Broken Ranker Devours Myths - Chapter 71

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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 71

First Hunt (5)

 

 

 

Executive Director Jeong clicked his tongue.

“Jang Lee Hyeon…… Really, nothing has gone right since that bastard appeared.”

Just one day was enough.

The time it took for all his limbs to be severed.

“My son is dead and my foundation is gone. Really, nothing is going right.”

About four research facilities went silent after their last report that soldiers had stormed in.

Magic Dragon stupidly exposed his face all over TV before disappearing.

Ping Xin?

Those who talked about the spirit of the Chinese people were also nowhere to be heard from.

All dead, missing, or had abandoned his side.

“Just how did they interrogate Magic Dragon who was bound by all sorts of restrictions…… I’d love to learn that extraordinary skill.”

He had no idea how many times he’d rewatched the videos related to Magic Dragon.

That’s why even though his opponent’s face was covered, he couldn’t help but know who it was.

Executive Director Jeong turned to the side with a coldly hardened face.

“Don’t you all think so too?”

“Mmph! Mmph!”

“Ah, sorry. You can’t say anything in that state.”

There were people bound tightly with ropes and gags.

Just until last night, these were the ones who would have licked his feet if Executive Director Jeong commanded it.

But as soon as the tide turned unfavorable, they immediately tried to flee and were caught.

This was the result.

“You see, I hate traitors most in this world.”

“Mmmph!”

“Why do you repay with betrayal someone who gave you trust and shared profits? If you have nothing to give, you should at least offer loyalty. To be so faithless…… tsk tsk.”

“Mmph!”

“Of course, you could ask back whether I’m not the same kind of person. I understand completely.”

“Mmmph!”

“But I can say with certainty that I had no such intention at all. Rather, if I was going to offer loyalty to the Guild Leader, I would have, but I’d never be crazy enough to betray.”

Executive Director Jeong placed a wine glass on the table.

Glug glug.

Red wine filled the glass.

Red wine as crimson as blood.

“I firmly believed this path would help strengthen the guild’s power. And it was actually happening.”

What was in the wine glass was really blood.

Squeezed from people who had been breathing just moments ago.

“Korea in ruins. Mountain God rising like a savior above it.”

He smelled it. It reeked of blood.

“Everyone would look up to Mountain God. Everyone would have no choice but to rely on Mountain God. Everyone would…… have no choice but to revere and worship Mountain God.”

Reverence. Worship.

That was right.

Executive Director Jeong wanted to offer more faith to Mo Jeong-gyeon.

Because she was a god.

Not a god in name only, but a real god.

“Korea was merely the foundation. When she rises up, everything would have collapsed like dominoes.”

“Mmmph!”

“You’re asking if I didn’t join hands with the Committee? I did. But it wouldn’t be us who’d be devoured, but rather them.”

Executive Director Jeong’s face reflected in the red glass.

A face grinning like a demon.

“Not just the Committee. ASTRA, City Cartel, Zeus’s sons, the Underground Cult…… everything in the world was scheduled to be devoured. Because she is someone fully capable of doing so.”

This was exactly what Lee Hyeon and Im Won-young had misunderstood.

He wasn’t a traitor who sold Korea to China.

He was a fanatic with much grander ideals.

He simply wanted to see her true form that he had once witnessed again.

But…….

White Burn, to which he had devoted his entire life, was now rushing to kill him, completely ignoring his original intentions.

“Of course, now it’s all become meaningless.”

He felt empty.

About his past efforts.

He felt futile.

About his past struggles.

And…… he was disappointed.

In his former colleagues who didn’t even acknowledge his true feelings.

Therefore,

Executive Director Jeong changed his mind.

Since the Central Hero Committee couldn’t properly cause chaos and the plan couldn’t even begin.

‘I have no choice but to step forward myself.’

Gulp.

Executive Director Jeong brought the glass to his lips.

Every time he drank the blood, magic power writhed fiercely.

Whoooosh……!

At the same time, lantern flames began floating around him one by one.

‘This Jeong Gyu-han will become complete evil and summon your true form back to this land, Mountain God.’

 

[The legend ‘Remnant Lamps of the Dead’ begins to ignite bit by bit!]

 

“Mmmph! Mmph!”

His subordinates’ desperation intensified.

They knew all too well that each of those lanterns was the soul of someone who had died to him, or rather, been devoured by him.

They were the very suppliers who had provided test subjects so more lanterns could be lit.

Gulp, gulp-

Each time his throat moved, the number of lantern flames continued to increase until they finally formed a cluster.

Thud!

Then when he finished the last glass and set it down on the table,

Whoooosh!!

 

[The legend ‘Remnant Lamps of the Dead’ creates a fire demon!]

 

The tiny flames of the spirits connected to become a massive blaze.

Like a snake, it coiled around him.

“It’s not over until it’s over. Isn’t that right?”

The movements of the prisoners who had been struggling desperately to survive became sluggish.

At the same time, white smoke began seeping out through their noses and mouths.

The moment it merged with the flames, the fire grew even more intense.

Whoooosh!

Now he was the only living person left in this space.

Executive Director Jeong’s inheritance was the Ghost Gate.

It was literally a gate through which ghosts passed.

 

[Ghost Gate]

The direction where the ghost star, said to illuminate spirits, rises. Yin-yang practitioners avoid approaching it, believing ghosts pass through it in all matters. It is said that misfortune and ill omens take root there.

-Origin: Folk tale ‘The Yin-Yang Master’

 

Executive Director Jeong was a necromancer who could become a gate himself just by existing and command countless spirits.

The test subjects and researchers at the laboratory where he had been were already all dead, offered to him as sacrifices.

Therefore, the number of spirits following him reached into the hundreds…!

 

[Inheritance, ‘Backs of the Dead’ awaits those who will newly die!]

 

The flames of souls had now turned white, beyond blue.

“As expected. This isn’t enough. To properly burn the world, I need much more firewood than this.”

Finally, Executive Director Jeong took out what he had saved as a last resort.

Click!

He opened the wooden box that Magic Dragon had given him as a gift.

The Great Elixir, Small Elixir, and Golden Headband came into view.

“……”

Executive Director Jeong’s gaze as he looked at them flickered with madness.

 

* * *

 

The research facility where Executive Director Jeong was believed to be located was in Guri City.

In front of an abandoned factory where cars were rarely seen.

Section Chief So Seong-hae and the members of A Team had gathered.

“Ah, damn it. Overtime work… I just finished bathing the kids and was about to have some time to myself, and now special duty.”

A lament that no office worker in the world could hear without tears.

Section Chief So Seong-hae cursed the culprit who had put him in this situation.

“Just wait and see, Executive Director Jeong. I won’t forget this, Team Leader Im……”

“Team Leader what?”

“Team Leader Im. I love you. You know that no matter what other bosses you could bring, you’re the best, right?”

Section Chief So Seong-hae quickly changed course while rubbing his hands together.

Im Won-young, who had quietly appeared behind him, snorted.

“Your smooth talking has improved a lot, Section Chief So?”

“You’re here, Team Leader! I was waiting for you!”

“You seem to have gotten more slick too.”

“How could that be! I only have loyalty to you, Team Leader. Today too, I am being loyal. Loyalty, loyalty!”

The team members once again averted their gazes from their section chief’s pitiful display that brought tears of blood.

“If only you couldn’t speak. Anyway, never mind that. How’s the situation over there?”

Section Chief So Seong-hae, the K-office worker who had succeeded in surviving another day through reading the room, sighed inwardly before hardening his expression.

“We’ve been observing for 40 minutes, but there’s been no abnormality yet.”

A Team had rushed to the operation site immediately after Im Won-young’s emergency assembly order and began controlling the surrounding area.

Naturally, they had been closely watching for any changes, but there had been no significant results.

“Is that so? That means they’ve already made full preparations.”

Im Won-young put a lit cigarette to his mouth.

Whoosh-

 

[Inheritance. ‘When Tigers Smoked Tobacco’ activates, summoning 5 Jangsan Tigers!]

 

The billowing smoke became massive Jangsan Tigers.

‘Your level has risen!’

Section Chief So Seong-hae and the team members’ eyes sparkled.

They had heard that Im Won-young had been receiving special training alone with Mo Jeong-gyeon recently, but seeing it in person, there had been tremendous progress in just one month.

The number of summoned Jangsan Tigers had increased dramatically, and the size of each individual seemed to be at least twice as large as before.

‘……You’ll soon challenge to become a High Ranker. No,’

Section Chief So Seong-hae swallowed dryly.

‘Are you already challenging?’

Im Won-young blew out more smoke as he spoke.

“You’ve all already received the briefing, but from now on we’re going to subjugate Executive Director Jeong Gyu-han…… no, the traitor Jeong Gyu-han.”

Several team members nodded with tense expressions.

The opponent was a High Ranker.

Moreover, he was someone who had long been like a symbol of White Burn.

“The charge is treason. This fact has already been shared with the National Intelligence Service and a warrant has been issued. Aim for capture if possible, but if the situation doesn’t allow it, killing is permitted.”

The tension grew heavier.

“First, the initial deployment force will be our A Team and Z Team. Then, with a time delay, the remaining teams will be deployed or form an encirclement. Any questions?”

“Z Team? Is this a joint operation?”

“That’s right.”

“But still,”

Section Chief So Seong-hae looked around.

No other teams besides themselves were visible yet.

That was when it happened.

“……!?”

Shiver!

Section Chief So Seong-hae and the A Team members suddenly felt a chill run down their spines and jerked their heads up.

“They’re here. They were already here too.”

The moment a smile formed on Im Won-young’s lips,

Boom! Boom! Crash!!

Thick lightning bolts struck down.

 

[Inheritance, ‘The Story of Janghwa and Hongryeon’ appears spreading massive killing intent!]

[Inheritance, ‘Baby General Uturi’ steps onto the battlefield displaying his spirit!]

[Inheritance, ‘Black Country Fire Dog’ emerges breathing flames!]

 

A violent storm of energy swept through where the three people stood.

Whiiiiiii!

“……!”

“……!”

“……!!”

The A Team members unconsciously stepped back while watching the three people with surprised eyes.

“Wh, what? Is that really Assistant Manager Kim Min-jeong that we knew?”

“……The zombie from the training ground has also changed beyond recognition from two weeks ago. What’s going on?”

“Chief Seo Ae-ri seems different too…… Wasn’t that person always holed up on the research floor?”

The numbers were only three people.

Yet somehow their presence seemed no less imposing than their own group of over twenty.

A thought flashed through their minds simultaneously.

‘Could the rumors about clearing 15 long-standing unsolved dungeons in just two weeks be true…?’

But what truly shocked them was something else entirely.

 

[Legacy ‘Goblin Dance Formation’ is opening.]

 

Whoooosh!

A beat later, blue-white lightning struck down.

Lightning that carried a much larger and more intense wave than the previous three people.

A whirlwind of scorching hot air swirled with tremendous heat. Lightning bolts flickered like will-o’-the-wisps several times in the sky before disappearing, and Lee Hyeon appeared cutting through the wind, wrapped in lightning like flowing robes.

At the same time, tremendous waves of overwhelming presence rippled out.

There was something so eerie there that it made all of A Team gasp in shock.

‘Fire Goblin…!’

‘So Hunter Jang Lee Hyeon’s legacy was a goblin!’

“…I heard he had regained his magic power, but to achieve this much growth in such a short time.”

Manager So Seong-hae swallowed dryly once again as he watched Lee Hyeon, who boasted a presence that was absolutely no less than Im Won-young’s.

He didn’t seem like the same Lee Hyeon they had seen two months ago.

Clearly, the rank Lee Hyeon possessed was several levels lower than Im Won-young’s.

But the intimidating pressure from his legacy was truly terrifying.

‘Then everything we saw on the news was all true…?’

Currently, there was another unbelievable rumor secretly circulating among the Temple Members along with the completion of the 15 long-standing unsolved dungeons.

That the adversary of Magic Dragon who appeared in the breaking news was none other than the new Z Team leader…

No one believed those words because the media was making such a fuss about the emergence of a new Ranker,

But Manager So Seong-hae and the A Team members began to think that rumor might actually be true.

Especially Manager Min, who was Lee Hyeon’s classmate from Military Academy, had eyes that trembled the most.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve all met.”

“You are Hunter Jang… right? I was surprised because you’ve changed so much I couldn’t recognize you. Or should I call you Team Leader now?”

Lee Hyeon smiled lightly at Manager So Seong-hae’s jest.

“I was officially appointed as Team Leader today.”

“That’s wonderful. Congratulations. Well, with this, no one can complain anymore.”

So Seong-hae, a perpetual manager, sincerely congratulated Lee Hyeon.

He genuinely wished for Lee Hyeon’s success.

As a smile began to form on Lee Hyeon’s lips, Im Won-young spoke up.

“As you can see, Z Team is small in number for now, but their combat power is excellent enough to face even Ping Xin. Their capabilities have already been verified, so you don’t need to worry.”

The A Team members’ eyes sparkled.

“Of course, since we have more people, we’ll handle the main operations, and Z Team will move like a separate unit. Any other questions?”

“No, sir.”

“Good. Then everyone prepare for battle.”

“Prepare for battle!”

“Prepare for battle!!”

The A Team members pushed all their curiosity about Lee Hyeon and Z Team to the back of their minds.

Now the only thing dominating them was mission execution.

 

[Legacy is activating!]

 

Im Won-young brought the radio item to his mouth and commanded.

“I will command this operation.”

『Alpha, command confirmed.』

『Beta, command confirmed.』

Crackle.

Z Team’s voice also came through.

『Jet, command confirmed.』

Lee Hyeon was among them too.

Im Won-young looked at the surface and commanded.

“Begin combat.”

『Begin combat.』

『Begin combat.』

A Team and Z Team all moved at once, becoming dozens of streaks of light.

Screeeeech-

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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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