Chapter 70: I Will Also Take This Point

The Hall of Glory had begun.

Hunters’ raids on labyrinths or dungeons weren’t broadcast, but the Hall of Glory was streamed live.

TV, PC, tablet, phone—no matter what device you used, it didn’t matter.

By tuning into a specific channel or following a link, you could watch everything unfolding in the Hall of Glory.

“-The Hall of Glory is starting.”

“-Wow. They let in 100 people from each country? This time, they picked way more than ever before.”

“-Why did they pick so many?”

“-They said the rules changed a lot this time.”

“-The participants were limited to those who cleared under the 30th floor, right?”

“-Who do you think will win this time?”

“-Obviously Dokkaebi, right?”

“-Definitely Dokkaebi.”

When the game format was revealed, the community exploded with activity, and numerous posts quickly appeared.

“-Isn’t this actually more fair?”

“-How is that fair, you idiot? There’s a difference in skill and experience.”

“-If there’s a change, there should be time to adapt. This leaves no room for that. This is definitely an advantage for S-rank Hunters.”

“-They’re just being used as pawns for the S-ranks.”

“-Look, all of Japan’s S-rank Hunters are wiping the floor.”

“-Wow, Kenji is insane. I heard he’s a promising talent. With skills like that, can’t he aim for the Twelve Constellations?”

“-Yeah, but it’s still just Dobit-Ken.”

“-What’s Dobit-Ken?”

“-Kenji below Dokkaebi.”

That didn’t sound quite right. Taking a cold look, Dokkaebi wasn’t entirely favored.

“-Their stats are fixed as S-rank. If they can get stronger with bonus points… like the guy said, it’s not all in Dokkaebi’s favor.”

“-Then who’s favored?”

“-China.”

“-What? Those bastards are favored? Bullshit.”

As the second match started, China’s overwhelming performance was broadcast live.

Ten S-rank Hunters made up their team.

They swept all enemies on the field, sweeping up points as they went.

“-They have a lot of people, so there sure are tons of S-rank Hunters.”

“-This definitely favors the side with more S-rank Hunters.”

“-But wouldn’t that mean the points have to be split, putting them at a disadvantage?”

“-No. The limit for points boosting strength is probably capped. So, the side with more strong players just wins.”

“-This is seriously unfair.”

“When was it ever fair?”

Then the third match began.

A coliseum-style circular arena.

Hunters appeared inside.

On the live broadcast, each face was shown one by one, and when a man wearing a Dokkaebi Mask was caught on screen, many erupted in cheers.

“-It’s Dokkaebi!”

“-Let’s wipe those guys out first.”

“-If it’s Dokkaebi, he’ll show us what he’s got.”

“-Ah, I’m nervous. Korea got crushed last time. I really hope Dokkaebi wipes them out.”

“-Just looking at him, he doesn’t seem like Dokkaebi at all.”

“-Damn. Don’t kill the mood.”

“-I’m just being realistic. Look, China’s got ten S-rank Hunters again.”

“-What?”

“-Are all Chinese Hunters S-rank?”

“-Crazy. It’s true. The news says all of them are S-rank.”

“-That’s some kind of manpower advantage.”

“-Hunter brothers, can Dokkaebi actually win?”

But the problem didn’t end there.

Hundreds of Hunters filled the massive circular arena, all staring at Dokkaebi.

The favorite to win.

In order to take down the candidate who couldn’t be allowed to advance, an unspoken alliance formed.

Hunters surrounded Dokkaebi.

“-Hey, that’s cheating!”

“-Is Korea really getting gangbanged like this?”

“-It’s over. China alone has ten S-rank Hunters. Add other countries, Dokkaebi can’t win.”

“-But doesn’t Dokkaebi usually crush the Blood Fiends? Is the possibility really zero?”

“-Their stats are fixed as S-rank. Even if you beat him to death, it seems impossible to win…”

“-If he wins this, he’s a god. A god of battle.”

“-Ah, damn it, I want him to win.”

“-Why do I feel like Dokkaebi’s going to win? Just a gut feeling. Am I crazy?”

“-Me too.”

“-Ah, I’m nervous.”

“-Please, please, please win!”

As the message that the match had started appeared, the Hunters sprang into action.

The alliance that seemed intact suddenly shattered.

Chinese Hunters attacked Hunters from other countries nearby.

A strategy to gather massive points.

The cracked alliance quickly collapsed, and chaos erupted as everyone scrambled for points.

Meanwhile, Dokkaebi was seen smiling as the war unfolded around him.

His hand stretched toward the sky.

Whooooosh!

A massive magic circle appeared in the sky, and from it, a spear made of fierce wind formed.

“Dragon Fang Spiral Spear: Rain.”

With Dokkaebi’s incantation, countless spears of wind rained down toward the ground.

Thoom!

Thoom!

Kraaaang!

Thousands upon thousands of spears scattered and fell, biting enemies like sharp dragon teeth.

“Gyaaaaaah!”

“Urgh!”

“F-Fall back!”

“Block it! You bastards!”

Dokkaebi’s magic moved as if it were alive.

The spears of wind pouring from the sky surged toward the living Hunters.

The number of Hunters rapidly decreased.

Chinese S-rank Hunters who had secured points beforehand invested points to block Dokkaebi’s magic.

But that was as far as it went.

On the contrary, Dokkaebi’s magic, fueled by massive point investment, tore through China’s Hunters, ending the match.

With a single spell.

Power strong enough to fell hundreds.

Everyone couldn’t help but marvel at the overwhelming force.

“-Wow… What did I just see?”

“-That was on another level.”

“-Where are the guys who said Dokkaebi would struggle?”

“-Is that even human?”

“-No, putting that aside, is that even possible?”

“-A monster.”

“-Isn’t that real strength?”

“-His mana management and consumption are just overwhelming. That’s real subtlety born from experience.”

“-Hey, hey, hey! Everyone, charge! One Dokkaebi is enough for us!”

With the message that the match had ended, the fourth set of participants entered the arena.

The three mages of the Golden Tower once again showed overwhelming power.

“Wow, insane!”

“-Korea’s the best!”

“-Korea’s taking this Hall of Glory!”

“-Woooooo!”

And so the first round of matches ended completely.

Immediately, the second round began.

[From the second round onwards, an additional rule applies.]

[A boss monster will be added.]

[Defeating the boss monster grants 5,000 points.]

The first match of the second round began, and surviving Hunters from each country appeared again in the arena.

At their center was a Black Orc.

It was about twice the size of a normal Orc, and its presence was extraordinary.

The first to target the Black Orc were the Hunters from the United Kingdom.

They charged in to claim the Black Orc’s points, but the moment the Orc smiled slyly and swung its fist—

Kraaang!

A massive blast of wind pressure exploded, instantly obliterating the Hunters.

“-That’s at least SS Rank, right?”

“-There’s no such rank, but yeah… this has to be a limited SS Rank.”

“-How do you kill that?”

“-You have to cooperate no matter what.”

“-Then it’ll be a battle of wits.”

“-Wow, this is tough. Whoever kills it will be completely drained. If they get ambushed then, they die and lose the points too.”

“-But it doesn’t seem like that Black Orc can finish off others and kill alone either.”

“-Then giving up on the monster is the most rational.”

“-But those 5,000 points would be such a waste.”

Everyone’s attention was focused as the Japanese Hunters moved, and the first match of the second round officially began.

If the initial number of participants was around 20,000, it had now dropped to about one-tenth.

That meant the points that could be gained from defeating other Hunters had also decreased accordingly.

‘I have to kill the boss monster no matter what.’

Losing points worth 50 Hunters was simply too much.

But the hunt didn’t look easy at all.

“In the end, they’re forming alliances.”

At Yoo Seolha’s words, I watched as Japanese Hunters persuaded Hunters from other countries to start hunting the Black Orc.

At the forefront, Kenji and an Apostle.

The two dodged the Black Orc’s attacks and created openings, while other Hunters piled on damage using their skills one by one.

“We have to kill it. Points will become even more precious as we go.”

The reason for hoarding points desperately—

It was because of the various stats that could be raised in the Point Shop.

Strength, Agility, Stamina, Mana—

Skill power or consumption rate as well.

They even sold a resurrection ticket that allowed you to revive once.

Because this system was the biggest variable, securing a large amount of points was advantageous in the Hall of Glory.

Whoooosh.

“Gyaaaaaaah!”

The Black Orc screamed and collapsed.

Kenji, an S-rank Hunter from Japan, pulled the sword stuck in the Black Orc’s heart.

As he wiped off the black blood, Hunters nearby rushed to attack Kenji.

“Kill him!”

“Now’s the chance!”

But someone blocked their way.

The Apostle of the Earth Dragon God.

A Black man with dreadlocks smiled widely and clenched both fists.

The muscles in his forearms twitched.

Then he threw a punch at the approaching enemies.

Thoom!

The fierce blow swept away the attackers, with power similar to what the Black Orc had wielded.

Meanwhile, Kenji used a potion to recover.

He charged forward alongside the Apostle and hunted down the remaining Hunters.

[The final surviving nation is Japan. All survivors gain 1,000 points.]

[Selecting the second participant.]

Shuaaak!

A beam of light poured down as my body was transported to the arena.

I scanned the opponents.

‘…Hmm.’

No outstanding prospects were visible.

I should have encountered rising stars like Kim Muhyeok or Kenji from other countries by now.

But something felt off.

‘…Are they raising others to their limits, then planning to hunt me last?’

It might be a far-fetched thought, but inside this, I had to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

“Everyone, fall back. I’ll take all the points this time too.”

“Yes.”

“We trust only Dokkaebi.”

After watching the previous teams’ matches, Hunters from other countries proposed an alliance.

“Dokkaebi, if you lead, we won’t target you first. What do you all think?”

“Fine.”

“If that’s the condition, I’m in too.”

“We agree as well.”

Even the Chinese side, who usually moved individually, expressed agreement.

The Hunters who agreed to the alliance looked at me.

It was obvious they’d try to stab me in the back while we were hunting the Black Orc.

Seeing those waiting for my response, I quietly opened the Point Shop.

[Point Shop]

-Strength Stat: 100p

-Agility Stat: 100p

-Stamina Stat: 100p

-Mana Stat: 100p

-Skill Power Enhancement: 100p

-Resurrection: 5,000p

[Points Available: 197,000P]

I invested the points earned from wiping out a round into Mana.

[Purchasing Mana Stat Level 1.]

[Purchasing Mana Stat Level 2.]

[Purchasing Mana Stat Level 3.]

[Purchasing Mana Stat Level 4.]

[111,100P spent.]

[Remaining Points: 85,900P.]

I gauged the total amount of mana brimming inside my body.

Roughly the equivalent of Dragon Heart 5-Star.

That was more than enough.

“Aren’t you going to join the alliance?”

“No.”

“What?”

“Dragon Fang Spiral Spear: Rain.”

I used the spell from the first round again.

This time, thanks to the abundant mana, the power was even greater.

The spears of wind pouring from the sky swept away all the Hunters except those from Korea.

[Points gained.]

[Points gained.]

[Points gained.]

Watching the points rapidly accumulate, I controlled the magic to finish off the remaining enemies.

All but one.

If I killed everyone, the match would end, and I wouldn’t be able to hunt the Black Orc.

“Gyaaaah!”

“Urgh!”

Leaving the one barely clinging to life, I looked at the Black Orc in the center and cast Meditation Magic.

I quickly replenished my drained mana.

Then I focused to create a spear of wind.

With the power of Dragon Heart 5-Star and the deeper understanding of magic that came with it,

I restructured my ultimate spell.

“Dragon Fang Spiral Spear: Ultimate.”

With the chant, the wind spears flew forth.

Before the storm struck, it felt calm.

A gentle breeze brushed past my ear.

The spears struck the Black Orc’s crown.

A massive storm erupted, tearing everything apart.

Kraaaaaaang!

[You have hunted the Black Orc.]

[5,000p gained.]