The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 60

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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 60
60. Zone Integration
“Are you ready?”
[It’s zone integration, right away.]
At Angel’s words, the people could only wear expressions of confusion.
The meaning didn’t quite register with them.
One brave man raised his hand sharply.
“Angel! Could you explain what zone integration means in detail…?”
[If I say it once, you should understand it immediately. Don’t be such a bother.]
“I-I’m so sorry….”
[It means exactly what it sounds like—we’re integrating the zones. You might not know this, but there are hundreds of zones in the country you belong to? To be precise, there are 875.]
“Gasp! 875?”
“Our country had that many zones?”
[Kekeke, how amusing that you’re surprised by something so trivial. It’s actually quite small compared to other nations. I believe China has over 26,000 zones.]
“Wow….”
Even as the players’ jaws dropped, they quickly accepted the explanation.
With China being the world’s most populous nation, it made sense.
“If we assume 10,000 people are assigned per zone, then countries with larger populations would naturally have more zones.”
“Right. Wait, if that means an Angel is assigned to each zone….”
“That means there are at least tens of thousands of you…?”
So many Angels existed?
The people were astonished by this fact they had never considered before.
Angel laughed as if acknowledging the murmurs.
[Exactly as you’ve guessed. We Angels are assigned one per zone. Did you really only just figure that out now? How foolish.]
The people could only listen to Angel’s sarcasm.
There was nothing wrong with what was said, and they couldn’t talk back to Angel, who was the ultimate authority.
Instead, one question arose.
“Um, Angel. Then you didn’t create this survival game?”
[….]
For the first time, a troubled expression appeared on Angel’s face.
But it was only brief.
Angel regained her poker face and asked while maintaining an expressionless demeanor.
[Why would you think that?]
“Because tens of thousands of Angels wouldn’t have cooperated to create a single survival game.”
[What if we did cooperate to create it? Would you like to praise us?]
“….”
[Don’t ask unnecessary questions. You might get your head blown off for overstepping, human.]
“I-I apologize….”
The people could only bow their heads at such a menacing statement.
Everyone except Ryu Min.
‘Judging by how they’re deflecting, I must have struck a nerve. Well, there’s probably a policy about keeping information on the Designer confidential.’
It was inconceivable that a mere mortal Angel could have designed such a colossal survival game.
Besides, Angels were far too individualistic and self-centered to ever cooperate on something like this.
[I won’t be answering any more questions from insects. Insects should focus solely on surviving. That’s all.]
Look.
The very fact that they’re getting angry is proof they’re not the Designer.
[What a waste of time. Anyway, as promised, I’ll begin the zone integration. Just know this is a measure taken due to insufficient personnel. Don’t speculate needlessly about anything else.]
As the Angel fluttered their wings to signal, the ground suddenly began to tremble.
Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble—!
“What, what is this!”
“Is it, is it an earthquake?”
People panicked, but Ryu Min alone maintained his composure.
He knew this was a natural phenomenon that occurred whenever zones were integrated.
‘Strictly speaking, it’s not the ground shaking—it’s space itself that’s trembling.’
With a sound that pierced the eardrums, cracks appeared in space.
Screech, screech, screech—!
Black lines formed not only across the ground but across the sky as well.
The space, divided into ten sections, flipped like a cube.
Crunch, crunch, crunch—
As space inverted, approximately 500 people appeared.
They were players from other zones.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Then, with the sound of space merging, the lines vanished.
The Grassland, which had felt somewhat sparse, was now packed with people.
“Is… is it over?”
“Who are these people…?”
Everyone stood in place, merely exchanging cautious glances, no one daring to move.
[Well, the zone integration is complete. Hmm? Why the long faces? Come on, greet each other—you’re all human, after all. How long are you going to stand there awkwardly?]
An unfamiliar Angel rose into the air with a fresh smile.
It wasn’t just one.
Ten Angels gathered in the same place.
[Olive, hello?]
[Priscilla, hello?]
[Ellen, hello?]
The Angels exchanged greetings with one another in turn.
Their mouths smiled, but their voices were utterly flat.
[Olive, how many were in your zone?]
[442.]
[That’s about the same as ours?]
[They’re all about the same, aren’t they?]
[Who should speak as the representative? These humans will need an explanation, don’t you think? Especially about The Game.]
[I’ll do it.]
Olive, who had been in the same zone as Ryu Min, raised her hand and volunteered.
[Wait. You’re just trying to score points with the Angel Commander, aren’t you?]
[Points? Me?]
[It’s suspicious how readily you’re stepping up.]
[Then why don’t you do it? Why are you being difficult?]
[Fine, Priscilla, you do it.]
[What? Why should I do it? This is such a hassle.]
[Come on, everyone. Stop arguing and just let someone do it.]
[Right. Do you really think the Angel Commander cares about something like this?]
[Ugh. Now that you mention it, you’re right.]
[Just do it, Olive. Your voice is the prettiest among us anyway.]
[Sigh, this is annoying. Fine.]
The Angels were reluctant even though it was just a simple explanation.
Olive fluttered her wings and flew toward the center of the Grassland.
[Hello, everyone. As your respective Angels have told you, we’ve consolidated zones due to limited numbers.]
The players nodded silently.
[Currently, ten zones have been merged into one, and the total number of people here is 4,844.]
“Ten zones merged together?”
“That’s almost five thousand people?”
“No wonder it looked so crowded.”
The murmuring players exchanged glances with one another.
The thought of proceeding through the round with unfamiliar faces I’d never seen before made my heart race with anticipation.
[Other zones have also undergone consolidation to fill their numbers. Naturally, the zone designation changes with the merger. For reference, this zone is now called C-ESKS007. It consists exclusively of players from Korea.]
“Oh… we’re all from the same country?”
“At least we can communicate. That’s a relief.”
“Hmm, though we might end up mixed with other countries later…”
Zone consolidation won’t stop here.
Whenever the player count drops below 500, the zone merges with another.
Eventually, just as someone had murmured, we’ll meet players from other nations.
‘When Korea’s player count drops below 500.’
Ryu Min knows exactly when that will happen.
‘By round 11, the fourth zone consolidation will occur, and we’ll be competing against players from other countries.’
That’s not all Ryu Min knows.
I also know that soon, the Angel will announce a bonus game.
And sure enough.
[Before we announce the main Quest, we’ll hold a simple bonus game to commemorate the zone consolidation.]
“A bonus game?”
The players opened their mouths, just as the Angel had anticipated.
“You see, each zone had its own representative, right? But now that they’re unified, what should we do? Obviously, we need to select a new zone representative.”
“A new… zone representative?”
Since only one zone representative could exist, a game was being held to determine it.
“The rules are simple. The ten existing zone representatives will come forward and fight each other to the death. The sole survivor will be promoted to representative of this newly unified zone.”
In other words, it was a deathmatch—a battle until only one remained standing.
“So they have to kill each other to become the unified zone representative?”
“Wow… that’s brutal.”
The players murmured among themselves, though concern was absent from their expressions.
Instead, they seemed delighted that it didn’t concern them.
“This should be entertaining. Hehehehe.”
“I wonder who’ll come out on top?”
“This would be perfect with some popcorn.”
Since it was a duel between zone representatives from other zones—not their own—they could relax and enjoy the spectacle.
Everyone except those directly involved, that is.
‘Damn it, we have to kill each other just to pick one representative?’
‘Sigh… I never should have become a zone representative…’
‘Wait, if I die this time, do I come back to life again?’
‘Forget everything else—can’t I just forfeit the representative position?’
Nine of the zone representatives wore expressions of utter dismay, but Ryu Min alone maintained an impassive face.
In fact, he was inwardly delighted.
He understood just how valuable the position of unified zone representative truly was.
“Zone representatives? Kehehehe, there’s no need to look so worried. Just because it’s called a deathmatch doesn’t mean you’ll actually die. Once the game ends, all the fallen representatives will be revived.”
“Oh! So we get revived this time too.”
“Hmm…”
Even with the promise of revival, the representatives’ expressions remained grim.
After all, there was no real benefit to be gained from this game.
But Angel’s explanation wasn’t finished yet.
“Looking at your faces, I suspect you think becoming the unified representative offers no real merit. Surely you don’t believe there are no benefits at all?”
“There are benefits exclusive to the unified representative?”
“Of course. The unified representative can wield dominion instead of command authority.”
“Dominion?”
“It’s the authority to dominate players below your level. Regardless of whether they’ve advanced their class, you can freely control any player within that zone—an upgraded version of command authority.”
“As long as their level is lower…”
“You can control anyone as you wish…?”
“Regardless of class advancement…?”
The eyes of each zone representative widened in shock.
Most had already advanced their classes, rendering command authority useless, but this limitation had vanished entirely.
It was a formidable authority with virtually no drawbacks.
“Of course, the ten-use limit and the rule that killing the unified representative transfers the authority still apply. But isn’t it attractive? The ability to dominate fellow humans?”
It certainly was.
It was a superior skill that transcended the limitations of command authority—if I became the representative, I could truly reign like a king.
[How about it? Is that enough motivation?]
It was.
Absolutely.
Though no one spoke aloud, the representatives’ eyes gleamed with lethal intent, speaking volumes.
They would fight with everything they had to seize the unified representative position.
Ryu Min’s thoughts were no different.
‘Until now, the zone representative position held no merit, but this round is different. I must win the death match and become the unified representative.’
That’s why I killed Hwang Yong-min and claimed the zone representative position in the last round.
I knew the representative’s authority would become formidable starting from round five.
‘Though I also killed him because of the sub-quest.’
Regardless, I was confident.
I had enough level and experience to win even fighting nine-to-one odds.
‘Most importantly, I’ve never missed the unified representative position before.’
Yet there was something even Ryu Min, who had lived through multiple cycles, didn’t know.
The Angels had placed a wager on the unified representative position.

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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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