[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world":3,"chapter-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-222":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Level 4 Human in a Ruined World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1848108,2454,"Chapter 222","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-222",222,"\u003Cp>[Translator – Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader – Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 222: Unexpectedness (7)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Match-fixing by pretending to be weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo clicked his tongue at Dragos’ deception tactics and sat down to take a break.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed that Dragos would continue his cunning act until enough public opinion was swayed to perceive him as the underdog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This makes things a bit complicated.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many levels of deception could Dragos sustain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by his performance so far, handling the second stage seemed to be no problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The number of mutants appearing in stage 3 is the key. No matter how skilled he is at playing the weakling, it would be hard to deal with eight mutants alone.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was assuming that the number of mutants doubled with each stage: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But they could also increase sequentially by two each time. This would make predictions even more difficult.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the latter case, it would be 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it reached stage 3, there would only be six mutants, making it hard for Yeongwoo, who knew about the act, to make a decisive move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Six mutants? Too ambiguous. With some skill, one could barely manage to break through.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Dragos was aiming for first place, so he would definitely continue his act until he reached his limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, it was a prime opportunity to push out competitors who were betting on the survival of the weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No matter what he does, I should consider that he’s not at his limit until he suffers a substantial injury.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, losing an arm or a severe thigh wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How long does he plan to keep up this act? Even just holding on like that must be quite exhausting.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo thought this while looking at the screen, Dragos finally attempted a counterattack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as an orc charged at him with bare hands, Dragos grabbed and tackled it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Looks like he’s planning to finish it soon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even knowing it was an act, the battle was intense enough to make Yeongwoo’s heart race.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Dragos plunged his sword into the orc lying on the ground, a beastman closed in from behind and thrust a lance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hwayaang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing it at the last moment, Dragos instinctively twisted his body to dodge the lance, an act of genuine desperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, even his misstep when entering the dungeon seemed calculated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe he’s not a beginner but a seasoned veteran.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was someone like him only the second best swordsman in Brasov?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing his naivety, Yeongwoo corrected his thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No, titles can be changed at will. He might have been the second best at some point in the past.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Yeongwoo had this epiphany, the European on the screen kicked the beastman’s shield, creating an opening to stab through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, his first-stage battle ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Stage 1, Strong Survives. Weak Survives.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Stage 1 Complete.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the completion message appeared, the betting results were announced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「17 participants gained 1 betting point.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Yeongwoo’s personal scoreboard appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Jeong Yeongwoo07]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>|Betting Points: 1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>|Current Rank: Tied 17th (17 people)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Rewards are given from 5th place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*If there are many ties, ranks do not rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So the rankings start from the bottom.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merely predicting the first stage correctly wasn’t enough to receive rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was likely due to the high number of ties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘To get rewards, there must be many who fail their bets.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo finally understood the strategy for this dungeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dungeon was designed for players to rise through match-fixing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And this control is essentially given to the two representatives.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This clarified why the quest forced Dogo to stand out as a strong player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Stage 2 will begin shortly.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Due to the presence of many ties, special rules will be applied from Stage 2.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Special rules?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This dungeon was far more malicious than Yeongwoo had anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator – Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader – Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「From now on, all participants except the representatives can enter the arena.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dungeon system had rules in place to ensure that no one could easily claim rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Allowing participants into the arena means… they can create the desired outcome directly if needed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, if all 18 participants in the waiting room rushed into Arena 1, a previously impossible scenario like the ‘strong dying’ could happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, since uniting the 18 participants of different nationalities and races was difficult, they would likely consider changing the outcome in favor of the weak first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘For one’s rank to rise, there need to be fewer ties, so not everyone will bet on the weak dying or surviving. Some will inevitably bet on the opposite outcome.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant that even among the participants who entered the arena for the weak, there could be conflicts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those betting on the weak surviving and those betting on the weak dying could each use force to achieve their desired outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is going to be a complete mess.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Foreseeing the chaos, not only Yeongwoo but also other participants in the waiting room had complicated expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the dungeon system introduced another special rule to alleviate their concerns a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Additionally, at the end of Stage 5, the participant with the lowest betting points will be killed.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「If there are multiple participants with the lowest points, up to three will be randomly selected and killed.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant that up to three participants with the lowest points just before the final tally would be randomly killed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, participants were encouraged to bet their best throughout the five stages and, if necessary, enter the arena to change the outcome directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of course.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the same as always in the dungeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo closed his eyes, as if he had expected this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, participants in the waiting room, who could end up in the lowest point group at any time, were shouting in horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Yeongwoo couldn’t hear them, it was a scene where you could almost hear the screams just by watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation in the waiting room, as seen on the broadcast screen, was just like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「In the upcoming Stage 2, the number of mutants each representative will face is four.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So, it’s still four mutants up to Stage 2.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the number of mutants was no longer of great significance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the critical factor was the psychology of the remaining 18 participants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would they bet on the strong surviving and the weak surviving as in the previous stage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or would they bet on the weak dying to try and turn the tables?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What choice would the three participants who failed in the first stage, now at the bottom, make?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would they rush into the arena to alter the outcome to their liking once the match began?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the countless possibilities and the tension from the new rule allowing participants to enter the arena, the atmosphere in the waiting room was now more intense than in Arenas 1 and 2.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「All participants must complete their betting within 5 minutes.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the betting for Stage 2 began, and as before, the four betting options appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[1] Strong survives, weak survives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[2] Strong dies, weak survives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[3] Strong survives, weak dies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[4] Strong dies, weak dies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The options were the same as in Stage 1, but they felt much weightier now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Yeongwoo immediately bet on option 1 again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even with the lowest points death rule, would anyone risk their life to create variables this early? For now, everyone will have to act conservatively.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, those who were truly anxious were likely the three at the bottom who had taken a gamble in the first stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even if the current lowest scorers succeed in their Stage 2 bets, they will still be in danger of being the lowest since most participants who scored in Stage 1 will likely succeed in Stage 2 as well.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, the only way for the lowest scorers to survive was to make others fail in their bets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Otherwise, they would need to succeed in all their bets from Stage 3 onwards while hoping that others fail in their predictions… which is no easy task.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dilemma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, if the three lowest scorers did nothing, they would likely die due to the rule targeting the lowest scorers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But there’s still some hope. Dragos is acting really well.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After placing his bet, Yeongwoo sat back down and waited for time to pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the full five minutes were used without early completion of betting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 18 participants in the waiting room were likely contemplating their life-or-death decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「All bets for Stage 2 are now complete.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After five minutes, the betting results for the 20 participants were announced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Stage 2]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>|Option 1 – 8 votes\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>|Option 3 – 12 votes\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoa…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surprising result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, significantly more people bet on option 3, indicating the weak would die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It seems most of them still don’t know Dragos is acting.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless, this outcome was advantageous for Yeongwoo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would greatly reduce the number of tied ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Yeongwoo’s remaining task was to ensure that Dragos did not die during Stage 2.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Twelve people bet on the weak dying….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if they decided to interfere in the arena to prevent Dragos from passing Stage 2?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I use a laser strike… my infamy would skyrocket, right?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo imagined it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A laser cannon firing from the Returnee’s Room, striking down on the heads of the 12 participants who entered Arena 2.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kwaaah…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Making the sound of the laser cannon with his mouth, Yeongwoo placed his hand on the artifact as he saw the iron gate clattering again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「With all bets completed, Stage 2 will now begin.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator – Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader – Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1619,"2026-06-09T07:03:45.853Z",1,"novelbin.me","a6690d8d65b16209444c473915011b0973a027646547c3d171a45a153479cd98","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-423","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-422",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]