Ranker’s Return

Hyeonu laughed when he saw Tang-E staring at the white bracelet like it was amazing.

‘I also need to check the messages.’

Hyeonu started checking the messages that he had postponed due to the stream.

[Larenix, the last emperor of the Luos Empire, has been defeated.]

[Experience has been acquired.]

[You have leveled up.]

[All health and magic power have been restored.]

[The title ‘Descendant of the Giants’ will be created.]

[Descendant of the Giants]

[A title given to a player who has collected all the giants’ holy relics.

Effect: All stats +200.]

[A skill has been created.]

[Giant’s Pride]

[Giants don’t know how to retreat and don’t know defeat. For them, fear was nothing more than an excuse for cowards.

Type: Continuous

Rating: Unique

Skill Proficiency: F

Effect: Strength and physique stats will increase by 10%. Attack and defense will increase by 10%. Attack and defense will increase by an additional 20% when advancing.]

An exclamation burst from Hyeonu’s mouth as he checked the messages. He couldn’t even scream. The contents were simply too amazing, so all he could do was make noises.

“Wow...”

The rewards were too gorgeous. They consisted of a title that had the same effect as a few unique items and the level up that Hyeonu wanted, as well as a unique-rated continuous skill.

‘Crazy.’

They were truly stunning. The end of the hunt, which had started for no reason, ended so brilliantly. In a way, the biggest harvest was to reach level 300.

‘Status Window.’

Hyeonu wanted to see the figures himself. He opened the status window and checked it with his own eyes.

[Status Window]

[Character Name: Gang Hyeonu

Level: 300 

Class: True Knight of Keon

Title: Descendant of the Giants and 32 others.

Stats: Strength: 639 (+3,550)  Agility: 1,085 (+3,500)  Physique: 413 (+3,600)  Magic Power: 836 (+3,600)  Fighting Energy: 772 (+3,300)  Dignity: 254 (+3,300)  Killing Intent: 24 (+3,300)

Remaining stat points: 5

Retained Attributes: Dark, fire.]

In the level up column, the proud number 300 was written on it.

‘For the first time, the fourth class advancement...’

Hyeonu felt excitement overflow in his heart. He was even on the verge of tears. Anyone would say that the person with the highest level in Arena currently was Rain. Yet Rain hadn’t even talked about the fourth class advancement or level 300. Hyeonu was both a player who enjoyed Arena as well as a streamer.

There was no reason or need to hide the fact that he’d attained the fourth class advancement. He could just make it public and gain attention. This was because interest was directly linked to honor. It was the ranking of ‘first’, so the title of ‘best’ would naturally follow.

‘I might not be able to make it public on streaming, but I can make it public by video.’

Of course, this was a story of when he succeeded in the fourth class advancement. There was no need to post it if he didn’t do his class advancement. It would just invite mockery.

‘I’m looking forward to Lebron’s arrival.’

*** 

The moment Hyeonu’s stream ended, the aftermath swept everywhere.

The biggest issue was one thing—Hyeonu’s level. Level 299—those who didn’t know the meaning of this number simply praised Alley Leader for gaining the top spot in Arena’s overall character level. However, those who knew the meaning of level 299 were astonished for other reasons.

At level 100, they gained the ability to materialize magic power. At level 200, it was turned into pure energy. So what would happen at level 300? What would happen then?

Rain exited Arena after 10 hours of hunting to find his smartphone glowing brightly. A man’s name was written on the LCD screen of the smartphone.

“What’s the matter, Mascherano? You called me,” Rain said when he made the callback. The name on the screen was ‘Mascherano’. Mascherano was the captain of Red Bull America.

-You are still slow to hear the world news. What level are you now, Rain? Mascherano sighed when he heard Rain’s greeting, which was like he knew nothing.

Rain cocked his head at Mascherano’s words but answered gently, “I just leveled up so I’m 298. Why? Did something happen? What is it?” 

He had no need to hide it from Mascherano. Rain might be relaxed, but it was a consciously enforced state of relaxation. It was a means to make him look better to Mascherano. The actual Mascherano was a serious person, and he wouldn’t speak lightly.

-Alley Leader revealed in his stream that he is level 299. You are overturned. He is the highest among the people I know.

Rain’s eyes widened when he heard Mascherano’s words. It was unbelievable. Their levels were now flipped.

‘I thought I would be surpassed someday, but...’

He never imagined that day would come so quickly. The shock was greater because he thought Alley Leader would slow down after making his professional debut.

“His level is already that high? I expected it, but it’s a bit shocking.”

-Aren’t you too calm? You aren’t actually crying, right? A man has no charm if he does that. That’s why you don’t have a girlfriend...

“Stop talking nonsense. Now I can play the game comfortably. In fact, I was a bit tired. In the first place... It was a burden.”

Rain felt relieved. He had worked hard and climbed to first in the rankings. After that, he hadn’t been able to enjoy Arena.

‘It is the current, the current.’

There was a feeling of pressure that tried to crush his body. He was swept away by his name, created a guild he never thought about, and appeared in streams. However, Rain had no interest in it. He just wanted to play Arena until he died.

-So there was something like that. That’s why I was surprised at first. You used to be happy when you leveled up...

Mascherano instantly noticed what Rain was trying to say. The first time they met, Rain was a player who just liked Arena. The next time they met, he became a celebrity among rankers. It was around this time that the two of them became close. Before that, they were just acquaintances.

Mascherano was looking for teammates to join the pro league together and cheekily approached Rain to establish a friendship. At that time, Rain firmly rejected Mascherano’s offer. He didn’t want to be a professional player. It didn’t suit him.

-Congratulations on putting down the heavy baggage, friend. Now just walk the path pioneered by Alley Leader. Then what are you going to do now?

“What do you mean?”

-My friend... you aren’t even number one in the rankings now. How are you going to meet a girl?

Mascherano’s laughter echoed like crazy through the handset.

“I’m hanging up.”

Rain pressed a button to end the call. After that, he looked at the numbers stored in his smartphone. He was thinking of going out for the first time in ages. Rain thought he could enjoy it a bit now.

‘Where should I go?’

*** 

Lebron arrived in Phinis the day after Hyeonu reached level 300. It was a fate-like timing. Hyeonu naturally welcomed Lebron happily. He had no choice but to do so because his fourth class advancement was at stake.

“Master, you’re here?” Hyeonu gave a 90-degree bow to Lebron.

Seeing that, Lebron criticized Hyeonu, “You don’t usually do this. Why are you acting in such an embarrassing manner?”

Still, there was a subtle smile on his face. Hyeonu approached Lebron and kept talking to him: “Why did you come here so late? Was it serious enough to throw away your only disciple’s territory?”

Hyeonu cringed at these words, but he didn’t show it on the outside. He could bear this much because there was something he wanted from Lebron.

“Throw away? What are you talking about? There was just a little problem. It isn’t something you need to care about. Okay, why are you being so nice?” Lebron put his face right in front of Hyeonu’s. His eyes were shining very sharply.

“I said it many times. It isn’t always for a reason,” Hyeonu replied.

“Really? Then bring the alcohol quickly. I’ve come a long way, and I’m thirsty.”

After hearing Lebron’s words, Hyeonu took out a bottle of alcohol from his inventory. There was one bottle for each hand, so there were two bottles in total. Lebron reached out his hand as if to grab them, but Hyeonu didn’t hand them to him. Instead, Hyeonu stared at Lebron, and Lebron stared back at him.

The two of them exchanged glances for a long time. Lebron eventually couldn’t stand it and opened his mouth to ask, “What is it?”

Then he quickly waved his hand. It seemed like he would give an armed demonstration if Hyeonu didn’t hand over the bottles immediately. Hyeonu held out the bottle and said, “I have something I want to ask you.”

Lebron snatched the bottle of alcohol from Hyeonu’s hand like a hawk hunting fish.

“What is it? Tell me quickly.”

“I need something new. I want to become stronger, Master.”

The moment Hyeonu’s words were over, Lebron’s gaze shifted from the bottle to Hyeonu. He scanned Hyeonu’s body and opened his mouth: “Have you already grown this much already? Unfortunately, you are still just a successor...”

Lebron smiled with satisfaction. Then he asked Hyeonu, “Where is the training ground in this place? No, let’s go to the nearby mountain. There is no need to destroy the castle for no reason.”

They were blood-filled words.

*** 

Hyeonu took Lebron to the place where the knights of Phinis trained. Originally, there were monsters in that location, but the knights hunted them down. Now it was hard to even find traces of the monsters. In other words, it was now a quiet forest where no monsters appeared.

“This is an atmosphere that can’t be felt in the capital. Sometimes training in a place like this has its own flavor,” Lebron said. 

Hyeonu looked at the pleasantly smiling Lebron like he was a madman.

‘What flavor can be found in training? Is this the refreshing forest taste?’ Hyeonu wondered.

However, he was smiling as always.

“Disciple, what are the characteristics of the skills of the Knights of Keon?”

Hyeonu didn’t panic at Lebron’s sudden question and answered based on his knowledge: “The main thing is the use of magic power compared to wielding weapons. That is usually what I learned from you.”

Lebron nodded. It was as Hyeonu said. The Knights of Keon weren’t restricted by weapons such as swords and spears. The theory was that as long as they mastered magic power, they had a powerful strength regardless of the weapon used.

“I have taught you a lot. It started from how to manipulate magic power to how to use it more efficiently and quickly. So what more do you need now?”

Hyeonu couldn’t answer. He stood still and stared at Lebron, waiting for his words to continue.

“Now it is time to train magic power itself. You are already able to utilize it well. Your magic power itself should be stronger. Disciple...” Lebron drew out his last word. This brought tremendous pressure to Hyeonu. A strange feeling of anxiety filled his entire body.

Lebron continued while smiling, “It won’t be easy this time. You won’t be able to gain it as easily as before.”

His expression looked especially excited.