episode_0082

82. Should I die.

‘Should I die.’

In the speeding car, Sarah thought to herself. What if I can’t get first place like this? What am I going to do? I should die.

After meeting John, who could recognize regression, it was true that her aversion to regression had become significantly worse.

However, Sarah knew. Using regression was essential in this barbaric tower, and delaying regression based on emotions was a foolish choice.

‘No. Maybe? Maybe I can get first place?’

Fortunately, it wasn’t hopeless. Even with her superhuman vision, she couldn’t see any traces, let alone the surrounding players.

The moment she had optimistic thoughts, a blue window appeared in front of the group.

[Achievement Rate: 90%]

[Collecting rankings.]

[Your rank: 21st]

“······!”

Sarah’s eyes widened slightly. She stared at the hologram for a while, then leaned forward.

[Your rank: 20th]

The ranking changed immediately. Sarah realized one thing. When she returned her body to its original position, her ranking dropped by one.

“Deok-su.”

“Hmm?”

“What’s your rank?”

“Uh······ 20th. 20th.”

I knew it.

Sarah looked forward again. She made eye contact with John, who happened to be looking back. They didn’t say anything separately. They exchanged meanings just by looking at each other.

It was certain that John was 19th.

[Achievement Rate: 90.0002161%]

The blue window that appeared once did not disappear. It continued to illuminate the group’s path.

Deok-su stared at one place with an interesting look.

“Oho, that’s amazing. There were so many people earlier, so isn’t 20th place really high? I hit the jackpot.”

He was simply happy. He realized once again that he was an incredibly lucky guy. Originally, he would have been eliminated long ago or in the rear with his skills, but he was in the top ranks thanks to his connection on the 2nd floor. Naturally, the rewards would be greater.

“Hehehehe······.”

Deok-su let out a sinister laugh. At this rate, returning to reality would be a piece of cake. For some reason, the back of John’s head looked pretty.

Sarah, who was coldly watching him, said bluntly.

“Focus on driving. We have to get 1st place.”

“Eh, 1st place? Shouldn’t we just be satisfied here······.”

“······.”

Instantly, Sarah’s gaze became fierce. Deok-su gasped and stepped on the accelerator.

“Ahem, ahem. Well, well. If you’re born a man, you should aim for 1st place. My thinking was short.”

“······.”

Sarah let out a faint sniff and leaned back in the passenger seat. Since the achievement rate had appeared, there were no more variables.

If she couldn’t secure 1st place even when it was just before 100%······

Sreung, her long sword emitted a faint sword sound.

‘I have to die.’

I hope that doesn’t happen.

***

[Achievement Rate: 95.0015161%]

Before long, the blood-soaked night was over. The brilliant sun was shining on the group above their heads.

But now, day and night were no longer important to the group. John recalled the blue window he had witnessed when he passed 95%.

[Achievement Rate: 95%]

[From now on, you are not bound by day and night. You can kill players at any time.]

It was a message that further encouraged competition among the top ranks. It was a good thing for John in its own way. Killing was the most certain way to aim for 1st place. But now is daytime. It was bound to cause inconvenience in many ways.

Conversely, players who exceeded 95% could indiscriminately attack John’s group. Either way was welcome, but right now, ranking was more important than fighting.

He decided to choose a peaceful method if possible.

Well, sometimes the situation wasn’t in his favor.

Kwaaaang!

─Kkueaaaaak!

A faint scream was heard from behind. Suddenly, they cast a spell from behind, so John responded in the same way. Thanks to that, the vehicle’s speed increased slightly.

‘It’s a shame I couldn’t steal their magic knowledge.’

It couldn’t be helped. No matter how he thought about it, graduating the 3rd floor in 1st place had better rewards. Of course, it would be possible if he used regression indefinitely······

Repeating the same situation was more mentally unhealthy than he thought. John believes that human mental strength is a consumable. If you use it beyond a certain level, it breaks.

‘That’s why Sarah is so strange.’

Anyway, it is impossible to keep using regression just to steal magic knowledge.

Sarah said from behind.

“John. There’s a team at 10 o’clock. I don’t know exactly how many people there are.”

“Ah, I see. I finally found them.”

The corners of John’s lips turned up sharply.

His current ranking is 19th. It hasn’t changed at all from before. Even though he killed quite a few players coming from behind.

While he was wondering if he should talk about regression after all, a fish got caught.

John shouted to the back.

“Keep going straight! If there’s a reaction, fight! If not, I’ll take care of it!”

He wanted to resolve it peacefully if he could.

‘There’s no need to kill them. I just need to raise my ranking.’

I’ll just put a few holes in their tires. That should be enough.

Buaaaaaang-!

***

Currently, the 3rd floor is giving various benefits to those who kill players. For example, movement speed increases, or stats increase.

This became a new stepping stone for those in the rear. Due to the pyramid structure, naturally, most players were concentrated in the rear.

John’s group was one of the biggest beneficiaries of these benefits. The mid-range combat ability of a high-level magician was terrifyingly excellent.

And John was not just a high-level, but a magician competing for the top spot.

Hwareureureuk-

A flame with a cross-sectional area thicker than a log extends in a straight line. The target is the vehicle running at 10 o’clock in front.

It was a destructive flame that one could not think of as simply disabling the wheels. The enemies also felt this and reacted passionately.

────!

One of the people in the vehicle jumped out. Just as something flashed, the flame of transcendence was cut off.

The flame, split in two, scattered like petals.

‘I didn’t think they would be defeated at once.’

John clasped his hands together. In response, the red petals wriggled.

Kwakwakwakwang!!

Not all petals exploded at the same time. They exploded with a very slight time difference. This was what John intended. The explosion met another explosion to create harmony and amplify the power.

It was the form of the spell that John had been using recently. You could say it was a realization in its own way.

What method did they use to block it? John narrowed his eyes. Soon, he let out a small exclamation.

“Hoo.”

The vehicle was running leisurely through the wilderness as if nothing had happened. Suddenly, John felt that he had made eye contact with the warrior who had cut the flame. It was definitely not a misunderstanding.

Immediately after, a voice that seemed to shake the earth echoed in the space.

[Hey- you-! There- is- no- more- mercy-!]

It roughly meant to stop fighting. John nodded. He didn’t know if they could see him from there.

His hair floated softly as if it had entered a state of zero gravity. A feast of languages that the criminals could not understand poured out from John’s lips.

As I said before, he won’t kill them. He will only disable them. He will only put a few holes in their vehicle and send them away.

Soon, John’s lips stopped moving.

“Arrrrr- dum!!”

A ray of red flame, drawing a clean arc as if cut with a knife, runs through the sky. The heat felt was on a different level just by adding the concept of chanting.

Eventually, the warrior who had shouted lowered his body. New people also crawled out and stood next to him one after another. All the players except the driver turned back.

That meant John’s spell was that threatening. They took out their respective weapons and resisted the approaching ray.

Seureureuk─

The red ray was crushed helplessly. Deok-su, who was watching it from the side, was even more upset. He was so immersed in John that he was empathizing with him.

‘Strong.’

Indeed, they were a group of players who occupied the top 20 among thousands of people. Even if several people joined forces, they could easily break the spell.

They were crouching down despite having blocked the ray. They had learned from their previous experience. Perhaps they were preparing for the explosion that would come soon. John inferred so.

But unfortunately, it was the wrong answer. They didn’t prepare for the explosion this time. Or rather, they ‘couldn’t’.

Most of his magic power was flowing elsewhere now. John glanced to the side. Sarah, and the bike she was riding, were not visible. Had she arrived by now?

─────!

The next moment, something popped out near the enemy vehicle. John smiled at the familiar figure that emerged through the ground.

A feminine silhouette riding a sleekly designed bike. Sarah had arrived at their destination.