The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 311

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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 311

Episode 311.

The Empire was turned completely upside down.

There was no better phrase to describe the current situation.

The sudden death of 2nd Prince Iden de Arnis.

That alone was a major incident, but on top of that, rumors spread that Baharun was on his deathbed?

“His Majesty the Emperor has collapsed!? Why?”

“It seems the 2nd Prince’s passing was too great a shock. They say he collapsed right there upon hearing the report…”

“Huh… Then what happens now?”

“Won’t the 1st Prince ascend to the throne?”

“What kind of events are these in just one day…”

Wherever you went in the city, that was all anyone talked about.

NPCs chattered worriedly about the future, and players who received the news through system windows couldn’t hide their bewilderment.

“Why is this actually happening?”

“No way, he really died? The 2nd Prince?”

“What is this… Even if it’s a virtual reality game, isn’t this going too far?”

“A shitty game where the emperor changes after 2 real years, for real.”

“Then what was the point of risking our lives to clear the Labyrinth quest?”

“Of all people, that tyrant becomes emperor. Will we even be able to play the game properly from now on?”

It was absurd that an NPC died overnight without any connection, and it was also worrying that the emperor to succeed him was the notorious tyrant 1st Prince.

This was why both NPCs and players alike expressed concern with one heart.

And it was the same in reality.

[Oh my, brothers! Have you heard the news from the Empire? It’s absolute chaos. There wasn’t even an update, but the 2nd Prince died and the emperor is about to change!]

[NPCs dying or changing regardless of player actions might feel awkward to those familiar with classic games… but since it’s a virtual reality game… and actually, such things were commonplace even in old games that pursued realism…]

NewTubers and BJs from various platforms who saw this as their chance were the first to jump in.

With celebrities adding fuel to an already major incident, what kind of reaction would there be?

-???

-??

-What’s suddenly happening?

-What, it’s real? The 2nd Prince really died?

-Wait, I think I saw the emperor just yesterday, and this happens overnight?

-Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit

Naturally, an explosive reaction burst forth.

└The emperor isn’t dead yet, you idiots.

└He’s languishing though. They say he’s in a coma, practically a vegetable.

└For real… This is a parent’s heart. You immature brats. Even if he’s an NPC, his child’s death was a huge shock.

└But more importantly, what do we do? How will the power structure work now? There are many major factions closely tied to the emperor, like the Mage Tower. The Sword Master too.

└What’s there to do? Did the Empire NPCs ever pay attention to players anyway? Just live as usual.

└True, only high rankers need to worry, it doesn’t mean much to commoners like us. Just thinking ‘oh, the emperor’s changing~’

└You never know. I heard Rior had a private meeting with Kaiser, maybe if Rior becomes emperor he’ll pay attention to players?

From those emotionally sympathizing with Baharun to those worried about the Empire’s power structure.

And it was filled with various speculative talk.

When minds were getting dizzy from the chaotic mix of constantly rising chats in the chat room.

-Hey, what’s this? I’m in a Mage Tower but can’t get out.

-Are you in the White Mage Tower?

-How’d you know?

-Because I’m in the White Mage Tower too. The Mage Tower Leader suddenly disappeared too, what’s this about?

-Huh, the Mage Tower too? I’m in Leber Knight Castle and the Lord said he was going to meet the emperor but hasn’t returned.

Strange chats began mixing in.

About not being able to get out, about Mage Tower Leaders or Lords not returning.

-Bullshit

-Creative way to troll lol

-Let’s ignore the attention seekers, guys.

People lightly ignored the ghost story-like talk, but that only works once or twice.

When it went beyond 3, 4 stacks to 5 stacks, they could no longer ignore it.

Eventually, people began investigating directly, and soon shocking results emerged.

-Hey, it seems real? My friend’s in the Azure Tower and it’s chaos there too apparently.

-What? After the 2nd Prince and emperor, now it’s Mage Towers and Knight Castles?

-?? Could this be a coincidence?

-Wait. Guys. Anyone seen where the Sword Master is?

-Huh? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen the Sword Master. Isn’t he one of the Seven Rivers closest to the emperor? Why hasn’t he appeared?

-Not just the Sword Master. No one’s seen any of the Seven Rivers in the Empire right now.

-Not just the Seven Rivers, it seems like all NPCs in the top 50 have gone missing. I looked for them all just in case, but they’re not there.

-Even considering people on missions, does this make sense?

Almost all NPCs who would handle the Empire’s major factions had gone missing.

Everyone disappearing without a sound on the same day, at the same time?

It was something that couldn’t happen naturally.

-Isn’t it like a TOP 50 gathering or something?

-Oh right, with the 2nd Prince dead and the emperor on his deathbed, the pillars of the Empire could totally form a club and go drinking together.

-Are you insane lol

-It seems like something we don’t know about is happening? It’s strange for a major faction NPC to just die naturally. It’s never happened before.

-Technically it’s not unheard of… but it is strange.

Unless they all formed some kind of club together, it meant someone had used trickery.

And that speculation was exactly right.

Ding-

A Quest simultaneously appeared before all players in the Empire.

[Apocalypse-grade City Quest ‘Black Knight Garion’ has occurred.]

[Black Knight Garion]

-Grade: Apocalypse-grade City Quest

-Description: Garion, Lord of Arren Castle and Knight Commander, called the Dawn of Light.

He is executing a plan he has prepared for a long time.

With countless strong warriors of the Empire disappeared due to Garion’s trickery, the only hope now is the Apostles.

Let’s stop Garion until the Seven Rivers and strong warriors return.

-Upon Quest success: Return of the Seven Rivers and Empire’s strong warriors, special event occurrence, imperial rewards given proportional to contribution.

[The Quest fails if 1st Prince Rior de Arnis dies.]

[Warning! Upon Quest failure, 30% of Imperial Lands will become abyssal and the royal family will fall.]

“Crazy…”

“What is this?”

“Apocalypse-grade? Not just a City Quest but Apocalypse-grade?”

“There was such a thing as Apocalypse-grade?”

It was the first appearance of an Apocalypse-grade City Quest in Godseeker.

And before they could even be flustered by this, he appeared.

Clank.

A knight armed in pitch-black armor.

The moment this man over 190cm tall with sharp gleaming eyes boldly walked into the Imperial Capital.

Players could immediately recognize his identity.

“Black… Knight?”

His appearance perfectly suited the moniker of Black Knight for anyone to see.

And shortly after.

CRASH!

A thunderous roar erupted, and the door shattered as someone came flying out pathetically.

It was a figure the players couldn’t fail to recognize.

“Urgh… I trusted you. But how could you do such a thing!”

The man, covered in wounds from what seemed to be an intense battle moments before, was none other than 1st Prince Rior de Arnis.

* * *

-Rior is being kidnapped!

-??

-What?

-That crazy bastard Garion is openly kidnapping the 1st Prince in the middle of the city!

When this news spread, the players couldn’t help but be thrown into chaos, and the atmosphere was far from peaceful like before.

-If we can’t stop the 1st Prince from being killed, the Empire will fall.

-Seriously, why is the game like this lately? Something explodes every other day.

-For real;;; Feels like I’m going out for lunch.

-But still, it’s just one knight commander, right? Shouldn’t we be able to stop him?

It was because of the appearance of a destruction-level city Quest.

An escort Quest where the Empire would fall if they failed to stop Garion from killing the 1st Prince.

In a way, it was a simple escort Quest, but one might wonder if it deserved the unprecedented modifier of “destruction-level,” but soon the players would understand why.

-Crazy, Garion is fucking strong.

-I was near Lepiass and jumped in, but got slaughtered.

-Is she really the strongest ice mage? She’s been getting beaten up everywhere lately. Seems like she should return her strongest title.

-I think Garion is just fucking strong?

-The 1st Prince isn’t weak either. He’s the kid who spars with Dran.

-The 1st Prince got beaten without landing a hit, but Lepiass is a mage. Seems like she got taken out in one shot by speed before she could do anything. Bad matchup.

He had shown overwhelming force from the moment he appeared.

It wasn’t just Lepiass and the 1st Prince.

-What are the others doing? Just watching?

-Would they do that when they’d be screwed if they can’t stop him?

-Right now some fairly famous NPCs and players are ganging up on him.

-But he’s still holding his own, it’s legendary for real;;; They’re barely managing to stop him from killing the 1st Prince.

The Empire was the center of the Main Continent and the final destination before heading to the New Continent.

Naturally, it was bustling with countless NPCs and players, and among them were many strong individuals even excluding the TOP 50.

But even such people found it difficult to properly handle Garion alone.

Had about 10 minutes passed like that?

Thunk-!

Finally, Garion’s sword pierced through the 1st Prince’s body, and soon after, a message appeared.

[The conditions for the destruction-level city Quest ‘Black Knight Garion’ are being changed.]

[Quest success condition changes from ‘1st Prince escort’ to ‘time limit’.]

[The time limit is before the 1st Prince is completely consumed by The Abyss.]

[A veil of The Abyss is created, and from now on, only one ‘party’ can challenge Garion.]

[Dealing damage to Garion or challenging him will delay the 1st Prince’s consumption.]

-We’re screwed.

-Fucked.

-Anyone thinking of the Forgotten Tomb, upvote.

-Ah, getting PTSD;;

It was the moment the time limit began.

Meanwhile, at that time.

-Where are the top 10 guilds and what are they doing?

-Probably the New Continent. We’re really screwed. The Empress, Sword Master, and Ast are all probably in the New Continent right now, and there’s a time limit.

-What about Kaiser? Where is Kaiser and what is he doing?

-Kaiser pulled it off during the Forgotten Tomb too, won’t he do it again this time?

-Don’t know. Why is there no news?

-Sigh… Really, someone just try going in. Is death penalty important right now when the Empire is about to be consumed by The Abyss?

-When the hell are the Seven Rivers coming back? What kind of scheme did they pull to cause this?

“…We’re screwed.”

Dohyun was trapped in Garion’s Secret Place, helplessly looking at the community.

-…We must escape from this place quickly, Master.

-Rizariza…

-H-how are you going to handle this, Owner? Isn’t there some way?

Even with the Guardians’ urging, Dohyun couldn’t open his mouth.

He couldn’t think of any clever solution.

‘Damn.’

He had been completely played.

Who would have thought they’d strike first?

Moreover, seeing how they had blocked the Seven Rivers and the Empire’s strong individuals, they had clearly been preparing for this situation from before.

The fact that they could respond immediately even when their preparations weren’t fully complete proved it.

‘Is it because of the experience of being caught by Ronde during the Bairan incident?’

He truly was a thorough bastard.

‘The situation isn’t good.’

Objectively, there weren’t many strong individuals in the current Empire who could stop Garion.

The top 10 guilds were half-destroyed from the war with Dohyun and the war with Demroc, and most of the intact ones were in the New Continent.

The same went for the Empress, Sword Master, Ast, and Cheonma.

What remained were strong individuals like Lepiass… but was there any hope when that Lepiass had been slaughtered?

‘Wow, thinking about it this way, there really is no answer. It had to happen at this timing.’

To be honest, even Dohyun wasn’t confident.

Garion was the bastard who had kidnapped the 1st Prince while going on a rampage in the middle of the city.

He was a knight with martial prowess befitting someone whose talent had surpassed even Bairan, who was praised as the reincarnation of the Lion King.

No matter how much his specs had improved, he couldn’t guarantee victory in his current state.

‘…No. If I can just get out, I think there might be a way.’

Dohyun shook his head as something occurred to him, but the problem was that there was no way to get out.

Unable to think while standing still, Dohyun was walking aimlessly while lost in thought when it happened.

[You have entered Bairan’s Tomb.]

“Ah.”

Dohyun scratched his head, having unconsciously returned to the tomb.

Since the path was connected as one, he had mindlessly walked all the way to the tomb.

The tomb had already been thoroughly searched.

There was no need to visit further, so just as he was about to turn back.

Ding-

[You have entered Bairan’s Tomb twice in succession.]

[It has been confirmed that one who inherited Bairan’s will has entered.]

[Hidden conditions are met.]

[A sword imbued with Bairan’s will appears.]

“…Huh?”

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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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