Chapter 114

Chapter 114

Spendthrift Necromancer (114)

Necromancer (2)

The finalists for the Super Rookie Selection Tournament had been chosen, and the finals approached.

Even so, Korea's attention was focused not on its own selection tournament, but on China's attempt at a new record.

And no wonder. The finalists were merely A-rank Awakened.

They were supposed to fight Spendthrift Guild, which had destroyed Ilseong's first team with only three people?

The result was obvious.

China's record challenge was different.

Korea's rising star, Kim Minwoo.

It was a challenge aimed directly at him. The two countries already bickered constantly, so when something this provocative was dangled in front of them, it was hardly surprising that everyone's attention shifted over there.

As expected, the finals ended with an overwhelming difference in ability.

“Wow, we're seriously no match for you.”

The Awakened shook their heads, gave awkward smiles, and held something out.

“Um, could all three of you sign these?”

“Of course.”A-rank Awakened practically at Level 499. After signing everything from their clothes to the backs of their phones.

Spendthrift Guild stepped forward for a press conference.

“As the public expected, you've been selected as the final representatives for the Super Rookie Selection Tournament! Could you share your thoughts?”

“I'll tell you after we win the tournament itself.”

The reporters nodded.

The same words sounded completely different depending on who said them.

Those three had earned the right to be arrogant.

This wasn't even something like the Gate Contest where genuinely elite Awakened from around the world competed, but merely a rookie tournament.

Of course they would aim for first place.‘That's enough about their impressions.’The reporters' eyes gleamed.

The real highlight began now.

“Guild Master Kim Minwoo! Han Chaerin from SKS! An SS-rank Achievement appeared in China. Did you perhaps also achieve an SS-rank Achievement?”Even when S-rank was believed to be the highest, people had already suspected he might be above it. And now that a new SS rank had appeared.

It was only natural for questions like this to flood toward Kim Minwoo.

“That's right.”

“……!”

The reporters' eyes widened.

They'd privately suspected it, but speculation and confirmation were entirely different things.[(Breaking News) Kim Minwoo officially admits to SS-rank Achievement!][(Breaking News) Korea was actually the world's first nation to produce an SS-rank Achievement!][(Breaking News) There was a reason behind his extraordinary performance!]―Knew it lol I thought there was no way he was only S-rank lol―I could force myself to accept Cedric if I clenched hard enough lol but adding Merhen noona too was just too much lololol―For real lol What S-rank Skill in the world summons all that? lol―Still, he admitted it way more cleanly than I expected lol―Yeah. Now that there's precedent, revealing his true rank probably feels less burdensome.―Right. Plus, if he'd shown that when his Level was low, every Assassin in the world would've swarmed him. Especially from North Korea lol―Isn't his Level still low now? He only bought the Dullahan Skill Book recently.―That's by ordinary Awakened standards. Kim Minwoo's over Level 251 now? He'd hunt the Assassins instead lol―Then why did China reveal theirs? Isn't Liang Xiaojun low-Level too? Isn't that dangerous?―Nine Dragons Guild will probably guard him like their lives depend on it.―Yep. Nine Dragons is a global first-tier guild. Middle of the pack among first-tier guilds, sure, but still several times stronger than Korean guilds.―So his backing is insane?―Pretty much. Meanwhile, when Kim Minwoo was low-Level, there wasn't really anyone strong enough to protect him. At best Ilseong Guild or his bodyguards…… hmm…….―Would've been rough if serious Assassins came to kill him lol―Sorry again for being Korea ㅠㅠ Sorry again for being Korea ㅠㅠ Sorry again for being Korea ㅠㅠArticles poured out.

The reporters' excitement burned hotter.

SS-rank Awakened had appeared in both China and Korea.

They even had the same Class, and both challenged Gates of similar difficulty at Level 1.

Liang Xiaojun had undoubtedly received generous support from the Chinese government, meaning +9 Skill Books, elixirs, equipment, and everything else.

And that wasn't all.

Rumors that Liang Xiaojun was skilled with a sword had circulated for a long time.

Right now people were mocking him as little more than a Kim Minwoo copycat, but what if he succeeded in setting a new record?

The mood would turn cold in an instant. This was practically a battle of national pride between the two countries. Naturally, the question had to be asked.

“Awakened Liang Xiaojun will soon enter the Gate! Guild Master, do you think he'll succeed in setting a new record?”

“Are you joking?”

“You think he has no chance?”

“Why do you think super rookies form parties when they're Level 1?”

“Well…… because they have no real combat experience?”

“Exactly. China should be grateful if he can even beat Isabella. Frankly, I'm not sure he can do that either.”

“……

But Mr. Kim Minwoo, you solo-cleared at Level 1.”

“Are you seriously putting me and that guy on the same level?”―Kyaa lol―Now that's Korean confidence lololol―He says what needs saying! Kim-Cola!―Honestly, not every super rookie is created equal lol―Agreed. Just because you got an S-rank Achievement doesn't mean you become a world ranker.―Yeah. Never forget. Kim Minwoo made the Sword Immortal kneel at Level 1. Damn.―Don't exaggerate lol He only held his own somewhat.―Do you have any idea how insane it is to hold your own against Sword Immortal with an ordinary civilian body? lololol―Taking away the nationalism, yeah, that's seriously impressive lol―Kim Minwoo's probably right. Not cope. Objectively speaking.―Why?―China's first SS-rank Awakened. They definitely analyzed him. If his swordsmanship was amazing, would they make him Necro? They'd make him Swordsman lol―Maybe they just wanted to copy Kim Minwoo?―Nah, there's a limit to that too. My guess is his swordsmanship is only okay, so they put him on something else.―True. If he could hold out against Sword Immortal with a civilian body, they'd definitely make him Swordsman lol―Then why the hell did Kim Minwoo……?―(Horror) One of the Eight Great Mysteries of the World. Damn.―(Bizarre) Nobody knows the answer.―Surely he has some profound reason lol―Just accept it and move on lol―He got Merhen noona in the end, right? Drink up~* * *Korea wasn't the only place burning after Kim Minwoo's bold declaration.

China was blazing just as fiercely.

Public opinion burned hot.

You only had to look at the reporters gathered before the F-rank Gate, Ratman's Sewer.

Amid a flood of questions.

“Mr. Liang Xiaojun! We've just received Kim Minwoo's live comments…….”

Liang Xiaojun's face reddened at the reporter's words.

Especially at, ‘Are you seriously putting me and that guy on the same level?’ His face went beyond red and practically turned crimson.

“Hah. An Awakened from a small nation is truly arrogant. I suppose he's trapped in his narrow well and unable to face the true breadth of the world.”

“Are you confident you'll set a new record?”

“Of course!”

Liang Xiaojun nodded.

SS-rank Awakening.

This completely unexpected event was nothing short of an opportunity bestowed by heaven.

Not only had he entered the famous Nine Dragons Guild in one leap, he'd received enormous support.

And that wasn't all.

His family was enjoying plenty of benefits too.‘I absolutely have to succeed.’What if he failed?

They obviously wouldn't dispose of him or anything. He was China's first SS-rank, after all.

But…….

His future would become rather bleak.

He might spend the rest of his life being compared to Kim Minwoo and branded eternal second place.

The enormous investment plan worth trillions might even be scrapped entirely.

Just imagining it sent chills down his spine. Necromancer was one of those Classes that collapsed without money.

No investment?

Then why the hell would anyone pick Necromancer?

He would've been better off becoming a normal Swordsman.

Just thinking about it made cold sweat gather across his face.‘It's fine. Kim Minwoo is only the same rank as me in the end.’Liang Xiaojun steadied himself.

He had no choice but to become a Necromancer anyway.

The President himself had ordered it. How could he refuse?

Since he'd already chosen the Class, the correct thing was to think about how to make it work.‘Maybe he uses swordsmanship a little better than me.’But Liang Xiaojun had an SS-rank Skill.

And it looked unbelievably good!

Naturally, he'd revealed the Skill to the Nine Dragons Guild.

From the President, China's most powerful man, down to numerous high-ranking officials, everyone had been curious.―Haha, I'm counting on you.

The Skill was impressive enough that the Nine Dragons Guild Master had patted his shoulder with a satisfied smile the moment he saw it.[Follower of the Death Lord][Rank: SS][Type: Passive][Effect 1. All stats of summoned undead increase by 20%.][Effect 2. Mana required to summon undead decreases by 20%.][Effect 3. A powerful Commander can be summoned at certain Level intervals.]‘Heh. Just looking at it fills me with confidence.’A precious Passive Skill.

And a large-scale Skill capable of affecting his entire army.

He had no idea what exactly the Death Lord was, but it clearly seemed like some extraordinary existence.

That had to be why such incredible effects were granted even though the title only called him a Follower.‘Kim Minwoo probably got something similar.’Even accounting for +9 Skill Books, elixirs, and equipment, the number of Skeletons that bastard had summoned was extraordinary.

He must have had a Mana-reduction effect.

And judging by that Bone Knight or whatever he summoned, he probably had something similar to the Commander-summoning effect too.

And even all-stat increases!‘The foundations are basically the same for both of us.’That meant it came down to pure skill.‘But…… I'm overwhelmingly ahead when it comes to the Commander summon.’A powerful Commander summon.

He had already tested that long ago.At Level 1, the one he could summon was.‘Varian, Minion of the Dragon Knight.’He didn't know what a Dragon Knight was, but the name sounded incredibly impressive.

And this thing was supposedly the minion of such a being.

The actual summon was extremely satisfying too.

A massive, powerful Skeleton summon.

It looked almost like what you'd get if a barbarian from a novel became a Skeleton.‘His speech is pretty clumsy…….’But that hardly mattered.

Varian might be terrible at speaking, but all his stats were focused entirely on combat.‘I'm satisfied with that.’What use was conversation in a fight?

Better to squeeze the bones once and crack open a monster's skull.

“Today, I will clearly show everyone the might of the continent!”

Liang Xiaojun raised a clenched fist and shouted confidently.

“Waaaaah!”

“Liang Xiaojun!”

“God of Death!”

“Crush that little country's arrogance while you're at it!”

From the reporters to the spectators, everyone erupted in cheers.

Liang Xiaojun squared his shoulders proudly and entered the Gate.[You have entered the F-rank Gate, Ratman's Sewer!]

“Come out, Varian!”

A massive Skeleton Commander appeared.

Behind him, an army of nearly two hundred Skeletons emerged. Liang Xiaojun carefully outfitted them with equipment.

“Let's go! The world record belongs to China!”

The undead army advanced proudly…….* * *[(Breaking News) China fails to set world record!][(Breaking News) But did they preserve their final shred of pride? Clear time of 47 hours, 59 minutes, 30 seconds beats Isabella's record…….][(Breaking News) Liang Xiaojun blames spoiled food from the previous day? Says he spent half a day suffering from stomach trouble inside the Gate…….][(Breaking News) President Li praises Liang Xiaojun! Warmly encouraged him, noting he'd wondered why Liang was sweating so heavily before entry…….][(Breaking News) Chinese government officially announces: Even under the worst conditions, we still beat France! The spirit of China is not dead…….]―Fuck lol Stomach trouble is genuinely creative lol―For real lol But for such a pathetic excuse, the record itself isn't bad lol―Yeah. A Level 1 clear in 47 hours would normally turn the world upside down, but unfortunately……. lololol―(Photo of Kim Minwoo after clearing the Gate / Photo of Liang Xiaojun after clearing the Gate)

One looks like he went for a neighborhood stroll, the other looks like he came back from war lololol―Mr. Liang's two-day power diet. Damn.―Ratmen are pretty fucking awful monsters, to be fair lol―Anyway, is it real that the baguette martial artist got cut again? lololol―Thirty-second difference lololol―Look at the Chinese immediately grabbing France by the hair and dragging them down too lololol―At least they had someone they could beat lol―For real lol