The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 221

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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 221

 

Episode 221.

 

The Trial of the Great Lion King.

 

This trial with such a grandiose name had an equally grandiose setting and background.

 

The Lion King, Laude Belnuros, who was the most valiant king since the Empire’s founding and the strongest knight during his lifetime.

 

‘Since it’s a trial he created himself.’

 

As both king and knight, he always stood at the forefront, leading ahead of everyone else, and accumulated countless Achievements.

 

A truly valiant king whose Achievements were so numerous they couldn’t even be counted.

 

However, public opinion was somewhat different.

 

“The Lion King said he thought of himself not as a king, but as a single knight.”

 

“….”

 

“That’s correct. There was no knight as valiant as him. He shone more as a knight than as a king.”

 

As Abeir said, he had more Achievements as a knight than as a king.

 

“That’s why he was sometimes called a tyrant, but he was also the person who had the greatest influence in creating the current Empire and Knight’s Castle.”

 

It wasn’t for nothing that he was praised as a king who became a model for countless knights.

 

Among them, the Knight’s Castle in particular could be said to have inherited the Lion King’s spirit intact.

 

They say heroes become legends even after death.

 

Though it had been over 200 years since the Lion King died, the name Lion King still wielded great influence in the Empire.

 

And the largest share of that influence was occupied by the Lion King’s trial.

 

-Knight, prove your qualifications.

 

-I, Lion King Laude Belnuros, shall test your qualifications.

 

-Those who pass my trial shall obtain treasures befitting your qualifications.

 

A legacy created by the Lion King, who worried about the qualifications of knights in the Empire without him, staking everything before his death.

 

The Lion King’s Tower, built with the help of the greatest Mage Tower Leaders of the time.

 

He embedded his ‘spirit’ there to pass on everything he enjoyed during his lifetime to descendants who climbed there and proved their qualifications.

 

“There’s a rumor that the Lion King, at the moment of death, gained enlightenment at the boundary between life and death and reached the supreme realm. The treasures left by such a person are still active in the hands of those who proved their qualifications.”

 

“Yes, I know.”

 

Dohyun nodded at Abeir’s words.

 

He couldn’t not know.

 

It was now a well-known story that famous players like the Empress and Demroc climbed the Lion King’s Tower, passed the trial, and were using those treasures.

 

‘Especially the weapon Demroc obtained has become his trademark now.’

 

But the hottest figure wasn’t individual players like Demroc or the Empress.

 

‘The Sword of Seven Rivers.’

 

A man who dared to arrogantly hold the title of Sword Emperor under the Empire’s emperor, who believed there should be only one emperor under the sun.

 

One of the seven strongest representing the Empire and the strongest swordsman admired by all Swordsmen.

 

Sword Master, Gawain Drew.

 

He climbed the Lion King’s Tower and recorded an overwhelming performance that no one else could dare approach.

 

You might ask why make such a fuss about an NPC climbing a tower, but this was a topic that gamers couldn’t help but be interested in.

 

‘The Lion King’s trial isn’t just about passing.’

 

While passing itself was difficult, the Lion King’s trial gave different rewards based on the knight’s qualifications.

 

The Lion King’s Tower was a tower imbued with the ‘Lion King’s spirit’ that sought to test knights’ qualifications.

 

Therefore, it tested pure strength, excellent spirit, and future potential.

 

The Lion King’s spirit embedded in the tower was satisfied by watching that process and Achievement.

 

According to the degree of satisfaction, the gravestones embedded one each in the Five Knight Castles and the tower would react and emit their characteristic light…

 

‘You can only truly say you passed if you emit red light.’

 

Green light, yellow light, silver light, golden light, and red light.

 

Among them, Sword Master Gawain was the only man to emit the red light that could be called the final boss.

 

To be precise, he was the only one.

 

Until Demroc and the Empress proudly completed the tower’s trial and emitted red light.

 

A few high rankers had achieved red light since then, but that was all.

 

‘A hidden event that only occurs for those who get perfect scores on all trials. Sword Master was the first and last to pass even that.’

 

Because they couldn’t achieve anything beyond that.

 

In the end, information about the reward Sword Master obtained remained a mystery even now, over 1 year and 8 months since Godseeker was released.

 

And that point touched gamers’ hearts.

 

-They say the reward Sword Master got surpasses legendary grade.

 

-No no. The theory that Sword Master’s swordsmanship is actually the Lion King’s secret swordsmanship is likely.

 

-I heard it simply gives 200 to all stats? That’s why he’s so damn strong.

 

-No way? I heard if you get it, Earth splits in half?

 

-This is Abtartel, you idiot.

 

An unknown reward.

 

But surely it must be good, the greatest treasure left by the Lion King who might have reached the supreme realm!

 

This thing that wasn’t a hidden piece but felt like one stimulated players’ imagination.

 

Many challenged it, but naturally no one broke Sword Master’s Achievement.

 

‘It’s intriguing, but… hoping for that would be crossing the line.’

 

Most opinions were that it wasn’t balanced to be cleared now anyway.

 

In a situation where the dominant opinion was that it was only possible because he was the Sword Master, even Dohyun, who couldn’t resist rewards, had no intention of being greedy.

 

Dohyun’s goal was to pass all trials and emit red light.

 

‘Those who pass all of the Lion King’s trials gain the qualification to see the Emperor.’

 

This served a role similar to a letter of recommendation.

 

No, rather it was a more necessary qualification for Dohyun now, as it could pique the Emperor’s curiosity more.

 

“To see that now… Really has no backing down.”

 

“I’m telling you. Most people say you’re a fool if you do it now… How is every single move so reckless?”

 

“Like celebrity, like fan… I kind of understand why Kashin Church is so reckless.”

 

Though he said he wouldn’t be greedy, to the watching trainees even this seemed like a crazy attempt.

 

Because there hadn’t been a single player who passed all trials in half a year.

 

Even counting the full 1 year and 8 months, they could be counted on one hand.

 

“The pioneers might not have known, and they had no choice to build power… but when everything’s already known, why bother?”

 

“He’s even challenging right away without hitting max level.”

 

“Well… the trial proceeds according to your level whether it’s 100 or 71 anyway. Still, it’s common to at least do trait transcendence first, so it’s a bit much.”

 

“It is exciting though. How will Kaiser’s performance turn out? Will he emit red light?”

 

“Eh, wouldn’t that be a bit difficult? Many Top 10 Guild Masters couldn’t break it. He’s only beaten Berjhe at most, so it’ll be tough?”

 

“True… That would be the case.”

 

Above all, there was a separate reason they were focusing on Kaiser’s moves like this.

 

“You only get one chance to take the Trial of the Great Lion King. It could be a land of opportunity, but it could also become a cold grave. Do you still truly wish to proceed?”

 

Because you’re only given one chance to take the Trial of the Great Lion King.

 

Just once, unless you delete your character.

 

Faced with a choice that should be made carefully, Dohyun answered without hesitation.

 

“Yes.”

 

There was no point saving it for later anyway.

 

If he backed down because one chance was too precious, the only way to get a letter of recommendation would be through official routes.

 

Rather than waste 6 months during Main Quest progression, it was much better to use that precious opportunity now.

 

There was also the option of coming after hitting max level… but he had no idea how long that would take.

 

“Well now… You show not the slightest bit of fear.”

 

Then Abeir clicked his tongue with a displeased expression.

 

A fearless appearance might look valiant, but it looked different to Abeir’s eyes.

 

That wasn’t valor or anything like that.

 

‘For the immortal Disciples, it’s just an opportunity. The Lion King wouldn’t have expected this kind of mentality… I wonder how much conviction these people who treat death lightly can show the Lion King.’

 

It was just a look that came from having no reason to fear.

 

The Disciples who came to take the Lion King’s trial all had the same expression. And they all met miserable results.

 

Therefore, Abeir could be certain.

 

‘That guy won’t be much different either.’

 

Though he had become interested since he seemed famous among the apostles.

 

Abeir clicked his tongue, saying he had pointless expectations, and guided Dohyun.

 

“This is it.”

 

The place he guided him to was not a tower, but in front of a gravestone.

 

It was a gravestone kept in each knight’s castle, and this was the entrance to the Lion King’s Tower.

 

At the same time, it was a special gravestone that would emit light according to performance.

 

Words were written on that gravestone.

 

-Those who take the test of me, Laude Belnuros, shall prove your qualifications when you hit your limits at the boundary between life and death.

 

Just one sentence,

 

‘Ugh, why such an ominous phrase.’

 

‘Rizariza.’

 

‘It’s a gravestone with a mysterious aura. It seems to contain numerous spells.’

 

Jihad and Eliza were terrified by the intimidating phrase, while Charlie looked at it with interested eyes.

 

As he approached while listening to their words, a message appeared.

 

[Would you like to enter the Lion King’s Tower?]

 

[Lion King’s Tower]

 

-Grade: ??

 

-Type: Trial

 

-Description: A legacy created by the past Lion King Laude Belnuros, putting everything into it before his death.

 

It is said that numerous legacies left by the Lion King remain.

 

One who overcomes death within limits and proves the qualifications of a knight. Thus, one who passes the test. Shall possess the Lion King’s legacy.

 

-Entry Restriction: 1 person

 

[Warning! You cannot retry once you enter.]

 

“I enter.”

 

To this, Dohyun answered without hesitation.

 

Flash-

 

[Entering the Lion King’s Tower.]

 

[The Lion King’s spirit welcomes the knight who takes the Great Lion King’s test.]

 

[The Lion King’s spirit wishes the knight good luck.]

 

When he opened his eyes, what he saw was a massive dome.

 

A space that felt as large as a school playground, to exaggerate a bit.

 

-Huh? What, why is there nothing?

 

-Riza?

 

There was nothing in that space.

 

Only a wide space, walls surrounding the space, and a high ceiling were visible.

 

His questioning was brief.

 

Ding-

 

A cheerful notification rang as if it had been waiting, and a message appeared.

 

[The Lion King’s spirit measures you with the trait ‘Lion King’s Eye’.]

 

[Measurement complete.]

 

[First Test, Limit Test begins.]

 

[The Limit Test consists of 10 stages and is a test to measure the knight’s limits.]

 

[Show your qualifications standing at the boundary between life and death within your limits.]

 

Creak- Creak-

 

Clatter- Clatter-

 

Skeleton soldiers emerged, breaking through the ground.

 

The skeleton soldiers, seemingly made from swordsmen, holding longswords and wearing light armor, were emanating an ominous aura.

 

“Ho, so this is how it works.”

 

Dohyun grinned as he looked at the monsters that instantly filled the empty space.

 

First Test, Limit Test.

 

A vicious test that doesn’t heal you even when you clear stages, and sends out increasingly stronger monsters.

 

The First Test, notorious for being a war of attrition like a marathon, had begun.

 

-Oh? Undead? Should I summon some too, Owner?

 

“No, I can’t waste mana already on stage 1.”

 

-Then…

 

At Jihad’s trailing words as he looked up, Dohyun chuckled and answered.

 

“I’ll go warm up a bit.”

 

For now, it was better to go alone to test those guys’ level as well.

 

Even if they looked easy on the surface, this was the Limit Test.

 

This was the Lion King’s test that no one had cleared for half a year.

 

Especially since many who took the test said skeleton soldiers made them shudder, he needed to properly check before entering the next stage.

 

The guys seemed to understand his meaning immediately and readily stepped back.

 

-Well, got it. I’ll be in the back, so call if you need me.

 

-Yes! Please go ahead, Master.

 

-Rizariza!

 

“Alright.”

 

Dohyun, who was warming up and taking a few steps forward, suddenly disappeared.

 

Wha… huh?

 

Whoosh!

 

He had shot forward rapidly in an instant.

 

Though there had been quite a distance, when he approached right in front in an instant, the orc undead in front was startled and stepped back, but it was already too late.

 

[Cheonbyeon (Thousand Changes) transforms into ‘Scythe of Terrible Nightmare’.]

 

[Using Striking.]

 

Crack- Slash-

 

Because Dohyun had kicked the back of its knee to buckle it and cut its neck with Cheonbyeon transformed into a massive scythe.

 

But then it happened.

 

Ding-

 

[You have defeated the Great Lion King’s skeleton soldier.]

 

[Defeated in one strike.]

 

[The Lion King’s spirit is shocked by the unbelievable Achievement.]

 

[The tower detects the Lion King’s spirit. It will be reflected in your performance.]

 

“…?”

 

…Why did this die in one hit?

 

Dohyun, who was preparing a follow-up attack, was dazed by the unexpected situation for a moment.

 

Thinking something was strange, he tried attacking the skeleton soldiers nearby,

 

Slash- Crack-

 

Crunch!

 

[You have defeated the Great Lion King’s skeleton soldier.]

 

[You have defeated the Great Lion King’s skeleton soldier.]

 

[You have defeated the Great Lion King’s skeleton soldier.]

 

[You have defeated the Great Lion King’s skeleton soldier.]

 

“…”

 

He could see that they all died in one to two hits.

 

[Level increased.]

 

Even a level up on top of that.

 

‘…I leveled up already?’

 

Dohyun’s level was 73.

 

Since his level went up, he was now level 74.

 

Though he had accumulated a lot of experience, leveling up from killing just five was unreasonable.

 

‘…Is their experience points that massive?’

 

That was the only answer.

 

Occasionally, people who came without filling up level 100 had said that the experience points here weren’t bad, but it didn’t seem to be this much.

 

Was it because there were no crazy bastards who entered from the early 70s?

 

Whatever it was, that wasn’t what mattered right now.

 

‘They die in one or two hits, but the experience points are overwhelming and the monsters infinitely respawn up to stage 10?’

 

In other words, this was….

 

‘Wow, this is an amazing Hunting Ground, isn’t it?’

 

Trial? Limit? Grueling marathon?

 

To Dohyun, it was just an experience points event.

—————
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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