READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 18: Crown Hunt
[Out of the billions of creatures in the first ring, you are amongst the chosen few who have shown their worth in the tutorial.]
[Only the ones who have fulfilled these criteria in the tutorial are invited in this phase]
[1. Reach level 10]
[2. Earn an achievement]
[3. Obtain a skill]
[Each species will have their own quota for this event]
Zyrus checked the list and nodded as it was similar to his past life. Except the last spot that is.
(Humans: 100K/1B)
(Orcs: 39K/3B)
(Goblins: 28K/500M)
(.)
(Ogres: 638/700K)
(.)
(.)
(Sylvarix: 1/1)
Unlike Zyrus’s nonchalant response, the list sent waves of commotion amongst the other humans. Although they had the highest number of qualified players, it also signified that nearly 80% of the human population was wiped out in the tutorial! From more than six billion people only one billion managed to survive.
It was a bleak reminder, one which they didn’t take lightly. Some screamed at the sky while others pleaded for mercy, but it was futile. Aurora was long gone from their vision.
The silver lining was that 100k players were chosen out of that 1 billion people.
Compared to the norm, the selected ‘Players’ had different thoughts on the matter. At first they believed that this ‘Sanctuary’ was similar to the games back on Earth.
However, contrary to their expectations, the system treated them and the other monsters the same way. It was quite a blow to their superior mentality.
Zyrus skimmed past the next paragraphs as they explained what he already knew. Those who haven't met the requirements will live in a permanent safe zone.
They can live their lives in poor conditions that barely ensured their survival, or go to the second ring after reaching level 20.
‘Many will decide to give up here, unaware of the fate that awaited them.’
Zyrus sighed as he recalled his bloody past. Even in his past life, none had realized the true indications behind this list. Living in the first ring meant that they were on the same level as the other monsters.
It was the survival of the fittest all over again, but this time, humans were at the bottom of the food chain.
Zyrus felt conflicted as without him, millions of people would die this time. Millions of innocent people who had nothing to do with his vengeance.
‘I’ll give them one chance, but that’s it.’
With a hardened heart, he poked the highlighted word with his claw, and with a brilliant flash; a new system window appeared in front of him.
Crown Hunt:
[You can obtain a crown by either gaining allegiance from other players or by killing the owner of the crown]
[After reaching the second ring, the owner of the crown can command the others from the tutorial area]
‘This will be troublesome for me,’ Zyrus scrunched his nonexistent brows as he read the rules.
Since he was the only one in his race, he had no easy way to gain allegiance from others. He would have to beat them up and forcefully subdue the leaders.
‘They won’t be loyal to me, but there’s no other way.’
[There are different tiers of crowns, each with their own abilities]
[Bronze Crown: 100 players]
[Silver Crown: 1k players]
[Golden Crown: 10k players]
[Note: You can fulfill the above requirements by subduing other crown holders as well]
[Players can also obtain a variant of the crowns mentioned above by fulfilling the hidden requirements! May the luck be on your side]
[Skills available for each tier will be revealed after fulfilling the corresponding criteria]
[Further instructions will be given in due time]
Zyrus closed the screen and opened the map provided by the system.
‘Let’s see… Welp, I’m in the middle of nowhere.'
The map showed his location in the western region of vast plains. There wasn’t a single human or monster safe zone in his close proximity. It was to be expected as he was hunting beast tides when the space was being rearranged.
‘Tch.. I’ll just use this as an experiment to figure out my running speed,’
Thus, the lone Sylvarix ran across the wild plains.
Towards a bustling human settlement.
…
Lumps of white clouds reflected the moon's glow, giving the night sky a majestic look. A cool and soothing wind blew across the plains, a solace against the hot weather.
On any other day, It would have been a fine night for an evening walk.
“There’s no point in talking with these pigs.”
“C’mon then, y’all are just a bunch of twerps following a stupid bitch,”
A large crowd was gathered around a camp, separated into two groups.
“Quiet.” One of the leaders, a woman wearing a bronze crown ordered with cold eyes.
“hehe.. a bunch of pus-”
“Shut the Fuck up!” the man standing against the woman glared at his subordinate with blazing eyes.
It hadn’t been a day since the crown hunt had started, but even in this short while a clear hierarchy had formed amongst the players.
The man who was taunting the opposing camp was visibly infuriated by his leader’s insult. However, he didn’t have the guts to say anything.
Unperturbed by the commotion caused by their subordinates, the two crown wielders stared at one another.
They both knew that it was no easy feat to subdue 100 players in just half a day. The humans were divided into two parts after the announcement, those who were content with their survival and those who wanted more.
The term ‘Players’ referred to the latter, they were the ones who fought to level up and raise their strength.
Of course, there were other individuals as well. Engineers became craftsmen, Doctors with mana became healing mages and potion makers, martial arts coaches, athletes, chefs, scientists, and even religious figures, all found their own place.
Humans were unparalleled at adaptability. It was unfortunate that this place didn't give them the time to form a cohesive society. Non-combat professionals could do nothing but withdraw as the current event solely focused on who had the biggest fist.
“Why don’t we settle this with a duel?” the man asked in a confident tone.
“No way. Do you even understand the basics of this event?”
Looking at her rival’s baffled face, the woman continued in a mocking tone.
“What purpose do they serve then?"
The man looked at her finger that pointed at the players behind him, speechless.
It was not that he hadn’t thought about a group fight. There was a big difference between one-on-one duels and strategic team fights.
“Are you really stupid? There are only about 250 players here.”
“So?”
“The fuck do you mean by so? If we fight then less than two hundred people will survive, and neither of us will have enough to create a second crown!”
“That’s why I said that we should make an alliance.”
“As if! What’s the point in that?”
“I know right.”
After hearing the affirmative answer, the man was struck with horror.
Because it wasn’t the woman trembling in front of him who had answered her. It was something else.
“M-Monster!”
“Everybody gather around,”
“What do we do boss?”
The crowd was thrown in commotion upon the arrival of the new party. It was a monster, the likes of which they had never seen before.
A hundred feet away from them, the monster leaned on its bone spear while observing the frantic players.
“What are you?” the man spoke with an authoritative tone, befitting his status as a crown holder.
“Oh, just a passerby. I thought I should help you resolve this conflict.”
The leader was once again perplexed by the situation. A talking monster appeared out of nowhere and was offering them help?
“Is he an NPC?”
“Doesn’t look like it. It’s too ugly.”
“How do you know it’s a male?”
Zyrus glared at the player’s rude remarks, but he didn’t act just yet. His eyes were set on someone else.
‘She’s got a useful skill, huh.’ he observed the woman leader with a grin. From the start, she was staring at him as if he was a demon from hell.
“How will you help us?”
Zyrus ignored the clueless man and leisurely walked towards the crowd.
“Since both of you won’t get what you want, I have a better solution.”
The man would be a fool if he didn’t realize something by now. Ordering the group to gather around, he asked with a stern tone.
“And what might that be?”
“Submit.”
It was a simple word, but it was enough to silence the crowd.
The aura around the monster had completely changed. His blue scales gleamed in the fire’s glow, making his scary form even more wicked.
“Encircle him!” the man commanded without any hesitation. There was no need for dialogue as the other party had revealed their identity.
“Haha, a stupid lizard wants to lead us.”
“let’s show ‘em who’s the Apex predator”
The hundred players jeered at Zyrus as they encircled him, not sparing a single path of retreat.
“Alright.”
To everyone's surprise, the woman who was quiet so far spoke at an unexpected time.
“What?”
“Are you alright sis?”
“Retreat at once!” paying no heed to her followers, the woman moved backwards with a determined look.
Left with no other choice, the remaining hundred players could only walk behind her with their lowered heads.
“Hahaha, How pathetic.”
“What a disgrace to mankind.”
“Tch..”
The woman endured all sorts of humiliating and snide remarks and moved further away from the crowd.
She was aware of the discord her decision had caused amongst her group, but she couldn’t care less about it.
Her eyes were locked on the monster from the start.
‘Please! Let it be wrong,’
She prayed that the visions she saw with her skill were wrong, but alas, they were not.
*FUUUUUU*
Zyrus had remained quiet so far, but at this moment he made his first move.
-200,-200,-200,-200
-200,-200,-200,-200-200,-200,-200
-200,-200,-200,-200,-200
Exp +6400
Dark blue miasma flowed out from his mouth, harvesting the lives of more than a dozen players.
An eerie silence descended on the battlefield which had been turned into a slaughterhouse.
“I gave you a chance, didn’t I?”
Not caring about the opponent's response, Zyrus charged ahead with his spear pointed forward.
He had a complex feeling towards the exp gain. On one hand, he would level up at a faster rate, but…
‘It means there’s no turning back for me.’
“Aarh-”
*Stab*
-200
Exp +400
Each floating message reminded him that he, Zyrus Wymar, was no longer a human. He might act and think like one, but he would never be the same.
‘But this power… is what I’ve always wanted.’