Pick Me Up!

Chapter 236: After the Ending (7) (1)

The number of participants in the advanced channel was steadily increasing.

It was as if all the top rankers from Server 2 were gathering.

The fleet that had just appeared in the field was no longer a ragtag bunch, thrown together haphazardly as before. Instead, it was composed of advanced airships lined up in formation, comparable to the battleships of Niflheimr and equipped with the latest technology.

A fleet of rankers lined up in front of the Himena ship.

This had happened in less than 30 minutes after the operators announced the rewards.

[Dimensional Channel (Advanced Users Only) – 312 Participants]

Although the number of participants had increased significantly, the advanced channel was eerily quiet.

Everyone was likely assessing the situation.

“They’re after the ‘Book of Reversal.’”

The ‘Book of Reversal’ was a crucial item needed to upgrade a 6-star max-level hero to a 7-star. In the past, rankers, including myself, from across all servers had made every effort to obtain this item but had ultimately failed.

Now, the game’s developers were offering this item as a reward.

They promised the Book of Reversal if we could defeat El Cid.

The attitudes of the rankers, who had been lukewarm about the raid, instantly changed. Even those who had been watching from afar like bystanders began declaring their participation.

“I see some familiar emblems.”

Rankers within the top 100 of Server 2 started appearing one after another.

Even those who I thought had quit the game were showing up, as well as members of large guilds.

Various types of airships appeared in the field through the dimensional vortex.

One thing they had in common was that their power far exceeded that of the ordinary masters El Cid had faced so far.

And it was understandable.

The 7-star rank was a legendary level that could elevate a master to the highest echelons just by its existence alone.

The top four rankers all possessed 7-stars.

One of the points of criticism I received, despite being rated higher in many respects, was that I lacked a 7-star hero.

If I were on Earth, I would have abandoned everything else to log into Pick Me Up.

And I would have deployed the best possible force. In a way, the combat power El Cid had just displayed served as a sort of advertisement, demonstrating how powerful one could become by reaching 7-stars.

“It’s no wonder they’re losing their minds.”

I had suspected as much when they suddenly started promoting the raid.

But I didn’t expect them to respond in this way.

[Dimensional Channel (Advanced Users Only) – 347 Participants]

LiveOut> Warning: Those below level 70, please step back, as you’ll just be in the way. If you have complaints, talk to our guild.

LiveOut.

Currently ranked 11th.

He was the leader of Liberty, the largest guild on Server 2, and ranked just below me.

[Dimensional Channel (Advanced Users Only) – 351 Participants]

LiveOut> Sorry to the other rankers, but please yield this time. We’ll compensate you generously.

Tteokbaeghibang> What a show-off, lol. Stop trying to act tough.

LiveOut> Anyway, our guild is going to take the Book of Reversal.

The master known as ‘Tteokbaeghibang’ was ranked 21st but was recognized as the best PvP player on the server. He was famous for wandering alone without joining any guild.

[Dimensional Channel (Advanced Users Only) – 356 Participants]

Tteokbaeghibang> If you want it, come at me. I’m kind of greedy about this reward, so I think I need to get it.

A pitch-black airship, reminiscent of a ghost ship, came forward.

A dark red skull emblem was painted on the front of the ship. On the deck stood heroes clad in black, exuding a sinister aura. These were the elite heroes of Tteokbaeghibang, commonly known as the ‘Slayers.’

They weren’t the only ones.

All the rankers who had joined the fray had deployed their elite heroes.

It was impossible to know when such an opportunity would arise again. Moreover, with ‘Death Protection’ applied, there was no reason not to participate.

[Dimensional Channel (Advanced Users Only) – 362 Participants]

Tteokbaeghibang> Shall we go at it one more time? You guys have numbers, but we all know you’re all bark and no bite.

LiveOut> I’m also tired of your bluffing. This time, I don’t even need my guild members. I can take you on alone.

Sigin> How amusing. Neither of you can even make a peep in front of Loki. He may not be participating this time, but if he were here, both of you would have been the first to be eliminated. Let’s focus on the raid first. We can decide who gets the reward once the boss is down. If we mess this up fighting amongst ourselves, who’s going to take responsibility?

Just as it looked like two rankers were about to fight, a mediator appeared.

In the end, the situation, which was on the verge of exploding, led to a temporary truce. LiveOut and Tteokbaeghibang distanced themselves, turning their ships toward El Cid.

“…Yes.”

El Cid chuckled bitterly.

“You’re right. If you defeat me, your master might achieve the 7-star rank you’ve all longed for. Perhaps, depending on your merit, you might even achieve more.”

El Cid finished speaking and glanced at me.

Then, he turned his gaze forward again. There, standing before him, were the rankers’ true forces, incomparable in scale and power to the first extermination squad.

“…”

The elite members of the extermination squad, following their masters’ orders, prepared for battle.

There were no worthless battle cries, no jeers or boos.

They simply prepared for the fight in silence.

Only weak dogs bark loudly.

“So, you want to stop me.”

El Cid looked up at the sky with a faint smile.

The table and chair where Tel had been sitting had disappeared without a trace.

“Do you want to kill me?”

El Cid’s cloak fluttered.

Behind him stood Reltea, Kirzak, and the army of conquest, lined up in formation.

“I have endured hundreds of battlefields and thousands of fights. Before you came here, even after you arrived here. Before overwhelming numbers like these, before despair even greater than this.”

The scattered forces of conquest lined up behind El Cid.

[Dimensional Channel (Advanced Users Only) – 384 Participants]

The rankers remained silent in the chat.

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!