The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 239

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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 239

Episode 239.

The shocking statement left him with nothing but a hollow laugh.

‘The scale is much bigger than I thought?’

At most, he had been cautious thinking it would be the Forgotten King approaching his prime.

But to think there was a monster sealed away that even the Forgotten King at his peak couldn’t defeat – what kind of chaos was this?

[When the calamity’s reproduction rate rises abnormally, that monster’s seal gradually weakens. That’s why I stepped forward myself to stop you from doing anything foolish.]

“Ah…”

Cold sweat trickled down Dohyun’s back.

‘No wonder it was too good to be true… I was so excited about gaining experience that I almost caused a great disaster while enjoying the benefits.’

Like a mouse lured by cheese in front of its eyes and caught in a trap.

He had almost triggered a calamity that approached without sound or warning with his own hands.

Dohyun cleared his throat, finally understanding why the Guardian had been so enraged.

“How powerful is that monster?”

[Hmm… Well. That thing also suffered severe internal injuries, so it wouldn’t be able to exert its full power and must have weakened considerably.]

Dohyun’s eyes sparkled at this somewhat hopeful news.

But as they say, you have to listen to Korean words until the end.

The words that followed were enough to extinguish the rising hope like pouring cold water on it.

[If it were now, perhaps my main body at its peak could self-destruct and perish together with it.]

“…Not defeat it?”

[Defeat? That thing? Ridiculous. That monster cannot be defeated. Only sealing is the sole means to bind it. Even that would require at least three beings at a level similar to my main body…]

The Guardian glanced at Dohyun from top to bottom and clicked his tongue.

[…It’s hopeless. With your level of ability, if that monster’s seal is broken, you’ll die in less than a minute even if you endure well.]

“…”

[What about the other Apostles? Are they stronger than you?]

“There are probably many who are stronger than me.”

Starting with the Top 10 Guilds, direct disciples belonging to NPCs like Lepiass.

And countless other High Rankers besides.

There were plenty of people stronger than his current self.

The Guardian spoke in a tone that showed little trust.

[That better be the case. I acknowledge your potential, but you’re still a greenhorn. If all the other Apostles were greenhorns like you, there would be no hope.]

“That’s quite an encouraging statement.”

Though he answered playfully, Dohyun’s expression was dark.

‘Could they defeat it? That monster.’

Honestly, he wasn’t confident.

Though he still couldn’t compare to the Top 10 Guilds, he wouldn’t be killed in just one minute.

It would be the same no matter who came.

He was confident he could fight for at least 10 minutes.

If he was determined to cling on persistently, even longer would be possible.

‘Besides, according to the information I heard from the Spirit of the Lion King, there’s a high probability of fighting the Forgotten King too.’

He wasn’t even confident about the Devourer of Existence alone, and now the Forgotten King too?

It would truly be a complete disaster. That would be when all guilds would need to join forces.

Even then, there was no guarantee they could defeat it 100%.

[Well, you don’t need to worry too much.]

Had his tension shown on his face?

When he looked up at the much lighter voice, he saw the Guardian with a confident expression.

He didn’t seem to have any major worries.

[That thing is thoroughly sealed. As long as I stand guard as the Guardian, that thing’s seal will never be broken.]

“…Didn’t you say the seal weakens when the reproduction rate rises?”

According to that assumption, the seal would break when it reached 100%.

But the Guardian only chuckled.

[Do you think I would have sealed it so carelessly? Have you forgotten my existence? I am the Guardian of this place. I play the role of protecting the tomb from those who would break the seal.]

“Ah?”

[Kill me, or find the sealed location and forcibly open the door while avoiding my eyes. These are the only two ways to break the seal.]

Even then, they would need to achieve 100% reproduction rate.

Considering the Guardian’s strength that Dohyun had experienced, it was nearly impossible.

Just as Dohyun was about to breathe a sigh of relief.

Ding-

“…Ding?”

Was the ominous feeling just his imagination?

Dohyun slowly turned his gaze, bothered by the strangely unsettling timing of the notification.

Then he blinked.

“…Didn’t you say the seal would absolutely never break?”

[That’s right. As long as I’m holding out, that won’t happen.]

“…Is that so?”

Dohyun looked ahead again, tilting his head and frowning.

It wasn’t an expression of displeasure.

It was more like a look of ‘Is this right?’ trying to see more clearly.

And for good reason…

[Someone has awakened the great calamity sleeping in the Forgotten Tomb.]

[The calamity’s reproduction rate is rapidly soaring.]

[Current calamity reproduction rate is 35%.]

[Current calamity reproduction rate is 37%.]

[Current calamity reproduction rate is 38%.]

…

‘…Then what is this?’

Messages were frantically appearing and filling his vision.

The calamity reproduction rate continuously rising felt like an emergency alarm by now.

The Guardian realized something was wrong a beat later.

[No, this is…!?]

Feeling something off about Dohyun’s reaction, he closed his eyes and sensed the Sealed Gate.

That’s when he understood what kind of disaster was happening.

[…Someone has opened the Sealed Gate.]

Something that should never happen was happening.

* * *

Earnest Guild.

An Explorer Guild that broke the long-standing prejudice that Explorer Guilds had high information gathering but weak combat power, and proudly claimed a spot among the Top 10 Guilds.

At its center was the master, Harrington.

“With Master Harrington here, we can follow with confidence.”

“I’ve never seen an explorer and archer as excellent as Master Harrington.”

A man who always ranked high when listing the best archers.

A man who always ranked just below Barion when listing the greatest explorers.

The one and only man who reached positions close to the peak in both fields.

A genius born in Europe – that was Harrington.

‘This is an opportunity.’

What brought him to this position was not only his excellent talent, but largely thanks to the unique ability he luckily obtained.

The unique ability of the owner of the Mythical God’s Magic Eye – Magic Eye.

It was a fraudulent eye that could perceive anything imbued with negative energy.

Using this ability, he discovered numerous hidden pieces, built relationships with NPCs, and became a great explorer.

‘The theme of this World Quest is calamity and tombs. This place filled with evil will become the stage that makes me the protagonist.’

That’s why he could be certain.

‘This isn’t the time for hunting or anything like that. Let’s find the hidden piece.’

The certainty that today, rather than proving his might as usual, fulfilling his purpose as an explorer was the right answer.

Therefore, Harrington led the most capable explorers among his guild members and wandered around searching for the hidden piece.

‘I was worried about entering late… but there’s no one looking for hidden pieces. Stupid fools.’

It was the same when Harrington was wandering around looking for the hidden piece. Even seeing it with their own eyes, they didn’t interfere much and were only obsessed with clearing.

The calamity’s reproduction rate rising at a rapid pace. And competitors flooding in like a tide.

These things made them impatient, causing them to chase only what was visible before their eyes.

‘Well, it’s natural since those without demon eyes couldn’t find it even if they tried.’

Only he was qualified to find it.

And according to that qualification, he would proudly find the hidden piece.

It didn’t take as long as expected to bear fruit from that judgment.

“Lord Harrington…”

“…This seems to be…”

“Oh, I think it’s right.”

Guild members cautiously opened their mouths while looking at the scene before them.

[You have discovered the hidden location, ‘Sealed Gate’.]

[First discovery bonus granted for being the first to find it.]

[Recorded in the Adventure Log.]

Though they had found the desired hidden piece, no one rashly approached it.

Normally Harrington would have scolded them for being so cowardly, but this time he couldn’t.

His reaction wasn’t much different either.

‘This is… a door?’

Tension was clearly visible on Harrington’s face as he licked his dry lips.

The door’s height alone exceeded 50 meters.

‘I can’t even guess how wide it is.’

In fact, if he hadn’t seen the message about discovering the Sealed Gate, he would have thought it was just ground with different patterns carved into it.

Perhaps if they hadn’t dug up the ground, they might not have known even after seeing it.

It was such an unbelievable size.

‘The Sealed Gate… what exactly is sealed here?’

Would it be okay to open this?

Perhaps it was like Pandora’s box that shouldn’t be opened?

That thought was holding Harrington’s feet.

His contemplation was brief. Harrington, who had been standing with a furrowed brow, took a heavy step.

‘…No. I’ll open it.’

Coming this far and backing down now because he was scared?

That would be no different from giving up on ranking in the World Quest.

He had already come late and abandoned clearing to find this.

And.

‘We’ve already dug up all the ground, so it would be more painful if other guys take it.’

If he heard that this place was a jackpot, he would be more than upset – he’d be furious.

Sometimes situations require great boldness.

Creeeeak-

[Attempting to open the hidden location, Sealed Gate.]

[You may lose your life to the Guardian of the Tomb.]

[Warning! Beware of the fatal strike.]

“…!”

Harrington, startled by the message that appeared the moment he opened the door, crouched down almost lying flat.

The name alone was extraordinary, so he thought it was a trap.

But after several seconds passed like that,

“Hmm?”

Why isn’t anything happening?

Harrington raised his head as if finding it strange.

“Ugh…”

“That was startling.”

“Is everyone okay… I guess? What’s this? Was it just trying to scare us?”

Looking around was the same.

It wasn’t that there were no traps at all – arrows and swords and other weapons were scattered around, and some guild members seemed injured.

‘But it’s not enough to warrant a warning message?’

It wasn’t enough to give warnings about guardians and such.

Frankly speaking, those measly traps wouldn’t be fatal even if you didn’t dodge and got hit.

A puzzling situation in many ways. That question was soon resolved.

[The guardian is currently away due to circumstances.]

[Do you really wish to open the Sealed Gate?]

“…So that’s how it was.”

The message floating above his head was giving him some understanding of the situation.

The guardian is away – what this meant was simple.

‘Now is the only opportunity.’

For whatever reason, if it was called by the name guardian, it wouldn’t be an easy opponent.

If he was going to open the door anyway, wouldn’t it be best to open it now while it’s away?

It was truly a situation like getting something for nothing.

You’d be a fool not to take this.

Creeeeak-

The old, worn door with virtually no oil made a spine-chilling sound like nails on a chalkboard as it opened,

[You have opened the Sealed Gate.]

[You have awakened the great calamity sleeping in the Forgotten Tomb.]

[The calamity’s reproduction rate is rapidly soaring.]

[The current calamity reproduction rate is 35%.]

“…What?”

Harrington’s face went blank.

And before he could figure out what this was all about, the incident occurred.

——!

“Ugh, wh-what is that!”

“My ears, my ears…!”

A spine-chilling sound came from beyond the door that was pitch black where nothing could be seen.

Guild members writhed as their bodies couldn’t handle the overwhelming tinnitus.

But only Harrington straightened his back and watched.

‘What the hell is that…’

His face was deathly pale.

Shock passed through his eyes, and soon despair came to settle firmly in place.

Something terrifying faintly revealed itself above his pupils.

‘Is that… a person?’

A silhouette could be seen above the head of the massive being.

Though it briefly appeared and disappeared, it was definitely a man’s silhouette. And the moment he confirmed that, Harrington turned around without hesitation.

‘I can’t beat that. No matter who comes!’

Quick judgment.

“We’re running away. Everyone retreat…!”

However, as quick as that judgment was, the terrifying being’s reaction was just as fast.

The moment the terrifying being beyond the door moved, the place that had seemed pitch black changed into an ordinary space.

All that darkness had been the being’s body.

Hiss-

As the Man slowly opened his eyes, the massive pupils that were revealed gazed at Harrington’s back.

That was the end.

His body stiffened for a moment, and when he came to his senses, nothing remained in front of the Door.

Crack, crunch-

Creak-

From beyond the Door that was once again filled with darkness, chilling sounds echoed for a while before stopping.

[The great calamity replenishes its nutrition.]

[The great calamity realizes that its seal has not yet been completely broken.]

[The great calamity retreats while waiting for the seal to be broken.]

Then it gazed beyond the Door for a moment before completely retreating.

A great calamity and a terrible Monster of The Abyss.

It was the moment when the beast that had driven the Empire to the brink of destruction, the Devourer of Existence, opened its eyes.

And at the same time.

[The Forgotten King opens his eyes.]

The man who had been hanging above the Devourer of Existence also opened his eyes.

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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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