Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 240

—————
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 240

Sata Wang (3)

Several hours before the operation officially commenced.

The person who presented the main framework of Operation ‘Desert Storm’ was none other than Lee Hyeon.

Since there were too many parts that had to rely on Lee Hyeon’s capabilities, many voices of concern arose even during the strategy meeting,

but the operation was pushed through with the active support of Zhu Bajie (Kairav), who was currently serving as the overall commander of the UN multinational forces.

His bold move of taking responsibility if this matter went wrong had worked.

However…

“You have something you want to ask of me separately?”

What Lee Hyeon presented at the strategy meeting was merely a surface disguise.

The ‘real’ important content was actually something else entirely.

Lee Hyeon entrusted that to Manager Kang Yun-su and X Team.

“…You want us to activate all the long-term unsolved dungeons in the Temple of Bel. Are you in your right mind right now…!”

Manager Kang Yun-su looked at Lee Hyeon with a horrified expression after hearing the content,

but the moment he saw those firm eyes, he let out a groaning sound and gave in.

“…You were serious. Explain in detail. Why on earth do we need to do such a crazy thing?”

“Because we don’t know how Sama Society will make their move.”

“You want to set a trap with greater danger because they’re dangerous? Does that even make sense!”

“Sama Society are those who have been researching the Immortal Project for a long time. We don’t know what methods they’ve used on their own forces.”

“…You think their awakened abilities are far superior to other awakeners?”

“Haven’t we already seen what kind of activities Sama Society has been conducting on the Middle East Front? They’re the ones who pushed back not only Babel Tower but even the 13th Legion with just their second-tier forces.”

“…”

“If they bring out their hidden forces, we can’t know what will happen. Especially since among the documents I obtained, there was content about their military strength.”

“Just how impressive is the level of those you’ve assessed…?”

“They injected demon essence extracted from U.C.O.”

“They’re insane…”

U.C.O. was supposedly a Logos. If that energy was absorbed without proper refinement, there was no telling what side effects might occur.

“The forces I’ve already assessed are at a level where one person can easily handle 4-5 Hunters. Moreover, they have excellent wound regeneration and exceptionally high stamina.”

Manager Kang Yun-su finally realized the severity of the situation and hardened his expression.

“If they’re deployed to the battlefield…”

“Yes. Our casualties will be enormous. No matter how elite Z Team and X Team are within White Burn.”

“We can’t expect other UN forces to be at our level. That’s true as well.”

While Manager Kang Yun-su was surprised by the power of Sama Society’s legion, he absolutely refused to bend on one fact.

That the X Team he led would never be inferior even when compared to Sama Society’s elite.

This was both pride in his team and a coldly assessed reality.

They were that strong.

“Yes. Moreover, there’s also the limitation that we don’t know how the organization called Dark Side of the Moon might interfere.”

“You think they’ve planted spies within our ranks?”

“Strictly speaking, yes, that’s correct.”

“Good. Then exactly how should we proceed?”

Manager Kang Yun-su nodded heavily.

On one hand, he felt a strange emotion knowing that Lee Hyeon trusted him so firmly.

“Please move secretly to the Temple of Bel as soon as dawn breaks. And…”

Even while hearing operation details that could potentially put his team in crisis, Manager Kang Yun-su showed no signs of wavering.

The trust built up through his experiences with Lee Hyeon was as solid as an iron fortress.

* * *

Messages continuously scrolled up along Lee Hyeon’s retina.

Ding!

Ding!

[You have fallen into the Great Rift!]

[You are currently in a dungeon where ‘Agriboll’s Moonlight Garden’ and ‘Malakbel’s Occupied Territory’ have merged.]

[As two dungeon missions collide, an automatic process occurs.]

[Please wait until the process is complete.]

…

[The level of the who entered is exceptional, making the adaptation difficulty much higher.]

[The possess histories that differ greatly from this dungeon’s mission.]

[The Great Rift deepens further.]

…

‘Perfect!!’

Lee Hyeon clenched his fist as he looked at the dungeon filled with massive Distortion Zones.

The Great Rift.

Based on an idea inspired by the deep sea rift he encountered in Guam, Lee Hyeon came to think, ‘What if we activate all the long-term unsolved dungeons in the Temple of Bel at once?’

‘I only told Manager Kang about the dangers of Sama Society and Dark Side of the Moon… but in reality, I also needed a place to confine 【Heavenly Doctrine】.’

As expected, Dark Side of the Moon didn’t just send Sama Society. They even committed the insane act of deploying Russia’s Oleg Perunov.

So when Lee Hyeon manipulated the Great Rift, he added very meticulous calculations.

He intended to fragment all their forces and attempt to defeat them individually.

Oleg and other Dark Side of the Moon reinforcements were grouped together with the Three Heavens,

Sama Society’s forces were confined in the fire network established by Z Team and multinational forces as another group,

And U.C.O. along with Bull Demon King and 【Heavenly Doctrine】 formed yet another group…

Below that, even more detailed branches divided, and some enemies were dropped into rifts that would collapse soon,

but they could be largely divided into three branches.

There was the intention to keep the war between Bull Demon King and 【Heavenly Doctrine】 away from others’ attention,

but there was also the purpose of minimizing damage by confining it within the Great Rift.

And…

Lee Hyeon was naturally in the last group together with U.C.O.

[Bull Demon King and Jade Emperor clash!]

[【Heavenly Doctrine】’s soldiers scatter and begin targeting Oma King!]

Rumble rumble rumble…!!

Lee Hyeon could see it too.

Bull Demon King, with his tremendous size of several meters, roughly swinging down Pangu.

The one standing before him was far too small compared to Bull Demon King’s size, and with dozens of legs hanging down, even his face was hard to recognize,

but his presence was absolutely not inferior to Bull Demon King’s.

No, considering only rank, he was so tremendous that even Bull Demon King would have to look far down.

These beings made Lee Hyeon’s existence seem like nothing more than a tiny firefly.

‘That one is… Jade Emperor!!’

Lee Hyeon felt something similar to Seo Chang-woo from Jade Emperor.

Arrogant and cold eyes.

It seemed to remind him of the time long ago when he encountered that powerful voice.

Just then,

‘…!!’

Startled!

The Jade Emperor, who had been clasping his hands behind his back, seemed to glance this way for a moment.

Eyes visible through the gaps between his fluttering feet.

In those seemingly emotionless eyes, there was briefly hostility toward Lee Hyeon who had caused this situation, and also,

‘…goodwill?’

He was showing contradictory emotions.

It was a bewildering situation for Lee Hyeon as well.

But the Jade Emperor soon withdrew his interest in Lee Hyeon and was absorbed in the fierce battle with the Bull Demon King.

However, he did not unclasp his hands from behind his back.

Before that, two other heavenly generals leaped in, blocking Pangu with sword and staff respectively.

[General Irang seeks to protect the Jade Emperor!]

[Leijinzi raises fierce storms and winds to oppose the Bull Demon King!]

The two heavenly generals each had distinctive appearances.

General Irang rode atop a giant wolf called Xiaotian Quan while pursuing the Bull Demon King, and Leijinzi spread wide his wings with talismans marked ‘Wind’ and ‘Thunder’ respectively, aiming for the Bull Demon King’s openings.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!

Ku-ku-kung-

Kwa-rr-rung! Kwa-rr-rr-rung!!

Even the activities of top rankers called demigods had seemed too grand to Lee Hyeon.

The collision of those truly called ‘gods’ was like watching natural disasters that could change the world.

Especially as various heavenly generals who had crashed to the surface regained consciousness and belatedly joined the battle against the Bull Demon King.

Even surrounded by dozens and hundreds of gods, the Bull Demon King displayed tremendous majesty, never being pushed back.

Ku-ku-ku-ku-ku-

But the Jade Emperor still stood in that same spot with his hands clasped behind his back.

The gap simply could not be narrowed. The Jade Emperor remained arrogant.

‘I need to quickly call the Great Sage over here…!’

Lee Hyeon gritted his teeth and focused all his attention on Yarhibol’s ember.

At that moment,

Click!!

A sound like something engaging.

Yarhibol’s ember stopped rotating.

‘Got it!’

Lee Hyeon’s eyes blazed with fire.

[…You have succeeded in completely securing control.]

[You can now freely control Sata King from now on.]

The message he had so desperately wanted.

Lee Hyeon could momentarily taste the feeling of his senses expanding infinitely.

He could feel all of U.C.O.’s internal sensations.

His thoughts, his reasoning, his consciousness too.

-Big brother….

Sata Wang seemed to be dreaming.

He kept repeating the same words over and over.

-I’m sorry. For making you carry such a heavy burden alone….

It was guilt toward the Bull Demon King.

The past events where Son Wukong and his companions had to mistakenly think the Bull Demon King had betrayed them.

It was also a memory Lee Hyeon had glimpsed when he briefly became the Bull Demon King’s Chosen One.

-Youngest Brother, I’m sorry. Sister, I apologize. Brothers… please forgive this worthless me.

When Sata Wang’s thoughts began to spiral,

[‘Sacred Relic: Noeancheongjeong’ summons Sata King’s final memories!]

Sata Wang’s past memories flashed before Lee Hyeon’s eyes.

Whoooosh!!

* * *

The Research Institute prepared underground in Dungeon 【Ancient Desert City】.

That place, which Lee Hyeon had already stepped foot in once before, had already become ruins due to the Bull Demon King’s sudden invasion.

As it was eroded by the Bull Demon’s Great Killing, all living beings in the Research Institute writhed in curses before perishing.

And,

The Bull Demon King was lowering the restrained Sata Wang to the ground in the underground center.

-Heh. Heh heh….

-Are you regaining consciousness, Fourth Brother? Answer me! Fourth Brother! Fourth Brother!!

The Bull Demon King awakened Sata Wang with a face stained with anger and sorrow.

-Big… brother. You’re alive… Thank goodness…!

-Yes! It’s me! Your big brother! Now I’ve come to rescue you, so let’s go outside together! If we go to Gehenna, you can be healed too!

The Bull Demon King desperately tried to revive Sata Wang.

In fact, among the seven sworn brothers, the one who caught the Bull Demon King’s eye the most was precisely Sata Wang.

Among the brothers, he had followed him around the most. Sometimes to an annoying degree.

But Sata Wang really liked the Bull Demon King.

There was no particular reason.

He just liked him?

So the Bull Demon King also always kept him close and treated him specially like a real brother.

That guy was dying with difficulty. The Bull Demon King could never forgive the humans who had done this.

However,

-Please… leave me behind. No, please use me… If you use me as bait… isn’t there a way to drag out the Jade Emperor too?

-What are you saying right now…!

-I’m already too late.

-…!!

-My rank has completely… collapsed. Even if I follow big brother… from here, I’ll only be a hindrance. If that’s the case… rather…!

-No! Don’t say useless things! I will somehow save you…!

-Rather, as a stepping stone… for big brother and… the brothers…!

U.C.O.

Sata Wang’s wretched appearance wandering around in a dream-like state above this land was actually his wish.

-Please… use me. Smash that bastard… Jade Emperor. Please.

-…!!!

The Bull Demon King could not go against Sata Wang’s will.

In the end, shedding tears of blood, he grasped the leash and began preparing a stepping stone to lure in the Jade Emperor.

Time flowed rapidly after that.

[Thoughts are fast-forwarding.]

Lee Hyeon met with the Bull Demon King and formed a Chosen One contract, and Son Wukong’s party finally encountered Sata Wang.

Above the vast desert.

Son Wukong set out to subdue Sata Wang, but realized that fighting like this would only cause greater collateral damage to the surrounding area.

-This won’t work. At this rate, we’ll only cause harm to the Lower Realm. I’m changing the approach.

-What will you do?

-The problem is ultimately the demonic nature that big brother planted in Isan, right? Like with Bokhe, we’ll enter the Imaginary World. Let’s sever the demonic nature.

-No! It’s different from my case! Even when my mind was wavering, I still had some reason left, but Isan doesn’t! If we get swept up in a sleepwalking state’s Imaginary World, we could all be in danger too!

-That’s right! It’s too dangerous!!

Though Jiaoma Wang and Roc King tried to dissuade him, Son Wukong absolutely would not change his mind.

Sha Wujing also agreed with this.

-Kekeke! If senior brother has already made up his mind like that, there’s nothing we can do to persuade him! Then let’s hurry! Before it gets any later!

In the end, Son Wukong and his companions all leaped into U.C.O.’s Imaginary World and focused on controlling Sata Wang.

In that process,

Son Wukong learned everything about the circumstances surrounding the Bull Demon King and Sata Wang.

-What a pathetic big brother… He could have just talked it out, but he kept carrying that guilt…

And now.

[Playback complete.]

[Time perception has returned to reality.]

Lee Hyeon returned to reality and bit his lips tightly.

Sata Wang was now in a completely stopped state.

Then it was time to pull Son Wukong and his party out.

[Leash has been reactivated.]

[Will you rescue the Seven Great Sages trapped in the Imaginary World?]

Just as Lee Hyeon was about to select ‘Yes’.

“I heard you became a disciple rather than an apostle of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven… You’ve grown quite a bit in that time. Even knowing how to trouble us.”

[Nezha looks down upon you.]

“…!?”

Lee Hyeon urgently raised his head.

Above in the sky.

A man stood there with more splendid armament than any ceiling.

Nezha, who was said to be the Jade Emperor’s proud right hand and Son Wukong’s old friend.

He wrapped the Wind Fire Wheels on his feet while readjusting his grip on the twin swords in both hands, the Yin-Yang swords.

“First, I need to deal with you or nothing will be resolved. Sorry, but you’ll have to die here.”

“…!!”

Whoosh-

Nezha became a flash of lightning and slashed at Lee Hyeon’s neck. Lee Hyeon hastily unleashed lightning, but the Yin-Yang swords’ speed was much faster.

Just when it seemed the flash would sever Lee Hyeon’s neck, a hand burst through space in front of Lee Hyeon and grabbed the Yin-Yang sword.

Hair that had been barely cut fluttered down. Lee Hyeon smiled awkwardly while grumbling.

“You’re too late, aren’t you? Now that you’re a master, couldn’t you come out faster to save your disciple?”

“Still, even in a situation like this, that mouth of yours never changes.”

At the same time, a face revealed itself cutting through the void.

A mischievous smile. Brilliant white hair. Great Sage Equal to Heaven Son Wukong, with his golden eyes raised, faced his old friend directly while scolding his disciple.

“Still, you worked hard. From now on, I’ll show you this master’s magnificent form.”

Son Wukong charged straight forward.

Rummmmmble…!!

[Great Sage Equal to Heaven Son Wukong reveals his majesty!]

[The Seven Great Sages and Three Law Kings all release their restraints!]

Following behind, Jiaoma Wang, Roc King, and Sha Wujing appeared and began to repel the forces of 【Heavenly Doctrine】.

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