Chapter 71: The Lower Apostle of the Earth Dragon God

Returning to the waiting room, I surveyed the battlefield.

The promising talents from each country had definitely showcased their abilities.

Elin from the United States of America.

Kim Muhyeok from China.

Kenji from Japan.

Leo from the United Kingdom.

These four stood out the most.

They had also accumulated the most points.

[The second round has ended.]

As the message disappeared, the surrounding scenery changed. Everyone who survived up to the second round gathered in one space.

A little over 200 people.

China had the largest contingent, about 40 members, while Spain had the fewest with just one.

‘Korea has 10.’

Not too many, not too few.

But many lacked points, so aside from myself and the Golden Tower Mage, it was hard to consider the rest as part of the main force.

Effectively, it was just the four of us.

However, I could exert power beyond theirs, so it wasn’t a major issue.

[The final third round will begin.]

[An additional special rule will be added to this third round. If you die in the game, you will also die in reality.]

[Those who do not wish to participate should forfeit.]

The waiting room, which had fallen silent with the new rule, suddenly erupted into chaos.

“Die?”

“…Hmph.”

“What’s death to us? Everyone knows if you fail beyond the 30th floor of the maze, you die anyway.”

“There’s never been a death penalty in the Hall of Glory before.”

“But usually, if there’s a risk like this, the rewards have to be better, right?”

Then, a new message appeared.

[Final Victory Rewards]

• SSS-grade Skillbook
• SSS-grade Item
• Level Stone
• Dungeon Buff

The rewards were truly staggering.

‘A Twelve Constellations Free Pass, huh.’

If I got all that, I’d easily surpass S-rank and could aim for the vacant seat in the Twelve Constellations.

For those aiming higher, it was the ultimate prize.

“At this point, I have to join.”

“Me too.”

“If we let another country snatch this, aren’t we idiots? We have to participate no matter what.”

While some eagerly expressed their intention to participate, others gave up.

“I quit.”

“Forfeit.”

“We’ll stop here. We can’t win anyway.”

Hunters with low numbers or insufficient points withdrew from the waiting room by forfeiting.

Among them was the USA.

“The smell is terrible. You guys are going to get sick eating this. I’m forfeiting too.”

Elin, America’s promising talent, glanced over the waiting room, then neatly gave up and returned to reality.

“Dokkaebi, what should we do?”

“Forfeit all of them.”

Yoo Seolha sent me a worried glance.

“But shouldn’t we stay? We’ve gathered quite a few points.”

“It’s easier to move alone. I don’t have time to watch over you all.”

“…Something’s up.”

“Exactly. So go back.”

“Understood. Everyone, go back.”

Quick-witted Yoo Seolha forfeited all Korean participants and returned to reality herself.

The waiting room now held 100 people.

Most had allies, and no country was left alone like me.

Because of that, all eyes turned toward me.

“What kind of confidence is this? You’re going to face us alone?”

“Dokkaebi, huh? Do you really think you’re a dokkaebi?”

“I’ll avenge the Blood Fiend.”

“You’ll pay for messing with China.”

“Thinking about how we’re suffering because of that guy… grr.”

This reaction wasn’t limited to China. Apostles on the Japanese side were also smiling at me.

Everyone here was my enemy.

Even those who had no personal grudges would try to kill me for the rewards.

‘I don’t need to feel sorry.’

Since they had made up their minds to kill me and claim the reward, I had no intention of showing them mercy.

[The third round will begin.]

[The third round will be held in a special arena.]

[Moving to the arena.]

Swoosh!

With a dazzling white light, the scenery changed.

A vast green meadow.

I stood alone in a wide field without a single tree.

[This round is a survival game.]

[Monsters granting special powers or points are scattered throughout.]

[The playable area will shrink over time.]

[Survive until the end to claim victory and rewards.]

[The match begins.]

As the message vanished, a cool breeze blew.

Breathing deeply in the wind that felt almost real.

‘A trap laid out by the Apostles to hunt me.’

In their eyes, I must look like I fell right into the trap.

But it was the opposite.

I knew who the Apostles were, and I had walked into this place on my own.

Despite knowing the danger.

I had come here to deal with the Apostle of the Earth Dragon God.

‘I have to finish it while I can see it clearly.’

In fact, being invited like this was more convenient for me.

They created a battlefield where I could run wild.

If I had searched for the Apostle in reality, tangled interests involving Japan would have made it difficult to eliminate them.

Here, killing an Apostle affiliated with Japan was no problem at all.

That was the rule, the regulation.

And with such generous rewards, there was no reason not to join.

“Time to start the hunt.”

The third round of the War of Glory.

As the message explained, it had the rules of a survival game.

Those who played online games would have encountered survival games at least once.

‘I used to play a lot.’

In survival games, the key was to gather hidden rewards or items scattered around and take good positions to eliminate enemies.

It was no different here.

Hunt monsters to earn points and gain special powers, then take down your foes.

“There it is.”

In a large lake nestled among the trees, a toad poked its head out.

Looking at it, information popped up.

[Ice Toad King]

• Gains Ice Resistance
• Increases Ice Skill Power
• Increases Maximum Mana
• 3,000p

One of the monsters that granted special powers or points, as the message said.

I casually raised my hand and cast a spell.

I created a massive arrow of fire and shot it toward the Ice Toad King.

Flare!

The flames melted the icy toad instantly.

The toad melted away in one breath.

Along with it, the rewards came in.

[You have gained Ice Resistance.]
[Your Ice Skill Power has increased.]
[Your Maximum Mana has increased.]
[You have gained 3,000p.]

But the message wasn’t finished.

[Offering a sacrifice to the Eye of Bluecat.]

I had hunted a monster in this world, and a relic had received the offering.

‘This makes finding the Apostle of the Earth Dragon God much easier.’

I used mana from the Dragon Heart to cast a detection spell.

Spreading it over a wide area to find living beings.

Whenever a monster appeared on the detection spell, I teleported instantly and eliminated it with magic.

[You have gained 1,000p.]
[Offering a sacrifice to the Eye of Bluecat.]

Speeding up my hunting, I activated Stage 2 of the Eye of Bluecat.

‘Let’s finish this before the Earth Dragon God gets stronger.’

Using the activated Eye, I located the Apostle of the Earth Dragon God.

A white line piercing through everything.

The figure drawn by the line was moving not far from me.

Someone was killing others.

“Not far.”

After filling the Dragon Heart with mana through meditation, I used teleportation magic.

Flash!

A low Apostle of the Earth Dragon God.

His name was Number 10007.

Meaning he was the 10,007th low Apostle personally accepted by the Earth Dragon God.

The chosen low Apostles were assigned to different dimensions and had to participate in a game of hunting the Successor of the Lord.

The order of participation was random.

Those who hunted the Successor were granted special rewards.

Enlightenment containing the path to ascend to High Apostle.

Everyone was aiming for High Apostle status, so the competition to hunt the Lord’s Successor was fierce.

But…

“Damn bastard.”

The reality that Number 10007 was assigned to was a mess created by the Apostle of the Thunder Dragon God.

An outdated plan to block at the 20th floor.

Despite the absurd changes happening, the Apostle stubbornly stuck to his plan with eyes and ears closed—and ended up dead by the Successor.

Whether the Thunder Dragon Apostle died or not was none of 10007’s concern.

But when the first hunter messes up like that, the second hunter has nothing to do.

“How much did this crazy bastard grow the Lord’s Successor?”

The Golden Tower had already produced three high-level mages.

China, exploited by the Thunder Dragon God, faced all sorts of restrictions.

Especially, the skills had improved to the point of defeating Blood Fiends known as the Twelve Constellations singlehandedly.

At least SS rank.

They were impossible to catch as low Apostles.

Even with researched instant-kill magic, they couldn’t be caught in their incarnations.

All that awaited Number 10007 was a meaningless death.

A wasted chance to fly away.

But someone reached out a hand.

—I’ll give you a chance.

Another Apostle extended his hand.

I figured trying something was better than just dying, so I took it.

—Go to the Hall of Glory and hunt Dokkaebi.

So I entered the Hall of Glory and gained great power.

The old rules disappeared.

New rules were established.

Here, where everyone was equally restricted, hunting the Lord’s Successor was possible.

“Phew.”

Number 10007 felt power fill both fists and licked his lips.

He had steadily gathered points in the first and second rounds, investing all into stats, raising them all to level 3.

‘This is still far from enough.’

His gaze turned to the Japanese hunters nearby.

They were oblivious, casually looking around.

“Let’s move first.”

“Hunting monsters to get points and stat advantages comes first.”

“Okay. Kenji, should we split up?”

“Let’s stick together. China might ambush us.”

Watching the careless Japanese hunters, Number 0007 clenched his fists.

A smirk rose on his lips as he pushed off the ground and ran.

Bang!

He struck out, sending a shockwave with his fist.

The nearest hunter’s head exploded.

[You gain all points the player had.]

Not stopping there, he spread his arms and took down two more hunters.

Points piled up solidly.

He quickly raised his stats to level 4.

Using his increased strength, he aimed for the Japanese hunters ahead.

“What the hell is that guy!”

“…Aaargh!”

“Kuh!”

“Ke…Kenji!”

Their desperate cries for Kenji ended as his neck was twisted by Number 10007’s hand.

Crack!

He collapsed to the floor like a broken puppet.

Number 10007 absorbed all the points the Japanese hunters had.

Nearly 500,000 points.

He used them to raise all stats to level 4 and purchased a resurrection ticket to prepare for any mishaps.

‘This is just the beginning.’

If he killed the other hunters inside and wiped out the monsters, he could gain truly overwhelming power.

“Heh heh heh.”

I had already learned the monster locations.

All I had to do was move and take them all.

Just as Number 10007 was about to quicken his pace, someone appeared and blocked his path.

Korea’s rising talent.

His prey.

“Dokkaebi.”

“No, you should call me the Successor of the Lord.”

“You came looking for me, huh?”

“Yes.”

I raised my hand and nodded.

“Bring it on. I’ll crush you.”