The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 321

321.

Galion frowned at Do-hyun’s confident smile.

[……Such a bluff.]

“Well. Why don’t you find out if it’s a bluff or not yourself?”

[…….]

He seemed so sure of himself.

His expression and voice carried the weight of genuine confidence.

‘Does he have something up his sleeve?’ Galion wondered.

He paused, considering this, then dismissed the thought.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

It didn’t matter what new abilities he might have gained.

Galion was confident he could win regardless, and he wouldn’t even give Do-hyun the chance to use them in the first place.

[Black Knight Galion has completed preparations for his Secret Sword Technique.]

Galion’s Secret Sword Technique, a style he had personally developed, was characterized by its incredible speed and unpredictable trajectory.

‘Anyone who sees it for the first time is guaranteed to be caught off guard.’

It appeared to be a simple, direct thrust, but it contained countless hidden paths within the blade’s movement.

The moment someone thought to block a simple thrust, their neck would already be exposed and cut.

Galion was certain of it.

No matter who the opponent was, they wouldn’t be able to decipher this swordsmanship upon first encounter.

‘Maybe… the Sword Emperor might be able to decipher it.’

Only someone who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship could possibly adapt to a technique they saw for the first time.

But this guy was just a mere apostle [a follower or disciple].

There was no way he possessed the swordsmanship skills of the Sword Emperor.

He would defeat him with a single blow and offer the First Prince as a sacrifice, finally fulfilling his long-cherished ambition.

Whoosh-!!

Galion took a deep breath, a grim smile on his face, and sprang forward, his knees acting like powerful springs.

The sword shot out in a straight line, a blinding ray of light.

The sound of air tearing apart at near the speed of sound echoed faintly, trailing behind the blade.

*Smirk.*

*As expected.*

The apostle was raising his sword, preparing to block the thrust.

But by then, Galion’s sword would already be coiling like a snake, aiming for his neck.

The key to the Secret Sword Technique was to explode mana [magical energy] at the precise moment, creating a trajectory change that defied logic.

And no one alive knew the secret behind this swordsmanship.

All those who had witnessed it up close had either died or wished they had.

[Kuh… Keuheuh… Foolish guy. This is the end.]

It would be the same this time as well.

Galion was absolutely sure.

Clang!

Instead of the sickening sound of a neck being cut, a sharp metallic clang rang out.

The Cheonbyeon, transformed into a somewhat crude but undeniably high-quality sword, was precisely blocking the side of his neck.

It was as if Do-hyun knew the attack would target his neck, a defense executed without the slightest hesitation.

[……What?]

But that wasn’t the end of it.

Do-hyun, fluidly turning his body while maintaining contact with the sword, shifted sideways into a fencing stance.

[That’s…….]

It was a movement identical to the one Galion had just performed.

The thrust that followed without pause was aimed precisely at the heart, but when Galion instinctively blocked his neck, anticipating the strike, another metallic clang echoed like a ghostly reminder.

Clang! Clang!

The sword strikes continued, a flurry of attacks.

A sword that felt as unpredictable as the fog in a rainy forest, yet as unyielding as a mountain.

[Reversing the Heavens Stance]

[Activating the 1st Form, Beginning.]

It was the power of the Reversing the Heavens Stance.

On the other hand, Galion’s sword was slowly tightening around his neck like a snake, revealing its fangs.

It was a different feeling, but it was undeniably the same swordsmanship form.

After a few exchanges, Galion was certain.

[……I see.]

The only person besides himself who knew that swordsmanship, and the only one who had survived witnessing it.

The former First Prince and former master, buried in the tomb.

[The master taught him swordsmanship and left.]

Byran de Arnis.

He had felt his life fading away while trapped in the tomb, but he must have imparted his swordsmanship to this apostle before he died.

It was astonishing.

His swordsmanship was not the type that could be learned simply by observation.

Even the genius Byran, hailed as the reincarnation of the Lion King, had required countless duels and corrections over a long period to master this technique.

‘……At most, it would have been a few hours, but in that short amount of time, he’s wielding such solid swordsmanship?’

That was…

It was as if Byran himself was wielding the sword.

‘No, has he surpassed him?’

He had reached the point where he was incorporating his own swordsmanship into the Secret Sword Technique.

[I acknowledge it. You have the skill and talent to be confident.]

But that was all.

Galion’s eyes narrowed behind his helmet as he faced the swords, a hint of ridicule in his gaze.

[I don’t know how you were able to learn it in such a short amount of time, but… if that’s the source of your confidence, it’s truly absurd.]

Clang!

Galion, knocking Do-hyun’s sword aside with brute force, shouted as if rebuking him.

[Have you forgotten who taught you that swordsmanship!?]

How dare he.

To presume to use the Secret Sword Technique in front of him, of all people?

Clang! Bang!

Galion’s sword, which had been pushing Do-hyun back, became even more ferocious.

At the same time, it was constantly changing.

The black sword, raging wildly as if to tear him apart, did not lose its power while constantly shifting its trajectory.

Rather, it seemed to gain momentum with each change, becoming even stronger.

Clang! Clang!

As if to demonstrate the difference in skill.

Craters were forming under Do-hyun’s feet with each merciless strike he was forced to endure.

“No……!”

“Oh my god.”

The faces of the users watching from outside the barrier were turning pale in real time.

It was embarrassing that they had cheered at the appearance of Kaiser, their only hope, only to see him being pushed back so decisively.

A situation where he seemed to be struggling just to defend, let alone launch a counterattack.

[Using Hero Skill ‘Acceleration’.]

[Attack speed and movement speed increase for 40 seconds.]

[Successfully parried, deflecting a blow.]

Even this level of defense would have been impossible without the Acceleration skill.

He was blocking the attacks by a hair’s breadth.

“No, why does he keep sticking to that swordsmanship?”

“It’s not that he’s sticking to it, but maybe that’s the only way he can cope?”

“He seems to be offsetting it with parrying… but if this continues, isn’t he going to lose?”

“Damn it, my heart is pounding, it’s driving me crazy.”

There were also users who were complaining about the situation, their frustration growing with each passing moment.

What was certain was that Do-hyun’s defeat was inevitable if this continued.

But despite such concerns, Do-hyun stubbornly persisted with Byran’s swordsmanship.

Byran’s swordsmanship.

2nd Form, Rain of Sorrow.

A form embodying the idea that one cannot escape the rain falling from the sky.

A relentless barrage of strikes, but…

Clang!

Before the relentless strikes could even gain momentum.

It was blocked by Galion’s overhead slash, who had anticipated the move.

3rd Form, Mist of the Secret Forest.

A high-level technique that focuses attention by exploding mana and then delivering invisible additional hits.

It was an overwhelming swordsmanship that had mercilessly slaughtered many masters, but there was no way Galion, who specialized in it, would be defeated by it.

The same was true for the last 5th form, beyond the 4th form.

[All the solutions are in my head. It’s pathetic to me, who knows more than the 5 forms you know.]

Clang!

Galion, having disarmed Do-hyun, smiled as he looked at the apostle, who had finally stopped after all the swordsmanship he had learned from Byran had failed and collapsed.

[Now do you understand? Your arrogance.]

“…….”

[That swordsmanship is derived from me. Even my lord, who was called the reincarnation of the Lion King, never landed a significant blow on me with swordsmanship. How dare you try to compete with me using secret techniques? You’re a hundred years too early!]

“……Is that all?”

Galion, who had been rebuking Do-hyun, paused at Do-hyun’s cold gaze.

Do-hyun continued, seeing him frown as if he couldn’t understand.

“I’m saying, is that all you can feel from exchanging blows?”

[Hmm? Ah… I wondered what you meant.]

Galion, as if understanding only then, exclaimed and chuckled as he replied.

[Of course not. I felt very well how weak and full of empty words you are.]

“……Is that so.”

A clear sneer.

But why? Do-hyun’s face seemed momentarily bitter at that sight.

But it was only for a moment.

“With this much, Byran will know too. That you are no longer the Galion of the past. You are a hopeless piece of trash.”

[……What?]

“There’s no need to treat him with respect anymore.”

Galion involuntarily took a step back at the endlessly cold gaze.

‘……Did I step back? Why?’

It was an action he himself couldn’t understand.

Anyone could see that he was overwhelming Do-hyun, so why was he stepping back?

Perhaps influenced by his wounded pride, darkness flickered around Galion.

And at that moment.

[Designating Black Knight Galion as the target.]

[It has been confirmed that both feet are in contact with the ground for more than 2 seconds.]

[Conditions have been met.]

Aaaaaaah-

Suddenly, brilliant light burst forth, and a sacred harmony was heard.

A golden cross floated above.

[Activating the legendary skill, ‘Cross of the Execution God’.]

The massive cross, as if it would be placed atop a cathedral, had no special ornaments, but it exuded a more sacred aura than anything else.

But even such a cross was being swallowed up, unable to chase away the darkness within the barrier.

A significantly more pathetic sight than before.

[Activating the Guardian’s Blessing on Black Knight Galion.]

[The difference in level with the target is extreme.]

[Due to the power of darkness, some of the effects of the Guardian’s Blessing are ignored.]

[The effects of the duel have been ignored. Defense, magic resistance, and health increase have been ignored.]

[Skill cooldown is reduced by 20%, and immunity to knockback is granted.]

[Due to the extreme difference in level, the duration of the Cross of the Execution God is greatly reduced.]

The Cross of the Execution God, of course.

The effects of the Guardian’s Blessing were also halved or more, but even that didn’t matter.

[The Cross of the Execution God binds the limbs of Black Knight Galion.]

[Restrains the target for 5 seconds.]

Either way, it had succeeded in applying a bind.

This wasn’t just a simple bind.

It was now the first step in Do-hyun’s trademark counterattack.

It was truly the prelude to a counterattack.

“Wow!”

“Oioi, I believed in you!”

“Is the counterattack coming?”

“Ah, is he going to show us?!”

At that, the users, as if they had never complained, shouted with excitement.

Whenever that cross appeared, it always showed something amazing.

The expectation that it would be the same this time tickled the users’ hearts.

[Indeed… was this to induce carelessness?]

But this time was different.

Crack- Crack-

Whoosh-!

The moment black wings spread high from his back.

[Black Knight Galion uses ‘Power of Darkness’.]

[The black wings annihilate everything that binds.]

[The Cross of the Execution God disappears.]

“……Huh?”

“Crazy…….”

“What kind of broken cheat is this……!”

The massive black wings tore the cross apart insignificantly.

It was only 2 seconds.

The time it took to spread the wings and remove the cross.

A time that was infinitely insufficient to unleash the Reverse Heaven Stance [a powerful counter-attack technique].

[Kuh…… Kahaha! Kaiser, it’s your defeat!]

On the other hand, perhaps because he had fully spread his wings.

Galion was flying in with a speed that couldn’t be compared to before.

Moreover, his sword was imbued with an ominous energy that had never been seen before.

Instinct was telling him.

That he should never touch the darkness covering the blade.

[Black Knight Galion activates the effect of his exclusive weapon, Sword of Execution.]

[The power of execution and the power of darkness dwell in the sword.]

[The anti-magic effect of the Fourth Ring of the Legion Commander of Destruction is activated.]

[Resisting the aura of the abyss.]

[Resistance fails. Upon contact with the sword, you will take 1,000% amplified damage and receive damage that ignores defense.]

The epitome of Galion’s sword and the power of the Dark Mayongjong [a demonic entity or organization].

A technique containing all the essence, virtually their ultimate move.

It was a sword that no one had been able to stop except for Charlie’s Light of Dawn, which was the only thing that could counter it.

At this rate, he was going to be defeated in vain.

Smirk.

But Do-hyun smiled.

As if he had expected this to happen.

“Who said I was using Reverse Heaven Stance?”

Reverse Heaven Stance, 3rd Form – Thousand.

Using it to ignore the first attack, grasp the foundation, and acquire the attribute would buy him a turn, but even that wasn’t necessary this time.

Tap!

Without any preparation or anything, Do-hyun, gripping Cheonbyeon [his sword], ran straight to meet him.

“No!”

“What, why are you running!?”

“No, why are you suddenly attempting suicide?”

The users screamed at the next scene that everyone could foresee.

Some users even covered their eyes.

Clang-!

At the same time, the two collided.

The shockwave covered the barrier with a deafening roar.

“……Huh?”

“What’s going on?”

Doubt burst from the mouths of the users who were opening their eyes at the same time.

And that was the same for Galion.

[Such an absurd…….]

He was staring with wide eyes as if he couldn’t be more surprised.

He had no choice but to be.

Do-hyun, who should have been cleanly cut down, was confidently facing the sword.

That wasn’t all.

Swish-

The darkness enveloping Cheonbyeon.

That wasn’t Darkness Coating. It was a more fundamental and deeper darkness.

An ability that only knights who had reached a certain level of fusion with a contract with the Dark Mayongjong could handle.

The power of execution.

“Ah, so this is the feeling. It’s on a different level than Darkness Coating or Sword Aura.”

It was dwelling in Cheonbyeon.

[What kind of trick did you pull, Kaiser! Why are you wielding that power!!]

Galion shouted in anger at the situation he couldn’t understand at all.

In response, Do-hyun smirked and glanced upwards.

[Activation conditions have been met.]

[Using the special option due to the enhancement of Cheonbyeon.]