Broken Ranker Devours Myths - Chapter 39

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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 39

Goblin Market (4)

 

 

 

“Manager Yoon!”

“Damn it, I just came for a drink and this happens! Please give me buffs!”

Of the two Hunters, the warrior-type man leaped forward while the mage-type woman retreated and pulled out her staff.

No matter how pressured they were by Lee Hyeon’s intimidation, their reaction was definitely as immediate as befitting members of a large guild.

Flash!

The crystal orb hanging from the tip of the staff emitted light.

The mage Jeong Ra-hee was a Blessing Mage who specialized mainly in buffs.

 

[‘Blessing: Strength’ has been granted!]

[‘Immunity Enhancement’ has been granted!]

[‘Defense Amplification’ has been granted!]

…

 

Though slightly intoxicated, thanks to having memorized the magic beforehand, as many as five buffs were cast on Yoon Ki-hoon at once,

Kwaang!

Yoon Ki-hoon was able to successfully cut through the White Tsunami by striking down hard with his sword.

“It’s just flashy on the outside, nothing special…!”

“Not bad. Let’s see if you can block this one too?”

Snap!

When Lee Hyeon flicked his thumb and middle finger in a Finger Snap, the fragments of the shattered tsunami connected to each other like a spider web in mid-air.

And then,

Kwaling! Kwaling! Kwarrrrling…!

They all became small lightning bolts that struck into the ground.

Yoon Ki-hoon had to handle the relentless bombardment all by himself.

“Grrrgh!”

Shock waves that struck easily a dozen times in a single breath.

Yoon Ki-hoon couldn’t block all of that offensive, and eventually took the hits directly while being pushed back.

The armor he was wearing was instantly shattered to tatters. Burn marks and scorch marks appeared all over his body.

Jeong Ra-hee’s situation wasn’t much better either.

 

[‘Wall of Demon Breaking’ rises high!]

 

She poured all her magic power into the staff with all her might, and a barrier of light descended in front of her, trying to block the approaching lightning bolts, but,

Crash!

“Kyaaah!”

The small lightning bolts twisted into spirals midway and pierced right through the Wall of Demon Breaking.

Mana manipulation ability that was close to miraculous.

This was a level that required not only a high understanding of magic power, but also natural-born talent.

‘I can’t go on like this!’

Jeong Ra-hee bit down hard as she watched the lightning bolt slash at her side like a whip.

Her opponent was a mage whose skill was so outstanding that she couldn’t even guess at it.

Moreover, whatever method he had used, her body had been strangely heavy since a while ago, her judgment had become clouded, and her blessings weren’t even as good as usual…

‘He’s such a master that he can interfere with my Mana Control without any trouble! At minimum a Ranker, no, maybe even a High Ranker. Someone I can’t handle!’

She completely misunderstood the results caused by the Curse Stacking applied to the surrounding space, and eventually made a different choice.

The long wooden box currently rolling around at her feet.

Originally, since it was an item commissioned by the Guild Leader, she should deliver it carefully, but,

‘I need to survive first!’

Even if she received disciplinary action, escaping from this place was the urgent priority.

Kwang!

Jeong Ra-hee kicked the wooden box hard.

Then the staff contained inside popped out and was caught in her hand.

A stone staff with a heavy feeling as if carved from rock.

But the amethyst embedded at its tip boasted a mysterious feeling.

 

[Stonehenge Rune Staff]

Many stone amulets inscribed with runic characters and staff fragments presumed to be ritual tools are excavated from the Stonehenge ruins.

Staffs restored based on these fragments have been proven to be ritual tools of the ancient Celts, suitable for reading astronomy and controlling magic power.

-Type: Two-handed weapon, magical tool.

-Origin: Legend ‘Stonehenge Rune Ritual’

 

Looking closely at the stone staff, runic characters mainly used by druids, who were priests of the ancient Celts, were densely carved.

A treasure that any mage would go crazy for.

In fact, England also regarded this stone staff as a national treasure and kept it carefully stored in the British Museum.

However, through unknown channels, it came to appear on the black market, and Blue Dog succeeded in secretly acquiring it upon receiving a commission from Myeongga.

They had brought a national treasure to Korea.

Since it was such an excellent item that even Chairman Peng would covet it, it was quite a burden for Blue Dog, but its origin and power were certain.

Jeong Ra-hee was one of the Myeongga Rankers that Heo Jae-woon directly commanded.

Naturally, the moment it came into her hands, the Rune Staff emitted very powerful mana vibrations.

Whiiiing!

‘Perfect!’

A triumphant smile appeared on Jeong Ra-hee’s lips.

If she cast buffs with this, Yoon Ki-hoon would become a fighter several levels above his current ability.

“What a pointless thing to do.”

However, Lee Hyeon was a natural-born hunter who had crossed far more battlefields than her.

 

[Combat Sense (B) detects something suspicious in ‘Player: Jeong Ra-hee’s’ movements!]

 

Snap!

Following the sensation thrown by Combat Sense, he flicked his fingers once more and drew his index finger downward.

 

[‘Sacred Relic: Golden Arhat Mask’ is activated to grant curse incantations to each ring made of lightning.]

[Successfully created chains by connecting the lightning rings. Congratulations! A new magic ‘Lightning Chains’ has been born.]

[Understanding of lightning attributes increases dramatically.]

…

 

The lightning network formed in mid-air became clearer and more solid, taking the shape of chains.

As expected, it was a technique conceived from Curse Chains.

Charrrrrk!

Charrk!

Six or seven chains with sharpened ends plunged down toward Jeong Ra-hee’s head.

“Gasp…!”

Jeong Ra-hee frantically tried to stack multiple shields to block them,

Thunk! Thwack!

But since each chain struck at different positions, they eventually pierced through the weak spots, embedding into Jeong Ra-hee’s left calf.

“Kyaaaah!”

Crackle!

 

[You have entered an electrocuted state. Resistance has drastically decreased.]

[Various curses pour forth, severely worsening status ailments.]

 

Jeong Ra-hee instantly began trembling violently before her eyes rolled back completely.

This was the terrifying aspect of the Lightning Chains.

They contained countless curses.

When they hit, it wasn’t simply a matter of having attribute defense or resistance. The tsunami of curses that followed was far more frightening.

It was like hiding a real dagger.

Because of this, Jeong Ra-hee had tried to cast a buff that only blocked the electrocution state, but collapsed under the successive curses that poured down. It was death.

Eventually, the Rune Staff fell powerlessly to the ground,

Swoosh!

Two additional chains that pierced through the air wrapped around the Rune Staff and delivered it straight to Lee Hyeon.

The movement was as natural as if they were extensions of his limbs.

And then,

Clack!

Hummm!!

The moment Lee Hyeon grasped the Rune Staff, he could feel his mana circuits opening wide.

His magic power increased dramatically. The purity also became clearer, moving much more naturally.

 

[You have acquired ‘Stonehenge Rune Staff’.]

[You can sense the distribution of mana in the atmosphere more sensitively. Magic affinity has greatly increased.]

[Understanding of magic has greatly increased.]

[While possessing this item, you can use Rune Magic. Please acquire Rune Magic separately.]

…

 

‘So this is what ordinary mages must have felt like.’

「Kekeke. Rune characters? The combination method might work quite well with Curse Incantations.」

Just like [Eodukseoni’s Steps], somehow the prestigious families always brought decent items whenever they met.

Lee Hyeon smiled coldly as he struck the ground with the Rune Staff.

Boom!

Simultaneously, ripples of pure white light spread across the ground.

Yoon Ki-hoon, who had been unable to regain his senses from the lightning’s fierce assault, was also struck and rolled on the ground, soon falling victim to the Lightning Chains that appeared.

Thud!

Eventually, Yoon Ki-hoon ended up kneeling just as Lee Hyeon had said. Beside him sat Jeong Ra-hee, who had long since died, in the same position.

He clearly felt no particular emotion about treating corpses carelessly.

‘…Monster.’

Han Hyeon-su watched the entire situation with a trembling face.

‘Even in a closed room, to so easily handle two Hunters from a prestigious family, including a Ranker… And even the Rune Staff…!’

Since he was the one who had personally obtained the Rune Staff, he knew its effects and power better than anyone.

Depending on its use, it was a treasure with value comparable to a Sacred Relic.

For such a thing to fall into the hands of that monster.

He didn’t even want to imagine what disasters would come next.

‘…Then what about the prestigious family’s side?’

Han Hyeon-su frantically racked his brain at this moment.

That monster would never willingly return the Rune Staff… No, having turned the prestigious family’s Hunters into this state, reconciliation was now impossible.

Would the prestigious family leave him alone, caught in the middle?

“Quite useful.”

Just then, Lee Hyeon’s words made Han Hyeon-su’s mind snap to attention.

“I-I’m glad it p-pleases you. It s-seems to have f-finally found its p-proper owner.”

“I see.”

Even flattery had no effect.

To that monster, even a national treasure seemed to be nothing more than something worth carrying around.

“This must have been the gift Chairman Peng intended to give me?”

“…Pardon? Ah, yes! That’s right!”

Han Hyeon-su wondered what this meant, but belatedly remembered what Lee Hyeon had said when he first appeared.

 

-He… ah, said something incomprehensible about coming through Chairman Peng’s introduction…

-I wondered who he was meeting while ignoring Feng Jinghao’s orders. So he was dealing with such youngsters.

 

The words his subordinate had reported and what Lee Hyeon had said when he first appeared.

It all seemed as if Peng Zihao had instructed it…

‘Damn it! He dumped it all on us!’

Han Hyeon-su understood that Peng Zihao, having lost the Rune Staff at auction, had sent the monster before him to retrieve it.

The monster had come without knowing the exact details, or rather, without caring at all.

Han Hyeon-su now knew exactly where he needed to stand.

‘…I’d rather cause chaos and leave Korea. That’s the only answer.’

It seemed he’d have to make enemies with the prestigious family, so he’d have to find a way to live overseas.

Lee Hyeon smiled coldly watching such a guy.

He had deliberately guided the judgment this way so that the guy would have no choice but to depend on him.

‘If he thought a little deeper, he’d realize there are more than one or two contradictions in my words… but it’s unlikely he’ll reach that conclusion in that state.’

Of course, he needed to put a perfect period on that judgment.

“But this is strange.”

“S-sir…?”

“Why was a gift meant for me in the hands of such small fry?”

Han Hyeon-su’s complexion turned pale.

He was already incapable of normal thinking. Only the desperate need to make excuses.

Then something in his mind ‘whispered’ the correct answer.

“I-I’m sorry! I said it absolutely couldn’t be done since it had an owner… but they insisted they could take it… saying they could easily handle Chairman Peng’s errand boy, so hand it over…!”

 

[Curse Incantations, ‘Brainwashing Suggestion’ is being applied.]

 

“Errand boy?”

Lee Hyeon’s eyebrows twitched as if he was truly angry.

Han Hyeon-su bowed his head again.

“I’m sorry! But please understand my true feelings! I really wanted to protect that gift!”

“So you knew what the gift was and tried to intercept it.”

Han Hyeon-su felt relief that Lee Hyeon’s anger was directed toward the prestigious family, while Lee Hyeon smiled at the fact that the justification he wanted had finally been created.

Even if the cartel came to confirm the exact details later, he would testify as he wished.

‘I’ll just eliminate him after he’s outlived his usefulness.’

The stage was all set.

Then there was only one thing left.

‘Since it would be awkward for me to take only a gift, let me give the prestigious family a small gift too.’

Perhaps because he was too immersed in his identity as Zeus’s Apostle, even his actual thoughts were all leaning in that direction.

Swish.

Lee Hyeon wiggled his right index finger while keeping it extended.

Crackle!

The Lightning Chains stiffened and began rising upward.

Then Yoon Ki-hoon, who had been unconscious, slowly rose from his position.

“Ugh…? Huh? Wha…!”

Yoon Ki-hoon belatedly came to his senses and was horrified.

His body was moving on its own like a marionette puppet hanging from strings.

Even worse, no voice came out of his open mouth.

Now Lee Hyeon’s Goblin Mask appeared to his eyes like a demon risen from hell.

“Do you want to live?”

“Ugh, ughhh…!”

Yoon Ki-hoon drooled while only nodding his head. The sight of Jeong Ra-hee sitting there dead felt grotesque.

“Then run without looking back. To where your leader is.”

“…!!”

The Lightning Chains were released. Then Yoon Ki-hoon began running outside frantically.

Lee Hyeon’s gaze rested indifferently on his retreating figure.

 

* * *

 

Yoon Ki-hoon ran like mad. Somehow, even though his stamina and Magic Power were completely depleted.

The fear that the demon might devour him the moment he stopped dominated his mind.

 

[‘Status Abnormality: Obsessive Compulsion’ is devastating your mind.]

 

“What’s this? Just you? What about Manager Jeong, why did you come alone? What about the Rune Staff?”

The colleague who met Yoon Ki-hoon tilted his head when Jeong Ra-hee, who had been sent with him, wasn’t there. The most important Rune Staff was missing too.

“What’s wrong?”

“The rookie’s back?”

“But why are you alone? Did something happen?”

Then, all the Hunters’ gazes from inside the Warehouse focused on Yoon Ki-hoon.

Guild Leader Heo Jae-woon was there with them too.

Indifferent eyes covered in blood.

Just as Yoon Ki-hoon was about to urgently warn them to beware of the demon,

“Hey! You!”

Suddenly the colleagues beside him pointed at him and frantically backed away.

Yoon Ki-hoon was about to ask why they were acting like that when he suddenly saw his hand glowing pure white and was startled.

This looked just like that monster’s white Lightning…!

His thoughts ended there.

Light leaking from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears exploded outward.

 

[The new magic ‘White Tsunami’ strikes with devastating force!]

 

Kwarrrrrrrr!

Rumble…!!

The Warehouse where the Myeongga Guild Members had been was completely blown apart by the pure white mass of light.

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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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