Broken Ranker Devours Myths - Chapter 11

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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 11

Condensed Lightning (1)

 

 

 

Myeongga Guild wielded enough power to be counted among South Korea’s top five guilds.

While it couldn’t compare to White Burn, it meant they could throw their weight around quite a bit in the domestic Hunter industry.

Kim Se-jeong thought Lee Hyeon had been swayed by that guild’s reputation.

Unlike when they first met, Lee Hyeon’s attitude had become far too friendly.

“…So according to what you’re saying, Se-jeong-nim, originally around fifteen members of a raid team entered and were annihilated by some wind called Samadhi Divine Wind or something?”

“It wasn’t annihilation. We couldn’t even properly fight the boss mob.”

“I apologize if that was unpleasant to hear.”

“Oh, no. I spoke too sharply.”

Lee Hyeon finished organizing all his thoughts in his head.

‘They still don’t know about Son Wukong’s myth.’

Myeongga had dispatched a raid team simply because a temporary gate had suddenly appeared in their managed territory.

They hadn’t come intentionally seeking myths or sacred relics.

‘Though they seem to have sensed there’s something there.’

But the raid team had been overwhelmed by the harsh environment of the .

Most had melted away in the scorching environment they thought they could just push through.

Still, they had belatedly learned the dungeon’s secret and somehow managed to enter the boss stage, but,

‘Here they were annihilated before even clashing with the boss mob.’

It was all because of the wind called Samadhi Divine Wind.

The source of the dry wind that enveloped the entire dungeon.

Samadhi Divine Wind was a poisonous wind that took the lives of any living beings it touched.

It had been dangerous enough to trouble even young Son Wukong, so it was natural for an unprepared raid team to collapse.

Snap!

Lee Hyeon cut Kim Se-jeong’s binding rope with his dagger and handed her a potion he had brought separately.

“Let’s catch our breath for a moment and enter right away. If they’re being held by the boss, we don’t have much time.”

Kim Se-jeong asked cautiously.

“But what about your other companions…?”

“There are none. I came alone.”

“You came here… alone?”

Kim Se-jeong’s expression brightened slightly, wondering if Lee Hyeon might be a skilled ranker,

“I’m a pathfinder. So whenever I get the chance, I explore and record unknown dungeons like this.”

“…Ah.”

A flash of disappointment crossed her face at Lee Hyeon’s casual remark.

In the Hunter industry where pathfinders weren’t treated well, Myeongga was particularly famous for looking down on pathfinders the most.

But Kim Se-jeong composed her expression again.

If he could explore such dangerous dungeons alone, it meant he was an excellent pathfinder.

Then he should be able to find a way somehow even in Yellow Wind Ridge, chaotic with Samadhi Divine Wind.

‘If I can just save the captain, there’ll be no problem from then on. If the pathfinder makes any strange demands, I can just abandon him then.’

Perhaps because her mind was more at ease, Kim Se-jeong could now judge Lee Hyeon objectively.

From the mass-produced light armor that only poor Hunters wore to his equipment of just a kukri and hand axe.

As Lee Hyeon had said, he looked like he’d come for exploration, definitely not like he’d come to attempt a raid.

He seemed to be a freelancer with no particular affiliation, so there would be no problem abandoning him without regret if variables arose.

“Then I’ll be counting on you. I’ll be sure to tell the captain and guild leader about you…”

“Just call me pathfinder.”

“I’ll take responsibility and speak well of pathfinder-nim. Thank you once again.”

Lee Hyeon had already noticed all of Kim Se-jeong’s scheming thoughts, but pretended not to know and nodded in gratitude.

 

* * *

 

[You have entered the Boss Stage.]

 

“It certainly looks dangerous.”

“Yes. Very much… so.”

Lee Hyeon and Kim Se-jeong stood before a narrow canyon between high cliffs.

Just wide enough for one person to barely pass through. Fierce canyon winds carrying sand made their vision hazy.

 

[Combat Sense (E) warns against approaching any further!]

 

Kim Se-jeong swallowed dryly.

She recalled the situation from a few hours ago when she had barely escaped, leaving her companions behind.

“Then as we discussed, I’ll open the path first. Se-jeong-nim, please stay hidden, and when you see an opportunity, rescue your companions immediately.”

“I’ll rescue them and return as quickly as possible. Please hold on for a moment.”

As Lee Hyeon nodded with a faint smile, Kim Se-jeong activated the skill embedded in her ring.

It was [Steps of Eoduksini].

Whoosh…!

Kim Se-jeong’s presence gradually disappeared, buried in the incoming sandstorm. Then her presence completely evaporated.

Lee Hyeon watched the entire process.

 

[‘Sacred Relic: Golden Eyes Mirror’ observes the opponent’s skill in more detail!]

[Observation result: Dark attribute mana is rotating around the caster, erasing presence and aura.]

 

‘Rotation, rotation indeed.’

The clue to Condensed Lightning that Lee Hyeon had glimpsed was right there.

‘Come to think of it, when Son Wukong first created Condensed Lightning, he condensed lightning energy in a spiral form while drawing whirlpools, right?’

 

[Reinterpreting the concept of Condensed Lightning based on observation results.]

 

‘Of course, simply twisting lightning energy in a spiral direction has limits to how much you can draw in. Mental power has limits too. But if I utilize the properties of electromagnetic fields where negative and positive poles attract each other, I can easily…’

 

[You have grasped the Law of Spirals. Refining the concept of Condensed Lightning using electromagnetic fields.]

[Golden Eyes Mirror adds observation results to aid reinterpretation.]

…

[You master the concept of Condensed Lightning.]

…

[Connecting Breath of Dueoksini (C) with the concept of Condensed Lightning.]

 

Lee Hyeon’s Golden Eyes were sinking deeply.

「Right. Simply imitating me would at best make you a second Son Wukong, making it hard to maintain the identity of the human called ‘Jang Lee Hyeon’.」

Son Wukong was pleased with his temporary apostle’s efforts to solve problems on his own without relying on him.

Step!

Just then, Lee Hyeon began to move forward. Rough sandstorms obscured his vision.

 

[Entering Boss Room ‘Yellow Wind Ridge’.]

[Yellow Wind Ridge was originally a small kingdom ruled by a demon called the ‘Yellow Wind Monster’, known for bringing deadly winds to the canyon hot springs and devouring those who cross the desert.]

[Even ■■■■ suffered critical eye damage from the Samadhi Divine Wind unleashed by the Yellow Wind Monster when passing through here in his youth.]

[Overcome the interference of the Samadhi Divine Wind and defeat the Yellow Wind Monster. A wonderful oasis awaits you beyond this.]

 

『Be careful! The Samadhi Divine Wind is very dangerous… huh?』

Kim Se-jeong was following slowly from several steps away from Lee Hyeon, having erased her presence and aura.

The plan the two had made was quite simple.

While Lee Hyeon opened the path and drew the boss monster’s attention, Kim Se-jeong would move directly to where her colleagues were imprisoned.

They judged that once they rescued their colleagues and regrouped, they would be able to raid the Yellow Wind Monster sufficiently.

But plans were just plans – Kim Se-jeong was thinking of abandoning it immediately if Lee Hyeon got lost or couldn’t break through the Samadhi Divine Wind.

However, contrary to her concerns, Lee Hyeon was breaking through the Samadhi Divine Wind well.

‘He’s already prepared some defenses, right? Then I don’t need to worry about this side anymore… Where is the captain?’

Kim Se-jeong was greatly surprised that they could pass through the interference of the Samadhi Divine Wind so well, when previously the entire raid team had only wandered around,

while doing her utmost to find the place where her colleagues would be detained.

Just then,

Beep! Beeeep!

The communication bracelet connected to her colleagues rang.

『Assistant Manager Kim? Assistant Manager Kim? Did you bring a rescue team…!』

Though there was heavy static, it was clearly her colleagues’ voices.

It meant they were not far away.

Kim Se-jeong broke away from Lee Hyeon and moved in that direction.

Whoosh!

 

* * *

 

‘Did she leave?’

Only after confirming that Kim Se-jeong’s presence had completely disappeared could Lee Hyeon properly unleash the lightning energy he had been suppressing.

In fact, from the moment they entered the canyon, the Samadhi Divine Wind hadn’t been able to cause any particular damage to Lee Hyeon.

Crackle! Crackle!

Condensed Lightning was activating.

 

[Applying comprehended concept to Skills!]

[Breath of Dueoksini (C) begins utilizing erupted rage in a new way.]

 

Lee Hyeon made only a very small amount of lightning energy flow over his skin.

Lightning energy connected with lightning energy. The lightning energy trying to burst outward was twisted in a spiral form with his body as the center.

Then very thin strands of lightning energy formed a pattern that wound round and round his body like thread.

An artificially created force field.

The protective barrier made with Condensed Lightning completely blocked the Samadhi Divine Wind.

Crackle crackle crackle!!

 

[You have comprehended Condensed Lightning!]

[Sub-skill ‘Dueoksini’s Collar’ of Breath of Dueoksini (C) has been born.]

 

[Dueoksini’s Collar (-)]

Clothing made by densely weaving lightning drawn from Dueoksini’s rage like thread. Protects the body from external impacts.

-Type: Sub-skill.

-Proficiency: 7%

 

‘A collar, huh.’

Lee Hyeon was very pleased with the sub-skill’s name.

It meant he had created clothing sturdy and light enough for the Goblin King Dueoksini to wear.

Though there were many points to improve due to insufficient proficiency, this alone was a tremendous achievement.

Now with this as the foundation, he would be able to activate Zeus’s Diovis too!

Crackle crackle crackle!

Lee Hyeon drew out Taotie’s Fangs, blazing with blue-white lightning.

This too, perhaps thanks to having Condensed Lightning embedded in it, had heat and destructive power incomparable to before.

And then,

he threw the axe to one side with all his strength.

Whirrrrr-

Crash!

 

[‘Dueoksini’s Wrath’ explodes!]

 

As if Dueoksini was roughly striking down with an axe made of lightning,

lightning bolts crashed violently into the ground where the hand axe exploded.

Tremendous thunder followed, scattering the sand fog that had been blocking their vision.

 

[Dueoksini’s Wrath]

Lightning bolt condensed from Dueoksini’s rage. The more intense the emotion of anger, the stronger the power becomes.

-Type: Sub-skill.

-Proficiency: 11%

 

Standing there was the boss monster in the form of a giant rat, the Yellow Wind Monster.

The axe was embedded precariously in the staff the Yellow Wind Monster was holding.

The trembling force seemed to indicate how much power had been loaded into the axe.

「Well, that guy’s face is as ugly as ever no matter when I see it. Makes me want to smack him one.」

Son Wukong, who had moved well away from Lee Hyeon, chuckled gleefully while looking at the creature.

A clash between temporary apostle and old nemesis.

It was regrettable there was no popcorn.

Of course, the Yellow Wind Monster here was just an old ‘remnant’ remaining in a fragment of the story, so it was hard to call it the real Yellow Wind Monster.

Still, it wasn’t an opponent Lee Hyeon could catch right now, so he was curious what kind of strategy would be attempted.

‘Watching this will clearly determine whether all the hardships that rookie went through were nonsense or actual effort.’

While Son Wukong watched the battle with great interest,

Whoosh!

The Yellow Wind Monster instinctively pulled back its body while clenching its teeth tightly.

Though it barely managed to avoid the lightning bolt, it was very surprised by the fact that Lee Hyeon had discovered it.

“The humans who came earlier were just stupid, but you who came this time seem capable of something called thinking!”

The Yellow Wind Monster showed a wicked smile while tapping the ground with the staff in its hand.

Tap!

Whoosh!

The sandstorm became much more violent.

“I’ll bury you completely!”

The Samadhi Divine Wind acted as if it would devour Lee Hyeon immediately. The sandy ground rose violently and crashed down like a tsunami.

But Lee Hyeon didn’t dodge.

No, rather he pulled up his output even more forcefully.

Though he had been cautious in using Condensed Lightning, after handling it several times, he felt he now clearly understood how to utilize it.

Crackle!

‘This collar isn’t just for defense. It can definitely be used for offense too—no, it shows its true value when used offensively.’

Lee Hyeon charged forward while fully enhancing Dueoksini’s Collar. He looked like an enraged bull trying to smash through a sand wall.

 

[Combat Sense (E) ability activated! Proficiency greatly increased, instantly reaching C rank.]

[Understanding of Dueoksini’s Collar has improved.]

 

Lee Hyeon’s weapon handling skills had once been the best even in Blue Thunder.

While controlling Dueoksini’s Collar with Combat Sense, he combined it with all the achievements he had accumulated so far, amplifying the effect several times over.

 

[Heat Resistance (E) has risen to D rank. You can now better withstand the heat of Samadhi Divine Wind.]

[Paralysis Resistance (E) has risen to D rank. You can repel the poison of Samadhi Divine Wind.]

 

[‘Dueoksini’s Collar’ crashes into the tsunami of Samadhi Divine Wind!]

 

Kwaaaaang!!

Lee Hyeon smashed through the sand tsunami with his whole body and reached right in front of the Yellow Wind Monster’s face in an instant,

“…!!”

Before the startled Yellow Wind Monster could even react, he quickly swung the axe in his left hand.

Crack!

Pshwaaaaak!

“Kaaaack! My arm! My aaaarm!”

The Yellow Wind Monster’s arm that had been holding the staff spurted blood like a fountain as it flew into the air.

「…!?」

Son Wukong stared with his mouth agape at his old rival who had instantly become one-armed.

However,

“Tsk, did my aim go off?”

Lee Hyeon clicked his tongue lightly as if disappointed.

He had originally aimed for the head. Since it was his first time using Condensed Lightning, the recoil was too strong and he failed.

Well, he just wouldn’t make the same mistake from the second strike onward.

Shwaaaak!

Kwarrrung!

Lee Hyeon attempted his second axe strike.

 

[‘Dueoksini’s Wrath’ explodes!]

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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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