The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 321

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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 321

Episode 321.

Garion frowned at Dohyun’s confident smile.

[…You’re quite the bluffer.]

“Well. Whether it’s bluffing or not, why don’t you feel it for yourself.”

[….]

Confident.

An expression and powerful voice that only someone with well-founded confidence could make.

Did he have something to rely on?

Garion, who had paused to think for a moment, shook off his thoughts.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Whatever ability the man had gained didn’t matter.

No matter what he showed, Garion was confident he would win, and besides, he wouldn’t be given the chance to demonstrate that ability anyway.

[Black Knight Garion has finished preparing his secret sword technique.]

Garion’s own secret sword technique that he had devised.

The characteristics of this sword technique lay in its speed and bizarre trajectory.

‘Anyone seeing it for the first time will definitely fall victim to it.’

At first glance, it looked like a simple straight thrust, but it contained countless sword paths within.

By the time you think it’s a thrust and try to block it, your throat is already cut.

Without a doubt, Garion could be certain.

No matter who the opponent was, when facing him for the first time, they wouldn’t be able to break through this sword technique.

‘Who knows though. That Sword Master might be able to break through it.’

Someone who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship could probably handle even an unfamiliar sword technique.

But this man was merely a Disciple.

He couldn’t possibly possess swordsmanship skills comparable to the Sword Master.

He would finish the man in one strike and fulfill his long-cherished wish by offering the 1st Prince as a sacrifice.

Shaaaaaak-!!

Garion smiled wickedly, took a breath, and shot forward like a spring, bouncing off his knees.

A sword extending straight like a ray of light.

The sound of air being torn barely managed to echo as it chased the tail end of the thrust that had reached sonic speeds.

Hiss.

As expected.

The man was raising his sword, preparing to deflect the thrust.

And by then, Garion’s sword had already curved like a snake, aiming for his neck.

The core of the secret sword technique was to explosively release mana at the precise timing, boasting trajectory changes that defied common sense.

And no human knew the principle of this sword technique.

Those who had seen it up close were all dead or as good as dead.

[Kuh… Kuhehe…. Foolish man. This is the end.]

This time would be the same.

Garion was certain of it.

Clang!

Until a strange metallic sound struck his ears instead of the chilling sound of a neck being cut.

The sound of something solid colliding.

Cheonbyeon, transformed into a somewhat crude but high-quality sword, was precisely blocking beside his neck.

It was a guard without a moment’s hesitation, as if he had known the neck would be targeted.

[…What?]

That wasn’t the end of it.

Dohyun, who had naturally turned his body while keeping his sword in contact and deflected the attack, stood sideways as if taking a fencing stance.

[That’s….]

It was a movement identical to the motion Garion had performed, without even an inch of error.

A thrust shot out without time to be dazed.

It was a strike precisely aimed at the heart, but when he blocked the neck with a “just in case” thought, a metallic sound rang out like a ghost.

Clang! Clang!

The sword strikes continued after that.

A sword that was unpredictably changeable like mist in a rainy forest, yet felt as solid as Mount Tai.

[Reverse Heavenly Period]

[1st Form, Beginning is activated.]

It was the power of the Reverse Heavenly Period.

Meanwhile, Garion’s sword was slowly tightening around the neck like a snake, baring its fangs.

It felt different, but it was definitely the same sword path technique.

After exchanging several rounds of offense and defense like this, Garion could be certain.

[…I see.]

The only person besides himself who knew that sword technique, and the only individual who had seen his swordsmanship and not died.

The former 1st Prince and old master who had been sleeping in the tomb.

[Master passed on his sword technique before leaving.]

Bairan de Arnis.

He had felt that his life, trapped in the tomb, had been extinguished, so he must have passed on his sword technique to this man before dying.

It was amazing.

His sword technique was definitely not the type that could be learned by eye.

Even the genius Bairan, who was praised as the reincarnation of the Lion King, had undergone countless sparring sessions over a long period to be corrected in order to obtain this sword technique.

‘…It would have been a few hours at most, yet he displays such solid swordsmanship in that short time?’

That’s….

Doesn’t it look like Bairan himself is wielding the sword?

‘No, has he surpassed him.’

The man had reached the level of melding his own swordsmanship into the secret sword technique.

[I acknowledge it. You have the skill and talent to be confident.]

But that’s all there is to it.

The eyes inside Garion’s helmet, who had been crossing swords, narrowed as if finding it ridiculous.

[I don’t know how you could have received the transmission in such a short time… but if this is the source of your confidence, it’s truly laughable.]

Clang!

With that, Garion forcefully knocked away the sword and shouted as if scolding.

[Have you forgotten who taught you that sword technique!]

How dare.

Of all people, to show off knowing the secret sword technique in front of him?

Crash! Bang!

Garion’s pursuing sword became extremely violent.

At the same time, it was ever-changing.

The sword that swept roughly as if to tear everything apart didn’t lose its power even while constantly changing trajectory.

Rather, it seemed to gain momentum each time it changed trajectory, becoming even stronger.

Crash! Craaash!

As if to show that they were on different levels.

Each time Dohyun received the merciless sword strikes, craters formed beneath his feet.

“No way…!”

“My God.”

The faces of the players watching from outside the veil turned pale in real time.

Despite their cheers at the appearance of Kaiser, their only hope, he was being pushed back too one-sidedly.

A situation where he looked overwhelmed just trying to receive the sword strikes, let alone counterattack.

[Hero skill ‘Acceleration’ is used.]

[Attack speed and movement speed increase for 40 seconds.]

[Successful parrying deflects the strike.]

Even this would have been difficult without acceleration skills.

He was literally blocking by a hair’s breadth.

“No, why does he keep insisting on that swordsmanship?”

“Maybe he’s not insisting on it, but that’s the only way he can cope?”

“It seems like he’s barely offsetting with parrying… but isn’t he going to lose at this rate?”

“Damn, my heart’s about to give out from the tension.”

Some players were voicing complaints as their frustration only grew.

What was certain was that at this rate, Dohyun’s defeat was confirmed.

But despite such concerns, Dohyun stubbornly continued only Bairan’s swordsmanship.

Bairan swordsmanship.

Second form, Rain Shelter.

A form containing the philosophy that one cannot avoid rain falling from the sky.

A form whose specialty was an unavoidable barrage, but…

Clang!

Before the barrage could even continue.

It was blocked by a single overhead slash from Garion who had read the move in advance.

Third form, Secret Forest Mist.

High-difficulty swordsmanship that exploded mana to draw attention, then drove in an invisible follow-up strike.

It was overwhelming swordsmanship that had mercilessly slaughtered countless masters, but there was no way Garion, who had used it as his specialty, would fall for it.

The same went for the fourth form and even the final fifth form.

[All the countermeasures are in my head. Moreover, to me who handles more than the five forms you know, it’s nothing but trivial.]

Crash!

Only after all the swordsmanship passed down by Bairan proved ineffective and crumbled did Dohyun stop, and Garion, who had crossed swords with him, wore a mocking smile.

[Do you understand now? Your arrogance.]

“…”

[That swordsmanship is derived from mine. Even my master, who was called the reincarnation of the Lion King, never landed an effective hit on me with swordsmanship. And you dare try to compete with me using secret sword techniques? You’re still a hundred years too early!]

“…Is that all?”

Garion, who had been berating him, stopped short at Dohyun’s cold gaze.

Then, as Garion frowned as if he couldn’t understand, Dohyun continued.

“I’m asking if that’s all you felt while exchanging swords.”

[Hmm? Ah… what was I saying.]

Garion, who seemed to understand at last, let out an exclamation and answered with a sneer.

[Of course not. I felt very clearly how weak and all-talk you are.]

“…I see.”

Pure mockery.

But why was it? Dohyun’s face seemed to look bitter for a moment at that sight.

But that was only for a brief instant.

“This should be enough for Bairan to understand. That you’re no longer the Garion of old. You’re irredeemable trash.”

[…What?]

“I no longer need to show you courtesy.”

At the endlessly cold gaze that settled down, Garion unconsciously took a step back.

‘…I retreated? Why?’

It was an action he couldn’t understand himself.

Anyone could see he was the one overwhelming, so why did he retreat?

Perhaps due to wounded pride, darkness rippled once around Garion.

And at that moment.

[Designating Black Knight Garion as target.]

[Confirmed that both feet have been touching the ground for more than 2 seconds.]

[Conditions have been met.]

Ahhhhh-

Suddenly brilliant light burst forth and sacred harmony could be heard.

A single golden cross rose above it.

[Activating legendary skill, ‘Executioner God’s Cross.’]

The cross, large enough to be a decoration atop a cathedral, had no special ornaments, but displayed a more sacred appearance than anything else.

However, even such a cross couldn’t drive away the darkness within the veil and was being swallowed up.

A severely shabby appearance compared to before.

[Activating Guardian Deity’s blessing targeting Black Knight Garion.]

[The difference in rank with the target is extreme.]

[Due to the power of darkness, some effects of Guardian Deity’s blessing are ignored.]

[Duel effect has been ignored. Defense, magic resistance, and health increases have been ignored.]

[Skill cooldown reduced by 20% and immune to knockback.]

[Due to the severe rank difference, the duration of Executioner God’s Cross is greatly reduced.]

Not only the Executioner God’s Cross.

Even the effects of Guardian Deity’s blessing were cut by more than half, but even this didn’t matter.

[Executioner God’s Cross restrains Black Knight Garion’s limbs.]

[Restraining target for 5 seconds.]

Anyway, he had succeeded in applying the bind.

This wasn’t a simple bind.

It was the first button of counterattack that had now become Dohyun’s trademark.

It was truly the prelude to counterattack.

“Holy shit!”

“Yo yo yo, I believed in you!”

“Is the counterattack coming?”

“Ah, are you going to show us something!”

The players let out excited cheers as if they had never complained before.

Whenever that cross unfolded, he had always shown something tremendous.

The expectation that this time would be the same was tickling the players’ hearts.

[Indeed… was this all to induce carelessness?]

But this time was different.

Crack- Creak-

Swoooosh-!

The moment black wings spread high from his back.

[Black Knight Garion uses ‘Power of Darkness.’]

[Black wings annihilate everything that restrains.]

[Executioner God’s Cross disappears.]

“…Huh?”

“Crazy…”

“What kind of bullshit cheat is this…!”

The massive black wings had torn the cross apart pathetically.

It was only 2 seconds.

The time it took to spread wings and clear away the cross.

It was hopelessly insufficient time to unfold the Reverse Heavenly Period.

[Kuhh… Kahahaha! Kaiser, this is your defeat!]

On the other hand, perhaps because he had fully spread his wings.

Garion was flying toward him at incomparable speed to before.

Moreover, his sword was shrouded in an ominous aura he’d never seen before.

Instinct was telling him.

That he must never touch that darkness covering the blade.

[Black Knight Garion activates the effect of his exclusive weapon, Sword of Execution.]

[The sword is imbued with the power of execution and the authority of darkness.]

[The anti-magic effect of the fourth ring of the Generals of Ruin activates.]

[Resisting the energy of the Abyss.]

[Resistance failed. Upon contact with the sword, you will take 1,000% amplified damage and receive damage that ignores defense.]

Garion’s sword and the concentrated essence of the Draconic Abomination of the Darkness’s power.

A technique containing all their essence, essentially their ultimate killing move.

It was also a sword that no one could block except for Charlie’s Dawn Light, which was the only thing capable of opposing it.

At this rate, he would be defeated pathetically.

Heh.

But Dohyun smiled.

As if he had anticipated this would happen.

“Who said I’d use Reverse Heaven Technique?”

Reverse Heaven Technique Third Form: Thousand.

Using it would ignore the first attack and gain attributes by understanding the foundation, buying him one turn, but this time even that wasn’t necessary.

Dash!

Without any preparation stance or anything, Dohyun gripped Cheonbyeon tightly and charged straight ahead.

“No!”

“What, why are you running!?”

“Wait, why are you suddenly attempting suicide?”

The players screamed at the scene anyone could predict would happen next.

Some players even covered their eyes.

Crash-!

At the same time, the two collided.

The shockwave from the impact filled the inside of the veil with a thunderous roar.

“…Huh?”

“How did this happen?”

Questions burst from the mouths of players who had kept their eyes open.

And Garion felt the same way.

[This is impossible…]

He was staring with eyes wide open as if he couldn’t be more shocked.

He had no choice but to react that way.

Dohyun, who should have been cleanly cut down, was confidently crossing swords with him.

That wasn’t all.

Swirl-

The darkness enveloping Cheonbyeon.

It wasn’t Dark Coating. It was a more fundamental and dense darkness.

An ability that only knights who had reached a certain level through fusion contracts with Draconic Abominations of the Darkness could wield.

The Power of Execution.

“Ah, so this is what it feels like. It’s definitely on a different level from Dark Coating or Sword Aura.”

That power was dwelling within Cheonbyeon.

[What kind of trick did you pull, Kaiser! Why are you wielding that power!!]

Garion shouted in anger at the incomprehensible situation.

Instead of answering, Dohyun smiled and glanced upward.

[Activation conditions have been met.]

[Using special option due to Cheonbyeon’s enhancement.]

…

More precisely, at the system window that appeared above his head.

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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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