The Return of the Genius Ranker’s Myth Warehouse - Chapter 161

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

Chapter 161
Chapter 161
The Blue Moon Knights comprised various types of warriors.
There were spellblade mages and spear mages who engaged in close combat, as well as archer mages who conducted ultra-long-range strikes using magic.
Alchemists who utilized potions crafted through alchemy, and orthodox mages who received formal training at the Magic Tower.
The Blue Moon Knights—the largest organization among the Empire’s knight orders—encompassed all such mages.
As such, the Knight Commander of Blue Moon could only be an object of reverence to them.
“Is that him?”
“Yes, sir.”
The Knight Commander of Blue Moon.
Raymond Mistborn had recently taken a liking to someone.
Mir—the first adventurer to receive a noble title.
A man of such talent that their Knight Commander, who had never so much as blinked at the exceptional exploits of Blue Moon’s knights, had personally extended an invitation to join.
That Mir had now appeared in Cheongwol, the seat of Blue Moon.
“What purpose did he give for coming?”
“Nothing beyond saying he wishes to meet with the Commander.”
“Surely an adventurer isn’t actually trying to enter Cheongwol?”
“That would be unlikely. Adventurers naturally prefer not to be bound to a single organization.”
“However, if it were our Blue Moon Knights, things might be different.”
“Hmm…”
“Didn’t you hear he showed interest in our order before?”
“…Yes, so I’ve heard.”
The Knight Commander of Blue Moon, Raymond Mistborn, wished to recruit Mir.
But the knights of Blue Moon itself harbored no such sentiment.
The Blue Moon Knights were composed entirely of mages with formidable pride.
While talented commoners could be accepted into the order, adventurers were a different matter.
To mages who cultivated mana, studied formulas, and personally explored magical tomes to learn magic,
adventurer mages who acquired and wielded magic naturally, as if playing a game, were utterly incomprehensible beings.
“Bring him naturally to the Training Ground.”
“Yes, Vice Commander.”
“Show no hostility. Make it seem welcoming and natural. Understood?”
“Of course.”
Thus, the knight assigned as guide naturally led Mir to the Training Ground.
With pleasant words about gaining insight through sparring with peers, Mir soon nodded in agreement.
“Jane, can you handle this?”
“An adventurer who doesn’t know his place? I’ll crush him easily.”
They remembered Mir’s level.
Certainly he was an adventurer with outstanding potential, but his current level was not particularly high.
In terms of levels, Jane, a trainee knight of Blue Moon, surpassed him by a tier.
Unlike other knight orders, the knights of Blue Moon were more than capable of defeating Mir.
That’s what I thought.
“Wind….”
Before Jane could even finish casting her spell.
Crack!
My blade, flashing like lightning, slashed across Jane’s chest.
“Ugh!”
Jane couldn’t withstand that single blow and collapsed.
“This can’t be….”
An unbelievable sight.
Even though Jane was a trainee knight of Blue Moon, everyone here acknowledged her abilities.
Jane fell without even casting a single spell?
That made no sense.
While everyone was bewildered.
“…Is this the right way to do it?”
At my question, the knights’ eyes turned fierce.
“I’ll step forward.”
“Good. Adrian.”
“It seems Jane couldn’t react because her spell casting speed is still slow, but I absolutely won’t fall for it.”
The next knight stepped up.
Adrian.
He was a battle mage.
Instead of using weapons, he was a knight who enhanced his physical abilities through magic and overwhelmed opponents with rapid casting speed.
As such.
“Begin!”
Whoosh!
Adrian didn’t even get to cast a spell like Jane and was struck down.
He quickly created distance.
“Wind Walk!”
He increased his movement speed through wind magic.
Immediately after, he rushed toward me and swung his fist.
“Wind Fist!”
Creating distance to cast magic, then instantly closing the gap to land a close-range magical strike.
It was Adrian’s signature technique, and even knowing about it, it was extremely difficult to defend against.
Moreover, wasn’t this the first time I was seeing this technique?
All the knights thought I would be blown back by this attack.
But.
“Wind Walk, huh….”
Whoosh!
Just before Adrian’s attack reached me.
Wind enveloped my legs.
It wasn’t Wind Walk.
Wind Walk was a technique developed by the Blue Moon Knights, so there was no way I could know it.
This was the basic wind-attribute buff magic that formed the foundation of Wind Walk.
Haste.
I concentrated Haste on my legs, dramatically increasing my movement speed in an instant.
Whoosh!
“…!”
I evaded Adrian’s fist.
Just as Adrian had created distance the moment the sparring began.
And the next moment was no different.
Just as Adrian had done, the moment I dodged his attack, I instantly closed the distance between us.
“Wind Cutter.”
Slash!
I struck Adrian’s body with a wooden sword imbued with wind blades.
* * *
Sparring with the Blue Moon Knights.
I was glad I’d chosen to train with them.
And for good reason.
‘These spells aren’t in any of my grimoires.’
Through sparring with them, I could comprehend so many different things.
First and foremost, the differences in magic.
I possessed every grimoire that existed in First, but it seemed Second had additional spells beyond those.
After all, the knights before me were using magic I’d never encountered.
Yet it wasn’t magic I couldn’t understand at all.
‘They concentrated Haste on the legs, emphasizing instantaneous power over sustained duration.’
I analyzed and applied my opponent’s magic.
Since I couldn’t learn that specific spell, I couldn’t recreate it perfectly, but I could approximate it using the First-tier magic I’d mastered.
The second thing was.
‘As a mage-archer, I can apply magic to archery in so many ways.’
The applications of magic.
Until now, I’d only used magic by adding it to weapons through Arcane Blade, the unique spell Raymond Mistborn had created for me.
But they were using magic far more broadly, both directly and indirectly, without needing to do that.
‘They enhanced the spear’s rotational force with magic to increase penetration.’
‘Using earth magic on a shield for simultaneous defense and counterattack—that’s quite effective.’
‘Combat using potions? I’m familiar with that, but there are potion types I’ve never seen before.’
Since I was indiscriminate with weapons in combat, each of their techniques inspired me.
Every time I witnessed them, I attempted to recreate their methods however crudely using my own magic.
As the sparring continued, my combat style grew increasingly elaborate and refined.
And so.
“Wait, how are you using Adrian’s Wind Walk so skillfully!”
“Is this technique Wind Walk? Or is the magic itself called Wind Walk?”
“Do you think I’d tell you that!”
“Then….”
“Wait! What’s that supposed to mean!”
Since these were techniques used by the Blue Moon Knights, I could absorb their secrets like a sponge.
Whenever a knight appeared who seemed to have much to teach,
“You’re looking down on me!”
“Then why don’t you fight me properly?”
“I’ll show you the true power of Reng Bofert, a regular knight of the Blue Moon Knight Order!”
I deliberately avoided knocking them down until they revealed all their magic and techniques.
If I scratched them gently in that state, they would use their hidden secret techniques, inspiring me with new insights.
By the time each duel ended, I had learned new applications of magic and techniques, so all the knights here looked like living skill books and spell tomes to me.
As a result, I began hearing dissatisfied voices from those around me.
“If only I had proper equipment!”
“I wouldn’t have lost if I’d been wearing enchanted gloves!”
“It’s impossible to fight properly with only training weapons.”
“If I’d been wearing knight armor, I would’ve definitely won.”
Their losses weren’t due to lacking skill—they were because they couldn’t equip proper gear.
If they’d fought in knight equipment, they would have definitely won.
That’s what they were saying.
But to me, such words sounded like nothing but excuses from the defeated.
‘If I’d been wearing proper items, I would’ve had a much greater advantage.’
For example, if I’d equipped the ‘Ether Blessing’ set I used when fighting the Evil God last time?
My magical defense would have increased tremendously, and I could have ignored most of the magic the knights threw at me.
If I wielded a weapon like ‘Spell Breaker’?
I could have easily shattered the defensive magic the knights deployed and attacked them.
The Blue Moon Knight Order’s equipment might be good, but compared to the items I possess, it’s nothing but toys.
“Cough!”
How long did we keep fighting?
Most of the knights in the Training Ground had fallen by my hand.
Though they voiced complaints, they showed no intention of attacking again.
They had all realized it.
That attacking again wouldn’t lead to their victory.
Just as I was thinking the duels should end,
“Impressive.”
The person I’d been watching stepped onto the Training Ground.
I didn’t know who he was, but from the moment he entered the Training Ground, I could tell.
That this man was the strongest here.
Just from the aura he radiated, I could be certain that this man was no ordinary knight.
“Let me introduce myself. I’m Spear, Vice Commander of the Blue Moon Knight Order.”
“I am Mir.”
“Indeed, you possess the skill to interest the Knight Commander. So, would you be willing to spar with me as well?”
With those words, Spear picked up a wooden sword.
Seeing how he gripped the longsword with both hands, he appeared to be a magic swordsman.
“Since this is a sparring match, I won’t use Goseracle’s magic. Ah, if you’d like, I could even equip mana shackles to lower my physical abilities.”
His tone seemed condescending, but truthfully, it was fair.
A Vice Commander of Blue Moon would have an absurdly high level just from that alone.
Honestly, if that Vice Commander simply wielded Goseracle’s magic right now, I wouldn’t be able to handle it in my current state.
I suppose it’s fortunate that I can’t use Goseracle’s magic due to the sparring rules?
Still, the difference in stats was unavoidable.
But.
“No, thank you.”
I didn’t want him to use shackles as well.
Instead, there was one thing I needed to confirm.
“However, I have a question before we spar.”
“What is it?”
“I just saw Alquein fighting by utilizing potions. Is it acceptable to use potions during the sparring match?”
“Telling an alchemist not to use potions is the same as telling a mage not to use magic. Of course an alchemist uses potions.”
“Then may I also use potions?”
“Go ahead. As long as they’re ‘potions you made yourself.'”
“Understood.”
This was all I needed.
I could only use the training ground’s practice weapons, and I couldn’t use Luke’s power either.
But now that I was permitted to use potions, I felt I could handle even the Vice Commander.
“Then, let’s begin.”
The sparring match started.
At that moment.
“Luke.”
I smashed the potion I’d received from Luke—the one writhing with gray smoke—against the ground.
[ Ashen Veil Bottle ]
( Non-tradeable )
Type: Potion
Grade: Rare
The Ashen Veil Bottle.
A magically crafted smoke grenade.
As smoke billowed from the shattered flask, I immediately activated my concealment skill and hid my body within the smoke.
Spear, who had been rushing toward me, paused for a moment, thrust his sword forward, and then.
“You asked if you could use potions, and the only potion you use is just a smoke screen?”
Whoosh!
He slashed through the smoke with a sword imbued with wind magic.
Even if it were just an ordinary rare-grade potion, it was magically crafted and performed far better than a standard smoke bomb.
Yet such a smoke screen was cleaved through far too easily.
But it didn’t matter.
I had used this smoke screen for one reason alone—to buy myself this precious moment.
[ Red Dragon’s Wrath ]
( Non-Tradeable )
Type: Potion
Grade: Legendary
Requirement: Level 800 or higher
Description: A elixir crafted from the blood serum of the Red Dragon, known to be the most ferocious among all dragons, granting temporary access to the power of a crimson dragon.
Gulp.
I drained every drop of the crimson liquid from the flask.
In that instant, I felt the dragon’s power surging and roiling through my body.
“There’s no way that could be.”
My true duel with Spear had begun.

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