Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 105

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Broken Ranker

Devours Myths

 

Chapter 105

Tower of Five Elements (5)

 

 

 

“I really don’t understand no matter how seriously I think about it.”

Unit member Donovan Black tilted his head as he arrived at the promised meeting place, a certain park.

Special Supernatural Response Unit, ASTRA. Operations Commander Michael Shepherd looked up.

“What are you talking about?”

“Your name is Michael, isn’t it, Colonel? But why is your revelation Gabriel instead of Michael?”

“…….”

“There’s no way the Archangel Gabriel of prophecy wouldn’t know that. As expected…….”

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, just properly check if those Thunder bastards are coming!”

“Taking your anger out on me again for no reason.”

Donovan grumbled but thoroughly carried out Michael’s orders.

They hadn’t come here to play around, after all.

Keeping the Committee in check, assessing Jet’s capabilities, and judging the possibility of Blue Thunder’s revival…….

There was a lot to handle.

In fact, Donovan and his companions had been extremely tense for the past few days while observing the activities of Lee Hyeon and the Thunder Unit.

‘If we were told to run the same operations, it’s not like we couldn’t do it. No, we could probably complete them even more professionally.’

‘There were definitely gaps from the 4-year field absence visible everywhere.’

‘No, in the first place, if it were us, we wouldn’t have been unaware for over 10 years of an enemy nation squatting in our front yard.’

‘But as the missions continued, you could see the 4-year gap quickly narrowing.’

‘Especially Jet…… he’s definitely made a complete comeback. It seems he practically took down Qing Xiao and the twin siblings by himself,’

‘And it’s confirmed that he was the one who caught Zhang Baien too.’

‘How could he catch a High Ranker when he hasn’t even become a High Ranker yet?’

This was precisely the most unsolvable mystery for ASTRA.

Just as the gap between Hunters and Rankers was large,

No, even more than that, the class differences between Rankers were immense.

It was typical that Rankers couldn’t catch up to High Rankers, and High Rankers couldn’t catch up to Top Rankers.

This was because the density of achievements and narratives each class had built was different.

‘Rankers have only just begun to inscribe their names on the .’

‘But High Rankers record their narratives. That means many more Logos can see them…….’

‘The attention and support of many Logos becomes great power for Rankers.’

‘That’s why Top Rankers, who are nearly completing the introduction, development, climax, and conclusion of their narratives, are so magnificent.’

‘But Jet, just like during the Gangneung incident, has overcome that difference again now.’

‘And these guys have White Burn as their backing? This isn’t something we can just sit back and watch.’

ASTRA had pride in being the world’s strongest.

But precisely because of that, they were trained never to become complacent.

They couldn’t stand by and watch someone stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

A few years ago it was the Central Hero Committee, and now it was White Burn.

‘Our primary objective is to prevent the Committee from gaining any more foothold on the Korean Peninsula. And to control White Burn so they can’t step forward any further.’

Michael reviewed the orders that had come down from above once more.

‘The secondary objective is to make judgments about Jet and decide on corresponding measures, and to somehow prevent Blue Thunder’s revival.’

Michael was even considering winning over the former Blue Thunder unit members, including Jet, to their side.

Especially for Jet, they were prepared to give him treatment close to a national hero.

‘But we definitely need to break their momentum once before that.’

Fortunately, among the Z-Team members they were meeting today, there was an old colleague they knew well too.

If they utilized this well, they might be able to paint a decent picture…….

‘We’ll know for sure once we handle this operation.’

Michael’s eyes deepened.

‘Why all the parts related to Jet were completely ‘deleted’ from the [Revelation] that Gabriel bestowed. No, why they disappeared.’

It was right when he was mulling over this secret he hadn’t even shared with his unit members yet.

Crackle.

『They’re coming.』

Michael turned his gaze toward the park entrance.

Familiar faces were approaching.

 

* * *

 

Lee Hyeon looked at Son Wukong.

Son Wukong, who had revealed his true nature after a long time, definitely felt very different from when he was Baby Monkey.

‘It’s suffocating.’

Every movement, every habit.

Even his raising of an eyebrow caused faint ripples to resonate through space.

It meant that tremendous spiritual pressure was weighing down on all directions.

Lee Hyeon had to consume considerable magic power just to face him.

However,

It wasn’t as difficult as when he first met him in the .

It was just a bit overwhelming.

Now he could at least meet his gaze.

“I still don’t understand the taste of this damn coffee. What flavor do you drink something this bitter for?”

Clatter.

Son Wukong grumbled as he set down his teacup.

Lee Hyeon chuckled.

“Why didn’t you just have your usual hot chocolate?”

“I was going to. But that Sha Wujing guy said coffee would be better if I wanted to look dignified…… Ugh. I should stop talking.”

Son Wukong waved his hand dismissively and asked.

“So. How do you feel about making it this far?”

“It still feels unfamiliar.”

“Humans are different, and demons are different. Originally everyone sees different worlds, so it won’t be easy to narrow that gap.”

Son Wukong twisted one corner of his mouth.

“But once you overcome that, you’ll be able to gain a great deal. Originally, gaps can also present new directions to a person.”

“Yes. I’d like to express my gratitude separately to the Four Generals later.”

“Do as you please.”

Son Wukong acted nonchalant, but his crooked lips had already turned into a smile.

“You must have many questions, but you’re holding back well?”

“I’m just curious about what this test will be.”

“That’s a good attitude, definitely. You’re always well-prepared.”

Son Wukong continued slowly.

“I always want to say thank you for that attitude.”

“…….”

This seemed to be the first time seeing Son Wukong openly express gratitude like this.

Even when rescuing the Bull Demon King, he had only bowed his head…….

“I’ve been wanting to have a one-on-one conversation with you like this. Since Sha Wujing and Ryo have been constantly around, there’s been hardly any opportunity for this kind of talk, right?”

Lee Hyeon intuitively knew that this was where the real conversation would begin.

“Do you have something to say?”

“I just wanted to hear your thoughts.”

“Thoughts…?”

“Yes. Thoughts. How was the experience of awakening your demonic senses?”

Lee Hyeon thought that Son Wukong’s Golden Eyes of Truth were glowing particularly mysteriously.

“It’s interesting.”

“Interesting?”

“Yes. The fact that the world hides such diverse colors, and seeing intentions and mental images is fascinating.”

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. The seven types of light spectrum commonly called rainbow colors were unfamiliar at first,

but continuing to see like this, he seemed to be getting somewhat used to it.

“What do you see in me?”

Lee Hyeon stared intently at Son Wukong.

A deep blue light swirled around him.

“Blue.”

“What do you think this means?”

“It seems positive.”

Son Wukong nodded, saying “Not bad.”

“Correct. Honestly, I thought you’d do well, but I didn’t know you’d do this well.”

“……”

Another warm word.

Lee Hyeon looked at Son Wukong with a strange expression.

Snort.

Son Wukong let out a slight laugh.

“Why? Are you at a loss because this elder is praising you—”

“Did you do something wrong to me?”

“What the hell?”

Son Wukong’s face crumpled with displeasure.

“There’s no way you’d be this nice to me otherwise…”

“This bastard, even when I praise him—”

“I’m joking.”

“……”

Lee Hyeon grinned.

Son Wukong looked at him with an incredulous expression.

“I told you not to learn weird things from that Sha Wujing bastard, didn’t I? Just wait until we get out of here. I’ll really break your leg bones properly. Damn it.”

Son Wukong grumbled as he continued speaking.

“The Four Monkeys told me. Even though the Red-Buttocked Horse Monkey grumbled, they all expressed positive opinions. They said you seem trustworthy enough now to have their backs.”

The faces of the Four Monkeys seemed to flash before his eyes.

The Spiritual Stone Monkey with his warm smile.

The Red-Buttocked Horse Monkey, lazy but overflowing with pride in himself.

The Long-Armed Gibbon with his generous spirit.

And,

‘…the Six-Eared Macaque had a strong scent of my brother.’

Lee Hyeon smiled lightly as he thought of the Six-Eared Macaque.

The four monkeys each tested Lee Hyeon and shared their teachings in different ways,

but in their hearts, they held only one common goal.

‘The revival of Flower Fruit Mountain.’

Their earnest hearts were all directed toward Son Wukong.

Having been forced to lose their home and scatter by others,

they simply wished to return to their happy state from long ago.

And…

Lee Hyeon could glimpse himself in that image.

‘Blue Thunder.’

Flower Fruit Mountain and Blue Thunder.

Son Wukong and Jang Lee Hyeon.

The same bridge was built between them.

“What happens to them when this trial ends?”

“Who knows.”

“Pardon?”

Son Wukong smiled bitterly.

“I don’t know either. I don’t know what terrible fate befell Flower Fruit Mountain after I fell from the sky.”

“……”

“Perhaps some of them died like me and only left their will behind, or some might be alive but unable to use their bodies properly. As for what happened to the other people… I don’t know.”

Lee Hyeon nodded silently.

In fact, all the Four Monkeys he had met were too low in rank to be called ‘real.’

At first, he thought it was a characteristic of this dungeon,

but perhaps it was the resentment of displaced people who had lost their king.

“Didn’t you ask?”

Son Wukong nodded.

“Yes. Because they don’t want that.”

“……”

“They don’t want to show me their weak side.”

Son Wukong rubbed his face with his bare hands.

“And I felt the same way. To them, I am both king and god. Then I have a duty to answer their prayers.”

A king must show only an indomitable appearance to his people no matter what happens. Because he is their hope and beacon.

“So we didn’t ask each other.”

“…I see.”

Lee Hyeon vaguely understood why Son Wukong had started bringing this up.

‘He’s trying to teach me. The attitude of a king as he sees it.’

Just as Lee Hyeon saw a similar situation to his own in Son Wukong, Son Wukong must have seen a similar situation to his own in Lee Hyeon.

He wanted to show him how to endure and move forward through it.

The relationship between god and apostle

is fundamentally like the relationship between light and shadow, or original and clone.

‘Does this mean I need to have that kind of attitude… to become your apostle?’

And now, the god was about to ask his apostle directly.

Whether he could overcome the oppression of fate surrounding him and become a king who would gather those who follow him and take a step forward.

“But unlike the Four Monkeys’ evaluation, I still doubt you.”

Suddenly, the blue color surrounding Son Wukong changed to red.

A color that seemed to blaze like fire.

The negative intention was strong.

It stung his skin.

“Do you still find me untrustworthy?”

“No. You’re doing well enough. Much more than I imagined, as I said. This is just because I have a personality that doesn’t trust others.”

Son Wukong narrowed his eyes.

“This position is exactly that kind of position. And the position you must sit in to become my apostle is also that kind of position.”

“……”

“I will ask you many things, and if your answers are unsatisfactory, I will tear everything apart. And I will ask and ask again until I hear proper answers. Very persistently.”

Son Wukong twisted his lips.

“So you’d better prepare to answer well. My questions will be quite rough. Understand?”

“What is this question?”

“Fighting techniques.”

His fangs gleamed between his slightly parted lips.

“This is the answer I obtained by giving up even my position as Buddha and pursuing martial arts my entire life. But still, that answer has not found its conclusion.”

“…….”

“I’m asking whether you truly possess this, or whether you can pursue it.”

Lee Hyeon clenched his fists with a tense expression.

Now he could finally obtain the fighting techniques he had so desperately wanted.

‘……Come to think of it, this seems to be the first time the Great Sage is giving me proper teachings directly.’

He had taught him Condensed Lightning and various techniques before, but those were merely branches at best.

This was on a different level.

Since Son Wukong was asking whether he was truly qualified to become a successor who could inherit his work.

He was trying to show the dignity and bearing of a god.

Patsutsu…….

A strand of energy flowed out beside Son Wukong and took human form.

It had the same face as Son Wukong, but was dressed in armor like an emperor of an ancient nation.

Golden armor and helmet, and in one hand he held a long staff.

Lee Hyeon sensed the same level of rank from him as himself.

However,

‘The equipment level is different. Ruyi Jingu Bang, Golden Headband, Fiery Eyes……. Plus the Purple Gold Crown, Golden Armor, and Cloud-Treading Boots I’ve only heard about. There’s even the Somersault Cloud.’

Golden clouds were also swirling around the clone.

Moreover, it was Son Wukong’s clone.

Even with the same rank, this was absolutely not an opponent to underestimate.

“Exchange greetings. This is my clone ‘Jeong’, made after my old appearance. You should,”

Lee Hyeon had no time to exchange greetings.

Son Wukong’s clone had already disappeared and appeared behind Lee Hyeon, swinging the Ruyi Jingu Bang.

Lee Hyeon hastily twisted his body and swept his axe diagonally upward.

Kwaang!!

The table flew away as a golden flash shot toward the sky in an instant, with a blue-white flash chasing after it.

Son Wukong brushed back his flowing hair and laughed lightly.

“I was going to say you could become good friends, but you’re already fighting. Young ones, really.”

Son Wukong muttered quietly while watching Lee Hyeon unleashing lightning.

“Now, show me the answer you possess.”

The Golden Eyes of Truth glowed mysteriously.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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