Chapter 1258: Post-War Processing (11)
This was not a revision of the existing Power Ranking, but a new version uploaded as a completely new post.
Only a few minutes had passed since it was uploaded, but the comments already exceeded four thousand.
“Did he upload the ranking as soon as the Deepweb network connection became stable?”
Lennok tilted his head, looking at the post.
“The unusually intense reaction suggests it’s him, but…”
Lennok remembered the ranking’s author because the description he had written at the time was excessively detailed.
Since the author knew the details of what Lennok had done, Lennok had suspected he might be a Kundara associate or a being with recording abilities.
Regardless, he had set that thought aside due to a lack of means to identify the author, but it seemed the ranking had been updated anew after the Subjugation Operation ended.
If he were to ask Davi now, he would roughly know how to discern the ranking’s authenticity, but—
[Puff puff.]
“…”
Davi was back, instantly brimming with excitement, snorting wildly.
Her front paws were already wriggling out of Lennok’s arms, trying to press the post somehow.
Lennok looked down at Davi, who was desperately squirming in his arms, and said,
“Davi, it’s almost time for us to leave again.”
[Master…!!]
Davi stretched out her front paws and looked up at Lennok with desperate eyes.
[Just that. Really, just that one last thing…!!]
“It’s not a matter that can be handled flexibly just because you’re begging.”
Lennok said that, glancing at his watch.
“As you know, it’s an unavoidable schedule. After today, there might not be another chance.”
[…Ugh.]
“It’s important even among the tasks that need to be handled after the Subjugation Operation. Especially in a situation like this, even more so.”
[Master… Master, do you truly have no heart?!]
Davi trembled in shock.
[How can you stand to not look at a Power Ranking that clearly has your name on it? This is ridiculous!!]
“You know that the more you say that, the more I want to see it later, right?”
[I’m sorry!]
“Hmph… Alright.”
Lennok sighed, watching Davi immediately apologize, then took Davi’s paw and pressed the Power Ranking.
“We saw it all last time, so this time, we’ll just look at the top ranks and close it.”
[Master is the best!]
He told Davi they were short on time, but checking the updated rankings wouldn’t take that long.
Passing through the sluggish Deepweb server, he accessed the Power Ranking site, and a familiar phrase caught his eye.
※ Caution: This Power Ranking is solely the author’s personal opinion.
※ Warning: The author takes no responsibility for anything that occurs from misusing this information.
※ Notes
-
The list includes superhumans who have been active or recorded in the Eastern Continent within the last five 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.
※ The previous Power Ranking was hacked too many times, so new posts will be created from now on. Please take note.
…
The unique warning message was also written at the beginning of the Power Ranking he first saw on the Deepweb.
Lennok scrolled past the now-familiar disclaimer and down to the ranking table below.
As expected of a 2.0 updated ranking, new names and changes appeared throughout the list.
But Lennok didn’t check all the rankings and went straight to the very last page.
As he scrolled down the ranking, the descriptions became more detailed, increasing in volume and making the text denser.
The moment he stopped scrolling before the ranking list that showed Power Ranking 10th to 1st place.
Lennok immediately found a name he had seen before, starting from 10th place.
[10th Place. Pseudostar Betagron. Level 8 Magic Engineer. Affiliation: The Designers.]
=Continent’s top military engineering expert.
=After entering the ranking as an Apostle-Slayer, he attempted large-scale military experiments multiple times.
=Successfully created a pseudo-Forbidden Armament, ‘Ferocity,’ using an Apostle’s remains as material, increasing his rank.
=Currently exploring the Forbidden Zone within the Eastern Continent’s interior.
Familiar tone and familiar sentences.
But the descriptions written within were things Lennok could not easily overlook.
“Successfully created a pseudo-Forbidden Armament, huh…”
The creation of a Forbidden Armament was a forbidden art that Aronbaiger, the monarch of Kabahim, had attempted by sacrificing thousands of his own citizens.
Did this mean he had succeeded in mimicking such a feat by himself, using an Apostle’s remains as material?
Considering he earned the epithet ‘Pseudostar’ in the process, it seemed that what this Betagron had accomplished was no ordinary feat.
But there was an even more eye-catching profile written below.
[7th Place. Conqueror Baitan. Level 7 Trait-type Ability User. Warlord of Wargear.]
=A warlord conquering cities along the Eastern Continent’s coastline.
=Captured nine city-states. Decapitated all six Level 8 superhumans who governed those cities.
=His specific rank was recorded and noted at the point when he brought down the maritime trade city Mashta.
=Possesses a growth-type Trait-type Ability that uses decapitation as a trigger.
=Confirmed to be from the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors.
“…”
Conqueror Baitan.
He knew that Baitan was a being from the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors and a mass murderer specializing in decapitation.
He had personally witnessed the slaughter Baitan committed in a city he visited on his way to the Legion Parade under the alias Cheonbeon.
He had remembered Baitan’s name after encountering an Agent who was tracking Baitan’s activities at that time, but—
What caught Lennok’s eye was not Baitan’s abilities or origin, but something else.
Baitan’s rank, which had not been accurately specified in the previous Power Ranking.
A bitter smile automatically formed on Lennok’s lips as he saw Baitan’s previously unknown level.
“Level 7, huh…”
In this world, a superhuman’s power is not always directly proportional to their rank or level.
Among Level 8s, there are abilities not specialized in combat, and among Level 7s, there are abilities exceptionally skilled in fighting.
The difference in rank does not always act as a fatal variable determining victory or defeat in superhuman clashes.
There are certainly those who say the difference between Level 7 and Level 8 isn’t highly significant in a life-or-death battle.
However, it is true that when combat-proficient monsters clash, the one with the higher rank has a slight advantage.
Despite this, Baitan placing 7th in the Power Ranking with a Level 7 rank held significant implications.
“So the ability user who decapitated five Level 8 superhumans was only a Saint Wizard-level?”
Perhaps he was a being with the most anomalous power among all the superhumans Lennok had encountered so far.
Was it a coincidence that such a being from the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors suddenly appeared and roamed the Eastern Continent at this very moment?
Above all, now that he knew Baitan was, in some sense, connected to Ethan Bajour’s revival—
“…”
Lennok stopped his thoughts and forced himself to scroll down.
In truth, this was why he wanted to postpone checking the Power Ranking.
After all, no matter how much he tried to ignore them, the superhumans in the rankings always gave Lennok something to think about.
Now that Lennok was closer to the world’s secrets than ever before, their actions would inevitably influence his judgment.
With little time left until his appointment, he didn’t have time to stare at the ranking table for long.
It would be fine to quickly check only the most important parts and move on.
With that resolve, Lennok skipped the mid-ranks and headed to the very end.
The top-tier list located on the last page of the Power Ranking.
Lennok exhaled lightly and scrolled to the bottom in one go. At that moment,
New names that had climbed into the rankings caught Lennok’s attention one after another.
[4th Place. Victor. Level 8 Manipulation Spellcaster. Affiliation: Pandemonium.]
[3rd Place. Third Apostle Hughes. Level 8 Martyr. Affiliation: Guido Cult.]
[2nd Place. Ezekiel Ron Maize. ? Level ????. Affiliation: Expunged.]
Even Lennok paused, taken aback, by the presence of names he knew but hadn’t expected to see so high.
But before he could process his thoughts, the scroll reached the very end, revealing the full ranking.
The first-place ranking on the Eastern Continent, written at the very bottom of the Power Ranking.
Lennok’s hand stopped abruptly as he confirmed the name written there.
[1st Place. Adamant Thunder Van.]
“…”
[Hmph… This is it.]
Davi, who had been holding her breath in Lennok’s arms, let out a satisfied sigh.
The Cybernetic Spirit, lying on her back and leaning against Lennok, wagged her seven tails vigorously and said in a boastful tone,
[Considering Master’s skill, it should have been like this all along. Now the world seems to be running properly, doesn’t it, Master?]
“Why are you puffing yourself up?”
[Pweeeep.]
As Davi, whose cheeks were grabbed by both hands and stretched, struggled, Lennok looked down at the screen.
“It ended up like this after all. I didn’t think the rank would go down in the first place, but…”
He had expected it.
Now that Myeong was gone, if the ranking was updated after the Subjugation Operation, there would be some change in the ranks.
Other people might also be waiting for that moment, expecting the ranking to be updated.
Who was the most powerful mortal in the Eastern Continent?
They might be wishing for the moment that name was engraved in Vulcan.
Davi, overjoyed, rolled around on Lennok’s lap, clearing her throat.
[I’ve already taken a screenshot of the updated ranking, Master. Don’t worry, I’ll plaster it all over the Deepweb so I don’t forget!]
“…No need. If anything, the rankings below 1st place seem more important.”
Lennok, deep in thought, shifted his gaze.
Although he prioritized checking 1st place, he found himself more interested in the rankings below it.
“Apostles have never been in the Power Ranking before, but this time, one is listed at 3rd place. This is quite unusual.”
[U-uhm…]
“Moreover, I thought Victor’s identity might appear in the ranking, but his rank is excessively high. And above him…”
[No, no!! First, we have to look at the evaluation for 1st place to celebrate!!]
Davi, startled, frantically grabbed the scroll and swiped it.
The moment the ranking table moved, revealing the text in the evaluation section.
[…Huh?]
As Davi’s eagerly anticipating expression subtly shifted, Lennok also tilted his head.
[1st Place. Adamant Thunder Van. ? Level Lightning Wizard. Tower Lord of Vulcan.]
=Newly updated rank after the Subjugation Operation.
=Spellcraft analysis impossible. Presumed to have gained transcendence.
=Exclusion from ranking was seriously discussed but deemed impossible to judge.
=Evaluation to be updated sequentially after confirming eligibility for inclusion.
“…”
[What, what is this?]
Davi, who had been looking at the ranking with satisfaction, instantly puffed up her cheeks.
The Cybernetic Spirit raised her front paws and swiped her hands as if to claw at the screen with her claws.
[Why isn’t it properly written? Aren’t you doing your job right?!]
“Davi.”
Lennok lifted Davi with a bewildered voice, and the Cybernetic Spirit angrily flapped her tails.
[No, they said they almost excluded Master, let alone assigned him 1st place! This is unfair!! I’m going to file a complaint with the Ranking Management Bureau!!]
“I’m sorry, but there’s no such organization that manages the Power Ranking in Vulcan.”
Lennok shook his head, holding the furious spirit who was spouting nonsense in his arms.
“And the ranking author’s mention of exclusion wasn’t for some other reason. He’s simply adhering strictly to the criteria established when the ranking was originally created.”
[What does that mean… Ah?]
Upon hearing that, Davi hastily scrolled to the top and re-examined the content.
The kind of warning message the ranking author had written before posting the ranks.
※ Notes
-
The list includes superhumans who have been active or recorded in the Eastern Continent within the last five 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.
“Ascendants are not included in the ranking list.”
Lennok pointed to the third clause in the notes and said calmly.
“The author knows that I acquired equivalent transcendence during the Subjugation Operation. That’s why he considered excluding me from the ranking, thinking I had become an Ascendant.”
[…Ah, I see.]
“But given my name is listed at 1st place, it’s more accurate to say he’s put off judgment on that matter. He’s certainly no ordinary person…”
Lennok’s gaze, fixed on the ranking, deepened.
“He participated in the Subjugation Operation, yet he deduces what power I gained. The mere fact that such a thing is possible means he’s no ordinary record-keeper or observer.”
[…]
“More importantly, look at the description he wrote while determining my rank… He said he would update the evaluation after confirming eligibility for inclusion. The ranking author himself wasn’t sure if this Power Ranking could be successfully uploaded to the Deepweb.”
Lennok tapped the screen, his gaze low.
A rapid succession of deductions, connecting clues as he considered the opponent’s intentions and motives.
“The author tried to confirm whether or not I had become an Ascendant by the act of uploading the Power Ranking. That’s because the ‘record’ posted by the author could serve as the basis for judgment.”
[That is…]
“He kept trying to confirm something by whether the Power Ranking was listed. This fact alone gives me some idea of who the author is. But…”
On the contrary, for that very reason, he couldn’t understand why the author did this.
He knew the author was no ordinary being, but why show such active interest in the mundane world?
Davi also knew who Lennok was referring to, so she hesitated and asked,
[Could the very purpose of creating the Power Ranking have been to send Master a message?]
“…Perhaps.”
Lennok looked up, slowly closed the screen, and stood up.
“It seems I can’t find out anything more from just this for now.”
[…]
“It seems it’s time to visit the Dark Archive once again soon.”
From the post analyzing Lennok’s performance in the Subjugation Operation to the Power Ranking.
Even though he had a vague idea of who the opponent was, there were still unexplained parts.
Ultimately, there were things he couldn’t know without asking the person directly. There was no reason to ponder unresolved questions for too long.
[Ah! The comments!]
Davi, looking at the closed Deepweb site, belatedly snapped to attention and jumped up.
[Master, we need to check the comments…!!!! Oh, my??]
The Deepweb forum, which he re-opened and accessed, was continuously lagging and freezing in real-time.
Was the number of comments exploding the moment the ranking was uploaded, causing even the newly stabilized central network to fluctuate?
“The reason he uploaded the Power Ranking so late was probably partly due to this.”
Lennok said calmly, looking at the site screen frozen with a loading bar.
“He seemed to have aimed for a moment when the network was stable, but even considering that, the reaction seems to have been quite intense. I’ll check the other parts later.”
[Noooo!!]
“No, now there really isn’t any more time.”
Lennok said that, stood up, and picked up his coat.
“Besides, it says the ranking evaluation will be updated later, so what’s the point of checking it now? It’s not too late to check once all the relevant information is out.”
[But… but it’s fun! Master enjoyed it too!]
“They’ll probably just be fighting again about whether Cheonbeon or Adamant Thunder is stronger. There’s no need to watch further.”
Lennok gathered his mana, gripped his coat, slung it over his shoulder, and lifted his head.
Closing his eyes and concentrating, he spoke to Davi, who was sitting on the floor,
“If you want, you can watch it by yourself during the Mid-term Settlement. You can collect reactions separately, can’t you?”
[…No. It’s not fun if I’m not watching it with Master anymore. I’ll just come with you.]
Davi sat on the ground, stretching out her front paws as if asking to be picked up.
The moment Lennok embraced Davi and pulled his coat tight.
Intense darkness burst forth, transforming into the shape of a Shadow Robe.
Whoosh!!!
The robe wrapped around him, turning as black as shadow, and instantly, Lennok’s presence and mana pattern changed.
In Lennok’s hand, shimmering beyond the murky shadows, was an opaque obsidian mask.
Lennok put on the mask, turned his gaze, and began to walk, his voice modulated.
“It’s been quite a while since I participated in a Mid-term Settlement.”
In the aftermath of the Subjugation Operation, Lennok had to clean up not only as Adamant Thunder.
Since he had lured the faction using his Victor alias to control the Incarnation Body until the very end.
There were still matters that had to be handled under Victor’s name, not Adamant Thunder’s.
He needed to meet with Pandemonium and sort out everything related to the Subjugation Operation.
“Then, shall we go now?”
One of the important schedules that had to be handled first after the Subjugation Operation.
All the spoils and rewards Pandemonium had gained through the Subjugation Operation.
It was time to receive compensation for all the things he had done under Victor’s identity.