The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 80

The Return of the Legendary Ranker 2.80

Episode 414

Part 2, Episode 80.

Within the Tower of Disaster lies a section known as the Devil’s Floors.

These are Floors 10 through 15, considered the highest levels.

However, surprisingly few of the millions who have climbed the Tower of Disaster over the months have actually experienced these top floors.

The reason is simple.

[The number of players on the 10th floor is confirmed to be 1,241.]

[The maximum number of players has not been exceeded.]

[The additional stage will not open as the required number of players has not been met.]

From the 10th floor onward, only 1,500 users could ascend.

Out of 10,000 users participating, only 1,500 could reach the 10th floor.

And the same applied to the subsequent floors.

‘The 11th floor is 300 people. The 12th floor is 200 people. The 13th floor is 100 people, right?’

Naturally, the number of users reaching the top floors was extremely limited.

Moreover, the difficulty was another major factor.

The difficulty from the 1st to the 9th floor was so different that one might doubt if it was the same tower.

Among the users who survived that extreme competition, only those who achieved overwhelming results could proceed.

And even then, the Signature Trait [a unique, powerful ability] could only be obtained if that user with overwhelming results also acquired a Hidden Piece [a rare, secret item or condition].

‘Well, no wonder so few users know about the Signature Trait.’

From the start, the system was designed so that only a select few could even know the information.

No, to be precise, it wasn’t a system where anyone could obtain it just by knowing the information.

‘This is where things get serious.’

In that sense, the 10th floor was the first real gateway to the Signature Trait.

Do-hyun felt his heart pounding with excitement and grinned.

However, that was only Do-hyun.

The majority of users displayed a mixture of excitement, fear, and tension.

“I’m on the 10th floor… I’ve been challenging the Tower every week since it opened, but the 7th floor was my limit.”

“It’s all because you didn’t stand up to Kaiser.”

“There seem to be a lot of Lawless Zone members today. Is there a special event? Wow, what bad luck. How could Kaiser and the Kashin Church [a powerful in-game religious faction] show up on the day we all gathered?”

“Right. We’ve never gathered this many people in the Tower of Disaster before, have we?”

“Don’t let your guard down. The 10th floor is a real devil’s zone. I’ve been to the 10th floor many times, but I can’t seem to break through it no matter how hard I try.”

“It’s unbelievable.”

The 10th floor was the Devil’s Floor that users considered among the most challenging.

Difficulty?

Of course, the 11th or 12th floors were more difficult. Comparing it to the 15th floor was almost laughable.

Nevertheless, there was one key reason why the 10th floor was considered the Devil’s Floor.

“It’s because of the 10th floor’s concept.”

“Concept?”

“From the 10th floor onwards, random dice rolls don’t apply. Each floor has a pre-set concept.”

It focused on fierce competition and overcoming difficult challenges to be among the limited number of people who could advance, rather than relying on luck.

Therefore, the concept was more important than one might think…

[A Floor Master exists on the 10th floor.]

That was why users feared the 10th floor.

The concept of the 10th floor was the worst possible scenario for most users.

“……Is the master that strong?”

“It’s strong, but… that’s not the important thing. You know the number of people who can go to the next floor is fixed, right?”

“It’s 300 people.”

“Right. Assuming the maximum number of people is filled, 1,200 people have to be eliminated here. From the 11th floor onwards, only 100 people are eliminated each time, but only here do 1,200 people get cut, so everyone struggles.”

“Ah.”

Do-hyun nodded as if he finally understood.

Fierce competition where 1,200 people had to be eliminated from this place, where only 1,500 skilled people out of 10,000 survived.

That was the key aspect of this gateway.

‘If it’s a raid, it will be based on the score of the strategy, so it will be a mess.’

But suddenly, a question arose.

‘…But can 1,500 people even do a raid?’

Most raids were designed for 8, 15, or 30 people.

If a large-scale raid like a world quest opened, hundreds of people would rush in, but 1,500 people participating in a raid within a single instance? [a self-contained area within the game]

Even going back to the Demrok era [a previous period in the game’s history], he had never heard of such a thing.

There were two possibilities.

‘Either it’s a boss that genuinely requires 1,500 people to defeat, or there’s some kind of gimmick involved.’

In the former case, it was actually a disadvantageous situation.

Because the Kashin Church believers and Do-hyun had eliminated so many Lawless Zone members that there were only 1,200 people left, not even the maximum number of 1,500.

However, 1,200 people was still a huge number.

It would take a long time, but clearing it wouldn’t be impossible.

‘It’s going to be a competition for rankings… I wish it was that.’

He was confident that he would be in the top ranks no matter what.

However, as Do-hyun’s experience as a gamer had taught him, things were unlikely to go as smoothly as he wanted.

Competing while raiding?

The Tower of Disaster was not such a forgiving place.

“The maximum raid party size is 500 people, right?”

“It’s random. On average, it’s 500 people, but if you’re unlucky, it’s said that 300 to 400 people raid… I hope that doesn’t happen.”

“It’s a relief that many Lawless Zone guys dropped out. If there are 1,200 people, the competition rate isn’t too bad.”

“Haa, there are too many tankers left. Will it be okay? What’s the point if the competition rate isn’t bad? Even if you participate, 200 people have to drop out again.”

“Raids are too biased towards tankers and supporters. It’s so hard for melee dealers to deal damage, but the score is too low.”

“Oh? If you don’t like it, be a ranged dealer. And is being a tanker easy? Try holding a shield and blocking those 15M [15 million] damage attacks from swinging around, you’ll be lucky if you don’t pee your pants.”

The number of people who could participate in the 10th floor’s Master Raid was fixed.

In other words, the competition had already begun the moment they entered.

‘In fact, there are two concepts.’

A bloody battle to be included in the raid personnel, and a raid competition among those who survived.

It was a truly challenging floor, but this kind of messy fight was something he had always excelled at.

Do-hyun, who was more confident than anyone else, grabbed Chunbyeon [Do-hyun’s weapon] without hesitation.

And at that moment.

[The Tower has finished measuring.]

[The measurement results are based on the courage, power, and performance shown by the players.]

A cheerful notification rang, and the arena became as quiet as a mouse.

Everyone instinctively felt that a fierce battle would soon take place here.

As they held their breath and waited for the message to appear, then.

Ding-

Soon, a message appeared,

“……What?”

“Huh?”

“??”

Question marks floated above everyone’s heads along with bewildered voices.

It was inevitable.

[‘Avison, the Chosen by the God of Death’ has descended.]

The Master of the 10th floor who had descended was a name they had never seen before.

[Avison has been descended for the first time in the Tower of Disaster.]

[As a first-time benefit, Avison’s equipment will be dropped with certainty when Avison is defeated.]

[Additional rewards will be given upon successfully clearing the 10th floor due to an unprecedented achievement.]

[Select the number of people to challenge Avison.]

[There are five options, and Avison’s health and stamina vary depending on the number of people.]

-70 people

-30 people

-12 people

-4 people

-2 people

It was the moment when a master with a true name descended for the first time in the Tower of Disaster.

* * *

Icy silence.

In the silence where even breathing could not be heard, users were looking at only one place.

Saaaah-

The center of the stage.

A huge door placed there alone.

The skull reminiscent of the God of Death holding a huge scythe and the chilling energy emanating from the door were saying.

Gulp.

That place is the boss room,

The users who were staring blankly at the door began to open their mouths one by one.

“Crazy…….”

“……Avison? What is that?”

“If it has a name, isn’t it a named boss?”

“Damn it. Why does something like that appear? And why is the number of participants 70 people?”

“What!? Crazy, is that real?”

“No, this doesn’t make sense. Are you saying that only 70 people out of 1,200 can pass? Then how are we supposed to clear the next floor?”

Their voices, which were hesitant at first, gradually filled with astonishment, and soon the arena became more chaotic than ever.

And that was the same for Do-hyun and his party.

“No, what’s going on? Avison? Did something like that even exist?”

Among them, Astra especially seemed very embarrassed.

No, she looked not just embarrassed but serious, and it was inevitable.

“Is it that serious that a boss with a true name appeared?”

“Are you even asking that? Of course, it is, you idiot. A named boss has never appeared as the master of the 10th floor before.”

“What, even when Ajai came?”

“When I came, it was the God of Death’s aide. Even that was an upgrade. Originally, the God of Death’s minion comes out.”

Not just Ajai.

Kkukkuk, Sword Saint, and Raon, who was called the Tower of Disaster GOAT [Greatest Of All Time], as well as Myeolsal.

Because it was a place where so many strong guys had visited, I thought that another named boss besides Avison would have come out, but.

‘The named itself is the first, right?’

Moreover, the number of people was up to 70, unlike before.

Something seemed to be going on unusually.

“Damn it, 70 people is too much.”

“Don’t move! I’ll kill anyone who moves.”

“First, everyone calm down. It’s the first time this has happened, so let’s all gather and think…….”

“Don’t try to trick us.”

“It’s not a trick, damn it, then what are we going to do in this situation… uh oh!?”

The users felt it too, and just as a grim atmosphere was forming.

“Ah, I’m going! I’m going to enter first.”

“Hey hey! That bastard is trying to enter! Let’s enter first!”

“No, it’s the end if you die. But it’s the first boss, so let’s wait and see how strong it is…….”

“Are you going to let the dog eat the porridge [miss out on an opportunity]? What if you clear it if you wait! 70 people must be easy, you bastard.”

The users who had been watching for a chance took advantage of the chaos and rushed to the door.

“Block those bastards! Block them!”

“You dare!!”

“It’s disrespectful! How dare you go before God!”

“Block those heretics!”

“Keuheok! Aagh!”

“Kkuaaaak!”

Believers of the Kashin Church and other users belatedly tried to block them with their eyes on fire, but only 70 out of 1,200 people could enter from the start.

On the other hand, the number of remaining believers was at most less than 200.

No matter how strong the Kashin Church was, they could not block all the users who were rushing to the door from all directions, two or three times their number.

[A player has entered Avison’s room.]

[A player has entered Avison’s room.]

…….

[The current number of players who have entered is 53.]

[Up to 70 people can enter, and if no additional people enter within 5 seconds, it will proceed with 30 people, and the excess number of people will be randomly released.]

Moreover, 70 out of 1,200 people?

Trying to block them was like trying to grab the desert with sand.

[The current number of players who have entered is 70.]

[The maximum number of people has been met.]

[‘Avison, the Chosen by the God of Death’ raid begins.]

In the end, the raid began as expected.

“Damn it!”

“We should have blocked them, aagh!”

“Those bastards, those sneaky bastards!”

“Damn it!!”

The users who had their noses cut off while watching shouted without exception.

They were scared by the words ‘first named’ and were cautious.

“It was a trap from the start.”

“If you think about it, Myeolsal also caught the God of Death’s aide, so there’s no way a stronger boss would appear!”

“Damn it, why did you appear with a true name to confuse us…….”

The more people who could participate in the master of the 10th floor, the stronger the boss was in general.

For example, the God of Death’s minion has a maximum number of 200 to 500 people, while the God of Death’s aide starts with 500 people.

But not all aides were the same strength.

Sometimes it was 600 people, and sometimes 700 people could enter.

“The maximum number of people is only 70? That means it’s just a pushover.”

“We’re doomed. We’re doomed.”

“Haa… hey, but we’re better off. Isn’t Kaiser the most angry right now?”

“Ah…….”

At that, the users who were venting their anger suddenly became wary and looked at Kaiser.

Anyone would be angry in this situation, so they thought he might be planning to vent his anger.

Kaiser’s known character so far wasn’t like that, but….

‘It was no joke….’

‘It was creepy to see him mercilessly killing anyone who became an enemy or got in his way.’

‘He really wasn’t human.’

The Kaiser they saw directly today had no hesitation in cutting down anyone who became an enemy or got in his way.

They had been watching only that all day, so they couldn’t help but instinctively shrink back.

At that moment when the users were unknowingly showing their vigilance.

[Player ‘Grabin’ who challenged Avison has died.]

[Player ‘Great Sword Monster’ who challenged Avison has died.]

[Player ‘Spear is the Best’ who challenged Avison has died.]

…….

[Player ‘Lamande’ who challenged Avison has died.]

“……What?”

“?”

“Huh?”

The faces of the users who were full of vigilance at the sudden appearance of the message became blank.

[Player ‘Bagent’ who challenged Avison has died.]

[Player ‘Trima’ who challenged Avison has died.]

…….

Moreover, the message was continuing in real time without stopping.

It was absurd.

It had only been 1-2 minutes since they entered.

The users who survived up to this point were far above the average level.

To the point where no one would say anything even if they straightened their shoulders and walked around [acted confidently].

“……What, what is this?”

“What on earth is happening inside there?”

“No, it’s a 70-person raid. Are they dying so quickly?”

“It’s not even a world quest, what is this…….”

How could they not be astonished when they were being cut down like radishes?

They didn’t know what was happening there, but one thing was certain.

Something irrational was happening right now.

But only one person here.

‘…Look at this?’

Only Do-hyun was raising the corners of his mouth while looking at the door.

No, to be exact….

[The Eye of Truth is activated.]

A long, red silhouette visible beyond the door.

Something with a huge and bizarre silhouette, holding something like condensed souls.

‘That bastard, he’s looking at me?’

It shrank to the size of a person and was staring intently at where Do-hyun was.