"Andheri has fallen! We're finally going to see what's beyond this room!"
"Oh man, the other three guardians absolutely crushed their opponents, but Andheri went down like a dog. A beautiful dog, an intelligent dog… but still, a pitiful dog."
"Look at the levels the rankers gained from defeating him! They've leveled up big-time."
"What's next for them? Could they be about to face 'TheBoss'?"
The buzz among the common players was electric as Andheri's defeat flashed across their screens.
Initially, they had expected him to dominate like the other guardians. But after witnessing his downfall, it dawned on them that the overwhelming victories of the other three weren't the norm—they were the exception.
Had those guardians not been as skilled as they were, they too might have met the same pitiful fate as Andheri, most likely overwhelmed by the sheer number of rankers attacking them all at once.
It was only because of their extraordinary talent that they managed to triumph so convincingly, but they weren't really supposed to fight as well as they did.
With Andheri defeated, a total of 77 rankers pushed forward from the North path, entering the central chamber, where they found themselves staring face to face against the undisputed number one player of the game!
Wearing his signature black robes, his virex corps mask and his assassin's belt, Leo stood at the center of the room, his arms crossed as he nonchalantly glanced at his opposition.
"It's him—'TheBoss'!"
"Who else could it be?"
"The GOAT is here!"
"I've been waiting to see 'TheBoss' in action for so long! Now, we'll finally witness his power after reaching master status."
"All hail TheBoss!"
The excitement amongst the global viewers hit fever pitch when they realized that 'TheBoss' was the final boss of the second rankers event.
Goosebumps rippled across their skin as the camera zoomed in on TheBoss's cold, unyielding eyes, as the stage seemed set for an unforgettable showdown.
"Is it just me or does anyone else feel pressured standing in this room too?"
"I feel suffocated, if I don't focus on controlling my legs they would undoubtedly start to tremble, but I don't know why"
"I feel my usual strength betraying me… what is happening here?"
Watching The Boss stand so nonchalantly, many rankers felt pressured, as although they did not understand why, they felt like they were staring at a tall insurmountable mountain, which they could never hope to defeat.
In reality it was simply Leo's new aura pressure artifact that was making others feel more nervous than they really were, however, most players did not understand this and attributed the pressure they felt to Leo's incredible strength.
"Haha, is this the power of a Master? He's not even moving but I'm still covered in sweat. What an incredible aura!"
"Damn… I think I just peed a little"
Gulping, the rankers collectively took a step back, as although they entered the central room feeling extremely excited, once they realized who their opponent was, their excitement fuzzed away real quick.
"Hey Boss! Long time no see–" said PurpleRock, as while the other rankers cowered away, he as a top 10 player confidently took the lead and tried to talk to Leo as if they were acquaintances.
In reality the two had never talked face to face, however, they did share a warm up room during the grand tournament where Leo ignored everyone inside.
Hence when PurpleRock tried to talk to him as if they were acquaintances, the individual who was the most surprised by his bizarre approach was none other than Leo.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Leo asked, raising an eyebrow behind his mask, as PurpleRock chuckled at his question.
"No unfortunately you do not know me, however, I'm hoping that after today's fight you will!" PurpleRock said, as the moment he uttered these words, the very next second he found his own neck, heart and forehead impaled by three daggers.
-12,000 CRITICAL HIT!
-14,000 CRITICAL HIT!
-17,000 CRITICAL HIT!
[Player PurpleRock has been eliminated]
Before PurpleRock or the other rankers could even realize what was going on, Leo easily killed him as if the other was not even a challenge, as from start to finish none of the other rankers even saw him moving his arm.
Still standing with his arms crossed, it almost looked like he had not moved at all, and this made several other rankers scream in horror, as they had never experienced something like this before.
"D-did he move? Did anyone see him move?"
A stunned silence filled the room.
"No way... Was that it? He didn't even—"
"He didn't move. He didn't move at all!"
Panic began to ripple through the rankers, their confidence crumbling under the weight of Leo's overwhelming presence. PurpleRock, one of the strongest among them, had been dispatched without so much as a flicker of effort.
"He took him out in less than a second. We're all doomed."
A few players at the back began to retreat, shuffling toward the entrance as the tension mounted.
"Calm down!" one of the remaining rankers shouted. "We outnumber him! It's just one guy!"
But even as they tried to rally themselves, their words lacked conviction. It was clear that none of them believed they could actually win.
Leo, however, remained utterly indifferent. He wasn't here for conversation, for games, or to offer them a sporting chance. His task was simple: defend the treasure room, and he had no intention of letting any of these rankers come close to succeeding.
He tilted his head slightly, as if assessing his prey, and then, with a voice that was cold and commanding, he finally spoke.
"Next."
The challenge was set, but the rankers were left paralyzed, unsure whether to fight or flee.
—-----
/// A/N - My sincerest apologies for the delay in update today. My health is not the best, it seems like I've caught a cold and a mild fever.
I'll still try to do chapters, but I can't guarantee them as usual. ///