Ranker’s Return

Yusma’s capital was always present with people. There were many players as well as NPCs. They were people who were enjoying Arena and people who bet everything on Arena. Both types of players were busy, trying to get ahead of others. Unlike them, there was a player sitting down and staring into the air.

The player’s name was Gang Hyeonu. He was the famous streamer, Alley Leader. After exiting the imperial palace, Hyeonu settled in a secluded spot. It was to check his status window. The status window was amazing. There was a big change compared to before the main scenario.

“The stat starts at 350...” Hyeonu muttered. The dignity stat started at 350 points. Of course, it was increased by items and titles.

[Status Window]

[Character Name: Gang Hyeonu

Level: 200

Class: Knight of Keon

Title: Lebron’s Disciple, Warrior Acknowledged by Khan, New Star Acknowledged by Lebron, First Person to Enter the Imperial Palace, First Person to Meet the Emperor, Achieved 100 Consecutive Wins, Solo Raider, Desert Dragon Slayer, Ruler of the Spider Mine, Viscount Vampire Killer, First Detached Force Member, First Person to Clear Laek, First Player to go Beyond The Limits, First to Become a Viscount.

Stats: Strength: 370 (+650)  Agility: 520 (+700)  Physique: 220 (+750)  Magic Power: 200 (+900)  Fighting Energy: 323 (+300)  Dignity: 9 (+350)

Remaining stat points: 0

Retained Attributes: Dark]

‘I reached level 200.’

“All that is left is the third class advancement.”

In the process of clearing the main scenario, Hyeonu had shown a lot of activity compared to other players. The result was a unique experience. This was the price of an unrivaled performance.

“Should I check my rewards?”

Hyeonu’s rewards didn’t just consist of experience. Hyeonu had obtained a total of three items. He had earned one item for each rebel executive.

“This is garbage. This one should be able to be sold at an expensive price. I fit the requirements for this one.”

Hyeonu had killed Riquid, the fourth knight division captain, and obtained an unidentified material item called Knight Captain’s Soul. Naturally, Hyeonu wasn’t happy to see this miscellaneous item. It was because a material item was useless if he didn’t know the recipe. The second item was a staff obtained from defeating Ruwein, the third magic division captain. It was a unique rated item with a magic power amplification effect and skill cooldown reduction effect, so it should sell for a considerable price. 

Finally, the bracelet obtained from Kallu, the fifth knight division captain, was an item that Hyeonu could wear.

[Kallu’s Desire]

[Kallu has always longed to be strong.

Rating: Unique

Restrictions: 700 strength, 900 physique.

Effect: All stats + 100, ‘One Who Yearns’ is available. 

One Who Yearns: There is a yearning for strength. All stats will increase by 30% for 10 minutes.

Cooldown Time: 8 hours.]

“This should be a great match with the giant skills?”

Hyeonu pulled off the cursed bracelet and equipped Kallu’s Desire.

***

“Master, I’m here!!” Hyeonu shouted loudly at the meditating Lebron.

Lebron frowned at his actions and didn’t move.  “You came? Yes, what brings you here today?” 

Lebron opened his eyes, and a bright light emerged clearly from his eyes. Hyeonu pushed something toward Lebron.  “I’m here to return this.”

Hyeonu handed over a ring. It was Goryeon’s Ring that the emperor had given to Hyeonu. Hyeonu was now level 200, so the effect was halved. He wouldn’t receive the experience bonus and would only enjoy the increased skill proficiency. Of course, Hyeonu wouldn’t have returned it without a ring to replace it.

However, four rings were already shining on Hyeonu’s hands. The replacement was xxxx’s keepsake that he got for completing the Successor of the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art quest.

[Master of the Mysterious Sky]

[A ring used by the masters of the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art for generations.

It has been exposed for a long time to the mysterious demonic power energy and has been stained.

The more you achieve in the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art, the more effective the ring will be.

Rating: Epic

Restrictions: One who has learned the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art.

Effect: All stats +150, the strength of magic power is increased by 15%, skill cooldown reduced by 9%.]

In some ways, it was the best item Hyeonu had ever worn. The rating was clearly different. Master of the Mysterious Sky had an epic rating, not unique.

‘If I didn’t have this, I wouldn’t have given Goryeon’s Ring up.’

The problem was that Hyeonu hadn’t taken one thing into consideration. The third class advancement would increase the number of rings that could be worn to six.

“Is it already that time? You are qualified...” Lebron looked a bit surprised upon hearing Hyeonu’s words.

He didn’t know how this person had grown so quickly.

‘He is different from other adventurers.’

His disciple was growing very fast compared to the average adventurer. It was a remarkable development from when he first met his disciple months ago.

“I know your strength, so I won’t do any special tests.”

Lebron’s words caused Hyeonu’s expression to brighten. Hyeonu had thought he could do the third class advancement without any quests. He was correct.

[Your class has changed to ‘True Knight of Keon’.]

[All stats will increase by 100 respectively.]

[The title ‘True Knight of Keon’ was created.]

[True Knight of Keon]

[A title that can only be obtained from the direct descendant knights among the Knight of Keon.

Effect: The strength of your magic power is increased by 10%.]

‘Nice!’

Hyeonu smiled when he saw the messages in front of him. Things were going smoothly since finishing the main scenario. In reality, he paid off his debt. Meanwhile, in Arena, he got a new stat. He also easily gained the third class advancement that others suffered through and gained double the stats compared to when he first became a Knight of Keon.

Hyeonu had six stats, so the total was 600 points. 

While he was watching the status window, another message disturbed Hyeonu’s eyes.

[A skill has been created.]

[Pure Energy Manifestation]

[It is possible to manifest pure energy.

Type: Continuous

Rating: Unique

Skill Proficiency: F

Increases the strength of magic power by 100% when Pure Energy Manifestation is triggered.]

[Magic Power Sensitivity]

[You can use magic power more precisely.

Type: Continuous

Rating: Unique

Skill Proficiency: F

Increases magic power by 10% and increases the effect of magic power by 10%. Reduces magic power consumption by 10%.] 

[Area Proclamation]

[You can radiate magic power based around yourself to a certain area, causing constant damage to your opponents and speeding up your movements.

Type: Immediately Activated

Rating: Unique

Skill Proficiency: F

Area Range: 10M

Duration: 3 minutes.

Skill Cooldown Time:  10 minutes.]

Considering that pure energy was a skill which was basically given after advancing to the third class, he actually only gained two skills this time. However, Hyeonu had no complaints. Rather, he was satisfied. The skills were so good that he couldn’t be dissatisfied.

One was a skill to strengthen his own magic power, and the other one was a wide-area CC skill. The quality of the skills overwhelmed their small number. It could be said that they compensated for his weaknesses and developed his strengths. This was a proper skill acquisition.

Hyeonu thought so.

Lebron said to Hyeonu, “I just have one request. Find Duke Blake, the former knight commander and my teacher.”

[A quest has been created.]

[Duke Blake]

[Meet Duke Blake, the former commander of the Knights of Keon.

Rating: A+

Conditions: Meet Duke Blake 0/1

Rewards: Experience, Duke Blake’s secret technique.]

Hyeonu’s smile widened. In addition to this third advancement class and skills, he also got a quest. If Arena kept releasing things like today, it would only be a matter of time before he recovered the 30 billion won. However, the good came with the bad. It wasn’t only good things that found Hyeonu.

“So where should I go to meet Duke Blake?” Hyeonu asked the obvious. He needed to know the location of the NPC to do anything. It was just that Lebron’s response caused Hyeonu’s mood to fall to the ground.

“Don’t you need to find him? It has been a decade since we’ve stopped hearing from him. Of course, sometimes there are messages, but they are all one-sided.

“Then... The latest news...”

“He isn’t a man who would leave such a thing. The meaning of the contact is simply to let me know he is alive.”

‘Damn, this also has no answer.’

The moment he heard it, Hyeonu was reminded of the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art quest. If it wasn’t for meeting Held by chance, he wouldn’t have received a clue for the quest until he met the emperor. Hyeonu left Lebron’s mansion with an uncomfortable expression.

***

After Hyeonu finished the main scenario, all the guilds except for Hyeonu were in a turmoil. They had inserted a spoon into the main scenario, but there wasn’t a single piece of rice on the spoon. All the rewards were given to Hyeonu. It wasn’t a group game, just a solo level. From someone else’s perspective, Alley Leader seemed to be enjoying the game on his own.

It was the same for the pro-gamers. All the professional teams that were seeking rewards felt like they just were grabbing at straw. Apart from the rebel subjugation places that Hyeonu would later distribute, they searched for anything that would increase their imperial contribution. Even so, they couldn’t find anything. Those who gained nothing were furious.

“What the hell did you do?!” Yoon Hyeongu, the manager of Big Stars, screamed at the players. The patch had been Quency’s one-sided notification. Since then, all professional teams had been on fire. One season in the Pro League ran for around three or four months. It was said that this one time, the siege would be excluded from the Pro League.

The problem was after that. It was only possible to buy a castle with hundreds of thousands of imperial contributions. Additionally, having a castle was the only way to participate in the next Pro League. Perhaps someone would be able to obtain a castle. 

No, many clubs might’ve set up castles to participate in the next Pro League, which included the castle siege war that had been revamped due to the patch. However, it was impossible for the Big Stars that he was in charge of to gain a castle. It might’ve been different if there were concrete results in this main scenario. However, it was all a bunch of waste.

 Yoon Hyeongu adjusted his emotions to a certain extent and said quietly, “Next season, the league will only be played with raids and duels. Everybody should already know this?”

The players of Big Stars nodded without saying anything. They were like terrified chicks.

“Starting from tomorrow, we will divide Arena into two parts: raid hunting and duels. Play Arena using the accounts obtained from the coaches and improve your skills. Understood?”

The players nodded again. Some of it wasn’t their mistakes, but they were forced to follow Yoon Hyeongu’s words.

“Then go ahead and practice. You will be busier from tomorrow.”

At the end of Yoon Hyeongu’s words, all the players rushed into their rooms. Yoon Hyeongu confirmed that all the players were gone and called the coaches.

“Is your work going well? If you don’t want to be kicked out, then work hard. It isn’t just the kids who can be kicked out. You will go with us. So take care of it.”

Yoon Hyeongu created a heavy atmosphere before grabbing his smartphone and leaving. He was talking to someone. “It’s going well. It will take a few more months. There is still a long way to go. Just trust me. Who am I? Yoon Hyeongu! I’m a veteran who has been in this circle for over a decade.”

***

“Liu Shei, how much time have I given you? Do you want to test my patience?”

Liu Shei wanted to crush the face of the man who threatened him, but he barely endured it. The action was instantaneous, but the aftermath was long. Before becoming Kowloon’s first seat, Liu Shei could endure any humiliation. He had to crouch down like a weapon just before his ascension to Heaven.

“Alley Leader doesn’t have time. I can’t force him. I can’t solve everything with my fists like I did in the past.”

Liu Shei had thorns in his words. However, Rudd just waved his hand at Liu Shei in a leisurely manner. “Is that so? Then it can’t be helped. I have to arrange a meeting with Zhou Fang.”

“That...”

“The time for Adidas to renew the contract with Kowloon is just around the corner. It has nothing to do with us if the person signing the contract is Zhou Fang or Liu Shei. Of course, it would be better if it was the one who arranged the meeting with Alley Leader.”

“Understood.” Liu Shei’s expression became rotten at Rudd’s words.

“I will make sure you meet him next week. Instead, be sure to keep your promise.” Liu Shei gritted his teeth and left.

Rudd was left alone and finally showed an anxious expression. “Sigh. It has to succeed.”

If he were to return to the company now, his boss Cheong Chen would definitely beat him. Rudd buried himself in his chair and closed his eyes tightly.