The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 327

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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 327

Episode 327.

[You have defeated the Abyssal Draconic Abomination, ‘Summoner of Darkness’.]

[You are the first player to defeat a complete Draconic Abomination.]

[This will be recorded in the Adventure Log.]

[With the death of the Summoner of Darkness, those who were consumed by the abyss awaken.]

[Emperor Baharun de Arnis of the Arniss Empire awakens.]

[1st Prince Rior de Arnis awakens.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Guardian Charlie’s level has increased.]

[Guardian Jihad Black’s level has increased.]

….

A dizzying festival of countless messages before his eyes.

The noisy notification sounds echoing in silence lasted only briefly.

Soon, thunderous cheers erupted.

“Waaaaaaah!!”

“This is insane!!”

“Is it real? Did we really clear it?”

“The Draconic Abomination is dead! Then we cleared it!”

“Kaiser! Kaiser! Kaiser! Kaiser! Kaiser! Kaiser!”

“Chilgang? Yeah, don’t need them.”

“Forget enduring, this is god-tier class that just crushes everything! Bartender, one shot of national pride here!”

Seeing the players chattering frantically, Dohyun finally felt the reality of it and lowered Cheonbyeon.

‘Phew, that was really tough.’

It truly was legendary difficulty.

Without the ring he received from the Demon King, he might have failed.

Especially the final hidden phase – it was practically designed to tell players not to attempt it.

‘After barely defeating everything, it puts on a 200% health shield and descends? Come on, even if you have no conscience, there should be limits.’

Without a special ability like Reverse Heavenly Period, he would have had to just twiddle his thumbs waiting for the descent.

And once it descended, that would have been the end.

’15 minutes remaining… I wonder if it would have been manageable if I focused on enduring?’

Well, such thoughts weren’t important now.

What mattered was that he had succeeded in the end.

As always, he had taken one more step forward.

Perhaps thanks to that, he even gained an unexpected harvest.

[Swordsmanship proficiency increases.]

[The path to the next realm of Reverse Heavenly Period opens.]

‘Swordsmanship proficiency is one thing, but Reverse Heavenly Period reacting too is unexpected…’

Reverse Heavenly Period grows regardless of swordsmanship proficiency, when overcoming countless adversities and hardships.

Since it was a legendary boss, it was certainly worthy of being called adversity, so it wouldn’t be strange for Reverse Heavenly Period to grow, but…

‘It didn’t feel like that though.’

There was no message about growing by overcoming adversity like before, and he didn’t see any hazy visions, which was somewhat puzzling.

For something that said a path opened, he didn’t particularly feel any insight.

‘Well, good things are good things.’

Dohyun shrugged, deciding to think about complicated matters later.

Waaaaaaah-!!!

Seeing the players outside the veil shouting his name in ecstasy, Dohyun grinned.

‘Let’s savor this moment more.’

It was then that Kashiyar’s voice was heard.

-You’re quite popular among the Disciples, aren’t you?

‘I suppose so.’

-Strictly speaking, you’re not even a fellow Disciple. You’re my successor.

‘Then why don’t you take better care of that successor? You keep making me struggle, saying it’s only meaningful if I work for it myself… It seems like you lack affection for such a precious successor.’

-Look at this? Do you know how many gods coveted the authority that is your Cheonbyeon? For a successor to not recognize its value, this won’t do. Give it back, you rascal.

‘No takebacks. Don’t you know that giving and then taking back is the worst thing to do?’

-Oh my, I’ve raised a tiger cub.

The playful banter and bickering with Kashiyar lasted only briefly.

Soon Kashiyar’s voice became serious.

-All jokes aside, don’t get too cocky.

“Because it’s unlucky?”

-That’s part of it, but you still have a long way to go. If you’re struggling just to handle my teenage years… you won’t be able to win when ‘that day’ comes.

“What exactly is that day?”

Dohyun frowned.

Garion said it, the Draconic Abomination said it – what could that day possibly be?

He could excuse it during battle earlier, but this time he felt he absolutely had to hear it.

And with timing that always appeared like a ghost at such moments.

[Kashiyar’s will grows faint.]

[The Demon King’s unique magic ‘Owner of the Weapon’ will soon be dispelled.]

‘Ah, please…’

Seeing Kashiyar noticeably fade as he held his forehead, Kashiyar chuckled and said.

-No time, so listen carefully.

Dohyun perked up his ears and listened intently.

Otherwise, he felt he might miss the voice that had grown faint to its limit.

Perhaps thanks to that effort.

Dohyun managed to catch what sounded like a whisper.

-The promised day approaches. Unlike previous rehearsals, the situation has changed… All… war… Soon they will move…

However, just when the important dialogue was about to continue, only fragments of words could be heard, like a radio cutting out.

He strained his ears trying not to miss anything, but frustratingly, the voice only grew fainter.

-Remember this. Only by reaching me can you prevent fate…

The only words he heard clearly were the last ones.

[The duration of Owner of the Weapon has ended.]

[The incomplete will of Kashiyar disappears.]

Looking at the empty space where Kashiyar had vanished after those final words, Dohyun sighed.

‘I have no idea what he said.’

There was only one thing he could understand.

From the context, ‘that day’ was called the promised day, and when the promised day came, they would move.

‘The promised day… Is it the day Gamilion mentioned at first?’

Back then, Gamilion had also mentioned the promised day and trailed off.

He said they had agreed not to mention that day, so the guess seemed correct.

‘They…’

It was regrettable not to hear about them, but if even Kashiyar was warning about them, they must be quite formidable.

‘Anyway, it’s one mountain after another.’

Well, when had this damn main quest ever been different?

It wasn’t surprising, so Dohyun quickly shook off his thoughts.

However, it wasn’t entirely voluntary.

Scrape- Scrape-

-I cannot… end like this… Must have revenge…

A knight covered in blood, forcibly dragging his motionless body as he approached, forced Dohyun out of his contemplation.

“…?”

“What, that thing was still alive?”

“Come to think of it… there was no clear message.”

“What a tenacious bastard.”

Garion van Rodman.

That Guy was clinging to his stubborn life, desperately reaching out his hand.

There was a terrible obsession in how he stretched out his unreachable hand, trying to get even a little closer.

‘Is it because That Guy is still alive that the Quest completion window didn’t appear?’

No, could you even call that being alive?

Blood was flowing from every hole in his body.

-Cough…

The way he coughed up blood and trembled made it seem like he would die if I just brought down my sword.

But Dohyun didn’t do that.

Instead, he approached closer, then crouched down in front and met his eyes.

Then Garion, whose eyes met his, coughed up blood and screamed as if in agony.

-…Why did you appear? If it weren’t for you… I could have achieved my revenge…

“…”

-A whole 40 years… I’ve devoted 40 years to this… I was so close, so why did you have to appear at this very moment…

Even as he spent more time coughing up blood, the way he somehow continued speaking was utterly miserable.

Dohyun, who had been looking down at that miserable sight with composure, opened his mouth.

“When I was learning Bairan’s swordsmanship, I saw your filthy face quite often.”

-…?

“You were there most of the times when Bairan harbored determination. To him, you weren’t simply a mentor or guard knight.”

-…What does that matter…

“Shut up and listen to the end.”

Dohyun firmly cut off his words and raised his head.

The slowly lifting veil seemed to show that Garion’s flame was dying out.

“Do you know when Bairan harbored his greatest determination?”

-…

“When he died by your hand? No, that doesn’t even come close. When he felt his own inadequacy? When he resolved to become a great emperor not shameful to you? When he felt distance from his brother?”

None of those were it.

The moment when Bairan felt the deepest determination wasn’t something so glorious.

A ceremony that all royalty or nobility with knights would experience.

“When he formed the knight’s oath.”

-…

“Not from the beginning, but… Bairan knew about your past. That you harbored revenge against the royal family.”

-That can’t… be…

Looking at Garion’s trembling pupils, Dohyun shook his head.

“He couldn’t not know. Your family were traitors who were secretly preparing rebellion.”

-…What?

“What do you think was the reason they didn’t execute you, the survivor, as they should have?”

-…

“Bairan.”

That his first meeting with him had been planned.

That he harbored revenge against the royal family.

Even knowing all of this, Bairan stopped it. He believed in the Garion he had personally observed.

He believed in Garion’s emotions, actions, words, and friendship that he had witnessed.

Finally, when he received the knight’s oath to serve as master for life.

“Bairan also resolved to spend his life as your master and friend to set you right.”

Keeping by his side a man who hated his bloodline.

That this was the moment he harbored his greatest determination in life.

He truly was a naive and foolish man.

“…That didn’t change even when he became a mummy and endured long years until the moment of death. Until he departed, he hoped to give you a chance to turn back.”

That was why Dohyun had displayed Bairan’s swordsmanship in sequence.

It was both respect for Bairan and a complete recreation of the training process he had learned with Garion from beginning to end.

“The result is… well, you know.”

-That can’t… be true… He couldn’t have known… No, how dare you slander Father with such talk of treason…!

“…Cough, it’s the truth. Garion.”

This time a voice came from elsewhere.

From where the pillar was.

It was the 1st Prince, Rior, who had regained consciousness after being freed from corruption when the Draconic Abomination died.

“Garion. Why do you think your family isn’t despised, and why people ignore you as a survivor rather than find you disgusting?”

-…

“Because we hid the fact of your family’s treason. No one knows that fact except Father the current Emperor, and Prince Iden and myself.”

-That can’t… be…

Garion’s pupils trembled incessantly.

He tried to deny it, but everything fit the circumstances.

Even Garion himself, while planning revenge, had always wondered why they left him alone.

He had only thought it was because he was Bairan’s knight.

He had only believed his plan was perfect.

“…Garion, do you think you’re the only survivor of your family?”

-…What?

“Among your cousins who weren’t closely involved in the treason, there are those still alive. They’re now under protection. It was Father’s command, following the will of former 1st Prince… Lord Bairan.”

Rior’s face, having said this, was tinged with bitterness.

“…It was also Iden’s surprise gift for you.”

-…

The 2nd Prince, Iden de Arniss.

Even while suffering from illness, he had repeatedly interacted with them for Garion, who always cared for him with a stoic demeanor.

They resented the family head who had planned treason for no reason and taken everything from them.

Since that resentful arrow was pointed at Garion as the survivor, he had to interact with them for a long time and finally opened their hearts.

[When my illness is cured, there’s something I want to give as a gift to Sir Garion.]

[Sir Garion will surely like it too. So please pray for my recovery.]

The voice of the 2nd Prince, who had tried to smile with his pale face, echoed in his ears.

-No… that’s not true! Cough! Hack!

Garion, who had been trying to get up while denying it, coughed up a handful of blood.

The world was dyed red.

In a world full of blood, Bairan and the 2nd Prince, Ronde, and countless people he had killed were standing.

They were all looking at him with resentment.

He was laughing while brutally killing all of them.

-…No. That’s not true.

Tears flowed from his bloodshot eyes.

They were black tears.

-I… didn’t know. I’m a victim too!

Garion, with his eyes rolled back, frantically waved his hands and screamed.

What cut off his desperate cry was a following deep voice.

“Victim? Don’t be fucking ridiculous.”

-…What?

“Do you think there’s anyone without a story? Don’t justify it. You don’t have that right. What reason could you give for stabbing so many who believed in you in the back? You had a chance to find out. You were given a chance to turn back.”

-…

But Garion didn’t do that.

He had lived only for revenge, and if what he knew wasn’t the truth, he wouldn’t be able to bear it.

He had deliberately turned away.

“Don’t make excuses. You were just trash, that’s all.”

Dohyun snarled and raised one corner of his mouth.

“And you’re not the only one who wants revenge.”

-What do you mean… Guhk?

Thunk-

Garion’s eyes widened at the piercing pain that went through his back and reached his chest.

There was no need to see whose sword it was.

“…Garion, I cannot forgive you.”

Rior de Arnis had approached and was expressing his anger with blazing eyes.

That wasn’t the only one.

Stab-

-…!

This time a sword pierced through his side.

It was Charlie, who had recovered from his retired state as time passed.

-You have crossed a river of no return. Atone for that sin with death.

Was it an illusion?

Stab- Thunk- Stab!

Thunk-!

Those who were already dead and gone.

Bairan, the 2nd Prince, Ronde, and others who couldn’t possibly exist in reality thrust their swords.

Countless swords carved up his body, and by the time he wanted to collapse but was forced to stand upright, skewered by the blades.

-Ah…

With Dohyun’s sword flashing one last time, Garion’s vision turned upside down.

His neck had been severed.

Below his bloodshot, wide-open eyes, something dark red that could have been blood or tears was flowing.

“One who sought bloody revenge with misguided beliefs shall drown in the blood spilled by his own hands.”

Just as Rior murmured quietly.

It was truly a fitting end for that man.

“…”

“Ah…”

Perhaps because of the somewhat heavy atmosphere.

The overwhelmed Players couldn’t easily make a sound and stood there with their mouths agape.

‘Tch.’

Dohyun also felt equally uncomfortable, so he didn’t say anything appropriate.

How many seconds had passed like that?

Ding-

What broke the cold silence was the same cheerful notification as always.

[You have defeated Black Knight Garion.]

[By eliminating the mastermind, the Catastrophe-level City Quest ‘Black Knight Garion’ is cleared.]

[You have achieved an Achievement that far surpasses the original Quest content.]

[You have set an Unbelievable Achievement.]

[Due to your Unbelievable Achievement, the title ‘Unbelievable Stats’ is activated.]

[All stats increase by +5.]

[It will be recorded in the Adventure Log.]

[You have acquired the title ‘Hero of the Empire’.]

[You have acquired the title ‘Destroyer of Darkness’.]

[Due to clearing the Quest with a remarkable Achievement, the reward from the Imperial Family will be greatly enhanced.]

[You have cleared the Emergency Quest ‘Bairan’s Will’.]

[You have acquired 200,000 gold as a reward.]

[The favorability of all NPCs in the Empire increases to maximum, and you become a benefactor of the Imperial Family.]

[You have definitively acquired Black Knight Garion’s main equipment item ‘Black Knight’s Dark Armor’.]

[As the 1st place contribution reward for the Catastrophe-level City Quest, you have acquired the ‘Black Knight’s Dark Helmet’.]

‘Huh?’

Forget the uncomfortable feeling and everything else, it was a parade of rewards that made his eyes light up.

Though he was momentarily dazzled by them, Dohyun’s gaze soon turned not to the rewards but elsewhere.

In the arms of the fallen Garion.

[Eye of Truth is activated.]

Something small glowing red from his chest.

‘An emblem.’

The culprit behind all this, and the key that would help find the key to destiny.

When Dohyun approached Garion and quickly grasped it in his hand, a message immediately appeared.

[You have acquired the key to the fifth fragment of destiny, ‘Golden Emblem of Courage and Faith’.]

[It is confirmed that the aura of the Draconic Abomination of the Darkness has disappeared.]

[Attempting to connect to the fifth fragment of destiny.]

At that, the corner of Dohyun’s mouth slowly rose.

‘Excluding Kashiyar, there have been three kings I’ve met so far.’

First was the Holy King.

Then came the Dark King and the Demon King.

Now there are two kings left.

‘I wonder what kind of king it will be this time.’

Since all the kings were those who had reached the pinnacle of their respective fields, they would undoubtedly be extraordinary figures.

Waiting with curiosity and anticipation for several seconds.

Ding-

Finally, the awaited message appeared,

“…What?”

Dohyun’s eyes widened, then shook greatly.

It was a completely unexpected message.

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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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