NOVEL NEXT Episode 45:
Even if only temporarily, we can have the setting at the end of the Plague Lord season.
It is not the players, including Yooseong, who do not know its meaning. That's why we all had no choice but to take a deep breath.
[Skills and equipment are provided to each player....]
As the light swirled and fell, the ten top players there each revealed themselves. It was not at the beginning of the season, but at the time when I had climbed the tip during the Plague Lord season and had obtained all kinds of final equipment. All of the
skill cards, equipment accessories, and artifacts were legendary or mythic, and had all kinds of upgrades. .
The air around the area became heavy. A storm of power that could not even be compared to before began to stir.
After the world became a game, the ten strongest people who were said to be the pinnacle of the game were there.
“It’s really nice to see my Earth Defense Force comrades again like this. How are you doing these days, Mr. Red?”
“You bastard...
Yooseong pointed at Geomju and sarcastically, and Geomju’s expression froze for an instant. At that moment, the tomb keeper opened his mouth.
“...People around the world are watching us. Please act carefully.”
He was not the helpless man he was just before.
A man in a coat and a bowler hat is holding a cane with a blood-red skull decoration on the handle. Just like an old gentleman from the Victorian era. The pitch-black magical power swaying beneath his feet and the whispers of ghosts were swirling around the man like an intangible air current.
It wasn't an illusion. The silhouette of a huge and ominous skeleton, almost like a giant god, was vaguely appearing behind him.
Grave Keeper Apostle of the Immortal Lord A mysterious player who is full of more mystery than any other player.
“Oh right. “It was on air.”
Nevertheless, Yoosung also didn't care and just shrugged his shoulders calmly.
“Anyway, how many of us, other than the saint, will be able to show off their abilities for broadcast purposes?”
“That’s funny, King of Heroes, what are you so embarrassed about? Are you ashamed of yourself for mocking the player’s mission?”
“Even during the Plague Lord raid, the broadcast should have been running like it is now. “It’s such a shame, Mr. Red.”
Yooseong sneered, and the sword in his hand glowed pale. He was determined to live as if he would be swung at the King of Heroes at any moment.
《Jin（員）: The sword of one who craves defeat, ‘Poison Gogu Sword (獨孤 MD’) >
- Rarity. Mythic Weapon Final Awakening
- Performance
. Attack power +999, Accuracy correction +999
. 9 hits in 1 attack
- Description. The sword of a swordsman who wandered his whole life and died lonely, looking for a strong man to defeat him.
A mythic grade weapon that had completed its final awakening was in his hand. Among the ten players here, not one was an exception.
The strongest of the strong, boasting enough power to destroy a nation one by one.
“You’re having a trivial fight again. “What a bunch of immature men.”
Right then. A woman's cold mockery was heard. It was a woman wearing a velvet dress that was so gorgeously shining. Like a nobleman during the French absolute monarchy.
Mistress Lydia.
“Yes, anyway, you all know how many lives depend on conquering this tower.”
“Just as you say.”
At Lydia’s words, Saint Mary raised her voice and another player nodded.
Lieutenant General Kilgore. A player belonging to the United States Special Operations Command and an apostle of the Warlord. Commonly known as General.
“I just have to do what I have to do for this planet and my country.”
It was right then.
“Ah, you have waited so long! “Heroes of planet Earth.”
A voice was heard. Before I knew it, a man had appeared without even a trace among the players.
It was an unidentified man wearing the mask of “The Laughing Clown.” Seeing that scene, Yooseong took a breath.
“What are you hoping for?”
“Oh, you don’t have to think too hard about it.”
The man in the clown mask spread his arms and laughed.
“This is a festival given by the monarchs to praise your achievements in defeating the Plague Lord.”
“I guess they don’t get along very well because they’re worried that someone might think they’re the kings?”
“It would be best not to provoke the monarchs too much, King of Heroes... and the “Monarch Assassin.”
The swordsman's expression distorted again at the name of the title that Yooseong obtained after defeating the boss of the 5th season, the Plague Lord.
“What should we do?”
“As I said, this is entertainment given to praise you. “Please don’t feel too burdened.”
“Did you think we could get away with ignoring the lives of 100 million people as entertainment?”
At that moment, Lieutenant General Kilgore spoke. Some rankers also seemed to agree with him and showed hostility toward the man in the clown mask.
And among them all, the one who hit the ground without hesitation was China's ranker Swordsman. The peak of
the Taat
player was finally swung with a speed worthy of its name.
“Oh my gosh, this is it.”
The sword master's sword swung, and eight shadows rushed out of his body in sync. In order for each of them to plunge their swords down. It wasn't a metaphor. Shadow swordsmen who literally possessed substance were created, each wielding their own sword.
Hits 9 times in 1 attack. One body and eight silhouettes combined to attack, and it was a single sword.
Once again, the sword lord swung his next sword, and once again eight shadow swordsmen emerged and swung their respective swords. It wasn't even an imitation of an attack.
Literally, each shadow swordsman was thinking the same way as the swordsman, finding the optimal move and swinging.
After swinging the sword just twice, 18 sword dances had already taken place.
Moreover, at this point, each and every sword possesses enough destructive power to shatter even Mount Tai.
It is not controlled through swordsmanship. There is no need to worry about concentration of consciousness being disturbed in proportion to the number of swords. Because it was literally a ‘passive ability’ embedded in the sword itself.
Therefore, there is no need to even mention how deceptive its abilities will be in the endless battle of the strong with swords clashing with each other. In fact, it will be like a 1 vs 9 fight.
However, even the endless swings of the Dokgogu sword could not help the man in the clown mask. The sword lord probably didn't expect much either.
“No, who wouldn’t say Red? The broadcast appeal is amazing.”
I remember the system message when I entered the tower.
People around the world were watching this through a live broadcast, and Geomju's real target would have been there as well.
Broadcasting and self-display.
“Then I will now explain the rules.”
And the man in the clown mask smiled and spread his arms wide.
“No one dies in this tower! Even if you are killed by the tower, the same thing applies. There is no need to feel burdened or worried about anything!”
“Then what should we do? Should I run again and again?”
“no.”
The man in the clown mask smiled and snapped his fingers.
“——The name is Produce 10!”
“what?”
“Vote for your hero now! “You, the viewers watching this broadcast, are the ones who can decide the hero of this tower!”
Yooseong was momentarily dumbfounded by those words and asked again.
“No, that program... Eup Eup!”
“Oh my, Mr. King of Heroes. Please pay attention to what I say. “We also have rules to follow.”
The corner of Yoosung's mouth twitched arbitrarily as he tried to say something. Looking at that scene, the saint asked back coldly.
“So what do we have to do?”
“It will attract the interest of ‘viewers’ who are watching this tower. That's it. And ‘rewards’ will be paid to you in turn according to the number of votes. “You can win, and even if you fail, you have nothing to lose.”
The man in the clown mask spread his arms and laughed exaggeratedly.
“It’s okay to show off your abilities here and it’s okay to appeal to people for your beliefs! And if you ask me, I can even spawn monsters or set up arenas on the fly! In other words, everything is your freedom! And based on that action, viewers will vote.”
“Um O eup eup...
ver > ■” ver 9 ver.
“You said that if you fail to conquer this tower, 100 million people will die. So what is failure in this tower?”
“Ugh! Eupeup…
“Oh, nothing much. “If the number of votes is too low or viewers lose interest, the strategy will be considered a failure.”
“Why can’t I even call my father father? “Is this Suzaku’s kingdom?”
...
Only then did Yooseong's restraints loosen and his mouth began to babble so that he could float alone even if he fell into the water. When the saint heard that, she was dumbfounded and shouted back.
“Yuseong, now is not the time
!”
“So, are you trying to appeal for votes? Then please feel free to do so. “Can I also vote for the saint?”
Yoosung answered calmly as usual, and the man in the clown mask laughed.
It was right then.
“I am the sword lord. “I would like to request an ‘Arena’ with Hero and Kang Yoo-seong.”
“Ah, I’m glad you understand so quickly.”
He adjusted his sword and opened his mouth, and the man smiled and bowed exaggeratedly.
“Why am I fighting?”
“Oh, by the way, according to the rules, you cannot refuse your opponent’s match request. However, if you die or lose in the arena, you can be resurrected immediately and you cannot leave this tower until the voting is over.”
“Ha....
When Yooseong heard that, he turned his head in bewilderment. The possibility that it was just a vote survival game but actually a battle royale was ruled out.
“Let’s ask one last question, Mr. Red.”
“It’s a sword.”
“Are you going to attack me again after getting smashed like that?” Yoosung asked back. At the same time, the Colosseum was built along the area filled with darkness, and the floor was reborn as heat sand.
People's shouts were echoing loudly in the Colosseum. In no time, except for Yooseong and Geomju, the rest of the players had also been moved to a certain location and were watching the duel between the two.
“Do you really think voting has any meaning?”
The sword master asked back.
“what?”
“Votes mean nothing to me unless I defeat you. And so was my defeat that day. It was not a fight to be lost. Therefore, we will once again correct our defeat.”
“home.”
Yooseong was dumbfounded by those words and fell silent.
“Let’s see what happened to my deck and equipment… After
just glancing at the status window, Yooseong quickly turned his head.
The best player and top ranked hero, Uiwang.