CHAPTER 4:RANKING
Maximus was deep in thought, strategizing how to replicate Ardeus' abilities when, suddenly, the sky itself flickered. A glowing window materialized midair, visible to every living being across the world. The atmosphere grew heavy, as if reality itself braced for something monumental.
Then, a voice, grand and omnipotent, shattered the silence.
[HELLO, WORLD.]
The very heavens trembled at the command. Birds scattered, waves crashed, and every single human, beast, and monster alike felt their souls vibrate in response.
[AS YOU CAN SEE, SOME OF YOU HAVE AWAKENED YOUR TALENTS. BY NOW, YOU'VE LEARNED TO USE THEM AND NAVIGATE YOUR STATUS WINDOWS. LET'S MAKE THIS MORE INTERESTING.]
[STARTING NOW, EVERY COUNTRY WILL HAVE A NATIONAL RANKING BASED ON STRENGTH AND MONSTER KILLS. THIS RANKING WILL LAST FOR 30 DAYS.]
The world collectively held its breath.
[ONCE YOU REACH LEVEL 3, YOU WILL UNLOCK THE SHOP. THE REWARDS FOR THE TOP 10 ARE AS FOLLOWS:]
TOP 1 — REWARD TO BE ANNOUNCED AT THE END OF THE RANKING.
TOP 2 — 20 HIGH CRYSTALS + 1 RANDOM SKILL.
TOP 3 — 15 HIGH CRYSTALS.
REWARDS DECREASE UNTIL TOP 10 RECEIVES 1 HIGH CRYSTAL.
[FOR THE TOP 100, RANK 11 GETS 100 LOW CRYSTALS, DECREASING TO 2 LOW CRYSTALS FOR RANK 100. GOOD LUCK, SURVIVORS.]
The message ended, leaving an electrified silence in its wake. Then, like wildfire, excitement, fear, and ambition erupted across the globe.
---
Far Beyond the Dragon Country…
On a battlefield soaked in the blood of monsters and men alike, a lone figure stood amidst the carnage. His stark white hair billowed in the wind, and his crimson eyes burned with an eerie glow.
"Interesting…" the young man muttered, a smirk playing at his lips.
Beside him, a statuesque blonde beauty tilted her head, her icy blue eyes reflecting the moonlight. "A ranking? Do you think we can take it?"
"We will." His voice was as unshakable as a god's decree. "Unless someone out there is stronger than us."
The remains of a mutant zombie lay at his feet, reduced to mere bones.
[Successful Absorption. +10 MP]
"Too slow." He wiped his hand clean as a new message appeared.
[EXP +100]
Almost Level 2.
---
In the Corean Republic…
A lone figure stood amidst a horde of fallen zombies. He didn't breathe heavily. He wasn't even scratched.
Behind him, ten skeletons—his former enemies—rose from the dead, their hollow eyes gleaming with unnatural light.
The young necromancer's lips curled into a ghostly whisper.
"Arise."
The undead straightened, awaiting orders.
---
Back in Dragon Country…
Near Maximus' location, a titan of a man roared as he swung his battle-axe, cleaving through zombies like paper dolls.
"Hahaha! DIE, DIE!" His muscles bulged unnaturally, veins glowing red with power. His awakened ability granted him strength beyond human limits.
A girl watching nearby gasped. "He's a monster! He'll definitely rank!"
"He might even take Top 1!" another exclaimed.
Across the city, near a school, teachers struggled against a relentless horde of undead. But amidst the chaos, a goddess-like woman led the charge.
Her long, obsidian hair whipped in the wind as she crushed a zombie's skull with her bare hands.
"Stay together! Use your abilities!" Her voice was both commanding and reassuring.
A male teacher wailed from the sidelines. "Why did I awaken 'Smooth Hands' instead?! What the hell kind of talent is this?!"
The students cheered. "Go, Teacher Angel! You can become a ranker!"
---
Meanwhile, Near Maximus…
Ardeus, the arrogant brat from a wealthy family, cackled as he burned entire swathes of zombies to ash with a flick of his fingers.
"HAHAHA! RANKING?! TOP 1 IS AS GOOD AS MINE!"
His lackeys eagerly flattered him.
"That's right, boss! With your ability, no one can compete!"
Dylan, a swordsman with metal-enhanced abilities, grinned. "We'll secure the top three spots easily."
A muscular youth scoffed, arms crossed. "Only the three of us will rank. That useless loser over there? He's dead weight."
Their laughter rang through the night as they sneered at a beaten figure on the ground.
Daniel Park. A transfer student from Corea.
His blood mixed with the dirt, but his soul burned with fury.
'I swear… I will make them suffer.'
His newly awakened ability pulsed within him.
SOUL ABSORPTION.
His hands clenched. His body trembled.
'I will conquer this world.'
---
Maximus, still hidden, observed the chaos with calculating eyes.
'Ranking, huh? I have to be number one.'
A glowing leaderboard materialized in the sky.
[DRAGON COUNTRY RANKINGS]
(Points = Number of Kills)
1. Aly - Level 1 (3050 pts)
2. Zephyr - Level 1 (2410 pts)
3. The One Above All - Level 1 (1660 pts)
4. Executioner - Level 1 (1550 pts)
5. Zion - Level 1 (1510 pts)
6. Atlas - Level 1 (1450 pts)
7. Emperor - Level 1 (1400 pts)
8. Peerless Tyrant - Level 1 (1380 pts)
9. Blaze - Level 1 (1360 pts)
10. Kai - Level 1 (1350 pts)
A notification popped up:
[Only the top 10 will be displayed publicly. To view the top 100, think the command.]
Ardeus screamed in rage. "WHAT?! WHY AM I NOT ON THE LIST?!"
Dylan quickly checked. "Boss! You're in the Top 25!"
"BULLSHIT! I SHOULD BE NUMBER ONE!"
Maximus chuckled to himself.
'So, I'm only in the Top 20, huh? Looks like some people are ahead of me… for now.'
He retracted his consciousness from his clone, letting it hide in a nearby house. Pulling out his phone, he scrolled through social media.
> "Hey, do you guys know who these rankers are?!"
"Kai's my classmate! He's a kendo prodigy from a martial arts family!"
"Blaze is from Sky City! There's even a video of him annihilating zombies at high speed!"
Maximus skimmed through the top rankers.
> Peerless Tyrant – A bald, muscle-bound boxer.
Emperor – A summoner.
Atlas – Strength-type talent.
Zion – Assassin-type.
Executioner – Control-type.
The One Above All – A literal giant, throwing cars like toys.
Zephyr – Lightning-based, enhanced physique.
Aly – No data…
Curious, he tapped a video.
A city—half frozen solid.
A voice whispered in awe. "Holy crap… everything's frozen."
The camera zoomed in on a lone girl—barely 15—slashing down two massive mutant zombies effortlessly.
His fingers twitched with anticipation.
He stood, eyes locked on Ardeus and his group.
'Time to get stronger'