Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 220
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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 220
Savior (1)
Strange rumors began spreading rapidly through the desert city.
―Astra has established emergency communication with the outside of the dungeon.
―Not only Shawing, but even the Swaeyonggi that had been tormenting them have all been annihilated.
―Soon a rescue team will come to find the city.
Words leaked by Desert Eagle team members at small markets scattered throughout the city—where bartering was mainly conducted—snowballed rapidly.
And,
“Is that really true?”
“Really, the Sama Society…!”
People came running to the camp where Desert Eagle was staying.
Captain Aesion did not deny it.
“That’s right. Didn’t you see the battle taking place outside the city just a moment ago?”
“Th-then Astra…!”
“It wasn’t Astra.”
Captain Aesion recalled
the words Michael had said with emphasis while smiling.
“It’s Jet. He is our savior.”
“…!!”
Eventually, all the rumors converged into one thing.
―Blue Thunder is coming to save the city.
The glorious revival of the old Blue Thunder was something even Babel Tower and the 13th Legion had vaguely heard about.
Though they couldn’t really feel it due to the great distance from Northeast Asia,
they had heard rumors that it was essentially the cause of China’s Central Heroes Committee’s downfall.
So some gossip-loving enthusiasts on the Middle East Front had jokingly given them this nickname:
―The natural enemy of the Sama Society.
But…
“That joke has become ‘real.'”
Someone shouted like that.
“They say the natural enemy of the Sama Society is this city’s savior!”
“Is that really true? Blue Thunder… I mean, just a single combat unit of White Burn?”
“That’s what they’re saying!”
“Even America’s Astra couldn’t find our exact location… Impressive.”
“But you know.”
Of course, not everyone was thinking only positive thoughts.
“They are Astra’s saviors, not ‘our’ saviors, aren’t they?”
Those from foreign legions or UN peacekeeping forces didn’t mind, but those from the axis of evil were different.
They had only temporarily allied due to their common enemy, the Sama Society, but in reality they would be enemies if they met outside.
Especially the grudges accumulated on the Middle East Front were enormous.
“Will they really leave us alone?”
“What if they think this is a good opportunity to eliminate us while we’re weakened?”
“To prepare for that… we should make various preparations first.”
Eventually,
the city was split into two extreme atmospheres.
Hope that they could get out alive, and suspicion that conflicts might break out.
As rumors gradually subsided and movements between factions became busy,
“…Who did you say came to save the city?”
Inside a narrow prayer room shrouded in darkness,
someone who had been wearing a robe pulled deep over their head slowly raised it.
The face slightly revealed by candlelight had delicate jawlines, showing it was a woman.
In front of her was a modestly carved statue.
A divine statue with the face of a bull or goat with sharp horns.
[Molech]
A local deity worshipped in the ancient Near Eastern Canaan region. The name derives from a word meaning ‘king.’
Believers confirmed their faith by offering children, specifically infants, as sacrifices, and led the world to destruction by bestowing fire’s blessing.
-Origin: Biblical ‘Leviticus’
Beldana, manager of Babel Tower’s 4th floor and leader of the ‘Language of the Gods’ known for collecting divine languages scattered throughout the world.
A subordinate bowed his head at her question.
“His name is Jet.”
“Jet? I’ve heard that name somewhere…”
Beldana narrowed her eyes as if trying to recall something.
“It’s not his real name, but a codename that became a nickname. He was the former leader of Korea’s Blue Thunder unit.”
“Blue Thunder?”
As if finally remembering, Beldana’s eyes widened.
“Then from the 66th floor…?”
“Yes. They say he’s from the same school as Ki Yu-jin.”
“Right. I’ve heard about him. He said they were close colleagues when he was in Blue Thunder. He was very sorry when he lost his abilities…”
One corner of Beldana’s mouth rose significantly.
“He said he was happy that he came back to life. Even in the midst of all that chaos. But to think I’d encounter that connection like this. I see. This too is Lord Molech’s blessing when you think about it.”
“Yes. Lord Molech is omnipotent and loves us, his believers. It seems he has sent his lamb to this land so we can enter a greater web of connections.”
“Indeed so. Considering that our savior, the Tower Lord, also has deep connections with the Mountain God… connections are truly frightening. To think everything is connected like this. This is truly guidance filled with Lord Molech’s grace.”
Her smile deepened even more.
But,
somehow it didn’t look welcoming.
“The appearance of a new savior following the previous savior…”
Rather, it was close to hostility.
“I should go meet him. How far have they come?”
Beldana finished her long prayer and slowly got up, dusting herself off.
* * *
Lee Hyeon passed through the desert city with his companions.
“The weather… is hot.”
Manager Kang Yun-su of X Team wrapped his turban covering his face even larger.
Perhaps because they had already fought one major battle?
Even for him as a Ranker to handle, the sunlight beating down on this city was extremely harsh.
Naturally, the Hunters with less power than him had to struggle even more.
“The city has plenty of shade, so it should be fine.”
“First, I’d love to drink some cool water to my heart’s content. We’ve already run out of the water we brought. But anyway….”
Manager Kang Yun-su trailed off as he looked around the interior of the city.
A plaza paved with old stone.
Market streets surrounded by red marble columns beside it.
Even the densely packed stone buildings that were two stories or higher.
In many ways, it gave the feeling of a prosperous city.
But there were no signs of people at all.
Even the dungeon NPCs, no, the who would normally be wandering around in this kind of city.
It was a strange sight, as if all the many people had suddenly evaporated at once.
The atmosphere was so eerie it was more than just gloomy—it was chilling.
However,
what Manager Kang Yun-su was concerned about wasn’t the city’s atmosphere.
“If they’re all just going to hide and watch us, why are they staring at us?”
“Actually, when you think about it, they and we are enemies. They’re probably afraid we might cause them some harm.”
At Lee Hyeon’s answer, Manager Kang Yun-su lifted his chin high and snorted.
“They think they have what it takes to clash with us. What can those who even the Sima Society couldn’t handle do.”
Lee Hyeon responded with a subtle smile instead of words.
Massive legitimate forces like White Burn could never understand those people.
They were closer to despising those who lived by committing crimes in the shadows.
‘So those people can never lower their guard against those in the legitimate world.’
As this tense atmosphere flowed,
“Colonel!!”
“Captain Aesion…! Candel, Sara, Jayden too! I’m glad you’re all safe!”
Soon they were able to meet a group that welcomed the party warmly.
People who all looked tired and shabby, but whose eyes shone brightly.
Michael Shepherd and the ASTRA members all embraced them and patted their shoulders.
It was Team Desert Eagle.
A reunion after a month with comrades they thought were dead.
“Yes. Thanks to you, we were fortunately able to stay safe like this.”
“You’ve been through a lot. Now if you have any worries, you can hold on tight.”
Lee Hyeon gestured to Kim Min-jeong to share some of the team rations they had set aside.
All high-calorie foods.
He thought they might be needed, and it seemed the situation had been worse than expected.
All the survivors’ faces were gaunt.
“All of this….”
“We also had our circumstances, so we couldn’t bring much. For now, please satisfy your hunger with this.”
“It’s chocolate!”
“Ah…! Oh God. Thank you for hearing our prayers.”
Desert Eagle quickly opened their hearts to White Burn as well.
Captain Aesion carefully asked Michael.
“Colonel, by any chance are these people…?”
“Oh my. Look at my mind. I’m late with introductions. This is Jet and the Hunters from White Burn.”
“Blue Thunder!”
Captain Aesion grabbed Lee Hyeon’s hand tightly with a brightened face.
“I heard the story roughly from the Colonel. White Burn must have been completely overwhelmed after suddenly crash-landing in the middle of the desert…. Thank you so much for coming to help us like this.”
Captain Aesion’s eyes looking at Lee Hyeon were burning so intensely it felt burdensome.
Should I say it was like the eyes of a fan meeting their idol?
Lee Hyeon unconsciously flinched slightly, but soon smiled and shook his head.
“Isn’t the Korea-US relationship always a solid alliance? We just did what’s natural between friends. Please don’t mind it.”
“Ah!”
Captain Aesion’s eyes became dazed (?) once again.
“He’s a friend with really wonderful values, right?”
Nod nod!
At Michael’s question thrown with a proud smile, Captain Aesion nodded his head frantically like someone possessed.
“Ah! We shouldn’t be doing this here, let’s go to the base camp we’ve set up first. You must have been frantic fighting battles, so shouldn’t you catch your breath?”
“Yes. If you also have drinking water, we’d appreciate it. There are people showing signs of exhaustion.”
“Haha. What wouldn’t we give for Jet and his friends?”
Lee Hyeon’s party was able to safely enter the desert city like that.
[You have completed the first achievement condition!]
* * *
The base camp wasn’t particularly uncomfortable.
What the city was full of were empty houses.
Since most houses had beds, tableware, and household items left intact, they just had to find a suitable place and unpack.
Of course, since they couldn’t be too far apart, accommodations were assigned by dividing areas by team.
And….
That evening.
“So when do you plan to leave the dungeon?”
Lee Hyeon, Manager Kang Yun-su, Michael, and Captain Aesion all gathered at the central accommodation to discuss future plans.
No one had come from Babel Tower or the 13th Legion, though they naturally expected them to come.
But Captain Aesion didn’t care about that fact at all and became completely excited.
The expectation that they could quickly escape this tiresome dungeon now that a rescue team had appeared.
However,
“….”
“….”
“….”
“…Is there some problem by any chance?”
The three people including Lee Hyeon made eye contact for a moment and didn’t give any answer.
Instantly, Captain Aesion’s pupils shook slightly.
“That’s right. Actually, there’s one small problem.”
“What… is it?”
“That is,”
“The gate leading outside has been damaged.”
Michael was about to say something, but Lee Hyeon answered first, cutting straight to the point.
“Jet!”
“Since it’s a fact he’ll learn anyway, it’s much better to explain it cleanly rather than beating around the bush.”
Captain Aesion’s eyes widened.
“Then, that means there’s no way to escape the dungeon unless we clear the mission!”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“How…!”
Captain Aesion almost screamed without realizing it.
Actually, even without the Sima Society, this dungeon was hell where everything boasted extreme environments.
As expected of a temple containing myths.
The mystery of this long-term unsolved dungeon that hadn’t been solved for decades was still shrouded in mystery.
However,
“That’s why we came. To completely clear the dungeon.”
“…!?”
“So, we need the help of Desert Eagle, who are veterans of this dungeon.”
Captain Aesion couldn’t give an answer that it was impossible.
The moment he met Lee Hyeon’s eyes,
Gulp!
He found himself swallowing dry saliva without realizing it.
Those eyes.
Looking at those eyes that somehow seemed to shimmer with both golden and blue light, he found himself feeling entranced again without knowing it.
“What can we… help you with?”
“First, please gather the leaders of each survivor group in this city in one place.”
One corner of Lee Hyeon’s mouth curled up forcefully.
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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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