The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 261

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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 261

Episode 261.

* * *

Aison couldn’t believe the sight he was witnessing.

[The Iron Proof reacts violently.]

[The ‘Stone that Defies Heaven’ sleeping within the Iron Proof awakens.]

“The Stone that Defies Heaven… that’s definitely… This is impossible. Just who are you…?”

The Iron Proof contains countless minerals embedded within it.

The number exceeds ten thousand, with over a hundred different types.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that all the minerals in the world are stored there, but without a doubt, if one were to pick the most precious mineral among them, it would be that ‘stone’.

‘…A stone that directly chooses its own owner.’

That thing, which was certainly a stone, was harder than any other mineral and contained a fierce energy.

‘Until it chooses an owner, it can never be melted or refined… Something that everyone challenged and failed at, treated as useless, appears here!’

And among those who failed was the Sword Master.

This young man was challenging an achievement that even the Sword Master, called the strongest swordsman, couldn’t accomplish.

Perhaps. Just perhaps, the owner of that finicky mineral might be born today.

It was natural for Aison’s hands to tremble as he faced such a great achievement.

“…What is happening here.”

Then came a flat, blunt voice without inflection.

However, Aison could feel the subtle tremor contained within it.

It was a voice he had heard for a very long time.

“Master Atram?”

A legendary craftsman with unmatched blacksmithing skills despite being over seventy years old.

A man who had received the title of Master Craftsman beyond just being a craftsman.

Atram, the symbol of Argethram Workshop, was looking with a stern face.

After finishing his closed-door work and returning, he heard that someone with a silver sword token had come, so he stopped by – what was all this commotion about?

“I’m asking what is happening here, Aison.”

“…I’m not sure either.”

“Not sure? Those words coming from your mouth?”

Even at the reaction suggesting this was unlike him, Aison only made an awkward face and didn’t correct his words.

He simply added one thing.

“The Stone that Defies Heaven.”

“…What?”

That alone was explanation enough.

The moment he heard a name that shouldn’t be mentioned, he could immediately understand the situation unfolding.

But while he understood, he couldn’t accept it.

“…Isn’t that the Iron Proof? So you’re saying the most suitable mineral for that young man is that stone?”

“I don’t know. It has only revealed itself so far, it seems to still be judging.”

“Hah… When was the last time the Stone that Defies Heaven revealed itself to judge someone?”

“I believe it’s the first time since the Sword Master.”

“That would be over 10 years ago.”

“No. It was a year ago. Actually, the Sword Master has continued to challenge it occasionally since then. He just failed every time.”

Atram stared at Aison intently.

This was a fact he hadn’t known. Turning his gaze back to Dohyun, he spoke in a serious voice.

“…So. What do you think will happen?”

“Logically, the same result as always should occur, but…”

Aison trailed off, recalling the light he had seen earlier.

Light that mixed all colors, emitting a chaotic hue like the universe itself.

This was a phenomenon he had never seen even from the Sword Master who had challenged countless times.

For the Sword Master, the stone had simply appeared with a heavy green light containing a weighty wind, without such a process.

“But?”

“…I don’t know. Strangely, I find myself placing expectations on that young man.”

“Is that so…”

The conversation ended there.

The two men closed their mouths as if by agreement and looked through the glass window.

Without realizing that the heat in their eyes was gradually warming with excitement.

They were simply curious.

What form would Dohyun’s qualities and potential, which the Stone that Defies Heaven was observing, take?

* * *

It was a stone.

A small, insignificant stone that rolled around everywhere and got kicked by feet. A lowly existence that couldn’t even become a mineral.

But because of that, it had lived for a long time without receiving anyone’s attention.

100 years, 1,000 years, 10,000 years.

Countless heroes were born and died, countries prospered and fell repeatedly several times.

When such distant ages had passed that it forgot to count anymore.

—!

The mineral was no longer a lowly pebble.

Through existing for a long period, ‘dignity’ had settled within it, transforming it into a new mineral.

A mineral unique in the world. It was the birth of a brilliant mineral.

It was also then that it first caught human attention.

Rumble-! Flash!

A dark night filled with storm clouds.

The moment a bolt of lightning struck it unluckily on a rainy day.

A strange phenomenon occurred.

—-!!

Being struck by lightning once was already surprising, but consecutive lightning bolts poured down as if to destroy it.

However, even the lightning that flashed and illuminated the world couldn’t leave a scratch on it.

A man happened to witness this scene.

-…Fine after being struck by lightning? Ho, look at this? No matter how much it strikes, it won’t break?

The man, whose only legs were visible, laughed heartily and picked it up.

From then on, it was with the man.

Life with the man was eventful.

It was a series of hardships with countless adversities blocking their path.

Step, step.

But they moved forward.

No matter what blocked their way, they broke through, and though they might hesitate, they never retreated. The ever-growing calamities were not something a mere human could handle.

But the man continued to advance.

‘This is…’

Watching scenes flash by like a panorama, Dohyun gulped.

‘The stone’s memories?’

Unbelievably, everything he was seeing now was the stone’s memories.

He couldn’t understand why he was suddenly experiencing a mineral’s memories when it said it would show his qualities.

No, before that, do stones even have memories?

Ding-

As he was spacing out in confusion over various questions, a cheerful notification rang.

Dohyun’s eyes widened as he snapped back to attention.

[Heaven-Defying Energy reacts to the ‘Stone that Defies Heaven’.]

[The Stone that Defies Heaven feels a nostalgic energy from you.]

[Witnessing the birth of Heaven-Defying Energy and part of the true Heaven-Defying Energy, proficiency increases.]

[The path to the next realm becomes much clearer.]

‘…What?’

Reverse Heaven Technique is reacting?

What does it mean that it witnessed the birth of Reverse Heaven Technique?

[Iron’s Proof attempts to look deeper into the depths.]

[Blocked by the overwhelming path of destiny the target walks.]

[Analysis forcibly terminated.]

Without time to think, his vision flashed.

When he opened his eyes, the light had disappeared and he had returned to the original plain interior.

All the scenes he had seen just moments before had vanished like a mirage.

It felt so unreal that he almost felt dejected.

But Dohyun’s eyes were shining sharply.

[Confirmation complete.]

[Based on the information, selecting the mineral that will become the most suitable weapon material for the target.]

[Stored mineral confirmed.]

[Iron’s Proof spits out the ‘Stone that Defies Heaven’.]

The message appearing before his eyes proved that what he had just seen was not an illusion.

Dohyun picked up the stone from Iron’s Proof and stared at it intently.

From the blackened stone, he could feel traces of having endured countless hardships.

[You have become the first owner of the ‘Stone that Defies Heaven’.]

[Recorded in the Adventure Log.]

[You have acquired the title ‘First Mineral’.]

[First Mineral]

-Grade: Hero+

-Description: A title given to the great Owner who acquired a mineral that no one else could obtain.

Abtartel admires you for being chosen by the forgotten mineral.

-Effect: With the title owner’s permission, the mineral’s restrictions can be temporarily lifted, and the mineral’s power can be drawn out more effectively.

All stats + 7

‘Stone that Defies Heaven….’

Dohyun chuckled after checking the title.

‘Well, even the name seems connected to Reverse Heaven Technique.’

Now it was certain.

This stone was connected to Reverse Heaven Technique, and Reverse Heaven Technique wasn’t a sword technique that only Dohyun used.

The excellent performance compared to its grade, and how it becomes the original sword technique when completed – he had thought there were many secrets in various ways….

‘It seems to be a more extraordinary sword technique than I thought.’

Above all, the scenes he saw through the stone’s memories.

They were definitely ancient landscapes that were the stage for the Main Quest. What he glimpsed among countless hardships was unmistakably the Abyss.

With his head becoming complicated, Dohyun closed the message window.

‘I’ll learn the details when I max out the proficiency.’

He would be able to learn something once he completed the complete sword technique.

“I can’t believe it…!”

“You, what you’re holding in your hand, could it be… have you truly been chosen by that stone?”

At the sound of sharp intake of breath, he turned his head to see two faces filled with shock.

‘…Wait, two people?’

Why are there two people?

Belatedly realizing something was strange, Dohyun looked at the elderly man standing next to Aison.

A bushy beard like Zhang Fei from Romance of the Three Kingdoms. A face full of wrinkles yet exuding determination. Thick hands obviously covered in calluses at first glance.

And finally, copper-colored skin darkened by fire.

He was an elderly man who clearly showed traces of long hammering work.

‘Why does he look familiar? His face seems familiar.’

Then Atram suddenly approached and grabbed his hand.

Though Dohyun frowned at the suddenly touching rough skin, Atram didn’t care.

“You, you… that stone. Are you thinking of making it into armor?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Are you going to make it into armor!”

“I was thinking of doing that….”

More precisely, it was closer to not having the leisure to do otherwise.

His shocked appearance had disappeared somewhere, and his two pupils, having quickly grasped the situation, were gleaming with intense excitement.

“Then you! Could you entrust the crafting to me? I promise to create a masterpiece that will be unmatched in my lifetime.”

Was it his imagination that he could see sparks igniting in those pupils?

His appearance, blazing rather than just glowing, was too passionate for an elderly man.

When Dohyun unconsciously turned his head, Aison, whose eyes met his, showed an awkward smile.

“Hehe… Sorry about that. Master Atram usually isn’t like that… but he has a tendency to show obsession with new minerals.”

“…I see.”

“And… honestly, even I am extremely tempted this time. If I could just handle that thing, I would have no regrets.”

But even while saying that, Aison cleanly gave up.

Of course he would.

“But since the opponent is Master Atram, I have no choice but to yield. He is someone who can proudly claim to be the best among the few Master Craftsmen in the Empire.”

“…Ah.”

Only then realizing Atram’s identity, Dohyun nodded.

Atram’s reputation needed no words.

People lined up unable to buy even weapons that the Master Craftsman made casually while picking his nose.

Among the masterpieces he created was the ‘Extreme – Annihilation Blade’ whose ownership had now passed to the Sword Master.

‘When he’s offering like this in a situation where I should be the one asking for help, I’d be an idiot to refuse.’

Above all….

[Master Craftsman Atram’s Proposal]

-Description: Master Craftsman Atram feels strong desire and longing that hasn’t ignited in recent times.

He earnestly hopes to take full charge of crafting your armor. You can entrust the crafting free of charge without payment.

-Master Craftsman Atram is burning with passion.

-The possibility of creating a masterpiece increases.

[Will you entrust the crafting?]

‘…I might get something even more incredible than I thought?’

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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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