Chapter 1177: Awakening (8)
“The number of powerful superhumans active across the continent is already too vast to count.”
The unobstructed CEO’s office in the Cartel headquarters offered a sweeping view of Vulcan’s outer districts.
It was a comfortable space, utterly different from Olivera’s study, which was obscured by a hazy veil and piles of ancient books.
Virgil, handing a deftly brewed coffee to Lennok who sat on the sofa in the CEO’s office, spoke.
“Just the officially registered population in Vulcan alone exceeds tens of millions. Including the outlaws living in the outer districts, it’s even more.”
“……”
“The satellite cities near Vulcan, the Sea of Understanding, and the Pilenom Autonomous Region. Including Machina, the Machine city across the volcanic region, the number would exceed hundreds of millions.”
Virgil, sitting opposite Lennok, tilted his coffee cup and said.
“If you count the numbers across the entire Eastern Continent, several times that population would be captured in the network.”
“So this data chip is a report on the power rankings of powerful superhumans selected from among them.”
Lennok, lifting the data chip Virgil had handed him, replied.
“I heard that the power rankings recently became a hot topic, but… what’s the reason for giving this to me?”
Lennok had become aware of the power rankings just before departing for Torquepaz.
More precisely, it happened right before he went to meet Hylaea as Victor.
It was information that boasted such immense interest among countless Deepweb posts that it had over five million comments, causing traffic to explode.
However, at the time, he was rushing to join Pandemonium, so he hadn’t been able to open the power rankings himself.
Since then, he had remembered the existence of the rankings but had never revisited the Deepweb to look them up.
In the first place, the existence of rankings, as Lennok saw it, was mostly—
“I know what you’re thinking. There have always been comparisons between powerful superhumans, and attempts to rank them.”
Virgil, leaning back on the sofa, sipped his coffee and said.
“But in reality, officially documented rankings have rarely existed. Why do you think that is?”
“Because it’s common for high-level superhumans to conceal and deceive about their abilities.”
It was an obvious question, but Virgil seemed to have information he wanted to convey through this exchange.
Considering Virgil’s personality, as Lennok knew it, this moment itself was probably not meaningless.
Lennok set down his coffee cup and slowly folded his fingers as he replied.
“Powerful superhumans often use Geas with specific conditions to stabilize their abilities… unless it’s for psychological warfare or to enhance their power with a Spell-Word, they generally don’t reveal their abilities first.”
“Exactly. It’s rare to secure enough information to objectively rank them, which is why these power rankings couldn’t be established.”
Virgil looked at the data chip in Lennok’s hand.
“But the power rankings currently on the Deepweb are different. They contain multiple dangerous pieces of information, almost unbelievably created by one person.”
“Is that why I should receive the information this way, rather than going to the Deepweb and seeing the post myself?”
“No.”
Virgil shook his head.
“The power rankings posted on the Deepweb have already been corrupted by multiple hacks. You wouldn’t be able to get accurate information from it now.”
“…What?”
“A significant portion of the information in the power rankings was damaged due to intervention from an unidentified external force.”
Virgil, meeting Lennok’s gaze, said.
“Among them, information about you, Van, was also included. The data I just gave you is a report compiled based on a backed-up version of the rankings from before that happened.”
“……”
“The Planning and Coordination Office views this incident itself as proof of the information’s reliability. It means there’s a force that resents the information being leaked.”
So someone hacked the power rankings post on the Deepweb, ruined it, and deliberately corrupted it?
Only then did Lennok feel a surge of interest in the information Virgil had provided.
Just how sensitive was the information that they went so far as to hack the Deepweb to prevent its spread?
“The Deepweb administrators wouldn’t have stood idly by. What happened after that?”
“They seem to have mobilized Mirror Diver to find the culprit, but there doesn’t seem to be any progress.”
Virgil shook his head.
“The forces involved in this incident aren’t just one. They suspect the Central Front might have intervened.”
“……”
“What’s more problematic is that the author of the power rankings continues to update the information. They’re removing deceased individuals from the rankings and updating the positions.”
Virgil, having finished the remaining coffee, stood up and said.
“Since it’s a Deepweb post that’s having an unprecedented impact on Vulcan, I hope you’ll check it before it’s too late. As long as you exist as the Chairman’s partner, your power will always be needed by the Cartel.”
“Thanks for the consideration.”
Lennok gave a wry smile and shook the chip.
“So, how long do I have to review this before returning it? A report from the Planning and Coordination Office shouldn’t be leaked carelessly.”
“Unfortunately, I’m about to head to an executive meeting for the headquarters relocation project planned for the next quarter.”
Virgil smiled and turned away.
“If someone secretly takes the data chip I left in the CEO’s office in the meantime, well, it can’t be helped, can it?”
“……”
Click!
The moment Virgil closed the door and disappeared, Lennok stood up.
Davi, who had been quietly listening to the conversation from inside his clothes, poked her head out.
“[Unlike the other vampires Master associates with, I like how straightforward he is with work.]”
“…I don’t want to hear that I’m associating with those eccentrics.”
Lennok naturally approached the desk computer in the CEO’s office.
“Let’s open the power rankings right here. You can do that like before, right?”
“[Of course. But the report handed over by the Cartel side does have a little bit of information corruption, you know?]”
Davi, extending her front paws from Lennok’s clothes, said.
“[I have an original backup I organized to show Master later, should we open that?]”
“Let’s do that. It makes sense to look at the original Deepweb post first, and then the Cartel’s risk assessment report.”
Lennok replied as he turned on the monitor.
“[And if we look at the original, we can check the comment reactions below it too!]”
“…Let’s look at the rankings first, then we’ll think about it.”
Whirr!
As soon as Lennok finished speaking, Davi scanned the internal data and displayed it on the monitor screen.
A post on the Deepweb’s Diamond-tier forum.
It looked as if the title, content, and comments were fully preserved and archived.
[Title: Eastern Continent Superhuman Power Ranking] + 6,135,832
“……”
The number of comments seemed to have increased even more since he last saw it.
Lennok, seeing the absurd number of comments, took the mouse and scrolled down.
※ Caution: This power ranking is solely based on the author’s personal opinion.
※ Warning: The author assumes no responsibility whatsoever for incidents arising from the unauthorized use of this information.
※ Reference:
-
Lists superhumans who have been active or recorded in the Eastern Continent within the last 5 years.
-
When updating superhumans currently active on other continents or the Central Front, the reason must be specified.
-
Ascendants are not included in the ranking list.
※ Current 34th updated version. 35th information update in progress.
“…Why are there so many disclaimers?”
“[When I read it before, it seemed like the author had a very meticulous personality.]”
Davi wagged her tail.
“[If they weren’t that kind of person, they wouldn’t have put so much inefficient effort into creating these rankings.]”
“Inefficient?”
Lennok, who had just spoken, suddenly fell silent.
He had scrolled down the post, but the scrollbar barely moved.
“Wait, the post’s file size is… what the hell?”
“[Since the evaluations for the rankings start from around the top 200, should we start there? The higher the rank, the more detailed the explanation.]”
“……”
With Davi’s words, the scrollbar automatically darted around before stopping near the 200th rank.
A diagram of the power rankings, listing ranks, names, and brief descriptions.
Surprisingly, Lennok immediately found a familiar name nearby.
[Tatiana Chiglet. Level 7 Flame Magic Wizard. Blaiver Magic Tower Flame Pillar.]
=A Conflagration Wizard specializing in large-scale firepower. Skilled in bombardment, amplifying firepower by wielding Spell-armaments.
=Gained the epithet ‘Witch of Conflagration’ for her multiple outstanding performances in large-scale engagements on the Central Front.
=Retired to Vulcan due to injury, having left Blaiver Magic Tower. Rumors of conflict with the Tower Lord exist.
=Ranked lower than her reputation due to the above reasons. Possibility of future updates.
“…I see.”
Upon seeing the mere four lines describing Tatiana, Lennok understood why Virgil had called this information dangerous.
The Witch of Conflagration’s origin, specialty, abilities, and current condition. A method of ranking that concisely summarized where she was and what she was doing.
But the most surprising thing was its accuracy, which was infinitely close to the truth, even with some speculation mixed in.
If someone held a grudge against Tatiana, they could abuse this information in any number of ways.
“[Most of the rankings are Level 7 Saint Wizards. Among them, a large number of superhumans from the Eastern Continent are stationed.]”
Davi explained.
“[You’ll have to go up to around the 50th rank to find names Master knows.]”
“Should we look at that area directly?”
He had no intention of meticulously reviewing a ranking list of hundreds of names from the start.
The priority was to check the top ranks first and confirm any names or information he already knew.
Lennok continued to scroll down, then stopped abruptly as he found a familiar name.
[Yanikus Barbaria. Level 8 Physical Ability User. Lord of Kaiushyu.]
=Injured.
=Presumed to be recuperating after surgery from a Conjunction Spell Master at the First Gate.
“……”
The description was not subtly unenthusiastic, but outright perfunctory.
But even more surprising was the name written at a higher rank than that.
[Grisha. Level 7 Sorcerer. Eyes of Blue Watcher.]
=A high-ranking Nature Sorcerer who serves the Lighthouse Keeper. From a minority tribe in the Southern Great Forest.
=Having lived for hundreds of years, she possesses a vast amount of sorcerous power, among the top few across the entire Eastern Continent.
=Her Domain, Southern Vistas of the Green Sea (南蔓圖偕景), played a significant role in the recent Siege of Paradox Green, earning her a high ranking.
=Her personal achievement is known to be Level 7, but there is a possibility of future changes.
“……”
Grisha, the sorcerer.
Was the last time he met her face-to-face as Adamant Thunder, during Lapis Falcia’s awakening?
He remembered her inherent sorcerous power was immense, but he never expected her to be rated higher than Yanikus.
Lost in thought, Lennok scrolled down the post and asked Davi.
“There are cases where no number is listed in the rankings. What does that mean?”
“[Ah, they said they intentionally didn’t put numbers for people with similar skills or rankings.]”
“Then what’s the point of ranking them?”
“[Initially, everyone had a rank, but there was such a huge fuss in the comments that they seemed to have merged the more controversial ones.]”
“……”
It was outrageous, but for that very reason, it was more understandable.
Otherwise, it would have seemed impossible for there to be millions of comments in the first place.
The further he scrolled down, the more unfamiliar names, yet vaguely known, appeared.
High-level Transcendent beings Lennok had briefly interacted with, or directly confronted.
Monsters who had existed as Transcendent beings even before Lennok awakened in this world were situated in the upper ranks.
[Habaek. Level 8 Swordsman. Grand Master of the Sword Sect of Demise (示解劍宗).]
=One of the Giants of the Sunlit World who agreed to the Prohibition Edict in Vulcan.
=Blind. Possesses swordsmanship that severs time.
=After the death of his disciple, he closed the Sword Sect of Demise and secluded himself.
=Presumed to have been involved in Anathema’s death.
……
[Amon. Level 8 Angel Contractor. Eyes of Blue Watcher.]
=Possesses an Angel Organ.
=Not a human species.
……
[Purity Krod Azlan. Level 8 Spearman. Turyeonmun Guardian.]
=A warrior capable of fighting a thousand. A powerful martial artist who rose to fame during the Vulcan Civil War.
=Though he had a belligerent personality, he is presumed to have developed mental issues.
……
[Maiya Lonsdale. Level 8 Enforcer. Pandemonium.]
=Machina’s greatest Enforcer of all time. One of the continent’s top technicians.
=Currently missing. Ranked lower than her previous position.
……
[Betagron. Level 8 Magic Engineer. Affiliated with The Designers.]
=The continent’s foremost military engineering expert.
=Possesses a mechanical army made up of equipment he designed.
=Recently became an Apostle-Slayer, earning him a higher rank.
Instead of dissecting each line, he skimmed through the long descriptions, reading just a line or two.
The unfamiliar list of information had now become accustomed to his eyes, and the speed at which he checked the rankings accelerated.
He quickly checked only the names and descriptions that couldn’t be overlooked, then moved towards the very top ranks.
[Kiriya Yuberz. Level 8 Swordsman. Affiliated with ■■■.]
=Former Commander of the Kabahim Knights. Known to have been exiled after his body was possessed by demonic energy.
=His talent as a spiritual medium is exceptionally outstanding, but he himself does not wish to awaken.
=An expert in one-on-one combat, comparable to Maiya Lonsdale.
=Known for consistently receiving recruitment offers from various powerful factions due to his unique aptitude.
……
[Gapseon Dreyfus. Level 8 Talisman Sorcerer. Eyes of Blue Watcher.]
=One of the continent’s foremost eccentrics, who wandered the Western Continent alone for decades.
=The greatest living Talisman Sorcerer and highest-ranking Barrier Spellcaster. A user of three or more multi-system spellcrafts.
=His Immovable Barrier (不動障壁) is considered the most powerful defensive spellcraft across the entire continent.
=Hailing from the Corrupted Clan (腐族), a lineage cursed with decaying bodies in exchange for outstanding sorcerous aptitude.
……
[Conqueror Baitan. ? Level Trait-type Ability User. Lord of the Wargear.]
=A warlord currently invading and conquering cities along the Eastern Continent’s coastline.
=Raised an army in the Northeast and advanced to the outskirts of the Central Front. Specific military strength unknown.
=Captured 7 city-states. Decapitated all five Level 8 superhumans who ruled those cities.
=Presumed to possess a very unique, growth-type spellcraft or special ability.
Giants of the Sunlit World. Eyes of Blue Watchers. Even divinities completely unknown to Lennok.
Names he had forgotten or never heard of before appeared in various places throughout the rankings.
There were even names he never expected to see in the Eastern Continent, causing Lennok to naturally focus as he read.
[Euphoria Aosel. Level 8 Life Spellcaster. Kundara Elder Council Supreme Committee Member.]
=One of Kundara’s highest-ranking Long-lived Beings sweeping across the continent.
=A commander assigned to the Eastern Front, and a Pioneer responsible for opening a path between the two continents.
=Overwhelming Life Spellcraft incomparable to human species. Unrivaled destructive power.
=Calm and exclusive personality. A typical True Bloodline not favorably disposed towards humans.
=Presumed to be one of the very few Primitive Magic users among Long-lived Beings.
“…Kundara Elder Council? The highest-ranking Long-lived Beings are out across the continent?”
The two pillars supporting Outer Tribulation City Kundara: the Elder Council and the Eight Great Dragon Kings. Were the Elder Council members themselves moving directly?
Judging by the descriptions, it seemed each Elder Council member was achieving tremendous feats on the Central Front.
He vaguely recalled hearing about it, but didn’t realize they were so highly rated.
“The Elder Council, not even the Eight Great Dragon Kings, is moving outside Kundara? Is there some reason for this…?”
The only Long-lived Beings Lennok knew from Kundara’s Elder Council were Regnus, Maleon’s godfather, and Nives, who had passed on her True Blood.
The other Elder Council members hadn’t shown themselves even when Kundara was falling, so Lennok had never seen their faces.
However, he had thought that if any Long-lived Beings were active outside Kundara, they would be from the Eight Great Dragon Kings, rather than the Elder Council.
Was there a reason why the Supreme Committee Members of the Elder Council were moving across the continent and demonstrating their power?
His contemplation was lengthy, but no suitable conclusion emerged.
Instead, the nearly finished scroll simply pulled Lennok’s gaze back to the monitor.
At the very bottom of the power ranking scroll, on the last page, the top 10 rankings unfolded.
“10th and 9th place. Unknown names. 8th place is…”
Lennok immediately paused upon seeing the name listed in 8th place.
[8th. Singular Mind (隻腦) Olinic. Level 8 Metal Spellcaster. Master of the Machine Core Palace (機髓身宮).]
=One of the Giants of the Sunlit World who accepted Vulcan’s Prohibition Edict. Regulator of Metal. One-Man Fortress. Hero of the Civil War.
=A Grand Sorcerer who uses metal-biased spellcraft, and a blacksmith of outstanding skill.
=The Deep Spring (沈泉) forge on the lowest floor of the Machine Core Palace is one of the continent’s most renowned smithies.
=Uses an unidentified armament called the Wheel of Golden Spheres (全輪金球). In cult scriptures, this armament is described as the worst sealing artifact, surpassing even Forbidden Armaments.
=Though inactive for a long time, he is known to have been involved in Anathema’s recent death, resulting in his rank being updated.
“……”
Was Olinic’s power and prestige on the Eastern Continent truly this high?
He knew Olinic was a powerful Transcendent, matching his unusual personality and appearance, but even so, the evaluation was exceptionally high.
But Lennok paid more attention to the phrase at the very bottom of Olinic’s description.
“Excluded from rankings due to inactivity, rank restored due to the Anathema incident…”
Lennok murmured.
“If Olinic’s rank was updated, there might be even more Transcendent beings not currently included in the rankings.”
“[It seems like those disclaimers at the beginning were for this very reason from the start, you know?]”
He understood what she meant.
Powerful Transcendent beings who participated in Vulcan’s past civil war. Or skilled individuals who hadn’t stepped into the forefront might still be out there somewhere.
However, the author seemed to have judged that including all such individuals would excessively diminish the ranking’s effectiveness.
Given that it mentioned regular updates, it was likely a ranking created to compile only recent information and assign ranks.
Considering that, the ranking selection itself could be seen as reasonably rational, but—
That wasn’t what was important.
Scrolling past the top 10 and into the top 5, two names finally caught his eye.
The name and identity Lennok was looking for were right there.
[5th. Cheonbeon (踐燔) Evan Martinez. Level 8 Flame Magic Wizard. Unaffiliated.]
“……”
Lennok skipped the rank and immediately checked the description, tilting his head silently.
The sheer volume of the description was evident, with the section explaining the ranking folded into a (+more) state.
Proof that the evaluation of Cheonbeon far exceeded the standard length the ranking author typically provided.
However, upon seeing the subsequent rank of Adamant Thunder, Lennok couldn’t help but stiffen his expression.
“…This is.”
A section where the rank and evaluation for Adamant Thunder were explicitly stated, unlike Cheonbeon.
Because a single sentence written by the author was visible first in the description.
[3rd. Adamant Thunder (堅雷) Van. Level 8 Lightning Magic Wizard. Vulcan’s Tower Lord.]
=The one and only mortal stronger than an Ascendant at this current point in time.