The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 29

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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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Episode 29

Chapter 29.

Western Forest of Raven.

A hunting ground that even NPCs avoid and warn about.

Unlike the open Eastern Plains, it consists of dense forest that restricts vision, and not only goblins but countless giant insects swarm about.

The level of the monsters themselves had also increased, but actually that itself wasn’t a problem.

It wasn’t like they were a completely different species, and even the giant insects were just a bit tougher or more troublesome to catch, but still manageable.

The problem was the terrain of the forest.

Rustle-.

“There, it’s running that way! Catch it quickly!”

“Damn it, what kind of monster hides behind rocks!”

Befitting the title of another world, the artificial intelligence was very high, and monsters with strong instincts knew how to use the terrain.

“Aaah! Above! Ambush from above!”

“Arrows from the thicket! Form up quickly!”

“Below! Centipede under your feet!”

The aggressive-type goblins would hide in thickets and launch surprise attacks with poison darts, while giant insects would use their characteristics to drop down from trees or target from behind through rock crevices.

That alone made the difficulty rise to bizarre levels.

With so many of them utilizing terrain and launching ambushes, one careless moment could easily lead to death.

Thus, an unspoken rule emerged in the Western Forest.

“Solo play in the Western Forest? That’s just insane.”

“Listen carefully. You absolutely need a party there. Whether you’re a Hero God or have good gear doesn’t matter.”

“Four-person party. Fill it to capacity and move around.”

Form a party of at least three or more people.

Preferably hunt safely with a full four-person party – this was a fact known by all players who set foot in the Western Forest.

Of course, this didn’t apply to everyone.

“Well, if you don’t feel pain when hit and have the damage to kill them in one or two hits, then you don’t need to form a party.”

Defense and damage capable of handling all that difficulty.

If you had those two things, terrain would no longer matter.

Rather, the Western Forest overflowing with monsters would become a true honey hunting ground.

“But would that even be possible?”

“Absolutely impossible. Unless you’re a Mythic God with top-tier damage traits and Hero-grade skills, plus items all rare+ or higher.”

Of course, it was nearly impossible, and all players compromised with reality and sought parties.

They didn’t want to die from showing off and receive death penalties.

“Looking for party! Currently have tank and two damage dealers waiting, will go immediately if a healer comes!”

“Looking for one melee damage dealer! Ah… rogue? Rogues are a bit…”

“Looking for two people to help with graduation runs~! Healer standing by!”

That was why the area in front of the West Gate overflowed with people seeking parties.

If it was for benefit gains in Arde, here it was for stable hunting.

Whether you had fast leveling with gear from the East Gate or barely managed to hit level 17 while struggling, everyone here sought parties without exception.

“Sigh, we just need one healer… there are damn few of them.”

“Healers aren’t popular. They’re only good for party quests, but they’re hard to develop. Honestly, they’re not fun either.”

“Ugh… I guess we’ll have to add another sub-tank instead of going without a healer.”

“Huh? Hey, look at that guy.”

There are always players who don’t realize until they experience it firsthand.

A player who was looking for party members nudged his companion.

“Ah, why? What is it?”

“Another pitiful moth has appeared.”

“Ah. That again?”

His companion, who had been annoyed as if bothered, turned his head.

Then, seeing a man confidently entering the forest alone, he nodded in understanding.

A bitter smile hung on his lips. It wasn’t sympathy or greed for that moth.

“There are always those types everywhere.”

It was clear mockery, or perhaps disdain.

With just a little searching, you could find out that solo play in the Western Forest is suicidal.

No, even before that, NPCs already give warnings, and as soon as you enter the Western Forest, everyone is looking for parties.

Yet the minds of those who insist on solo play were all predictable.

“Most rankers partied during this time too, but what makes them think they’re different?”

“Well, maybe they’re trying to debut. ‘I solo played in the Western Forest’ – sounds good, right?”

They think they’re different from others.

They haven’t shown anything special yet, but they just lacked opportunity – they believe they can do it.

Either idiots with such baseless thoughts, or those trying to debut as streamers through this hunt to get noticed by guilds.

“Well, everyone has plausible plans.”

“Until they get beaten up?”

“Right.”

One of the two people giggling among themselves muttered in passing.

“Well, who knows. Maybe that person is a super character with Mythic God and legendary skills.”

And the rebuttal came faster than ever.

“Is he Demroc? That’s ridiculous.”

“Why, there was one monster that appeared six months ago.”

“Ah… but that guy was really crazy. Would another one like that appear?”

“True…”

Because it was such an absurd story.

Wouldn’t it be more statistically reasonable to think of them as just idiots who don’t know their place, rather than geniuses who might appear once in a blue moon?

“Let’s hurry and find party members.”

“Yeah, at this rate we won’t hit level 20 today.”

Therefore, they stopped caring about the man who walked into the forest, and it didn’t take long for him to be forgotten from their minds.

So they couldn’t have imagined.

That the man who walked into that forest was still moving around perfectly fine inside the forest.

* * *

Dense forest.

In a place so deep that few people ventured, a bloody battle was taking place.

Countless goblins surrounding one man. It looked like he was completely surrounded, but the man was relaxed.

Kiek!

Goblins watching for an opening before charging first.

But at that moment.

Thunk-.

Kieeek!

As the man lightly dodged and thrust his large sword in, the goblin let out a piercing scream.

Kirik! Kiririk!

Goblins excited by their companion’s scream, charging all at once.

A brawl unfolded in an instant.

And the one stirring up that battlefield was none other than the man with the large sword.

Swish- Clang!

Thunk! Slice-.

There were no big movements.

He simply dodged incoming attacks with minimal movement or deflected them with the flat of his sword.

Then he would stab or slash.

Meanwhile, for goblins that got into close range, he would lean back his head to dodge, strike their philtrum with a fist with his middle finger slightly raised, then break their necks.

That series of actions flowed naturally like a machine, and when the exchange ended, three goblins lay fallen.

Each one killed in a single blow.

Ki, Kirik!

The goblins’ expressions filled with bewilderment.

Even though they lived here and had encountered quite a few humans, this was the first time they’d seen one so ridiculously strong.

Kirik!?

How does this make any sense!

Though he couldn’t understand their language, it certainly seemed like that’s what they were shouting—it wasn’t just his imagination.

But it appeared those weren’t just panicked screams.

Surprisingly, new goblins poked their heads up from between the thickets at their cries.

These were goblins that had been lying in ambush for just such a situation.

“I figured as much.”

Seeing the man shake his head, the goblins became triumphant and straightened their shoulders.

Kik. Kiririk!

Their grinning expressions suggested they thought they had won.

Well, it was indeed a troublesome situation—with four still remaining at close range and five more added at long range.

For an ordinary player, that is.

Whoosh- Thwip thwip!

Seeing the arrows being shot, the man—Dohyun—immediately angled his greatsword.

Ting- Titing-.

As the arrows struck the blade and bounced away, the goblins prepared to shoot again.

The close-range goblins didn’t stay idle either. They tried to approach to prevent the man from blocking the arrows.

But Dohyun was faster.

“Hup!”

He spun around in a large circle and threw his greatsword directly at the long-range goblins.

Whooom-.

Kieek!?

The creatures scattered in terror, never expecting him to throw his weapon.

But perhaps because it was so unexpected.

The goblin that had been about to shoot an arrow had no time to dodge, and ended up collapsing with the greatsword embedded in its head, eyes wide open.

Kirik! Keeek!

The long-range goblins were enraged, but the close-range goblins actually smiled wickedly.

They thought it was actually good that Dohyun had lost his weapon.

That wasn’t all.

[The Warrior Set effect is being released.]

[The goblin is freed from the status ailment ‘Intimidation.’]

Kiriirik!

As the inexplicable pressure they’d been feeling disappeared, confidence surged within them.

Seeing their expressions that clearly revealed their thoughts, Dohyun chuckled and pulled something from his inventory.

Shing-.

“Who said I don’t have a weapon.”

It was an axe.

The ‘Honest Axe God’s Iron Axe’ he’d obtained after defeating If You’re Angry, You Do It Too.

‘It’s a one-hit kill anyway, so I don’t really need the Warrior Set.’

Even though their level had increased, they were fundamentally still Red Goblin Tribe.

Their health was even lower than the Blue Goblins of Raven Plains.

This one axe was enough for those guys.

The close-range goblins panicked at the appearance of the rare-grade axe and shouted urgently.

Kik! Kirik!!

As if that was some kind of signal, the long-range goblins reformed their formation and shot arrows.

But unless they were poison darts, Dohyun could block such arrows with his eyes closed, and his movements were unhindered.

Whooom-.

Thunk! Thunk!

He instantly dove between the close-range goblins, grabbed one by the neck to use as an arrow shield, then,

[Weapon Master effect removes weapon restrictions.]

[Adventurer effect allows use of weapon’s basic skills.]

[You have used the axe’s basic skill ‘Downward Strike.’]

[You have defeated a Forest Red Goblin.]

He threw the arrow-riddled creature to the ground and smashed the skull of a stunned goblin, dropping it in one hit.

“Nice feel to it.”

It was his first time using an axe, but the impact felt better than expected.

Getting a taste for it, Dohyun rampaged through the goblins, cutting them down.

No matter how many arrows they shot, he either blocked them with his axe or used innocent companions as shields while never stopping his attacks—for them, he was terror itself.

Kirik…!

The close-range was wiped out in an instant, leaving only four at long range.

Having lost their fighting spirit, they began fleeing frantically.

This was why the forest goblins were troublesome.

They were cunning, made good use of the forest terrain, and knew when to run when things got unfavorable.

However.

[Using Backstab.]

For Dohyun, who had the assassin’s strongest movement skill, it was just a pathetic struggle.

Kirik…?

Dohyun appeared behind them like a ghost and swung his axe, instantly severing a neck.

The creature probably didn’t even know why it died.

Dohyun’s eyes rolled quickly.

Two creatures scattering in different directions. Near one of them, he could see the greatsword he’d thrown earlier.

Whooom-.

Dohyun threw his axe at the opposite creature without hesitation, then ran to pick up his greatsword and used Charging Slash.

Crack!

Slash-.

[You have defeated a Forest Red Goblin.]

[You have defeated a Forest Red Goblin.]

[Axe proficiency has increased to LV2.]

The timing worked out perfectly—just as he sliced through a waist with Charging Slash, the one he’d thrown the axe at also fell.

With this, all the goblins were dealt with.

But he couldn’t let his guard down yet.

Swoosh-!

Something massive was coming for Dohyun’s back.

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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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