The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 234

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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 234

Episode 234.

It was roughly an hour ago when Dohyun first entered the Forgotten Tomb.

After much deliberation, he chose his reward and entered, only to be greeted by a sight that was ambiguous to call a calamity.

‘This is…’

Rather than a calamity, it was just a tomb.

True to its name, it seemed to have been forgotten by people for a long time, with moss-covered buildings that were completely unmaintained and weeds on the ground that had withered and rotted to the point of crumbling.

And graves and gravestones placed here and there.

At first glance, it was just a somewhat eerie but unremarkable scenery.

‘Ugh, disgusting. What is this sticky air?’

‘Hmm… It doesn’t feel very good.’

‘Rizariza…’

However, Jihad, Eliza, and Charlie frowned as if feeling uncomfortable.

This was because they could feel the peculiar unpleasant sensation emanating from the undead throughout their entire bodies.

Especially for those sensitive to energy, it felt even stronger.

It was then that a message appeared.

[You have entered the World Quest dungeon, ‘Forgotten Tomb’ for the first time.]

[Save the Forgotten King from the scene of calamity.]

[The current calamity reproduction rate is 0%.]

[As a first-time benefit, you have been given priority, and other players can enter after 1 hour.]

‘So the calamity hasn’t happened yet.’

It was already giving off an eerie atmosphere, so what would it become when the calamity was reproduced?

Since it was reproducing the calamity that the Forgotten King had walked through, he was even more curious, but he would find out soon enough.

Dohyun decided to set aside his curiosity for now and drew out Cheonbyeon.

His eyes gleamed low.

‘One hour… I need to monopolize as much as I can.’

The one-hour priority given as a benefit for discovering the World Quest.

The value of this one hour was immense.

Unlike players who would have to compete immediately upon entering, he was given time to fully understand this place.

Especially for Dohyun, who possessed the Eye of Truth, it was an invaluable time.

‘The most profitable thing I can do right now is find a guardian.’

Or find a hidden piece.

He wouldn’t be able to accumulate enough strategy points to rank high through ordinary methods. But the problem was how to find them in this vast space…

Dohyun clicked his tongue and turned around.

‘What choice do I have, I’ll just have to wander around.’

In times like this, the straightforward approach was the only answer.

Dohyun decided to search as much as possible before the players arrived and started walking.

How long had he been walking?

[The current calamity reproduction rate is 2%.]

“Sigh, I feel like I’ve been wandering around for 30 minutes already, but there’s nothing.”

-That’s right… I’m getting tired.

-Rizariza.

He thoroughly searched the surroundings.

He deliberately went to places that were hard to reach.

He even entered eerie buildings, but the Eye of Truth never activated.

Just in case it was something the Eye of Truth couldn’t detect, Dohyun also looked around carefully, but it was the same.

‘I’ve been wandering around saving even hunting time, but this makes it all for nothing, doesn’t it?’

If he had hunted instead, he could have at least contributed a little to the strategy by raising his level or increasing the reproduction rate.

At this rate, he was just going to waste the precious hour.

Dohyun clicked his tongue in displeasure, but actually, it was somewhat within his expected range.

As befitting a World Quest dungeon that had to accommodate numerous players, the map itself would be very large, and he had thought it might be difficult to find even if he used the full hour.

[A certain amount of time has passed, and the calamity reproduction rate has increased.]

[The current calamity reproduction rate is 3%.]

[The frequency of undead appearances will increase.]

Grrrr- Grrr-

It was then that the message appeared and hands burst through the rotting ground.

Five undead revealing themselves by grotesquely twisting their bodies as they broke through the ground.

He had seen undead wandering in the distance, but this seemed to be the first time seeing them pop up right in front of him like this.

‘I don’t have time to deal with those guys…’

Just as he was about to ignore them and pass by as he had done so far.

‘…Wait a minute.’

Dohyun’s expression became strange.

Jihad, who had stopped abruptly, tilted his head.

-Huh? Why, Owner? Are you giving up searching and going to hunt? Should I step back then?

It was a question asked because Dohyun’s pattern of fighting alone for the first battle to gauge the level was already familiar, but Dohyun shook his head.

The reason he stopped now was different.

[The Eye of Truth activates.]

‘…Why is everything under their feet red?’

Under the ground where the undead had broken through.

Red light was seeping out from there.

It was light so small it was almost like a dot, but it was definitely red light.

Grrrr-!

As Dohyun narrowed his eyes and looked, the undead who made eye contact with him rushed forward without hesitation.

They even drew swords and swung them.

Whoosh-

‘Look at this? They’re aiming for the head first.’

Dohyun tilted his head back to avoid the sword of the one who approached first, then grabbed its arm and broke it.

Crack, despite being bent at a grotesque angle, there was no hesitation in its movements.

Dohyun kicked the belly of the one that was chattering its teeth and lunging at him, knocking it down, then struck down with Cheonbyeon transformed into the ‘Scythe of Terrible Nightmares’.

Thwack-

Confirming that the fallen one was grabbing sand, Dohyun immediately changed trajectory and struck down starting from its hand.

Scrape- Thud!

Like that, one strike, two strikes, three strikes…

After roughly four strikes, the undead’s body stopped trembling.

[‘Mercenary Undead with Lingering Resentment’ has been defeated.]

‘Even though I didn’t properly use skills, I used striking with darkness coating, but it took four strikes…’

It was definitely tough since it was a World Quest.

True to being undead, it was bold even while being hit, but unlike undead, it had cunning and efficient combat sense.

It felt like fighting a human who had been through battlefields.

‘Does it use techniques from its mercenary days?’

This was only 3 percent reproduction rate.

If 3 percent was a mercenary, what kind of enemy would appear at 10 percent, 20 percent, and 50 percent?

Dohyun let out a hollow laugh.

He seemed to understand why the Spirit of the Lion King said it would be difficult when it reached 100 percent.

-Good grief… The sword-wielding posture is worse than a street beggar. With the center of gravity shaking like that… Are there really clients who would hire mercenaries like you? They must have two lives or something.

-Riza! Riza!

-Even a gang leader who learned by eye would have better skills than you. I can see why you became a mercenary with lingering resentment. Even I wouldn’t have been able to rest in peace.

-Rizariza!

-…You’re doing well!

Looking to the side, he could see Charlie and Eliza sensibly holding down the undead.

Today, as always, Charlie was dealing damage while Eliza cheered him on from the side. And behind those two, even Jihad was clapping.

Graaaaaah-!!!

Graaaaah!!!

The furious undead were glaring menacingly as they all swung their swords.

It was a somewhat pitiful scene, but Dohyun’s eyes were lowered and sunken. His gaze wasn’t directed at them.

But rather slightly below.

[Eye of Truth is activated.]

A red light glowing like a small dot beneath his feet.

‘It disappeared from the undead I killed.’

And the same was true beneath the undead that had just fallen to Charlie’s sword.

With a hunch, Dohyun pierced through the neck of one man from behind, and the light beneath the powerlessly fallen undead also disappeared.

‘I’m certain.’

Dohyun grinned as if his thoughts were correct and shouted.

“Charlie! Eliza! Don’t kill them, just try holding onto one man.”

-Risa?

-Understood, Master.

While Eliza tilted her head as if asking what that meant, Charlie immediately carried out the order without question.

After deflecting the undead’s attack with fluid swordsmanship, he disarmed it and choked its neck from behind.

-I’ve captured it.

“Okay.”

Dohyun nodded and immediately rushed toward the undead.

Swinging his massive scythe, Dohyun quickly dealt with the remaining two and slowly approached Charlie.

Grah- Graaaah!

The undead was still struggling, gnashing its teeth even while captured.

Ignoring the creature that was spitting and showing its intent to attack, he thrust Cheonbyeon, transformed into a spear, into the ground beneath its feet.

There was no change. Even after repeating it several times, it was the same.

‘Is this not it?’

Changing his approach, Dohyun transformed Cheonbyeon into a shield and began digging into the ground.

-…Huh? What are you doing, Owner? Why are you suddenly digging the ground?

-Risa?

Despite their puzzled reactions, Dohyun didn’t stop.

After digging the ground several times like this, when Dohyun got somewhat close to the red light, he gently dug out the soil with his hands.

As he picked up the red crystal that was revealed, a cheerful notification rang out.

[You have discovered a hidden Fragment of Calamity.]

“Fragment of Calamity… Just hearing the name sounds ominous.”

Despite being covered with dirt and moss, Dohyun’s eyes filled with conviction as he looked at the brilliant red crystal emitting light.

He felt it instinctively.

The feeling that this was related to what the Spirit of the Lion King had mentioned.

‘But where should I use this…’

Pop, Graaaah-!

It was then that a decayed hand burst out from the fragment.

It was an undead. The same appearance as the undead they had just dealt with.

Dohyun, who had been blankly staring at this nonsensical phenomenon that completely defied the laws of physics, instinctively stabbed it with his assassin’s dagger.

Stab! Stab stab! Stab!

[You destroy the Fragment of Calamity and part of the calamity disappears.]

[The calamity reproduction rate rises sharply.]

[Current calamity reproduction rate is 4%.]

[Level up.]

“…”

-…Huh?

Dohyun’s eyes wavered at the unexpected situation. The same was true for Jihad, Eliza, and Charlie standing beside him.

They instinctively looked at each other and blinked.

“…Crazy.”

-Th, this is what I’m thinking, right Owner?

-Good heavens.

At Jihad’s clearly flustered question, Dohyun chuckled and nodded.

“It seems to be right.”

-Wow, is this even allowed? There should be limits to cheating. Isn’t this really too much, Owner? No, more than that, what does this have to do with that crystal of conviction?

“Well, maybe it’s not related.”

But Dohyun’s expression was bright.

Far from disappointed, he was raising the corners of his mouth as if he couldn’t be happier.

‘Raising the calamity reproduction rate is the same as being considered to have solved many calamities. It makes a big contribution to the strategy.’

There was the disadvantage of it becoming more difficult, but looking only at strategy points, raising the calamity rate was beneficial up to a certain stage.

‘One fragment raised it by 1 percent.’

In that sense, this Fragment of Calamity was no different from a cheat key.

Because he could raise it by 1 percent each time by picking up and destroying a fragment.

Not only that.

It even seemed to give massive experience points by judging that all calamities contained within had been resolved.

‘In other words, I could take first place in the strategy just by destroying fragments…?’

When his thoughts reached that point, Dohyun couldn’t help but flare his nostrils.

“This is totally awesome, isn’t it?”

-…Sigh, unfair world. Is this a country?

-As expected of Master. To discover something like this, this humble sword is so moved that my vision is blurred.

-Ri… sa.

Before he knew it, things like guardians, treasures, and crystals of conviction had disappeared from Dohyun’s mind.

Treasure? What’s important about that when it won’t come out even if you look for it?

‘If I just destroy fragments, I get experience points and strategy rewards all at once!’

Thus began Dohyun’s fragment hunting, and the process proceeded smoothly.

“Charlie!”

-Yes, Master! Come up quickly, we don’t have time.

Guh, graaaah?

While wandering around moderately, when an undead broke through the ground and reached out its hand, Charlie grabbed the hand and pulled it up.

Thanks to that, the undead came up much more easily and tilted its head with a bewildered face.

Charlie seemed to comfort such an undead by hugging it from behind… but didn’t, and immediately choked its neck while Dohyun diligently dug the ground.

[You have obtained a Fragment of Calamity.]

[You have destroyed a Fragment of Calamity.]

…

[Current calamity reproduction rate is 5%.]

“Next!”

-Yes, Master!

Then Charlie would throw the undead, and Dohyun would immediately pierce the undead’s vital point, the brain, cutting off its breath.

Then it was a repetition of searching for undead again.

When five appeared at once like the first time, Dohyun’s mouth would rise as if it would tear.

[You have destroyed a Fragment of Calamity.]

…

[Current calamity reproduction rate is 13%.]

At some point, he had to destroy two or three to raise it by 1 percent, but considering only 20 minutes had passed, it was tremendous speed.

If he made exactly 50 percent like this, taking first place would be a sure thing.

[Level up.]

‘Yeah! This is why you do hidden pieces!’

Moreover, he had reached a level that was notoriously difficult to advance past 80.

With this, Dohyun’s level was now 81.

There had never been such a windfall.

Dohyun was exploring the surroundings, trying to calm his excited heart with cold rationality when it happened.

[C-can’t you stop?]

“Huh? What? What did you say?”

-I didn’t say anything though?

“Then Charlie?”

-I didn’t say anything either, Master.

Dohyun tilted his head at the urgent voice from somewhere, but soon began digging up the ground containing the Fragment of Calamity again.

Groan- Groan-

Behind him, an undead wailed pitifully with its throat constricted.

[Stop this instant!!]

That’s when a thunderous voice rang out.

Dohyun frowned with a “Ugh” at the strange sensation that seemed to resonate directly in his brain.

That’s when the change occurred.

Rumble rumble rumble-

The ground he had been diligently digging began shaking violently and moved on its own.

It wasn’t just this place. The entire area was shaking and moving by itself, forming a single shape.

Like Moses’ miracle, beneath the ground that split to both sides, a massive door was now revealed.

[Eye of Truth is activated.]

[You have discovered the hidden location, ‘Protector’s Cave.’]

[First discovery bonus granted.]

[Experience gain increased by 20%.]

[Drop rate increased by 20%.]

“Ah.”

-My goodness.

It was the cave where the protector they had been searching for so desperately was located.

As he stood dazed looking at the protector that had come to him like a gourd rolling down with its vine, an extremely enraged voice rang out again.

[I can’t stand watching this anymore, so come in.]

-Huh?

-R-Risa!

With those words, the door opened and sucked in Dohyun and the Guardians.

Dohyun had unintentionally succeeded in the advanced strategy of making the other side come find him if he couldn’t find them himself.

* * *

After being forcibly sucked in, when he opened his eyes, what he saw was a massive cave.

And filling that cave was a giant lion-shaped statue baring its teeth with menacingly glinting eyes.

[You have entered the hidden location, ‘Protector’s Cave.’]

[The protector is in an enraged state.]

[If you fail to prove your conviction by passing the protector’s trial, you may face death.]

Looking at the message floating above the lion statue, Dohyun muttered quietly.

‘Wow… I never thought I’d find this place like this.’

This was the reason other players saw abnormally high calamity rates upon entering, and the reason Dohyun had come to enter the Protector’s Cave.

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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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