The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 188

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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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The Maxed-Out Player’s 100th Return – Episode 188
188. Round 11 Concluded
“W-wait, our country is in first place?”
Jo Yong-ho stared at the results window, his mouth falling open in disbelief.
I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but there was no mistake.
Korea stood at the top with 34 million points.
But what was even more astonishing was the individual results window.
“B-Black Scythe is in first place!”
“He accumulated 20 million points all by himself? Is that even possible?”
“What is this? Is it a bug?”
It was one shock after another, incomprehensible in every way, but one thing was certain.
“Korea could only achieve first place because of Black Scythe.”
The mercenaries nodded at Jo Yong-ho’s undeniable words.
Korea, which should have remained in the 90s with 13 million points, had been single-handedly propelled to first place with 20 million points.
While there might not be any substantial reward for taking first place, one thing was undeniable—the nation’s prestige had been established.
“Insane. 20 million points by himself.”
“Black Scythe was a Korean player, right?”
“Truly an amazing player.”
“I’d even want to visit a country like Korea.”
Foreign players watching from afar clicked their tongues in amazement at Black Scythe.
If even Angel was astonished, that said everything.
[Wow… how did you accumulate 20 million points by yourself? I’ve never seen a case like this before. Did you perhaps win a 200-fold multiplier in that final gamble? Black Scythe?]
Ryu Min did not deny Angel’s question.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
[Tch, it must not have been easy to wager your entire fortune on a 1.5% probability. Is this what they call a gambler’s instinct? You’re quite the remarkable human.]
Even Angel was moved to admiration by Black Scythe.
Someone trembled with rage, casting furious glares at Black Scythe.
[Then, as promised, the representative of the Integrated Zone will be Black Scythe, who placed first! Note that the authority of the remaining representatives will be revoked!]
[Player ‘Black Scythe’ has become the new Zone Representative of CA-EA001.]
At the message that appeared, Ryu Min allowed himself a subtle smile.
‘At last, I’ve become the sole Zone Representative.’
Until now, with so many zones, integration happened frequently and representatives changed often, but that was no longer the case.
With the zone unified into one, I was the sole Zone Representative and the only one who could exercise dominion.
‘Now, if I so choose, I can command the players as I wish. Though I plan to save it for the final moment.’
Since opportunities were limited, it was best to conserve dominion as much as possible.
[Now that the results are in, we shall proceed to eliminate all teams ranked 95th and below with low point totals.]
“No, please don’t! Angel!”
“Please, don’t do this…”
As Angel gave the signal, the elimination began.
Screaming, half the teams turned to ash and scattered into the wind.
[Exactly 40,021 players remain. That’s quite a lot, wouldn’t you say?]
‘Quite a lot, my ass….’
Only 30% survived compared to the start, so such a comment was surely meant to mock me.
[Congratulations to the 95 teams that survived. We will also award prizes to the top 3 individual performers.]
The moment Angel finished speaking, messages cascaded across my vision.
[Congratulations! You have completed the Quest as the top ranker in this zone!]
[Your current ranking in this zone is 1st place.]
[As a reward for 1st place in this zone’s ranking, you receive a ‘Material Bundle’!]
[As a reward for 1st place in this zone’s ranking, you receive a ‘Rune Bundle’!]
[As a reward for 1st place in this zone’s ranking, you receive a ‘Special Reward Selection Box’!]
I’d heard the rewards were generous starting this round, and sure enough, three items arrived.
Ryu Min smiled and used the Rune Bundle first.
[You have used the Rune Bundle.]
[Congratulations! The ‘Rune of Expansion’ has appeared!]
[The acquired rune is automatically inscribed into the player’s body!]
[Rune of Expansion]
-Effect: You can equip one additional ring item.
‘Not bad at all.’
Normally, you could only equip one ring.
But thanks to the Rune of Expansion, I could now wear two.
‘Since items carry significant weight in this game, being able to equip an additional one is an enormous advantage.’
Satisfied with the decent rune I’d obtained, I pressed my luck and used the Material Bundle as well.
[You have used the Material Bundle.]
[Congratulations! Black Iron Powder has appeared!]
[Congratulations! Bubbling Mana Solution has appeared!]
[Congratulations! Lustrous Horsehair has appeared!]
[Congratulations! Novel-Grade Leather has appeared!]
[Congratulations! Blueprint: Godly-Tier Gauntlets has appeared!]
Godly-tier materials poured into my inventory one after another.
They’d even provided a blueprint, practically begging me to craft Godly-tier gear.
‘I don’t need the blueprint. I’ve memorized all the combination formulas.’
I could always sell the blueprint on the market later and make a fortune.
It was a Godly-tier item crafting blueprint, after all.
‘Everything came through except Condensed Ether, the rarest material to obtain.’
Not that it mattered.
I had Condensed Ether that dropped when I killed Archangel Remiel.
‘With this, I can craft my third Godly-tier item.’
The crafting speed was faster than expected.
I hadn’t anticipated that killing an Archangel would yield Condensed Ether.
‘For now, I’ll craft the Godly-tier gauntlets after I return….’
Ryu Min used his last remaining special reward selection box.
[You may choose one of the following special rewards.]
[Please touch the reward you desire.]
└ 1. Double Experience Buff (Limited to Round 12)
└ 2. 50% Stat Increase Buff (Limited to Round 12)
└ 3. Information regarding Round 12
After reviewing the list, Ryu Min chose option 2 without hesitation.
‘Going forward, stat increases matter more than experience. I can raise my level later.’
The Angels who suspected me of being the Criminal Player wouldn’t remain idle forever.
To prepare for a potential ambush, it would be better to boost my stats in advance.
[Everyone received their rewards, yes? Then I shall now open the Special Shop!]
Before Angel could finish speaking, a message appeared.
[The Special Shop has opened in the shop window!]
[The Special Shop is where you can purchase more exceptional items using Points. The shop will remain open even after the round ends, so please take your time browsing and purchasing. Ah, Points will not be distributed again in the future, so you must use them wisely!]
People barely paid attention to Angel’s additional explanation.
Everyone was too preoccupied browsing the shop.
Ryu Min could have checked the Special Shop as well, but he refrained.
There would be plenty of time to browse leisurely after returning.
[Congratulations, everyone. I shall see you in the next round!]
◀ ROUND 11 CONCLUDED ▶
[Designated Zone CA-EA001]
└Survivors: 40,021
[Your soul will soon transfer to your original body in your original dimension.]
[Round 12 will commence at midnight on December 1st, 2022. I shall see you in the next round. Congratulations on your survival.]
* * *
After Round 11 concluded.
Millen, the Angel who had served as guide, sighed and returned to the Heavenly Realm.
[Truly an extraordinary human. To survive such a perilous high-risk method.]
Millen recalled the human known as Black Scythe.
Despite being an avatar created in the Other World, he exuded a lethal atmosphere.
‘Did Black Scythe really kill the Archangel as the rumors suggest?’
Remiel’s death had not been officially confirmed, but every Angel who needed to know already did.
That he had died after confronting a human.
‘Given that the Archangel has not returned until now, it must be true.’
An Archangel killed by a human?
It was still difficult to believe, yet if it were truly the case, there was only one suspect.
‘Black Scythe, standing out distinctly at level 90. It can only be his doing.’
Though the suspect had been identified, the higher-ups had yet to take action.
He deserved immediate execution, yet they had done nothing—a fact Millen could not comprehend.
[Hmm, I can never understand what goes on in the minds of those above me… Huh?]
At that moment, an angel appeared before Millen, radiating brilliant light.
Confronted by majestic, beautiful wings and a handsome visage with eyes of profound depth, Millen froze, unable to move.
She was overwhelmed by the presence before her.
[H-heaven above heaven. A-Archangel among Archangels, I am honored to meet you, Michael.]
Trembling with the fear that he might have overheard her earlier words, she offered her greeting.
Michael looked down at Millen and asked in a deep, measured voice.
[I hear you are the angel assigned to guide this Round 11.]
[Y-yes. Y-yes, that’s correct.]
Seeing Millen quiver pitifully, Michael offered a gentle smile.
[I appeared because I wished to hear the results early, so do not be so afraid.]
[Ah, I was just heading out to record the results anyway.]
[Good. What were the results of Round 11?]
[I have the compiled results here. Let me show you.]
Michael examined the tally screen that Millen presented with a serious gaze.
[Black Scythe took first place again. And by an overwhelming margin, no less.]
[It appears he earned a substantial amount through high-risk gambling in the latter stages.]
[I see. Take it to the Record Room as is.]
[Y-yes, then I shall take my leave….]
As Millen withdrew hesitantly, Michael fell into deep contemplation.
‘While others barely earn 200,000 points, he alone has earned 20 million.’
This round was quite significant, as it was the round where points could be earned for the Special Shop.
After this, acquiring points would become impossible.
‘As if aware of this fact, he earned an astronomical number of points, creating a gap that no one could ever bridge.’
A true monopolist.
Dangerous.
If I ignored Black Scythe any longer, not only would the game’s balance be compromised, but the Angels themselves would be in peril.
Was he not already a serial killer who had slain dozens of combat angels and even one Archangel?
‘Yet still… must I truly remain a mere observer…?’
Michael recalled a conversation with Rubahi from not long ago.
-I should target him when Round 11 begins.
-I would recommend waiting a bit longer rather than acting in Round 11. It would serve your cause far more effectively.
-What did you just say? Speak again.
-I said that keeping Black Scythe alive would aid in achieving your cause.
-You, a mere observer confined to a small chamber—do you truly know of the cause I harbor?
-Of course. How could an observer who contemplates all knowledge in the world not understand the true heart of an Archangel?
-….
-Let me speak plainly. You wish to become a god, do you not, Michael? And you well know what is needed to achieve that.
-Are you suggesting I use Black Scythe?
-Precisely. If you observe Black Scythe’s conduct as a player, you will see he walks a path no one has ever walked before. He is the only existence capable of fulfilling your cause—to become a god.
-Continue.
-If you execute Black Scythe now for the crime of murdering Archangel, Michael’s cause will slip further away. Isn’t the reason you observe humanity’s Game precisely so you can become a god?
-That’s true.
-Currently, the person closest to the wish of Round 20 is Black Scythe. If you use him wisely, Michael, you can become a god. Conversely, if you execute Black Scythe according to the Heavenly Realm’s regulations, your cause will slip further away.
-….
-What will you do? Will you postpone Black Scythe’s death for your cause? Or will you execute him now to uphold the Heavenly Realm’s order and seize the next opportunity?
-…Well, this isn’t a decision to make right now. Let me think it over.
Michael, having finished his contemplation, let out an inward sigh.
At that time, he had said he would think it over, but he still hadn’t reached a conclusion.
‘Damn that thought-form. What does he expect of me, shaking my head with such words?’
Judging by the way he suddenly brought it up, it seemed he hoped I wouldn’t execute Black Scythe.
No, rather, it seemed he hoped I would become a god.
‘What does he intend if I become a god?’
No matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn’t fathom the thought-form’s true intentions.
All it did was make my head more complicated.
‘For the sake of my cause, I should let that audacious dog who disgraced an angel live?’
It was absurd, but Rubahi’s words held merit.
Sacrifice is necessary to achieve one’s cause.
An opportunity like this might never come again.
Justice or cause.
The Heavenly Realm’s order or personal ambition.
Michael, layering deliberation upon deliberation, finally made his resolve.
‘…Angels are inherently selfish beings, after all.’
He would overlook Black Scythe’s crime.

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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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