REAPER SCANS
The Martial God Who Regressed to Level 2
[Translator – SCM]
[Proofreader – ilafy]
Chapter 270
'A being comparable to a constellation is here…? As expected, there's no balance in Battle Net,' JiHan thought, even though he helped destroy the balance as much as any other offender.
He thought back to before he regressed. 'Back then, they launched a surprise attack the day before the game ended.' Planet Pioneer was supposed to last two weeks, and humanity had done well back then until the World Tree’s elves ambushed them and wiped them out.
The elves had brought massive tree giants and steamrolled humanity’s base camp before they could even launch a counter. Since the elves had executed the best human players in the first match, the humans were terrified of them. Of course, that fear was only amplified after the elves ambushed them in Planet Pioneer.
'I never saw an ancient elf back then… Did he appear because of me?' The ancient elf was an elder of the World Tree Alliance, and he was said to have power comparable to a constellation’s.
The elf had threatened JiHan and tried to stop him from handing the Modified Seed of Life to Battle Net. After JiHan ignored the elf’s warning, the ancient elf tried to invade Earth in a rage.
Thankfully, a message had appeared and stated Earth had already been experimented on, thus stopping the ancient elf from invading. Things had ended there, but had the ancient elf decided to participate in a mere Bronze game because of that?
'No. There's no way a constellation has so much free time. There must be another reason.' In reality, if he wanted to kill JiHan, he wouldn't have beheaded human players and would have instead just straight-out attacked. There was no need for him to try scaring the humans.
Did he have something else to do? As JiHan was wondering what the ancient elf’s intentions could be…
[An ancient elf is participating in Planet Pioneer…? How surprising,] Ariel said from his arm.
"Do you know why?" JiHan asked.
[I don’t know anything about the ancient elf aside from what I already told you, but I did hear the World Tree’s elves have a special interest in Planet Pioneer due to all the special resources you can only get here.]
"Things like the ‘Native Species' Seven Hearts’ that humanity benefited from?"
[Yes. The benefits are modest at best, but the fact that they apply to the entire species is important. Even for the Battle Net, it's miraculous.]
Ariel continued. [Many speculate that the World Tree's elves keep participating in the Bronze League for the resources that can only be obtained in 'Planet Pioneer'. Although that might not be the only reason, it’s certainly one of them, and an ancient elf participating only confirms it.]
'So, there's not a Planet Pioneer map above the Bronze League?' JiHan asked.
[No. Planet Pioneer can be called a benefit for newcomers who've just entered the Space League. The Shadow Queen also regretted not having obtained more resources here.]
"Oh, really? Did you guys make it into the Hall of Fame?"
[The Hall of Fame… We probably ended in 100th place.]
"100th? Artmu was at 100th. It seems like you guys were outranked by him."
[What? That guy took 100th place?] Based on Ariel's reaction, it seemed like she was a bit miffed that Artmu had taken their place on the rankings. [We took control of the continent in six days and then kept gathering resources… I can’t believe we were surpassed by Artmu, someone who plays alone.]
"Hmm. Being pushed out of 100th place in the Hall of Fame is quite a high bar."
[It's a game that many species across the universe have played, so being in the top 100 is impressive.]
"Do you guys have any useful tips for Planet Pioneer?"
[A special tip… We went the route of enhancing the research lab.]
"The research lab?" JiHan asked.
[While you’re building, you’ll see all sorts of options for decorative buildings in addition to the basic ones. Among these options is the research lab, which enhances the quality of harvested resources. Your species will have to walk a different path, though.]
"Why?"
[Unlike us, you benefited from the 'Native Species' Seven Hearts', right?]
JiHan nodded. "Is there a difference in resource usage efficiency between the lowest-ranked species and an upper-middle one?"
[Yes. For your species, quantity is more important than quality. The resource management route should be best for you humans.]
"Thanks for the tip. I didn’t think you’d even know things like this… Are you sure you aren't the Queen?"
[That again? The Queen's busy. She wouldn't be stuck on your arm like this. I know because I watched it all from the side.] Ariel retracted her energy and returned to his arm.
JiHan watched for a moment and said, "Leader's authority."
Ting—!
A window appeared before him. His 'Leader's Authority' allowed him to construct buildings using Planet Points. 'I was wondering what to build since there are so many options, but Ariel's tip clearly showed me the direction to follow.'
Within the leader's authority window, he saw all sorts of different buildings. There were those specialized for attack, defense, scouting, research, resource management, and resurrection.
Of course, among all the options, JiHan invested the most in the resource management office.
[Would you like to use the 'Sky' trait of the birdmen on the ‘Resource Management Office’?]
[10,000 Planet Points required.]
"Add."
WHOOM—!
The ground split open, and a modern building rose into the sky. That wasn’t all… every single one of the other buildings also started to float, and JiHan spent a lot of Planet Points on it all.
'The extra effects are too good.'
[‘Humanity’s’ territory will extend farther due to the ‘Sky’ trait.]
[The '22nd-Generation Dwarf Bio-robots' have obtained the ability to fly.]
[Their resource-gathering efficiency has increased by 100%. The speed of all players has increased.]
Each of the buildings gave them additional traits since he’d focused quite a bit on developing them. 'I run out of Planet Points and need to earn some more.' He looked to the south.
After Zhuge Xuan and the players from the People's Association died, all the human players had stayed away from that direction. 'Unless they have an ancient elf, regular World Tree's elves are manageable. I should go and take the chance to scout a bit as well.'
If the ancient elf popped out and overpowered him, then the game would end there. 'He was willing to invade Earth to catch me. If he wanted to kill me, he would have already done it.'
He was gambling on the fact that the ancient elf couldn’t kill him yet. "Please,” he said to another player, “scout only to the east, west, and north."
"Mr. Sung… are you planning to go south? Zhuge Xuan said the World Tree's elves are like monsters, and that we should absolutely not go that way…"
"Someone has to deal with those monsters, right?" JiHan asked.
"Wouldn't it be better to stay in a safe place and gather resources? If you die, Mr. Sung, the Planet Pioneer game will end for us."
"Could you wait until the dwarf bio-robots are done…?"
The America First and People's Association players, who usually didn't get along, were working together for JiHan's safety.
Of course, JiHan could more or less guess their intentions. 'It seems they got excited from the taste of enhancement.' For the wealthy, who'd achieved enough in life, their main concern was health. That's why, from their perspective, resource extraction was more important than scouting the situation in the south.
"Artmu hasn't contacted me again yet, so I'll just go and come back quickly." To him, entering the Hall of Fame was more important, and the biggest obstacle to that was the World Tree's elves in the South. He didn’t care about how worried the others were and was about to leave when…
- Customer, trouble!
An urgent message from Artmu arrived.
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Reaper Scans
Translator - SCM
Proofreader - ilafy
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Artmu had said he would report after checking why the smithy was shaking. Whatever he’d found, it sounded like an emergency…
- I was wondering what was going on… I found a red lion! He looked very familiar. He was made of the red lightning you use! I asked him who he was, and do you know what he answered? He said he's the Thunder God… The one that's famous for being the most powerful among gods!
'If it's a red lion… then it's the leader of the Thunder Gods that absorbed the red lightning. He's over there?' JiHan's eyes shone when he read Artmu’s message. He remembered that the collective Thunder God had disintegrated after losing to the Wandering Martial God.
As of late, the ‘Thunder God’ had even vanished from JiHan’s constellation slot, so he’d thought the being was well and truly dead. It seemed that, at the very least, their leader somehow survived.
- He kept growling at me, asking where you were… Did you commit some blasphemy against the Thunder God?
- Blasphemy? We just had a transaction-type relationship.
- Hmm… Could you come to me now?
- Why? I'm busy with Planet Pioneer. I don't have time to spare.
- It will be quick! Just a few moments is okay! I'll even give you 10 of the new models of bio-robots!
- The new model?
Artmu wasn't the type of person who would give 10 models away for free. JiHan grew even more suspicious after he read Artmu’s messages.
- Is the Thunder God threatening you and making you lure me over?
- Hmm… I wouldn't say he’s threatening me… He just really wants to see your face. He says he has something he has to talk with you about.
- If he has something to say, ask him to message me. Tell him that I'm busy.
- To be honest, he's been threatening to blow up everything if I don't bring you over.
- Blow up everything… That's unfortunate.
- Right? So, will you come over?
- No. If something happens there, I won’t be able to return to Earth.
If he could go there as part of the game, then he might consider it. If he went there outside of the game’s influence, though, and a dispute led to Artmu’s smithy exploding, he would be lost in space. He had no reason to take such a risk.
- I'll obviously send you back! Why worry about that?
- Forget about it. I'm not going. Contact me when you're done packaging the bio-robots.
- Wait…! Alright. If you aren't coming, then I won't sell you the bio-robots!
- Then don’t. You're the one selling junk at a high price, so it's your loss.
- Ah, please…!
After that, Artmu kept sending JiHan messages, but he ignored him. If he went there and something happened to him, it wasn't just his end; humanity would probably meet their demise as well.
'It looks like there aren't going to be more bio-robots, so I should hunt some elves.' He ignored the messages and continued heading south.
"Wh-why can't I log out? Only my head's left…!"
"AAAHHH…!"
"P-please… Kill me…"
As he headed forward, he heard more human players screaming. Nearby, he saw three elves, each with a single strand of green hair, that looked exactly like each other. After having beheaded 10 humans, they were applying something to the stumps of their heads.
"To think we'd use the World Tree's sap on such creatures… What a waste."
"Just do it. Our ancestor said it’s necessary."
"It’s hard to believe he found a use for such a trash species. Our ancestor is truly amazing."
The elves talked amongst themselves. When they saw JiHan appear, their gazes immediately shifted to him in a calm manner. When they felt the Life Energy flowing from him, though, they were highly disturbed.
"Th-this energy…"
"I feel Life Energy coming from him!"
“That's a fake. Kill him and leave only his head,” the ancient elf said to them from above.
"Our ancestor spoke. Do not be deceived!"
"Follow that order! Leave only his head!"
The three drew their wooden swords and charged at JiHan incomparably faster than any human player.
JiHan simply made a relaxed smile as he drew his sword.
'High elves… Huh? I should earn some points.'
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