The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 124

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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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Chapter 124

Episode 124.

“Wow, this isn’t working.”

-…Owner, you look really pathetic.

-Risa risa.

-Ahem.

Jihad and Eliza’s eyes turned cold with disappointment.

And even Charlie, who wanted to protect his lord’s authority by speaking up, but had nothing to say and closed his mouth again.

Even with such reactions from the Guardians, Dohyun didn’t care.

“I had no choice. Otherwise, I would have had eyes following me all day.”

It wasn’t a stupid charge, but a planned action.

-The third Fragment of Destiny lies dormant. Let’s obtain a clue to the Fragment of Destiny.

Since he needed to obtain clues to the Fragment of Destiny due to both the main Quest and job Quest, receiving too much attention from players would make it impossible to move comfortably.

Wherever he went, eyes would follow.

If it stopped there, it would be fortunate, but among them there would be those who suspected something was up.

‘There’s nothing good about being discovered yet.’

Now he was confident he could win against anyone who challenged him, even with a level gap of around 10.

Whether it was ten people or dozens, it was the same.

No matter how much the players in this section ganged up, they wouldn’t be stronger than Gaemin the Destroyer.

That’s why he confidently uploaded the video too…

‘But interfering with the main Quest is a different story.’

Before reaching max level 100… no, at least before arriving at the Empire, it was better to keep it secret.

If possible, it would be good to keep it secret even beyond that.

-Indeed…! As expected of my lord. This foolish sword failed to comprehend my lord’s deep wisdom.

-Well… now that I hear it, it sounds plausible?

-Risa risa!

Watching the three who immediately changed their stance, Dohyun chuckled.

These guys were truly consistent.

The problem was that while the plan was excellent enough for even those guys to acknowledge, there was actually no gain.

‘I never thought no one would know anything.’

Even after investigating so diligently while diverting attention, there wasn’t a single NPC who knew even the ‘F’ of Fragment of Destiny.

Well, how could they know something that had disappeared from history after more than a thousand years?

Even the Lord who was supposedly guarding the Fragment of Destiny didn’t know it was a Fragment of Destiny, so that said it all.

Nothing was visible with the Eye of Truth either…

‘Is it really inside the castle?’

Since Gamillion said the Lord was unknowingly guarding it, that was probably the case.

In the end, it was a situation where he had to enter the castle.

Having finished assessing the situation, Dohyun clicked his tongue in disappointment.

‘Ah, it would have been perfect if this had worked.’

While diverting the players’ attention was the goal, it wasn’t like Dohyun had just headbutted the ground blindly.

The truth was he had some expectations.

[Red Phoenix Feather Badge]

-Grade: Hero

-Description: The great knight commander of the Laire Order of Knights, Lord Lvebed.

A badge with a red phoenix feather symbolizing him, a specially crafted badge with only seven made. It will prove your close relationship with him.

Dohyun had the Red Phoenix Feather Badge he received after becoming Lvebed’s benefactor.

Since there was a phrase about proving a close relationship, he thought they might let him in if he proved his intimate relationship with none other than Lvebed, but…

‘I was spectacularly wrong.’

He was thoroughly rejected.

Mere connections with famous strongmen weren’t enough to get a private audience with the Lord.

-This is Lord Lvebed’s badge… I apologize for not recognizing you. However, I’m truly sorry but the Lord is currently away… I will deliver the message when he returns, but please don’t get your hopes up.

When he showed the feather badge, the guard was very troubled and didn’t know what to do, but ultimately gave a rejection.

From this, Dohyun was certain.

There was a high probability that even when the Lord returned, no contact would come.

Maybe the Lord was already inside but couldn’t say so directly, so he was faking it.

‘It is strange though.’

Recalling the guard’s reaction, Dohyun stroked his chin then let go.

Anyway, there was no way to know for now.

He couldn’t enter the castle right away, so pondering would only waste time.

“Let’s go, guys.”

-Yes, my lord.

-Risa!

-What, where are we going?

Watching the guys each give their response, Dohyun grinned.

“We’re going to test things out.”

Naturally, when you get new rewards, you have to try them out.

The most exciting time when playing RPG games was when you first got to use newly obtained rewards.

* * *

Just before nightfall, in a forest with the moon hanging at an angle.

Through the thicket softly bathed in moonlight, a beast was howling.

Grrrrr…

It was a wolf.

Sharp claws that seemed capable of easily tearing anything, razor-sharp fangs, spine-chilling golden eyes, gray fur bathed in moonlight.

Plus the characteristic low threatening howl.

Grrrrrrr…

Everything was that of a wolf, but this creature wasn’t something to be dismissed as just a wolf.

Not quadrupedal but bipedal locomotion.

A muscular body ready to burst and a massive size reaching 3 meters.

[Lycanthrope]

The race of the full moon, Lycanthrope.

A staple of fantasy and the so-called werewolf!

Just as they’re often depicted as powerful beings, Lycanthropes in Godseeker were by no means weak monsters.

“What? Orcs are the real deal? Pfft, you haven’t met Lycanthropes.”

“No, I’m telling you Sargis is the real legend. At least Orcs were simple and brutish, but these guys surround you in packs!”

“That would be fortunate. Night is real hell. Those damn PK bastards…”

Powerful enough to make those Orcs that caused beginner warnings seem like ‘nothing’, and intelligent combat methods reminiscent of raptors!

Beings that made party hunting mandatory despite being regular monsters!

That was what Lycanthropes were.

Whine…

But the current Lycanthrope showed no dignity or threat.

It was just cowering like a scared mutt, trembling all over.

The pupils of the retreating creature shook violently.

Reflected in its trembling eyes were two armored men, and

Slash, thud! Crack!

Squeal! Yelp!

The sight of its comrades being brutally slaughtered by them.

[Transforms into the brilliant blue sword of ever-changing Taksinel.]

[The effect of Monster Slayer is applied, increasing damage by 8%.]

[Additional damage from Swordsmanship Mastery LV15 is applied.]

When the man in dark armor swung his sword, comrades were helplessly cut down.

Growl! Bark bark!

When they rushed in to exploit openings, he was already far away in the distance, making it impossible to close the gap.

Unbelievable footwork for someone wearing such heavy armor.

[Light Body effect eliminates the speed reduction penalty of plate armor.]

[Nimble Footwork activates.]

[Movement speed increases the more you move. Currently 3 stacks for 6% increase.]

It was thanks to the effects of Taksinel’s dark armor and boots.

Even while wearing armor, he could move faster than before.

This wasn’t the end.

Bark!

Thwack!

The companions who had been waiting for Dohyun to fall back seized the moment and rushed in from all directions.

A situation with no escape route, surrounded from front and back.

Whoosh.

In the end, the only remaining option was the air.

As Dohyun jumped into the air, the lycanthropes swung their claws as if they had been waiting.

This was the lycanthropes’ hunting method.

Surround, corner, and either induce a jump or capture unilaterally.

-Once you’re surrounded, it’s over. You always have to watch your space carefully.

That was why players always formed parties in this place.

Because when situations like this arose, there was no other way.

In other words, Dohyun was about to become a skewer, helplessly floating in the air.

Bark?

Grrr…?

That should have been normal.

[Air Walk effect allows one additional jump while airborne.]

Tap.

Until Dohyun jumped once more while floating in the air.

The moment the lycanthropes’ faces went blank at the utterly natural sight, as if there were invisible footholds in the air.

Swoosh-

The tree on the far left and the tree on the far right.

And black threads surrounding them in a triangular formation including the tree they were on were revealed.

[Fuse – Using ‘Darkness Shroud’ on the thread.]

It was a fuse he had set up in advance before luring them here.

Until now, it had been dark and the color was too faint to notice.

Gr, grrr!

The lycanthropes instinctively sensed something was wrong and fled, showing their backs,

[Fuse – Using Explosion.]

But Dohyun was one step faster.

—!!!

It was a soundless explosion.

Chain explosions occurred like dark fireworks bursting, sweeping away the lycanthropes, yet the forest remained quiet.

An uncanny feeling, like accidentally hitting mute while watching a movie scene.

[You have defeated a Lycanthrope.]

[You have defeated a Lycanthrope.]

…

[You have leveled up.]

“Wow.”

Dohyun whistled, not expecting them to die in one hit.

‘Wait, the damage comes out like this?’

Though he had set it up at maximum distance, even considering that, it was abnormal damage.

Lycanthropes were creatures specialized in regeneration rather than attack power.

They were troublesome opponents who fought based on tenacious vitality and high intelligence, giving players headaches.

Though he had seasoned them beforehand, to take down such creatures in one shot?

‘Maybe Dobong was actually the strongest?’

Of course, he wasn’t being serious.

If that were really the case, rogues would have been the strongest for herding hunts only.

The secret to this monstrous damage lay with Dohyun himself.

Dohyun, who already had high specs, had undergone tremendous spec upgrades by defeating Gaemin this time.

‘The grade increase of Cheonbyeon can’t be ignored either.’

And Dohyun was confident that Cheonbyeon’s upgrade played a major role in this.

[Cheonbyeon devours Taksinel’s Brilliant Blue Sword.]

[Devouring a weapon of higher grade than current grade. Measuring if user can digest it.]

[Measurement complete.]

[Successfully devoured and grade adjusted to match user’s level.]

[Cheonbyeon’s grade becomes Hero+.]

[Basic options of all devoured weapons are adjusted and applied to match Hero+ grade.]

Before coming to the field, when he had Cheonbyeon devour Taksinel’s sword, it seemed to fulfill the activation conditions and the grade increased.

Thanks to this, Dohyun could now handle all weapons with Hero+ grade attack power.

At least five Hero+ weapons had increased in an instant.

Though there were differences in special options, even considering that, it was tremendous.

‘Kugh… It really is overpowered. This is why you use mythic items.’

It wasn’t for nothing that it held the title of a weapon containing the authority that Kashiyar had wielded.

And the overpowered nature didn’t end there.

Rustle-!

Growl! Bark!

At the sound from beside him, Dohyun turned his head.

-Hmm!

There was Charlie fighting while holding off three lycanthropes.

Though it was an unfavorable three-to-one battle, Charlie showed no signs of fatigue.

With a calm face, he gracefully deflected and pushed back attacks, leading the fight advantageously.

‘I thought he’d be decent, but he’s better than expected.’

Lycanthropes were strong when alone, but became even stronger in groups.

To face three of such creatures while looking relaxed wasn’t something an ordinary guardian could show.

But Charlie’s most outstanding ability wasn’t his combat power.

Grrrrr… Grr…

-Where do you think you’re going. Your enemy is me.

Excellent aggro ability.

Though he probably wasn’t even a tank, he mysteriously held aggro well with just a single sword, preventing it from scattering.

It was the same during the Gaemin the Destroyer fight, and now too.

Even during this hunt, not a single lycanthrope that Charlie decided to hold came over to Dohyun.

-Truly a vulgar fighting style. Can you even call yourself bipedal? Tsk tsk, what a waste of two legs.

-Tsk, full of openings, aren’t you. You couldn’t kill an ant with such attacks.

Growl! Bark!

“…”

Seeing him deliver sharp criticism even to monsters, one might reasonably suspect he was drawing aggro through verbal DPS.

But objectively speaking, the secret to that aggro lay in Charlie’s swordsmanship.

Swoosh- Thunk.

Whether it was Arren Castle’s secret swordsmanship or Charlie’s own technique, he skillfully deflected and drew in opponents’ attacks.

Softness overcoming hardness.

The way he smoothly absorbed the great force was like a massive wave.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve never looked at Charlie’s information.’

From his first appearance until now, it had been a continuous series of hectic events, so I hadn’t even thought about it, but watching him now made me suddenly curious.

What exactly was Charlie’s trait?

‘…Hmm. He seems to be fighting well on his own.’

There were still monsters remaining, but I decided to trust Charlie.

After all, trusting one’s knight is the proper demeanor to show as a lord, isn’t it?

[Viewing Charlie’s information.]

Having smoothly completed his self-rationalization, Dohyun assumed the position of an observer and comfortably opened the information window.

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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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