The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 116

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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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Episode 116

Chapter 116.

There’s a term called “eomgeunjin.”

A word combining the first letters of strict, solemn, and serious.

There was no face that suited that word better than Charlie’s right now.

“…What?”

Even Gildeti was momentarily stunned by that solemn presence.

What kind of nonsense is this?

Gildeti blinked with question marks floating above his head, seeming to say just that.

“…”

He glanced this way as if the explanation was insufficient, but Dohyun had nothing more to add.

Because that statement was actually true.

From Charlie’s perspective, he had simply manifested through the system, so it wasn’t wrong.

But Dohyun didn’t have the confidence to explain all that in detail, so when he shrugged his shoulders, Gildeti, who had seemed confused for a moment, soon nodded.

“…I have many questions, but that’s not what’s important right now.”

After all, such things weren’t important.

It was just one of many curiosities – what did it matter where or how he appeared?

“Once again, I offer my sincere gratitude, Sir Charlie, and Hero. Thanks to you, we were able to prevent countless casualties.”

What was important to Gildeti was that they were heroes who had saved Brion.

The same was true for the other priests.

“That’s right. Thanks to the Hero, we were able to return to our families’ embrace. We truly thank you. Thanks to you, we didn’t have to repeat that day’s nightmare.”

“I never thought you would actually succeed… How can we ever repay this debt…”

“Lord Lvebed will be shocked when he learns of this! Who could have imagined it!”

“Ah, I’m curious about Lord Lvebed’s surprised face. How that rigid expression will change, haha.”

Sincerity could be felt from those expressing their gratitude.

Most of them were expressing thanks not for saving their own lives, but for securing the citizens’ safety.

Though they weren’t combat classes, they were still high-ranking priests.

As high officials of Brion, called the Holy Empire, they carried tremendous responsibility.

“Our Brion will not forget this debt. If you ever need our help, please let us know. Anything related to Kaiser will be our top priority.”

Finally, Gildeti Caretaker bowed deeply.

He, who held the position of Caretaker of Brion’s largest grand temple, was showing utmost respect with sincere heart.

[The favorability of Lyre Grand Temple’s Caretaker ‘Gildeti’ increases dramatically.]

[Gildeti’s favorability has reached maximum.]

[Gildeti regards you as both benefactor and noble person.]

If ordinary players had seen this scene, they would have been shocked.

Caretaker Gildeti was known for his courteous and benevolent nature, but was famous for never bowing to anyone.

It was perhaps natural, as Gildeti stood shoulder to shoulder with kings of other nations.

Swish. Swoosh.

The surprising events didn’t end there.

One by one, they began to bow, and soon over a hundred people were greeting Dohyun with proper respect.

Watching them surround him and show their reverence, Dohyun smiled.

‘Owner… this feels so good.’

But Jihad was even more delighted than Dohyun.

As expected of an attention seeker.

Seeing Jihad’s expression with corners of his mouth rising so much they seemed ready to tear, Dohyun chuckled mischievously.

‘Why are you happy? Charlie maybe, but you just stood there staring blankly.’

‘Ahem… No, that’s not true. Right, Eliza?’

‘Risa? Ri…sa!’

‘E, Eliza? Even you…’

When the hurt Jihad reached out his hand, Eliza subtly turned her head away.

Though she was being resolute, Dohyun could see it.

Eliza’s face as she turned away, secretly holding back laughter.

‘Wow, now Eliza knows how to tease too.’

As they say, even a dog at a village school can recite poetry after three years – it was remarkable progress. Just as he was chuckling at the unexpected comedy amid the touching atmosphere.

Bzzzz-

A communication orb ringing from somewhere.

“…”

“…”

Perhaps because they had been so formal.

The vibration breaking the silence couldn’t have been more disruptive.

As the majestic atmosphere was anticlimactically broken, one Caretaker straightened up embarrassedly.

“Ahem. It’s mine.”

“…Please answer it, Caretaker Verjid.”

“How tactless at a time like this…”

“Hmm. I apologize. Then…”

The priests, whose mood was also broken, straightened up.

Among them standing around awkwardly in embarrassment, Caretaker Verjid took the call.

“…Sir Barik? I don’t know what this is about, but the timing is a bit… Hmm? Is that really true?”

Verjid’s voice, which had been grumbling, became noticeably brighter.

While other priests glanced over curiously about what was happening, Caretaker Verjid, after receiving confirmation again, shouted loudly.

“Everyone. According to Sir Barik, Lord Lvebed is almost here. He should arrive in about 5 minutes…”

“Oh, is Lord Lvebed finally coming!”

“Perfect timing, Hero, if you have time, please meet Lord Lvebed before you…”

Excited by the welcome news, everyone’s speech quickened, but Dohyun couldn’t properly hear their words.

It wasn’t because their pronunciation was garbled.

Ding-

[The Immortal Master detects the death of a contractor.]

[Location is revealed according to the Covenant of Servitude.]

[A terrible presence gazes upon this place. They detect an alien aura.]

[Danger! You could lose your life.]

Notification sounds ringing in his ears almost simultaneously and messages blocking his vision were making his mind dizzy.

‘…?’

The moment he was stunned by the sudden warning.

Hush.

Very briefly, all sounds in the world disappeared.

Even the white noise that one inevitably hears while living vanished, and no sound could be heard.

The moment goosebumps rose from the strange sensation as if one of his five senses had disappeared.

The surroundings changed drastically.

“What is this…!?”

“Th, the floor is collapsing.”

Darkness that devoured the ground.

That terrible darkness with no visible end emanated a horrific aura as if insects were crawling.

Soon that darkness climbed from the ground up the walls and swallowed the assembly hall,

And then it opened.

[The Eye of the Abyss has opened.]

It was an eye.

The only light and darkness in this place consumed by darkness.

“Ahhh…”

So bizarre and grotesque it seemed like cosmic horror, it instilled helplessness in those who saw it.

An overwhelming presence that made one lose the thought of daring to oppose it.

A presence they had never seen before in their lives was simply gazing at them quietly. The gazes were not just one.

[The Abyss Passage has opened.]

[The Abyss strongman, Immortal Master is watching this place.]

[The Abyss strongman, Master of Wrath is watching this place.]

….

[The Abyssal Dark Knight is watching this place.]

[The Abyssal Warden is watching this place.]

Beyond those eerie eyes, some beings were watching this place.

Though their forms weren’t even visible yet, it was clearly felt.

An overwhelming presence that constricted the entire body was pressing down from all directions. The aura was even gradually drawing closer.

Those things were crossing over to this side.

“Mmm….”

“Kheuk.”

The clerics let out groans of fear at the sight of dozens of shadows approaching beyond the giant eye.

Dohyun felt the same way.

[You are crushed by an unbearable aura.]

[All stats decrease by 30%.]

[All speed decreases by 20%.]

[All detailed abilities decrease by 20%.]

[Trait ‘Hero’ blocks mental corruption.]

[Trait ‘Hero’ failed to block mental corruption.]

‘No, what is this again? It’s ignoring the Hero trait?’

His mind reeled at situations he was experiencing for the first time while playing Godose.

This wasn’t even a case of one mountain after another – what kind of bolt from the blue was this when he was in the middle of wrapping things up?

He couldn’t help but be dumbfounded by the tremendous scale that suddenly exploded before his eyes.

And it seemed it wasn’t just Dohyun who felt this way.

-Ma, Master. What is this again? It’s a surprise gift, right? Right?

-Ri, Risa…!? Risarisa!

-Kugh… Such terrifyingly powerful aura… There are at least two or more Abyss strongmen. What kind of ridiculous situation is this… Are they trying to manifest themselves at the risk just because of one contractor.

Charlie, who had been contentedly enjoying the peace that was shattered in an instant, and Jihad and Eliza, who had been in good spirits, also jumped up in shock.

What, finding the location through a servant’s pact because the contractor died?

And not even coming alone but meanly bringing friends too?

As Charlie said, this was truly an unreasonable situation.

‘What, why are such guys appearing at just level 35? Is this supposed to be normal?’

And setting everything else aside, the spectacle now visible was something even rankers could confidently say they rarely saw.

Gaemin the Destroyer alone was already enough of a balance breaker, but this was….

‘Isn’t this just made to kill you!’

It was a scene that naturally made him think they might be imposing sanctions for defeating an absolutely unkillable boss.

‘I’d really like to crack open the head of the developer if they were right in front of me.’

Curses surged up toward the developer who made such a thing and the AI that executed it, but Dohyun tried his best to calm his mind.

Getting excited now wouldn’t do any good.

As always, he had no choice but to find a way to break through this situation somehow.

“Hero… are you alright.”

“Kugh… When did Lord Lvebed say he’d come? Was it 5 minutes?”

“Th, that’s the Abyss Passage we’ve only heard about in stories….”

“Everyone be careful. If you die to those things, you’ll be consumed by the Abyss and can no longer remain human.”

When he listened carefully, the voices of the panicked clerics came through particularly loudly.

Among them, the word “5 minutes” was the loudest.

‘5 minutes? Hold out for 5 minutes?’

It was truly insane.

The health remaining to Dohyun now was at most 4%.

He had only recovered this much because his regeneration rate wasn’t on the low side. His mana would be lower than this if anything, certainly not higher.

[Guardian Jihad Black’s mana is insufficient.]

[Cannot summon undead.]

Jihad was the same.

That guy being out of mana was such a familiar occurrence by now that he hadn’t expected anything from the start.

-Risa….

Eliza realistically couldn’t help in the current situation….

‘At least there’s Charlie….’

Charlie also wasn’t in full condition due to the aftermath of the battle with Gaiman.

The cooldown for his ultimate skill, the Sword of Light, obviously hadn’t fully reset either. And even if the Sword of Light had reset, what use would it be at this point?

-…They’re approaching, my lord.

-Master… what should we do now?

-Risarisa….

Watching Charlie gulp nervously, Dohyun also clenched his fist holding the hourglass tightly.

Dohyun could see it too.

The shadows of those things that had drawn close enough to make out their forms.

From bizarre monsters over 5 meters tall to giant snakes that seemed like they could easily swallow up an assembly hall, wolves with three heads….

‘Crazy….’

Just looking at their silhouettes alone sent chills down his spine.

It felt like watching some kind of monster battle, but among them, what had the greatest presence were the relatively small silhouettes slowly approaching from the very back.

“Ahh….”

“…Good Lord.”

How should he describe that?

The moment his eyes met one of them – beings difficult to pinpoint as having a specific form, and thus could only be called darkness.

[You have encountered the Immortal Master.]

[You face an unbearable aura.]

[All stats decrease by 70%.]

[Trait Hero blocks mental corruption.]

[Failed to block mental corruption.]

[Danger! You may lose your life.]

-I came to see because a forgotten one had died, and I wondered why I felt a familiar aura… So it was you…. Their vessel….

Loud notifications and a chilling voice echoed throughout the assembly hall.

As the heavy gravity pressed down on their shoulders, the clerics knelt one by one. They had succumbed to the unbearable aura.

‘No, can Lvebed break this when he comes?’

It was when Dohyun was about to express his bewilderment at the demoralizing message.

[The Broken Hourglass of Shattered Faith reacts to abnormal evil aura.]

[The Broken Hourglass of Shattered Faith regains its original form.]

“Huh?”

An unexpected notification broke the breath-holding tension.

It was then that he felt an alien sensation from his hand.

When he relaxed his fist, the hourglass he had been gripping tightly slipped out and floated gently in the air.

And immediately after.

Paaaah-!

A brilliant light burst forth.

The light that shot toward the center of the assembly hall, then from the center up to the ceiling, instantly illuminated the darkness and soon created the form of a woman.

The giant woman’s form wearing divine robes emanated a benevolent atmosphere as if she would embrace everyone.

“Ah….”

“Ahh… O Goddess.”

The clerics who had shaken off the Abyss’s aura through that benevolence rose from their places one by one.

It wasn’t only the clerics who reacted to the woman.

[The aura of the Abyss grows thin.]

Grrrr—

The beings of the Abyss that had been drawing closer were now moving away, as if rewinding.

The corridor was disappearing due to the immense divine power emanating from the woman’s form. The sound of the Immortal Master grinding his teeth could be heard as he felt the corridor retreating.

-Why are you here now of all times…!

Over a hundred clerics looked up at the sky, and countless beings of the Abyss retreated into the distance.

The darkness was lifting as if melting into the light.

“What the hell is happening now!?”

At this truly insane scale of consecutive events, Dohyun finally couldn’t hold back and let out his bewilderment.

Then, as if answering him, a message appeared.

[The second fragment of fate, ‘Hourglass of Faith’ is responding.]

[The will of the slumbering Holy King awakens.]

[The will of Seras, Holy King of ancient humanity, manifests.]

It was the moment when the will of the second fragment of fate, Holy King Seras, awakened.

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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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