Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 189

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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 189

 

Cup of Revival (4)

 

Drug King. Nayeli Vargas grasped the delivery box that had arrived before her with trembling hands.

 

“Boss, if you find this distasteful.”

 

“Quiet!”

 

“….”

 

“This is something I must do.”

 

The butlers all stepped back and bowed their heads.

 

Tension was clearly written on their faces as they swallowed dry saliva.

 

As if they knew well how the Boss’s rage would erupt after this.

 

And….

 

“….”

 

Even after opening the box’s flaps, Nayeli stood there for a long time as if nailed in place.

 

Tightly bitten lips. Her reddened eyes looked as if blood might drip from them at any moment.

 

Evidence that she was forcibly suppressing the madness of battle that was about to burst forth.

 

“The bastards who brought this… where… are they…?”

 

Inside the box was a wrinkled right hand, beautifully packaged.

 

An old man’s hand tightly gripping the head of a staff.

 

It was a hand Nayeli could not fail to recognize.

 

It belonged to someone precious who had stroked her head since childhood and even tailored clothes for her.

 

Bruno Calisa.

 

“Black Maria is currently waiting outside.”

 

“Maria…. Those bastards dared to not know their place and joined hands with Gwiroae to pull this stunt? Hoho. Yes. Good.”

 

She had heard the news that Gwiroae had seized all of the cartel’s business locations in Guam and organized a new company.

 

Homerus Holdings?

 

Well, it seemed to have some ridiculous name like that.

 

Still, she had left it alone since Bruno’s whereabouts were still unknown.

 

But if it had come to this, only one thing remained.

 

War.

 

Since Black Maria, counted among the same axis of evil, was large in scale, the damage would be significant,

 

but wrong choices must always be followed by appropriate consequences.

 

“Um, but,”

 

“What’s the problem? Can’t you do it properly?”

 

When Nayeli’s blazing gaze turned toward him, the butler hurriedly bowed his head.

 

“The envoy who brought that box is the Butcher of Iloilo.”

 

“What?”

 

In an instant, Nayeli’s eyes blazed with fire.

 

* * *

 

Luciano Dela Cruz.

 

He was leisurely enjoying coffee in the reception room with the secretary he had brought along.

 

“Hmm…. The aroma is quite nice. Is this indigenous coffee? The scent of Colombian plantation workers’ extraction is really vibrating and good?”

 

“….”

 

The glares of the surrounding guards monitoring them poured down heavily.

 

Judging by their eyes alone, they looked ready to riddle him with machine gun fire several times over.

 

The secretary felt his insides burning even more at his boss’s carefree reaction, constantly scratching at their nerves.

 

“Pahaha! What’s a man like you so scared of? Relax your shoulders and tense up your neck.”

 

“Ah, understood.”

 

“There’s nothing to be nervous about. Still, this is supposedly a noble company created by descendants of the Oligarquía (South American ruling nobility who monopolized land and power, or Criollos). Would they harm guests? That’s something only back-alley vagrants like us would do. Hahaha!”

 

Luciano burst into hearty laughter while patting his secretary’s back.

 

His voice was so loud that his laughter made the reception room ring and echo.

 

The more he did so, the more murderous the guards’ gazes became.

 

‘This certainly isn’t an easy place, is it? Unlike typical underworld types, they’re very well-disciplined. Nayeli is indeed impressive. If we clash head-on, our side would take considerable damage too?’

 

Even while laughing, Luciano’s eyes flashed sharply.

 

It wasn’t that he didn’t know how undignified his current actions were and how insulting they felt to his enemies.

 

No, from the start, having someone who was roughly the second-in-command of a major force personally bring the severed right hand of an opposing force’s executive was insane.

 

He might end up trapped and killed here,

 

‘But it’s still a gamble worth taking. If successful, there’s a lot that will fall into my hands.’

 

From the beginning, Luciano had requested Bruno’s custody from Gwiroae for this very purpose.

 

There were complaints from those around him about why Black Maria should bear the Drug King’s wrath that Gwiroae would receive,

 

but Luciano pushed through with this plan based on one single logic.

 

‘We need to follow Gwiroae to get more benefits in the future…. How long are we going to keep being suppressed by City Cartel’s influence? Tsk.’

 

In fact, City Cartel and Black Maria only differed in territory, but had quite a lot of overlapping business areas.

 

So there were cases where people around them would unconsciously rank them,

 

and Black Maria was always treated as being at least one step, or at most several steps behind City Cartel.

 

Luciano hated that.

 

So he saw this as the optimal opportunity to reverse the hierarchy.

 

‘Gwiroae’s greatest weapon isn’t magic or lightning techniques. It lies in that clever mind, eyes that can read situations, bold judgment for causing chaos, and anonymity that never exposes his face.’

 

Luciano was certain.

 

‘That guy will definitely skyrocket! He can reach Mars!!’

 

Of course, the fact that the hostile force’s leader was a top ranker was concerning,

 

but shouldn’t one be able to accept that level of risk to gain greater rewards?

 

‘Besides, with the mine’s largest dungeon closing, the supply of sea stones will gradually decrease. We must seize this opportunity now.’

 

While Luciano was having these various thoughts,

 

Creak!

 

The door leading from the reception room to the central hall opened.

 

“….”

 

At that moment,

 

Luciano’s eyes gleamed like those of a cunning snake.

 

* * *

 

After dropping the bombshell declaration,

 

Lee Hyeon asked Lee Gun-san for various things and began preparing items one by one.

 

“What are you going to use all this for?”

 

“Revival.”

 

“….”

 

“There’s a way to open the ritual. Help me prepare too, hyung.”

 

“…You really. No, never mind. Alright, let’s try it.”

 

Go Jin-woo seemed to have a lot he wanted to say, but he held back and arranged various ritual tools in an empty room as Lee Hyeon requested.

 

Lee Hyeon wasn’t unaware of what Go Jin-woo wanted to say either.

 

「Revival is never something easily accomplished. Since it’s fundamentally reversing the natural order of birth, aging, sickness, and death, even in myths and legends, only a very few have achieved it.」

 

Lee Hyeon nodded at the Roc King’s words.

 

Even Dionysus, known in mythology for being revived from death,

 

actually had legends saying it was a completely different being called ‘Zagreus’ who died and came back to life.

 

‘I don’t think this will definitely succeed either.’

 

「Then,」

 

‘Still, wouldn’t it be better than not even trying?’

 

「….」

 

‘Maybe we could get some clue related to resurrection.’

 

That was exactly what Lee Hyeon was hoping for.

 

If he dug deep into Dionysus’s myth, perhaps he could learn some more detailed information.

 

And that night.

 

“I really hope this works out, but….”

 

“I don’t understand how we’re supposed to revive someone who’s already had a funeral and been cremated.”

 

“Still, let’s try what he’s suggesting. Lee Hyeon must have some idea since he’s proposing it.”

 

“Otherwise, I would have already scolded him for wasting time. Damn it.”

 

Lee Gun-san smiled bitterly while Go Jin-woo ground his teeth as they each stood on either side of the brazier.

 

They were about to take on the role of priests for the ritual.

 

According to the information on the USB that Maksus had given them, there weren’t that many items needed for the resurrection ritual.

 

The Cup of Revival,

 

wine made from grapes harvested at night,

 

incense made from dried wood,

 

and….

 

‘An object that symbolizes hyung.’

 

Lee Hyeon stood before the altar and slightly knelt on one knee.

 

As if offering himself as a sacrifice.

 

‘Golden Eyes of Truth.’

 

Faaaa!

 

[‘Sacred Relic: Golden Eyes of Truth’ is fully activated!]

 

His eyes glowed dimly with a golden light.

 

Instantly, Lee Gun-san and Go Jin-woo frowned. Especially Go Jin-woo bit down hard on his teeth.

 

The reason the two had been continuously displeased while preparing the ritual.

 

It was because of the difference in interpretation regarding the ‘symbolic object.’

 

Lee Gun-san and Go Jin-woo, especially Go Jin-woo, argued that they just needed to offer the dagger that Moon Su-chan had cherished while alive.

 

But Lee Hyeon was different.

 

If it was Moon Su-chan’s symbolic object, it should naturally be the Golden Eyes of Truth.

 

He expressed his opinion that it should be this item that he had used since childhood and had been with him until he became a Ranker.

 

So,

 

Lee Hyeon took on not only the role of the chief priest conducting the ritual, but also the role of the sacrifice.

 

Of course, he was confident that there would be no problems like losing the Golden Eyes of Truth or losing his sight, but,

 

‘Crazy bastard. No matter what, what kind of crazy bastard would want to be revived if his brother was offered as a sacrifice? Damn.’

 

Go Jin-woo wanted to pour out a torrent of curses from behind.

 

But he couldn’t do that in case it brought bad luck.

 

He could only earnestly hope that nothing would happen….

 

“I’ll begin.”

 

The ritual started with Lee Hyeon’s declaration.

 

[The resurrection ritual begins!]

 

[The ritual consists of 5 stages in total.]

 

[Stage 1, ‘Initiation Purification (Teletē)’ ritual proceeds.]

 

…

 

When Lee Hyeon raised the empty Cup of Revival high, Go Jin-woo, who was in charge of support, poured wine into it with his lips pressed tight.

 

Meanwhile, Lee Gun-san, who was in charge of blessing, lit the incense and fanned it with his hand so the fragrance could spread widely.

 

Thus, a series of rituals continued in the solemn atmosphere.

 

Lee Hyeon drew out a dagger and cut near his own eyes, symbolizing the sacrifice, drew blood, mixed it with the wine, and sang a mournful song….

 

A ritual imitating the ceremonies secretly passed down in the ancient Orphic Mysteries.

 

[Orphic Resurrection Ritual]

 

A ritual of the mystery religion that worshipped Orpheus, who had traveled to the Underworld and nearly revived the dead.

 

They worshipped both Persephone and Dionysus together, believing that today’s humanity originated from Dionysus’s birth and resurrection process.

 

-Origin: Historical record ‘Golden Tablets of Orphic Doctrine’

 

As the ritual continued, a dark blue light symbolizing wine spread out gently like ripples around Lee Hyeon.

 

Even a sacred wind of divine power could be felt.

 

Faaaaa…!!

 

While Go Jin-woo’s pupils trembled violently at this sight,

 

Lee Hyeon’s Golden Eyes of Truth, which was to be offered as sacrifice, also gradually changed from gold to a dark blue color.

 

Patsutsu.

 

[Stage 1 ritual completed successfully.]

 

[Stage 2, ‘Symbolic Dismemberment (Sparagmos)’ ritual proceeds.]

 

…

 

[Stage 2 ritual completed successfully.]

 

[Stage 3…]

 

…

 

Then, when the ritual reached its final stage,

 

Lee Hyeon lifted the Cup of Revival and brought it to his lips.

 

The wine inside had now changed to a vivid red color symbolizing life.

 

Jjeoeoeoeng!!

 

Even a clear sound rang out.

 

‘With this,’

 

Lee Hyeon was confident.

 

The order of the ritual was completely correct, and divine power had been accumulated step by step.

 

Most importantly,

 

his demon senses were telling him.

 

This ritual would definitely succeed.

 

If he drank all this wine, the Golden Eyes of Truth would be offered as sacrifice and his hyung would be revived.

 

Of course, he didn’t know in what form.

 

Perhaps he might dwell in his own consciousness or in the Golden Eyes of Truth, or maybe only appear as a spirit.

 

But he thought there would be no problem.

 

Normally it would be good if the corpse was at least intact, but Moon Su-chan wasn’t ‘human’ to begin with.

 

Didn’t the Six-Eared Macaque say so?

 

Demons are beings born from the gathering of specific concepts or superstitions. Since the physical body wasn’t particularly important, he wasn’t worried.

 

If he could somehow revive his existence, there would be some way to handle what came after.

 

‘Reviving hyung,’

 

But the moment the cup touched his lips,

 

Bang!

 

Suddenly the Cup of Revival exploded.

 

Wine spilling down everywhere.

 

[The revival ritual has been forcibly interrupted for unknown reasons!]

 

[One revival attempt stored in Kantaros has been forcibly deducted.]

 

“Lee Hyeon!”

 

“Are you alright?”

 

Go Jin-woo and Lee Gun-san rushed over urgently.

 

Lee Hyeon stared at the Cup of Revival that had fallen to the ground with a hardened expression.

 

“I’m… fine.”

 

But his expression wasn’t good.

 

The ritual that only needed finishing had suddenly failed.

 

‘What? What’s the problem?’

 

[Searching for cause.]

 

Lee Hyeon’s pupils shook violently as they fixed on the message window.

 

At that moment,

 

[Cause confirmed.]

 

[Could not find the designated target for revival.]

 

[Target is not recorded in the Death Registry of the Underworld.]

 

“…!?”

 

In an instant, Lee Hyeon’s face hardened like stone.

 

His brother… isn’t in the Underworld?

—————
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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