The Grandmaster Strategist - Volume 1, Chapter 18: The King of Southern Chu Declares Himself Emperor

10 years ago, after “the Gate” that connected the real world with the monster world opened, some of the ordinary, everyday people received the power to hunt monsters within the Gate. They are known as “Hunters”. However, not all Hunters are powerful. My name is Sung Jin-Woo, an E-rank Hunter. I’m someone who has to risk his life in the lowliest of dungeons, the “World’s Weakest”. Having no skills whatsoever to display, I barely earned the required money by fighting in low-leveled dungeons… at least until I found a hidden dungeon with the hardest difficulty within the D-rank dungeons! In the end, as I was accepting death, I suddenly received a strange power, a quest log that only I could see, a secret to leveling up that only I know about! If I trained in accordance with my quests and hunted monsters, my level would rise. Changing from the weakest Hunter to the strongest S-rank Hunter!

One day I got a younger sister.Only I know her true identity.

World DescriptionA sprawling, untamed cosmos reshaped by the Supreme Empress, a cosmic entity poised to ascend to an unknown plane. Before leaving, she transformed her cosmos into a merciless proving ground—a Lord World where beings from countless races and factions fight for supremacy. Lords awaken on infinite continents with a single talent, tasked with forging empires from humble beginnings. The twist? The Supreme Empress and her council of 10 Major Beings (all female, just below cosmic power) observe from the shadows, seeking a successor to rule the cosmos. Magic thrums beneath the surface, invisible to the weak, while ancient factions—elves, dragons, humans, and more—wield vast advantages. Kael El, an Earth transmigrator, steps into this chaos with two unparalleled talents, his sights set on total domination.Power System OverviewThe Lord System rules all: each lord gains one talent at birth (F to SSS, S+ being unique), driving exponential growth through conquest and kingdom upgrades. Kael’s talents—SSS: 100% Drop Rate (every loot drops, from talents to bloodlines) and EX: 10,000x Drop Multiplier (boosts quality or quantity per item, including summons)—shatter the system’s limits. Stats (Strength, Speed, Aura/Magic) scale across Three Planes of Existence: Mortal Ascension (Initiate to Infinite Lord), Universal Mastery (Universe to Omniversal Architect), and Void Transcendence (Void Seeker to Nihility Incarnate). Kingdom levels cap a lord’s potential (e.g., Territory Lv. 2 limits Kael to Mighty Lord, Lv. 30), unlocking higher tiers via rank-specific conditions. Subordinates benefit from loot, fueling Kael’s rise.MC’s Starting PointKael El awakens on a modest plot, Territory Lv. 1, with a rickety hut (upgradable), basic resources, and food for 8 days—no Summoning Altar yet. A former Earth gamer, he’s chill yet relentless, radiating unwavering confidence and a cool, dominant vibe. The 7-day peace period bars attacks on rival lords, forcing him to strategize with what he’s got. His 10,000x Drop Multiplier triggers on summons once unlocked, promising an explosive start. Calm under pressure and fiercely determined, Kael aims to build the ultimate kingdom, crush all rivals, and claim the cosmos, his flirty smirk hiding a “don’t mess with me” edge.

During one of our arguments, my younger brother taunted me, claiming that I only knew how to depend on guys to get me through MMOs. In a fit of anger, I was spurred on by his words and decided to defeat my brother without depending on anyone else. By some coincidence, a new game called “Second Life” was about to go on the market and thus I started from scratch as a player. What’s more, I was the first person ever to log onto the game. The beautiful GM told me that I could have one wish granted… Humph! I. Want. To. Become. A. Guy!