The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 84

Part 84.

When I first chose a skill to grant an additional ability to, Do Hyun had intended to choose Madness.

‘It was said that only skills of Rare grade or lower obtained from the 1st floor are possible.’

There was no particular reason; it was simply because there was no other choice.

Among the skills Do Hyun possessed, the Rare skills were Rising Dragon Kick and Madness.

Since he was ready to discard Rising Dragon Kick at any time, investing in Madness was the best option.

[You have cleared the 1st floor with overwhelming performance, and the reward is enhanced.]

[The existing reward, ‘Low-grade Random Skill Additional Ability Grant Ticket,’ has been changed to ‘Mid-grade Random Skill Additional Ability Grant Ticket.’]

‘Oh? This changes things.’

The moment the Low-grade Random Skill Additional Ability Grant Ticket changed to a Mid-grade one, Do Hyun’s plan had to be completely revised.

Unlike the Low-grade ticket, which only allowed granting up to Rare skills, the Mid-grade ticket allowed even Heroic skills.

‘To think I’m getting something you can only get by clearing the 10th floor from the 1st floor.’

Considering that it was a reward that could only be obtained once per floor of the Tower of Disaster, it was truly a situation where the saying, “I struck gold,” fit perfectly.

Accordingly, Do Hyun was briefly lost in happy *gomin* [troubles/worries], and after *gomin* [troubles/worries], he chose Sword Aura.

And now, he could confidently say that the choice was the best one.

[‘Sword Aura’ directly damages Abison’s Ethereal Form.]

[Mana is consumed per second.]

[‘Sword Aura’ is influenced by ‘Veil of Darkness’ and gains dark properties.]

[The effects of dark properties are additionally applied.]

Clang! Clang!

A powerful ability that ignores physical force.

Furthermore, with insane damage that could kill in one hit if it landed.

Against a boss that could be called a disaster for melee combat classes, there was no skill better than Sword Aura.

Moreover, the granted ability that Do Hyun drew was a boss battle-specialized ability.

[The additional ability ‘Cohesion’ granted to Sword Aura is activated.]

[When the target is cut, it imprints traces of aura on random parts, and Sword Aura is strengthened each time the traces of aura are cut.]

Cohesion.

The leader of the Mikazuki Guild, which newly ascended to the top 10 guilds, and a man with the nickname Slayer.

Yamamoto Gendo.

‘Wasn’t that ability famous for being the one he handles best?’

He heard that story after he had already drawn Cohesion, which made him even more *gidae* [expect/anticipate].

Perhaps it was because of his tenacious combat style, but how *tteo-nan* [outstanding/excellent] was the skill that Sword Aura became his signature skill, leaving other legendary skills behind?

Above all,

‘Sword Aura has quite a deep connection with me.’

Sword Aura is a signature skill for swordsmen.

Especially since it was Do Hyun’s favorite skill during his Demonic King days, he had affection for it, so strengthening it?

For Do Hyun, who often had to face strong enemies due to the nature of the main quest, it was *pilsu* [essential/necessary].

That’s why he wanted to experiment with it properly, but… unfortunately, boss battles didn’t open up often, so he couldn’t use it.

[Inflicts a wound on the enemy, imprinting traces of aura on a random part of the target.]

[If the trace is cut within a certain time, Sword Aura is strengthened.]

Swoosh-

And now.

[Successfully cut the trace, strengthening Sword Aura.]

[The length of the aura imbued in the sword increases, becomes more *gyeongo* [solid/firm], and *jeolsaknyeok* [cutting force] and damage are amplified.]

[Imprints traces of aura on a random part of the target.]

The opportunity to properly use this ability has finally arrived.

Against the optimal boss that can only be dealt with using Sword Aura!

Swoosh- Thud!

Each time he cuts, traces of aura are imprinted on the monster’s body.

Following the grain, he cut, and traces of aura were imprinted on another part, and the more he did so, the more *gyeongo* [solid/firm] Do Hyun’s Sword Aura became.

How many times had he cut like that?

Whoosh-!

Before he knew it, Do Hyun’s sword was almost twice as long as before, emitting a sharp aura.

It was almost a spear, not a sword.

What about the damage?

[Kuaaa!]

“Why, does it sting?”

Now, even if he cut other places besides the traces, Abison writhed in pain.

Abison couldn’t help but feel pain because he was receiving the amplified damage of Sword Aura, which was *banggak* [defense reduction] by Veil of Darkness.

[Kuaaa! How dare you… a mere mortal…!]

“Oh, really? What a coincidence. I was chosen by someone who beat up those gods.”

Abison, still with an expressionless face but with a voice full of anger.

Perhaps enraged by Do Hyun’s refusal to back down, a dark murderous intent was felt in the scythe he wielded.

However, such blind attacks driven by emotion were no threat to Do Hyun.

[Successfully parried Abison’s attack.]

[Deflects the Scythe of Death.]

Swoosh-!

[Cough!]

After lightly deflecting it, the Sword Aura, which had become as long as a spear with a casual swing, stirred up Abison’s wounds.

And the Sword Aura became larger and more *gyeongo* [solid/firm].

[What is this…!]

It was strange.

*Bunmyeong* [Clearly/Definitely], weren’t they being helplessly defeated?

Even when he first allowed that *gii* [strange/bizarre] aura to wound him, he thought it was just because he was careless.

However, as the fight continued, the number of times his attacks landed was becoming countable.

If ten exchanges occurred, he felt like he was getting hit eight times and only hitting twice?

But after a few more minutes passed, Abison was able to realize that it was an *chakgak* [illusion/misconception].

Thwack,

Swish- Bang!

‘…No. He’s deliberately getting hit?’

He realized that whenever he barely managed to land an attack, he was always getting hit with an even bigger counter.

Moreover, the attacks he landed were only small attacks that didn’t inflict much damage.

[Successfully parried Abison’s attack.]

[Deflects the Scythe of Death.]

…….

[Successfully parried Abison’s attack.]

[Deflects the Flash.]

The Scythe of Death, which could inflict fatal wounds, and *gwangbeomwi* [wide range] Flash attacks were all being blocked.

He felt like all his moves were being read.

It was an unpleasant feeling, as if he were dancing on the monster’s palm, under its control, against his will.

And by the time he realized that, it was already too late.

Whoooooosh-!

“Oh, now it’s longer than a spear?”

Because *heojeom* [weakness/flaw] were revealed each time he was parried, he had no choice but to give up traces of aura for sure.

As a result, Do Hyun’s Sword Aura had grown uncontrollably.

“Wow, when combined with parrying, it’s a cheat. How can aura trace cutting become so easy? It really needs to be nerfed.”

“If you’re jealous, *ajae* [old man] should become a swordsman too?”

“Ugh, my blood pressure. This is why you shouldn’t associate with *jaeneungchung* [gifted people]s.”

Do Hyun smiled at Astro, who was scratching his head as if he was annoyed, but in fact, this Cohesion also had a fatal flaw.

[Consumes mana per second.]

[Warning. Mana consumption is a very large effect.]

It was mana consumption.

Sword Aura already consumed a lot of mana per second.

With Veil of Darkness applied, mana consumption was doubled, and Cohesion’s mana consumption per second was as much as combining those two.

‘It feels even bigger because the mana consumption increases as the effect is amplified.’

Parrying makes it easy to accumulate Cohesion, but conversely, it also means that mana consumption increases just as quickly.

Due to the nature of swordsmen, who don’t have much mana, it was *beogeop* [difficult/challenging] to utilize Cohesion to the extreme, but Do Hyun was an exception.

[The benevolent light effect of the Holy King’s Mark is activated.]

[Health and mana recovery rate increase by 200%.]

[The absorption option of the Archmage’s Mana Circuit is activated.]

[Mana recovery rate increases by 250%, and the recovery rate increases as mana decreases, increasing up to 400%.]

[Mana recovery speed increases by 250% due to the effect of Lasha’s Leaf.]

[Summons the trait ‘Blessed Mana’ of ‘Great Law M.’]

[Mana recovery speed increases by 100%. The effects of magic skills become more powerful.]

[Mana regeneration rate increases by 50% due to the effect of the Visitor of Grandacia.]

…….

Smirk.

‘It’s worth the *gosaeng* [hardship/suffering] I’ve been through.’

Thanks to his extreme mana recovery, mana was filling up as quickly as it was being depleted.

Nevertheless, seeing the mana decreasing in real-time, it was undoubtedly a huge amount of mana consumption, but what was certain was that he could last another 10 minutes.

“That’s enough.”

And 10 minutes is enough.

Abison flinched at Do Hyun’s confident face.

[…….]

At this point, he had no choice but to admit it.

‘…At this rate… I’ll lose.’

He couldn’t beat him head-on.

He was *jajonsim sanghae* [pride hurt/damaged] that he was being pushed back by a mere mortal who lived a short life like a mayfly, but that was nothing compared to eternal rest.

He was chosen to protect this place.

He couldn’t *yokboeida* [disgrace/dishonor] that person.

Flash!

[Abison activates the trait, ‘Elusive.’]

Abison, revealing a murderous intent as if he would devour him right away and showing the same Elusive *moseup* [appearance/figure] as before, but even this didn’t work well.

“Jihad! Except for Pain, reverse summon all the undead.”

-Roger!

[……!]

It was because he had figured out the *pahoebeop* [countermeasure/solution] after fighting the monster for over 10 minutes.

The only weakness of the Elusive trait.

“You can only appear in front of the target, right?”

[…….]

That meant the location where he appeared was fixed.

If there were many people participating in the raid, it would be impossible to know in front of whom he would appear, but what if there were only two people in the raid?

“The place to appear is obvious. It’s either me or that side.”

If 70 people had entered, it would have been truly *kkeumjjik* [terrible/horrific].

He would have roamed the battlefield elusively in the hazy mist, massacring everyone with a powerful one-hit kill.

‘The boss’s health also increases as the number of people in the raid increases on the 10th floor, so… in the end, you won’t be able to win when only a few are left.’

In other words, the 10th floor was *aedangcho* [from the beginning] a solo raid was the only raid route.

Well, this side also had Jihad, Charlie, and Pain, but it didn’t change anything.

No, it was even more *deundeun* [reliable/dependable].

Flash!

-He appeared!

“Leave it to me. Hmph!”

The moment the monster used Elusive and moved in front of them.

Kwaaaaaang-!

[Cough!]

He was sent flying far away by Astro’s Smash, which was swung as soon as he appeared.

Smash is clearly a *panjeong* [judgment/ruling] of additional effects due to *pungap* [wind pressure].

Even if the damage is ignored, it cannot ignore the knockback *panjeong* [judgment/ruling].

-Protect him well. Charlie, Pain.

……Tap.

-Okay! Trust us.

-Lizariza!

-Ah, of course. I trust Eliza too.

Charlie and Pain blocking the front in a structure to protect Jihad, and Astro behind them ready to *nallida* [launch/send] Smash at any time.

Because of the *cheolbyeok* [iron wall]-like formation, the other side can’t even come close.

In other words, he has no choice but to face Do Hyun one-on-one.

“Leave this side to us and have a comfortable one-on-one.”

“*Ajae* [Old man], you must be a little disappointed.”

“What can I do? He’s a monster that physical force doesn’t work on. Anyway, I’ve already gotten everything I can get from the tower, so it doesn’t matter.”

Astro shrugged his shoulders and *ssieik* [grin] revealed his scarred nose.

“Isn’t it good for you? You seem to be really into it. I’ll provide rear support so that monster can’t escape, so go wild.”

“That’s true.”

Do Hyun, who raised the corners of his lips, *cheonbyeon doro* [All Heavens Again] gripped toward Abison.

[Using the 1st Form of Reverse Heaven, Beginning.]

[You can use ‘Release’ by accumulating a certain amount of Sword Aura energy.]

[Sword Aura – You can release the condensed energy when using Slash.]

“Now, let’s go to the end.”

[……Ah.]

Abison’s lifeless eyes *heundeullyeotda* [shook/trembled] aimlessly.