Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 279

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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 279

Tiamat’s Nest (4)

At the moment when Oh Su-heon and Kim Min-jeong had deliberately stepped aside so the Lee Hyeon brothers could have a comfortable conversation.

“How did they manage to decorate this place with an interior like a South Korean apartment?”

“This chicken is still delicious, isn’t it, Senior Oh?”

The two were sitting side by side on the sofa, gnawing on chicken legs while busily looking around the living room.

Oh Su-heon was pondering how to decorate a child’s room, while Kim Min-jeong was thinking it would be nice if the house where her boyfriend frequently visited was a bit prettier.

Next to both of them were containers filled with fried chicken.

A dish that Moon Su-chan had prepared for his friends who had visited after a long time.

“But this guy’s chicken is still delicious. It would be perfect with a beer to go with it.”

“Should I go out and buy some later?”

“Huh? Weren’t we trapped in the dungeon?”

“Of course we’re trapped.”

“…?”

“I was just saying it as small talk. Why are you taking it so seriously?”

“…Somehow, you seem to be getting a bit strange in personality lately.”

Oh Su-heon and Kim Min-jeong exchanged pointless conversation while almost finishing an entire chicken.

Thanks to this, various memories came flooding back.

“Where did he get that from? It’s completely filled with things we used to use, isn’t it?”

“Senior Moon was originally the most sentimental one.”

“That’s right. He cried the most after missions ended, didn’t he?”

“Pfft. That’s right.”

“Anyway, really Moon Su-chan, he’s exactly the same. The same. Even after 50 years pass, that guy will be exactly the same like a frozen person, really….”

Originally, history department classmates and military unit colleagues would always gather at Moon Su-chan’s house after completing major training.

He liked cooking and enjoyed lively gatherings, so he always took care of his surrounding colleagues.

Then somehow his house would become like a hideout.

His roommate Lee Hyeon would always grumble about being annoyed to death, but when he came to his senses, he was the one who played around the most wildly.

So,

“….”

“….”

Oh Su-heon and Kim Min-jeong could immerse themselves in various memories for quite a while.

The immature university days, the passionate Blue Thunder days, and even the final moments when it was disbanded along with Moon Su-chan’s death.

Oh Su-heon found Moon Su-chan, who seemed similar to before but had changed too much in appearance, somewhat unfamiliar,

but now he knew.

Moon Su-chan was Moon Su-chan.

“Let’s take him with us, somehow.”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

Kim Min-jeong nodded at Oh Su-heon’s words.

There were too many people who missed Moon Su-chan.

Everyone would probably be happy.

Just then,

Paaaat!

Suddenly, an eerie aura was felt from the entrance area.

The place where the Lee Hyeon brothers were.

“…What’s that?”

“Let’s go check it out first.”

The two hurriedly ran toward that direction, leaving the unfinished chicken container on the floor.

* * *

Usually, the living in dungeons think that the world they live in is everything.

They have no awareness at all that they live in an incomplete world.

However,

the 【Nest】 couldn’t be thought of on the same level as existing dungeons.

―The world’s only Logos dungeon.

Was it because this was the dungeon where Rabu, who had driven the world to the brink of destruction, resided?

Until he first heard that they had to enter the 【Nest】, Lee Hyeon was told by his companions that he must be crazy.

He could only think of how dangerous it would be.

But not now.

This place

was already a complete in itself.

-The non-humans gathered in the Illusory Realm are each assigned one ‘island’ to stay on.

-And the owners of the islands can decorate their islands with whatever environment they desire.

-If recovery is needed, an environment necessary for recovery; if training is needed, a training ground; parents who need to raise offspring can build another nest.

Yukimihiro’s explanation was also like that.

Lee Hyeon’s group was amazed that the islands they encountered while moving to Moon Su-chan’s island each had different sizes, environments, and characteristics.

Desert, riverside, jungle, swampland… There were even cases where the island itself was a non-human.

However,

what was more surprising was that all the island owners were smiling.

And they greeted Lee Hyeon’s group warmly even though they were unfamiliar faces.

-They never guard against outsiders. They know well that they won’t harm them.

-Or they have faith that the owner of this 【Nest】 will protect them.

-That’s why all the residents here call the owner of the 【Nest】 ‘mother’.

-Because like a real ‘mother’, she embraces, cares for, and protects them all.

-Her gaze is always filled throughout this place.

An image completely different from the 【Nest】’s image known to the real world.

So Illusory Realm,

perhaps it’s called by the name of a paradise that seems to exist only in fantasy.

Anyway,

after seeing this kind of 【Nest】, Lee Hyeon felt much more at ease.

In a place like this, Moon Su-chan’s recovery would likely speed up.

Perhaps his capabilities from 4 years ago might return.

But….

‘In some ways, he seems to have become even sharper?’

Where Lee Hyeon’s gaze reached.

Beyond the collapsed entrance, the Bloodflower Serpent was raising its tremendously large body.

Kukukukuku…!!

[‘Sacred Relic: Neuan Cheongjeong’ wants to observe the thought-form of the ‘Bloodflower Serpent’ as a target!]

[Gingoa rotates to speculate on the process of how the ‘Bloodflower Serpent’s’ thought-form escaped the Vajra Bracelet.]

The Bloodflower Serpent was definitely much smaller in size and less intimidating compared to when they had encountered it in the Imaginary World.

But its body was still large enough to coil around the entire island.

Its crimson glowing eyes were now fixed on Moon Su-chan, who stood tall on the rooftop.

Whoooosh!

Moon Su-chan’s eyes were glowing golden as if they contained the Fiery Eyes.

No, to be precise, they had a golden base but had narrowed into vertical pupils.

Eyes that reminded one of a snake facing a crisis.

「How on earth did you figure it out? I hid it as much as I possibly could.」

[Successfully discovered the process using Neuan Cheongjeong and Gingoa.]

[The thought-form of ‘Bloodflower Serpent’ used ‘Divine Authority: Shedding’ to escape from the Vajra Bracelet.]

In the Vajra Bracelet, what appeared to be shed skin left by the Bloodflower Serpent was still tightly bound and sealed by Yeo-ui Swae.

It had been able to separate its thoughts like a clone and slip only its main body out.

Of course, in that process it had to lose another 40% of its thoughts and magic power, but the creature didn’t seem to care at all.

“Lee Hyeon!”

“Senior, what is this…!”

Oh Su-heon, Kim Min-jeong, and Eom Gi-seon came running urgently, but Lee Hyeon stretched out his hand to stop them.

Moon Su-chan stood tall, glaring at the Bloodflower Serpent with hatred-filled eyes.

Behind him, Yukimihiro landed holding a club.

“What I recalled wasn’t just ‘Moon Su-chan’s’ memories.”

「Hmm?」

“I also have the memories of the Baby Snake who hated you like crazy.”

Moon Su-chan smiled coldly.

「So that’s how it was? A misjudgment I failed to consider. If you’re my child, I completely forgot that you too can ‘shed your skin.’」

From their father-son conversation, Lee Hyeon finally understood why Moon Su-chan had been able to resurrect.

‘Shedding.’

Lee Hyeon’s eyes deepened.

‘If what hyung did back then when he died was instinctive shedding like what the Bloodflower Serpent just did… Yes. That’s how he was resurrected.’

Of course, in that process he suffered aftereffects of losing most of his memories and power, but the most important fact was that he survived.

‘And if in that process he regained the Baby Snake’s memories that had been forgotten long ago… everything makes sense.’

In other words, Moon Su-chan currently had two identities and sets of memories mixed together.

Baby Snake and Moon Su-chan.

That’s why his current form was also half-demon.

Since demons are a type of spirit.

“Thanks to that, I was also able to remember what trash you were.”

Moon Su-chan drew twin daggers from behind his belt and crossed them in an X.

The weapon technique that he, as a guide, had often favored.

“The memory of you watching me just before dying to the Mountain God… I still remember it vividly. That was the first time I felt the fear of death.”

Moon Su-chan clenched his teeth tightly.

The first emotion that the naive Baby Snake, trapped in an egg and not yet properly hatched, had consciously felt was ‘fear.’

Fear of not knowing when he might be devoured by siblings who had awakened first.

Fear of becoming food for resurrection for his father who was in mortal danger.

That fear had awakened the Baby Snake’s self-awareness.

To survive somehow, ‘judgment’ was necessary.

It was ironic.

Should it be considered fortunate though?

The Bloodflower Serpent had originally planned to fake death through shedding, then resurrect with a much smaller body and devour all its dead children.

Especially the last egg hidden in the collapsed ruins was supposed to become very useful nourishment…

But the creature couldn’t completely avoid the Mountain God’s sharp eyes and eventually met complete death,

The Baby Snake was able to finally hatch by desperately devouring the nourishment that flowed from the corpses of its dead siblings and father in the collapsed cave.

-Normally, you too should be taken away before you can bring harm to this world… but your will to live is so pitiful that I can’t bring myself to act carelessly.

-Well, it would be a bit much to hold a life that hasn’t even awakened yet responsible.

-Consider it heavenly fortune that I recently had a child.

-Actually, it’s uncertain whether you’ll awaken or not.

-But remember this, child.

-If you do awaken, you must live virtuously.

-If you bring even the slightest harm to this world, my past whim will come back to you as an even greater divine punishment.

Faintly, very faintly, he remembered receiving such earnest entreaties from the Mountain God.

And that entreaty became the compass that determined the Baby Snake’s fate.

After hatching, the Baby Snake really tried to become ‘good.’

Even when instinct sometimes whispered to devour humans, he tried somehow to refuse. And he succeeded.

The ‘fear’ left by the Mountain God had stimulated his ‘will to live’ and given him a new identity.

And…

The Baby Snake slowly established his self-awareness and identity and became human.

By constantly lingering around human villages, he gradually saw their way of life.

Unlike himself, where fratricide and cannibalism were ‘common sense,’ humans were always harmonious with their families.

He too,

He too began to think he wanted to have such a family.

So he transformed into a human child, and somehow ended up at an orphanage where he met Lee Hyeon.

A child who, despite being much smaller than himself, confidently greeted him.

-Hello? I’m Jang Lee Hyeon. What’s your name?

After that, the Baby Snake forgot all his memories and identity.

This too might be called ‘will to live’ stemming from the ‘fear’ of being discovered as non-human,

but the brotherly love he felt for Lee Hyeon was real.

Then time passed, he died in Lee Hyeon’s place, awakened again, regained the Baby Snake’s identity, recalled Moon Su-chan’s memories…

The Baby Snake who was resurrected that way,

The outsider who could become neither non-human nor human,

looked at his biological father who had brought him into this world while in the form of a half-demon.

「I wondered why my gaze kept going to you compared to the other eggs. You must have been smart, taking after me!」

The Bloodflower Serpent flicked its red tongue and lunged at Moon Su-chan. Its gaping maw was enormous.

“…If I cut you down, I should be able to return to my original daily life too.”

But Moon Su-chan showed no sign of fear and released his magic power.

[Legend, ‘Successor of Yukimihiro’ is being activated!]

The Son Wukong legend he had previously possessed had been passed to Lee Hyeon.

What took its place was that of Yukimihiro, who, though he couldn’t become a myth, had once competed with Son Wukong.

Flash!!

His golden snake eyes blazed with fire.

Having awakened even his demon identity, he appeared similar to four years ago, or perhaps even stronger.

Already possessing divine status that could be called High Ranker, just as he was about to charge at the Bloodflower Serpent,

“Ah, really… whose personality did he inherit to be so impatient?”

Swooooosh!!

[The restraint devices of the Golden Headband and Ruyi Jingu Bang are reactivating!]

Moon Su-chan was crossing through the air when he suddenly saw countless rotating black-gold iron chains tightly wrapped around the Bloodflower Serpent and was startled.

“…!?”

「Kraaaak! Surely…! Surely I had molted…!!」

Before Moon Su-chan could even attack, the Bloodflower Serpent was slammed into the ground with the sound of pulleys spinning furiously.

Kwaang!!

Whether the creature struggled or not, the Ruyi Jingu Bang only became more taut, increasing its restraining power.

Hard scales shattered as flesh burst out.

Thud!

Moon Su-chan inadvertently landed on top of the Bloodflower Snake’s head and looked back at Lee Hyeon.

“I guess you think the restraints that even sealed the Great Sage Equal to Heaven are a joke?”

Lee Hyeon snorted and approached this way.

「Surely! Surely I deceived your eyes,」

“You did deceive me. Very easily. But if I don’t suspect when you only show me what you want me to see, that would be stranger.”

The Bloodflower Snake’s eyes blazed with fury. The [Eyes of Bewitchment] flickered several times before disappearing.

“The fact that the paternal love you felt from Su-chan hyung was twisted was easy enough to figure out… So I had no choice but to straighten out that twisted paternal love.”

「No, no way! This can’t be! Damn it!! I am… I am different from the likes of you!!」

The Bloodflower Serpent realized what Lee Hyeon was trying to do and tried to struggle, but,

Kwaaaaak!

「Kraaaaaaak!!」

The more it did so, the fiercer became the pressure of the Ruyi Jingu Bang binding the creature. A new emotion never seen before appeared in its eyes.

Fear.

And not simple fear, but ‘fear of death.’

Lee Hyeon climbed onto the Bloodflower Snake’s head and handed one strand of the Ruyi Jingu Bang to Moon Su-chan.

“Take it.”

“What are you trying to… do?”

Moon Su-chan had a dumbfounded expression at the fact that Lee Hyeon had already known all of the Bloodflower Snake’s schemes.

At the same time, he felt strange knowing that the Bloodflower Snake was feeling the same emotion he had once felt.

Lee Hyeon grinned wickedly.

“Snake soup.”

“Snake… soup?”

“Snake soup is originally a health food, right? You said your body wasn’t well, so you need to nourish it.”

“…!?”

“This is what even the Jade Emperor ate because of it. Scrape it all up and eat every last bit.”

“…!!”

Lee Hyeon smiled coldly.

“It’s a gift, hyung. Eat that, get completely better, and let’s go back.”

“….”

“To our home.”

Wavering eyes.

Tightly bitten lips.

Strength entered Moon Su-chan’s hand gripping the Ruyi Jingu Bang.

Kwaak.

—————
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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