The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 109

109.

“……Pardon? Apostle, what are you talking about? Capture him?”

However, the one listening didn’t seem to think so.

“That’s absurd. Please don’t overdo it and focus on enduring, Apostle.”

“Even if he’s weakened, he’s still contracted with a being of the Abyss. He’s not someone you can capture alone.”

Gamillion, as well as the priests listening beside him, were taken aback and tried to dissuade him.

Dohyun didn’t bother to respond to their worried and concerned expressions.

He simply stared at the Destroyer Gayman, who had taken a few steps back, with a serious face.

‘It is difficult.’

It wasn’t like Dohyun didn’t know what they were saying.

How could he not know when he had faced him several times?

But that didn’t mean he was just spouting nonsense. Dohyun felt the tingling sensation in his arm and smiled faintly.

His information was floating in front of him.

[Destroyer Gayman]

– Title: Contracted with a being of the Abyss

– Type: Human

– Trait: Immortal

– Description: A paladin who contracted with a being of the Abyss.

Originally strong, he gained even greater power through the contract with the Abyss.

He inherited some of the power of immortality, granting him tenacious vitality, and possesses a meticulous and vicious personality.

Currently, his stats and health are reduced due to using the power of immortality, and he has suffered critical damage.

– All stats are reduced by 50%.

– Some usable traits are sealed.

– Some usable skills are sealed.

– Maximum health is fixed at 30% due to using the power of immortality.

‘He’s weakened more than I thought.’

Perhaps it was thanks to dying once, which reduced all his stats and most of his abilities.

It was still a bit overwhelming, but it was manageable enough to contend with. He had actually lowered his center of gravity and pushed him back.

Indeed, it was worth investing all those stats.

‘The buffs must have helped too.’

The opponent was debuffed to the maximum, and he was buffed to the maximum.

It was the best possible condition. If not now, he wouldn’t even dream of trying to capture him.

Of course, the probability of success wasn’t high.

‘Maybe around 20~30%?’

It was an extremely low probability, but anyone who has played games knows.

‘20% is a steal.’

In a world where equipment can explode even at 2%, 20~30% is an incredible probability.

If there was a 20~30% chance of getting a hero skill when drawing skills, Dohyun would have scraped together every last bit of his soul to whale [spend exorbitant amounts of money].

Moreover, in just 20~30 minutes, strong reinforcements would arrive.

‘If it doesn’t work out, I can just endure until then.’

With such good conditions, why be afraid and not even try?

That wasn’t Dohyun’s style.

The right thing to do was to try as much as he could.

Perhaps Dohyun’s will was conveyed.

[You dare, as a Stranger, without fear……! Now that I think about it, it was all because of you. Very well, I’ll kill you first.]

The Destroyer Gayman gnashed his teeth, seemingly greatly offended by being pushed back.

A terribly primal rage.

When an evil like the Destroyer expressed anger, it felt like it took shape and engulfed the surrounding area.

“High Priest Herti, please try to stop him.”

“Focusing on enduring and trying to capture him are clearly different, aren’t they?”

“……I know that.”

The priests made a fuss at the ominous atmosphere, but Gamillion’s thoughts were a little different.

Objectively, the priests were right.

If you’re determined to endure, you can endure even with a significant difference in strength, but when you try to win, you can lose even with a slight difference in strength.

Now that there’s no one else to buy time if Dohyun falls, it’s a hundred times better to endure safely.

‘That’s right, but……’

But why?

Those eyes weren’t dead at all.

Rather, he was burning with the desire to win with all his heart. He seemed to be fighting without assuming he would lose.

Looking at those eyes, he felt a strange sense of anticipation.

‘……Maybe.’

Maybe he really could capture him?

Dohyun, who was receiving worried, concerned, and expectant gazes, firmly gripped Thousand Transformations.

The distance to the monster was only 30m.

A distance that could be covered in the blink of an eye, considering their speeds.

A slight tension hung in the air as they cautiously observed each other.

[Thousand Transformations morphs into ‘Black Raven Spear’.]

Thud!

Almost simultaneously with Thousand Transformations changing its form, the monster vanished.

Squawk!

And when it reappeared, it was clashing against Dohyun’s spear.

Deflecting, disappearing again, and reappearing—a constant repetition.

The form of Thousand Transformations changed incessantly, and countless attacks flew back and forth.

It was truly a tremendous battle of speed.

Bang, Crack!

Squawk—! Swish—.

The priests were stunned by the exchanges, which were too fast to follow even with their eyes.

“……To think the Apostle’s skill was at this level.”

“Unbelievable that he’s fighting on equal terms with that Destroyer.”

“Am I seeing things correctly?”

They had heard that the Strangers [Players] in the Empire possessed great power.

But that was only within the confines of the Empire.

Strangers residing outside of it were mere children compared to them.

Everything from one to ten was different.

“If he’s already this strong…… how much stronger will he become in the future?”

They had heard that Apostles grow by passing through the trials of God.

And that they only approach completion when they reach the Empire.

Therefore, there were no NPCs [Non-Player Characters] who didn’t know that the strength of the Strangers residing in each city was vastly different.

It wasn’t without reason that they hadn’t expected much from Dohyun.

Unconsciously, they thought, ‘How strong could a Stranger in this section possibly be?’

He was just the sole combatant against the Immortal, so they were grasping at straws…….

Gulp.

Someone who swallowed hard spoke in an excited voice.

“At this rate, don’t you think we might actually be able to catch him?”

No one answered, but their expressions spoke volumes.

Perhaps, just perhaps, that impossible thing might actually happen.

But among them, there was one.

‘……It’s not equal.’

Gamillion’s face was stiff.

Although he wasn’t deeply versed in combat, he was still a member of a family that served the royal family.

And he could see it.

Clang—!

“Ugh…….”

Dohyun was flinching slightly each time Thousand Transformations collided with the monster’s hands and feet.

At first glance, it seemed like he was blocking and attacking every blow, but he was clearly being pushed back in terms of speed.

He was somehow managing to block, but the number of injuries was gradually increasing.

‘How is he blocking it?’

No, honestly, Gamillion thought even that was amazing.

To others, it might seem like they were exchanging blows at a similar speed, but in reality, the difference in their speeds was enormous.

Like the difference in speed between a knight and a common soldier.

He clearly shouldn’t even be able to react properly, yet he was eerily aware and blocking.

A level of prediction bordering on precognition.

[Khehehe…….]

But even that had its limits.

[Not bad for a Stranger…… but you seem to be struggling. You appeared like the only hope, but will you be able to save face like that?]

Dohyun couldn’t say anything in response to the monster’s sneering words as they briefly crossed swords.

It was annoying, but he had no retort.

[Mark is generated.]

Even when stacking mark damage using Backstab, he hadn’t landed a single direct hit.

He had only inflicted small amounts of damage, without causing any significant harm.

Even now, he had created a mark using Backstab, but he hadn’t landed many direct hits.

On the other hand, what about himself?

[Current remaining HP is less than 20%. Be careful.]

’20 percent…….’

His health was rapidly decreasing, already down to a thousand.

He would be in danger if he allowed one or two more direct hits.

On the other hand, the monster’s health started at 30% and hadn’t changed much yet. Clearly, Dohyun’s health had dropped lower even though they started with 30% versus 100%.

[If it weren’t for that strange movement…… you would have died already. You’re displaying amazing talent.]

The monster’s words were correct.

Dohyun’s ability to withstand the monster’s attacks to this extent was due to his unique movements.

These were the very same Kaiser-exclusive movements that sent Ssamdak and Gguggu’s blood pressure soaring and tormented Jihad.

‘If you can anticipate the movement, it becomes easier to evade or block.’

That was why he was overcoming the difference in speed.

It was also why he was able to land some solid hits whenever an opening presented itself.

[……Well, it’s still just a desperate struggle!]

The Destroyer put all his strength into the claws locked against Dohyun’s weapon and pushed him back forcefully, sending Dohyun tumbling backward.

Bang!

Not satisfied with just that, he slammed Dohyun into the wall.

It was a pitiful sight, considering Dohyun had boldly declared he would subdue the monster.

No matter how much he tried to compensate with his unique movements, the difference in stats was insurmountable [impossible to overcome].

“Ah…… so it was impossible after all.”

“It looks like he’s having a hard time just holding on…… Is there no future for Brion? At this rate, there will be countless casualties.”

“When will Lord Leved arrive!?”

The priests, who had briefly held hope because of Dohyun, lamented.

As expected, even weakened, the Destroyer was still the Destroyer. Moreover, since its true identity was Takshinel, no Stranger [a player or character from another world] in this section could possibly defeat it.

This was an impossible battle from the start.

However, amidst this despairing situation, there was only one person.

Smirk.

Only Dohyun was smiling.

[……Smiling? Has he lost his mind?]

The Destroyer frowned, displeased.

In his eyes, Dohyun just looked like a madman.

Well, humans were always like that.

Even when he plunged cities into the abyss of destruction, the humans facing death before him usually showed such reactions.

[Death is the cure for a madman…… Farewell.]

The Destroyer clicked his tongue and reached out his hand.

Then, a massive dark form stretched out as if to devour Dohyun.

It resembled the claws of a beast.

[The abyss contractor who violated the taboo, ‘Destroyer Gaiman,’ activates ‘Nightmare’s Claw’.]

The ominous energy was so intense that a direct hit would surely mean death, but Dohyun didn’t flinch.

“Ah, no…….”

“Get a grip, Apostle! You must evade it!”

“Ah…….”

The priests, who were shouting urgently, soon closed their eyes tightly.

No matter how much they shouted, he didn’t even budge, as if he had lost his mind.

It was the moment the priests despaired at the obvious future.

“Finally got it down to 20%.”

Dohyun muttered to himself quietly and suddenly disappeared.

To be precise, he didn’t disappear, but quickly stepped back out of the attack range.

That wasn’t the end of it.

[The mark disappears.]

Just as the Destroyer felt a chill down his spine,

Swoosh- Splurt!

[……What?]

A burning pain shot through his left side, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

The Destroyer hurriedly grabbed his side. The warm blood felt foreign.

If he hadn’t instinctively dodged, his heart would have been cut out.

“Ah, too bad…… the timing was good.”

[H-How, what nonsense is this? Where did such power suddenly come from!]

The Destroyer shouted with bloodshot eyes at the nonchalant voice.

He couldn’t understand it at all.

He was clearly just a dying insect. But what was that movement? For a brief moment, it looked like he had disappeared.

‘I…… I missed his movements?’

Even though his stats were reduced and his abilities were sealed, he was the vice-captain of the Holy Knights and a man who had contracted with immortality.

That he had missed the movements?

It didn’t make sense logically. That guy was at best a fledgling who hadn’t even completed his second trial.

“You’re not the only one with a phase 2, are you? Humanoid bosses always think they’re the only ones with tricks up their sleeves.”

As he raised his head at the lighthearted voice, he saw Dohyun, who was very different from before.

His skin had turned bright red.

A red aura rippled around him like blood. And he even had red eyes similar to the Destroyer’s own.

He looked like a madman who had charged through the battlefield and been drenched in the blood of hundreds of people. The moment the Destroyer unconsciously took a step back, the madman’s mouth opened.

“Now it’s my turn.”

Dohyun’s bloodshot eyes gleamed.