BXBX NOVEL Chapter 224
Chapter 224
Chapter 224: Match Fixing (2)
Transcendental language.
Higher beings of the universe use this language freely, but beings of humble origin, like Yeongwoo or Dragos, could not.
A mere planetary inhabitant who had just started learning the transcendental language could only manage a single word at best.
And the only information that word could contain was purely what the speaker knew.
Thus, the word “Mara” that Dragos had just pronounced was fragmented information.
Even so, the description was unsettling, causing Yeongwoo to be extremely tense.
―Master of the Void, one who walks in the shadow of universal laws, King of Ten Thousand Demons.
‘Wait a minute. Walks in the shadow of universal laws?’
As Yeongwoo was deciphering the meanings contained in “Mara,” he paused at the part about walking in the shadow of universal laws.
This wasn’t just a metaphorical expression; it literally meant that many universal laws bypassed “Mara.”
At least, according to the transcendental language spoken by Dragos.
So, this meant.
‘No way, does this guy Mara not pay taxes?’
Yeongwoo muttered to himself in frustration and covered his mouth softly.
The titles were Master of the Void and King of Ten Thousand Demons.
Also, considering Dragos was reciting a prayer towards the sky, the true identity of “Mara” was likely.
‘…Could it be a god? But are there gods in the universe?’
A god of the universe.
Yeongwoo found it hard to imagine.
Especially since he had glimpsed some of the reality of the universe.
‘If there really is a god in the universe, what level would their stature be?’
One must not forget what kind of beings filled the universe.
The Chairman who traveled on a giant tombstone beating up officials was part of the universe, as were Toma who made planetary bombardment weapons, and Lemu, a producer of interstellar pornography.
‘…….’
Thus, Yeongwoo tried to imagine the Chairman bowing before a god, but it was difficult.
If anything, the Chairman would likely aim his sword at the god and demand they kneel.
‘But if Mara really avoids taxes, he must be extraordinary. Even the Chairman wasn’t free from taxes.’
Yeongwoo knew well that the Chairman had paid the inheritance tax for his Bastard.
So, perhaps for the first time, he might see someone of higher rank than the Chairman today.
‘Oh…! Then there’s a high probability Mara is at least a second-class being.’
Yeongwoo instinctively tried to find a goblin to prepare the golden sphere, only to recall it hadn’t followed him into the dungeon.
‘If that Mara guy is a second-class being, this is a golden opportunity to achieve my goal.’
[Golden Storm]
| Summon the golden ratio in four ways. (2/4)
-When a second-class otherworldly being visits.
Of course, having confirmed Mara’s existence, he could meet him again even if not here.
For instance, after the dungeon ends and the land is restored, he could visit Romania where Dragos lives.
‘If Dragos dies today… no, if I inevitably have to kill him, Mara might come find me himself.’
Though it might be an enraged Mara.
In any case, the important thing was.
Flaaash!
A bright and massive beam of light struck down on Arena 2, visible even from Arena 1.
And soon.
Boooom!
With a loud roar, something appeared in Arena 2, where three mutants and seven humans had been mingling.
“……!”
Yeongwoo widened his eyes as he watched the broadcast of Arena 2.
Two knights in silver-white armor were standing on either side of Dragos.
‘What is that? Are those Mara’s guards?’
Yeongwoo swallowed heavily, scrutinizing the two mysterious knights.
Though their features were obscured by radiant light within their armor, he could tell they were five meters tall.
Each held a weapon so broad and massive it was hard to distinguish if it was a sword or a shield, and the sight of these weapons made the mutant replicas lose their will to fight and retreat.
Even beings created solely for the gambling match felt fear in the presence of these knights.
‘Is this for real? Is Mara truly the King of Ten Thousand Demons?’
If “Mara” meant demonic, then the den of vice, Dogo, couldn’t be overlooked.
But from the current situation, it seemed that even the Chairman of Dogo would have to bow his head to Mara.
‘Damn… there was a better connection in Europe all along.’
As Yeongwoo clenched his fists in frustration, Mara’s knights began to move, leaving white traces behind.
Swish!
Their movements were like floating jellyfish in the sea, but the speed and power were unbelievable.
Slash!
With each swing of their swords, the mutants fell apart like tofu.
“…My God.”
Before Yeongwoo could even exhale in surprise, all the monsters in Arena 2 were eliminated.
Naturally, this drew everyone’s attention to the four betting participants from Group 3 who had entered the arena to kill Dragos.
This included the remaining participants in the waiting room and the knights sent by Mara.
‘Those four are as good as dead. And the survival of the Weakest participant in the second round is confirmed.’
For Yeongwoo, this wasn’t bad news.
With fewer participants, there would be less competition in the betting.
Of course, there were still eight more participants from Group 3 who hadn’t entered the arena, but they weren’t likely to dive into this suicidal pit now.
‘Even if all 12 of them entered, they wouldn’t be able to defeat those two knights. I’m certain of it.’
Indeed, no more participants requested to move to Arena 2.
In the end, only the brave four who had rushed in first ended up meeting a futile death.
‘Choices have consequences.’
As Yeongwoo bid farewell to the four doomed souls on the broadcast screen, Mara’s knights moved simultaneously.
Sshhhaa…
Their unique, jellyfish-like gliding movements began again.
‘Here we go.’
Yeongwoo saw this as an opportunity to observe the skills of these minions sent by a being of Mara’s level.
However,
‘…What?’
Contrary to his expectations, it was difficult to gather any meaningful information.
Though the four initial participants considered themselves top fighters from around the world, none of them lasted even a single round against the knights.
Clang, clang!
The distinct sounds of the knights’ weapons reached Yeongwoo in Arena 1, and those struck were silently split in half on the broadcast screen.
It wasn’t even a fair fight.
‘…What is this? This is too overpowered.’
Having quickly massacred the four intruders, Mara’s knights planted their massive weapons into the ground and stood still, as if their task was complete.
Then,
「Stage 2, Survival of the Strongest. Survival of the Weakest.」
「Stage 2 complete.」
The completion message for the second match appeared, followed by the betting results.
「Eight participants have each earned 1 betting point.」
Next, Yeongwoo’s personal scorecard appeared before him.
[Jeong Yeongwoo07]
| Betting Points: 2
| Current Rank: Tied for 6th (6 people)
*Rewards are given starting from 5th place.
*If there are many participants with the same score, the rank will not increase.
‘Tied for 6th? This isn’t easy. But I did reduce the number quite a bit.’
The fact that there were 8 successful bettors in the second stage and his current rank was 6th meant two participants had only one point.
In other words, two out of the three who took risks in the first stage but failed had bet on the survival of the Strongest and Weakest in the second stage.
‘Good. With four fewer competitors, I might aim for first place…’
While envisioning a rosy future and fidgeting with his hands, Yeongwoo glanced at the screen of Arena 2 again and widened his eyes.
“What? Why aren’t they leaving?”
The two knights Mara had sent to rescue Dragos were still in the arena.
“Hey! This isn’t fair, is it?”
Yeongwoo shouted into the air of the arena, but the only response was.
「Stage 3 will begin shortly.」
Just the usual notification for the next match.
‘No, if this goes on…’
Seeing that the knights were still present, everyone would continue betting on the survival of the Weakest.
This would mean ending the game tied for 6th place.
A disaster.
‘That’s unacceptable.’
Yeongwoo vowed as he looked at Mara’s knights.
Given their martial prowess, it seemed impossible to kill Dragos through ordinary means.
He even began to doubt if an artillery strike could kill him.
‘Those knights might even block an artillery strike.’
So how could he create a variable?
While Yeongwoo pondered deeply, the content for the third stage was finally revealed.
「In Stage 3, each representative must face ten mutants.」
‘Ten? It doesn’t double each time?’
The surprises continued.
Instead of doubling like 2, 4, 8, it was 2, 4, 10.
‘Then how many will come in Stage 4?’
At this point, trying to predict the difficulty of each stage seemed meaningless.
There appeared to be no pattern.
The only certainty was… in Stage 3, they would face ten mutants, and Dragos would survive again.
‘This damn dungeon.’
「All participants, please complete your bets within 5 minutes.」
[1] Strongest survives, Weakest survives.
[2] Strongest dies, Weakest survives.
[3] Strongest survives, Weakest dies.
[4] Strongest dies, Weakest dies.
As the betting time returned, all eyes in the waiting room were now on Arena 1.
The variable in this gamble was no longer on the side of the Weakest but rather the Strongest, represented by the East Asian Participant 07.
How far could this formidable warrior, who had demonstrated inhuman prowess, go?
‘From the looks of it, everyone seems to think I can handle at least ten of them somehow.’
Yeongwoo smiled bitterly.
It was his own doing.
Hadn’t he shown overwhelming power in the previous two matches?
「All bets for Stage 3 have been placed.」
As expected, the betting for Stage 3 concluded early, and the results were soon announced.
| Option 1 – 16 votes
“Damn.”
As expected, everyone had unanimously bet on Option 1.
This meant that even if he survived this round, his rank would remain tied for 6th place.
「With all bets placed, Stage 3 will now begin.」
Soon, the doors around the arena opened noisily, and a heavy presence began to pour out from within.
Ten mutants were rushing out.
In response, Yeongwoo planted his feet firmly on the ground, muttering to himself.
“Let’s just survive. Just enough not to die… just enough not to die…”
He recalled the items that would pull him back from the brink of death.
Loss of Limbs, Revival, Slime Core, Unfair Trade.
【Power increases up to 80% based on the extent of limb loss.】
【All stats increase by 25% when near death.】
【Regeneration ability dramatically increases.】
【Healing rate increases when injuring an enemy.】
Yeongwoo thought of each item in turn, as he would now have to perform a desperate act as the weak.
「Kyaaaak!」
「Haaah!」
Mutants poured in from all four directions of the arena, and as they closed in, Yeongwoo drew and swung his sword.
“Here I go…!”
Swaaah!
A bright red arc from his mythical sword cut through the air in front of him.
Three mutants charging at him disappeared in an instant.
Then,
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The remaining seven mutants surged forward like a wave, engulfing Yeongwoo.