Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 117

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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 117

Blue Thunder (3)

 

 

 

The underground training room suddenly became crowded with many people.

“What, what!? Why are there so many people?”

“Why do you think, man! Right now Z Team Leader and Executive Director Ho are going to spar! Hurry up and come!”

“The Team Leader and the Executive Director!?”

I don’t know where it spread from,

but rumors that Lee Hyeon and Executive Director Ho would be sparring had spread not only through the training room, but throughout the company building.

“……The situation is getting strangely big.”

Kim Min-jeong pressed her index finger firmly against her temple as if she had a headache.

It was fortunate that work hours weren’t over yet, otherwise the underground would have already been packed to bursting.

Whether he knew this or not,

Lee Hyeon was lightly warming up on the empty training ground.

“Senior.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll be over quickly. I won’t be late, okay?”

Lee Hyeon answered without even glancing this way, keeping his eyes fixed on Executive Director Ho.

Kim Min-jeong’s temple throbbed even more.

“That’s obvious! I’m asking if you’re really okay!”

“About what?”

“What do you mean what! Your identity!”

Kim Min-jeong whispered quietly so others couldn’t hear.

“Weren’t you hiding that you’re Jet!?”

“Didn’t the people who should know already know? There were people who saw when we caught Executive Director Jeong too.”

“That was just everyone suspecting to some degree, but you never openly admitted it!”

“It’s fine. It’s just annoying when groundless rumors spread, but it wasn’t completely secret. My power has returned anyway.”

“Still, this is nothing more than completely advertising it!”

Lee Hyeon glanced around briefly, then smiled lightly.

“Advertising…… That’s not bad.”

“……?”

“Tell them to watch or not, whatever they want. Now it doesn’t matter who sees. Rather,”

Lee Hyeon twisted his lips.

“Now I can crush the heads of everyone who comes at me without worrying about appearances anymore, so wouldn’t that be better?”

“……!!”

Kim Min-jeong’s eyes widened.

Lee Hyeon stepped forward.

“Shall we start now?”

“Good. You’re all ready.”

“Then I’ll go first.”

Lee Hyeon took out two axes from his inventory.

Since this was a friendly match, both were wearing only minimal armor besides their weapons for this sparring session.

“Z Team Leader, could he really be Jet?”

“Team Leader Im did parachute him in, and they say he was active in taking down Executive Director Jeong, but well, isn’t that just simple word of mouth?”

“Still, his potential must be decent for Executive Director Ho to want to give him guidance like before.”

“Executive Director Ho’s swordsmanship is truly art. We’ll get to see that? It’ll be a feast for the eyes.”

A considerable number of the onlookers didn’t rate Lee Hyeon’s skills that highly.

Few of them had directly witnessed Lee Hyeon and Executive Director Jeong’s fight.

Even if there were some, most were A Team members who were close to Lee Hyeon.

So even during Executive Director Jeong’s subjugation, they thought Lee Hyeon had ‘helped’ Im Won-young, and very few people thought they had ‘fought together as equals.’

There was also an atmosphere of finding it hard to believe that a Ranker had fought on equal terms with a High Ranker.

Therefore,

this sparring session was strongly viewed as Executive Director Ho’s guidance, just like with Eom Gi-seon before.

The regular visitors to the training room who had seen Lee Hyeon giving guidance sparring to Kim Min-jeong and Eom Gi-seon felt the same way.

They acknowledged Lee Hyeon’s skills, but the prevailing opinion was that he still wouldn’t match Executive Director Ho.

The cynical ones even went so far as to slander that Executive Director Ho’s guidance was ‘because of Im Won-young’s request.’

“He’s someone Team Leader A brought in. So he’s trying to borrow the authority of his friend Executive Director Ho. His skills will just be exposed though.”

“Hey, even so, that’s going too far. Did you forget he cleared 15 dungeons in two weeks? With just 4 people?”

“Oh please, kid. That’s all just smoke and mirrors……”

Of course, such groundless slander was always challenged.

“Right now, what’s the source of that statement?”

“M-Manager So!?”

It was A Team’s Manager So Seong-hae.

Despite having the typical appearance of a K-office worker suffering from work, he was the most popular person in the Dungeon Strategy Department with his always kind smile.

Seeing such a person with an expressionless face sent chills down their spine.

But……

‘It’s not just Manager So!’

Behind Manager So Seong-hae, other A Team members were also glaring this way.

As if displeased.

The person who had been talking turned pale in an instant.

“The source that Z Team Leader is simply a parachute hire, and Executive Director Ho is only doing this because of Team Leader Im’s request.”

“Th-that is, I,”

“Don’t tell me you were talking carelessly without any basis?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

He hurriedly bowed his waist.

But what came back was only Manager So Seong-hae’s even colder response.

“That’s not something to apologize to me for. When you meet Z Team Leader later, apologize to him.”

Then Manager So Seong-hae twisted one corner of his mouth.

“Well, after seeing that, you’ll only be able to think of doing just that anyway.”

The person who had been talking couldn’t ask why.

The first collision was already beginning.

As soon as Lee Hyeon took out his two axes, he immediately attempted a dash.

Bang!!

A violent shockwave shook the entire underground training room.

“……!”

“……!”

“……What the hell!!”

Lee Hyeon swung his axe down fiercely, and Executive Director Ho drew his sword upward with a smile.

Even though it was clearly metal clashing against metal,

the waves created by the collision of the two magic powers easily spread for at least several meters.

“Everyone move back!”

“The shockwaves are building up and coming!!”

Only then did the onlookers realize this wasn’t some guidance sparring but real sparring, and they hurriedly retreated following the team leaders’ instructions.

Meanwhile,

“…….”

“…….”

“……D-did Team Leader Jang really have this level of skill?”

“We should have looked into it when rumors spread that he raised two Rankers…….”

Gulp!

All the spectators swallowed their dry saliva.

Especially those who had gossiped about Lee Hyeon turned pale with shock.

They even stamped their feet anxiously, wondering if Lee Hyeon had heard their backbiting.

And,

『Violent shockwaves detected. Reinforcing earthquake-resistant design and initiating instance dungeonization.』

Meanwhile, the underground training room began to transform.

The underground training room was a kind of spatial item.

When magic power fluctuations above a certain level were detected, it would naturally isolate that space from the external environment.

 

[Spartan Rule]

Ancient Spartan warriors repeatedly trained to fight without healing and charge without defense so they wouldn’t fear death in actual combat.

Since this space was designed as a rite of passage to reach the guardian god Apollo, the more fierce battles that unfold, the more Apollo rejoices.

-Type: Combat Support.

-Origin: Festival ‘Hyacinthia’

 

A transparent barrier was installed around the training ground where Lee Hyeon and Executive Director Ho stood, naturally creating spatial isolation.

Unlike what could be seen from outside, the internal space width had expanded.

The shockwave absorption rate had also increased tremendously.

Thanks to this, Lee Hyeon and Executive Director Ho could continue their next clash without worry, but,

‘With such violent collisions, can they really finish within the scheduled time?’

Kim Min-jeong could only watch Lee Hyeon with still anxious eyes.

The current time was 4:31.

She was quite worried whether they could finish by 5 o’clock.

Kwarrrrrrung-

Then when blue-white lightning bolts shot up during Lee Hyeon’s second offensive,

“……Hah.”

Kim Min-jeong let out a hollow laugh.

She could see the transparent barrier heating up intensely with steam billowing out. It meant tremendous high temperatures were sweeping through the isolated space.

The thunderous roar of lightning also rang out continuously, shaking the transparent barrier as if it would shatter at any moment.

It seemed they were seriously intent on fighting.

Kim Min-jeong quietly put away her wristwatch.

It looked like they would be late again this time.

 

* * *

 

[Dueoksini’s Deep Breath (S+) outputs branching at maximum! Raging lightning fills the world!]

 

‘Let me see how far I can show off my skills……’

Lee Hyeon rotated his magic power with all his might.

Even without activating Thunder Ghost Dueok, he wanted to draw out everything below that level and definitively make the Fighting Style his own.

Kurrrrung-

Flash! Flash!!

 

[Activating Fury Strike (S+) to attempt a barrage!]

[‘Trait: Fighting Style’ applied, greatly increasing Fury Strike’s proficiency. Grade rises to SS rank.]

……

[Stack accumulated.]

[Lightning bolt falls.]

 

Striking relentlessly, and striking again…….

 

[Sealing opponent’s movement with Overwhelming Pressure (A).]

[Forcibly switching positions with opponent using Whirlwind (A).]

[Movements have become sharper. Fighting Style applied, raising both skills’ grades to S rank.]

 

In the process, Fighting Style completely fused with existing skills, raising their grades by one level each.

Executive Director Ho was amazing enough not to blink an eye even at such fierce offensives.

Bang! Bang! Booooong!!

Urrrrr-

Just by deflecting his sword several times, he knocked away the axe and diverted the lightning bolts.

Meanwhile, the sword strikes that occasionally pierced through gaps were so sharp they sent chills down one’s spine.

Kwaaaaang!!

For those, there was no choice but to halt the offensive and forcibly twist his body to strike the sword upward.

The most surprising point here was,

‘He hasn’t lifted a single foot since the sparring began.’

Lee Hyeon opened his Golden Eyes of Truth wide.

Hwaaak!

 

[Activating ‘Sacred Relic: Golden Eyes of Truth’ to closely examine the opponent’s mental image!]

[Rotating the Golden Headband to search for openings.]

 

Lee Hyeon tried to somehow slip through Executive Director Ho’s gaps by activating the Golden Headband only in his mind without drawing it out,

but this solid iron fortress wouldn’t open easily.

‘This is a real…… High Ranker.’

Lee Hyeon could clearly realize that even within the same grade classified by the system,

the gap could be like heaven and earth.

Executive Director Ho’s skill was incomparably higher than Zhang Baien or Michael Shepherd, who were also High Rankers.

Perhaps this was the world of ‘real’ High Rankers?

‘But this isn’t enough.’

Whoo-

Lee Hyeon stepped back while readjusting his lightning energy output and exhaled.

‘The Fighting Dog hasn’t appeared yet.’

Executive Director Ho’s nickname was Fighting Dog.

He wanted to see the appearance shown when obsessed with fighting.

“You’re quite something, aren’t you? Different again from just a few days ago.”

Executive Director Ho looked at Lee Hyeon with narrowed eyes.

The gleam flashing between his eyelids was extremely fierce.

 

[War Spirit, ‘Iron-Devouring Bulgasal’ growls roughly, wanting to burst out!]

 

“You seem to have learned something……. Am I right?”

“I learned something beyond my station.”

“You’ve mastered it well. I’d doubt if you’re the same person.”

“Thank you.”

“But this won’t be the end, will it?”

Executive Director Ho opened his mouth wide and laughed.

“Don’t hide it and show me everything. If you don’t,”

His fangs glittered particularly brightly.

“You die.”

Kukukukuku……!!

Magic power waves swirled like a storm around Executive Director Ho,

And as the spreading waves revealed hideous teeth, the world seemed to writhe as if it would devour Lee Hyeon whole.

“I was just about to show you anyway. I wasn’t particularly planning to hide it. It’s just that I’m not used to using it yet.”

 

[Ruyi Chain is being released!]

 

Charrrrreuk!

The moment he infused magic power into the bracelet, black-gold iron chains unraveled and wrapped around Lee Hyeon’s surroundings.

The sight of them mixing with Dueoksini’s Collar and bursting with large and small lightning flashes displayed tremendous majesty.

Clank! Clank!

Ziiiiing!!

Each time he connected the chains to the axe handle’s ring, the axe roared roughly.

“It seems like the metal chunk I gave you is mixed in there, right?”

Executive Director Ho’s eyes widened slightly.

A new emotion formed around his eyes.

Ecstasy.

“Something like that.”

“Then it’ll definitely be powerful. If you get hit wrong, you’ll lose both magic power and legacy. Right?”

“Yes. So. Be careful.”

Charrrrreuk-

Lee Hyeon twisted his lips and violently threw the Iron Devourer he was holding in his right hand.

 

[Dueoksini’s Rage erupts!]

 

Kurrrrrung!!

Rough lightning that fell from the sky crashed down along with the axe toward where Executive Director Ho had been,

Paat!

The moment Executive Director Ho hastily pulled his body back, Lee Hyeon, who had somehow approached within arm’s reach, violently swung the Flesh Thirster in his left hand.

Executive Director Ho’s lips curved in an arc.

An iron sword that couldn’t even hold a proper edge due to being directly hammered from the metal chunk the starfish had spat out shot forward.

Ziiiiing!

Shwaeaek-

On the surface, it might look like nothing more than an elongated iron rod inferior to even a ceremonial sword,

But the truly terrifying aspect of this sword wasn’t in its blade.

Kwang!

 

[Legacy, ‘Iron-Eating Starfish’ gradually devours the magic power held by Taotie’s Fangs!]

[It attempts to contaminate the Sacred Relic with its own legacy.]

[Ruyi Chain shows displeasure.]

 

Erosion.

It steals the opponent’s magic power to compensate for consumed magic power, and fills that empty space with its own legacy to damage the item’s durability.

And furthermore, it completely weakens them to make them easy to devour and consume as its own nourishment…….

‘This guy was quite a famous Sacred Relic robber in his youth, wasn’t he?’

On top of that, he would go half-mad during combat, so he had once been put on Interpol’s red wanted list.

Demon.

That’s right.

Executive Director Ho had originally been a very famous demon before meeting Mo Jeong-gyeon and joining White Burn.

Among Hunters, those who had stepped outside the bounds of the establishment and become involved in various crimes,

Or whose character had deteriorated to the point where they pursued only becoming stronger in an extreme way.

Paaaah……!

Whish whish whish whish!

Executive Director Ho twisted his lips while releasing copious amounts of black demonic energy.

“Your magic power tastes quite delicious?”

Executive Director Ho licked his red tongue and his eyes gleamed. His beast-like eyes were now changing into those of a madman.

“Very delicious.”

Lee Hyeon’s offensive had drawn out the demonic nature that Executive Director Ho had suppressed for the past 30-odd years.

Zzirik. Zziriririk.

Lee Hyeon also felt his spine tingle from Executive Director Ho’s demonic energy,

But he smiled instead.

Thinking it would be more interesting.

 

[Monster Pressure (S) attempts to grab the opponent!]

 

An invisible giant’s hand appeared behind Executive Director Ho.

The moment Executive Director Ho’s proud starfish demonic energy forcefully shook off the giant’s touch,

Charrreuk!

Shwaeaeaeaek!

Lee Hyeon pulled on the chain.

The Iron Devourer attached to the end fell like a guillotine blade toward Executive Director Ho’s nape.

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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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