SWNOVELXO Chapter 89
“[The elements that contributed to the success of ‘Ranking of Soul’ lie within the game itself. The vivid character personas and the intricate motions created solely with dot graphics and 3D graphics, not animation production…]”
Although not all of it was mentioned in the news, the impact of ‘Ranking of Soul’ extended far beyond this.
The success story of a new game company, the achievements of a single VR game in the history of Korean gaming, and how remarkable the game graphics created by this company were.
Columns from experts in investment, economics, and the IT industry poured in.
[“With the fourth official round of ‘Ranking of Soul’ about to open, users worldwide are filled with anticipation. This is △△△ News, ○○○ reporter.”]
As Rankso emerged as a hot topic in the industry, experts debated the true nature of these characters.
[“Hypothesis 1: Actual AIs think of themselves as players and are playing the game.
Hypothesis 2: No, the claim that they are AIs is merely a marketing ploy by the game company to make the characters appear more real. In reality, the game’s story team creates and assigns narratives for each round to the characters.”]
In a world not yet ready to fully embrace artificial intelligence, the latter was commonly believed to be true.
All those characters being AI? No AI of that level had been publicly unveiled yet.
Moreover, while the game company claimed the characters were AI with personalities, they made no attempt to present the AI technology to the industry or patent it.
There were those who found the game’s mystery bizarre, but ‘Ranking of Soul’ had already become part of the current young generation.
“‘No way, a game made it to the news?'”
“‘LOL, are they that short on news topics?'”
“‘Trendsetter.'”
“‘Mijon must be raking in the money, converting a ton of Korean won now, they’re practically a conglomerate.'”
“‘But surprisingly, the headquarters isn’t that big. It’s in Pangyo.'”
“‘Apparently, visiting is strictly prohibited.'”
“‘They don’t openly recruit employees either, they hire secretly.'”
“‘No one even knows what the CEO looks like.'”
“‘Seriously, are they aliens? They are Korean, right?'”
“‘Based on the CEO’s introduction, they are Korean. They give out betting points to users on days like National Foundation Day and Independence Day.'”
“‘The character AI is so vivid, I wonder what graphic technology they use.'”
“‘Rumor has it industrial spies are all over the place, LOL.'”
“‘But whether the AI concept is real or not, at this point, shouldn’t the characters get a share of the company’s profits?'”
“‘Exactly. We are actually spending our real money to support the characters.'”
“‘Then Rudel definitely deserves at least 1% shares.'”
“‘Shemarin 1%.'”
“‘Yudirei 1%.'”
“‘Just give 5% to Rudel Entertainment.'”
“‘Rudel Entertainment, LOL.'”
“‘Beast Idol Debut: Gio.'”
“Hey, you idiots, why are you deciding how to split the game company’s money? LOL”
The chat was buzzing with banter, and the real-time user connection rate spiked sharply as the fourth round approached.
Viewers logged into virtual reality, adjusted their cameras to their desired angles, and waited eagerly. Their eyes were glued to the screen as the roster for each guild was announced five minutes before the round started.
This was a far cry from the reserved second round. The fourth round was set to showcase the participation of major characters.
[The fourth round begins.]
The moment all the characters simultaneously descended onto the field was as grand as multiple battalions parachuting down in a war movie. Even the viewers felt a thrilling sensation as if they were plummeting on a roller coaster.
This fourth round was divided into three zones, each with 25 capture points. In the first hour, the 17 guilds would compete for these 25 capture points. After that, one zone would open at a time.
But, of course, it was unthinkable that 17 guilds would amicably divide the points among themselves. Naturally, they aimed for more. Guilds with high-spec characters split their forces and sent them to multiple capture points. As a result, each zone had at least 3 to 4 guilds clashing.
The battles erupted simultaneously across the board, making it impossible for viewers to watch all 25 spots at the same time. They had to switch back and forth frantically to catch the highlights, and if they missed any battles, they could either pay the game company or use betting points to watch the recordings.
Thus, even with the rounds occurring infrequently, there was plenty of content to keep viewers engaged in between.
The field for this fourth round featured a deserted factory concept, with each zone distinguished by unique terrain and lighting.
At spot 2, an open outdoor area of the factory, capturing it required the ability to defend a vast region or employ extensive tactics. Surprisingly, only one person stood at this spot.
Surrounded by a blue aura, anyone attempting to approach was immediately repelled by sharp ice crystals. Amidst this stood a figure with pale, ethereal hair that flowed as if submerged in water. The Blue Saint quietly opened and closed his eyes, serene yet alert.
“Forgive me. I promised Ifrea to secure this spot. Please, look for another. I don’t wish to harm you.”
Unlike the relaxed demeanor he had shown in the previous round, the Ice Saint’s eyes were resolute and unyielding, though tinged with a hint of melancholy. It was clear that he had come to a reluctant acceptance, standing firm despite his aversion to conflict, as if his once sharp resolve had been worn down.
His stance reflected a compromise between his distaste for battle and the harsh realities of the world, revealing a spirit that had been somewhat broken but still sought a middle ground.
Though he only inflicted minor injuries rather than serious wounds, the chilling aura he emitted was overwhelming. Perhaps because of this, most characters abandoned the idea of capturing Spot 2.
Left alone, the saint murmured to himself, “I do wish to see Rudel’s face again after so long.” He then gave a faint smile. “But it’s best if we keep our distance. Seeing your face would only soften my heart again…”
While viewers watching Spot 2 were captivated by Aleon’s icy presence, another figure was making a dramatic impact deep within the factory at Spot 25.
* * *
Spot 25, the last in Zone 1.
Being in the farthest corner, it was expected to be a relatively quiet and overlooked spot. However, contrary to expectations, the competition at Spot 25 was the fiercest.
With nearly five guilds clashing haphazardly, the walls glowed with bursts of light. The sounds of weapons clashing, battle cries, and anguished groans filled the air.
Among this chaos, the center of attention slipped quietly yet unmistakably into the heart of the battlefield.
“Urk-!”
The person standing at the boundary of the spot let out a short scream.
Swoosh!
In an instant, multiple characters were lifted high into the air, as if skewered.
In reality, their bodies weren’t pierced but rather entangled by dark vines that had sprouted from the ground, wrapping around them and lifting them off the floor.
If their feet left the ground, their capture attempt wasn’t recognized. Simply suspending them in the air prevented them from securing the spot.
“Ugh, argh!”
Meanwhile, the owner of the vines watched the scene with a cruel smile on her red, intense lips.
The vines tightened with a crushing force, breaking ribs and leaving purple bruises while injecting poison into their bodies.
[Name] Shemarin
[Unique Ability] Poison Vine
During the cooldown period, the vines had absorbed enough poison to turn from green to a murky, dark green.
And now, without any mercy, they pressed and tortured their enemies.
All those entangled by the vines couldn’t withstand the choking poison and had to retreat.
Swoosh!
At that moment, a silver chain flew through the vines.
It was the weapon of Muraul, the vice-leader of the Red Monarch.
The two moved in perfect harmony, their synergy so well-tuned that the plant stems and the metal chain never tangled, flowing together seamlessly.
Having subdued all their enemies, Shemarin walked gracefully to the center of the spot, followed and flanked by Muraul in an all-black costume.
[Name] Muraul
* * *
[Strength, Agility, Stamina Average] A
* * *
[Ability Category] Soul
[Unique Ability] Life Absorption
[Overall Rank] A
Despite not being rated A+, Muraul managed to achieve the 2nd rank in the Soul category and 8th overall in the temporary rankings of the first round. This was due to the unique nature of his ability.
“Sometimes Soul is scarier than Pure Nature.”
“Have you seen Life Absorption? It’s like the Grim Reaper.”
“Wasn’t Muraul’s unique ability more like a mage? Why is he using chains?”
“Speculation: He wants to be like Shemarin, so he’s using chains.”
“Muraul has a bit of a possessive streak with the queen. Wants to be the most favored concubine.”
“Shouldn’t Shemarin stop him then?”
“Nope, he doesn’t cause trouble with other male guild members. Muraul’s not stupid.”
Besides Muraul, other guild leaders like Lesia, Yudirei, and Hon were all present.
[Hot! Lesia vs. Hon Clash]
[Aleon’s Ice Cutscene]
[Compilation of First Appearances in the Fourth Round]
In the second round, the top performances were undoubtedly by Rudel, the leader of the Agasa Guild, and Gio, who was speculated to potentially take the number one spot in the official rankings.
However, they had already showcased their spectacular battle graphics in the second round. Despite their high popularity, they couldn’t draw as much attention in the fourth round as Aleon or Shemarin, who were making their first impressive appearances.
“Will there be anything worth seeing from Rudel? I don’t think Lilith and Akata would bring her to such a chaotic battlefield.”
“Yeah, that’s why I switched to Shemarin’s cam.”
“Traitor!”
“Rudel will probably be with Gio again. I want to see other characters.”
As the small chatroom fixed on the Agasa Guild started to fracture with accusations of disloyalty, the fourth round began, and the characters of the Agasa Guild descended from the sky.
At least two pairs of feet landed simultaneously on the ground.
“Holy, Kanel!”
“Oh, it’s Unahar!”
The chatroom buzzed with excitement.