Ranker's Return

Chapter 924

A bronze medal, 9,999,999th rank in the arena—this was Jamie Moore and Hyeonu’s goal. Now that goal was close at hand.

“What rank are you now, Jamie?”

“I am 10,932,782nd place. I just need to win one or two more.”

Jamie Moore’s ranking had risen endlessly through a series of consecutive wins. As the time it took to win increased, so did the range in which his ranking rose. Now every time he won, he jumped above at least hundreds of thousands of people.

“Once again, Quency has applied a very good system in this regard. Those who should go up will go up quickly...”

It was possible because Jamie Moore’s winning streak continued, but it was fundamentally due to Quency’s artificial intelligence. The AI evaluated a player’s performance based on a lot of accumulated data. Once a player reached a rank worthy of that evaluation, their ranking rose like crazy. This was the true significance of the ranking placement test.

-He really got here.

-The monster is coming for the bronze medal.

-Still, he was taught really well.

-I should hurry and raise my rankings.

-My ranking has already been passed.

The reaction of the audience was intense. It was because there were quite a few people who had thought Jamie Moore wouldn’t get this far. It was difficult to break through the bronze medal at level 200, especially if one had grown as rapidly as Jamie Moore. His skill proficiency was too low compared to players who had grown over a relatively long period of time. Nevertheless, Jamie Moore had broken through that wall with the teachings received from Alley Leader Academy.

“We are on the verge of the ranking battle that might be the last one. Is there anything you would like to say?” Hyeonu, who had been interacting with the viewers, spoke to Jamie Moore who was taking a break.

“Let’s see... I don’t really have anything I want to say. I am still a bit nervous. I didn’t know I would get this far. Not long ago, I couldn’t even kill monsters, let alone do the arena. He was ranked 11 million. Now the bronze medal is on the horizon. It is so overwhelming that I can’t think of anything else in my head,” Jamie Moore spoke slowly. “Even so, I will work hard until the end. I have already achieved what I have been aiming for.”

Jamie Moore wasn’t too obsessed with a bronze medal. He had achieved something he would’ve never achieved in his life, and his efforts weren’t in vain. This was enough.

“I understand. Then let’s go straight away.” Hyeonu smiled and nodded.

Jamie Moore also smiled at Hyeonu. After that, Jamie Moore disappeared.

***

A few words popped into Jamie Moore’s mind the moment he saw the opponent in front of him.

‘It is difficult.’

It had been hard enough up to this point. However, this time was even worse. The feeling was different.

‘The level... It looks a bit high.’

Based on his opponent’s equipment, Jamie Moore guessed the player was at least level 250. It was a level that was a bit difficult to see around the bronze medal area.

‘It seems like someone who jumped in late...’

It was one of two options. The player didn’t enjoy the arena ranking battles very much or perhaps he just started the ranking battles when his level was at this point.

‘I am unlucky.’

No matter which one it was, it was bad news for Jamie Moore.

“We really met...?” the opposing player opened his mouth and spoke just then before Jamie Moore could even draw his swords.

“You know me?” Jamie Moore asked with a frown.

He had a thought, ‘Is he a sniper?’

Jamie Moore hadn’t met one so far, but it was possible.

“That is impossible. I’ve just been watching you on the live streams. Just... I never thought we would be matched...”

Jamie Moore’s opponent was a viewer who watched Hyeonu’s live stream. He normally didn’t enjoy ranking battles. Yet after seeing Jamie Moore’s ranking battles, he somehow wanted to do it and started to do so. Then in a ridiculous coincidence, he met Jamie Moore.

“Wait a minute, I remember my ranking was around 9 million...” The opposing player raised his hand in a bewildered manner. Then he nodded. “9.8 million? It has dropped a lot.”

He hadn’t played the ranking battles in a long time, so his ranking had fallen. This was why he met Jamie Moore, whom he thought he wouldn’t be able to meet.

“Ah... I see. Please take care of me.” Jamie Moore erased his suspicious tone. He figured out what was going on through the man’s words.

‘If it was 9 million, it’s a ranking where we wouldn’t have been able to meet no matter what.’

The man wasn’t unusual. Even among Jamie Moore’s acquaintances, there were quite a few people watching Alley Leader Academy and enjoying the ranking battles.

“Please take care of me as well.” Tasti, Jamie Moore’s opponent, bowed his head slightly.

‘He said he was watching the live streams...’ Jamie Moore recalled Tasti’s words as he drew his two swords. Watching the live stream meant he clearly knew Jamie Moore’s style.

‘It is all-in.’ Jamie Moore’s choice was a gamble.

It wasn’t the same standard procedure as before.

He intended to show only the things he hadn’t revealed so far.

‘I didn’t think I would really use this when I learned it...’

It was something he learned when the live stream wasn’t turned on. He planned to use it as a surprise for opponents who were really hard to beat. However, it was no use for improving his skills at the moment, so he was advised not to use it unless it was for Alley Leader Academy.

‘Now is the time.’

It was a time when he had to do anything to win.

***

Hyeonu paid close attention to Jamie Moore, who exploded toward his opponent from the start, unlike before. He swung his sword like a man with no backing.

‘Is he thinking of using it now?’

Otherwise, Hyeonu couldn’t understand what he was seeing now.

‘It is a good choice.’

Based on Jamie Moore’s skills, it wouldn’t be easy for him to beat his opponent right now. His current state meant winning a bronze medal would be impossible without using skills. It would only be possible if he were heavily armed with really good skills or items.

‘Either one of them is a burden on Jamie Moore.’

This would make it impossible to some extent to maintain the bronze medal due to his lack of skills.

-Why is he suddenly fighting like this?

-Has he lost his mind?

-The instinct that has been suppressed seems to have exploded.

-But it looks like his opponent is blocking it well? It doesn’t seem difficult due to the difference in stats.

The viewers were surprised by Jamie Moore’s sudden change. At the end, he showed an appearance that hadn’t been seen in the past few hours. It was natural that the viewers couldn’t adapt.

“This is what I taught him. There will be a winner in the next five minutes,” Hyeonu declared to the viewers.

The thing that Hyeonu taught was how to fight for only five minutes. It was a combat method where he couldn’t last for longer even if he wanted to.

‘He has good skills... but he needs to find a way to use them.’

He saw Jamie Moore’s new skills and taught him how to use them.

***

Jamie Moore, who was quickly wielding his two swords, blinked as if he had made up his mind.

‘There is enough bait.’

Then his movements became bizarre. His body divided into two, creating another body. There was just one strange thing. The main body and the clone weren’t carrying the same two swords. Each one was holding only one sword. Jamie Moore was holding a sword in his right hand while the clone was holding a sword in his left hand.

‘Let’s go.’ Jamie Moore’s clone and his main body moved at the same time. The main body ran to the right while the clone ran to the left.

“What should I do?’ Tasti’s eyes trembled violently at the sight.

A clone—he never imagined seeing one here. It wasn’t that he had never met a monster that used clones. However, he had other party members at the time. Now he was alone. There was no more time for Tasti to think. Jamie Moore and his clone were already right before his eyes.

The one in the lead was Jamie Moore. Covered in dark red pure energy, Jamie Moore’s sword struck against Tasti’s longsword. However, it was Jamie Moore who was pushed away, accompanied by the sound of an explosion. The level difference meant it wasn’t something that could be endured. He could never win when it was strength against strength.

So far, Jamie Moore had defeated his opponents with speed and combat ability. Now he didn’t have the two swords to showcase such speed and ability. Instead, there was a clone. The sword that Jamie Moore’s clone held struck Tasti’s back. It didn’t cause much damage. This was the limit of the power that the clone had.

Nonetheless, it was enough to disrupt Tasti’s balance and hinder his next move. Tasti’s body was forced to lean forward just as he was about to swing his sword at Jamie Moore. Then Jamie Moore attacked Tasti’s upper body. Tasti raised his sword and blocked Jamie Moore’s attack.

This time, both Jamie Moore and Tasti were pushed back. It happened because the power wasn’t properly applied. Just then, the clone moved again. He stabbed the sword at Tasti’s waist. The clone’s sword couldn’t pierce Tasti’s body, but it did cause extreme pain.

‘Now!’ Jamie Moore didn’t miss this gap.

He swung his sword again. Cross-shaped pure energy appeared in the air. Tasti’s eyes widened when he saw it. This attack was dangerous. He had seen the power of this skill in the live streams. It would be the end for him if he received this attack with his body.

However, Tasti couldn’t move right now. Jamie Moore’s clone had gotten close to him and grabbed his body. Traces of the cross appeared on Tasti’s upper body.

[The player ‘Jamie Moore’ has won.]

This was the moment when Jamie Moore won the bronze medal.

***

A few days after achieving Jamie Moore’s exhilarating goal of gaining a bronze medal, Hyeonu was still walking in the demon world. Contrary to Callioraks’ words, a long time had passed, but they still hadn’t found Renfelvik. It didn’t even look like he existed at all.

“Callioraks, are we still far away?”

Too much time had passed for Hyeonu to remain patient. He really had to find Renfelvik now.

“We are almost there. We are only two days away now. There is only one thing left to teach.” Callioraks used Tang-E as a shield.

“Is that so? I understand.” Hyeonu had no choice but to nod.

Callioraks’ shield was too powerful. He had nothing to say when Callioraks put forward Tang-E’s education.

Hyeonu gritted his teeth and replied, “Let’s go slowly.”

This expression only lasted a few seconds though. A whisper that flew in from somewhere completely shook Hyeonu’s mind.

“Huh? What type of nonsense is this? What is going on?” Hyeonu screamed as if he had forgotten that Callioraks was nearby.

-From Liu Shei: The emperor has now come to my territory. What should I do?

The news that flew in was that shocking.

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