The Return of the Genius Ranker’s Myth Warehouse - Chapter 2

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 2
Chapter 2
My entire body aches.
Well, it’s only natural.
Subjectively speaking, I’d suffered an electrical shock not unlike Astrape’s lightning strike.
Every muscle in my body, even my brain, felt scorched.
The relentless pain was enough to make me surrender to despair, yet I did not yield.
[ Your level has increased. ]
Raising my level, gathering items, achieving Achievements.
And then, bringing down the roaring Golden Dragon of Greed would mark the end.
“Gasp!”
My senses returned.
It was a dream.
Though I had indeed conquered First.
I’d only regained consciousness after dreaming of conquering First once more.
As my eyes opened.
“Hey, you bastard!”
Someone beside me, startled, thrust their face close to mine.
A familiar face.
And for good reason.
“…Kang Ju-hyuk?”
“You remember! Waaah! Nurse! Doctor! He’s awake! He’s conscious!”
Kang Ju-hyuk.
He was one of the few people I had.
…No, my only friend.
Glancing around to understand the situation, I found myself in a hospital.
Well, it was only natural after suffering an electrical shock.
I tried to sit up to check the time.
“Huh…?”
My body wouldn’t move.
No, it moved, but.
The aftereffects of the electrical shock lingered; my muscles lacked proper strength.
Wondering how recently the shock had occurred, I looked down and saw limbs reduced to skin and bone.
“What…?”
Even for someone who’d lived as a corner-dwelling gamer, my body had never wasted away to this degree.
I’d always believed gaming was a battle of stamina and exercised regularly to maintain it.
But what was this?
Could muscles really atrophy this severely from an electrical shock?
As I panicked, a news broadcast on the television across from me caught my eye.
– True virtual reality gaming.
– It’s already been two years since Second opened.
– Second, the true virtual reality game unveiled by The Number Entertainment, continues to firmly maintain its position as the world’s greatest virtual reality game….
The date displayed in the upper right corner of the news screen.
That number was unmistakable.
“I’ve been unconscious for three years?”
It was three years after the date I remembered.
In other words, I had lost consciousness and spent three years lying in a hospital bed.
While I was reeling from the shock.
“Hey, hey, hey! You’re really back with us, right? The doctor said he’d be here soon! Look at this! How many fingers do you see? Hey, hey!”
Kang Ju-hyuk had returned.
He waved two fingers in front of me and fidgeted about, but I still couldn’t fully gather my wits.
And for good reason.
“First….”
“Yeah, it’s disorienting, right? I get it. Wow, how did you wake up the moment I arrived? I should’ve visited more often. Actually, more than that….”
“First got a sequel?!”
The date and everything else faded from my mind.
Because the “Second” that the news anchor was enthusiastically explaining was none other than the sequel to First, developed by The Number Entertainment.
* * *
I learned the full situation.
As expected, I had suffered an electrical shock and spent three years bedridden.
Fortunately, the capsule manufacturer admitted their mistake and provided generous compensation, which covered my hospital expenses.
Though it was less compensation and more hush money for the capsule accident, if I’m being honest.
“Hey, hey. Are you really sure about this? The hospital said they wanted to monitor your condition a bit longer.”
“I’m done.”
“You’re going to drop dead like that, I’m telling you. What if you suddenly collapse?”
“The hospital said there are no major issues and they just want to observe. It’s better to get out and do some jogging than stay in the hospital.”
I completed the discharge procedures.
Fortunately, there were no major issues with my body, so I was able to be discharged after undergoing some rehabilitation training.
My body was still weak, but thanks to the rehabilitation, my strength had returned considerably.
Still, to build up this emaciated frame, I’d need to keep moving consistently going forward.
After leaving the hospital.
Fortunately, after completing the discharge procedures, enough of the compensation remained for me to rent an affordable one-room apartment.
“Wow, what is this room? You can actually live here?”
“It’s similar to where I lived before.”
“True, I was shocked when I visited last time. I really don’t know how you lived in that place with nothing but a capsule and a bed.”
I entered my new room.
It was an ordinary one-room apartment, but compared to my previous place, it was quite spacious.
Unlike my old home, it even came fully furnished with all amenities.
And on top of that.
“Wow, what’s that! Did you buy it?”
“They sent it as a token of gratitude, separate from the compensation.”
“From that capsule company? Since we’re already here, shouldn’t we squeeze them for more? Honestly, they turned a person into a vegetable for three years—is that really all there is to it?”
“It’s gone. They sold it to Second.”
“What? Then this capsule is…?”
“Second provided it.”
A capsule sat in the center of the room.
Not the outdated capsule I’d used before, but a mass-produced model recently manufactured for Second.
As I stepped before the capsule, Kang Ju-hyuk read my thoughts and asked.
“You’re going to do it?”
“I have to.”
“Aren’t you scared? You’re the one who spent three years lying down because of First.”
“Well, thanks to that, Second launched without me having to wait.”
“Wow, you’re really something. Seriously impressive.”
The second virtual reality game, Second.
There was no reason not to play.
Until just three years ago.
Or rather, if I’m being honest, the successor to First—which had been my entire life until recently—was none other than Second.
Since First had shut down its servers anyway, there was nowhere else for me to return to.
“Alright, since it’s come to this, give it a proper shot! I’ll help you out.”
“You’re playing too?”
“Of course. Who doesn’t play Second these days? Even if you don’t enjoy combat, there are so many people using Second for hobbies.”
“Hobbies?”
“Fishing, cooking. Some people even say their studying improves, so they study in Second.”
“Come on, who goes that far in a virtual reality game?”
“It’s a completely different dimension from the First you were playing. You should just think of it as a different game altogether.”
So he was playing Second too.
Well, these days everyone—men, women, young and old—was playing Second.
It was actually stranger if you weren’t playing.
“It’s fortunate that it’s that popular.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If it’s popular, it should be easier to cash out, right?”
“Wow, you’re really planning to make money off Second?”
“Of course.”
During my rehabilitation training, I had finished researching Second.
Korea’s finest.
No—the world’s finest virtual reality game, Second.
Its popularity was so tremendous that many people were making money from the game.
In the old terminology, what you’d call a “professional gamer”?
After confirming this, I made my decision.
I would start Second.
“Yeah, well. Now that I think about it, that’s not a bad idea either. These days there are plenty of people making money and living well off Second.”
“Really?”
“Of course. It’s no joke. And you were Rank 1 in First, right? You’ll adapt quickly.”
Since Second was First’s successor, I’d wanted to play it anyway, and if Second was First’s successor…
‘It’s doable.’
I was the Rank 1 player of First, after all.
If it was the successor to First, I’d have more than enough confidence to establish myself and live as a dark gamer.
Even though two years had already passed since the game’s launch, I was confident I could close a two-year gap quickly.
“If it gets tough, reach out to me. I’m pretty well-known in Second, you know.”
“Yeah, right.”
“What do you mean? I’m serious!”
“You probably just played a brawler anyway. Always going on about ‘bare-knuckle fighting is the truth!’ while running around in your underwear.”
“Well, brawler is correct. But unfortunately, if you walk around looking like a stagnant player in Second, the guards will arrest you.”
Memories with him suddenly came to mind.
Before I got absorbed into First.
Our tastes aligned, so we’d played various games together back then.
Well, based on those memories, I couldn’t expect much from his skills in Second either.
“This is what my mom prepared to celebrate your discharge.”
“Braised short ribs?”
“My mom’s braised short ribs are seriously no joke.”
“…I’ll eat it gratefully. Make sure to tell her I appreciate it.”
“If you’re grateful, come say hello sometime. Mom was worried about you.”
“Okay.”
After chatting for a bit, Kang Ju-hyuk headed home.
Though I’d practically pushed him out, I felt genuine gratitude toward him.
Kang Ju-hyuk was my only friend, no matter what anyone said.
“Should I log in?”
I powered on the capsule and lay down inside.
The plush cushioning was worlds apart from the outdated capsule I’d used three years ago.
Though to me, three years ago was just a memory from a few weeks back.
[ The Second World. ]
[ Welcome to ‘Second’. ]
“It’s really similar, isn’t it?”
A familiar voice echoed.
It was identical to the sound I’d heard when creating my character in First.
The only difference was that instead of “the first world,” it said “the second world.”
[ Creating your character. ]
The character creation process that followed.
Since there were many similarities to First, I selected the options familiarly and progressed through each step.
There was nothing major to change, so I configured everything with the same feel I’d used in First.
Second had evolved with many more advanced features, but I didn’t feel the need to tinker with them.
[ Please create a name for your Second account. ]
“A name, huh.”
A name for Second.
What kind of name should I choose?
Since Second doesn’t allow duplicate nicknames, virtually every decent name would already be taken.
Apparently, people who’ve logged in recently say finding a proper nickname is like plucking stars from the sky.
As I pondered what name to use, my real name—and the nickname I’d used in First—came to mind: Mir.
It probably wouldn’t work, but I decided to try anyway.
“Mir.”
And then—
[ Will you set your Second name to ‘Mir’? ]
“…It worked?”
[ First account connection successful. ]
[ The previously restricted nickname ‘Mir’ is now available for use. ]
Account connection?
Such a feature existed?
I wasn’t sure what the function did, but I wasn’t complaining.
Being able to use the name most familiar to me was perfect.
“Sounds good.”
[ Your Second name has been set to ‘Mir’. ]
Character creation was now complete.
All that remained was to log into the game itself.
I was eager to experience the gameplay Second promised as a “true virtual reality game.”
But suddenly, the system paused, and an additional message appeared.
[ Account connection confirmed. ]
[ Account connection successful. ]
[ Benefits are being provided to ‘Mir’, a returner from the first world. ]
“Benefits?”
Benefits, you say.
What was this about?
I’d researched Second extensively before launching it, but I’d never heard anything about linked accounts between First and Second providing special benefits.
But regardless—
the system continued with its process.
[ Analyzing ‘Mir’s information to provide benefits. ]
[ Checking Achievements ]
[ Achievement ‘Dragon’s Nightmare’ confirmed ]
[ Achievement ‘Master of All Things’ confirmed ]
[ Achievement ‘Akashic Record’ confirmed ]
….
First, Achievements.
Familiar-sounding Achievements flashed before my eyes.
Since I had obtained every single Achievement that existed in First, countless notifications surfaced in my mind.
Watching them parade past, memories from my time in First came flooding back, bittersweet and vivid.
Next.
[ Item Confirmation ]
[ Mythic-Grade Item ‘Heart of the Golden Dragon’ Confirmed ]
[ Mythic-Grade Item ‘Zeus’s Lightning, Astrappe’ Confirmed ]
[ Mythic-Grade Item ‘Poseidon’s Trident, Triaena’ Confirmed ]
….
The items I possessed likewise streamed past.
Since I had collected every single item that existed in First, the sheer volume of System Messages appearing was staggering.
Time passed considerably.
Having accumulated everything First had to offer, the process of confirming it all took far longer than I anticipated.
Shortly after.
My character analysis finally concluded.
[ Character analysis complete. ]
[ Your character’s transcendent Achievements are recognized. ]
[ As a Returner, your skill proficiency growth rate increases dramatically. ]
[ As a Returner, the skill slot limit is removed. ]
….
The “Returner’s Benefits” began to pour in.
The situation was surreal, but wasn’t this exactly what I wanted?
Delighted that my efforts in First were being acknowledged, I calmly read through the messages materializing before me.
Then.
My eyes widened as I read the final message.
[ As a reward for the Achievement ‘Akashic Record’, you may bring one item from First into this world. ]
“An item?”
A System Message granting me the ability to bring an item from First.
The moment I saw it, countless items flooded my mind.
[ Heart of the Golden Dragon ]
The heart of the Golden Dragon—the mightiest draconic species and the final boss monster of First.
Being a Mythic-Grade elixir among dragon hearts, consuming it would grant me immense power in an instant.
[ Zeus’s Lightning, Astrappe ]
First’s ultimate weapon, Astrappe.
No matter how many items were added to Second, Astrappe would undoubtedly remain the strongest ultimate weapon.
I could level up and use it directly, or simply sell it for an astronomical sum.
‘This is a tough choice.’
Which item should I select?
Should I choose a powerful elixir or weapon for my future?
Or should I choose a highly liquid item that I can sell immediately to cover my urgent living expenses?
As I carefully deliberated which items to bring from First, weighing my options,
[ Which item will you select? ]
Not long after,
“The Contract of Black Flame.”
I made my decision.
With that choice, the game began, and my vision was engulfed in brilliant light.

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