Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 197

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

The Broken Ranker

 

Devours Myths

 

Chapter 197

 

Dueokshin’s Teeth (7)

 

Lee Hyeon had exactly two thoughts at this moment.

 

One was that angel blood was white in color.

 

The other was,

 

‘How refreshing.’

 

It felt like ten years of built-up frustration had finally been released.

 

And that feeling,

 

“…This human, again.”

 

“Kekeke! As expected of our eldest brother! Always pulling off these outrageous stunts!”

 

Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing felt no different.

 

Especially Zhu Bajie, who covered his face with his hands wearing a troubled expression, but his lips were strangely twisted upward.

 

It meant he too had accumulated quite a bit of resentment without realizing it.

 

However…

 

Son Wukong merely stood with his arms crossed, still coldly glaring at Raphael’s head.

 

“So this is your choice, I see.”

 

At that moment, Raphael’s head stopped abruptly in mid-air.

 

His face was contorted with pain.

 

Judging by his slightly diminished presence, he seemed to have taken considerable damage,

 

but he returned to his emotionless expression and looked down at Son Wukong.

 

“Those who led the charge in casting me out while spouting about balance and such, now want to use me again?”

 

“So you’ll choose pride over practicality? How disappointing.”

 

“Practicality, my ass. What if that balance tips to one side again? Will you stab me in the back again then?”

 

“The balance of the scales is a great cause for this world’s order,”

 

“Do not dare speak so carelessly of the great causes you discuss.”

 

At that moment, Son Wukong cut off Raphael’s words and violently struck the ground.

 

Thoom…!!

 

Simultaneously, a golden gale filled with tremendous demonic energy and power spread out like a tidal wave.

 

[■■Great■ ■ukong is Revealing Presence!]

 

Whoooosh!!

 

The storm of presence instantly burst apart Raphael’s remaining body.

 

The other angel legions all spread their wings wide and took flight.

 

The sight of them covering the sky above Flower Fruit Mountain.

 

It looked like witnessing the apocalyptic holy war where they had come to exterminate the demons of Flower Fruit Mountain according to God’s command.

 

“The scales you force upon us? That is order? You mice who can’t even squeak before those ‘outside’ the world dare to babble so carelessly.”

 

Raphael’s head hardened its expression at Son Wukong’s mockery.

 

“We have not yet corrected the internal order, so how can we discuss the outside? This too is merely a path toward the greater cause.”

 

“That’s why I’m telling you to cut the crap.”

 

Son Wukong twisted one corner of his mouth.

 

“Fine. If that’s truly what you call your scales and order,”

 

Son Wukong’s Golden Eyes of Truth captured both Raphael’s head and the angel legion in one view.

 

“I’ll completely destroy one side so it can never be rebuilt again.”

 

The weight called Great Sage Equal to Heaven had once single-handedly disrupted the balance of the scales.

 

Son Wukong declared that he would make that weight of Great Sage Equal to Heaven much heavier than before,

 

so that they could never again so carelessly discuss peace and hypocrisy like this.

 

“So all of you get lost.”

 

[The master of the sanctuary has ordered the expulsion of foreigners.]

 

[The myth of 【Malakh】 is being forcibly returned to the Heavenly Realm.]

 

“You are…”

 

The gates of heaven opened wide once again.

 

Light seeping through the gap embraced the angel legion.

 

“Still the same. Even though you’ve only recovered about half your presence, you surpass all of us. No wonder the scales tipped.”

 

That was all Raphael’s head left as final words. By then, his previously shattered body had been completely regenerated.

 

Paaaaat!

 

[All descents have ended.]

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

And then came the silence.

 

It was hard to believe this was the same place where chaos had reigned just moments before.

 

“Phew! Now I finally feel refreshed. Seriously, those guys just don’t match my constitution at all, you know?”

 

Son Wukong lightly ran his hand through his hair. The storm of presence had already subsided.

 

“Keke! I was getting annoyed too, since they kept acting all high and mighty despite being the ones asking for help! Kekekeke! At times like this, eldest brother is really reliable and great!”

 

“Right? Hey, so now show some respect to this eldest brother,”

 

“It would be nice if you were this reliable all the time too.”

 

“This bastard again?”

 

When Son Wukong slightly raised his fist, Sha Wujing took a step back.

 

Then he hardened his expression and asked.

 

“But is it really okay to do this?”

 

“What is?”

 

“【Malakh】, I mean. You know better than anyone that they’re more petty than they appear, don’t you, eldest brother?”

 

“That’s right?”

 

“But if they try to retaliate against us because of this incident,”

 

“Ah, you don’t need to worry about that. Right?”

 

It was a part that Lee Hyeon had been secretly worried about too.

 

But Son Wukong waved his hand dismissively and looked at Zhu Bajie with a meaningful gaze.

 

Zhu Bajie let out a hollow laugh.

 

“You want me to handle the cleanup?”

 

“That’s why I ripped off the head first, right?”

 

“…Seriously. There’s always someone who causes trouble and someone else who cleans up.”

 

Zhu Bajie grumbled while scratching the back of his head.

 

“As eldest brother said, 【Malakh】 won’t try to retaliate against us ‘immediately.’ Rather, they’ll show even more signs of wanting to work together with us than before.”

 

“Why is that?”

 

“Because they have no choice.”

 

Zhu Bajie’s lips twisted.

 

“It might be different if Metatron or the Four Great Angels still had their reputation, but now even the heavens are in an era of every man for himself. There are very few societies willing to follow the great cause that 【Malakh】 proclaims.”

 

“There must be quite a few places that were manipulated by 【Malakh】 like us?”

 

“Something like that. In the end, they reap what they sow.”

 

Sha Wujing also nodded as if he finally understood.

 

“So since they’ve made Gehenna their main enemy, 【Malakh】 alone can’t handle it… Their position is that they have no choice but to improve relations with us somehow. Eldest brother calculated that.”

 

Pfft.

 

Son Wukong let out a snicker as he picked up on Zhu Bajie’s words.

 

“Originally, causing trouble is something you have to do while thinking about the consequences, you see. Now do you understand how great this eldest senior brother is?”

 

“I understand. That experienced workers are indeed different. Isn’t this the enlightenment you gained from being sealed for 500 years after causing such trouble back then?”

 

“…This bastard? This really won’t do. Why don’t you come here?”

 

“Kekeke! If you want to come, then come yourself, Wukong senior brother! Kekekeke!!”

 

The chase between Son Wukong and Sha Wujing began again.

 

Zhu Bajie, as if this was a familiar sight, paid no attention and this time spoke to Lee Hyeon.

 

“As you can see, the political situation in the Heavens is just as complicated as on the surface.”

 

“Yes. It seems that way.”

 

Lee Hyeon nodded heavily.

 

Ever since facing the Jade Emperor’s will,

 

the Heavens, which had felt distant until now, seemed to have stepped right up to his eyes.

 

“That’s why you can’t let your guard down for even a moment. No matter how much 【Malakh】’s reputation has declined from before, Metatron is still Metatron.”

 

Son Wukong and Sha Wujing had also stopped their chase at some point and were quietly watching the conversation between Zhu Bajie and Lee Hyeon.

 

“We brothers will do what we brothers can do. The Seven Great Sages will do what the Seven Great Sages can do. So,”

 

“I should do what I can do.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Zhu Bajie nodded deeply as he put a cigarette in his mouth.

 

Whoosh-

 

The smoke scattered as widely as his thoughts.

 

“From now on, I’ll help with anything I can help with. Just like in Tenjin, and the same in the Palmyra Desert.”

 

“Then what kind of preparations should I make?”

 

“Starting with what’s already come to mind. If it’s you, you’ve probably already made some plans, right?”

 

Zhu Bajie’s gaze filled with expectation.

 

Lee Hyeon smiled lightly.

 

The fact that such a figure acknowledged him was truly a joyful thing.

 

“Many things are tied to this Middle East Front. And at the center of it all exists the Satawang.”

 

A situation where the political circumstances of the surface and Heavens had become complexly intertwined.

 

“Then I need to raise my power as much as I possibly can.”

 

[The spirit contract with Marshal of the Altars Zhu Bajie is fully prepared.]

 

[The spirit contract with Great Sage Bohai Jiaoma Wang is on standby.]

 

Lee Hyeon checked the message that appeared at just the right time and spoke while looking at Zhu Bajie.

 

“I’ll settle all the postponed spirit contracts. Please make a contract with me, Bajie.”

 

“That’s the right answer.”

 

A smile formed on Zhu Bajie’s lips.

 

* * *

 

“…Damn it. To think I have to watch another thief putting his hands on my disciple.”

 

“Keke! Isn’t it about time you got used to it?”

 

“Get used to what! I’ll never get used to it!!”

 

Son Wukong let out a disgruntled sound,

 

and on the other side,

 

“So it really begins like this.”

 

Jiaoma Wang was watching Lee Hyeon with calm eyes while being supported by the Roc King.

 

He was in a state where he had drunk the holy water brought by Raphael and diluted his madness.

 

Thanks to this, he was able to come out of Sullyeom Cave to take Lee Hyeon’s spirit test.

 

Of course, even so, since the cause of the madness hadn’t been completely removed,

 

much depended on this spirit contract.

 

‘Like how he saved the old gods, he’ll penetrate deep into my unconscious through the contract and remove the demonic nature… was it? Will it really be okay?’

 

While Jiaoma Wang looked on with half anxiety and half expectation,

 

Thud!

 

Lee Hyeon sat cross-legged as Zhu Bajie had instructed.

 

At that moment,

 

Ding!!

 

[‘Event: Spirit Contract’ has been created!]

 

[Currently, the spirits of Marshal of the Altars Zhu Bajie and Great Sage Bohai Jiaoma Wang wish to proceed with a contract to make you their spirit medium.]

 

[From now on, complete both contracts that will occur twice in succession to restore part of the collapsed 【Journey to the West】 myth.]

 

‘It appeared.’

 

Lee Hyeon’s eyes sparkled.

 

Since the system had triggered an event, the reward upon success would be very great too.

 

‘Fragment of myth… I’m getting closer and closer to the entirety of Journey to the West.’

 

Clank!

 

Then, Zhu Bajie brought out a rake with 8 teeth attached to a long handle in front of Lee Hyeon.

 

It was shaped like a farming tool used for plowing fields.

 

Shangbao Qinxin Rake.

 

It was Zhu Bajie’s sacred relic.

 

“My sacred relic is in this form, so it probably won’t be of much help to you who already possess a magnificent weapon. I thought I’d try changing its shape like this.”

 

Flash!

 

Fsss-

 

The handle disappeared from the Shangbao Qinxin Rake, and soon only 8 teeth remained on the ground.

 

“Try grabbing them.”

 

The moment Lee Hyeon reached out to them,

 

Whoosh!

 

Suddenly all 8 teeth seeped into Lee Hyeon’s skin.

 

[‘Sacred Relic: Shangbao Qinxin Rake’ has found a new host.]

 

[The sacred relic is being absorbed into the body!]

 

At the same time,

 

Crack! Creak!!

 

His skeleton began to harden.

 

It felt like solid rebar was being embedded deep into each bone joint, and wire was settling densely inside his muscles.

 

“…!!”

 

Although Lee Hyeon had undergone rapid physical changes several times through 1st and 2nd awakenings,

 

this seemed to bring effects that far exceeded that level.

 

If awakening strengthened physical talent, this sacred relic had the purpose of perfecting the body.

 

[Marshal of the Altars’ Bone Armor]

 

Armor touched by the hands of one who was once a general symbolizing the 【Heavenly Court】, a demon tormented by gluttony and lust, and now a disciple who entered the Buddhist order.

 

The 8 iron cores of the sacred relic ‘Shangbao Qinxin Rake’ engraved in the body will gift the flesh with the strength of blade and sword immunity and vajra indestructibility.

 

-Type: Sacred Relic. Armor.

 

-Origin: Myth ‘Journey to the West’

 

“If senior brother was offense and junior brother was support, I mainly took charge of defense, protecting our master. My Shangbao Qinxin Rake will make your body have nothing more to fear from now on.”

 

“Thank you,”

 

“However.”

 

Just when he had obtained the great weapon called Dueokshin’s Teeth and was thinking it would be nice to have armor, this opportunity had come his way.

 

Lee Hyeon was about to bow his head, but seeing the eerie smile Zhu Bajie was making, his eyes widened.

 

Demon .

 

The image of a fiercely grinning ghost was written across Zhu Bajie’s face.

 

He had momentarily forgotten.

 

Though he had a kind face,

 

Zhu Bajie was also not human, but a demon.

 

“You haven’t yet formed a complete contract with me. Moreover, if it’s a special contract as a sworn brother rather than an apostle, shouldn’t we put even more effort into the contract?”

 

[The sworn brotherhood contract with Qingtian Lion Zhu Bajie begins.]

 

[Completely control the iron cores of the bone armor.]

 

Before Lee Hyeon could say anything,

 

Puhwaaaaak!

 

Suddenly an iron core shot up through his left forearm.

 

“…!!!”

 

Then from his right shin, ribs, and even his spine, iron cores sprouted like a hedgehog’s quills. Each time, his skeleton twisted in strange directions.

 

The agony of skin and muscle tearing, bones being crushed.

 

In the terrible pain like rolling on hellfire,

 

“The nickname Bajie was given to me directly by my master Xuanzang Tripitaka.”

 

Zhu Bajie’s voice sounded like a demon’s sweet temptation, or perhaps like a Buddha’s stern rebuke.

 

“Bajie refers to the Eight Precepts, an important disciplinary ritual that practices honest heart and pure actions in a Buddhist’s life.”

 

Killing, stealing, lust, lying, drunkenness, waste, lust for power, greed.

 

The eight desires that a practitioner must absolutely forbid.

 

“Shamefully, having always lived driven by impulses, I had to constantly pay attention when looking at this name. Each tooth of the iron rake represents those very desires.”

 

Lee Hyeon’s eyes instantly turned bright red. With eight iron cores that could pop out from anywhere, it was difficult to concentrate.

 

“Control all the desires. If you do so, your body, your qi and blood, your mind—all can achieve Vajra Indestructible Body.”

 

Zhu Bajie’s eyes looking down at Lee Hyeon

 

held a sharp blue radiance.

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