The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 33

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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 33
33. Rank Ascension
Squelch—!
[You have defeated a Goblin!]
[3x Experience Buff is active.]
[Experience +0.4%]
[Gold +3.33]
[Bonus Gold +1.66]
[Current Kill Count: 502/100]
[Due to the Massacre Rune effect, all stats increase by 100%.]
[Due to the Skull Bone Necklace effect, attack speed increases by 25%.]
Ryu Min, cleaving goblins in half, checked his accumulated gold.
‘I’ve already earned nearly 2,000 gold.’
The first wave hadn’t even ended, yet I’d gathered quite a substantial amount.
With my high Luck stat, bonus gold came in frequently.
‘At this pace, I’ll easily accumulate 20,000 gold during the second wave?’
Just 4,000 more gold and I’d have 20,000 in my possession.
Then I could purchase the universal skill I wanted.
‘After that, I’ll need to earn another 20,000 gold to buy a second universal skill.’
My goal for this round was to purchase two universal skills.
‘If that works out….’
I could accelerate the plan I had in preparation.
‘The plan to obtain the Rune of True Intent.’
Ryu Min smiled wickedly and checked his level.
Already at level 18, I’d easily reach level 20 by the next wave.
‘I’ll reach level 30 this round. And I’ll buy two universal skills.’
After setting my goal, I swung the scythe.
Crunch—!
Several goblins split cleanly in half without fail.
‘The beauty of the scythe is how perfect it is for mass slaughter.’
Due to the scythe’s nature, a single swing could sever up to four necks at once.
Moreover, with its long reach comparable to a spear, if used skillfully, I could kill without taking a single hit.
Was it because I’d single-handedly slaughtered over 500 of them?
“Kiii….”
“Kiek….”
The goblins, sensing fear, slowly backed away and avoided Ryu Min.
“If you won’t come, then I’ll come to you.”
I’d already stacked everything I needed, so there was nothing to fear.
We fought for another five minutes.
Whoooosh—
A horn’s blast signaled the end, and a message materialized before me.
[You have successfully repelled the 1st Wave!]
[Surviving Players: 3,933]
[Deceased Players: 967]
[All survivors receive 500 Gold as a reward.]
Only about 80% of the 4,900 players had survived.
Even weakened goblins were not to be underestimated.
Ryu Min glanced toward the Village.
Jo Jung-sik was there, breathing heavily as though exhausted.
‘He survived after all.’
With Jo Jung-sik’s abilities, he would likely survive through the 4th Wave without difficulty.
‘And he’ll even gain a class in the process.’
But I knew the truth.
Jo Jung-sik would struggle to escape this round.
* * *
“Hah… hah… damn it.”
Jo Jung-sik exhaled in ragged gasps, yet his eyes remained sharp and alert.
One moment of carelessness in watching his surroundings, and he could be ambushed again.
‘These bastards ignore the goblins and target only me.’
I couldn’t count how many critical moments I’d survived before the 1st Wave ended.
The blade strikes from my own allies, coming from every direction, were merciless.
‘Still, I’m grateful these bastards exist.’
My gaze fell upon a burly man.
The Black Flame Dragon in Right Hand—whom I’d just brought to my side.
‘This dominion authority is useful indeed. I can even make the 3rd-ranked player in this sector my subordinate.’
Beside him stood the muscular Hwang Yong-min, though I hadn’t used dominion authority on him.
‘He follows willingly enough, calling me his senior, so there’s no need.’
Beyond these two, I’d recruited several capable players through dominion authority to serve as my guard.
‘With them shielding me like meat walls, I don’t need to worry about further ambushes… but…’
I examined my side.
The bleeding from that initial ambush had been severe.
‘Can I endure the remaining waves?’
Still, I must survive.
I must cling to survival and secure a place in the rankings.
Then I’ll pass this round triumphantly.
‘If I just make it through, my wounds will heal completely.’
Since the wounds from the voting phase had been treated without a trace, if I simply survived, I could look forward to the next round.
Pwooooooo—
A horn’s blast sounded, and a message appeared.
Thirty minutes had passed since the 1st Wave began.
[Second Wave]
[3,933 Players vs approximately 7,866 Weakened Goblins and Hobgoblins]
[Due to the round’s characteristics, goblins are in a weakened state at one-third their normal strength.]
[We wish you fortune!]
The monsters’ tier had increased, but their numbers had decreased.
‘It seems they spawn at twice the number of remaining players.’
Jo Jung-sik waited for the monsters with a tense expression.
Then he suddenly spotted the Black Scythe standing before the entrance.
‘That man intends to perform a solo rampage again.’
He turned his gaze away with a look of disgust.
For now, this round demanded focus on survival alone.
Against the monsters’ attacks and the players’ ambushes alike.
‘I will survive. I must survive.’
A singular resolve to do whatever it took to survive flickered in Jo Jung-sik’s eyes.
* * *
In the second wave as well, Ryu Min stood alone at the entrance.
Squelch—squelch!
“Kieeeek!”
“Keeeek!”
As I slaughtered the goblins without fail, a welcome change arrived.
I had reached the long-awaited level 20.
[Your rank has risen from ‘Apprentice’ to ‘Regular’.]
[You can now use the Combination function.]
This newly unlocked combination function was as useful as the shop itself.
‘With combination, I can craft Unique-tier and higher items that the shop cannot provide.’
Of course, crafting Unique items was no simple task.
It required materials that only appeared in specific rounds, and they were difficult to obtain.
Knowing the combination formula didn’t mean I could immediately craft it.
‘That’s why I need to use Ma Gyeong-rok. To obtain items more easily.’
If I could work alongside Ma Gyeong-rok as planned, item acquisition would pose no problems.
‘Though that’s something to consider after clearing this round.’
My gaze returned to the message window.
[As a commemoration of your rank rise, the Death Seal skill is enhanced!]
[The Death Seal skill’s additional damage increases from 100% to 120%.]
[Additionally, you have learned the Reaper-exclusive skill ‘Night of Death’!]
[You will automatically learn the next skill when you reach level 40.]
Upon becoming Regular, my existing skill had been strengthened.
‘Now I can deal 120% additional damage with Death Seal.’
Not only that, but I had learned a new skill as well.
[Exclusive Skill – Night of Death]
-Effect: Spreads the aura of darkness within a 500m radius to create an artificial night.
The caster can dispel it whenever desired.
The description was simple, but the effect was undeniable.
‘This skill pairs perfectly with the Reaper’s rune, which grows stronger at night.’
Due to the rune’s nature, attack speed increases by 50% when night falls, and detection probability drops significantly.
A skill made for the Reaper.
‘Now I can receive the attack speed buff even during the day. I have Night of Death for that.’
Above all, I needed the Night of Death skill to obtain the Rune of True Intent.
‘The additional common skills I want to purchase are essential as well.’
Ryu Min allocated the stat points from leveling up into Luck.
The number matched closely with Agility.
‘That’s enough for Luck. I’ll only invest in Strength until level 30.’
Since Strength was the lowest stat, I needed to invest in it for balance.
“Kiiit!”
The moment I closed the status window, goblins came charging.
I smiled as if welcoming them.
‘Perfect timing—I just learned a new skill.’
I immediately cast Night of Death.
Boom—
The space within a 500m radius was engulfed in darkness.
“What just happened?”
“Why did it get so dark?”
“I can’t see anything!”
The nearby players panicked, but I had no time to pay them mind.
Slash—! Slash—!
I was too busy slaughtering goblins at 50% increased attack speed.
[You have successfully repelled the 2nd Wave!]
[Surviving Players: 3,343]
[Deceased Players: 590]
[All survivors receive 500 Gold as a reward.]
The 2nd Wave ended the moment I reached level 21.
Fortunately, I managed to accumulate the target amount of 20,000 Gold.
‘Now I can purchase the common skill.’
Ryu Min wasted no time opening the shop window and finding the desired item.
[Common Skill – Presence Detection]
-Effect: Detect the presence of all targets within a 30m radius.
【Purchase Price: 20,000 Gold】
Presence Detection was an excellent skill that allowed me to perceive all targets within a 30m radius.
‘Since I can detect even from behind, it’s an essential skill in chaotic battles like this.’
Ryu Min purchased the skill without hesitation.
Since it was a passive skill, I could sense all nearby targets the moment I learned it.
‘Within 30 meters, there’s nothing but goblin corpses.’
If a player had been lurking nearby, I would have needed to stay vigilant.
I couldn’t assume they were approaching with good intentions.
‘Now I just need to gather another 20,000 gold and purchase one more shared skill.’
With the remaining three waves and sub-quests to complete, earning 20,000 gold would be effortless.
* * *
[Wave 3]
[3,343 Players vs 6,686 Weakened Hobgoblins]
[You have successfully repelled Wave 3!]
[Surviving Players: 3,001]
[Deceased Players: 342]
[Wave 4]
[3,001 Players vs 6,002 Weakened Hobgoblins and Nol]
[You have successfully repelled Wave 4!]
[Surviving Players: 2,700]
[Deceased Players: 301]
“Huff… huff…”
I had survived through Wave 4.
Jo Jung-sik, with only the final Wave 5 remaining, opened the progress window.
[Time Remaining Until Round End: 01:04:21]
‘One more hour. Just one hour and I can make it out alive.’
The pain in my side was severe, but I could endure for an hour somehow.
A surprise attack from another player?
I no longer concerned myself with such things.
‘As long as these creatures stand guard, my life is safe.’
Jo Jung-sik looked with confidence at the escorts surrounding him.
Ten escorts, dominated through Command Authority, stood imposingly.
‘Command Authority really is useful. I can control people however I want.’
Thanks to it, I could hunt safely without worrying about surprise attacks.
Even though I had exhausted all ten uses of Command Authority.
‘What does it matter if they’re all used up? Right now, survival is what matters most.’
Perhaps it was from the bloody struggle of hunting monsters?
I obtained a Gladiator class advancement item while hunting.
And the moment I reached level 10, I advanced to Gladiator.
‘I’ve advanced my class—I can’t die like this.’
If I could just endure the final Wave 5, I could look forward to the next round.
‘I’ll grow stronger. I’ll grow strong enough to snap the necks of every bastard who targeted me.’
Jo Jung-sik, remembering the players who had mocked and looked down on him as a gangster, gnashed his teeth.
If I survived, I would slaughter every last player.
At that moment, a horn’s blast announced the final wave.
[5th Wave]
[2,700 Players vs Approximately 10,800 Weakened Nol]
[Due to the round’s nature, Nol are weakened to one-third of their normal strength.]
[We wish you good fortune until the end!]
Jo Jung-sik’s eyes widened as he took in the number of Nol.
‘Ten thousand? How can there be that many?’
Being the final wave, their count was four times that of the players.
‘There’s nothing to worry about. I have guards protecting me.’
Jo Jung-sik saw it instead as an opportunity to set a record.
He’d been thinking he still fell short of making the top twenty-five percent.
“Grrr!”
“Grrrrr!”
Over ten thousand Nol bared their fangs and charged forward.
The 2,700 players collided with the Nol.
“Die!”
“Die, you bastards!”
The players fought in utter chaos.
Black Scythe continued to guard the Entrance alone.
Inspired by that sight, Jo Jung-sik’s fighting spirit ignited.
‘I’ll grow stronger. I’ll survive!’
Trusting the guards under his command through his authority, he began hunting in earnest.
Without needing to watch his surroundings, he could immerse himself in combat quickly.
But it didn’t last long.
“Ugh!”
“Gack!”
“What—what is this?”
Two of his guards, who had been serving as meat shields, fell after taking blade strikes.
A group of players who had conspired to target Jo Jung-sik had broken through his escort.
“Got you! You gangster bastard!”
“The zone representative is mine!”
Perhaps because they believed this was their last chance?
The number of conspiring players exceeded thirty.
“Block them! Guards, block them!”
Without being told, the guards were already intercepting the attackers.
The command to protect Jo Jung-sik was already etched into their minds.
But handling thirty players was no simple task.
Thud—thud—!
“Guh—ugh!”
“Ahhh! Argh!”
Players vying for the position of zone representative clashed violently with those dominated by command authority.
‘Damn it, if I mess this up, I’m going to get pushed back?’
I had assembled guards who appeared reasonably skilled, but they were all at similar levels regardless.
Before a coordinated assault, there was no mercy—the guards fell one by one.
‘Shit, this is bad.’
Jo Jung-sik abandoned his fighting guards and hastily fled the area.
Now was not the time to be hunting.
Death at the hands of a player seemed imminent.
“There he goes!”
“Chase him!”
The players who spotted Jo Jung-sik fleeing pursued him with lethal intent.
‘Damn it! If I can just survive this wave, just this wave!’
As Jo Jung-sik swallowed curses in succession, a single figure suddenly entered his line of sight.
The nickname: Black Scythe.
The only savior who could turn this situation around.
“Hey, Black Scythe! I accept your proposal! I’ll do whatever you ask—just protect me!”
As Jo Jung-sik clung to Black Scythe, the pursuing players hesitated.
Regardless of anyone else, the zone’s number one ranked player was a daunting opponent for them.
“Huh? Black Scythe! You said you accept the proposal? Just protect me….”
“I refuse.”
At the cold words, Jo Jung-sik’s face froze.
“I told you before. I won’t concern myself with it.”
Black Scythe, Ryu Min, regarded Jo Jung-sik with an icy gaze.
“Whether you die or live—figure it out yourself.”

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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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