The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 276

276.

“Damn it… Isn’t it too much to bring those bastards along?”

Ast grumbled, his face twisted like he’d eaten something foul.

Whoosh—Clang!

Even so, his hands didn’t stop moving for a second.

More precisely, he couldn’t afford to. He was too busy parrying the attacks coming from all directions.

The guild members’ situation wasn’t much different.

Clang! Clang!

The sound of metal clashing echoed loudly.

“Push forward!”

“Hold on! Once we’re breached, there’s no turning back. Push them back as much as possible!”

“White Horse Brigade, charge!”

“Raise the shields!”

Sparks flew as steel met steel, and a spectacular battle unfolded as the White Horse Brigade and Babylon’s legions clashed.

Up to this point, there were no problems.

Although the White Horse Brigade of Cheonoecheon [a powerful military unit] was famous, Babylon’s firepower was considerable, enough to withstand them.

“Twenty more minutes… If we unleash one more big attack, we have a chance of winning.”

“Help the Master buy time!”

“One of us will fall today! Let’s erase those arrogant Cheonoecheon bastards from this continent!”

If they were given time, they might be able to achieve victory.

Because Ast possessed a game-changer that they didn’t.

And it wasn’t just any game-changer.

[+15 Great Dragonslayer’s Warhammer]

‘It’s a bit of a waste, but I have no choice.’

A relic-grade warhammer of the highest enhanced Legendary+ rank.

It was one of the best weapons Ast had, carefully stored in his inventory.

If he used the Transcendent version of the upgrade ability, he could turn that proud White Horse Brigade into a handful of dust.

Victory was assured if they could just hold out until then.

That conviction amplified Babylon’s morale.

Tap!

Slash—Thud—

“Ugh!”

“Kuh-huh!”

“What, what’s going on in the back?!”

“S-Someone has invaded from behind!”

“Who the hell would invade in this situation?!”

Until those guys appeared.

The troops were concentrated on blocking the White Horse Brigade of Cheonoecheon, leaving the rear vulnerable. That’s where the new threat emerged.

Knights wearing gleaming armor and wielding swords that looked like works of art.

A sacred aura emanated from them, and a cross was ornately embroidered on their chests.

“…Holy Knights?”

“That mark! It’s The King [a top-ranked guild]!”

“The King has invaded! Everyone, stay alert and block the rear!”

“No, it’s too dangerous to split our forces! I’ll block the Holy Knights, so hold the front!”

The mark symbolized The King, one of the top 10 guilds.

The best Holy Knights of God of Seoul [the server name] had come to support Cheonoecheon.

Fortunately, Arthur, their master, was nowhere to be seen, but the situation wasn’t looking good.

“Rudy? Good heavens! The Ten Holy Knights!”

“Why are those guys here…?”

It was the appearance of the Ten Holy Knights, The King’s strongest force, that caused the most concern.

The Ten Holy Knights, said to be as strong as all the executives of the other top 10 guilds combined.

Slash—Thud—!

As if to prove that the rumors were true, the Ten Holy Knights mercilessly cut down the swarming Babylon guild members as they advanced.

The vice-master hastily led a small force to block them, but even holding out was a struggle.

It was clear from afar that they were slowly being pushed back.

‘For him to be struggling like that… It wasn’t an exaggeration.’

It was a disaster.

It’s like even one person joining a tug-of-war can cause it to be pulled, but this was like a bunch of heavyweight players joining in and hanging on the rope, tipping the balance completely.

“I didn’t think that stubborn Arthur would participate in such petty tactics.”

“Petty? It’s wise. And it’s because he’s stubborn that he’s doing this.”

“What?”

“He has to pay back the debt he owes Damian. He could just ignore it, but what’s with that belief… Men are so hung up on useless things.”

Xiao curled her lips sarcastically.

The 川 [river] character etched on Ast’s forehead deepened, but she didn’t care and kept running her mouth.

“Did you say one of you would disappear today? Too bad. It’s Babylon.”

“…Rotten bitch.”

“Hehe, thinking that today is the last day I have to hear those vulgar words makes it a little less disgusting. The best-looking face I’ve seen lately?”

The desire to grab that mouth and yank it out like a weed surged within him.

But now he had to control his anger.

Like that woman said, if things continued like this, it would definitely end in a massacre.

If he couldn’t control his anger and went wild, all the guild members who were relying on him would see a gray screen [game over screen].

‘Kkuku went to Kaiser… Ugh, when is that Sword Saint going to finish his training? He needs to live up to his title. I haven’t heard from him at all.’

He’s the type who locks his whisper settings to focus solely on training, so I can’t get any news from him.

I’m worried about whether Kaiser and Kkuku are doing well over there.

There were no allied relationships with other top 10 guilds.

Especially after it was revealed that he was Kaiser’s colleague this time, it would be a relief if they didn’t try to tear him apart.

Slash—Thud—Clang!

“Ugh!”

“Kuh-huh…”

“Damn it… If only we could get rid of those guys…”

Even after carefully looking around, he couldn’t see a solution.

He could only feel the deepening sense of defeat.

‘…Is this the end?’

In Demlock [previous game/area], even with just four people, they had nothing to fear without a grand force.

Now, it was ridiculous that they were struggling even with a much larger number of people.

‘Sigh, I guess that’s just how I am. What kind of personal legion is this?’

Creating his own legion.

A dream that he couldn’t achieve because there were no people in this shitty game, a dream that he was so desperate to fulfill.

He thought he had finally achieved that dream, but the thought of it disappearing so futilely left him feeling empty.

He chuckled.

Ast, with a bitter smile, took out a weapon from his inventory and gripped it.

It was the Great Dragonslayer’s Warhammer that he had been carefully keeping.

“I can’t just stand by and lose in such an embarrassing way.”

Even if he lost, shouldn’t he at least give that smirking, insolent bastard a big hit in the face?

At the very least, he would take Xiao, that woman, with him.

Just as Ast, who had resolved to do so, was about to summon a divine beast, a beast that devours weapons.

Whoosh—

“…?”

Ast’s eyes, which had been firmly raised, shook violently.

‘Blood?’

A fountain of blood was gushing from the sky.

No, it wasn’t the sky.

The flying white horses that had been moving frantically above his head were all spewing blood, their wings severed.

“Huh?”

“W, what’s happening suddenly…?”

“Th, they’re falling!”

Amidst the bewildering situation, everyone was momentarily stunned.

The Babylon Guild members weren’t about to miss the sight of them falling so pathetically. Seizing the opportunity, they swiftly ended their lives.

“What is this…?”

Xiao’s expression was blank as she watched the scene unfold.

The flying white horses were extremely rare, and only the highest-ranking executives in Cheonoecheon [likely refers to a powerful organization or guild] possessed them, so their numbers were few.

There was only about one unit. And that unit was now annihilated.

Vanishing futilely in a surprise attack of unknown origin.

“Ah…”

“…”

The battlefield fell silent in an instant.

The sound of metal clashing against metal ceased, and everyone, as if by agreement, raised their heads.

Perhaps that was why.

Thud.

The low, echoing footsteps were so clearly audible.

Thud. Thud.

A leisurely gait.

Walking with her back straight, she exuded an aura of nobility.

The black martial arts uniform and long, flowing black hair further accentuated her fair, porcelain-like skin.

Thud.

Finally revealing herself, she moved her dark eyes as if surveying the battlefield.

The moment her gaze passed over the guild members, the Ten Stars Knights, and finally Xiao, and landed on Ast.

The corners of her lips curved into a graceful arc, and a noble voice flowed out.

“What are you doing with my punching bag?”

“…Punching bag?”

Puzzled by the incomprehensible words, Xiao snapped to her senses and shouted.

“Cheonma [likely a title or name, possibly meaning ‘Heavenly Demon’], what is the meaning of this?”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought we had an alliance agreement. Do you think you can betray us and get away with it?”

The Cheonma Divine Church, occupying one of the five guilds that had agreed to this war, had stabbed them in the back, and Xiao did not hide her rebuke.

It was a blatant display of pressure, but Cheonma simply tilted her head with composure.

“Alliance? I don’t recall making any such promise.”

“…What are you talking about? Didn’t you receive the ring because you agreed?”

“So?”

“? You blocked us and even sent a postcard. Didn’t you agree because you also felt Kaiser was a threat… no, a nuisance?”

Cheonma smiled, as if just remembering, and chuckled.

“Ah, so that’s what it said. I didn’t bother checking the postcard because it was annoying, but it seems I made a good choice.”

“What?”

“Xiao. Do you think I’m so spineless that I would participate in such petty schemes?”

“…What did you say?”

Xiao’s eyes turned fierce, but Cheonma remained unfazed.

“If you lack the skill, you should quietly stay out of the way. It’s not a pretty sight to see you desperately trying to win as a group.”

“Ugh…!”

Rather, there was no malice in her words, which were even more sarcastic.

Just a calm tone as if listing facts.

She was unaware that it only made Xiao even more furious.

“Do you think you’ll get away with this? You’ve messed with the wrong person… you’re going to be utterly…”

Ignoring Xiao’s desperate shouts, Cheonma calmly met Ast’s eyes.

“What brings you here?”

“I got lost.”

“…Lost in the labyrinth? There’s only one path.”

“So it seems.”

Cheonma, after scanning Ast up and down, let out a curt remark with a dumbfounded chuckle.

“Didn’t I say you were my personal punching bag? Why do you keep getting beaten up in strange places?”

“Beaten up? Me? Can’t you see I pulled out my warhammer to beat you up?”

“Who would bother taking such sluggish attacks?”

“This bitch is still a pain in the ass after all this time. You don’t have Lightning Dragon Descent anymore, you know. Want to get hit? It’ll sting a bit.”

“…Didn’t I tell you? It’s not that I couldn’t obtain it, but that I didn’t.”

“If a martial artist can’t use lightning attribute, then it’s because they couldn’t obtain it, what else could it be?”

Starting with that, Cheonma frowned for the first time at the barrage of insults.

“…The job I have now is stronger.”

“Yeah, and you still drool every time you see Lightning Dragon Descent, right?”

“You still can’t act your age.”

“And you should drop the act. Are you a Sword Saint? It’s hard to listen to your cheesy *mal-tu* [Korean word for ‘way of speaking’].”

How many seconds had passed since they unleashed their storm of insults?

It was Xiao who ended the conversation between the two, which was now no different from exchanging greetings.

“…Are these bastards ignoring me and chatting?”

“Ah, you were here.”

“Hey, enough. Do you think you can handle this alone?”

“Alone…”

At that, Cheonma stopped talking and muttered, then smirked.

“Did I look alone to you?”

“…What?”

“Kill them.”

With those words, Cheonma flicked her fingers, and countless shadows leaped out from the walls.

The shadows, numbering over dozens, were dripping with crimson blood.

Swoosh-

The blood soon became a weapon.

Holding blood that had transformed into various weapons such as chains, scythes, knuckles, and daggers, they emanated a dangerous aura.

They all knelt in unison and shouted.

“Cheonma Cheonse! Manma Angbok!” [likely a battle cry or oath of allegiance]

“Cheonma Cheonse! Manma Angbok!”

Xiao’s face hardened at the voices burning with reverence and fighting spirit.

“…Cheonma Divine Church.”

Not just a name, but a truly demonic group that would follow Cheonma’s orders without question.

Cheonma, when she led them, was a serious threat.

[Accepting the bloodlust of the Demonic Cult members.]

[Accepting the fighting spirit of the Demonic Cult members.]

…….

[All stats and speed are amplified, and the Madness effect is gained.]

As long as their loyalty existed, she could become endlessly stronger.

Her dark eyes flickered even darker.

“…You know this means you’re declaring war on us, right?”

“Has it been a little over a year? Since the unspoken rule was established.”

To Xiao’s final warning, she replied with a gentle smile.

“There was no such peaceful unspoken rule there. It wouldn’t be bad if a war broke out here too.”

At that sight, Ast finally couldn’t hold back his laughter and burst out laughing.

“I was wondering why you were being so quiet here, but your true colors are finally showing.”

Cheonma, the leader of the Cheonma Divine Church.

At the same time, the woman who was once ranked 7th in Demlock, known by the alias Lightning Emperor (雷帝) [Japanese term for ‘Thunder Emperor’].

Cheon Ji-ah, her other nickname was Warmonger.

Oh