Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 277

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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 277

Tiamat’s Nest (2)

Somewhere in the depths of the Underground Cult.

Many cardinals had gathered in one place.

Though each of them was a leader governing major archdioceses and held the highest positions within the cult,

today they strangely couldn’t maintain their usual composure and seemed urgently busy discussing something.

“To think such an intense stigmata would be discovered…”

“South Africa, South Africa! It was in a place we never thought to look.”

“Isn’t this the first time we’ve found stigmata with such strong identity since the Mountain God?”

“Strictly speaking, it’s not the first. But it’s true that stigmata collection has been slow recently.”

“Do you know why I like this stigmata? Because it connects to Great Sage Equal to Heaven!”

“How tempting. If not for Tiamat’s interference, I’d want to mobilize everything and retrieve it immediately.”

“The Mountain God is practically beyond our reach, but this one we can definitely recover…”

There was exactly one reason they were so excited.

Because an item that the Underground God would favor had been discovered.

A guide that could help the Underground God dwelling in Purgatory return to the Shores of the Outer Sea was right before their eyes…

“We’ve already sent Malakios Cardinal and the Deep Temple Corps, so let’s wait for results. Nothing has come through yet?”

“First, Archbishop Lucius Valerian needs to open his eyes.”

The cardinals’ gazes converged on one side.

Archbishop Lucius Valerian, who oversaw and controlled the administration and rituals of the cardinal council.

He possessed the All-seeing Eye, blessed by the Underground God to see into distant places.

Just then,

Flash!

The Archbishop opened his eyes.

Though he had terrible eyes filled only with whites and no black pupils, he stared into space as if looking at something somewhere.

“Archbishop!”

“Did you see something?”

“An unbeliever! An unbeliever seeks to defy the Mother God’s will!”

The excited gleam in the cardinals’ eyes changed.

“An unbeliever? Are you saying someone blocked Malakios Cardinal’s path?”

“Malakios could not return to the Mother God’s embrace! Poor soul…! To find no peace even after such difficult martyrdom…!”

“…!?”

“How can this be!!”

The cardinals’ faces turned pale as they began looking at each other.

Returning to the Underground God was a phenomenon of death that the cult’s believers naturally accepted.

Only by proving their faith in the Underground God and becoming part of Him could they be completely liberated from this world that would someday face its end and enjoy the bliss of eternal life.

Cardinals were the pinnacle leading such believers.

As such, they were promised to occupy a greater portion of the Underground God upon death…

Those words meant he couldn’t enjoy such blessings and even his soul faced annihilation.

For the other cardinals, this was a terrifying situation.

Several quickly exchanged glances.

Normally at times like this, other cardinals should step forward to replace Malakios, but now it felt frightening instead.

“But do not worry, everyone! The Mother God harbors deep anger at the fact that Her child met a lonely death in a desolate place!”

The Archbishop trembled like an epileptic patient and shouted with spittle flying.

“Therefore, the prophets who guard His side said just moments ago that they would personally step forward!!”

“Ooh…!”

“The prophets?”

“Spreading the gospel while wandering Nine Heavens must already be exhausting work, yet they’re willing to descend directly to the surface…”

“So foolish believers, do not worry and pray for Him. Comfort them so no other sheep suffer harm.”

At the Archbishop’s words, one cardinal nodded gravely.

“I’ll immediately contact the temple corps to prepare so the prophets can comfortably collect the stigmata.”

Whoosh!

After the cardinal who spoke disappeared with his steps,

The Archbishop stopped trembling and sat back in his chair. Black tears of blood flowed from his tightly closed eyes.

Aftereffects from reaching the Abyss and returning.

His soul was no longer in his body.

But the cardinals no longer paid attention to the Archbishop’s cooling corpse.

Discussing future plans was more urgent.

Though this made them seem more like a crazed fanatic group, they had no awareness of it whatsoever.

* * *

[You have entered the dungeon through an abnormal passage!]

[Dungeon ‘Primordial Dragon Tiamat’s Nest’]

[You have entered the nest of an ancient dragon said to have caused tremendous floods and tsunamis in the world.]

[That ancient dragon resembles the Primordial Sea where countless lives were conceived and perished, still repeatedly birthing and devouring numerous children.]

[From now on, meet the ancient dragon, make one wish to her, and fulfill that wish.]

[However, wishes not acknowledged by the ancient dragon do not count.]

[Upon success: Blessing of Dragon Blood.]

[Upon failure: Curse of Dragon Blood.]

This place boasted characteristics opposite to the Temple of Bel dungeon Lee Hyeon had previously visited.

It was damp and humid.

[The entrance to this dungeon is currently sealed. Entry proceeded with guidance from 【Character】.]

[Dungeon missions may not apply properly. Please be careful with mission progress.]

[Alternative routes have been closed by the system.]

[You are currently trapped in the dungeon.]

That was probably because this place resembled an endless sea environment.

But it wasn’t the blue sea one would commonly imagine.

It was entirely pitch black, and the surface was made of viscous fluid like a swampland.

Splash!

The moment they stood on it, they didn’t sink completely into the water but could stand on it to some degree.

“My feet are sinking too deep?”

“It’s so hard to keep balance… Waaaaah!”

“Idiot! Don’t flail around so much! Grab my hand first!”

While Kim Min-jeong helped the large Eom Gi-seon who was swaying helplessly,

Oh Su-heon looked at the horizon and unconsciously let out a hollow laugh.

“Really… this is no joke.”

The black sea boasted calm waves with barely any swells. But the surface was definitely not calm.

Creatures like the dragon blood worms they’d encountered when first climbing the Drakensberg Mountains moved in groups, but their size was at least ten times larger than what they’d seen outside.

Higher in the sky, giant birds of unimaginable size flew densely,

And at the distant horizon, other plesiosaurs or snake-like creatures with long bodies leaped above the surface before sinking back down.

The islands jutting out spikily in the distance also seemed to boast their own unique environments.

[The narrative of 【Sahŭn】 briefly awakens from sleep and surveys the surroundings. It is greatly surprised by the many similar beings of its kind.]

So many types of dragons that even Sahŭn, who usually showed little interest in external affairs, was surprised.

Though they all corresponded to lower dragon species that would be difficult to call dragons equivalent to Logos,

it was still a sight that couldn’t help but seem mystical to the observer.

[The narrative of 【Snow Queen】 says this place feels strangely warm.]

[The narrative of 【Snow Queen】 tilts its head, saying it doesn’t know the reason.]

Moreover, even the wary Snow Queen was completely relaxed here.

“This place doesn’t only contain dragons and magical beasts born from Lady Tiamat. Whether born from her or not, any existence that reveres her as ‘mother’ can stay here.”

At Yukimihiro’s words, Lee Hyeon suddenly felt his chest grow heavy without knowing why.

Mother.

He recalled the image of mothers waiting for their children at the school gate on the way home, back when he attended school with Moon Su-chan.

Moon Su-chan would always quietly watch the backs of friends running toward the gate.

“All kinds of demons must gather here then.”

“Precisely, this place is full of non-humans including demons. Non-humans who lost their narratives, non-humans who lost their dungeon homes, non-humans who lost their way… All wandering non-humans naturally gather here.”

Yukimihiro nodded heavily and continued.

“Like salmon returning to their hometown. All non-humans have a homing instinct.”

“So that’s why this place is called the Illusory Realm.”

“You heard that too? It seems you met the Bull Demon King.”

“Yes. I also heard from him that Su-chan hyung is here.”

Yukimihiro let out a deep sigh.

“I asked him so earnestly to keep this place secret…”

“I kept pressing him about it.”

“Is he someone who would give in just because you pressed him?”

Yukimihiro smiled bitterly.

He was already sensing the Bull Demon King’s temperament in Lee Hyeon.

And the same in Kim Min-jeong as well.

“Rather than that, please tell me now without beating around the bush. How did hyung end up drifting here? Is it simply because he’s a non-human?”

Yukimihiro glanced back.

Oh Su-heon, Kim Min-jeong, and Eom Gi-seon were looking this way.

All three had tense expressions.

And for good reason – this place was full of too many mobs from the entrance, and the ground was too difficult to move on.

Most importantly,

[Combat Sense (SS) reacts sensitively to the intense demonic power mixed in the air.]

[Warning! The possibility of mental contamination is too high. It is recommended not to stay long.]

[Warning! Be careful not to let your soul’s karma be infected by demonic narratives. If infection occurs, you may transform into a demon.]

[Warning! This place has…]

…

Warning and alert messages filling his retina.

Though he had challenged countless long-term unsolved dungeons, this was the first time seeing so many messages.

Probably because this was an unofficial bypass entry rather than formal entry,

and with all kinds of monsters and magical beasts, even lesser gods like Rabu living here, the environment had to be very different from the outside.

‘Moreover, originally a main god-level Magic Dragon that would dominate an entire society is entrenched here. Everyone must be burdened by the spiritual pressure.’

Unlike Lee Hyeon, who had already become somewhat accustomed to the spiritual pressure of Logos through encounters with various gods,

for the other party members, simply breathing here required tremendous effort.

Should I say it was similar to an ordinary person getting altitude sickness after climbing to high altitude?

It wouldn’t be easy to adapt.

But once they became proficient here, it would become the foundation for tremendous growth.

Lee Hyeon just pretended not to notice and moved on.

「Kekeke! As expected of our Chosen One. At times like this, you really seem similar to senior brother.」

He ignored Sha Wujing’s words too.

“It’s fine for my companions to hear the truth. I’ve already told them whose apostle I am.”

It would be strange to talk about Moon Su-chan’s resurrection without mentioning the parts related to Son Wukong.

So Lee Hyeon had told his companions, focusing on the Golden Eyes of Truth.

At first, everyone was greatly shocked to learn that the reason Lee Hyeon had been out of contact for the past 4 years was actually to fulfill the karma left by Moon Su-chan,

but now everyone understood and was faithfully helping Lee Hyeon.

“But…”

“If you’re still suspicious, would you be convinced if I said they are like my Four Monkeys?”

“…Then I have nothing to say. Let’s talk while moving.”

Yukimihiro took the lead and started running.

Lee Hyeon’s party followed behind.

Whoooosh-

“First, I’ll tell you in advance so you and your Four Monkeys don’t misunderstand, but Su-chan originally wanted to return to you all. But I was the one who stopped him.”

Suddenly, Lee Hyeon’s chest lurched greatly.

[The lingering thoughts of the ‘Bloodflower Serpent’ quietly listen to Yukimihiro’s conversation.]

“Why did you do that?”

“Because it would be dangerous for him to wander the outside world in his current state.”

“…?”

“This Illusory Realm is a hellish environment difficult for humans like you to live in. Then what would the real world be like for a demon?”

“…!!”

Lee Hyeon’s chest churned once again.

Then a long explanation followed…

Lee Hyeon and his party had arrived at a place before they knew it.

Running on the squishy sea surface wasn’t easy, but after some time passed, it became somewhat manageable.

An island with a refreshing feeling, unlike the damp external environment.

There was a half-human, half-snake being whose body was half-covered in scales, with something like a snake tail extending from near the tailbone.

Dressed like a farmer, holding a pickaxe and busily tilling a field.

Thump thump thump…!

Lee Hyeon’s heart began pounding like crazy.

Though in the form of a half-demon, there was no mistaking who it was.

A face he had been with for 20 years.

A face he had always wanted to see.

The original owner of the Golden Eyes of Truth.

He had his back turned but belatedly sensed the presence from this direction and turned his head.

“Mihiro? When did you come… L-Lee Hyeon?”

The half-demon, Moon Su-chan, discovered Lee Hyeon a beat late and opened his eyes wide.

Lee Hyeon ran toward him.

Suddenly, Moon Su-chan’s eyes reddened.

“Is it really you? Why are you here… Ugh!!”

Moon Su-chan was about to welcome Lee Hyeon with open arms, but suddenly got punched(?) and rolled on the ground like a fallen leaf.

Rolling, rolling, rolling…

“Why am I here? That’s what I should be asking, you bastard!!”

Lee Hyeon burst out in anger.

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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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