The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 269

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 269

Episode 269.

[You have defeated the fifth magical beast on the left path.]

[You have defeated the fifth magical beast on the left path.]

….

[You have successfully destroyed the trap before it could activate.]

[This has been recorded in the Adventure Log.]

How much time had passed since breaking through by smashing all the traps?

By the time he had cleanly slaughtered even the magical beast at the fifth fork in the road, a message appeared.

[You have acquired the title ‘Master of Trap Disarmament’.]

[Master of Trap Disarmament]

-Grade: Hero

-Description: You who have consecutively disarmed traps! You are a master of trap disarmament!

-Effect: Trap detection range +20%, All stats +5

[You have leveled up.]

‘Oh, a title and even a level up?’

Considering the level that stubbornly refused to rise for three days, it was tremendous experience points, but in a way it was natural.

It was equivalent to hunting dozens of boss-level monsters.

‘I can’t really feel the detection range increase. Well, since the Eye of Truth only works within visible range, there’s no way I’d feel it.’

The title wasn’t particularly great either, but since it was Hero-grade, the increase in all stats was decent enough, so it wasn’t bad.

And above all, what he felt most was the armor.

Crash! Bang!

-L-let’s go together, Owner!

-Ri, Risa!

-Was Owner always this tough?

-Yes! It seems he’s utilizing his newly acquired armor to the extreme.

For traps that were troublesome to destroy, he could just take them with his body and break through without any problems.

While the defense itself was high, there was another bigger reason.

[The effect of Defying Heaven activates, amplifying all options of the armor.]

[Defense and magic resistance increase.]

[Health increase amount rises.]

[Damage reduction increases by an additional 5%.]

‘The more adversity you face, the more the effect amplifies… This effect is overpowered.’

Was openly taking numerous traps among boss-level monsters considered adversity?

The amplification was beyond expectations, making it more efficient to openly take hits and break through than before.

That was the reason Dohyun could advance with such unstoppable momentum.

It was also why the strange scene of Jihad and Charlie struggling to keep up unfolded.

‘If I hunt just a little more like this, I’ll reach level 90.’

He was running forward with anticipation of what skill would appear this time.

[Ast: Where are you right now?]

[Ast: I think it would be good to travel together soon. The atmosphere doesn’t seem right.]

Ding-

[You have escaped the maze.]

[Entering the labyrinth.]

[Due to increased difficulty, the labyrinth paths become more complex and monster levels rise.]

‘Already?’

A cheerful notification rang out simultaneously with the whisper from Ast.

He had just escaped the maze and entered the labyrinth at the perfect timing.

When he sent a message saying he had entered the labyrinth, a reply came back immediately.

[Ast: Then come to where I am. I’ll send you the location. There’s something strange here.]

That was the end of the response.

When no more replies came back, perhaps because he was sending the location, Dohyun soon turned his gaze away.

His face held a subtle disappointment.

‘I should have farmed more honey in the maze.’

Forces like the Top 10 Guilds were all concentrated in the labyrinth now.

Those still remaining in the maze were stragglers without any backing.

Thanks to that, he could monopolize the experience points, but now that was over, which left him feeling disappointed.

But that was only momentary, as Dohyun’s eyes soon became serious.

‘From here, I’ll go slowly.’

There was no need to rush unnecessarily.

At least not until ‘that thing’ that appears after breaking through the labyrinth awakens.

When he stopped his feet that had been running like a runaway locomotive, Jihad arrived a few seconds later, breathing heavily.

It was because he had run on his own without getting carried by Charlie at the end due to his pride.

-Huff, huff, are we going slowly now?

“Yeah.”

-Phew… Now I can live a little.

-Rizariza!

Dohyun stroked Eliza, who had jumped onto his head, with his index finger and started walking.

It was a slow pace, partly to manage his stamina.

‘This place is also somewhat different from last time.’

Like the maze, the labyrinth also had changes.

Overall, it felt much larger and more twisted, and the hidden traps that appeared red were more threatening.

But that was all.

In the end, it led to one path just like before, and traps couldn’t serve as obstacles to Dohyun.

Bang! Whoosh-

How much time had passed while moving and avoiding traps?

As the path gradually widened, at some point blood stains began to appear on the walls.

Going further, he saw people in the distance for the first time since entering the labyrinth.

He had finally caught up with the players who had gone ahead.

“This is…”

Considering he had entered 40 minutes late, it was an unbelievable speed, but Dohyun frowned upon seeing them.

It wasn’t because of them.

Kyaaaaa-! Kyaa!

“What the hell! What is this thing!?”

“Is it another Calamity?”

“Tanks, hurry up and grab aggro instead of just standing there! Focus on maintaining formation instead of chattering!”

A silhouette glimpsed beyond the players with their backs turned.

It was a giant magical beast.

A horrific appearance with a lion’s mane and what seemed like a mixture of various beasts.

[You have encountered the Calamity awakened from its seal, ‘Liadna’.]

[This has been recorded in the Adventure Log.]

-Owner, that thing…

“…Yeah. I think you’re right.”

It was definitely a statue modeled after the form of the Abyss he had seen before.

Kyaaaaaa!

Kieee!

But there wasn’t just one.

“What kind of monster battle is this, damn it!”

“Still, this place is better. Inside there, they’re raiding two at once.”

“Hey! Aggro’s shifting! Focus!”

Demonic beasts were rampaging everywhere, with various factions gathered to hunt them.

Just from what was visible, there were roughly three demonic beasts.

Seeing the strange difficulty where multiple factions had to band together to take down even one beast, these were definitely Abyss demonic beasts.

A question naturally arose.

Why were things that should be standing in the cavern here instead?

‘No, more than that, why did they awaken?’

Could this be what the increased difficulty meant?

‘If this happens, the plan gets complicated…’

Slowly level up, and use the guilds that went ahead as meat shields to approach ‘that thing’.

For that purpose, not awakening the statues was key.

‘Wait. If the statues awakened, does that mean ‘that thing’ awakened too?’

If so, this becomes troublesome…

It was when Dohyun’s expression became troubled.

Kiaaaah-!

-Master!

-Owner, look ahead!

A strange shriek that rang out suddenly.

And following that, Charlie and Jihad’s urgent shouts made him snap his head up to see.

Deeply cast shadows and massive claws flying roughly toward him.

Kwang!

In the sudden situation, his body reacted before his mind.

As he crouched low to avoid the claws, the creature’s lower body was exposed.

He immediately stabbed its vital spot with Cheonbyeon transformed into an assassin’s dagger, then pulled out the Fuse – Thread to wrap around its wings, making the creature tumble pathetically.

[Using Fuse – Explosion.]

[Using Darkness Shroud on the fuse applies darkness attribute.]

—-!

It was when Dohyun quickly regrouped after detonating the fuse to buy time against follow-up attacks.

[The trait of Calamity ‘Riadna’ awakened from its seal activates.]

[Due to trait ‘Mirror of Retribution’s effect, damage equal to physical damage dealt is inflicted on a random enemy.]

[You have defeated Riadna.]

[High raid score awarded for dealing the final blow.]

“…?”

Riadna suddenly activated its trait and died.

Sure enough, it really died just like that.

‘What the…’

As Dohyun wore a dazed expression, unable to grasp the situation, an angry voice came from behind.

“Guhheok!”

“Damn it! Which bastard used a physical attack?”

“More importantly, who killed it?”

Those who came running in a rage twitched their eyebrows when they made eye contact with Dohyun.

The same was true for Dohyun.

‘…That mark.’

A mark featuring a lion’s mane prominently on shoulders and chest.

It was the mark of Leonn Guild, one of the Top 10 Guilds.

Not only that.

Among those who swarmed over, there were marks from other guilds mixed in, marks as famous as Leonn Guild’s.

‘That shield mark must be Aegis Guild.’

It seemed two of the Top 10 Guilds had joined forces for this raid.

Dohyun had inadvertently stolen a boss that the Top 10 Guilds were raiding.

Naturally, they wouldn’t look kindly on this.

“That’s not our guild, is it?”

“…Kaiser?”

“What, did Kaiser just steal our kill?”

“Ha, this is ridiculous.”

A hostile atmosphere formed.

Perhaps their appearance of gathering in a crowd and sending cold glares caught attention.

“…Hey, look over there.”

“Looks like Kaiser got into trouble with a Top 10 Guild alliance team?”

“Kaiser? Kaiser is here?”

Players from other factions nearby began reacting bit by bit.

Interest sparked on faces rolling their eyes to assess the situation.

“Yo yo, jackpot. Looks like Kaiser stole their kill.”

“Crazy… Isn’t this a major incident? He’s already controversial for killing Sina…”

“Shh! Watch your mouth. What if you get marked?”

“Anyway, this is insane. This won’t just slide. He landed the final blow on something they had prepared.”

“This is an Empire Quest handed down by the Emperor himself. Considering how important it is for the raid, they definitely won’t let this slide nicely.”

As those whispering suggested, the people calling themselves the Top 10 Guild alliance team weren’t in a mood to let this pass nicely.

They gradually surrounded and encircled the area.

-…Owner.

-R, Risa.

-Insolent…

Jihad and Eliza cowered.

In front of them, Charlie moved his hand to his sword hilt as if displeased.

Judging they had tightened the encirclement enough, a player who seemed to be their representative stepped forward and spoke as if spitting out words.

“Hey, Kaiser. How are you going to take responsibility for this?”

“…”

“Is there more to ask? This guy stole what we were struggling to catch and hasn’t even apologized. This clearly looks like picking a fight.”

A large man frowned and interjected beside the one quietly pressuring him.

Those putting on airs were quite renowned figures. Even among the factions of this place who could swagger around anywhere, they were among the best.

That was natural.

‘Vice Masters, huh.’

The fierce-eyed brown-haired knight was Raveon, Vice Master of Leonn Guild.

And that large, muscular man beside him was Marphad, Vice Master of Aegis Guild.

A situation with two Top 10 Guild Vice Masters.

The guys forming the encirclement were all formidable opponents too.

Considering the nature of this raid team composed only of elites, they would be comprised of at least officer-level members.

-Owner, what are you going to do.

-You can’t just let this slide, Master.

-Shouldn’t we let this one go?

-Risa…

Despite the different Guardians’ words, Dohyun stood silently.

His reaction came a bit later.

“Ha.”

It was a hollow laugh.

Dohyun’s eyes filled with contempt as he chuckled as if finding it absurd.

“…What’s so funny? Don’t you understand the situation?”

“Understand the situation?”

Step.

As he took one step forward as if incredulous, the distance suddenly narrowed.

Close enough to feel each other’s breath. Meeting face to face at point-blank range, Dohyun twisted up the corner of his mouth.

Don’t understand the situation?

No, he understood it too well, and that was the problem.

“You used your heads. You really put in the effort, didn’t you.”

“…What?”

A boss that could kill him with one lucky hit just happened to attack him right as he entered the labyrinth?

‘That’s ridiculous.’

Maybe if it were newbies who couldn’t properly manage aggro.

But there was no way a raid team formed by an alliance of two Top 10 Guilds would make such a mistake.

Especially not a raid team with two Vice Masters participating.

‘Most importantly, the Riadna that came flying at me wasn’t in proper position.’

It was closer to being pushed rather than flying on its own.

If aggro had really shifted, it wouldn’t have attacked in such a sloppy posture.

What this meant was obvious.

‘Ha, so this is how you’re playing it?’

They deliberately waited until he passed by, then created a justification.

It was also one of the many methods used by guilds that picked fights with him in Demroc.

“Anyway, these so-called guilds… Don’t you people who call yourselves Top 10 Guilds feel any shame?”

“…What did you say.”

“I cannot tolerate insults to our guild.”

Dohyun smirked as he looked at their hardened faces.

“Why drag this out? This was your goal anyway.”

“Arrogant as we heard.”

“We clearly gave you a chance to resolve this amicably. Your arrogance will lead you to ruin…”

“Why is your tongue so long? Shut up and come at me.”

As Dohyun gripped Heavenly Transformation and growled menacingly, they sent signals as if they’d been waiting.

Then the guild members who had been surrounding him drew their weapons and took combat stances.

“As expected, you’re being underhanded. How are you any different from Berje?”

“This is punishment, so it’s only natural…”

“Raveon, don’t bother playing along. We just need to finish our business.”

“…Right.”

At Marphad’s words, Raveon regained his composure and took his stance.

He gripped his sword with one hand and stood to the side, while Marphad beside him charged forward with his shield.

Then flashy effects erupted from the shield, releasing a shockwave.

Crash!

Dohyun threw his body backward to create distance and watched with sharp eyes.

Simultaneously, cheers erupted.

“Waaaah!!”

“Kaiser is fighting against the Top 10 Guild alliance!”

“Amazing! This is crazy!”

[RCD recording in progress.]

‘Alright, let’s see what you’ve got.’

It was the moment when Kaiser and the Top 10 Guilds properly clashed.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————