The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 88

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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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Episode 88

Chapter 88.

‘All of that was parrying? All of it?’

The damage output was surprising, but what left him even more dumbfounded was that control.

The insane skill of utilizing those difficult-to-succeed parries at exactly the right moments without failing even once.

And that wasn’t all. What about that distance management?

With truly minimal movements, he dodged and maintained the optimal distance for attacking, never once breaking that distance.

‘This is impossible…’

As an archer, distance management was the most important thing, so Archercoins had at least some discerning eye in this area.

From his perspective, calling that high-level or veteran play wasn’t enough.

That was… a realm that humans simply couldn’t reach.

-Marvelous.

Suddenly, a comment he’d seen in some Kaiser-related post came to mind.

At the same time, he could see himself agreeing with it.

‘Ah…’

There was no other word that could express what Archercoins was feeling right now.

The overwhelming emotion you’d only feel when viewing a work of art.

He was feeling that from just one man.

Kraaaah!

“Ah.”

What snapped him back from his soul-lost state was an ear-splitting roar.

Thanks to that, he regained his senses and saw ominous mist like storm clouds.

It was the aura of death signaling the start of phase 2.

‘This time it’s really dangerous.’

Playing around with a boss that had activated Warrior traits was beyond absurd – it was marvelous even thinking about it now.

But that was as far as it went.

The reason why tanks were essential when hunting the Orc Warrior of Death, regardless of other classes.

[Contact with the aura of death inflicts various status ailments. Up to 5 stacks can be applied, proportional to contact time.]

A shield-bearer to handle the aura of death.

In other words, someone to play the sacrificial role was needed.

This wasn’t some optional choice.

Just like how mages were essential when hunting the Goblin Chief due to the ‘Selfish Defense’ trait, tanks were essential here.

‘No matter how good the control and how strong the damage, you absolutely can’t beat it while afflicted with all sorts of status ailments.’

Just getting hit with dark vision would cut your sight by more than half, and if you got slowed or anemic, you couldn’t even move as you wanted.

Fighting a duel while dealing damage in that situation?

‘Absolutely impossible.’

That was the established truth.

…Yes, that ‘was’ the established truth. Until just now.

Thwack!

Kaiser’s speed as he leaped forward the moment the aura of death activated didn’t seem to slow down at all.

That wasn’t an illusion.

Crack! Thwack!

He flew over in an instant and sent the boss’s jaw flying with a flying knee kick.

The Orc Warrior of Death, who had been looking at the spinning sky with half-glazed eyes, suddenly snapped back to attention.

Crack!

And his head turned again.

Another flying knee kick had been delivered.

But this time it wasn’t just a knee kick.

For a moment, the shape of a dragon seemed visible, then a roar incomparably louder than before erupted.

“Huh? Wasn’t that just a Rising Dragon Kick?”

“You must have seen wrong. What swordsman uses Rising Dragon Kick?”

“I… guess so?”

The questioning was brief. Kaiser continued his relentless assault.

He was even faster than before.

Thud!

As if completely unaffected, Kaiser was toying with the boss.

“What the hell? Why isn’t he getting status ailments? Is it a trait? Is there such a trait?”

“He’s a god, so that stuff doesn’t work on him.”

“Holy sh*t… Wow, and he’s dodging all the attacks too, is this real?”

“Huh? Wasn’t that just Battle Instinct? He’s already shaved off 20%?”

“This is seriously insane.”

Compared to the other two who had become much more talkative, Archercoins was quiet.

He was just staring at this unbelievable scene with a blank expression.

Everything was beyond common sense.

From start to finish, not a single thing was predictable – every aspect was abnormal combat.

But that’s what made it more artistic.

“…”

Had he been walking forward as if entranced without realizing it?

Thunk.

“Ah.”

Something seemed to catch, and then his leg was grabbed.

Looking down, he saw Professor Hogwarts holding out popcorn.

“Want some?”

A proposal he would have ignored before, telling him not to be ridiculous.

“…Yeah.”

But he had already seen too much to refuse the popcorn.

As he sat down next to him, Warrior12456, who had been stroking his sword sheath from behind, put his sword into his inventory.

Swoosh.

Then he quietly sat down beside them and grabbed some popcorn.

While eagerly munching on popcorn, Archercoins thought.

‘…Would he give me an autograph if I asked? No, what am I even saying? You’re not that wishy-washy, Archercoins.’

He was already showing early symptoms of fandom – the denial phase.

* * *

Meanwhile, at that time.

While Dohyun was in the middle of his solo attempt.

Hero Guild’s master Berjhe was receiving a report from a scout he had dispatched in his guild master’s office.

“Hmm.”

A man who always ranked in the Top 3 when ranking current Godose stars by appearance.

The one and only master of this era’s true guild that called itself heroic.

People praised and followed such a man.

But that was only among netizens who heard about him through TV or articles.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

People who knew Berjhe’s true nature didn’t regard him as any kind of hero.

‘A person obsessed with money.’

‘A businessman without blood or tears.’

Someone who could sacrifice and endure anything for money and authority.

A man whose exterior and interior were different, like two sides of a coin.

The world revered him as a hero, but those standing on the opposite side feared Berjhe more than a demon.

“Tell me. Is this really correct?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Hmm….”

That was why Scout, Choi Hyunseok, was so tense.

At first glance, he seemed kind, even using honorifics with his subordinate employees, but he was a cold-blooded person who could smile and fire you just like that.

Tap. Tap.

Times like now, when he was tapping the table with his index finger, required extra caution.

That was a habit the master had when he was seriously thinking about something.

Tap.

When the sound finally stopped, Berjhe let out a small sigh.

“…Do you think this makes sense?”

And rightfully so, because the contents of the report were too absurd.

“Made contact, but broke through 20 vs 1 alone… And without a single casualty in just 30 seconds. You’re submitting this as a report? Seriously?”

“…I’m sorry.”

For Scout, who kept apologizing, this was extremely unfair.

‘But it’s real, what do you want me to do about it.’

He had just written down what he experienced….

No, he had even downplayed it a bit, but they wouldn’t believe it.

Of course, even to him it was a bit… no, quite hard to believe.

Someone who just graduated from Raven broke through twenty players who were almost at graduation level in less than 30 seconds?

Even a passing dog would laugh at that.

They say reality is more dramatic than fiction, but there should be limits—who would believe this?

‘Sigh.’

His insides burned with frustration, but what could he do.

This was his workplace, and to make a living, he had to endure this kind of unfairness.

Fighting back here would only hurt himself.

So he just bowed his head. This way, his expression of dying from injustice wouldn’t be caught.

“Mr. Choi Hyunseok.”

“…Yes, Master.”

“I know Kaiser is an impressive man too. I’ve seen it myself. But… isn’t this exaggeration a bit too much?”

Berjhe’s voice was calm.

However, the absurdity contained in his voice was clear.

“What kind of person is Kaiser? Why are you making a movie? You want me to believe this? Why not just say he solo killed an Orc Warrior of Death in 10 minutes?”

“That’s, it’s not an exaggeration, it’s really….”

“Well, let’s say that’s true.”

Berjhe cut him off easily, and Choi Hyunseok tactfully closed his mouth.

He had learned from experience that insisting on his grievances here wouldn’t end with just a scolding.

“Be careful of orcs… What did you mean by writing this? Do we have time to worry about orcs right now? Who submitted this report?”

“It seems a subordinate submitted it… but there’s a reason for all….”

“Sigh. Well, fine. These false rumors aren’t important right now.”

…It’s not a false rumor though. It’s real.

After hesitating briefly, he closed his mouth.

‘Whatever, I don’t know anymore.’

If they complain later, he’ll just say he didn’t know. He did what he could.

The master just didn’t listen.

As he bowed his head with a ‘sue me’ attitude, Berjhe continued speaking.

“This is quite interesting. Met the Caretaker… Why did they meet?”

“We’re looking into it, but there are so few clues. We’re speculating it might be related to reclaiming 1st place in Raven….”

“Raven 1st place… Come to think of it, Demroc also met the Caretaker shortly after arriving in Brion.”

Having said that much, Berjhe smiled slightly.

“Could this be a simple coincidence?”

“….”

Choi Hyunseok didn’t answer, but it was enough.

His dazed eyes showed he was thinking the same thing.

“No, this isn’t a coincidence. There’s some connection. He’s the first person to achieve S Rank after all.”

“…Yes. I think so too.”

“Keep a close watch, Mr. Hyunseok.”

“Yes. Please trust me with this. I’ll definitely find him and somehow keep him in our grasp.”

Berjhe chuckled at Choi Hyunseok’s fighting spirit.

“Can you catch him? According to what’s written here, he’s like Superman.”

“….”

“Don’t do that. We don’t even have justification.”

“But with public opinion as it is now, and Kaiser being the one who picked a fight with the Top 100 Guilds first….”

“Mr. Hyunseok.”

“Yes.”

Berjhe cut him off as if it wasn’t worth listening to and turned his chair.

The sky reflected in the window was blue.

“So which guilds have stepped forward now?”

“…Didn’t most guilds step forward? Including us.”

Looking at the white clouds faintly visible in the blue sky, Berjhe continued.

“That’s all for show.”

“…Pardon?”

“If they were serious, they would have sent assassins, done media play, and played dirty—would it be this quiet? Since when did they all love fair play so much?”

“Why would they deliberately….”

Gulp, Choi Hyunseok swallowed and unconsciously asked before closing his mouth.

He was being careful because it seemed like he was arguing.

Fortunately, Berjhe didn’t seem to mind much and coolly answered the question.

“The importance of guilds.”

In Godose, guilds were indispensable.

With a billion people gathered in the game, there were all kinds of lunatics everywhere, and aside from NPCs, only guilds could control and restrain them.

Even in reality, it starts with ‘Do you have connections?’—would a game be any different?

If anything, it was worse, never better.

That was why players cursed guilds but still joined them whenever possible.

And why star players chose more solid guilds.

“But Kaiser broke that common sense.”

So he had to fall.

If he succeeded without any problems despite having no guild, people would question the existence of guilds.

The number of immature people trying to imitate Kaiser would also increase.

The world changes even with a butterfly’s small wing flutter.

Everyone knows not just anyone can do it, but the seed of distrust blooming in one’s heart was not something to take lightly.

“If that’s the case, shouldn’t we strongly check him instead of putting on a show… Sorry. Instead of pretending?”

“We’re giving him a chance first. The symbolic nature of Kaiser’s existence has that much value.”

“….”

“If we successfully bring him over, we’ll face some checks for a while, but we’ll be able to gain profits that more than make up for it.”

Berjhe slightly raised his head and continued calmly.

“No matter how great you are, you’re just a latecomer right now. So realize reality and join hands with us.”

“…Ah.”

“Guilds are corporations. It’s instinct to try to maximize profits when possible.”

But that was ending now too.

“He’ll soon realize. That this was his last chance.”

Kaiser’s current location was Brion.

That’s where countless masters of Top 10 Guilds, including Demroc, challenged the throne and fell.

Anywhere else might be different, but in Brion at least, the Hero Guild was the strongest.

That was Berjhe’s pride.

‘Even you won’t be able to do it there.’

It wasn’t baseless confidence.

‘How could you possibly earn the reputation and trust of NPCs.’

The core of the graduation quest there was reputation points, after all.

A quest that was poison to a tiger who enjoyed traveling alone and had enemies on all sides.

On the other hand, the Hero Guild, which proclaimed itself as heroes, had built up more reputation and trust than any other faction, befitting their name.

It wasn’t even a competition to begin with.

‘Kaiser, you’ll collapse there.’

That was the predetermined sequence.

With such tremendous interest focused on this situation that could be called exceptional, disappointed people would spring up like bamboo shoots after rain.

‘The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.’

It wouldn’t be too late to move then.

Right now, he just needed to sit back and watch these one-day puppies who wanted to become instant stars challenge a tiger.

There were probably countless others thinking the same thing as him.

‘This should be entertaining.’

Whether it was a recruitment war or rookie killing.

Berjhe was smiling as he looked up at the sky, imagining a future that wouldn’t remain quiet.

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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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