BXBX NOVEL Chapter 84 : New World Application
Kara’s eyes were full of curiosity. "Rachel? Is that the girl I’ve seen in the pictures inside your brother’s room? I always wondered why you never mentioned that girl in our years inside the [Time Space]."
Sora nodded, his expression darkening. "Yes, that’s her... She killed my brother and me."
Kara froze, her breath catching at the unexpected revelation. "She... What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Sora watched her reaction carefully, knowing this moment could not be avoided forever. Kara was the closest person to him after his parents, and after spending years together, he knew her better than anyone. He had always avoided discussing certain parts of his past with her, afraid of how she might react if she saw the darker side of him.
’Maybe it’s time to tell her… I think she’ll understand now,’ he thought, letting out a deep sigh.
With resolve, he began to recount his story.
...
When he finished, Kara’s fists clenched, barely contained her anger. The girl she had once thought looked cute and harmless in the pictures now appeared monstrous in her mind. ’Cute? No, she’s a snake.’ she fumed inwardly.
They waited in silence, the friend request hanging in the air. Sora’s expression remained calm, though the tension in his shoulders betrayed his true feelings. Kara sat beside him, her thoughts simmering. She wasn’t part of his revenge, but she wouldn’t stop him either. If Sora chose to deal with Rachel, she’d stand by him—not to judge, but to support him.
"I still think it’s insane that you’re adding your murderer as a friend." Kara muttered, still in disbelief at her friend’s nonsensical actions.
Sora laughed it off, and soon received a notification.
[Rachel Claude has rejected your friend request]
Slightly disappointed, Sora attempted to send another friend request.
[This player has declined your friend request within the past hour. Please wait 59 minutes before sending another request.]
Sora sighed, his annoyance evident as he dismissed the notification. "Let’s forget about her for now. I’ll find another way," he said, turning his attention back to Kara. "Let’s head to South Korea."
Kara nodded in agreement, and without further delay, the two of them set off, heading East. Their journey took them through the vast lands of Russia, guided by a detailed map Kara had purchased. The map proved useful, allowing them to navigate around several high-level zones.
Confident in their ability to navigate all Western Europe, they were well aware that Russia was not part of the New European Union but an independent region. With several extremely high-level zones scattered among others, they carefully noted which areas to avoid.
To ensure easy travel in the future, Sora and Kara made a point to purchase teleportation scrolls for every city they visited, knowing they might need to return to one of these places in the future.
Their journey, though brief due to their immense speed, opened their eyes to the varied ways the world had evolved after the global update. Flying over vast landscapes and stopping briefly at some locations, they discussed the striking differences between regions, cities, and villages.
As they crossed through parts of Western Russia, Kara pointed to a cluster of ruins in the distance. "Look at that. Another abandoned village. This must be the 10th we’ve seen already."
Sora nodded, his gaze fixed on the buildings. "With the average level of monsters here, the beasts are too strong for the locals. With level 100 monsters a few kilometers away from the village, there’s no use in staying here. They probably evacuated a long time ago."
Sora and Kara were aware that a village or city’s protection only fell if the place was fully emptied. And quests to help these places evacuate were common, making such a phenomenon known to most players.
"Do you think they’ll ever come back?" Kara asked, before adding. "I don’t think I’d accept my village turning into a ruin if I were from the area."
"Unlikely," Sora replied. "Unless some high level dungeon appears in the area, no one will bother coming back here. It’s easier for civilians to move to safer areas, and high level players to look for a populated area with more opportunities."
Entering Russia, they encountered the thriving city of Kazan, which at first glance looked much like it did before the world update. Sora had already seen such cities when studying geography. The familiar skyline was there—the historic cathedrals, the modern high-rises—but something felt different.
Sora slowed their pace, his eyes scanning the city from above. "It almost looks untouched by the update," he remarked. "But upon a closer look— I feel mana in almost everything. Buildings, transport, even streetlights are infused with it."
Indeed, the city had incorporated mana into its existing infrastructure. The streetlights, once powered by electricity, now absorbed mana from the surrounding to light up the street. Vehicles moved silently along the roads; they still looked like old cars but operated on mana-powered engines instead of combustion. In some areas, the sound of heavy industry had been replaced entirely by the quiet energy of magic facilities.
Kara’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "It’s incredible," she said. "They’ve kept the essence of the city intact but enhanced it with mana."
She pointed to a group of people floating effortlessly a few inches above the ground, despite not being able to use mana, moving along the sidewalks without taking a step. "Look at that—they’re using levitation spells for civilians to move quickly."
Sora nodded, equally impressed. "I’ve never seen anything like this in Europe. Here, they’ve fully embraced the world’s changes while preserving their heritage."
Noticing the city thriving with life and populated by low level players, Kara and Sora realized that Kazan was a haven for civilians.
"It’s bigger than Lyon, Frankfurt, or Rome," Kara continued. "I had never heard of Kazan, and now I want to see more of this city. The way they’ve adapted mana into every part of their lives is amazing. Why aren’t we doing this in France? It’s such a shame."
Sora raised an eyebrow at her enthusiasm, smirking slightly. "What, you don’t want to visit South Korea anymore?"
She laughed, momentarily torn. "Oh, I still do! But seeing this makes me want to help my city develop in a similar way..."
Upon leaving Russia, they traveled through Mongolia and proceeded toward China.
Within the kingdom, humans were allowed to move freely as long as they avoided enemy forces. With the speed they maintained, the likelihood of interception was minimal, except for a sudden ambush. The territories they crossed didn’t require armies to guard their borders, as internal conflicts between regions weren’t common. The only internal strifes among humans happened when guilds declared wars against each other, and such conflicts did not usually impact passerbys.
Crossing into China, they arrived in cities where mana and technology blended seamlessly. Tech-mana hybrid devices powered both industry and agriculture, creating an environment of automation and unparalleled efficiency. Less and less surprised by the changes, Sora and Kara quickly flew past most cities, and soon reached the sea. Flying at lightning speed above the sea, they quickly reached Seoul, ready to explore the city and face new challenges.
Kara, whose eyes had sparkled with excitement throughout the journey, having seen marvels of nature and the beauty of different lands, couldn’t help but be in awe of Seoul’s sheer scale.
Passing through the first illusory barrier that protected the gigantic farming fields outside the city, they soon reached the towering walls surrounding Seoul. After paying the entry fee—a shocking 10 gold coins—they were finally allowed inside.
The city sprawled out in every direction, a mix of towering skyscrapers and ancient architecture. Neon lights painted the sky in vibrant hues as enormous advertisements hung on skyscrapers, each more eye catching than the last. The city pulsed with energy, with bustling crowds moving along the large sidewalks that connected the towering buildings.
Drones flew through the air, delivering packages, while modern vehicles drove by on highways below. The Han River, cutting through the heart of the city, shone under the daylight, reflecting the towering skyline, while traditional palaces and temples stood defiantly against the wave of modernity, reminders of Korea’s older periods.
Street markets were packed with activity, selling everything from rare beast parts to exotic materials from around the globe. Sora’s eyes were drawn to labels like "From Morocco" and "From Nigeria" on some of the merchandise. "This city is really trading with the whole world, constantly getting fresh products it seems," he told Kara.
He knew that Auction Houses allowed players to sell and buy items globally, but only for system-recognized items. The fact that materials not recognized by the system, such as certain beast parts, that needed to be harvested manually, were still actively traded showed how resourceful people had become. These items held value in human hands, even if the system didn’t acknowledge them.
The air hummed with the sound of the city—loud from sounds of chatter, distant music.
"This is... breathtaking," Kara whispered, her eyes looking everywhere as they stepped further into the heart of Seoul, ready to explore its streets and various areas.
They soon noticed digital panels projecting rankings of local players, a striking testament to the city’s intense competitive spirit in this new system-governed world.
"Are these… rankings?" Kara asked, surprised by the sight.
"Looks like it," Sora replied, intrigued. "Let’s get a closer look."
As Sora and Kara approached one of the towering digital panels displaying the rankings, they were immediately drawn into the competitive atmosphere that thrived within the city. The massive holographic screens projected shimmering lists of names, levels, and accomplishments, constantly updating as players completed quests, battles, or challenges throughout the region.
The rankings were divided into several categories, showcasing different aspects of player strength and reputation:
Top Combat Players – South Korea Region
Ae-cha
Park
–
Level 148
– Class : Unknown
Ronald Kruggs
–
Level 156
– Class : Martial Artist
Dae Stark
–
Level 132
– Class : Martial God Titan
Emily Frekk
–
Level 154
– Class : Unknown
Min-Ji Chol
–
Level 143
– Class :
Phoenix Mage
Staring at the numbers, Sora and Kara were stunned by what they saw.
"Look at the levels!" Sora exclaimed, eyes wide. "There are players at level 132 and even 143 competing with people who are level 154 and up… That’s insane."
Kara pointed to the guild rankings, her voice filled with disbelief. "It’s not just that—look at the average levels for the guilds, Sora! These aren’t just a few monsters standing out. The entire guilds are stacked with high-level players. The average numbers are ridiculous!"
Guild Rankings
Samsung G1
–
Guild Master:
Ae-cha
Park
–
Average Member Level: 120
No Onion no Tomato
–
Guild Master:
Dae Stark
–
Average Member Level: 115
All Random All Mid
–
Guild Master:
Kim Dong
–
Average Member Level: 113
Phoenix Rebirth
–
Guild Master:
Min-Ji Chol
–
Average Member Level: 111
Looking at the numbers, Sora stood frozen, his mouth slightly agape. "If each of these four guilds have more than 25 players, it means they’ve got over a hundred experts at levels high enough to turn around the war in Sweden… But what if these guilds have thousands of members each? Is this even possible?"
"How are they getting so strong?" Kara wondered, almost overwhelmed. "Hannah was right.. There is indeed a high concentrations of power in higher level regions."
Sora continued scanning the rankings, noting how they seemed to encompass almost every aspect of life. There were war contribution points, a ranking for the best cook in the region, leaderboards for famous jobs, and even arena rankings.
His eyes stopped on the duel rankings, catching Ae-cha Park’s impressive win streak of 135 consecutive victories. He also glanced at the rapid dungeon completion times, raising a brow. "They take this stuff seriously. It’s like everything here is a race, even beyond combat."
"It seems like every job category will have its own leaderboards, each showing who ranks highest within that particular field...", Kara murmured, captivated by the range of categories.
As they continued scrolling through the panels, awe filled both Sora and Kara.
"But how do they even compare who’s the best? It’s not like players go around advertising their stats and power levels, right?" Kara wondered aloud.
Before Sora could respond, a passerby overheard and couldn’t resist interjecting. "Sorry to butt in, but you two must be new here," he said with a friendly smile. "If you’re curious about the rankings, just download the New World App—or NWA, as we call it—on your [Mana Phones]. Once you connect to this region’s network, go to the [Competition] section, and you’ll see all the leaderboards there."
He gestured to his own device. "Other regions have rankings too, but South Korea has the most categories."
The stranger’s enthusiasm grew as he added, "If you’ve got some spare gold coins, you can even buy tickets to watch live challenges in the Gangnam Arena—most of the best duels happen there. And, judging by how I can’t read your levels, you might even think about joining one of the stronger guilds around here. They’re always scouting for new talent."
Sora exchanged a glance with Kara before responding politely, "Thanks for the tip. We’ll check it out. Do you happen to know where the arena is? We’d like to explore Seoul, but we can’t resist checking out the Arena first," Sora asked politely.
The man smiled, clearly happy to help. "It’s my pleasure. Do you both have [Mana Phones]? I can send you a link to download NWA and the address to the arena."
After a brief exchange, Sora and Kara had the app installed on their devices. They thanked the man and followed the map directions toward the Arena displayed on their screens.
As they walked, Kara commented, "That guy was nearly level 60. It’s funny—back in France, that’s considered incredible. People would call him an elite."
Sora nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah. In Europe, most people stick to their cities, focusing on job skills to earn gold. They rarely venture far enough to reach such a level."
It was a stark contrast to Seoul, where levels above 60 seemed common. In Europe, the majority of the population consisted of civilians who didn’t need mana for their jobs until they reached a certain level of expertise. Those who wanted to avoid the dangers of leveling could still thrive in the cities, relying on the [Auction House] or trading to make a living.
"Most players back home seem content at around level 30 or 40," Kara added. "It’s enough to travel safely between cities. The zones there cater to those levels, so long-distance travel isn’t too dangerous—just slow."
"Here, it’s a different story since being level 30 or 40 is not enough to travel here." Sora observed.