Broken Ranker Devours Myths - Chapter 29

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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 29

Sha Wujing (4)

 

 

 

“Kraaaagh!”

White lightning mercilessly sliced through Mukesh’s right arm.

The fountain of blood evaporated before it could even burst forth. Instead, a pitch-black burn remained on his forearm.

The ranker that India boasted of had become disabled in an instant.

It was a natural result since all the Great Curses spread in all directions had concentrated on him alone.

Following that, Lee Hyeon reached his hand toward the guy’s head.

Now that he was caught in the trap, he intended to cut off his lifeline.

 

[‘Mythology: Warrior Reborn from Lotus’ awakens and a pillar of fire shoots up!]

 

But by a hair’s breadth, a pillar of fire erupted between Lee Hyeon and Mukesh. It was Qing Xiao’s entrance.

‘This idiot!’

Qing Xiao spat out curses at Mukesh who had botched the job while grabbing him with her left hand.

She felt the impulse to just leave him to die like this, but that could escalate into an international problem, so she had to keep him alive as much as possible.

Of course, she had no intention of confronting head-on the monster who had casually ripped off a ranker’s arm.

‘With this level of skill, he’s at least a High Ranker…! Maybe even beyond that!’

Where on earth had such a guy appeared from?

‘A secret weapon that Korea is secretly raising? Or a Scavenger who must hide his identity? Or maybe an organization targeting Son Wukong like us? Could he be a demon from the giant or demon faction?’

She didn’t know for certain.

But one thing was clear.

There was nothing to gain from clashing with this monster.

It would be better to escape this place first and return with reinforcements.

‘I’ll throw in all the Sacred Relics I have!’

 

[‘Sacred Relic: Fire-Tipped Spear’ pours out all its firepower!]

[‘Sacred Relic: Cosmic Ring’ restrains the opponent’s approach!]

[‘Sacred Relic: Golden Brick’ pounds the ground to create maximum distance!]

…

[‘Sacred Relic: Wind Fire Wheels’ spins at maximum output attempting to escape the scene!]

 

Kwaaaaang!

Kriririk-

 

[All Magic Power has been consumed.]

[Excessive magic output causes ‘Status Abnormality: Dizziness’.]

 

Unless one was a god, handling too many Sacred Relics at once would inevitably cause the Mana Circuits to overheat.

Qing Xiao staggered as if she might faint. An empty sense of void washed over her.

The Wind Fire Wheels made such ominous sounds that she wondered if they might break.

Still, thanks to that, she was able to create considerable distance from Lee Hyeon.

“Kaaaagh! My arm! My aaaarm!”

…The thrashing of the large man in her arms was too unsightly to watch.

‘Damn it! I’ll definitely bill the Indian Government for this debt…!’

『Really now, I must have looked too easy to them. This guy and that guy alike.』

“…!?”

Qing Xiao’s thoughts were cut off mid-way.

From far away, Lee Hyeon’s voice sounded too loud, like thunder.

『I was going to let you go just for Feng Jinghao’s sake,』

‘…He even knows the Elder? He’s someone I only recently learned about. How does he know his name so casually,’

Thump thump!

Qing Xiao’s heart, which had been pounding like a hammer, stopped in even greater shock.

At that moment, she witnessed a miracle that made absolutely no sense.

 

[‘Myth: One Who Wears Lightning and Storm’s lightning is being absorbed!]

 

Mukesh’s right arm scattered into dark brown lightning, then was completely sucked toward Lee Hyeon.

‘Im, impossible!! How can he handle another god’s energy so casually!?’

 

[Nezha widens both eyes at the absolutely impossible sight.]

 

Even if they were the same type of attribute and divine rank, the myths contained within them were all different.

That’s why even though countless thunder gods existed throughout the world, there were hierarchies among them and differences in characteristics.

Yet the one presumed to be Zeus’s apostle was not only freely taking Indra’s lightning but even commanding it.

Gooooo!

A whirlwind blew around Lee Hyeon. The dark brown lightning was swept up in it, instantly expanding its range.

 

[Lightning Storm is generated!]

 

『Die.』

Lee Hyeon extended his hand toward them.

Kururururung!!

The Lightning Storm unleashed tremendously wide dark brown lightning.

 

[‘Myth: One Who Wears Lightning and Storm’s tempest strikes!]

 

The target was Qing Xiao.

“…!!”

Qing Xiao squeezed out what little Magic Power she had left with all her might.

She felt a sense of crisis that she might really die at this rate.

Paaaat!

All the Sacred Relics she had rushed toward the lightning again.

Kukukukung!

Kururururur…!

“Kyaak!”

Qing Xiao was bounced away by the shock that assaulted her entire body and rolled on the ground.

 

[‘Sacred Relic: Fire-Tipped Spear’s function is partially damaged.]

[‘Sacred Relic: Cosmic Ring’s surface has deteriorated.]

…

 

Still, the Sacred Relics seemed to have been of great help, as while he had suffered internal injuries, there didn’t seem to be any threat to his life.

 

[Nezha frowns, sensing the political situation that will soon befall him.]

 

Qing Xiao saw Nezha’s reaction and forced herself to get up, then belatedly realized why Nezha was worried.

“…Mukesh.”

Mukesh’s head, who had rolled on the floor with her, was half-shattered.

With a face full of pain.

 

[Indra spits out curses, calling his apostle an idiot for dying.]

[Indra looks with interested eyes at the killer who used his own myth in reverse to kill his apostle.]

 

‘What should I do?’

Qing Xiao’s mind went blank for a moment.

Illegal infiltration and secret operations in a foreign country’s dungeon was already a major international dispute, and now an S-rank Ranker had died on top of that.

And it wasn’t just any Ranker.

One of ‘s most prominent apostles of a great deity.

This alone was confusing enough to figure out how to handle.

But even though such an apostle had died, she couldn’t understand the attitude the god was showing.

‘…No, I guess that’s why he’s a god – human common sense doesn’t apply.’

Qing Xiao forcibly suppressed the nauseating disgust and rolled her Wind Fire Wheels again.

Even with her magic power depleted, all she could think about was somehow escaping from here.

Creak. Creek.

The wheels of the Wind Fire Wheels kept making broken sounds.

Very ominously.

And,

In one corner of her heart, the shadow of the newly appeared absolute powerhouse was casting itself deeply.

 

* * *

 

“…Did she leave.”

Lee Hyeon confirmed through Combat Sense that Qing Xiao had hastily disappeared through the [Temporary Gate], and only then did he collapse onto the spot.

 

[Severe overheating occurs due to sudden use of mana circuits beyond their limit.]

[The overheating slowly subsides thanks to the Ice Jade Heart.]

[Fatigue has increased dramatically.]

[Fatigue: 81]

 

“It would have been dangerous if she had charged at me again from there… Whew.”

Lee Hyeon let out a long exhale as he removed his mask.

His face was completely soaked with sweat.

Drip.

Drip.

“As expected, Qing Xiao… she’s no pushover. It was good that I mentioned Chairman Peng’s name. I guess he’s still a power player in China?”

He recalled the face of the old man who had approached him long ago with a kind face, making a recruitment offer.

Lee Hyeon shook his head and turned his gaze toward the messages.

“Still, since I learned what form Indra’s lightning takes, I guess it’s a profitable deal.”

Lee Hyeon spread his right hand wide.

Crackle. Crackle-snap.

Next to Zeus’s white sparks, dark brown sparks symbolizing Indra flew.

 

[Congratulations! You have successfully devoured and understood ‘Myth: One Who Wears Lightning and Storm’.]

[You have comprehended Indra’s lightning attribute.]

[The types of Rage Energy that can be deployed with Dueoksini’s Deep Breath (A) have increased.]

[Currently possessed Rage Energy (3/??)]

– Dueoksini (Specter)

– Zeus (Diovis)

– Indra (???)

 

Actually, Lee Hyeon had been very interested in absorbing Indra’s lightning from the moment Mukesh appeared.

It just so happened that there was a decent one among Sha Wujing’s curse incantations.

 

[Curse Formula: Vampiric Mana]

 

‘My speculation about what would happen if I applied the basic principle of vampiric curses, Energy Drain, in lightning form turned out to be correct.’

Of course, you can’t just do it casually. If it were that easy, every Tom, Dick, and Harry would have become gods.

‘It’s fine to steal it, analyze it quickly, and throw it away.’

 

[‘Sacred Relic: Golden Eyes Mirror’ successfully analyzed Indra’s lightning, greatly increasing skill proficiency.]

[The Golden Eyes Mirror is pleased with your change.]

 

Lee Hyeon generously discarded Indra’s lightning after the analysis was complete. Loaded with plenty of Samadhi Divine Wind.

That’s what created the Lightning Storm, and he was able to successfully eliminate Mukesh, the original owner.

‘Qing Xiao won’t be able to bring reinforcements right away either. Her magic power is severely depleted, and she’ll have to somehow deal with Mukesh’s aftermath.’

For Lee Hyeon, it meant he had bought some more time.

Just then.

Ding!

 

[‘Event: Lightning Collector’ has been created.]

[Since ancient times, thunder and lightning have been attributes that only the sovereign gods who rule the sky, or great war gods, could wield.]

[As a dokkaebi, you have begun to collect, understand, and master such lightning.]

[Collect 99 lightning bolts. When you complete the collection, a new path will be waiting for you.]

[Upon success: ???]

[Upon failure: Divine Punishment]

 

[Currently collected lightning (3/99)]

 

‘A total of 99 lightning bolts.’

Lee Hyeon stroked his chin while looking at the event message.

It was disappointing that the success reward wasn’t properly presented, but,

‘The rewards from big events like this are never small. It’ll probably be more than I imagined.’

Since Lee Hyeon was planning to comprehend as many lightning attributes as possible anyway, he thought this worked out well.

 

[‘Sacred Relic: Ruyi Jingu Bang’s recovery function is rapidly reducing your fatigue level.]

 

Lee Hyeon got up from his spot once he was able to move again.

‘It’s too early to feel safe. Qing Xiao must have definitely stationed reinforcements on standby.’

Qing Xiao was a strategist type who was difficult to deal with even in China.

She definitely wouldn’t end things with just this attempt.

No, with Mukesh dead as well, they would try to resolve this matter somehow.

‘Close the dungeon quickly before those guys return.’

 

[Achievement Conditions]

1. Eliminate the Piper. (clear!)

2. Find the missing children. (clear!)

3. Safety of Hamelin citizens.

4. Prevent the epidemic. (new!)

 

Fortunately, there were only two conditions left.

The remaining conditions 3 and 4 were essentially the same, so it seemed they could be resolved quickly.

His body was creaking quite a bit, but it was still manageable to move.

‘But before that,’

Lee Hyeon swept his hair back while glancing upward.

“I’m going back up. Any thoughts on coming along?”

『…』

Words directed at the Curse Mages.

But no response was heard.

“You know it now too, don’t you? That the Resurrection Ritual was impossible to succeed from the very beginning.”

『…』

“And that even if they were revived like that, they would never be the person you’re thinking of.”

Unless one was a god, life could never be brought back.

That was a fact Lee Hyeon knew better than anyone.

“Accept reality and realize it. Stop throwing tantrums. You’re not children anymore either.”

『…』

“Don’t make the mistake of losing the remaining family you have left.”

Why hadn’t the Curse Mages, despite hating the citizens who harmed the Piper and even turning them into zombies, gone further than that?

Lee Hyeon thought it was because of love-hate feelings.

He didn’t know what kind of history existed between the children and adults,

but perhaps they couldn’t bring themselves to hate the adults too much.

‘That might be why they couldn’t leave this city.’

Lee Hyeon walked silently toward the exit without waiting for an answer.

And…

Swoosh!

The Curse Mages appeared where he had been standing.

“…Big brother.”

The Hidden Boss looked at the children who were staring at him.

Under his robe, complex emotions were crossing.

He let out a sigh.

He knew it well too.

The fact that the children’s hearts had been wavering for some time.

They had tried to ignore the guilt they felt seeing the injured adults, but this incident had shaken their resolve again.

‘We maintained the underground waterway somehow because we were afraid the city would collapse. I was the same.’

“Alright. Let’s go.”

In the end, the Curse Mages also followed behind Lee Hyeon.

The Hidden Boss thought while looking at the shadow Lee Hyeon had left behind.

That it really felt like seeing someone familiar.

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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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