Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 281

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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 281

Tiamat’s Nest (6)

When Amandla Khoetsi of Draconis Watch arrived, everything was already over.

“…You killed Malakios? And repelled the 2nd unit of the Deep Sanctuary?”

By his common sense, it was something that made absolutely no sense.

For nearly a month, the entire Drakensberg Mountains had been occupied, making it impossible to even approach the mine area.

Especially Cardinal Malakios Hermet was an extremely troublesome opponent to deal with.

He was even designated as a high-level terrorist by Interpol…

And they broke through so easily?

Those mere youngsters?

But the bigger problem was that there was no trace of Lee Hyeon’s group who had accomplished this feat.

“What the hell happened here?”

If their purpose was to secure evidence about the mine under Astra’s commission, they should have remained, but they had completely vanished.

As if they had been sucked into the Gate.

‘Wait, the Gate?’

Amandla’s gaze hurriedly turned toward the Gate.

But the Gate was still there, flickering with the same ominous red light as before.

It wasn’t operating at all.

This meant it was still firmly sealed just as Mountain God Mo Jeong-gyeon had done over ten years ago.

There was no possibility that Lee Hyeon’s group had been sucked in.

‘Then where the hell did they go? If they died, there should at least be corpses!’

While traces of fierce battle remained but the most important combatants were nowhere to be found, leaving Amandla tearing at his hair,

“First, search the surrounding areas! If they retreated, we need to figure out where they retreated to! And White Burn’s…!”

“This is terrible!”

“Why? Did you find Jet’s group?”

“N-no, it’s not that, we just received news that SSA Director Tabo Mncwolisi arrived at the first checkpoint…!”

“What!?”

Amandla was about to shout that his long-time political rival must absolutely not be allowed passage,

Whoosh!

“What a pathetic sight you’ve become, Amandla Khoetsi.”

Suddenly, a middle-aged black man in a sharp suit landed on a large rock.

Thud!

“…Director Tabo.”

Who would have thought that a director of an intelligence agency representing a nation would show himself so directly.

And in a dangerous zone where all kinds of terrorists were active.

It was an unexpected move that even Amandla hadn’t anticipated.

“When I heard that the Dijiang Sect had seized control of the Gate, I thought it was a crisis… but not only did a mere four outsiders break through the defense line, they also took back control of the Gate, and now you’ve even lost track of them.”

“…”

“It’s a complete mess. Isn’t it?”

“That’s…!”

“Do you have anything else to say?”

Amandla bit his lower lip tightly and couldn’t give any answer.

Though he desperately wanted to say something, anything, Tabo Mncwolisi’s gaze looking down at him was extremely sharp.

Moreover, the SSA awakened agents who had followed him and were now positioned around the mine.

Though the agents were breathing heavily from exhaustion after chasing the director who had cut straight through the mountain range, their eyes were sharp enough that one couldn’t carelessly challenge them.

Grind!

“So, what exactly do you plan to do?”

“Draconis Watch can just handle what Draconis Watch originally handled.”

“Then SSA should leave this place first,”

“Instead, the mine will be managed by our SSA from now on.”

“What does that mean! Our Draconis Watch’s original purpose was to monitor the 【Nest】!”

Though Amandla reacted violently, Tabo didn’t even blink.

“You should speak properly. How was monitoring the Gate Draconis Watch’s main purpose? It was clearing the dungeons scattered throughout the Drakensberg Mountains and eliminating mobs.”

“…!?”

“And didn’t you constantly request your superiors? To finally escape from these tiresome mountains and be allowed external activities. I’ve already submitted that opinion to the government separately, so don’t worry.”

“…!!”

“Unless… perhaps there’s honey smeared on the ‘mine’ that makes it impossible to leave? Even though you’ve already shown the whole world that you lack the capability to manage this place?”

Every single word was sound logic that was difficult to counter.

However,

‘I can’t stupidly hand over control of the mine like this…!’

Amandla absolutely could not give up the mine carelessly.

Because the interests that his allied Dark Side of the Moon had invested here were not just one or two things.

But Tabo Mncwolisi had been a reductionist from long ago, rejecting the Dark Side of the Moon and arguing that the mine’s scale should be reduced.

If he took control of the mine, everything would be finished.

‘Damn! What should I do…!’

After much conflict, Amandla’s thoughts leaned toward one side.

‘Or maybe if I put in a request to Russia?’

“It seems you haven’t finished organizing your thoughts yet… Let me help you finish quickly.”

When Tabo gestured with his chin, the agents tightened their encirclement.

Draconis Watch also reacted by emanating intense magic power.

Just when the two organizations seemed about to clash,

Rumble…!!

Suddenly, enormous dark clouds could be seen approaching from a distant mountain peak, making thunder sounds.

Chill!

“…!?”

“…!!”

A momentum that made even High Rankers Tabo and Amandla flinch in surprise.

Shriek!

Crash crash crash-

Though the Drakensberg Mountains were known for various magical phenomena, those dark clouds were different.

Along with terrible wails, they seemed filled with an enormous number of ghosts…

[The will of the Dijiang God is approaching.]

“No way…! Damn! Emergency situation! All agents, activate full power! The enemy is a Prophet!”

“Draconis Watch, B-Formation too!”

SSA and Draconis Watch stopped their confrontation and moved in perfect unison.

―Prophets.

Monsters that neither died nor lived, consuming causality to switch between various bodies while serving as parts of the Dijiang God.

Though not well known to the outside, some Prophets were known to possess skills comparable to top rankers.

Their exact strength and numbers were unknown.

The only thing known for certain was that among the previous cardinals and bishops who had served the Dijiang God from long ago, those with outstanding abilities became part of the Dijiang God and gained immortality.

Therefore, the Dijiang Sect had the danger of being able to increase or decrease their forces at will.

This was also why they were rated as the highest danger level even among the axis of evil…

Could it be that such a prophet would try to reveal themselves directly!

“How many times is this? The 10s? Or maybe the 20s?”

Just as Tabo Mncwolisi was grinding his teeth and muttering,

Along with dark storm clouds, an enormous number of fanatics could be seen crossing the mountain range from the surface together with all sorts of bizarre, irregular mobs.

It was definitely the Esoteric Crusaders who had retreated just moments ago.

But the atmosphere was a bit different.

Eyes uniformly soaked in madness. They were filled with murky evil energy.

With the prophet’s appearance and the underground god’s blessing descending, everyone had been driven to frenzy.

Moreover,

[The Underground God’s blessing is with you!]

[The Drakensberg Mountain Range area has been declared a Sacred Realm.]

Even the unwanted supernatural phenomenon.

Tabo Mncwolisi, who had been watching the dark storm clouds, clenched his teeth tightly.

* * *

[Rabu (Labbu)]

One of the 11 evil dragons said to have been born by Tiamat, the ‘Primordial Sea’, for revenge after her husband and creator god Apsu was killed.

The name means ‘giant day’ and originated from the fear of river floods and city collapse.

-Origin: Myth ‘Enuma Elish’

Screeeech-

As Rabu moved toward the depths of the 【Nest】, he glanced back.

Lee Hyeon, transformed into a flash of lightning, was closely following behind him without much delay.

Yukimihiro was beside him too.

‘I don’t understand why Mother permitted that human’s visit.’

Rabu actually didn’t like the human called Jang Lee Hyeon.

No, if he thought about it, he hadn’t liked Moon Su-chan from the start.

Though non-human, he was just a derivative who had flowed in from ‘Beyond the Outside’, not this world.

Yet despite that, he was a half-breed with human identity rather than demon.

For him, who had always taken the greatest pride in being non-human and a child of ‘Mother’, this was naturally a target he had to keep at distance.

However, Mother’s grand intention was to protect the demons wandering the Nine Heavens without proper ,

And since Moon Su-chan also met Mother’s standards, he had agreed to accept him for now.

But the humans who had followed him were a completely different story, weren’t they?

However,

-Bring that human to me, Rabu.

-What an interesting human has come.

-A mystery indeed…

Tiamat had laughed very contentedly and ordered him to bring Lee Hyeon to the depths.

Rabu was one of the 11 brothers that Mother had born alone after deep labor pains, and the gatekeeper who guarded the 【Nest’s】 door.

So while he was guiding the ‘guest’ as a gatekeeper for now… he still couldn’t understand.

‘Humans are ultimately just a tribe that defiles our … Could she be seeing something I haven’t noticed?’

If he observed more closely from the side, would he be able to understand Mother’s will?

He couldn’t tell.

* * *

“How many years ago was it in your human time, I once went ‘Outside’ briefly to seek something.”

Unlike other non-humans or demons, Lee Hyeon knew that Rabu, his guide, viewed him unfavorably.

Noeancheongjeong was constantly activating to warn of danger. His demon senses felt eerie too.

‘No, it’s not just that level. This is…’

Lee Hyeon swallowed dry saliva.

‘Hostility.’

Lee Hyeon also knew that if Rabu put his mind to it, he could erase someone like him without any trouble.

But he wasn’t particularly wary.

Since Tiamat had shown him favor, her child wouldn’t be able to harm him carelessly either.

‘His loyalty to his mother seems certain too.’

But suddenly Rabu spoke up out of nowhere.

Wondering what he was trying to say, he focused, and it seemed like he was talking about the South Africa incident.

“There were too many humans who were just noisily quacking.”

“…”

“They all seemed like annoying bugs. It was funny how they acted like victims when we were the ones suddenly dragged into this place.”

Lee Hyeon just quietly listened to Rabu’s words.

“Still, I was planning to ignore them, do my business and return… but you humans wouldn’t even tolerate that.”

Rabu continued while touching his broken horn.

“This horn was broken right then.”

Lee Hyeon’s eyes widened slightly.

He thought he knew who had done it.

“It was a human called Mountain God.”

“Is that so?”

“A monster wearing human skin but could never be called human. Why do I smell that bastard’s scent on you?”

Was this the reason for the hostility?

It probably wasn’t just this, but it seemed to be the main reason.

“I received some teachings from him. I’m currently working under his command.”

“I see. So that’s why I kept smelling that unpleasant odor.”

Tsk!

Rabu clicked his tongue.

“‘Outside’ or ‘Beyond the Outside’… they’re all full of things I don’t like.”

“That’s exactly why.”

“What?”

What kind of nonsensical talk was this now?

Rabu’s gaze turned back to Lee Hyeon.

Lee Hyeon smiled.

“I came to relieve you of that unpleasantness. That’s also why I said I wanted to meet Tiamat.”

“…I don’t know what scheme you’re trying to pull, but if you try to deceive Mother, you won’t remain unharmed.”

Rabu snorted. What could a human who was nothing but a mayfly possibly do for them?

His attitude showed he found it absurd, but Lee Hyeon just kept smiling. Only Yukimihiro looked back and forth between the two with worried eyes.

“We’re here.”

Meanwhile, they had finally arrived at the depths.

The ‘end’ of the horizon lay before Lee Hyeon’s eyes.

“It’s quite… spectacular.”

That was all he could say.

Unlike Earth, this dungeon had a kind of dish shape. The seawater that reached the horizon all became waterfalls pouring into the pitch-black Abyss.

A magnificent sight that was hard to express in words.

And at a place well away from the horizon, one ‘island’ stood pointedly above the Abyss.

No, he wasn’t sure if it could be called an island.

It was no different from a continent.

At its entrance, ten more beings in half-human, half-demon form with status no less than Rabu had gathered.

“The Eleven Evil Dragons…!”

Yukimihiro’s eyes widened slightly.

Tiamat’s direct offspring, the Logoi who could be called the administrators of the 【Nest】, had assembled.

This was a rare situation that Yukimihiro was encountering for the first time despite staying here for so long.

“So a human really came?”

“And he even has the guts to want to meet Mother directly…”

“The successor of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, they say. What impressive guts indeed. I heard he even played a part in capturing the Jade Emperor?”

Bashmu.

Ushum-garu.

Mushu-mahe.

Mushu-hushu.

U-garu.

Uri-dimmu.

Girtablili.

U-mu Davrutu.

Kululu.

Kusariku.

[The Dragon Society, 【Sepusha】 shows deep interest in you!]

Unlike Rabu, the Eleven Evil Dragons were looking at Lee Hyeon with great interest.

[Brithra snorts with a very displeased expression.]

[Mahabali watches the situation with great interest.]

“Move aside. I must see Mother.”

When Rabu frowned as if displeased, the Logoi shrugged their shoulders and stepped aside, telling him to go ahead and enter.

‘Weren’t dragons originally all lazy creatures? Why are so many of them gathered here?’

Lee Hyeon swallowed dry saliva as he followed Rabu across the Abyss and arrived at the interior of the continent.

A place densely packed with jungle.

A Lady in human form sat on a jade throne carved from rock.

With a large, elongated serpent draped around her shoulders.

“I have brought the guest as you commanded, Mother.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

The Lady skillfully nodded at Rabu’s greeting.

Her gaze turned toward Lee Hyeon.

[Tiamat’s avatar looks upon you.]

“Welcome, brother of the ‘Youngest Brother’. You’re much more beautifully formed in person than when seen from afar. I… love beautiful things, whether human or outsider.”

Her pose with one leg crossed exuded sensuality, but the tremendous presence felt alongside it gave a strong impression of danger.

However,

Lee Hyeon’s gaze remained fixed on Tiamat’s chest for a moment.

She,

The great evil dragon who had once tried to destroy the world,

Had no heart.

Her left chest was completely hollow.

And from there… a familiar yet unfamiliar scent of magic power felt like a stench.

‘Outer Sea…’

It was precisely the scent of magic power from the Outer Sea.

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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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