Ranker's Return

Chapter 740

“It is 12 wins and 0 losses in the arena ranking battles. Ray, what is your ranking now?” Hyeonu was speaking in such an exaggerated manner that anyone could see it was acting.

“I am 978th place,” Ray also answered in an exaggerated manner in line with Hyeonu’s words.

“You have become the diamond ranker that you have been aiming for.”

“Yes, I am a diamond ranker at rank 978.”

“Congratulations, Ray.”

“Thank you, Alley Leader.”

Hyeonu and Ray continued the conversation that made viewers cringe. They didn’t care about how the viewers reacted. This was the settlement of their efforts so far.

‘He did a really good job.’

Every one of Ray’s ranking battles had been one-sided fights. It was natural as long as Ray could utilize all of his specifications. Ray’s specs were overwhelming in the platinum section. His agility stat wasn’t lacking compared to those who mainly put their points in agility. The other stats were at such a high level that it was meaningless to compare.

‘The problem is that it is over so quickly...’

After Ray’s ranking battles, Hyeonu’s worries came to life. The time spent on 12 ranking battles was a bit less than two hours. During this time, the ranking matches only ran for an hour. The rest was the time was how long it took to match the ranking battles.

‘I can’t finish it here...’

The stream had to last for at least four hours. This was due to his conscience as a professional streamer.

“Ray’s challenge has come to an end. From now on, Alley Leader’s arena smash will begin.”

Hyeonu thought about it and pulled out his ranking battles as content. There were many reasons for playing ranking battles as content. One reason was that it was arena content similar to Alley Leader Academy. Another reason was that he hadn’t shown himself playing ranking matches on the live streams for a while.

‘The biggest reason is...’

There was a bigger reason than the previous two.

‘I’ll fill this up a little bit.’

Among Hyeonu’s items was a ring from Rubolle—Rainbow of Desires. It was an amazing item that increased the item effect every time a certain condition was fulfilled. Hyeonu had already fulfilled three conditions and now had to meet the fourth, which was to win 66 PvP games.

‘It is 37 consecutive matches now...’

Hyeonu had done the ranking battles 37 times and won 37 times since the stage four condition was opened. Now all that remained were 29 victories. In order to fill it, he pulled out the ranking battle content now.

-Are the streamers sniping after so long?

-What sniping? In fact, they are tiger moths.

-Everyone needs attention. It is because Alley Leader has so many viewers.

-Sometimes this isn’t the case. Once Alley Leader starts the ranking battles, all the top masters will go underwater. Their mentality will be broken.

The viewers welcomed the words that Hyeonu would do the ranking battles. They liked Alley Leader Academy where they could observe the changes, but they also liked seeing Hyeonu crush the rankers.

“I will start the ranking battle right away.”

Hyeonu started the matching process the moment his words were over. However, time passed by, and he didn’t get a ranking battle. Neither Hyeonu nor the viewers said anything about it. It was because they knew it would take this long.

‘How many times is this? It seems to be slower.’

This didn’t stop him from getting annoyed. Hyeonu wasn’t simply ranked 1st in the arena. He was undefeated; he had never lost even once. This was why his score was so high that it couldn’t be compared to anyone else in the internal metrics. Therefore, he wasn’t matched with many people. Even those with slightly lower rankings emerged as matched opponents when he didn’t match with anyone or a certain period of time.

-It is sudden communication time for the arena rankers who were on a winning streak.

-Who is sniping at whom? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I think Alley Leader is sniping the other kids.

-It is the atmosphere where everyone is packing up and running away. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Isn’t he an outcast among rankers? How did he do this simply by turning on the ranking battles? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Just then, Hyeonu’s eyes widened as he looked at the chat window. The viewers who knew the situation of other streamers started to make fun of Hyeonu.

“They have run away again? It can’t be like this. So who do I play with in the ranking battle? Huh? Do I have to play with the 200-300 people again? After waiting 20-30 minutes?” Hyeonu burst out angrily as he watched the chat window.

‘Somehow, there are no matches.’

Hyeonu sighed as he figured out why the slow matching was even slower. The top-ranked streamers who heard that Hyeonu had started the ranking battles had quit the arena. Hyeonu remained silent for a while before opening his mouth to say, “Among the streamers who are streaming in real-time, who is above a master ranking? Everyone, please give me reports.”

-First of all, the grandmasters are streaming, but all of them are hunting.

-Sijong hyung was caught trying to escape and is currently being nagged at.

-Reina just turned on the streaming.

-Leo and Teika are hunting.

The viewers became informants and conveyed the situation of the other streamers. In an instant, information about the movements of dozens of people flew to Hyeonu.

‘Except for those who are hunting... I think there are roughly 30 people playing the arena.’

Hyeonu organized the information he had obtained. Who could afford to do the ranking battle? Among those who could afford it, who was more likely to be matched with himself?

‘First...’

“Since everyone is avoiding me like this, I will end today’s stream here. It seems that it will be difficult to proceed any further. I think it is a waste of time,” Hyeonu said while his expression instantly hardened. It was a momentum that meant he was going to end the stream right away.

-This can’t be.

-He is about to run away after two hours.

-Today’s live stream is too short.

-Let’s go thin and long, not short and bold, streaming master.

The viewers were flustered by Hyeonu’s sudden words.

They really thought Hyeonu was going to end the live stream.

-Guys, what are you doing? I don’t want to go to another room. Let’s make a fuss.

-Catch all the streamers who ran away before the ranking battle.

-Go to the chat window!

Hyeonu’s audience instantly halved. Those who left moved to the live streams of other streamers and started an indiscriminate chat rampage.

‘I didn’t send them...’ Hyeonu just watched the actions of such viewers. It was indirectly induced, but he didn’t say it outright.

“If you survive for five minutes… just five minutes in the ranking battle, you will get a promotion permit.” Hyeonu threw out some bait. It was bait that any ranker would rush toward with shining eyes.

-A promotion permit? He is giving that?

-Spread this news quickly.

-The ones who are a bit lower in the rankings will be very disappointed.

-However, don’t you have to hold on for five minutes? You won’t get anything if you can’t hold on. ㅋㅋㅋ

The viewers admired Hyeonu’s distribution of goods. Then they quickly grasped Hyeonu’s intentions and shook their heads. No player could be certain they would last minutes against Hyeonu who was using all of his power. No, they couldn’t think of even one person who could do this.

Right then, Hyeonu disappeared from the arena. He was matched for a ranking battle.

***

[The ranking battle has started.]

Hyeonu looked ahead without panicking at the new scenery. It was to see who the opponent was.

On the other side of Hyeonu was a familiar face that he knew very well. It was a face he saw just before today’s live stream.

“Reina?”

Hyeonu’s opponent in the ranking battle was Reina.

“Please take care of me.” Reina didn’t say much. She just had a solemn expression. No matter what she thought about Hyeonu, he was currently the opponent she had to fight against. In particular, Reina had achieved her current skills through several spars with Hyeonu, so she had a serious attitude toward the ranking battle.

Seeing Reina’s appearance, Hyeonu also regained his seriousness. After all, he wasn’t just a funny streamer. He showed off his dignity as the number one in the arena rankings.

Hyeonu pulled the Mysterious Sky Sword out of its sheath with a clear sound. Meanwhile, Reina rushed toward Hyeonu rather than drawing her sword. The distance between Hyeonu and Reina narrowed in an instant.

-Why so fast?

-The difference between platinum and grandmaster is great.

-100 platinum players won’t be able to win against a grandmaster.

-I don’t know if it is 100 against one, but he can’t die if it is one against one.

The level of speed was different from the ranking battles that Ray had just shown. The speed felt twice as fast.

Hyeonu lightly blocked the sword that Reina wielded. Reina used a skill while their weapons were in contact. An extreme chill flowed from her body and penetrated the Mysterious Sky Sword. In an instant, the Mysterious Sky Sword was frozen white.

However, Hyeonu had an expressionless face. He didn’t seem flustered at all. Hyeonu injected magic power into the Mysterious Sky Sword. The white ice started to be dyed purple. After a while, the ice on the Mysterious Sky Sword split apart and fell to the ground.

Hyeonu lightly swung the Mysterious Sky Sword. The Mysterious Sky Sword crossed the air like a snake.

Reina saw it, and her expression slightly stiffened. Reina’s white sword blocked the purple Mysterious Sky Sword. However, she couldn’t hold out against Hyeonu’s overwhelming power and was pushed back. Nevertheless, Reina managed to use her skills even in this brief moment. She swung her sword, and white ice flowers scattered along the trajectory and surrounded it. The hundreds of ice flowers flew to Hyeonu along different trajectories.

Just then, Hyeonu’s body moved erratically. A faint shadow passed between the ice flowers, but he couldn’t avoid all of them. What couldn’t be avoided was cut or deflected by the Mysterious Sky Sword.

Hyeonu reached Reina by using Mysterious Sky Steps and raised the Mysterious Sky Sword from the bottom up. Reina turned the moment she saw Hyeonu’s attack. The Mysterious Sky Sword passed by at a very close distance to Reina’s body. Then Reina’s sword struck the side of the Mysterious Sky Sword.

The Mysterious Sky Sword was tilted toward the ground. At the same time, Hyeonu leaned forward while holding the Mysterious Sky Sword. Reina lowered her sword and quickly aimed it at the approaching Hyeonu. Hyeonu bent his knees and folded his waist without a single look. Reina’s sword passed just over Hyeonu’s head.

Hyeonu gave strength to his feet in this position and pushed hard against the ground. He shot forward strongly like a fired cannonball, and his shoulder struck Reina’s abdomen.

“Oof!” Blood flowed from Reina’s mouth.