"Announcement 1: 7 hours ago, UJ region player Naoko led her guild members to successfully defeat the five Domain Lord bosses within the borders of Yíng Luò City, a feat that shook several divine envoys."
"She received the blessing of Susanoo, +200 free attribute points, skill points... Reputation 300,000!"
"Announcement 2: 5 hours ago, player Kaan from the Nordic region, spending 20 million gold coins, successfully forged the Growth-Restricting Artifact [Thor's Battle Axe]."
"Received the blessing of Thor!"
"Announcement 3: 3 hours ago, player Cindy from the Indian region, using plague witchcraft, successfully poisoned and killed the Supreme Leader of the Holy City."
"Received the blessing of Shiva..."
...
A series of global announcements echoed across the game world, bringing the top players of various regions into the spotlight for billions of players!
Orson furrowed his brow slightly, guessing what had happened. He murmured to himself, "It seems like this came ahead of schedule. This was supposed to happen a month after the game launched. The progress has accelerated?"
MrMeowgi: "20 million gold coins to forge a weapon... what the hell!"
Kuang Lang Bu Ji: "I saw the video. This guy has a plague aura. He silently wiped out all the nobles in the main city."
All the players listed in the announcements were top-tier experts from various regions, and many players started to discuss them heatedly on the world channel.
DonutWizard: "Hmm, what's going on? Why aren't there any US players? Isn't there someone from our region who's pretty strong?"
MrMeowgi: "Don't even start..."
MrMeowgi: "Top players from every region are on the list, and our three-time champion got taken out by a dragon knight once, and suddenly he's washed up?"
Snow Dream : "Good luck doesn't last forever. He's indeed strong, but the gap between him and world-class players is clear."
Wu Sheng Jing Mo: "I agree, what you're saying is spot on! Anyone on that list is someone Orgod can't handle."
...
The global announcements continued, each revealing players who had performed extraordinary feats that day, but Orgod's name was nowhere to be found.
This gave many players a chance to mock him, suggesting that Orgod was just a big fish in a small pond.
Looking at the waves of commentary from players around the world, Orson simply smiled.
ShatteredCrown: "A bunch of idiots. I just saw this Snow Dream guy outside the door. I'm going to go take him down ten times right now!"
"Ha, they've never even faced off with foreign players, and they're already starting to lick the boots of the strong."
The normally composed Empress couldn't stand the world channel anymore and nearly threw up from the disgusting behavior.
ShatteredCrown, frustrated, grabbed his staff, ready to go start a fight, but Orson pulled him back, laughing, "I'm not in a rush. Why are you panicking?"
"Master, how can you sit still? If it were me, I'd be losing my mind by now!"
ShatteredCrown stomped his feet and continued, "Shouldn't we go out and show them who's the real boss, so they understand what true power is?"
"You're still a kid at heart," BlackStockings teased with a slight smile.
"How the hell am I a kid? If it were me, I'd wipe them out and make them shut up!" ShatteredCrown cursed.
BlackStockings chuckled softly and nodded at Orson, "He has a better grasp of the situation than you do. If he keeps picking fights with random players to prove himself, it'll just make him look like a clown."
"It seems you're not just good at making sarcastic remarks; your brain works a little better than ShatteredCrown's," Orson replied, smiling.
BlackStockings gave him a playful glare in response.
Orson didn't care whether people were jealous of him or trying to suppress him. None of that mattered.
No one could define whether he was strong or weak.
To wear the crown is to bear its weight—there's no need for debate, no need to waver. This was the stance of a true strong person.
"Announcement 9: 1 hour ago, US region player Usher, unmatched in strength, led his guild members to kill the Demon Prince, thereby beginning his path to dominate the Dark Dragon Empire!"
"Received the blessing of the Blood Angel..."
The last announcement appeared, and the previously subdued US players instantly erupted in excitement!
DonutWizard: "Oh my god! Usher is going to defy the heavens! He's going to dominate the Dark Dragon Empire!"
SSR Fu Sheng: "Impressive and domineering. According to insider news, some NPC clans in the Dark Dragon Empire have already started siding with the [Dragon's Kiss Guild]. Terrifying!"
MrMeowgi: "Incredible! I knew Usher was just waiting for the right moment. The global stage is where he belongs!"
Tui Shi Quan Mei: "To be fair, our region's strongest single-player still has some dispute, but when it comes to guilds, only Usher has the capital to compete with the world's top players."
The world channel's subtitle scroll sped up as players responded with strong approval.
ShatteredCrown: "This is ridiculous! A guy who switched countries, how can he talk so big?"
Empress, hearing this, couldn't hold back any longer and said solemnly, "Please allow me to repair my equipment. I'd like to take down these players."
"No need. Calm down." Orson chuckled bitterly and had to stop his two companions from going off on a rampage.
"Killing the Demon Prince is truly an impressive feat."
Orson smiled lightly. He was no stranger to Usher's abilities. There was no way Usher would fall just because of a "country switch."
Even though Usher and his guild, [Dragon's Kiss], had a style that many didn't like, in terms of hard strength and potential, he was still a formidable opponent worthy of respect.
"Global Announcement: A player's reputation has now exceeded one million, and the Global Power Ranking is now released!"
Another explosive piece of news hit the airwaves, with many players speculating who could be so monstrous that their reputation had reached over a million so quickly.
"No wonder the game's progress has accelerated."
Orson smiled and shook his head, glancing at his own reputation.
Just as he received the reward from the [The Flame Dragon's Nest] quest, his reputation had risen to 1.01 million.
He had gained 150 free attribute points, 200 skill points, 10 talent points, and 2,000 gold coins as a reward.
Additionally, since he had wiped out The Flame Dragon's Nest, his favorability with Purple Thunder Fortress had increased by 3,000, and his reputation had been boosted by another 300,000.
In Purple Thunder Fortress, Orson would be protected by the Witch, and his identity would no longer be hidden or pursued by guards.
"So this is the Global Power Ranking?"
Players looked up in surprise, watching as a golden scroll unrolled in the sky.
The top nine players from around the world were listed there.
"Ah, so this Naoko is an SS-level summoner! No wonder she can't be stopped by Domain Lord bosses—her Yamata no Orochi is ridiculously strong!"
"Huh? How can someone this strong only rank 43rd?"
Many players were dumbfounded. Despite her ability to summon Yamata no Orochi, Naoko barely made the top 50.
"Usher's rank... what's going on here?"
"This game is blind as hell, isn't it?"
"Slaying the Demon Prince, a level 60 super-strong NPC, and they rank him only 29th, with an A+ rating for battle potential?"
Players in the world channel were up in arms. Usher, the top US player, and the first big spender in the game, was ranked 29th.
Money Traveler: "You guys are all full of it. This is the individual power ranking, not the richest player ranking!"
Slaughter Spree: "This ranking is actually pretty accurate. Congrats, Blank!"
The rankings began to gradually reveal themselves from bottom to top.
Blank, with an S- battle rating, ranked just above Usher. He was stronger by a narrow margin, placing 28th, while Usher was 29th.
"I can't believe it! How am I not in the top 50? The 50th place is a Korean player, and I'm so pissed!"
ShatteredCrown was starting to lose it. His name wasn't anywhere on the list.
"Calm down, there's one condition for getting on this list," Orson said, raising his hand to give him a light tap to calm him down.
Empress and the others turned to look at him curiously. Orson explained, "This ranking is based on battle potential. Soul Seal quality and potential for growth account for a significant portion. To make the list, you need at least a Lord-Class Soul Seal."
"Huh... I knew it. How could a Korean player beat me? I don't care about Lord-class Soul Seals, I want god-level ones!"
ShatteredCrown sighed in relief, then mischievously nudged Orson. "Master, your Soul Seal is god-level, right? Where did you get it? Could you get me one from your 5 billion soft sisters?"
Orson had three black lines on his forehead and gave him another tap. "I don't even know where I got it from myself."
"The top spots are all familiar faces."
The top ten began to reveal themselves. Orson took a deep breath.
The Nordic region's Sword Soul Guild, also the world champion guild from Sword and Conquest, claimed three spots, with Kaan, who had received Thor's blessing and wielded a Growth-Restricting Artifact, ranking second with an SS-level rating!
The match-fixing scandal could have been Orson's chance to turn things around, but once Kaan entered the battlefield, all hope was lost.
As the number one spot was about to be revealed, the ranking continued to unfold...