Ranker

"Though born of a human body, he was not one who grew within human constraint. This is an existence above any human, a distinctly separate entity from man. A "Ranker"."

- Hatsu referring to Quant

A Ranker (랭커, raengkeo) is a being who has reached the top of the Zahard Empire (currently 134th Floor) and has been given a Rank. This Rank should not be confused with the Ranking and Grading that both Rankers and Regulars continuously receive.

About
Ranker are those individuals who reached the 134 Floor and have been given a rank. This Rank is issued by the Ranking Administration Office and it is calculated after investigating and combining statistics such as a person's power, recognition and influence. There are some who hold high rankings due to the influence and attributes they hold (e.g. Baek Ryun) and there are others who have weak combat strength but hold high Rankings due to some other reasons (e.g. Evan Edrok)".

According to SIU, the Ranker position in the Tower is a very lavish status (one can assume they have no problem with living expenses). However, just because they became a Ranker doesn't mean their rivalries have ended. Rather, they enter into more fearsome rivalries, so they seek better positions and better jobs.

Because of this, Rankers are sometimes Test Directors or Test Administrators of Floors. They are viewed as gods and have a much higher status than Regulars and normal residents of the Tower. They may also use the Middle Area's staircases to either skip certain Floors or to travel between the Inner and Outer Towers. Though they are permitted many benefits, they are usually restricted from entering the Regulars' Districts or from associating with them.

Rankers of Karaka's level have eyes rivaling Observers; this results from training for a very long time, both physically and mentally.

Advanced Ranker
If a Ranker's ranking is in the top 10% of total Rankers, they are considered an Advanced Ranker (상위 랭커, sang-wi laengkeo). There are about ten thousand Advanced Rankers (including the top 1%) in total.

High Ranker
If a Ranker's ranking is in the top 1% of total Rankers, he/she is considered a High Ranker (하이 랭커, hai raengkeo). There are about 1000 High Rankers in total. High Rankers are often described as gods among gods. Only those of a level equal to a High Ranker can become a Ruler.

In fact, the appearance of single High Ranker is a calamity for any Regular. It's normal for people who manage or rule the floor to warn all Regulars if a High Ranker appears. If a High Ranker caused disturbance, it's customary for the High Rankers that rules that floor to challenge the intruder. You can think of this scenario like Nuclear Bomb threat. (You can only fight nukes with nukes.)

High Rankers earn the right to go up to the 135th Floor but the Guardian of this Floor is very hostile. Therefore not a single High Ranker has been known to have ascended to the 135th Floor. However, the key leading to the 135th Floor is actually divided and hidden by Zahard inside the 13 month series and the rings of Prince of the Red-Light District.

They seldom fight for their lives: a fight like the one between Yuri and Karaka at the end of the 'Name Hunt' Station arc is a rare event.

According to Evankhell, except for certain special positions, if a high ranker in the top 300 positions cannot kill one of the other top 300 rankers in battle, they will never reach the top rankings. This is because, to become a top 300 ranker, rankers needs to be different from the rankers below them.

Blue Hole
There is a term called Blue Hole (블루홀, beulluhol) and it is used for High Rankers who have been inactive for so long since ancient times that no one knows if they are dead or alive, or Rankers whose true influence or power are difficult to measure.

Sobriquet
Sobriquet (이명, 異名, I-myeong; "nickname" or "pseudonym") is a type of nickname issued by the Ranking Administration Office, usually in reference to the High Ranker's battle Position or other aspects. Only High Rankers are able to receive a sobriquet.

A sobriquet can also be turned down, as Baek Ryun and Khun Eduan refused their sobriquets. Also, a person might be presented with more than one sobriquet as with Khun Eduan.

Fishermen are usually given the names of Shinheuh. Guides are usually given the names of Boats. Wave Controllers are usually given the names of winds and waves.

A few examples of Sobriquets being named after something, other than a battle Position: Enryu's sobriquet is called "Red Tower" because whenever he passes by, the shinsu around him turns red for some unknown reason. Zahard is the first King in the Tower's history and, as such, his sobriquet is "King of the Tower".

Known Rankers
 

External link

 * Author's blog translations

Notes and Trivia

 * Rankers and High Rankers are actually forbidden from associating with Regulars. Of course, FUG is a random bunch so they don't care about the rules.
 * Active Rankers can be a few hundred to a few thousand years old, but after growing up together in a family, there are not too many opportunities for encountering each other. So past memories from growing up last a long, long time, having an effect when they meet again.
 * There is a big difference between the number of weapons carried by a Ranker and by a High Ranker. If a Ranker carries 10, a High Ranker would carry 100.

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