Chapter 387

'Clearing it solo, huh. This isn't much of a restriction for me.'

Since he had planned to summon no more than five players for the general quests anyway.

Whether five or alone, the actual power would be more or less the same.

However, one thing did concern him.

'The last general quest was to reach Stage 10, but the Epic Quest demands a clear completion.'

Clearing the Boss Rush.

How far did he have to go to achieve that?

Seong Jihan looked at the open extraterrestrial chat and spoke.

"This Boss Rush… how many stages does it have?"

– There's no end to the stages, I think?

– The highest I've seen is Stage 14.

– From Stage 6 onwards, the level of bosses is on a different scale…

– Isn't it just about outlasting your competitors?

Extraterrestrial beings kindly responded to Seong Jihan's question.

By summing up their responses, it seemed that the last survivor among the 20 players would be the one to clear the Boss Rush.

'Depending on the skill level of my competitors, it might end before Stage 10.'

In that case, would the general quest be tougher?

Seong Jihan thought about it that way and examined the Epic Quest again.

'However, there's no reward shown here. This wasn't the case before.'

While the general quests had level-up rewards.

The Epic Quest didn't have a rewards section at all.

Previously received Epic Quests clearly had a rewards section, so this was peculiar.

Seong Jihan stared at the quest window for a moment.

'Still, I should accept it for now.'

He pressed accept.

Thus, Seong Jihan ended up with eight general quests and one Epic Quest.

In this Boss Rush mission alone, he had a total of nine quests.

[The 1st round will begin in 5 minutes.]

Was it suggesting he summon the sponsoring players?

There was a grace period of 5 minutes before the game began.

And as soon as the message disappeared,

Flash! Flash!

On the screens showing the competitors' arenas,

The other players began summoning their forces without reservation.

– Whoa… these competitors are summoning a lot of players.

– It's almost like an army.

– Now I get why this map is so huge.

– Seong Jihan has a lot of sponsors too, shouldn't he summon his players?

– Would they be helpful though? Hope they don't just get in the way LOL

– Better than nothing, I guess;

Human viewers worriedly suggested that Seong Jihan summon players.

However,

"Owing to some circumstances, I'll be going solo this time."

Seong Jihan said calmly.

– What?? Solo??

– Are you kidding?? I put all my GP on you, though…??

– Is he crazy? Betting everything on a constellation candidate LOL

– Given he's just a candidate, does he even have supporting players? He's not an actual constellation.

– No, this guy's a bit different. He had supporting players too.

– Then why not summon them?

– Seriously, even if human players are subpar, throwing them out as meat shields could be beneficial…

– Yeah, even a few seconds' delay can change rankings.

Extraterrestrial viewers, more agitated than the humans, reacted strongly to Seong Jihan's answer.

It seemed because they had betted GP, they were madly berating him.

Seong Jihan glanced through the irate chat.

"Come to think of it… is self-betting possible here? Where can I find it?"

Ignoring the demands to summon supporting players, he showed interest in the betting option.

– The game's already started. It's not possible.

– You should have done it before the first round.

– Check the arena section of the system. It might be different for participants.

Following the feedback from extraterrestrial beings, Seong Jihan navigated the system's arena section and found the betting option.

"Oh, it's still available?"

Even though he expected betting to be closed right before the first round, the arena's betting option was still open.

Seong Jihan checked his odds.

"Odds of 70 to 1… I'm ranked last."

Out of the 20 players, he proudly held the spot with the least likelihood of winning.

– Seong Jihan has 70 to 1 odds?

– Wow LOL That's practically nothing on Earth LOL

– Extraterrestrials are raking it in, making money easily…

– I wish I could bet on Seong Jihan… easiest way to make money.

– This doesn't show up on BattleNet betting sites.

– Hurry up and implement arena betting lol

Upon seeing the 70 to 1 odds, the viewers felt envious.

Human viewers, having never failed a bet on Seong Jihan, found such an opportunity too valuable to miss.

– Even though he's a constellation candidate who can't summon players, his odds are only 70 to 1? LOL

– It's all because the administrators showed interest. Normally, it should be 200 to 1.

– Why can't we adjust the bets? The first round hasn't started!

– Seong Jihan can bet GP, but adjustments aren't allowed. That's ridiculous…

– Just bet on Seong Jihan already, let's all fail together…!

Unlike humanity, who had unwavering faith in Seong Jihan, the extraterrestrial beings seemed certain of his defeat.

Seeing the suggestion to bet on himself, Seong Jihan chuckled.

"You want me to bet on myself? Alright. Might as well multiply my GP a bit."

He hadn't needed to spend much of his accumulated GP lately.

Leaving the minimum required GP aside, Seong Jihan placed the rest of his GP entirely on himself.

While others continued summoning players and setting up defenses,

He leisurely waited for the 5 minutes to pass, placing some bets instead.

– Seriously, this is hopeless…

– Wow, look at all the Ruler constellations… Over 10 summoning more than 500 players.

– Even Sovereign constellations aren't alone; they summon around 50. Why's this guy solo despite having Ruler status?

– Didn't he say there are circumstances? LOL

As those betting on Seong Jihan began to sense imminent defeat,

[The 1st round is about to begin.]

The game commenced.

* * *

In the middle of Boss Rush,

Standing before a colossal creature, Seong Jihan calmly spoke.

"Was it weak until Stage 5?"

With one movement of his sword,

Sssssizzz!

The giant creature's body ignited and quickly exploded in all directions.

And then, a rising message.

[You have cleared the 5th round.]

[General Quest 'Boss Rush Stage 5' completed.]

"It's really weak."

He leisurely stepped back, watching the creature's body repeatedly explode.

– Wow… He won again?

– Winning isn't the issue. He's wiping out bosses with a single strike;

– Competitors are already down by three, but he's playing a different game solo…

– Seems like he gets stronger every time we see him…

By the time the Boss Rush had reached Stage 5,

The bosses that emerged were enormous enough to justify the vast map.

'The 700 days of training weren't in vain.'

Having dismantled the Heaven's Chaotic Flow, Seong Jihan's Martial Soul shot up, allowing him to easily dispatch such opponents with basic martial arts.

While competitors fought frantically alongside their summoned players,

"Wow… looks like number 2 will be eliminated."

Seong Jihan crossed his legs and watched his opponents' matches.

– Look at his composure; finishing the game solo and now just lying there.

– As expected!! I believed in him!! One who attracts the administrator's attention is different!

– Why didn't you bet on Seong Jihan? Don't you have eyes?? Do you have so much GP??

– Those whining about bankruptcy a moment ago are suddenly acting all high and mighty LOL

Watching Seong Jihan's prowess, the extraterrestrials' attitudes did a 180-degree turn.

– But Stage 6 will be different.

– That's when the real challenge begins… just wait and see.

– Regardless of what comes next, do you think those who couldn't finish will die first, or will Seong Jihan lounging here die first?

– No, since he has to protect the crystals, it's actually a disadvantage for Seong Jihan who doesn't have sacrificial players to throw.

– Fine, just hand over your GP already.

– Why can't they finish so quickly?? Seong Jihan cleared it in seconds!!

'They seem more excited than I am.'

Watching extraterrestrials betting on him cheer wildly, Seong Jihan chuckled.

Whether dealing with humans or aliens, greed made everyone act predictably.

After solo-clearing Stage 5 and spectating the competitors' attempts,

BOOM! BOOM!

"It's over now."

Seeing crystals shatter on other screens, he stood up.

'Two more have been eliminated, so 14 are left.'

With Seong Jihan included, 15 players remained in the Boss Rush.

Already, a quarter had been eliminated.

And then,

[Stage 6 is about to begin.]

[A powerful enemy appears.]

Stage 6 started immediately.

Shuuuu…

Beyond the arena, a colossal violet vortex formed, from which massive currents of electricity rose.

Then, a message emerged above it.

[Stage 6 Boss, 'Thunder God'.]

'Thunder God?'

Seeing the opponent labeled as Thunder God, Seong Jihan narrowed his eyes.

'Isn't he supposed to be gone?'

The Thunder God, who had resisted to protect his godly throne, was completely subdued by the Martial God.

His head alone had escaped, intending to reincarnate through Crimson Thunder.

In the end, it had entrenched itself within Seong Jihan, trying to consume him.

'He exploded alongside the Ancient Elf… quite a helpful entity…'

Recollecting the Ancient Elf, who sacrificed himself to assist, Seong Jihan reminisced.

Sizz…

But as electricity surged from afar, he glanced back.

The currents consolidated to form a giant figure.

Thump! Thump!

The 'Thunder God' boss, an enormous lion amalgam of blue electricity and violet void energy, finally emerged from the vortex.

'Another servant.'

He noticed the opponent, a gigantic lion mixed with blue electricity and violet void energy.

– No way… Thunder God at Stage 6?

– They did say a powerful enemy, but this is excessive;

– This might be dangerous.

Viewers tensed up at the emergence of the renowned Thunder God.

Thump! Thump!

The gigantic lion took steps towards Seong Jihan's crystal, and then glanced down.

The lion, seeing Seong Jihan, much weaker by comparison.

However,

[You… no way…]

Crackle…!

Upon seeing Seong Jihan, electricity erupted from the lion's body.

[Se, Seong Jihan!!]

"Huh?"

[To meet you here!!]

The massive lion, displaying extreme rage towards Seong Jihan.

From its reaction, Seong Jihan recognized the opponent.

"You're the Thunder God's commander, right? How are you here? Weren't you supposed to have exploded and died?"

[Because of you, I ended up here!]

"Because of me?"

[…I will kill you. Only you!]

The Thunder God's commander, seething with rage at Seong Jihan,

[ROARRR!!]

BOOM!

Countless bolts of lightning hurled towards Seong Jihan.

Whip!

He extended the Phoenix Flag, absorbing all the thunderbolts.

[Wha…]

"You know, I've grown a lot since you died. But you seem weaker."

[Gr… Grrr…]

Crackle…!

Failing to contain his rage, the Thunder God released more electricity.

However, his struggles meant little to Seong Jihan.

The current Thunder God was far weaker than when he opposed the Martial God.

"Stage 6 is nothing. Let's end this quickly."

Yawning as he approached, Seong Jihan moved his blade.

Szzzz…

Each motion of the sword and spear caused chunks of the Thunder God's body to vanish.

[How… how are you this strong!?]

"700 days of training will do that."

[700 days… just that much? Are you mocking me…!?]

"It's true."

Swish!

As his sword moved, the Thunder God's body split apart.

Facing imminent defeat shortly after emerging, he turned desperately towards the void.

[Void…! I accept annihilation! Allow me one last full assault on this one!]

He called out to the void, momentarily pausing it.

Then,

[Do you accept the Thunder God's proposal?]

A violet message window appeared before Seong Jihan.