The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 19

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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 19

Chapter 19.

Solo play.

Commonly called “solo,” it literally means playing the game alone.

And in Godseeker, it was usually used when hunting bosses alone.

A playstyle that every gamer dreams of at least once.

But in other words, it also meant it was such an unrealistic playstyle that you could only dream about it.

“Solo play? That’s impossible talk in Godseeker.”

“Maybe for some dungeon boss, but Elite Boss or higher? Just shut up and find a party. Unless you want to get death penalties.”

“You’d have to be at Demroc’s level to solo play.”

Since it was taken from Demroc, the boss difficulty wasn’t lenient enough to allow solo play.

When there are countless bosses that even 4-person parties can’t defeat, what solo play are we talking about?

Since graduation levels were set for each city, it was impossible to overwhelm with specs and deal crushing damage in Godseeker.

Even if there were influences from jobs or items, that wasn’t in the realm of making solo play possible.

It was only possible by understanding and countering all patterns while dealing maximum damage.

That’s why Demroc was popular.

The first solo player.

He who officially first defeated an Elite Boss single-handedly rose to stardom instantly with his characteristically flashy play.

After that, quite a few people did solo play, but that didn’t diminish the brilliance of that achievement.

Most of them were now in the ranks of High Rankers.

“Wow…”

“This actually works.”

Shield Master and Miganddeok gaped in disbelief.

They had no choice.

Whoosh- Thud!

Scrape-

Graaaah!

The solo play they had only dreamed of was unfolding before their eyes in real time.

When he suddenly charged at the boss, they felt dizzy, but now he was making them dizzy in a different way.

But their questions were just as big.

“Why aren’t the CC skills working?”

“We’re all affected by various status ailments right now, but it’s amazing…”

“That doesn’t look like affected movement… Is it a job-specific ability?”

Even now, all sorts of debuff messages were floating above their heads.

Exhaustion, stun, attack power reduction, defense reduction, etc… They were receiving every debuff there was, but Kaiser who was actually fighting was perfectly fine.

“Does Hero God have such an overpowered immunity effect?”

“I don’t know about that… but somehow it’s mesmerizing.”

Seeing everyone puzzled, Shield Master was confused.

‘…What? Wasn’t it a damage amplification-related god?’

Showing Weapon Master effects while dealing insane damage and even having such an overpowered CC immunity effect?

How is this possible when we’re the same level 9?

This is like…

‘Like having multiple traits.’

It was an absurd thought.

No matter how good you were, being able to have only one trait was common knowledge that even Shield Master, who was playing for the first time, knew.

However, it was a situation that incomprehensible.

But what was most incomprehensible was something else.

“This is insane…”

“You see him dodging everything?”

“Wow… Hyung is truly legendary.”

Those impossible movements.

Dodging all attacks, interrupting patterns, and dealing damage stably.

He had watched solo play videos several times, but there definitely didn’t exist a video of hunting this cleanly and comfortably.

-HP : [2,312 / 20,000]

The HP had already been shaved down to the 2,000s.

No, even now the HP was decreasing in real time.

2,000 1,800 1,500…

Graaaah! Graaah!

From the Mutant Goblin Warrior’s perspective, it was maddening.

There was clearly prey right in front of it, but no matter how much it tried to catch it, it couldn’t even graze a fingertip.

Meanwhile, that prey was stabbing only vital points as if it had magnets attached, so there was no mockery like this mockery.

It was in a berserk state so it couldn’t feel pain, but it couldn’t help but roar in frustration.

-HP : [1,036 / 20,000]

Life force being shaved away even during that time.

Shield Master couldn’t come to his senses at that absurd sight.

‘…What am I looking at.’

What exactly do you have to do to make that possible?

Someone might say this.

It wasn’t solo play from the beginning, and what’s so great about raiding a boss with only 20% left?

But if that boss is in a berserk state, it’s a different story.

‘Everything about a boss in berserk state becomes faster.’

There existed patterns that you inevitably had to take hits from, and berserk state was one of those patterns.

Because of the impossibly fast motions, it was hard to properly interrupt or even distinguish whether it was a pattern or basic attack – that was the terror of berserk.

‘That’s not memorized. He’s seeing and reacting with his eyes.’

That’s why it was even more chilling.

Anyone who has sparred would know.

Attacks or movements coming at you feel several times faster than when watching from afar.

This was what Shield Master had the hardest time adapting to during duels.

What if it was speed that made you flinch even from a distance?

It would require dynamic vision that truly transcended human limits.

“Kaiser…”

Was that why?

The name Kaiser, which he had dismissed with doubt, came to mind again.

“Huh? What did you say?”

At Miganddeok’s voice hearing that murmur, Shield Master turned his head.

Looking at him purely admiring, Shield Master carefully opened his mouth.

“…About Kaiser-nim.”

“Hyung? Why hyung.”

“Could he possibly be the real Kaiser?”

“…?”

Miganddeok and Yubinkkung, who were blinking as if asking what that meant, froze in place.

They belatedly understood the meaning.

“Actually, even as I say it, I can’t believe it myself…”

Saying that while glancing at Kaiser, Shield Master continued.

“If it’s not that, then that doesn’t make sense.”

“…”

“…”

Miganddeok and Yubinkkung closed their mouths.

They had no words to refute.

A fake Kaiser wouldn’t show such movements, and wouldn’t solo play either, right?

No, leaving solo play aside, not getting hit even once is something even decent High Rankers couldn’t do.

Rather, it made him wonder why he hadn’t thought of that until now.

“Then Kaiser hyung-nim is that Kaiser?”

“I want to say ‘no way’… but I’m not really sure either.”

“Wait a minute. Then we partied with Kaiser?”

Silence fell at Miganddeok’s words.

If, just if, that Kaiser was really the Kaiser.

Then wouldn’t they have been part of the legendary Kaiser’s first beginning?

Kaiser’s first party – an Achievement that money couldn’t buy.

[You have defeated the Mutant Goblin Warrior.]

[The dungeon is cleared.]

[As a reward…]

…

[You have achieved the Time Limit Achievement.]

…

“Wow… this is insane.”

The message appeared at the coincidental timing when the boss fell.

Thanks to that, it became ambiguous what the exclamation was for, but he was certain they were all thinking the same thing.

* * *

[Your level has increased.]

[Swordsmanship proficiency increases.]

[Swordsmanship proficiency becomes LV7.]

[You have defeated the Mutant Goblin Warrior.]

[You have cleared the dungeon.]

[Would you like to harvest the Mutant Goblin Warrior’s essence orb?]

[As harvest reward, you obtain Mutant Goblin Warrior’s blood, Mutant Goblin Warrior’s hide, and 2 gold.]

[It will be recorded in the Adventure Log.]

[Measuring clear time.]

…

Dohyun sheathed his sword while looking at the messages appearing one after another.

It was a faster clear than expected.

‘Games really are about gear after all.’

It would sound absurd to the party members who had been watching from behind, but Dohyun sincerely felt that way.

[Rage effect deals 10% additional damage to bosses.]

[Level 7 swordsmanship proficiency effect increases sword-related damage by 7%.]

The legendary title First Slayer’s effect dealt a whopping 10% additional damage to bosses.

On top of that, with all stats increased by +10 from the title effect and now level 7 swordsmanship proficiency added, ridiculous damage came out.

‘It was like cutting tofu.’

If this wasn’t gear dependency, then what was?

No matter how good one’s skills were, it was hard to show true value without items.

That was the fact Dohyun had felt most keenly while playing Demroc.

[You have defeated a new type of boss on first encounter.]

[Predation effect increases all stats by +6.]

‘Not now though.’

Dohyun was satisfied after neatly finishing the stat absorption through Predation.

During Demroc times, he had been frustrated by extremely bad luck, but now it was peaceful growth that seemed almost too generous.

Not only that, he had even leveled up this time.

‘Let’s invest 2 in strength, 3 in agility, and 2 in perception.’

He didn’t bother with stamina since it seemed fine for now.

[Player: Kaiser]

[Level: 10]

[HP: 1,570 / 1,700]

[MP: 250 / 350]

[Stamina: 100 / 300]

[Class: Last Adventurer 【Disciple of Kashiyar】]

[Titles (2)]

-Max Favorability from the Start?

-First Slayer

[Stats]

【Strength: 30(+32)】 【Agility: 30(+30)】

【Stamina: 5(+29)】 【Perception: 18(+29)】

【Magic Power: 5(+28)】

Remaining Points: 0

‘This is it.’

Seeing the neatly arranged stats put his mind at ease.

Who would see this as a level 10 status window?

With the second Predation combined with the Crouching Dragon effect, truly gangster-like stats were created.

Flinch.

At that moment, the party members whose eyes met his trembled as if startled.

‘Hmm?’

Dohyun nodded his head, puzzled by their somewhat cautious behavior.

‘I did go too wild though.’

There was no time to explain, and it seemed hard to make them understand properly, so he just charged in alone, but thinking about it now, it wasn’t exactly good behavior.

After all, the party leader was Shield Master, not himself.

‘I got too used to my own party.’

This was a problem that arose because during his Demroc days, the only party he had was the veteran party with Kukkudakkukku, Sword Master, and Purple Taste.

When he was with them, this kind of thing was daily routine, and often they would go even further.

“Um… Kaiser-nim. By any chance…”

Seeing them approach to speak, Dohyun opened his mouth.

Although the results were good, he was planning to apologize since they must have been quite flustered by his sudden impulsive action.

Ding-.

[Time Limit calculation is complete.]

[Time Limit – 29 minutes 58 seconds]

[Current Record Rankings]

-1st Place: Shield Master’s Party [29 minutes 58 seconds]

-2nd Place: ???’s Party [35 minutes 11 seconds]

-3rd Place: Demroc’s Party [42 minutes 12 seconds]

-4th Place: Ahdeo’s Party [44 minutes 07 seconds]

…

-10th Place: Slayer’s Party [48 minutes 35 seconds]

[You have reclaimed 1st place in Time Limit Rankings.]

[Differential rewards based on contribution will be given.]

[1st Place: Kaiser]

[2nd Place: Shield Master]

[3rd Place: Miganddeok]

[4th Place: Yubinkkung]

“It’s presumptuous to say, but… huh?”

“Sorry… hmm?”

Until the unexpected reward message stopped them.

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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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