The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 69: Ch : The New Ranking System- Part 1

As the teams emerge from the dungeon, a wave of voices rises around them.

Hunters from various teams swarm around Zara and Ethan, their faces painted with exaggerated smiles and their words dripping with praise.

The overwhelming performance put forth by Ethan and Zara and the fast clear time made people admire them and forget the humiliation they had suffered before.

Even if no one knew what happened inside the dungeon, no one doubted that the attacking-pair were the ones who took care of the boss.

"That was incredible, Ethan!"

A broad-shouldered man cheered, his voice overly enthusiastic.

"You both must have carried the whole raid! You both are heroes!"

People gossipped with a smile on their face.

Ethan, usually the type to brush off attention with a cocky grin or a teasing remark, looked dangerously cold this time. His eyes narrowed, and his lips curled into a snarl.

"Back. Off."

He growled, his voice low but carrying enough weight to make the crowd falter.

A few people chuckled nervously, thinking he might be joking, but when blue lightning crackled around his fingertips, they scrambled back, fear flickering across their faces.

"Is this how it is, then? One moment, they’re worshiping you, and the next, they scatter like rats. So shallow. And they don’t even say anything about us. We helped as well..."

Orion muttered, watching the people who once crowded them now shrink away.

Selene stood a few paces behind them, her expression neutral as she observed the shifting tides of public sentiment.

"It’s human nature, Orion. They’re drawn to power, but loyalty is a much rarer commodity"

She said quietly. Unlike her, Orion was young and still had expectations from the world. It felt sorry to see him this disheartened.

Her calm observation drew several glares, and the murmurs around them grew harsher.

"Who does she think she is?"

Someone muttered.

"She was likely a deadweight in the dungeon. You know how supports are..."

Another voice hissed.

Before the tension could boil over, a brilliant flash lit up the sky.

The system announcement appeared, its giant holographic interface unfurling like a curtain of light. The crowd fell silent, every eye glued to the sky.

A metallic voice resonated, cutting through the stillness:

[The Global Hunter Ranking System is now online.]

Selene’s stomach twisted, a mix of anticipation and dread pooling within her. She knew this moment was coming, but facing it head-on was different.

She quickly pulled up her own interface, and the first thing that greeted her was Ethan’s name, shining in the top ten.

[Rank #8: Ethan Park]

A satisfied smirk tugged at Ethan’s lips, though his mood remained tense.

Zara’s eyes widened as she found her own name and ranking on the system.

[Rank #469: Zara Li]

She let out a small, disbelieving laugh, nudging Orion with a grin. "I made the top 500!" freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Orion fumbled with his system screen, his expression shifting from curiosity to shock.

[Rank #20,587: Orion ]

"Over twenty thousand? There are that many hunters already? And why am I so low?"

He whispered.

Selene’s eyes finally focused on her own rank, and her breath caught in her throat.

[Rank #985: Selene]

"Almost in the top thousand..."

She murmured. It was higher than she had expected, considering how little she showcased her abilities.

It was a miracle she had made it to such a high rank. But despite her efforts, the top ten remained unchanged from her past.

Her mind raced, connecting dots and confirming suspicions. This ranking system was yet another sign that the timeline was mirroring her past life.

She could almost predict what would come next.

The top ten names remained displayed in the sky for a full minute, each one etched in light and legend.

Rank #1: Alexander Grave

.....

Rank #8: Ethan Voss

Selene’s gaze lingered on the top spot.

Alexander Grave—a name from the past, a face shrouded in mystery, and a legendary hunter who had vanished along with his entire team in a dungeon incident.

In her previous life, his disappearance had been one of the catalysts that led to chaos. Seven out of the top ten had vanished with him, creating a power vacuum that triggered deadly conflicts.

"Do you know him? You seem awfully invested in that person."

Zara asked, noting the intensity in Selene’s stare.

Selene blinked, pulling herself back to the present.

"Not personally. Just... isn’t he number one? Who won’t be interested in someone like that, right?"

Ethan stepped closer, his presence grounding.

"He’s not the enemy, right? And as for these rankings...they’re not actually true. I held back a lot, so I am this low. I am sure I can rank higher if I try my best."

Ethan sounded almost jealous when he spoke. But Selene just shook her head.

"Not yet! Let’s keep things as they are now. If you are number one, then a lot of problems arise as a result of this."

Selene said, her voice measured.

The system screen finally faded, and the buzz among the hunters resumed, now fueled by competition and jealousy.

"I’ll bet half of them are already plotting. This ranking system is going to paint targets on people’s backs."

Orion said with a grimace.

Selene nodded.

"Exactly. Strength invites challenge. The ranking system isn’t just for tracking power—it’s a catalyst for conflict. The system is asking for chaos."

Ethan’s jaw clenched, a storm brewing behind his eyes.

"Let them try. I’ll crush anyone who comes after us."

Zara chuckled, though her eyes remained sharp.

"We need to be smart, not just strong. If the system wants us to fight each other, then we need to flip the script."

Selene’s lips curved into a small smile, proud of her team’s instincts.

"Agreed. But for now, we lay low. Let the others fight. We’ll build strength in the shadows."

The crowd around them began to thin out, other teams dispersing as they processed the system’s new twist.

But Selene’s mind remained vigilant, the echoes of her past life whispering warnings. The world had just changed, and she would not be caught off guard.

Not this time.