 14.
“This is complicated.”
Ryu Min, who carefully pondered before making a decision, finally moved his fingers.
[I chose option 2].
[When Round 14 begins, the temporary skill ‘Invulnerability’ will be granted.]
He decided to prioritize obtaining the rune over foregoing the stat boost benefit.
“There’s nothing wrong with having invulnerability. It may come in handy even against the archangels if necessary.”
If archangels 1, 2, and 3 appear at the same time…
Even Ryu Min, with high stats, cannot guarantee victory.
At that moment, invulnerability, which determines the outcome of the battle, may be more effective than the 50% stat boost.
“It would be good if they don’t come. After choosing option 2, the archangels will just be a nuisance.”
◀ End of Round 13 ▶
[Integrated Area CA-EA001]
[Survivors: 4,997]
[Soon, your souls will be transferred back to your bodies in the original dimension].
[Round 14 will begin on February 1, 2023, at midnight. See you in the next round. Congratulations on surviving].
————
In the cabin, three men had serious expressions.
They were the remaining members of the 12 Apostles, who were not many anymore.
“Let’s face it, damn bastard. Let’s cut his head off right away.”
“Even if you’re angry, you have to listen. Mr. Yang Qiwen. Who might have his own circumstances?”
“Circumstances?! What the hell are you saying? We agreed to meet in Round 13, and that bastard who left without saying anything, what the hell is he saying?”
“… “
“I never liked that bastard from the beginning. He should have been eliminated like the curry man.”
“Still, he contacted us and came in this direction, so let’s hear what he has to say.”
Despite the Spanish man’s attempts at persuasion, Yang Qiwen only snorted.
“Damn it. Hey, Dark Soul.”
“Yes?”
“Get ready for an attack at the door. If that bastard opens it and comes in, shoot straight to the head and kill him…”
It was at that moment.
Creak-
The door of the cabin opened, and the protagonist of the controversy entered.
None other than John Delgado.
“You damn bastard!”
“Hey! Why are you doing this? Calm down.”
Yang Qiwen, excited, and the Spanish, trying to calm him down, looked at John Delgado as usual, taking a seat with a calm expression.
“Could you not show a calm expression, you bastard? I’m damn angry!”
“Why are you so angry?”
“What?”
John Delgado’s expression, as if asking what was going on, left Yang Qiwen speechless, not even knowing what to say.
His reddened face seemed like it could explode at any moment.
Before the situation worsened, the Spanish quickly intervened.
“John Delgado, why did you act like that in Round 13?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Did you forget? In this world, we agreed not to follow Zephyr when we meet, right? Only you know Zephyr’s face.”
“Oh, that.”
“Why didn’t we meet at the agreed-upon place? You said we’d meet at the nearest place where an angel is seen…”
“I’m sorry, I forgot.”
“You forgot?”
The Spanish sighed at the most disappointing reason he expected.
Finally, Yang Qiwen lost his temper and burst out in a yell.
“Is there anything else you forgot? Did you forget about that? Do you just want us to go to hell?”
“It seems this guy is a real bastard.”
“Who is this guy?”
“Enough, enough! We didn’t gather to fight, right? Right?”
When the Spanish and Dark Soul intervened, the situation didn’t worsen.
But the gazes between Yang Qiwen and John Delgado remained tense as if they wanted to kill each other.
“People can forget too, right? Right?”
“Forget?! This guy likes to lie! He did this on purpose to screw us over.”
“Alright, alright. Today is not the day, right? We can track Jeppi again in Round 14. Can you remember this time, Lord John?”
John Delgado nodded.
“Let’s track Zephyr in Round 14.”
“Why the hell couldn’t we finish it in Round 13…?”
Yang Qiwen muttered as the Spanish stood up from his seat.
“Well, the atmosphere isn’t good here, so we should end the meeting today. Mr. John Delgado, sorry you came at such a time. Let us withdraw.”
“It was an unnecessary step.”
As John Delgado opened the shack’s door, the Spanish spoke hurriedly.
“Oh, wait. I forgot something. We have some things to organize, so we’ll leave a bit later. You can go first. See you next time.”
John left without saying a word.
Out of the range of detection, the Spanish finally spoke casually.
“Everyone noticed, but Mr. John Delgado did it on purpose. There’s something important he wants to talk about.”
“What are you talking about?”
The Spanish shared his sincere thoughts.
“In my opinion, Mr. John Delgado is allied with Black Scythe.”
“Allied?”
“Honestly, it’s not a difficult operation, but how could he forget that? Unless he has dementia.”
“That’s an absolutely unacceptable excuse.”
“So, I have my suspicions. Zephyr, Black Scythe, and Mr. John Delgado. The possibility that they’re all involved.”
Clang!
Yang Qiwen slammed the table forcefully, his face burning.
“Damn it, I knew it would be like this. A damn traitor.”
“He probably didn’t betray us intentionally.”
“What are you saying?”
“Forgot? Black Scythe has the power to dominate.”
“Ah…”
“He probably went to look for Black Scythe in Round 12 and somehow ended up being dominated instead of dominating. For him to become his subordinate.”
It was a discussion where Yang Qiwen and Dark Soul were the main actors.
“Eh? So we’re not in danger? Black Scythe probably exposed information.”
“Probably. John Delgado has revealed a lot.”
Already three people were seriously worried, without even knowing that the information had already been leaked earlier.
“What do we do then? Shouldn’t we disperse immediately instead of lazing around like this?”
“Yes. Do you think he won’t be able to track us? That damn bastard already knows our faces. He’ll probably guide Black Scythe like a navigation system, one by one.”
“In summary, our lives are at stake, understood!”
Dark Soul trembled with fear, but the Spanish was calm.
“There’s a way to survive.”
“Bow down to Black Scythe. That’s what we have to do. Damn it, the guy has the backing of the guild.”
“Not that.”
“Then?”
Yang Qiwen and Dark Soul paid attention to the Spanish’s words.
“Let’s counterattack.”
“Are you crazy? What are we three going to do?”
“It’s not reckless. Knowing what kind of monster Black Scythe is…”
“Dark Soul-nim, you’ve lost a lot of confidence compared to before.”
As if he had touched a nerve, Dark Soul shuddered.
“Where did that arrogant confidence go that no one could follow you in a shootout?”
“Well, I still have it. Wouldn’t I die if I blew Black Scythe’s head off, even if it’s him? But that would only be if he came to the shootout location…”
“Yes, that’s it. We’re backed into a corner. We have no choice but to act first.”
“Do you have a plan in mind?”
“First, let’s try to contact John Delgado to meet Black Scythe. We say we want to meet to catch up. We’ll choose the location. What if Black Scythe comes to the shootout location?”
“We just blow his head off?”
The Spanish nodded at Dark Soul’s words.
“Yes. To make the target lower their guard, Yang Qiwen and I will personally attract attention.”
“No, two isn’t enough. Can we bring one more person?”
“Of course. Yang Qiwen, is there anyone else who can help?”
“I have a player ranked second in the underworld hierarchy under my command. He’s in position 2 of the Dark Society guild and can be of assistance if we join forces.”
“Alright. The three of you will act as decoys, and Dark Soul-nim will handle the shootout. Are you confident?”
“If I just attract attention, anyone can blow a head off.”
The lost confidence on Dark Soul’s face had returned without anyone noticing.
Though it’s difficult to hit a moving target, it’ll change everything if, in addition to attracting attention, they enter the shootout location.
“Really? Can you kill Black Scythe safely?”
“Don’t worry, Yang Qiwen. Even Black Scythe is human. Of course I can kill him.”
“Can you? Make sure of it. If you fail, we’ll all die.”
“We won’t fail. We just need to attract attention, no need to move. Let’s use this opportunity to test the area’s representative.”
I can’t be sure if in reality, one can become a leader by killing someone, but Dark Soul certainly trusted in his own skill.
“But what about John Delgado?”
“We’ll handle him later. Once Black Scythe is dead, it’ll be easy to eliminate someone like him.”
“Alright.”
“Good. Let’s execute the plan immediately.”
The three apostles who devised the strategy shared a malicious laugh.
—
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