The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player

[In other words, the one who sacrificed the most now holds the power of life and death over others. Isn’t that ironic?]

It truly was ironic. The one who endured the most sacrifice was now in control of others’ fates.

People were stunned, feeling as though their heads were spinning.

[Let’s see who won… The player who took the most damage is…]

The angel’s eyes widened.

[Black Scythe? Over two trillion damage taken…?]

The angel was genuinely astonished.

[Now I see how so many survived. Did you really take all that damage on your own?]

Ryu Min remained silent. There was no need to dignify the angel’s sarcasm with a response.

[But it’s a shame. Half of you will still have to go.]

Only 576 players could survive. That was the harsh reality.

[Now, Black Scythe, you have been granted the power over others’ lives and deaths.]

As soon as the angel finished speaking, a message appeared.

[The winner of the 15th round sub-quest is ‘Black Scythe.’]

[You have been granted the authority to adjust the rankings for the 15th round.]

[Your rank (1st place) cannot be changed.]

[Assign rankings for 2nd to 576th place.]

[2nd and 3rd place receive special rewards. The rest will receive equal rewards regardless of their rank.]

[Please speak the name of the player you wish to designate as 2nd place.]

Ryu Min stared at the message.

In his hands lay the fate of everyone else.

He turned to look at the hundreds of eyes staring back at him.

Unfazed by the pressure, Ryu Min made his decision.

“Christine.”

[2nd place: Christine.]

[Please designate 3rd place.]

“Min Juri.”

[3rd place: Min Juri.]

Special rewards were granted up to the 3rd place, and Ryu Min made these decisions without hesitation.

‘Christine and Min Juri contributed the most; they deserve it.’

Beyond this, there was no special meaning to the rankings. From 4th to 576th place, the order didn’t matter. What mattered was simply being included in the list.

Whether you were 4th or 576th, the outcome was the same.

‘The real issue lies in who gets to be part of the 576 and who doesn’t.’

[Please designate the 4th place.]

“Seo Arin.”

[4th place: Seo Arin.]

[Please designate the 5th place.]

Ryu Min continued calling out names without hesitation. These were the players he considered most crucial to his strategy: key allies, dependable fighters, and those who had supported him.

“Russell.”

“Jo Yong-ho.”

“Victor.”

“Sophia.”

“Yamti.”

He filled the upper ranks quickly with his main allies. From 4th to 400th, he prioritized those who had helped him or were part of his trusted team.

‘I’ll naturally include the followers of the Death Church who put their faith in me.’

Thanks to this, he reached the 400th spot without much deliberation.

[Please designate the 401st place.]

This was where the real dilemma began.

‘Who should I save next?’

For the first time, Ryu Min hesitated. He fell into deep thought.

The remaining 176 slots would decide who lived and who died. The difference between being included and excluded was the boundary between salvation and despair.

As he deliberated, the players who weren’t yet chosen grew restless.

“Black Scythe! Please, save me!”

“Me too! Please add me to the list!”

“Who pushed me? Move! I can’t see!”

A mass of desperate players crowded closer to Ryu Min. Though they dared not get too close due to his intimidating aura, they raised their voices, pleading for salvation.

“Please, save me. My mother is waiting for me at home. She’ll be devastated if I don’t make it.”

“Family? I’ve got a newborn baby waiting for me!”

“I’m the father of twins! If I die, my whole family will starve!”

“I’ve got quadruplets!”

“Stop spouting nonsense!”

The shouting turned into chaos, with some players even grabbing at each other’s collars in frustration. Nearly 600 people scrambled and fought to plead their case for survival.

Their desperate cries echoed in the monochromatic space. All dignity was forgotten.

‘This is what people are like when their lives are on the line,’ Ryu Min thought, watching the chaos unfold.

Among the crowd, however, a few stood apart, maintaining their composure. Ryu Min’s gaze landed on one of them.

‘That’s… Archmage Alex.’

Alex, a renowned player in his previous regressions, stood silently, exuding an aura of calm authority. In the past, only two players besides Ryu Min had survived up to the 19th round: Ma Kyung-rok and Ju Seong-tak.

‘By the 18th round, there were seven survivors excluding myself.’

Ma Kyung-rok and Ju Seong-tak were two of them. The remaining five included Min Juri, Yamti, Victor, and…

‘Alex, and the one over there… Dorothy.’

Dorothy, known as the Divine Archer, also stood quietly among the crowd. She and Alex were among the few who had reached the later rounds, exceptional talents from foreign regions.

‘Alex was German, and Dorothy was Dutch. I never had the chance to get to know them properly in my previous regressions.’

Ryu Min had only heard about Alex’s prowess as the Archmage and Dorothy’s reputation as the Divine Archer.

‘This time, I’ll make sure to keep them close.’

Ryu Min’s voice rang out clearly, cutting through the noise of the crowd.

“Alex.”

[401st place: Alex.]

[Please designate the 402nd place.]

Alex flinched, startled to hear his name called. He hadn’t expected to be chosen.

“Dorothy.”

[402nd place: Dorothy.]

Dorothy’s reaction was similar. She, too, was taken aback by Ryu Min’s choice.

Ryu Min continued calling out names. By now, his priorities had shifted. He had already secured all the vital people he needed.

‘The rest… I’ll pick based on my gut.’

From 403rd place onward, he quickly scanned the remaining players, trying to gauge their personalities and potential value. He focused on saving those who seemed decent and trustworthy.

As the numbers climbed closer to 576, tension among the remaining players reached its peak.

By the time only one spot remained, chaos broke loose.

“Please! Black Scythe! I’ll do anything you ask! Just let me survive!”

“I’ll swear eternal loyalty to you! Just give me one chance!”

“Don’t leave me behind! Please, I’m begging you!”

Some fell to their knees, crying and pleading. Others resorted to screaming, shouting promises, and even swearing loyalty.

But Ryu Min remained unmoved. He had already made his decision.

The final survivor… Ryu Min’s gaze fell on a single person.

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!