The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 322

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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 322

Episode 322.

[‘Option Devour’ is activated.]

[The ‘Execution’ option of the Execution Sword is devoured and granted to Cheonbyeon (Thousand Changes).]

‘Damn, this really is overpowered.’

It happened to shine even brighter because the ability That Guy wielded was weapon options, but even excluding that, it was an incredible ability.

The biggest reason grades are determined is none other than options.

Devouring an additional option was practically equivalent to raising the grade by one level.

[You can devour options embedded in the weapon of a target you’ve crossed weapons with for more than 3 seconds.]

[You can grant the devoured option to Cheonbyeon, and it will be maintained until the current battle ends.]

[Can only be used once per day per target, and when devouring another option, the previously devoured option disappears.]

[Warning! If the option is of a higher grade than Cheonbyeon’s existing grade, the effect may be halved or devouring may be impossible depending on the gap.]

‘The activation conditions being strict is a drawback, but…’

Three seconds in battle is longer than one might imagine.

Even the Executioner God’s Cross only binds both feet for 2 seconds, yet you need to keep weapons crossed for a whole 3 seconds to devour?

If the opponent knew the activation conditions, there was no condition easier to counter.

But in other words…

‘As long as they don’t know the conditions, it’s a jackpot.’

Dohyun hadn’t obsessed over Bairan’s swordsmanship for nothing.

There was the aspect of wanting to show respect after experiencing Bairan’s will and seeing ‘that thing’, but it was also to stimulate That Guy’s arrogance and keep their swords crossed for a long time.

The result.

[Using Execution.]

[Deals 1,000% amplified damage, and the damage at this time ignores the target’s defense.]

Kwaaaaang!

[Krhaaaak!]

Was it because he was stunned?

“Oh, is this how you do it?”

Garion, who helplessly allowed the lightly swung sword, let out a terrible scream.

That Guy belatedly tried to block it in a hurry, but couldn’t block it perfectly and was exposed to the energy.

[Black Knight Garion’s life force is below 20%.]

With just that, That Guy’s life force instantly dropped to 20%.

Considering he had only managed to shave off about 2% until now, a single Execution had dealt 8% damage.

It was truly fraudulent power.

“Wow, your weapon is amazing.”

[…Crack.]

When he mocked the panting, wounded Garion with a sneer full of ridicule, a murderous sound rang out as if teeth were breaking.

And then followed a bizarre voice.

[I cannot understand… it is a weapon that can only be wielded by those who have gone beyond contracting with me to achieve fusion.]

It was the Draconic Abomination’s voice.

Meanwhile, Garion, who had organized his boiling emotions, clicked his tongue and continued speaking.

[…I don’t know what trick you pulled, but it won’t work twice, Kaiser.]

It wasn’t just empty words.

He had only been caught because he never expected That Guy to turn his own ability against him.

Now that he knew, he wouldn’t allow it to happen again.

The only things that could offset Execution were the Light of Dawn and magic power that overwhelmed him.

Or only the power of the same Execution.

Probably from now on, when he used the power of Execution, he would use it to offset it.

‘That’s exactly what I want.’

Of course, for Dohyun, it didn’t matter at all.

The reason That Guy had been an undefeatable boss was due to his overwhelming strength, but Execution played a huge part.

Having sealed that Execution was tantamount to finally having equal conditions.

Of course, he had only gained the conditions, not equality.

‘Even after strengthening this much, the gap is huge.’

Moreover, That Guy was getting stronger.

The longer the battle went on, the higher his assimilation rate was rising.

Even the remaining 20% of his life force was more than Dohyun’s full health, so there were no advantages in terms of physical conditions either.

[I’ll tear you apart and kill you, Kaiser. Even if you can wield the power of Execution, do you think you can handle me, who has fused with the Draconic Abomination of Darkness!]

Kwang!

Rather, the enraged That Guy’s momentum was fierce, only stirring up his temper.

Just kicking the ground created a crater in the surface, and the dark sword in his hand was still ominous.

If he thrust that sword as it was, it felt eerily as if his neck would be cut immediately.

However.

“Well, I think it’s too early to say such things.”

[…What?]

“Who said this was my only ability?”

Dohyun smiled.

Cheonbyeon had a total of two options.

Naturally, there were also two options strengthened upon reaching +15.

Seeing Dohyun grin and extend his hand, Garion swung his sword with ominous eyes.

[…Too late!]

He didn’t know what strange trick he was trying to pull, but his sword was one step faster.

That’s what he thought.

[…What is this?]

Until his sword stopped in its swinging posture as if blocked by something massive.

No, this wasn’t the sensation of being blocked.

It was more like the direction of gravity had changed…

‘Something is pulling?’

An unknown energy was snatching at his sword as if trying to steal it.

When he instinctively looked ahead in this incomprehensible situation, he saw Dohyun raising the corners of his mouth as if he was having the time of his life.

He was merely extending his hand.

[The additional effect of enhanced ‘Ego’ is activated.]

Ego.

An option that responds to its owner’s call and returns to Dohyun’s hand no matter where it is.

[The weapon of the target whose option you devoured recognizes you as its owner.]

[While devouring the opponent’s option, you can apply the effect of ‘Ego’.]

[‘Ego’ is activated.]

[Warning! Depending on the gap with the target, the effect may be halved or activation may be canceled.]

That ability was also being applied to the weapon of the opponent devoured by Dohyun.

It seemed he couldn’t completely summon it due to the large gap with Garion, but this was enough.

Just being able to exert control opened up infinite ways to utilize it.

[‘Ego’ is activated.]

[…Huh?]

When Dohyun flicked his hand in the opposite direction, Garion’s center was greatly shaken for a moment.

He had been holding on to avoid having his weapon stolen, but when the force suddenly shifted in the reverse direction, his center of gravity was thrown off.

Kaang-!

Dohyun swung his sword at Garion, who had toppled sideways like that, and frowned.

“Ugh, look how tough he is. What’s with that sound like hammering steel.”

[This damn bastard…!]

“Hey hey, you need to hold your sword tight.”

The angry Garion tried to counterattack, but Dohyun’s hand was faster.

[Activating ‘Ego’.]

Whoosh-

[…Kuheoook!]

Using Ego in the opposite direction of where the guy was trying to move, then countering toward the guy whose balance was collapsing.

Clang!

“Oh, this one hit pretty solidly.”

Is this what they mean when they say you can feel the satisfying impact in your hands?

[How dare this damn bastard to someone like me…!!!]

As I grinned at the thrilling vibration, Garion, furious to the tips of his hair, roared and wildly swung his sword.

At first glance, it looked like he had lost his mind in rage, but this was actually a wise decision.

Rather than moving simply and being read, it was an advanced technique to swing chaotically and unpredictably.

“Not a chance.”

But Dohyun wasn’t someone who would fall for such shallow tricks.

Who was Dohyun?

The player who proudly claimed 1st place in that damn luck-based game despite having the worst luck.

Among them all, the man called a genius of timing.

[Activating ‘Ego’.]

Whoosh- Bang!

[Kuh, kuhuk…!]

Swoosh- Kwang!

[Keuuu…!]

Swish, Bang!

[Keuheoook!]

Even within the chaotic attacks that had no set rhythm, he activated Ego with ghostly precise timing to deliver counters.

‘What kind of nonsense is this…!’

Even while being hit, it didn’t make sense, so he tried mixing in swordsmanship techniques here and there…

[Activating ‘Ego’.]

[Using Bairan Swordsmanship, 2nd Form ‘Rain Preparation’.]

But whenever that happened, Dohyun would respond with swordsmanship while activating Ego.

Whether competing with instantaneous speed, using swordsmanship, or launching chaotic attacks, nothing worked.

Was this how the Monkey King felt in Buddha’s palm?

‘Left? No, right?’

All his psychology was being read by that guy.

No matter what he tried, he felt powerless, as if he couldn’t escape from that guy’s palm.

Slowly, but surely.

He was being devoured by that man.

‘Right, it was left after all!’

Even on the very rare occasions when he was lucky enough to read the guy’s move, it was the same.

[Using Parrying.]

[Deflecting the attack.]

[Activating ‘Ego’.]

[Kuheoook!]

As if he had anticipated it, the counter was immediately followed by parrying, ultimately returning to square one.

[Activating Sword Aura.]

[Activating Fierce Strike Slash.]

[The sword is imbued with the energy of Fierce Strike.]

…

[In Five Strike stacking state.]

Moreover, Dohyun was even employing Sword Aura and Fierce Strike Slash to press his attack.

[Damage is stacking.]

[Movement distance of Fierce Strike increases according to stack level.]

[Can continue Fierce Strike if used within 1 second.]

Kwang! Bang!

‘…Is this really just some Disciple?’

His head was already complicated, and being pushed back with each counter made him dizzy.

The sound of striking armor that had felt light at first was now heavy enough to make his skull ring.

And the power was growing fiercer.

-…What are you doing, Garion!!

In the skull-ringing situation.

The Draconic Abomination’s scolding voice echoed in his head, but Garion had no other options.

Attack? He had given up on that long ago.

[Activating ‘Ego’.]

Even when trying to focus only on defense, that ghostly alien energy interfered.

When he tried to block his head, his sword automatically went down, and when he tried to lift it to the side, it shot up, exposing vital points.

Like being swept away by a raging river, he couldn’t go against the natural order.

-…It wasn’t about handing over control.

He couldn’t hand control over to the Draconic Abomination either.

Once physical control was switched, it couldn’t be changed for an hour.

Because Kaiser’s skills were excellent, he had stepped forward being more adept at psychological warfare and swordsmanship, but that had ironically become a bad move.

‘…Losing like this? Me?’

What had he endured all this hardship for?

When he was not even 10 years old, on the day his family was destroyed.

He had lived his entire life to get revenge on those damn Imperial Family bastards.

Luckily, he met those who would help him, made a contract with the Draconic Abomination, and thanks to his foolish master, he could proceed without suspicion.

’40 years. I waited 40 years like that.’

Now that the moment to finally achieve his desire was within reach.

To collapse so futilely like this?

‘That cannot be!’

But how?

[Activating ‘Ego’.]

Kwaang!

Was there a way to escape from that guy’s clutches?

He was already devoured and could only get beaten like a dog on a hot summer day.

[Health is below 15%.]

His health had only decreased by 5% so far.

But this was only a matter of time.

If 5% decreased in 10 minutes, what about after 30 minutes, 1 hour? Would his body hold out then?

No, at this rate, it wouldn’t be strange to meet death before that.

Bang! Kwang! Bang!

‘Just once would be enough. If I could just escape this situation once…’

Once a captured flow was broken, the rhythm would be disrupted.

If he could make the guy hesitate for even 2 seconds… no, even 1 second, there would be a possibility.

And that method came to mind surprisingly quickly.

-…What are you doing, Garion. Have you forgotten that you possess part of my authority?

‘I know that too. But right now, as long as he’s using Execution, how can I deal with your precious wings and authority not working?’

This was a fact even Dohyun didn’t know.

What he thought was just a countermeasure against the unblockable ability Execution was actually being applied as a perfect counter.

If the authority had worked properly, Garion wouldn’t have been so helpless.

-How frustrating. Although there may be differences in power depending on the degree of fusion… you can use all the authority I used while controlling your body.

‘Who doesn’t know that…’

…All powers?

For a moment, Garion’s eyes flashed at the memory that crossed his mind.

There was one.

A power he could use against that man, and a clever move to break through this situation.

[Black Knight Garion uses ‘Inner Darkness’.]

The moment Garion’s blackened eyes met Dohyun’s pupils.

Thud.

For the first time, Dohyun’s hand stopped.

It wasn’t just his hand that stopped.

The sword that had been swinging relentlessly, and the two feet that had been displaying dazzling steps.

As if time had stopped, everything came to a halt.

The only thing moving was his trembling pupils.

[Kuhehe… Kahahaha!! I got you!]

At that, Garion let out a vile laugh.

[Targets caught in the hallucination will experience trauma from deep within their psyche. This includes trauma that the target cannot remember.]

Though it had resulted in awakening Charlie, it was a power that had inflicted great wounds upon him.

-Humans are truly peculiar. They can endure any adversity and hardship with determination, yet crumble at a single trivial memory.

As the Draconic Abomination’s fishy voice echoed through the valley, Garion stretched his lips into a long grin.

[That’s what makes them human, Draconic Abomination. Trauma can make humans solid, or turn them into infinitely fragile sandcastles.]

Saying this, Garion took a step forward and looked at Dohyun with a strange, piercing gaze.

[Let’s see which one you are… Kaiser.]

Whether it would be the former or the latter.

Well, judging by those trembling pupils and clenched fists, it seemed like it would be the latter.

Garion spread both hands wide as if greatly anticipating what kind of deep wounds that monster wearing the mask of a Disciple might possess.

Soon, his vision darkened.

[Peering into the target’s trauma.]

This place was a world created by the gathering of trauma sleeping deep within Dohyun’s psyche.

Eventually, Garion slowly opened his eyes that he had closed, and his gaze wavered.

[…?]

His jaw slowly dropped as if countless hooks were rising above his head.

What made Garion so dumbfounded was….

Crack-!

“Aaaaah! It broke again!!”

Ding-

“Shit!! Why is it another brick! Yesterday it was yellow, now it’s red? Red brick or yellow brick, what is this! Just make a ghost story at this point!”

Whoosh-

“Please legendary… please legendary… no, even Hero please… Ah, shit!!!! Why is it another common skill!! They said magic powder! They said the probability goes up, so why doesn’t mine go up, why!!”

“Hey, are you crying? This crazy… this bastard is actually crying?”

Before his eyes unfolded countless scenes of card packs, bricks, and weapon destruction.

Bang-! Bang!

Countless weapons exploded like fireworks, decorating the sky,

“Aaaaah!! Shit!!”

And each time, roars filled with resentment echoed.

Scenes of failing at card packs that followed….

And scenes where colorful bricks flew in and comrades played rock-paper-scissors for destruction king games.

[What the hell is this…]

…This kind of thing is trauma?

Garion, an NPC, could only mutter blankly at trauma he couldn’t even imagine, but only for a moment.

“…gave me.”

At the low, sunken baritone voice, Garion came to his senses.

Dohyun, who had escaped from the shock of trauma, was looking at him with murderous eyes.

He kept muttering something….

“…You gave me humiliation.”

[…?]

It was a reaction he couldn’t understand at all, but one thing was certain.

[Thunder Dragon Descent has been used.]

—–!

A roar that seemed to tear the world apart.

In a world where ears had gone deaf, lightning in the shape of a dragon struck down silently.

Crackle.

[The power of the thunder dragon dwells in your body, increasing all speed for 100 seconds.]

[The power of lightning dwells within, allowing extremely low probability ‘electrocution’ damage on hits.]

[You can use ‘Lightning Movement’ twice during the duration.]

“…You touched something you shouldn’t have touched.”

Dohyun, bathed in that lightning, was more enraged than ever before.

[….]

Garion, who had unintentionally succeeded in proper provocation, moved his lips several times before closing them.

Garion decided to give up on thinking.

—————
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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