Ex-level Player With the Greatest Civilization of All Time - Chapter 68

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 68

I counted the cards floating before my eyes one by one.
Five in total?
Naturally, this was my first time experiencing something like this.
I’d never even heard of it before.
Common sense said the number should be three, yet….
Why?
If I had to pinpoint a reason, it was this.
“Is this also an effect of the reward adjustment?”
Some kind of bonus for completing both Quests simultaneously?
Whatever the reason might be.
Unlike the usual situation where I had to choose from three Cards, this was an enormous advantage.
The probability of drawing a good Skill had jumped considerably.
Thank you, Selin!
Your death makes me stronger yet again!
At first, I’d despised her for seducing me to use me, then betraying me.
But with tangible rewards flowing in one after another like this, I found myself actually grateful instead.
‘Being together was pointless, and I hope never to see you again.’
I cast that gratitude into some corner of my unconscious and immediately began examining the Cards one by one.

[Combat Learning]
– Humanoids equipped with AI grow by learning combat data.

This was a Skill that hadn’t appeared even once since I’d begun climbing the Tower.
But at first glance, it was incredibly attractive.
The growth of Humanoids.
In my current situation, it was no exaggeration to say Humanoids made up the majority of my combat Power.
Without specific details, this Card made one thing crystal clear—they would grow stronger.
“Nothing else worth seeing? I’ll just take this one….”
I was about to choose when a thought stopped me.
There was no urgency, and it cost nothing—might as well look over the rest.
And that decision proved to be exactly right.
I could have sworn I would’ve regretted it otherwise.

[Core Enhancement]
– Increases the output of combat units by 20%.

The moment I saw it, I couldn’t help but catch my breath.
The stagnant firepower of my Drones had always been a source of concern.
Of course, I’d never seriously thought their output was lacking, not until now.
‘But I can’t guarantee it’ll stay that way forever.’
That was the conclusion I’d drawn after fighting monsters on the 50s Floors recently.
And here, appearing like a direct answer, was this Skill.
On top of that, it boosted both Humanoids and Drones alike, making it wonderfully versatile.
“W-what about the others?”
The next Card I checked was equally shocking.
The third Card that came into view was of such high quality it balanced out the previous ones.
What kind of day is this, really?
Why am I this lucky with the Cards?

[Line Expansion]
– 10% chance to produce two units at once.

“This is insane, absolutely insane!”
This was far more efficient than the Efficiency Process that had appeared before.
Even with the City operating at maximum capacity, I couldn’t manage more than ten factories combined, small and large alike.
When total production had been such a problem, to suddenly receive a Skill that perfectly addressed it….
“What about the others?”
At this point, I couldn’t help but look.
My expectations had spiked to their limit—I genuinely wanted to see what else was available.

[Merit Compilation]
– Medals are awarded to units that achieve merit above a certain threshold.
* Medals serve as enhancement opportunities for units.

Another jackpot.
Even if the skill descriptions weren’t perfectly intuitive, the fact that I could strengthen the units was huge.
Like the promotion examination, there was considerable strategic value in consolidating opportunities for the humanoids.
And the last one was…

[Cooling Code]
– The thermal management capacity of all machines increases by 20%.

At this point, a thought occurred to me.
“Is this perhaps part of the bonus package?”
I was starting to suspect that only high-value skills had been offered.
Actually, I was almost certain of it.
The overt push was admittedly pleasing, but the downside was that my head was aching twice as much as usual.
“The problem is, all the skills are too good…”
The decision was agonizing.
Each one was so precious that I feared I’d regret a wrong choice.
“Ugh…”
First, there was Combat Learning.
The ‘growth’ aspect of the humanoids wasn’t entirely clear, but that was precisely why it smelled like gold.
A skill with hidden potential.
Its ceiling was unknown.
Then there was Core Enhancement.
It was more than just good.
There was no need to explain this one in words.
A skill that could upgrade specs across everything from common drones to the elite humanoids.
Line Expansion was similar.
By current standards, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say it delivered twice the efficiency of the Efficiency Process.
And that was only part of it—resources were saved too.
If I applied it right now to the Seisrunners and Longhale Turtles I was producing?
Paired with Special Assembly, the synergy would be outstanding—genuinely the best skill.
Cooling Code was unquestionably excellent.
If I had to name two critical weaknesses of drones, it would be durability and heat.
This addressed one of them.
Overheating especially had been a recurring headache through several crises I’d faced, which made the choice all the harder.
Merit Compilation too.
The description was vaguer than the other skills.
But it directly tied to humanoid enhancement.
“Hmm…nngh…”
I was actually experiencing what people meant by “my brain is going to explode.”
After deliberating for a long while, I closed my eyes tight and made my choice.
I selected Line Expansion.
The cost savings from increased drone production when activated were significant, and
if I factored in the skill synergy with Special Assembly when producing units like the Longhale Turtle that didn’t have Special Assembly active, nothing compared to this choice.
Press.
“…?”
I’d made the decision with full confidence I wouldn’t regret it…
“Why isn’t it working?”
After selecting Line Expansion, the light turned black, but the selection didn’t complete as it normally would.
I blinked for a moment, then froze.
“No way…?!”
This isn’t real, is it?
It’s asking me to choose one more?
Right now?!

* * *

I’m honestly bewildered.
Apart from the joy, that is.
“Is this really it for the reward?”
When five cards appeared, I thought that was the end.
I was shocked at how absurdly good the card quality was.
I’d thought it was over, and now they’re asking me to pick two more?
This genuinely feels like I’m drowning in dopamine.
“Just how much am I actually getting out of this?”
I’d been trying to suppress the sorrow that rose in my chest at the thought of having to pass up so many incredible skills, but this sweep that away entirely.
I turned my head to check on Baek Jin-seong.
He seemed to be in a similar boat.
Just moments ago he’d been holding his head, wrestling with the decision.
Now he’s turned the broadcast back on and is chatting away with viewers.
Going by the faint murmur of voice chat, he’s sharing information with them and trying to tap into the collective wisdom of the crowd.

– You’re really picking that one?
– No matter how I look at it, that’s not the way, Jin-seong.
– Come to think of it, what about Neia? Does that mean she gets two as well? Or wait, could she be getting three?

Our eyes met perfectly.
I gave him a light signal to mind his own business and turned my focus back to the cards.
‘I really wish it was three.’
But I wasn’t holding my breath.
High hopes only lead to hard falls.
Besides, if this was part of the reward for clearing two quests simultaneously for the first time.
Then the reward waiting on the 25th Floor would be ‘doubled.’
It only made sense to approach it from that angle.
Anyway, I chose the remaining one with the same care and deliberation I’d used when selecting my military specialty before enlistment.
“Should I go with this one?”
I deliberated for a long time.
Except for the Cooling Code, which had the lowest expectations.
It was one of Combat Learning, Core Enhancement, or Merit Compilation.
Squeeze…
“Wait, are you serious?!”
The moment I heard the viewer speak.
I’d certainly entertained the hopeful thought that maybe they really were letting me pick three.
“…….”
But they really are asking me to choose.
A third skill, no less.
My chest aches with the overflow of dopamine.
Phew…
I exhale and settle myself first.
‘The third one is obvious.’
The second one I’d originally chosen was Merit Compilation.
I’d gone back and forth with Combat Learning right up to the end.
But the keyword ‘Medal’ felt so much more concrete and appealing than Combat Learning that I couldn’t resist it.
So of course I should grab Combat Learning now.

[Skill: Combat Learning has been added.]
[Skill: Line Expansion has been added.]
[Skill: Merit Compilation has been added.]

I feel bad for the discarded Core Enhancement and Cooling Code.
But what can I do? These three just look too good.
As for why I picked Merit Compilation first—
it was to gamble on payoff hidden in the unspecified details.
Honestly, just looking at what was written, Core Enhancement seemed like the right choice.
But since Merit Compilation was also an enhancement-type skill, depending on what mechanism it operated under, it could yield effects beyond what I expected.
Combat Learning fell into the same category of thinking.
As for Line Expansion — need I even say it?
From a synergy perspective, it was absolutely essential to grab it.
“Phew… well, that’s done.”
Who knew choosing a skill could be this exhausting?
The moment I escaped that long ordeal, a sense of relief washed over me unlike anything I’d felt before.
After releasing some of the fatigue that had suddenly caught up with me through a long exhale, I approached Baek Jin-seong.
Baek Jin-seong was in the middle of something, communing with the viewers without even noticing I’d drawn near.
“How’s it going? Still got a long way to go?”
Baek Jin-seong started at my voice, then scratched his head as he replied.
“Yes, it’s turning out to be harder than I thought.”
“Hmm…”
Even borrowing collective intelligence isn’t easy?
Predictably enough.
He brings up exactly what I was thinking.
“I thought it would be easier if I borrowed the collective intelligence, but it’s actually harder.”
“That happens sometimes. You know the saying — too many boatmen and the boat heads for the hills.”
I hadn’t been stupid to sit alone and wrestle with the decision by myself.
More importantly, when you choose alone, you have fewer regrets afterward, and the aftertaste stays clean.
“Wouldn’t you just pick one for me, hyung?”
“Me…?”
“Yes, I don’t need the viewers. Everything everyone says seems right, and that’s…”
At Baek Jin-seong’s words, the viewers chimed in one by one.

– Oi, Baek, watch your tongue!
– Jin-seong, Jin-seong, what kind of thing is that to say?
– Legit, I’m hurt.

Though it didn’t seem like genuine anger or hurt feelings.
Just teasing.

– But he’s not wrong either lol
– Pooling the brains of us couch-bound viewers doesn’t add or multiply, it just averages out, so we’re lucky if it doesn’t drag things down.

“Won’t you?”
For me, it was carefree pleasure without responsibility anyway, so it didn’t matter.
“You’re really sure about this?”
“Yes, at least if you choose for me, I don’t think I’ll have any regrets later. It’s all thanks to you anyway…”
I nodded at Baek Jin-seong’s words, and before picking a skill, I asked him a question.
“But first, what skills do you have right now?”
Just as I’d done with Line Expansion.
There might be a skill that could show synergy.
“Here they are.”
And the skills Baek Jin-seong laid out for me were as follows.
“So it’s Community and Settlement UP?”
“Yes.”
Community was a skill that let you check internet community reactions from inside the tower.
Apparently he’d picked it on the 5th Floor.
What kind of garbage must he have hit to choose this one?
Meanwhile, Settlement UP was a skill that increased the payout ratio from broadcast sponsorships.
The percentage was quite substantial.
Now that I thought about it, no matter how many viewers he had, the revenue always seemed abnormally high — was this the reason?
“Let me see.”
I then examined his five cards.

[Live Broadcast]
-While a broadcast is being transmitted, grants an additional 20% damage to allied attacks.

[Cumulative Tally]
– Every time the broadcast’s cumulative viewership breaks a certain threshold, you gain a permanent stat increase.

[Sponsorship Addiction]
– Every time the total cumulative donations break a certain amount, you gain a permanent stat increase.

[Sacrifice]
– Randomly force-disconnect half your viewers and enter Fever Time for 3 minutes. During Fever Time, all damage dealt to your opponent increases by 100%.

[Broadcast Genius]
– Only once: if you deal damage to your opponent, a random multiplier between 1-1000% is applied to that damage.

After confirming all his cards, a thought crossed my mind.
‘This guy—is he more impressive than I gave him credit for?’
Of course, these skills are showing their peak right now.
But his potential remains extraordinary.
Especially Sacrifice—that was a formidable skill.
It’d be devastating if he had better combat sense, but as it stands, it’s a buff skill perfectly optimized for dealing massive damage in a single moment.
“What’s wrong?”

– Look at Neia staring all of a sudden lol
– Our Jin-seong has so much potential, doesn’t he
– Even Neia must be at a loss for words

Did my thoughts show on my face that much?

“Ahem.”
Either way, I cleared my throat and finished my deliberation.
First, there doesn’t seem to be any synergy worth mentioning with his existing skills.
He’s already selected one of his five skills—the second one, Cumulative Tally.
“Hmm… so what’s the dilemma? By any measure, the last one has to be Sacrifice, doesn’t it?”
It’s not that the others are bad.
Setting aside Broadcast Genius, which is more of an entertainment-focused skill, Live Broadcast and Sponsorship Addiction are genuinely solid abilities in their own right.
Especially Live Broadcast—it creates incredible synergy whenever I’m traveling with him.
And Sponsorship Addiction is solid enough for Baek Jin-seong, who lacks combat instinct, since he gets permanent stat boosts, but…
‘That doesn’t mean he should take only Sacrifice, either.’
Even if the duration is a bit short, doubling damage output is an enormous return.
Without question, it’s the effect he needs to pick.

– Hey Neia! Aren’t you scared of 3 million viewers?!

The viewers answered my unspoken doubt for Baek Jin-seong.

– You’re killing 1.5 million people?
– I never saw Neia that way before…
– Wow, cold-blooded and merciless, huh.

I thought I understood the reason.
Baek Jin-seong scratched his head as he spoke.
“That’s why…”
I could see why he’d been unable to decide.
It wasn’t just the viewers, though.
The fact that he had nothing but the broadcast on his mind seemed to be the real problem.
Right now, there were plenty of viewers—just like me—arguing that he should pick Sacrifice.

– Of course! Sacrifice is the only choice here!
– Agreed, agreed. Neia knows what’s up
– Who cares if 1.5 million people miss the broadcast for a bit? Can you even call yourselves fans of Jin-seong if you wouldn’t do that?
The chat was absolute chaos.
– I’m a Neia fan, actually
– Honestly, without Neia, they’re all third-rate. The data proves it, yeah?

Opposition and supporters.

– Yeah~ as long as it’s not me, that’s fiiine~
– Definitely Sacrifice!

I looked at Baek Jin-seong.
“You need to decide this one.”
“Huh?! I just thought you’d….”
“No, I mean—do you want to stay with me forever, or would you rather split ways later?”
Not immediately, but it was a question about the distant future.
Yet it was hard to assume that future was really so far away.
Given what I’d seen of his skills, he was someone brimming with potential.
So I needed to draw the line clearly now—so that among these skills I might never see again, I could choose rationally.
Understanding my meaning, Baek Jin-seong, who had been thinking deeply, deselected the Cumulative Tally skill and spoke.
“I will stay with you always. Please choose whatever is most convenient for you.”
I had already prepared my choices depending on how he answered.
So I selected the two without hesitation.
I chose Live Broadcast and Cumulative Tally.
He cancelled his selection as though entrusting everything to me, but that’s one thing.
Given how the broadcast was growing like crazy right now, the Cumulative Tally he’d originally chosen was the best option.
But picking Live Broadcast instead of Sacrifice—
“You’re not a combat member anyway.”
Right, this situation was just a bit special.
And if we stayed together, who knows—we might meet again soon enough.
Sacrifice.
There was another reason I’d pushed him like this.
The demand I’d made to Cha Seon-a not long ago.
The demand that she align her skill build with mine.
A forceful and high-handed demand—she hadn’t answered on the spot.
But Baek Jin-seong, who stood with me, should also align himself if possible, regardless of how it happened.
There were no exceptions.
‘I was half-expecting it, but this guy gets two.’
I’d wondered if he’d get three like me, but the moment he chose two, they just vanished.
It wasn’t even my skill, yet I felt oddly disappointed.
Mmmmgh.
I stretched and spoke.
“Let’s head home now.”
“Yes!”
Maybe it’s because we’ve been running around so much.
I’m exhausted today.
Time to go rest.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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