Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 212

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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 212

 

U.C.O. (9)

 

When Kim Min-jeong’s group arrived at the Palmyra Ruins,

 

they were able to meet several familiar faces.

 

“Min-jeong! Over here, over here!”

 

“You were all here? I was worried because the radio wasn’t working…!”

 

“There were Sima Society bastards around us the whole time. We weren’t in a situation to use the radio.”

 

A considerable number of the team members they couldn’t find had already arrived at the ruins early and set up an emergency camp.

 

Fortunately, there were no casualties, and most had no injuries.

 

Even if there were any, they were just minor wounds.

 

It was truly fortunate.

 

“Then the remaining people are…?”

 

“Just the team leader and Chief Eom. Only those two are left.”

 

“We got radio contact with the team leader a little while ago! He’s with Chief Eom meeting Team Leader Kang Yun-su and coming over with X Team!”

 

“…Phew. That’s a relief. Really.”

 

Kim Min-jeong let out a sigh of relief upon learning that Eom Gi-seon, whom she had been worried about, was together with Lee Hyeon.

 

At the same time, as she had expected, she realized that the sudden restoration of radio communication was thanks to Lee Hyeon’s efforts, and she was inwardly grateful for his hard work.

 

“Hehehe.”

 

“…Why are you all looking at me like that?”

 

Then Kim Min-jeong belatedly realized.

 

The fact that her team members were looking at her with mischievous(?) eyes.

 

“Hehehehehe!”

 

“Ehehehehe.”

 

“Why are you all laughing like that!”

 

“Look at her getting happy right away when she hears her boyfriend is safe.”

 

“When I said I hurt my shoulder a bit here, all she did was answer indifferently, asking if I took medicine or whatever.”

 

“Oh my! Where can a single person live without feeling sorry for themselves!”

 

“No, I’m just glad the team leader is safe…!”

 

Kim Min-jeong’s face turned bright red.

 

Oh Su-heon, who had been quietly watching from the side, clicked his tongue.

 

“I have someone on my side when I go home too… I’m so jealous of someone who has someone on their side at work toooo.”

 

This life is ruined.

 

Kim Min-jeong pressed her hand to her forehead.

 

These people had absolutely no intention of easily letting go of a weakness they had once caught.

 

‘…Senior Jang. I think we really need to have a proper conversation about this.’

 

Just as she was grinding her teeth at Lee Hyeon who wasn’t even here,

 

“Oh!? Ching,”

 

Smack!

 

“How many times do I have to tell you not to use that word, you bastard.”

 

“Gueek.”

 

“You were all here! Thank goodness!”

 

There were more people they met at the ruins.

 

ASTRA’s unit members.

 

Donovan Black saw them and tried to greet them with a bright smile, but getting hit on the back of the head by his colleague was a small episode.

 

Michael Shepherd welcomed Z Team with a bright face.

 

He too had been struggling to gather his scattered colleagues while holding onto a radio that barely worked, so his face looked quite haggard.

 

“It’s really nice to meet you on the surface like this. Michael.”

 

“Haha. Isn’t this all God’s blessing? Thank goodness. Everyone seems to be without any major injuries. But where is Jet…?”

 

“He joined up with X Team and arrived near the ruins. He’s probably the most energetic among all of us.”

 

Pfft.

 

Michael chuckled lightly and nodded.

 

“That sounds like Jet.”

 

Fortunately, for a suddenly occurring emergency situation, everyone was steadily gathering without major problems.

 

* * *

 

Only after confirming that ASTRA was also safe did Kim Min-jeong begin to notice the ruins little by little.

 

“But these stone columns…”

 

“Aren’t they truly magnificent? The view stretching from the Triumphal Arch in the east all the way to the end of the western city district.”

 

Michael Shepherd continued with a smile.

 

“Originally, Palmyra was an ancient city where settlers had lived since the Neolithic period, and during the Silk Road era, it was a very prosperous intermediary trading city and empire.”

 

“That many cultures must have intersected there.”

 

“Indeed, the Temple of Bel over there not only has Greco-Roman styles added to it, but after Islamic forces entered, it was used as a mosque, mixing various Eastern and Western styles.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“The gods they worshipped for thousands of years were all different too. Bel, Baal, Marduk, Agribol, Allat, Shamash, Lagmal, various archangels, and so on…”

 

Kim Min-jeong and Michael’s gazes turned toward the colonnade erected lengthwise along the street and the Temple of Bel at the end.

 

The surface of the reddish columns seemed to be made from red sand commonly found in the surrounding desert.

 

On each surface, gods of different origins and civilizations were miscellaneously drawn and actively ‘moving.’

 

Like shadow puppetry.

 

These were sacred paintings of the myths possessed by each god.

 

“Perhaps because of this, various dungeons have been excavated around the Palmyra Ruins and its surroundings, and more are scheduled to be excavated. This is precisely why this place became one of the major battlefields of the Middle East Front.”

 

There was only one reason why sacred paintings of different origins were moving.

 

It was because the Temple of Bel itself served as a [Gate] leading to numerous dungeons.

 

The divine power of gods faintly leaking from various [Gates] caused the columns to react.

 

“But I heard that the ownership competition surrounding this place became so serious that it was almost closed off.”

 

“That’s right. To properly research such a mystical place, someone needs to be properly established there, but that wasn’t easy.”

 

Michael nodded heavily.

 

“Just the great powers wanting to get their hands on this place include the United States and Russia. England and France, who believe they have stakes in this region, are also problems, and the Tower of Babel and the 13th Legion consider this place their own territory entirely. So how could proper research ever be conducted?”

 

As numerous forces and nations continued to clash, the Palmyra Ruins became a place abandoned without an owner for decades.

 

This wasn’t the only major location that various forces were targeting in the vast Middle East Front.

 

“But then the U.C.O. that suddenly appeared over there, along with the Sima Society, began targeting the ruins.”

 

Michael pointed toward the outskirts of the ruins.

 

Thud…

 

Thud…!!

 

A black giant wandering around the periphery like a ghost could be seen in the distance.

 

An existence that made one’s legs go weak just by looking at it.

 

Fortunately, it showed no particular interest in them.

 

Was it looking for something?

 

“So all the players on the Middle East Front got complicated calculations. Wondering if there’s something we missed in the ruins. Since there’s no way such an existence would suddenly appear, there must be some other secret hidden there.”

 

Kim Min-jeong silently nodded.

 

‘Senior Jang choosing this place must have some other reason too.’

 

In fact, though she didn’t show it, Kim Min-jeong had been constantly drawn to the colonnade street and temple since entering the ruins.

 

‘The Demon Horse Killing Intent… keeps getting stimulated by that place.’

 

More precisely, the sacred paintings drawn on the surfaces of the columns and temple kept touching her senses.

 

Additionally, the U.C.O. that seemed to have no particular interest in them.

 

‘Could the owner of the Demon Horse Killing Intent have some connection to these ruins? With the U.C.O. over there too? Or is it related to the hidden secret…?’

 

Kim Min-jeong wondered if U.C.O. might be the owner of the Horse-Killing Intent, but that didn’t seem right either.

 

In the end, it seemed like the exact secret could only be known once Lee Hyeon arrived.

 

So Kim Min-jeong changed the subject.

 

“Then is the reason the rescue team hasn’t arrived yet also because of such reasons?”

 

“Ah, they already departed from the encampment, but well,”

 

It was right when Michael was about to respond.

 

Whiing-

 

Suddenly he grabbed Kim Min-jeong’s arm and pulled her while simultaneously drawing out a pair of white wings from his shoulder blades to form a protective barrier.

 

[Legend, ‘Servant Who Delivers Revelations’ attempts protection with wings!]

 

Something struck the thick wings and bounced off.

 

“Are you alright!?”

 

“Thanks to you, I’m fine. But this is…!”

 

Kim Min-jeong quickly drew her pistol from the holster and pulled the slide.

 

Caaawk! Caawk!

 

In the sky flew a bird-man type mob with a humanoid body but a bird’s head and wings.

 

The creature holding a trident in one hand was crying fiercely, seemingly frustrated that its surprise attack hadn’t worked.

 

A creature that clearly possessed considerable power at first glance.

 

“All units prepare for combat! A mob has escaped from the dungeon. I repeat. All units prepare for combat. A mob has escaped from the dungeon! Its grade appears to be roughly that of a 2-3 star dungeon boss.”

 

The moment Kim Min-jeong brought the radio item to her mouth and shouted,

 

Crackle.

 

『Bolt 1, command confirmed. Standing by for combat!』

 

『Cloud 2, command confirmed. Standing by for combat!!』

 

Responses came back one after another.

 

Movement so coordinated it was hard to believe these were people who had just been resting.

 

Like Z Team, ASTRA also began quickly arming themselves.

 

Snipers moved to find cover, while tanks and dealers drew their weapons and ran toward them.

 

But…

 

Crackle.

 

『2-3 star grade? Are you sure? Why would something like that suddenly…! Did a dungeon break occur!?』

 

『Could it be because of U.C.O.?』

 

『Damn it! This is Cloud 3, we have a problem! Mobs similar to what Cloud 1 spotted are swarming toward us! 3 o’clock direction!!』

 

3 o’clock direction meant where the Temple of Bel was located.

 

Kim Min-jeong and Michael turned their heads, then hardened their expressions.

 

Creatures that looked exactly like the mob they had just faced were swarming toward them like a flock of migratory birds.

 

[You have discovered a group of ‘Anjju’!]

 

[Warning! A dungeon break is already gradually occurring in this area. Retreat to a safe zone.]

 

[Warning! Currently this place is…]

 

[Anjju (Anzû)]

 

A hybrid being famous as a giant bird or bird-man in ancient Mesopotamian mythology. Famous for the story of accidentally stealing the tablets containing the gods’ fates.

 

-Origin: Clay tablet ‘Ninurta Temple Relief’

 

『Oh, my Jesus!!』

 

What appeared to be Donovan’s curse flowed from Michael’s radio.

 

The problem wasn’t just that.

 

Crack crack crack!

 

The sacred fires of other columns also began writhing violently before spewing out various types of mobs.

 

These creatures also possessed power no less than the Anjju.

 

And,

 

‘My head… feels like it’s going to explode.’

 

Kim Min-jeong felt her head burning as the number of mobs increased.

 

[Horse-Killing Intent is reacting to external stimuli for unknown reasons.]

 

[Horse-Killing Intent is beginning to cause a backflow.]

 

Horse-Killing Intent began rampaging without listening to her. Her mana circuits overheated.

 

“Twin Shot! Are you alright?”

 

“I’m not… okay. Since this place doesn’t seem safe to stay, let’s hurry and get out.”

 

“Let’s do that. And tell Jet’s group to come to the next destination.”

 

It seemed that the reason Sima Society hadn’t approached the Palmyra Ruins more closely wasn’t simply because of U.C.O. alone.

 

‘Someone is… artificially using Horse-Killing Intent to draw these mobs out from the dungeon.’

 

Despite her severe headache, Kim Min-jeong could deduce the exact situation of the ruins.

 

‘Maybe that U.C.O. was also originally sealed somewhere here, but was released because of Horse-Killing Intent…!’

 

Kim Min-jeong quickly searched the surroundings to secure an escape route.

 

However,

 

“Caawk! Caaaawk!!”

 

When the Anjju they had faced earlier let out some kind of shriek, the creatures that had been moving in flocks all attempted to dive toward this location at once.

 

Monster wave.

 

Faced with the disaster that was said to occur only after a break happened,

 

Kim Min-jeong and Michael urgently tried to shout.

 

At that moment,

 

Swoosh!

 

“Twin Shot!!”

 

“…!!”

 

Suddenly the creature that appeared to be the leader of the Anjju flock spread its wings wide, and in the blink of an eye arrived in front of Kim Min-jeong, thrusting with its trident.

 

Kim Min-jeong quickly aimed her pistol in that direction but was half a beat too late. Michael desperately leaped forward, but it was still insufficient to stop the trident.

 

The moment a cruel smile crossed the leader’s lips, two people flashed through Kim Min-jeong’s eyes.

 

Lee Hyeon.

 

And…

 

‘Gi-seon!!’

 

The moment the back of her boyfriend, who seemed unreliable but had embraced her with dependable shoulders, came to mind,

 

[Legend, ‘Baby General Uturi’ roars fiercely!]

 

“Jjagiiiii!!”

 

BOOM!!

 

Kyaawk!

 

With a violent explosion, the leader screamed and was sent flying.

 

Kim Min-jeong’s eyes widened.

 

‘It wasn’t… an illusion!’

 

Eom Gi-seon was there showing his broad back in anger.

 

In one hand he held a short sword equipped with a solid aura blade.

 

“I’ll protect my Jjagi!!”

 

Eom Gi-seon roared fiercely and charged at the leader that was flying toward them again.

 

BOOM-

 

From then on, a fierce battle unfolded between the leader and Eom Gi-seon. The leader’s wings were severed and feathers fell like rain.

 

Conversely, the white wings that Eom Gi-seon had been proud of grew even larger, now becoming armor that enveloped his entire body.

 

That appearance of his,

 

looked like a white knight from a medieval romance who had traveled a long distance to save his lady.

 

Tsk.

 

『Ooh!』

 

『Our Jjagi is the best!』

 

『Jjagi fighting!!』

 

…The team members’ cheerful encouragement also poured out.

 

Only then did Kim Min-jeong, returning from emotion back to reality, press her hand to her forehead again.

 

‘This life is… ruined.’

 

And…

 

『Wait! If Manager Eom came, that means,』

 

In the distance,

 

[War God, ‘Goblin Dance Formation’ descends!]

 

There was a streak of blue-white lightning cutting across the sky filled with swarms of Anjju.

 

『As expected!!』

 

Kwarrrung!!

 

Rumble-

 

At the spot where the lightning bolt fell.

 

Lee Hyeon stood there. Streaming blue-white lightning continuously.

 

Cheers erupted from all around.

 

Tsk.

 

『The team leader has returned!』

 

『Wow! Look at that style! Oh my, I knew we could count on him…!』

 

『You bastards, whether it’s mobs or Sima Society, they’re all screwed!!』

 

『Begin the counterattack, you damn bastards!』

 

It was the moment when the scattered Z Team finally gathered in one place.

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