"Black Sickle."
The system responded to the nickname I blurted out without hesitation.
[Do you want to register your avatar's nickname as 'Black Sickle']
"Okay."
[This is a unique nickname. It has been registered.]
It was for this reason that Ryu Min decided on a nickname that evoked the image of a black sickle.
'Because it's nickname that make you look strong.'
Usually, when you ask people to come up with a nickname, most end up with something random or waste 30 seconds thinking about it, only for their real name to be forcibly chosen.
However, from my experience with regression, I found that deciding on a nickname was surprisingly important.
'The impression you give to others is determined by your nickname.'
The place you move to through soul transfer is a new world.
In that place, which can be considered another world, real names are not used.
We only call each other by the nicknames we have set for ourselves.
No one wants to reveal the truth about their reality.
Because everyone wants to wear a mask.
'Using your real name during avatar creation is something only an idiot would do.'
It's the same reason why you don't necessarily use your real name in games.
Especially in a survival game where you have to step on others and compete, you need to hide your identity even more.
'That's why nicknames are important. They're one of the factors that can determine first impressions.'
At first, I registered my real name or the ID I used on the Internet as my nickname without thinking.
But I guess I took it lightly, and I got swarmed by flies, ultimately wasting time.
'You absolutely have to look strong here. It's good to make a strong impression.'
After that, I focused on creating a nickname that sounded formidable, and "Black Sickle" came to mind.
'Because my main weapon is also a reaper, and i'll changr jobs to that later.'
There are approximately 30 different occupations in the other world.
It's called a class, and in the case of the Reaper, it's a unique class that only one person can have.
'This time too, I must change my job to a Grim Reaper. There is no job as strong as this one.'
It's still too early to choose a career, but it can't hurt to have a plan.
[Please set your body type and appearance within 3 minutes.]
[If you strongly visualize the image in your mind, it will be reflected.]
[Once you have finished visualizing, please say 'I'am done visualizing.]
[If you do not decide within the limit, your real appearance will be automatically reflected.]
'It's time to customize your appearance.'
Appearance, like a nickname, is an important part of determining first impressions.
'Usually, everyone here just tries to look cool and pretty.'
They focus solely on customizing their appearance by making adjustments to parts they don't like.
It's obvious even without looking.
'But if you have the will, you should never do that. Especially not women.'
A pretty and handsome appearance certainly has the effect of drawing attention from those around you.
It's also good for leaving a good first impression.
However, this world is a survival of the fittest.
If you have outstanding looks, you are likely to become a target.
Women are particularly at risk.
'Everyone is mistaken, but I'am definitely not creating a gamr character right now. The other world is also a reality.'
If you die in the other world, you die in this life too.
There are countless people who forget that point and are fooled by the game-like system and make wrong decisions.
'As for your appearance, it doesn't have to be flashy. You shouldn't be handsome or ugly.'
Although that was exactly how it was in reality, I altered my appearance because I wanted to hide my identity as much as possible.
'With an impression that is different from reality and does not seem easy.'
This time too, Ryu Min had planned cautiously.
His sharp nose and jawline, and strong eyes gave him a cold and indifferent impression.
His physique changed from his usual small stature to a muscular body.
He had a strong-looking appearance, befitting his nickname, Black Sickle.
"Concept complete."
[Customization completed.]
[Creating avatar.]
... ... ... ... ...
[Creation complete]
[I will trasfer your sould to Round 1 immediately. Good luck.]
Suddenly, a bright light struck Ryu Min's eyes.
When I opened my eyes, which I had closed reflexively, a new world unfolded before me.
'That was just a moment.'
The setting for Round 1 was a vast grassland.
It looked like cows and sheep were leisurely grazing.
Of course, there were no cows or sheep here.
'Of course there are monsters.'
Ryu Min looked down at his body.
Standing at 180 cm tall, his muscular frame moved as he wished.
It was a body I customized just a while ago.
'I've made it so many times that it now feels like my body.'
Ryu Min had maintained his current appearance since the 12th episode.
Maybe that's why, even though it was his first time making it, he felt familiar with it as if it were his own body.
He wasn't surprised or embarrassed like others might be.
Because it was a soul transference he had experienced many times.
"Hey, where is this? A meadow?"
"It doesn't matter where you go…"
"I feel like my mind is at peace."
The people who had created their avatars began to appear one after another on the plains.
"Huh? Your body changed?"
"Could it be that you came in with the body you set up before coming here?"
"I'm this muscular? Then my face too…?"
"I tried changing my face to that of a celebrity just in case… Does it work?"
As the crowd grew, the commotion intensified.
People who looked curiously at the nicknames that appeared above others' heads.
People who were satisfied with their new bodies, like celebrities.
People who were confused because they couldn't change their appearance since the time limit had passed.
People who were fascinated by the vast grassland scenery, forgetting even their confusion.
Although there were various reactions, Ryu Min wore a dry expression.
Because he had experienced it enough times for it to be boring.
Instead, Ryu Min's gaze was focused on one place.
'It's almost time to come.'
After a while.
Tsuyutsu—
A person appeared in the spot where my gaze had lingered.
'You're here now. Hwang Yong-min.'
Hwang Yong-min, whose body looked much more shabby than usual, was looking around.
'This time again, only the body was made muscular.'
It was easy to recognize him because his face didn't change.
The nickname that came to mind was also [Hwang Yong-min], which was his real name.
I guess he was too embarrassed to change it.
'Well, 30 second is a shorter time than you think to decide on a nickname.'
If you looked around, you could often find people with the same name as Hwang Yong-min.
At that time, I accidentally made eye contact with Hwang Yong-min.
But he quickly looked away, as if he didn't recognize me.
'There's no way he could recognize me. I've completely transformed into a different person.'
Hwang Yong-min didn't know Ryu Min, but Ryu Min knew Hwang Yong-min.
'That's fine.'
As soon as he confirmed that fact, Ryu Min took his gaze away from Hwang Yong-min.
He had already had enough of revenge, so he was no longer interested.
'I move when it's convenient to use him.'
For now, I was just keeping him alive because he had utility.
[Kyohohoho, is everyone here now?]
An angel descended from heaven with a halo.
The name is Brielle.
It's the angel I've seen before.
[Do you like your new avatar?]
"...."
The angel's appearance made the surroundings as quiet as a mouse.
'I guess it's because he left such a strong first impression that it's so quiet.'
I said this with the underlying fear that my head might explode again.
The angel knew that too, twisting his lips into a smile.
[Kikiki, it's nice to see your scared faces. Don't worry. I won't kill you as long as you don't act rudely.]
No one relaxed at those words.
[Let's see, it looks like all the people in seoul have gathered, as there are a total of 1,802,910 people.]
"1.8 million people?"
"Is there anyone here?"
People looked around, muttering.
There were at most ten thousand people on the plains.
The number of people present at Bosin Pavilion.
No matter how I looked at it, there didn't appear to be 1.8 million people.
The angel furrowed his brow and answered, as if he had heard the muttering.
[Would the grassland only be here? Of course, not all 1.8 million people are gathered here. If that were the case, there would be no room to stand, right?]
"Ah...."
[Anyway, there are all inferior humans. Don't worry about them, they are all playing rounds with other angels in different meadows.]
Still, 10,000 people is quite a large number.
So that the vast grassland appeared narrow.
'But this is only the beginning.'
I don't know if they all realize it, but this is a survival game where only half the participants survive.
As the round progresses, the number of survivors decreases exponentially.
Especially as the game advances, it becomes more difficult and more people die without meeting the clear conditions.
Eventually, in the final round, only he would be left.
'There were a ton of deaths, especially in round 15.'
At that time, the number of players worldwide, which had reached 2,000, had decreased to less than 50.
Not even half; 97.5% of them perished before they could advance to the next round.
'In the end, I was the only one who made it to round 20. The rest all died.'
Considering that there were 1.8 billion people to start with, that's an uncountable number of casualties.
[Now that everyone is here, let's begin the explanation. First, think 'Status window' in your head.]
The crowd followed the angel's words with a sense of wonder.
Because it was a case of losing out.
"OMG!"
"What's this?"
After a while, exclamations rang out from all around.
Everyone was staring into space with their mouths open.
Because the status window was not visible to others.
I also memorized the starting words like everyone else.
'Status Window'
-Name : Ryu Min
-Nickname : Black Sickle
-Rank : Beginner
-Tittle : None
-Level : 1
-Occupation : None
-Strength : 3
-Intelligence : 3
-Agility : 3
-Luck : 3
-Public Skills : None
-Exclusive Skills : None
-Rune : None
-Gold Held : 0
Stat Points Remaining : 0
[??? : Unlocked upon reaching Lv10]
[??? : Unlocked upon reaching Lv 20]
[??? : Unlocked upon reaching Lv40]
[??? : Unlocked upon reaching Lv 60]
[??? : Unlocked upon reaching Lv 99]
It was a shabby status window that made me sigh.
Below that, there was a section where additional features could be accessed once certain levels were reached.
'I have to start over from the beginning, but that's okay. I'am confident I'll be stronger this time.'
Even I, who had made it to the final round, wasn't strong from the start.
'I had to die twice before I could even get through the first round.'
It was a natural result since I was just a high school student who had been bullied by others.
But the more I regressed, the stronger I became.
Gradually, my survival time increased, and the number of rounds I could endure expanded.
'It took me 99 rounds to finally reach the 20th round.'
It was a miracle that I, an ordinary man, managed to achieve so much, even though I had to sacrifice quite a few lives.
'Of course, the seven who survived until round 18 without regressing are the true talents.'
By round 18, seven people, excluding Ryu Min, were still alive.
In the 19th round, two of them survived, and in the 20th round, only Ryu Min remained.
'We need to get at least four people to the boss room alive.'
Ryu Min planned to choose one of these seven candidates to accompany him to the boss room.
Because there was no stronger player in the world.
That didn't mean he wouldn't consider other candidates.
'There were many strong players among those who dropped out in the previous round.'
There's no need to get five people to the boss room.
The minimum requirement was five people, but more would be better.
'The more survivors, the better.'
The problem was that those who survived until the boss room must be solid allies.
Or Ryu Min had enough power to control them.
'That shouldn't be difficult.'
Now that he had returned for the 100th time, Ryu Min was confident that he could become stronger than anyone else.
Because he was the only one who reached the max level of 99 in the previous round.
[Now, have you all seen the status screen? If you've played the game, you'll know. You're currently a worthless piece of trash.]
"...."
[So, get stronger. If you survive until round 20, you will be stronger than anyone else. If you survive and clear round 20!]
The angel curled the corners of his lips.
[Not only will I free you from the survival game, I will also grant your wish.]
"Hey, what do you want?"
People's reactions to the word "wish" varied.
"Will you really grant my wish?"
"Hey, no way."
While some people doubted or denied it.
"A wish…."
"Are you saying that if I just clear the last round, my wish will be granted?"
Some people had high expectations and grew greedy.
Of course, Ryu Min didn't belong to either camp.
Because he knew that it was a tough game to even survive until the final round, let alone achieve your wish.
[Then, before the round. Let me explain briefly. Everyone, think 'inventory' in your head.]
'Inventory.'
As I memorized the startup word, an invisible window appeared, just like the status window.
There was a small piece of emerald stone in it.
[You will be given one item in your inventory by default. Take oy out and use it.]
I put my hand in the air and took out the item as people told me to.
Then, the item information came up automatically.