The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 39

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 39

Chapter 39.

Money?

It would be nice to earn some, but it wasn’t absolutely necessary right now.

Having gotten such an incredible opportunity, he had no intention whatsoever of letting it slip away and handing it over to someone else.

‘I’m already drooling thinking about what I’ll get.’

Since it’s a Hero-grade secret dungeon, maybe he could get a Hero-grade item?

At worst, it should drop at least Rare+ grade, right?

Even though Dohyun had the worst luck, since it was a secret dungeon, he couldn’t help but feel such expectations.

‘Eye of Truth… it’s really the best.’

Honestly, it was true that he had hoped it might be able to find dungeons.

Since it could see through hidden things, anyone would think it gave off the vibe of an explorer’s search skill. That’s why Dohyun had wandered around the forest before entering the Goblin Chieftain’s Lair.

Even after all that trouble, he couldn’t find anything and was half giving up, but who knew it would trigger such a big event!

‘If it was going to be like this, it should have said something earlier. How mischievous.’

Thanks to it, he got a rare title, so he’d welcome such mischief a hundred times over.

He wasn’t sure if that search range thing would apply to the Eye of Truth too, but the +2 to all stats effect was a sweet bonus.

“Phew.”

Dohyun’s expression became serious after grinning and complaining pointlessly to the Eye of Truth that wouldn’t even listen.

It was the first serious expression he’d shown since defeating the Iron-Blooded Demon.

Actually, until now he could afford to be casual. There was no need to even use proper control since monsters just died in one or two hits.

It was the same during PVP. He didn’t feel even a bit of tension.

But this secret dungeon was different.

‘From Hero grade onwards, the level is different.’

Normal grade and Rare grade aren’t really that different.

Players just have a bit more to do, and it gets slightly more troublesome.

But from Hero grade onwards, the difficulty rises exponentially.

This wasn’t just about dungeons – it was the same for all systems that used grade classifications.

‘Whether it’s items, skills, or bosses… this is where it really begins.’

And no matter how much Demroc got cursed for being a shitty RNG game, there was one rule it always followed.

‘The lower the probability, the more certain the reward.’

Godseeker was the same way.

Just look at his unique ability ‘Adventurer’ or the Eye of Truth.

Being one-of-a-kind, they boasted overwhelming performance.

By the same principle, Hero-grade dungeons had to have rewards on a different level from Rare-grade dungeons.

Imagine if the reward you struggled to get from a ridiculously difficult boss wasn’t much different from previous bosses.

People would just stick to killing Rare-grade bosses instead – no one would bother with Hero-grade bosses.

Of course, there was still that maddening element called probability attached…

[You receive benefits for being the first discoverer.]

[Boss-related equipment items are guaranteed to drop upon first clear.]

[Experience gained increased by 30%.]

[Drop rate increased by 30%.]

‘Nice… yeah, this is what gaming should be like.’

For the current Dohyun, that didn’t matter.

He just needed to worry about clearing the dungeon for sure. And in that area, he was more confident than anyone.

[Would you like to enter the secret dungeon?]

“Yeah.”

[Conditions have been met.]

[You will shortly enter the secret dungeon ‘Black Goblin Sorcerer’s Hideout.’]

[5…]

…

[2…]

With the message “1” as the last thing he saw, Dohyun grinned as he felt his vision turn white.

‘Well then, shall I go collect my rewards.’

It was the moment when the first secret dungeon opened in Raven, the first city of the Main Continent.

* * *

-Entering a secret dungeon is like sticking your head into a wild beast’s mouth.

These were the words of Fried, ranked 1279th in Godseeker, during an interview.

Those words, spoken after a moment’s thought in response to players’ questions about secret dungeons, couldn’t help but make most players tilt their heads in confusion.

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Does it mean they’re that difficult?”

“Isn’t he saying it’s like attempting suicide?”

“Then why is everyone desperate to find secret dungeons? Are they all suicidal?”

They could tell it was a metaphorical expression, but they couldn’t figure out what he meant.

However, players who had experienced secret dungeons all agreed with Fried’s words.

They understood his meaning immediately.

What happens when you stick your head into a beast’s mouth?

-It clamps down.

Unless it’s a well-trained animal, ten out of ten will clamp their jaws shut.

They drool over the prey that came to them and devour it.

Secret dungeons were like such beasts’ mouths.

[You have entered the dungeon.]

Whoooosh!

The moment he entered, a massive black sphere flew at him as a welcome greeting.

It wasn’t really a sphere, but a magic orb made of mana.

Moreover, this wasn’t something ordinary like a fireball.

[You are hit directly by a Curse Orb and afflicted with the status ailment ‘Dark Vision.’]

[Due to Dark Vision effect, your field of vision will be narrowed for a certain period.]

The Curse Orb – a spell most favored by curse mages and their basic technique.

The power itself was unimpressive, but the problem was that Dark Vision. Once hit by a Curse Orb, your vision becomes really damn frustrating.

Vision similar to holding a dim torch in a cave.

However, Dohyun’s vision remained clear.

[The trait ‘Hero’ blocks mental contamination.]

[Dark Vision effect is ignored.]

Because he had the top-tier trait ‘Hero’ that hard-countered CC effects.

Bang! Whoosh!

Two more shots flew at him in succession, but they were all blocked by the ‘Hero’ trait and disappeared without any effect.

Dohyun brushed off the traces of the Curse Orbs from his clothes.

‘Quite an intense initiation.’

This was the reason for Fried’s expression and the concept of secret dungeons.

While secret dungeons had various types and concepts, almost all of them tormented players from the moment of entry.

Maze types with traps, single boss types with attacks like now.

Setting aside the high difficulty, the dungeon already begins the moment you enter.

[How dare you enter my home without permission… you’re a human who has lost all fear.]

Even villains usually get protected during their first appearance and transformation scenes as common courtesy.

True to its lack of courtesy, when he turned his head toward the disgustingly crackling voice, he saw it.

Kriek… Kirriek…

Kiririk…

Countless corrupted goblins sprawled everywhere.

With unfocused eyes and skin dyed purple, half-rotted – they were unmistakably undead.

[Black Goblin Sorcerer’s Undead Goblin]

[Black Goblin Shaman’s Undead Goblin]

….

Indeed, even the name was undead.

The disgusting appearance that made one sick just looking at it wasn’t limited to just those creatures.

Screech- Screech-.

Rustle-.

Around the undead goblins, what looked like at least twenty giant insects were scattered about.

In the corners of the half-collapsed ceiling, giant spiders had spun webs, and on the worn floor, giant centipedes writhed and crawled around.

Some of them were even clinging to the undead goblins.

“Ugh, look at that visual.”

Being virtual reality, it was unnecessarily vivid, making it even more disgusting.

[Kekeke… You seem frightened by my children.]

And at the end of it all was something black.

The creature with skin even blacker than the robe it wore sat on an old throne covered in spider webs.

Green eyes glinted through that darkness.

And above it floated an information window with a red name.

[Jihad Black]

-Title: Hero-class Named Boss

-Type: Goblin

-Traits: Bloodline Factor, Curse Caster, Necromancer, Swift Hands.

-Description: Survivor of a fallen clan.

Jihad, who carries excellent bloodline, is a goblin who has lived for hundreds of years.

For what reason he hides in this hideout, what he is preparing for, remains unknown.

‘Named Boss?’

…This was unexpected.

No matter how high the difficulty of a hidden dungeon, a Named Boss was surprising.

Named Bosses were ranked even higher than Elite Bosses.

If Elite was a modifier given to monsters that were exceptional compared to their grade, Named referred to those who possessed a name.

In Godseeker, they were unique beings that existed only once, so there was no comparison.

‘Not all named creatures are strong, but….’

Of course, that was in terms of rarity; the difficulty was hit or miss.

The strength of a named boss varied depending on how many years they had lived and how much they had honed their skills.

While there were absurdly powerful ones like the Iron-Blooded Dragon, there were also cases where Named Bosses were pathetically weak.

‘Hmm… Can’t tell from the information alone.’

This was a characteristic of Named Bosses after all.

Even the Iron-Blooded Dragon didn’t have a proper description, did it?

He was about to move on, thinking of it as a boss shrouded in mystery.

[Conditions are met.]

[Slayer is activated.]

[Hidden information about Jihad Black is now accessible.]

“Huh?”

After pausing briefly at the unexpected notification, Dohyun exclaimed as he grasped the situation.

‘Ah, there was this feature.’

The Slayer trait.

A trait that allowed him to check the location and hidden information of monsters of types for which he had earned the Slayer title.

He had forgotten about it since there hadn’t been an opportunity to use it.

[Would you like to check the additional information?]

‘Hmm.’

Since it had appeared for the first time, it would be good to check it out of curiosity… but before that, Dohyun glanced at the boss.

It would be trouble if an attack came while he was checking information.

The creature sat arrogantly as if it could erase someone like Dohyun anytime.

Chirr… Chirk….

Hiss-.

Whether they only moved when given orders, the undead and insects under its command were still docile.

However, it was honestly creepy having all those horribly-looking things staring in this direction.

Then the boss, whose eyes met his, spoke in an arrogant tone.

[But this is strange… How did a human discover this place? I thought I had hidden it perfectly.]

“…That’s true.”

If an oddball like Dohyun hadn’t appeared, it probably would never have been discovered.

[I don’t sense an explorer’s aura… You’re quite a peculiar being with various energies mixed within you.]

Dohyun couldn’t help but be slightly surprised at this part.

A mere boss from Raven had vaguely sensed that he was an All-Master just by looking.

Was this the insight of a boss who had lived for hundreds of years?

[Hmm….]

As it stared intently at Dohyun as if trying to see through him, it seemed unable to do so properly and let out a contemplative sound.

‘What exactly is this creature?’

It was fascinating in many ways.

It was the most rational and unique boss he had encountered, and its perceptiveness and presence made him wonder if it was really a goblin.

Driven by curiosity, Dohyun checked the information.

[…The special race that existed in ancient times, the Black Clan.

They were a clan that used special techniques based on their own high potential, and due to their danger, they were always in conflict with ‘humanity.’

But after ‘that day,’ the Black Clan perished, and in later generations, they could no longer be seen.

Jihad Black is one who carries the blood of such a clan.

Though he has lived for over hundreds of years, by the standards of the Blacks who live for over a thousand years, he hasn’t even undergone his coming-of-age ceremony yet.]

Dohyun let out a small exclamation at the detailed content that appeared.

The Slayer’s performance was better than he had thought.

‘The Black Clan… I’ve never heard of them.’

It was a clan he hadn’t heard of even in Demroc.

Well, since Godseeker was set after Demroc’s timeline, there were many additions.

Some things from Demroc didn’t exist, and conversely, there were new settings, so it wasn’t strange for Dohyun not to know about them.

‘Whatever they are, they probably aren’t weak.’

Since humanity had felt threatened by them in the past.

And aside from everything else, having lived for hundreds of years, if they were strong, they would be very strong, and there was no way they could be weak.

The fortunate thing was that it was still a youngster who hadn’t even passed adulthood.

‘Four traits… No close-combat related traits.’

Certainly, being high-grade, it possessed many traits, but they were all necromancer-related.

Swift Hands was probably for increasing casting speed too….

It would be sufficient as long as he was careful of the possibility that the Bloodline Factor trait could be a variable.

[You’re a peculiar one, but since you’ve set foot in this place, there’s no choice… My children….]

Just then, Jihad Black seemed to have finished his judgment and slowly extended his hand.

As the pitch-black hand reached out, the undead moved as if a switch had been flipped.

Groooar… Groar….

Hiss- Hiss-.

The monsters surrounded him, making spine-chilling sounds.

Looking at Jihad Black sitting leisurely behind them, Dohyun also stepped forward.

Step, step.

Though his gait was slow and steady, it contained stronger confidence than anything else.

‘I’m not the one who should be nervous.’

Since ancient times, ranged fighters always had to be nervous when facing close-range opponents.

No matter how much advantage they maintained throughout the battle, their combat dynamic was one where everything could be reversed the moment they allowed an approach.

That was the accepted theory, but he didn’t like how they were acting so relaxed just because they had numbers on their side.

That’s why he planned to show them.

‘Why assassins are bullies against ranged classes.’

Why assassins are the strongest PVP characters.

Why ranged job classes foam at the mouth whenever they see an assassin.

Kirruk… Krrr…

The moment the monsters had approached right in front of them, Dohyun muttered something quietly.

“…Stealth.”

His voice was so small that it could barely be heard even up close.

And Dohyun’s figure disappeared.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————