abcnovels
Chapter 56
Chapter 56
Chapter 56
[Translator – Proks]
[Proofreader – Gun]
Chapter 56: Dragon Phoenix Gathering (4)
[‘Choi Ang-ang’ is marked on the map!]
[Duration: 15 minutes]
Seo Yerim, who was running in second place with 6 points, had her location marked on the map.
It didn’t take long before he met her.
“Shall we do it together?”
Seo Yerim nodded.
8 points and 6 points.
First and second place joined forces.
‘There are ten people left.’
With the two of them out, there were a total of eight opponents left.
She recalled the rankings that had been tallied last.
[1st place Baek Socheon, 8 points]
[2nd place Choi Ang-ang, 6 points]
[3rd place Seok Woncho, Baek Muhan, 4 points]
[4th place Namgung Hyeji, 3 points]
.
.
Seok Woncho and Baek Muhan.
These two were at 4 points, and Namgung Hyeji was at 3 points.
The rest of the scrubs were all at 1 point.
‘It’s over.’
Even if the remaining eight teamed up, they were not in a position to win.
Seok Woncho, Baek Muhan, and Namgung Hyeji might be able to make their own contributions, but the remaining five were all at 1 point.
Just catching one of these guys would make their abilities skyrocket in a multiplicative way.
Moreover, the groups of survivors were also different.
There was a hodgepodge mix of the Murim Alliance, the Demonic Cult, and the Sado Alliance.
In this situation, it would be fortunate if there was no infighting or internal strife, let alone cooperation.
Now there were not many choices left for them.
Either they would team up.
Or they would run around and aim for third place.
Or else…
[Someone has died.]
[Someone has died.]
[Someone has died.]
[Rankings are being tallied.]
[1st place Baek Socheon, 8 points]
[2nd place Baek Muhan, 7 points]
[3rd place Choi Ang-ang, 6 points]
[4th place Seok Woncho, 4 points]
[5th place Namgung Hyeji, 3 points]
.
.
“Oh shit! My second place!”
Seo Yerim, who saw the ranking table, gritted her teeth.
It was no wonder she was furious, as she had been instantly pushed down to third place.
“That bastard, did he kill all his lackeys?”
“It seems like it.”
Among the remaining 1-point scrubs, there were some familiar names.
The Three Brothers and two warriors from the Sado Alliance.
It seemed that they had been going around in a group and giving points to Baek Muhan until now.
‘He killed them all.’
It was a perfect situation.
[‘Baek Muhan’ is marked on the map!]
[Duration: 17 minutes]
“Let’s kill him. I’ll take him. In return, I’ll give up the next kill.”
“Sure.”
Seo Yerim nodded readily.
They had already agreed in advance that their side would take first place in terms of points.
That’s why having a reliable party member is important.
He started running around the island with her.
Baek Muhan was seen moving in a terrified state.
1st and 3rd place.
He must have seen that their location would also be marked on the map.
He must have thought that there would be no answer if we attacked together.
And he was right.
“I’ll turn around and go ahead. Just buy me some time.”
Nod.
Seo Yerim ran off.
After about 10 minutes of pursuit.
The sound of swords clashing could be heard from afar.
‘I got him.’
Seo Yerim and Baek Muhan.
The two swordsmen were seen wielding their swords fiercely.
Baek Muhan’s score was 1 point higher, but Seo Yerim was also a swordsman known as a “top A-rank”.
She was not easily pushed back.
‘What a hot spot.’
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place were all in one place.
It was obvious that the remaining scrubs would all gather if they had any sense.
The only thing they could aim for was the fisherman’s hut.
But it didn’t matter.
He had their own henchmen too.
The moment he reached out.
Nearly three thousand skeletons were summoned along with the Bone Golem.
On top of that, hundreds of mages were added.
It was the power of their inflated abilities.
“Attack everyone who comes near.”
Clang!
The nodding skeletons formed a circular shape like an arena.
It would take some time to get inside.
He ran towards Baek Muhan.
Baek Muhan’s eyes trembled violently at the sight of it.
He was in a situation where he had to give it his all to deal with a single maid.
What if Baek Socheon also joins?
The outcome was as clear as day.
“I’ll give up second place to your maid! Let’s cooperate!”
“Yeah, no.”
Baek Muhan’s score was unnecessarily high.
It was better to just kill him now, as he could be a variable.
As the two of them clashed, he was instantly put on the defensive.
“H-help me! If I die, it’s all over! We’re all going to die to these bastards!”
Baek Muhan shouted frantically, looking around.
It was only then that a few candidates showed up and started attacking the skeletons.
They were trying desperately to clear a path.
Unfortunately, it was much too late.
‘Well, I can’t blame them.’
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place could fight each other, but they could also cooperate.
In fact, weren’t they even of the same Baek clan?
It seemed that they had been hiding and watching because of that possibility.
‘Too late.’
Even if they had helped Baek Muhan in the first place, it would have been futile.
Baek Muhan’s neck flew into the air.
[Level up by 3!]
[Gained 7 points!]
As expected of the highest posterior index among the participants in the Dragon Phoenix Tournament, his level immediately rose to 3 as soon as he was defeated.
His score was also explosive.
An overwhelming power enveloped his body.
15 points.
The power of multiplication was great.
A power increase of nearly four times.
He turned around and saw the candidates trying to run away.
[Bone Golem uses Provocation (A) on Seok Woncho!]
Seok Woncho, who was about to turn around.
Provocation was a skill that forcibly drew one’s attention.
The bastard’s body was turned back around.
In a split second.
He approached him in an instant and cut off his leg.
“Agh!”
Seok Woncho rolled on the ground, clutching his severed leg.
He swiftly cut off the fleeing woman’s neck.
[Level up by 1!]
[Gained 3 points!]
Judging from the fact that she gave 3 points, it seemed that the woman was Namgung Hyeji.
18 points.
Even if Seo Yerim kills all the remaining bastards, he is definitely in first place.
Seo Yerim cut off Seok Woncho’s neck.
There were only four people left.
Two of them were also at 1 point.
It was as good as game over.
“Let’s split up and search for the remaining ones.”
The first one to be found will die.
There was no particular emotion.
That was what the candidates had been prepared for from the moment they entered here.
Anyway, it was a structure that would not end unless three people were left.
Then.
Seo Yerim stared at him intently.
“You said you would stay here.”
“Yes.”
“What exactly is your plan?”
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to stay with me too?”
“……If you think your plan is worth following. Surely you don’t intend to be attacked by 30,000 people from the start.”
He took out a white orb from her inventory.
It was an orb he had made in advance after looking into what the Thread of Ascension looked like.
Of course, it had no other effect.
It was just a normal trash item.
“I’m going to wrap this up and throw it. To the Leader.”
“…Will it work?”
[Translator – Proks]
[Proofreader – Gun]
“The Dragon Phoenix Tournament only opens once every hundred years. Meanwhile, the Leader, Heavenly Demon and Leader of the Murim Alliance, their ages are in their eighties.”
Before they were even born, the previous Dragon Phoenix Tournament had already opened and the Thread of Ascension to ascendancy had been revealed.
“…So, they don’t really know what the Thread of Ascension is? That’s why you’re wrapping it up and throwing it?”
“Yes. According to the records of ancient books, each faction has won once every three hundred years. It describes receiving something like these white orbs each time.”
Kim Minwoo continued, looking at the orbs.
“But, no matter how you look at it, it seems like a consumable that disappears when used.”
“…Consumable?”
“There must be some power in the orbs, right?”
“Probably… I suppose?”
“Then, if they obtained the orb and used it, and if the power depleted, it would be like an empty shell… Wouldn’t they just display even an empty shell somewhere?”
Seo Yerim nodded.
If it was something valuable, it made sense to store it rather than discard it.
“But, none of the three factions mentioned anything like that. Regarding the Thread of Ascension, there are only records and rumors circulating.”
“So, it’s a consumable?”
“Probably? Unless they’re around 120 years old, they wouldn’t know. Those under 100 probably haven’t even seen the Thread of Ascension. In other words, they all don’t know exactly what the Thread of Ascension is.”
It’s just roughly a white orb, and they only know that it makes them the best in the world once obtained.
Upon hearing that, Seo Yerim sighed and said,
“…There seem to be a lot of gaps in the plan. What if those three find out something others don’t? What if the Thread of Ascension emits a mysterious energy?”
Furthermore, it couldn’t be determined whether the Thread of Ascension to ascendancy was really a consumable.
At that, Kim Minwoo shrugged.
“That’s right. There are a lot of gaps. But, if it’s such an item, it couldn’t be replicated in the first place.”
There’s no such thing as a perfect plan in this world.
It’s just a fight of probabilities.
So far, no one has ever exchanged a fake reward for a genuine one, or so they heard.
It would be difficult to doubt.
It’s hard to doubt.
He throws a fake orb.
The Sado Alliance Leader receives it.
Seeing this, the two groups with their eyes rolled back fight.
A war breaks out and this side is defeated.
If this succeeds, the probability of survival will increase dramatically.
But what if all three realize it’s fake as soon as the orb is thrown?
‘It’ll be hard to survive.’
Then they will have to run away gritting their teeth.
But it was questionable whether they would be able to survive.
‘But what can you do?’
To swallow this, you have to take the risk.
Throwing fake orbs was just a way to try to increase the probability of survival a little bit.
It’s a jackpot if you eat it, and if not, it’s inevitable.
“Crazy, really…”
“That’s why I’m telling you not to participate. The chance of dying is high.”
“……You’re doing it even though you know that?”
“It’s not always easy to conquer.”
Hunt aliens within 7 years.
To achieve this goal, he had to run without hesitation when the time came.
‘Even the stakes are high.’
Ascension?
It’s a word that makes your mouth water at first glance.
At least it was worth risking his life once.
“Anyway, I’m going to do it. You decide for yourself.”
It would be better if she helped, but in the end that’s just his business.
She had no obligation to participate.
He found the remaining candidates scattered like that.
‘There you are.’
Overwhelming ability value.
And since the stage was quite narrow, it wasn’t difficult to find the hidden person.
“Now, let’s sleep…”
He cut off the throat of the guy who was about to say something.
[Level up by 1.]
[The last 3 people remain.]
[The test is over.]
[Result]
[1st place – Baek Socheon]
[2nd place – Choi Ang-Ang]
[3rd place – Cho Wonhui]
‘Well, you hid well.’
Cho Wonhui, who is only 1 point, came in 3rd place.
Judging by the unfamiliar name, it seems like a member of the Demonic Cult or the Murim Alliance.
In the end, luck was also a part of strength.
‘It’s 130 points.’
10 levels up in one competition.
It was an incredible rampage.
[Reward is given!]
[You have obtained the Thread of Ascension!]
A heavy orb was firmly grasped in his hand.
The pure white appearance resembled that of a fake one very much.
‘I don’t feel any energy though.’
He checked the details.
[Thread of Ascension]
[Grade: Legend+]
[This is a reward given to the person who wins first place in the Dragon Phoenix Tournament.]
[Effect 1. The qualification to challenge the ‘Ascension Ceremony’ is created when possessed.]
[Effect 2. ???]
[Effect 3. ???]
[One of the gate clearing conditions has been met! (1/2)]
[Please give the ‘Thread of Ascension’ to the Sado Alliance Leader!]
‘Ascension Ceremony.’
He thought of Mutakta.
The orc who had shown overwhelming strength enough to easily defeat Perfect Cedric.
It seemed like the secret of that strength was hidden here.
As soon as he put it in his inventory.
He took the fake thread wrapped in a cloth in his hand.
[Leaving the stage!]
The scenery changed immediately.
The Sado Alliance Leader, the Murim Alliance leader, and the third master known as the Heavenly Demon were standing in front of him.
After the barrier disappeared.
Everyone’s faces hardened for a moment at the fact that only three had returned alive.
Only a smile appeared on the lips of the Sado Alliance Leader.
Baek Socheon.
The guy had a cloth in his hand.
It was clear that what was inside was a orb.
The Thread of Ascension!
There was no doubt that he had won first place.
The fact that his other sons had not all survived.
It was a heartbreaking thing to do as a father, but it was something he had been prepared for since he put them in the Dragon Phoenix Tournament.
The important thing was the thread.
As long as they had that, in this generation, the era of the Sado Alliance Leader would begin.
“Son, you’ve worked hard…”
“Father. I will offer the reward!”
Whoosh.
Baek Socheon threw the orb wrapped in the cloth.
Whizz.
The three masters watched the orb in the flying cloth without taking a breath.
Soon, the orb was in the hands of the Sado Alliance Leader.
That moment.
The white-eyed Heavenly Demon and the Murim Alliance leader kicked their feet at the same time.
“Baek Hakseong! You dare not let go!”
“Ascension belongs to our Murim Alliance! Kill all the Sado Alliance bastards!”
Thirty thousand people drew their swords at the same time.
Everyone was already prepared for the bloodshed.
A hundred years ago too.
Two hundred years ago too.
It was always like this.
If only the person who got the thread returned safely, they could enjoy glory for a generation.
The Sado Alliance warriors quickly formed ranks.
If they could only protect the Leader, it wouldn’t matter if they died here.
Blood fountains erupted everywhere.
Then.
The Sado Alliance Leader, who had just survived an attack from two masters, tilted his head.
‘What is it?’
The Thread of Ascension.
He had heard that if you got this, mysterious words would appear before your eyes.
It was one of the sayings that had been passed down to the Leaders for generations.
‘But why no reaction…?’
Strange.
Could it be that the adage that had been passed down for ages was a lie?
Or maybe…
Baek Hakseong hurriedly looked around.
The battlefield where sparks flew from clashing weapons.
Baek Socheon and the maid had disappeared long ago.
‘Wait a minute. Could it be?’
The Leader’s eyes widened as he thought of a possibility.
“Hey, wait a minute! Stop! This is a fake!”
“Bullshit! Is your swordsmanship as sharp as your tongue?”
“Haha! Baek Hakseong! You’ve become quite ugly! Even making your son an unfilial son!”
The Murim Alliance leader and the Heavenly Demon went mad.
[Translator – Proks]
[Proofreader – Gun]