The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 153

153.

A momentary pause at the unexpected skill name.

Do Hyun immediately checked the skill information.

[Icy Stream]

– Grade: Heroic

– Restriction: Ice-attribute mage class

– Description: Exceptional ice mages can freeze even the surrounding air currents. Their surroundings are cold, sharp, and beautiful. But do not be fooled by it. If you linger too long, captivated by its beauty, you will freeze.

– Effect: Cools the air currents within a certain range around the caster.

Enemies nearby feel the cold, and the longer they stay, the worse their condition becomes.

Additionally, while casting Icy Stream, attacking frozen enemies inflicts additional damage.

– Cooldown: 40 seconds after deactivation.

‘Jackpot. I didn’t expect a magic skill to pop up.’

Is it because the previous one was a rogue skill?

He was extremely grateful that a magic skill had appeared.

The skill’s performance was on a different level from Tinderbox. A cheat skill that applies crowd control [CC] to multiple targets just by activating it.

Although it requires keeping enemies within range for a long time to freeze them, so he would likely have to settle for applying slow, that alone was enough.

‘I can gain a favorable position.’

Even just slowing them down is tricky, so he could at least gain an advantage against melee combat users.

Being able to slow down ranged opponents was also a significant effect.

Moreover, it would make dealing with multiple monsters much easier.

The reason it’s difficult to face multiple enemies is because you have less time to think, and once you’re swarmed, there’s no turning back.

‘In that regard, there’s no skill like Icy Stream.’

Slowing down enemies gives you more time to think, which increases the likelihood of making better decisions.

This wasn’t just Do Hyun’s opinion.

‘The strongest ice mage, Lapias.’

Lapias, a user who became the disciple of the Blue Magic Tower Lord of the Empire.

The skill she frequently used and made famous was Icy Stream.

Those who had fought her unanimously said they never wanted to fight her again, and one of the reasons they gave was Icy Stream.

It was said to make already tricky ice mages so annoying that it made you want to curse.

‘Well, the key to fighting mages is distance control.’

Just when you close the distance, you get slowed down, and the mage gets faster, which is maddening.

Of course, that didn’t mean ice magic was overpowered.

Ice magic has many tricky skills, but its power isn’t particularly strong.

But Do Hyun?

‘It’s a different story for me.’

Do Hyun was none other than the only All-Master in God of War. He could just take the advantages of ice magic and combine them with other powerful skills.

Thinking that way, he became interested in Lapias.

She was reigning at the top with only ice magic skills.

‘Not one of the top 10 guilds, but her reputation is said to be unmatched.’

While the top 10 guilds were the strongest, there were users with comparable individual combat power.

For example, the disciples of the Empire’s Seven Strong, or high-ranking NPCs equivalent to them.

Like Lapias, the disciple of the Blue Magic Tower Lord.

‘I’d like to fight her if I get the chance.’

Lapias wasn’t in Demonic War.

It was true that Demonic War rankers were doing well in God of War, but with 1 billion people playing, not all rankers were from Demonic War.

Some were even more skilled than those from Demonic War.

That was why even though Myeolsal was recognized as great, he wasn’t called the number one player.

‘I wonder what they’re like. Those guys.’

In his Demonic War days, Do Hyun hadn’t had what you’d call a peaceful playthrough.

It was always a series of battles, and he fought countless powerful enemies.

He hadn’t had to do that after forming a party with his companions in the later stages, and after the game became a failure.

Maybe that’s why he felt a competitive spirit towards the existence of new powerhouses.

‘Now’s not the time to think about that.’

Do Hyun was still a rookie who hadn’t even reached the Empire.

No matter how much Kaiser was a hot topic now, writing numerous achievements, he had only just graduated from Sargis.

To them, he was just a slightly concerning existence.

Swish.

Do Hyun, who had been smirking, closed the skill window.

Although he was looking forward to that moment, it was still far off for now.

Right now, it was right to focus on growing as quickly as possible.

‘Anyway, I got a good skill.’

And Do Hyun wasn’t the only one growing.

[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’ has reached level 20.]

[Would you like to use a random Guardian Skill Gacha Ticket?]

Do Hyun wasn’t the only one who leveled up while catching outlaws and completing quests this time.

Jihad and Charlie’s levels had also risen significantly.

[Jihad Black: LV 21]

[Charlie: LV 17]

Is it because they received high experience compared to their low levels?

He was a bit puzzled that Charlie was catching up to Jihad faster than expected, but that wasn’t what mattered now.

‘There’s still one left.’

Jihad’s level had surpassed 20, so he could get a skill gacha ticket.

A golden opportunity to draw cards twice in such a hotspot!

-It’s over now… oh, no, his nostrils are flaring again. Let’s wait.

-Hmm! You really have a good eye, no matter when I see it. I almost want to emulate you.

-Lizard!

-No. Eliza, please don’t emulate that.

The guys who were getting up from their seats sat back down, watching Do Hyun, who couldn’t hide his excitement.

Even though they said that, Jihad’s eyes were subtly sparkling, showing that he was secretly looking forward to what skill he would get.

He was using Legion Command very usefully, so he was looking forward to what he would get this time.

‘Here I go!’

As if responding to that expectation, Do Hyun fearlessly tore open the gacha ticket.

Whoosh-!

Then, seven cards appeared.

“……!”

Do Hyun, his eyes wide, reached out without hesitation.

It was obvious.

Among the four silver cards and two dung-colored cards filling the sides, one card stood out.

It was emitting a yellow light.

[You have acquired the Heroic skill ‘Legion Commander Creation’.]

[Legion Commander Creation]

– Grade: Heroic

– Restriction: Necromancer class

– Description: A commander is one who leads a legion. And a legion needs a legion commander.

Create a legion commander to complete a great legion!

– Effect: Can create an undead of higher caliber than ordinary undead, who can become a legion commander.

Cannot create an undead vessel of higher caliber than the caster.

– Cooldown: 60 seconds

Do Hyun couldn’t help but shout at the skill information that appeared with a brilliant light.

“Jackpot!”

-Why, why!? Did you get something good, Master??

-……You?

Jihad, who had been pretending to be indifferent, stood up, forgetting his pretense.

Charlie and Eliza’s eyes turned sour at his excited appearance, but he didn’t care.

He was too busy feeling the new power surging within him as he acquired the skill.

-Ah……. This is……! Is this Zeke?

It was a feeling he had never experienced before.

Although the nature was very different, it was a shock similar to when he had acquired Corpse Explosion.

It was understandable that he felt that way.

If Corpse Explosion was the flower of a Pop [a term for a burst skill], then Legion Commander Creation was the flower of a Zeke [a class specializing in undead legions].

Zeke’s legion commanders didn’t just stop at being leaders.

‘The characteristics of the legion change depending on which undead you make the legion commander.’

If you appoint a loyal type of legion commander, that legion commander’s legion will be characterized as more loyal and disciplined.

Conversely, if you make a sneaky guy the legion commander, it becomes a more devious legion.

‘That’s not all.’

Not only the personality of the legion, but also the stats and characteristics are influenced by the legion commander, within the limits of the innate race.

Literally, the existence that represents the legion. That is the existence of the legion commander.

For that reason, Zekes were often considered the most unique and individual class among all classes.

How strong and outstanding a vessel they made the legion commander.

Also, their strength and characteristics varied greatly depending on what kind of personality and characteristics the undead legion commander had.

How else would there be a saying that a Zeke without Legion Commander Creation is not a Zeke?

‘To think this would pop up. It was a skill I had to get no matter what… Is this a legendary hotspot……?’

In that sense, the first legion commander was very important.

Usually, it’s after level 50 that a Commander Necromancer grows enough to create a second legion.

In fact, it was no exaggeration to say that the identity of that Zeke was determined by what type the first legion commander was.

‘Jihad might be able to bring it forward a bit… but it’s never bad to be careful.’

-Master.

Jihad nodded as if he had the same thought.

Anything is important at first.

As Jihad, he wanted to carefully consider and then make a guy he liked the legion commander.

‘I should check with Fratel.’

It was when he was about to postpone the moment of glory like that.

[Eye of Truth is activated.]

“Huh?”

The Eye of Truth was activated out of nowhere.

Surprised, he hurriedly looked around, but he couldn’t see anything.

All that had changed from before was that the cheers had subsided, as if Jay Roodel’s speech had ended?

‘Could it be?’

Just in case, he looked at his body, but he couldn’t see anything.

Then, a thought flashed through his mind, and he opened his inventory.

“Huh?”

Do Hyun couldn’t help but express his doubt.

A black substance occupying one slot in the inventory.

No, the small substance that should have been black was glowing red.

‘Why is this?’

He couldn’t understand at all, but his curious hand was already moving.

As he carefully took it out, a message window appeared.

[Hidden conditions have been met.]

[The Soul of Agony reacts to Guardian ‘Jihad Black’.]

‘Conditions? React?’

There was only one case where these phrases appeared.

When achieving a hidden piece.

He couldn’t be mistaken, as he had seen the phrase countless times while playing God of War.

“Jihad! Use Legion Commander Creation! Quickly!”

-Uh, uh? Uh, okay!

Jihad, who had been standing blankly at Do Hyun’s excited shout, hurriedly gathered mana.

Then, as he reached out, black mana flowed out.

The slowly flowing black mana seeped into the Soul of Agony as if following a set path.

Gulp.

After a little time, the moment all the mana had seeped in.

Ding-

A cheerful notification rang.

And Do Hyun’s eyes turned sour as he checked the notification.

[The vessel’s caliber is too high.]

[Cannot be used as a legion commander’s vessel.]

“Ah…….”

-Ah…….

The failure message appeared because the vessel’s caliber was too high.

Well, if it was as he guessed, the Soul of Agony was definitely the soul of the outlaw king ‘Agony’.

There was no way it would be easy to turn such an existence into an undead.

If it were, Zeke would have become the best class.

‘But at least I know I can use it as a host…….’

It might be impossible now, but he could try it someday.

Later on, he could get special materials that Zekes use to acquire higher undead.

It was when he was about to put the Soul of Agony back in, regretting it but looking forward to that time.

Ding-

Another notification ringing.

‘Huh? At this timing?’

Do Hyun, who turned his gaze without much thought, couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’s caliber is high.]

[It has been confirmed that the Guardian’s owner is the owner of the ‘Soul of Agony’.]

[Temporarily lowers Agony’s caliber by two levels.]

[Conditions have been met.]

“Wow.”