Michael gaze settled on the final entry.
[Rank 1000: Khoran]
[Level: 80]
[Realm: Ironpeak Realm]
"Tsk. Even the weakest person currently occupying the rankings was still a Rank Four Awakener."
"But…"
As he muttered this, Michael's eyes shifted upward.
[Rank 999: Elys Arden]
[Level: 75]
[Realm: Verdant Eclipse Realm]
"…Another Level 75."
Michael's expression became thoughtful.
Putting aside the ranking placement between second to last place and last place proved it couldn't be something that could be trusted , this was a Rank Three, just like him.
However, Verdant Eclipse Realm didn't sound like the realm of the angel civilization. If it wasn't, then this wasn't the female angel he had encountered earlier.
Including himself, there were only eight participants below Level 100, and every one of them was Level 75. The remaining nine hundred and ninety-two ranked participants were all Level 100.
While Michael wondered which among the eight was the female angel, since he didn't know her name and classes weren't listed, and none of the realms obviously pointed to angels, he didn't focus on it for too long.
He had a feeling they would cross paths again in the future.
What he was more curious about was whether these eight Rank Three participants were truly all that existed in the entire Fourth Layer.
Though it was possible, Michael felt it was a bit too few considering the seemingly infinite scale of the universe. But then again, to enter the Fourth Layer as a Rank Three, one had to have surpassed the extreme threshold of the previous layer.
Simply being able to compete with a Rank Four awakener as a Rank Three wouldn't be enough.
Michael's curiosity was finally satisfied.
He was just about to dismiss the panel and leave for another location when a new notification suddenly appeared before him.
[Ranking Challenge Request Received]
Michael blinked.
"…Already?"
A rather strange expression appeared on his face. To him, the hidden danger of the ranking system had been obvious almost immediately. Anyone with enough experience should have realized it even faster.
The rankings had only opened moments ago. Nobody knew anyone else's true strength or what terrifying trump cards others possessed. Blindly challenging strangers seemed reckless.
Then, almost as quickly, the answer occurred to him.
"…My level."
Level seventy-five. Compared to the sea of Level 100s occupying the rankings, he practically looked like the weakest person available. To everyone else, he probably appeared to be an easy target.
Michael almost laughed.
"So they picked the softest-looking fruit first."
Before he could simply ignore the notification, another panel abruptly appeared.
[Ranking Challenge Pending]
Challenger: Rank 206
Decision Time Remaining: 04:58
The seconds immediately began counting downward.
04:57…
04:56…
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"So there's a time limit."
[Challenge Information]
Refusing this challenge will consume one refusal against this challenger.
Remaining Refusals Against This Challenger: 3/3
Remaining Universal Challenge Refusals This Month: 3/3
If all refusals against this challenger are exhausted, any further refusal will be treated as a forfeit.
Upon forfeiture, both participants will immediately exchange ranking positions.
Hint: Successfully defending your ranking in three official matches during a monthly cycle grants temporary challenge protection. Protected participants can refuse additional ranking challenges without issues until the next monthly settlement. However, accepting a challenge and losing will result in a rank switch.
Michael quietly read every line.
"I see…"
The challenge system was even more complete than he had expected. Overall, it was surprisingly well-balanced.
"It seems the Origin Will has already considered most loopholes."
Heavens knew how long this battlefield had been waiting to be activated. There was truly a great deal to learn here.
Michael's gaze drifted back toward the countdown with a thoughtful expression.
As for the challenge request, Michael wasn't particularly nervous. Rank 206. Only eight places below him. This most likely meant the challenger's combat strength had been evaluated at around the same level as his own.
At least, according to the Origin Will. Whether that evaluation reflected reality was another matter entirely.
Michael rested his chin on his hand.
"…Now the real question is, do I accept?"
In the end, Michael's curiosity finally won.
He glanced at the steadily decreasing countdown and made his decision.
"Accept."
The moment the words left his mouth, the panel dissolved into countless motes of blue light.
A shimmering portal silently opened before him. Without hesitation, Michael stepped through.
The surrounding space twisted. When his vision cleared, he found himself standing within an endless expanse of darkness.
Before Michael could inspect his surroundings, another translucent panel appeared before him.
[Ranking Challenge Accepted]
[Awaiting defender's battlefield selection]
[The defending participant has the authority to select the battlefield environment] [Different environments may possess different natural characteristics, which can influence the effectiveness of various abilities] [With the existence of environments, one cannot remain in the void] Before Michael could fully process what he had just read, another panel immediately appeared.
[Available Battlefields]
Endless Plains Ancient
Forest Frozen
Tundra Volcanic Region
Mountain Range
Underground Caverns
Ruined City Endless
Ocean Floating Islands
Crystal Canyon Storm Valley
Chaotic Rift …
Michael slowly examined the list.
Every battlefield possessed unique natural conditions.
He found that he could even merge some environments. However, whatever option he chose would work both for and against him.
Michael nodded inwardly.
"A reasonable system."
The defender already occupied the higher rank. Allowing them to choose the battlefield meant challengers wouldn't always be at the mercy of a scheming opponent.
This would also make challengers weigh their decision carefully before issuing one.
Michael's gaze swept across the countless battlefield options.
There were ordinary environments. And there were extreme ones.
A blazing volcanic world where rivers of magma flowed endlessly.
An endless ocean beneath perpetual storms.
A shattered mountain range covered in violent spatial cracks.
A ruined city swallowed by poisonous mist.
As he continued reading, two options immediately caught his attention.
[Land of Eternal Death]
Description: A world saturated with dense death energy. Extended exposure gradually erodes vitality.
[Frozen Rain Expanse]
Description: A frozen world beneath an endless black sky. Cold rain never ceases to fall. Every drop contains dense Yin and cold energy that slowly drains warmth and life from living beings.
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