Chapter 120: Strength decides everything

Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Strength decides everything

"So these are the survivors? It brings up the question, how many people actually died?" Ronan muttered, his eyes scanning everyone. Mostly, he stopped for several seconds looking at the lone people that could make it here on their own. Those were more likely the crème de la crème.

"You all must be tired, so come in. Pick any house of your choice."

"Though I must say, some don’t even have water to bathe..." the man added as he turned around to leave.

He was a man with a mustache and brown hair. He was 6’3" in height, with broad shoulders, and his aura was well above the King Realm.

He had a relaxed expression as, in a few steps, he had disappeared.

Everyone exchanged glances as they recalled his words.

What does he mean some don’t have water to bathe?

Finally, people started entering as a vast open space was seen with small and large houses.

At a far distance, almost three kilometers away, one could sense various strong auras and buildings that they believed was the main camp. Yet, it seemed the small houses they saw were their place to sleep.

Wait, what?

A large stone monument, like one page of a book, was erected. It was blank, but with just a glance, everyone knew it wasn’t simple.

"Why do we only have two hundred houses and only ten big houses?" Suddenly, someone spoke as everyone’s expression changed.

There were more than a thousand people currently here. If they only had two hundred houses with ten big houses, then didn’t that mean some people would have to sleep on the ground?

Wait, what the...

Then they remembered he said some houses didn’t have water. Didn’t that mean out of these two hundred houses, some didn’t have water?

While they were still stunned, suddenly, numbers appeared around the houses one after another, from 1 to 200.

To top it off, everyone also had numbers appear on their wrists.

Some tried to rub them off, but it was like they were permanently engraved onto their bodies.

It didn’t take too long to realize this was most likely a ranking of their strength. Their strength determined the house they got.

Ronan looked at his wrist.

148.

"What is your number?" Ronan asked the two women.

"998."

"999."

The two women replied as Ronan told them his number.

The two women couldn’t help but clench their fists. This was like an eye-opener to what their status was in this camp and how far behind they were compared to Ronan.

The people started moving as they realized this number meant the houses they got.

"Wait, no water..."

"Same."

"What the hell? Even the food is mundane..."

"Wow... cool bed."

"The water can be set to hot and warm."

"Fuck, this house is big... I can’t believe it is only for me."

So many various words were heard as some of those that had access to the houses spoke, while those that didn’t gritted their teeth.

Even the houses with water—they wanted them after glancing through the openings.

They could see a rather comfy bed and some necessities, and food, although not the best, was available.

What about those without food? Did they have to go out to hunt? Also, did they have to sleep on the ground or what?

"Hey... I challenge you. I want your house." Suddenly, someone spoke as everyone froze.

It was to be expected. Who would agree to sleep outside without food?

"Ah, you think I am afraid? Come."

The one challenged...

200.

the challenger...

205.

The challenger attacked him as a sonic boom was heard

Bang!

The challenger flew out as he crashed onto the ground more than five hundred meters away, unconscious, as everywhere went silent.

This...

Now they understood the ranks were not just given; they were based on one’s strength.

You must know, the two were at the Four-Star Sovereign Realm, yet the gap in their strength was so wide. And that was with their numbers being so close.

What about those at 300?

700?

How weak were they compared to the top 200?

Hesa couldn’t help but clench her fist. Was this the gap?

This was really a monster camp.

But of course, not only were those outside the top 200 annoyed, but those in the top 200, especially those with houses without water, which were those ranging from 150 to 200, challenged those in the top 150.

As fights broke out, everyone tried to change their ranks, and it worked.

Some people won as the number on their wrists changed, but no one from outside the top 200 could enter it.

As for Hesa and Yen, they were also able to change their ranks, only it wasn’t much.

Hesa: 978.

Yen: 981.

The two were stuck there, as for the top 150, not a single rank changed. In fact, the difference between the one directly above you was massive.

After the fights, everyone was left gritting their teeth, but there was nothing they could do unless they grew stronger. This new rank would be theirs for a while.

As for the top 10, no one even challenged them as each of them entered their cabins—actually, their giant houses. One could guess not only would their food be good, but also their water and even various additions. Maybe a library to study abilities and traits and how to better use them, maybe a cultivation room.

People could only guess, but no doubt they were envious of them.

"Do you guys want to stay with me?" Ronan asked. His own house wasn’t bad. He had checked it. The room was decent and could fit the three of them. Also, the bed was large, he had water, and the food was very good.

"Ah... I don’t think they would accept, Master. Besides, we came here to grow stronger," Yen said.

"I would like to work my way up myself," Hesa spoke as Ronan froze.

This... he didn’t expect this, but he could see the fighting spirit in the two women.

They wanted to grow stronger, and that was when Ronan realized if he were to help them now and all, they wouldn’t grow as quickly as they should.

He was a man with a cheat that got traits from beasts he killed and could upgrade them by killing more and more members of that race. If so, then he would only grow stronger from this point on as he acquired more and more traits. At this rate, he would leave the two women far behind, and he was sure they didn’t want that, so he smiled.

"Okay, but be careful. We are left here to survive. Don’t trust anyone, and most importantly—"

"We know," the two women replied as Ronan coughed.

Then they said their goodbyes as Ronan walked into his house.

148.

He looked at his wrist. It was quite shocking. Out of 1,000 people, he was ranked 148. You must know, no one was at the King Realm; everyone was at the Sovereign Realm. Yet while he struggled to kill an Eight-Star Sovereign Realm being, some could kill Peak Sovereign Realm monsters.

While the top ten could kill King Realm beasts on their own, and from 11 downwards, maybe two of them could take a King Realm expert.

What about the top 50? Could three of them kill a King Realm expert?

Also, one thing about this rank was that it was combat ability-based, not realm-based, so some Two-Star or even Three-Star Sovereign Realm beings were stronger than Four-Star beings and ranked above them.

Ronan even saw one of the top 100 being at Three-Star Sovereign Realm. Only one could imagine how strong he was, but one thing Ronan felt frightened by was that he had four traits, with two already past the first evolution.

What kind of traits did those 147 humans stronger than him have that could beat him despite having four traits?

More than that, what abilities did they have?

Ronan’s heart pounded in his chest, not in fear but excitement. How boring would it have been if he was the strongest in this camp?

But now, knowing even with one trait, some humans were terrifyingly strong, it brought about a feeling of expectation. He wanted to grow strong and fight them, and also learn from them.

Laying on the comfy bed, Ronan almost moaned.

"So relaxing," Ronan spoke as he couldn’t help but think about the two women.

Were they okay?

Although they were in disguise and were just Eve and Joy, their beauty was not seen, but they still had some charm from their vampiric selves. So even if they looked average, they were still very much leaning toward beautiful women in most men’s eyes.

And this place doesn’t seem to have any rules, or they haven’t been told.

Also, wouldn’t they be hungry? They were injured and weakened. Should he pack some of the food here and give it to them?

Just then, Ronan sighed. No, he had to leave the women. They were not kids, and if they wanted to be beside him in the future, they had to grow stronger.

Meanwhile, the man that welcomed them looked over from a tall building in the distance.

Everything that happened didn’t escape his eyes or the eyes of all the instructors here. They had smiles on their faces, and deep in their eyes was expectation.

They wondered what these younglings could do.

Could they surprise them?

Could their names, monsters, be proven over the next few days?

How would they survive in a world where strength decides everything—not connections, not your family, but your own personal strength?