The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 256

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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 256
256. Round 16 Begins
March 31st, 2023. 11:50 PM.
Ten minutes before Round 16 commenced.
Five hundred and seventy-six players from across the globe gazed at the remaining time with tense anticipation.
Most remained silent, though some exchanged idle conversation with their neighbors to ease the tension.
“I’m nervous.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Do you think this round will unfold as Black Scythe said it would?”
“Of course. Everything he’s predicted since we joined the Saesin Religion has come true.”
From Round 13 until now.
The Korean players who had joined the Saesin Religion enjoyed the privilege of hearing the next round’s strategy in advance.
Because of this, they harbored no worries.
No anxiety whatsoever.
Except for the foreign players who had recently joined.
“Excuse me. Can you speak English?”
A portly foreign devotee approached and posed the question, prompting a Korean player to nod.
“Yes, I speak English. You’re one of the new members who joined after Round 15, right? Your username is…”
“Please call me Alex.”
“Nice to meet you, Alex. I’m Bob Burridge. Is there anything you’d like to know?”
“I’m not entirely sure about this, but… does Black Scythe always share strategies like this each round?”
“Yes. We joined after Round 12 ended, and he’s been sharing strategies with us ever since.”
“Thanks to him, we’ve managed to survive until now. Ha ha.”
“You heard the strategy for Round 16 as well, didn’t you, Alex?”
Alex nodded.
“Of course. That’s why I’m here.”
“But you don’t look very happy. Are you anxious?”
Alex answered honestly.
“I am.”
“Ha ha, don’t worry. We felt the same way at first. We were afraid the strategy might be wrong.”
“But now we simply receive the information with gratitude. You’ll feel the same way too, heh heh.”
Though he spoke in a reassuring tone, Alex’s expression remained anxious.
“Do you trust Black Scythe?”
The sudden question drew laughter from the players.
“What choice do we have? It’s too late now anyway. We’ve already joined the Saesin Religion.”
“Relax and wait. There’s no way out of here anyway, right?”
Since it was a fair point, Alex decided to set aside his anxiety somewhat.
“You’re right. That was a foolish question on my part. Thank you for your words.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Alex turned his body and gazed at the other Saesin Religion devotees.
The existing believers maintained composed expressions, while the newly recruited ones waited anxiously as time crawled forward, tension and dread gnawing at them.
This was despite having heard the strategy explained beforehand.
‘Probably because my faith in Black Scythe is still lacking, just like theirs.’
They had joined believing survival odds would be higher alongside Black Scythe, but faith and pragmatism were different matters.
Alex didn’t completely trust Black Scythe either.
The other newcomers likely harbored the same doubts.
‘We simply attached ourselves to the stronger side out of survival instinct, nothing more.’
How could one develop faith in someone they barely knew?
‘Even the claim about gaining next round information as a first-place reward doesn’t make sense. Or does it?’
Honestly, it was difficult to believe.
Learning that the Saesin Religion would share strategies was news to me, and discovering that first-place rewards granted information advantage was equally surprising.
‘The only way to verify is to actually secure first place, but….’
Now wasn’t the time for such deliberation.
Time had already run out.
“One minute until midnight!”
With tense expressions, the gathered players awaited the final minute.
Anticipating what would unfold, they felt more anxious than ever before.
5, 4, 3….
2, 1….
0.
When the phone’s clock changed to April 1st, the players’ consciousness would transfer to the Other World.
Soul transference.
That technology spanning dimensions required only an instant—a blink of an eye—to execute, yet….
What the players’ eyes perceived now was neither the vast Grassland nor the Monochrome Space.
“Huh?”
“We’re still here.”
They remained in their original space, unchanged.
“We didn’t transfer.”
“Black Scythe’s words really came true.”
Normally, their bodies would have transformed into avatars and their surroundings completely altered.
But the players remained in reality.
No transformation occurred.
No avatars appeared.
They retained their original forms.
Their consciousness, which should have departed for the Other World, remained equally unchanged.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd—
Though bewildered by this unprecedented situation, the believers felt reassured.
Black Scythe’s claim about the absence of narcolepsy this time had proven true.
Then it happened.
[Hehehehe. I can just picture your confusion right now.]
A voice of beautiful timbre.
Yet that hideous reality—Angel’s voice—embedded itself in the players’ minds.
[Hello, 576 players. You must have been quite startled by this sudden voice, yes? Or perhaps more surprised that you’re not in the Other World? Hehe.]
From the voice alone, I could picture exactly what expression Angel wore.
Like a fish thrashing on a fishing line, she’d be grinning ear to ear, delighted by their struggle.
[You’re probably very surprised that you haven’t entered the Other World as usual. Some of you might have hoped you’d escaped the Survival Game, but unfortunately, it hasn’t ended. You cannot escape until you conquer the remaining 5 Rounds. Hehehehe.]
The mocking laughter echoing in their minds caused everyone’s faces to contort with frustration.
With Angel nowhere in sight, there was no need to maintain composure as before.
“Damn that Angel bitch.”
Some didn’t hesitate to curse.
Angel continued speaking as if she couldn’t hear the profanities.
[Shall we check the Round 16 mission first?]
Before she finished speaking, a window appeared before everyone’s eyes.
◀ ROUND 16 ▶
【Main Quest】
└Annihilate all monsters summoned to the Human World within 3 hours
[Integrated Zone CA-EA001]
└Participants: 576
└Achievers: 0/288
Normally, seeing a Quest would cause panic, but the players remained calm.
They’d already received a hint from Black Scythe.
Angel, unaware of this, continued laughing to herself.
[Surprised? Hehehehe, this round is a special one conducted in the Human World. That’s why your consciousness exists on Earth rather than in the Other World. Quite different, isn’t it?]
“Bullshit.”
[Of course, since it’s not the Other World, there are no avatars. You must face the monsters summoned to Earth not with your beautifully customized forms, but with those pathetic bodies of yours. But don’t worry—your abilities will function identically.]
“Insane Angel bitch.”
With Angel nowhere to be seen, several players cursed confidently.
Under the assumption she couldn’t hear them.
As expected, Angel seemed unable to hear them.
[Since this round takes place in the Human World, I’ll explain using only my voice.]
Having said that, Angel proceeded with the full explanation.
[The Main Quest is, as you can see, to annihilate all monsters summoned to Earth within the 3-hour time limit. Uniquely, it’s the only round set on Earth rather than the Other World, and the only mission where you won’t fall into narcolepsy and can work alongside ordinary people. How wonderful to play The Game on your home turf? Hehehehe.]
The players’ faces seethed with silent curses.
Damn it all, they thought.
[Since it’s a cooperative mission, all 576 players are automatically formed into one party. Monsters will be summoned six times total, once every 30 minutes after the initial summoning. Furthermore….]
The rules that followed differed little from what we’d heard before.
Monsters growing stronger with each wave.
Monster numbers scaling with player count, and so forth.
Yet there was one difference from everything before.
The summoning method of the monsters.
[Monsters are summoned randomly within a 100-meter radius of the player’s location. In other words, the player’s position is essentially the monster’s spawn point.]
“Our location is the spawn point?”
“Isn’t that exactly what Black Scythe said?”
[So don’t worry about how to find monsters. Just look around the 100 meters surrounding you, and you’ll see them.]
In other words, if the players were scattered?
Monsters would appear all over the world.
[Ah, and one more thing—the monsters harbor intense hostility toward humans. They’ll attack indiscriminately, whether it’s a civilian or a player.]
There was mockery in Angel’s voice.
A voice certain that humans would be panicking.
[So this round might be a bit hectic for you. That is, if you don’t want to sacrifice other civilians. Hehehehe.]
Angel’s words rang true.
If monsters spawned within 100 meters of players, civilians could suffer casualties.
Monsters summoned in cities could slaughter people who weren’t players.
[Well then, we’ll begin the mission shortly. Good luck. Pfft.]
Angel departed with a mocking laugh, yet the players’ faces showed no concern whatsoever.
Instead, they wore smiles of relief on their lips.
The reason was simple—there was no one else within the 100-meter radius.
The place where they now stood was a Remote Island, devoid of any civilians.
“Phew, thank goodness.”
“It was the right call to come to the island, just as Black Scythe said.”
“We almost put people in danger.”
Sighs of relief echoed from various spots, and among them was Ryu Min, wearing a mask.
‘At least my Younger Brother won’t be in danger now.’
Had I been lying in bed as usual, the entire city would have descended into chaos from the monsters spawned nearby.
‘But starting from an isolated island like this means there won’t be any casualties.’
If I gathered all the world’s players on a Remote Island?
Civilians would suffer no harm.
My cherished family, acquaintances, and neighbors would face no danger.
That’s why the players gathered in one place could rest assured.
‘Good. But I can’t let my guard down completely.’
There was one detail Ryu Min hadn’t yet shared with the other followers.
‘This round won’t just feature monsters—combat angels will appear as well.’

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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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