The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 91

The Return of the Supreme Genius Ranker Part 2, Episode 91 (424/429)

Episode 425

Part 2, Episode 91.

A bizarre sensation, like death brushing against his skin.

Amidst the endless downpour of black rain, Do-hyun felt intensely alive, completely focused on the present.

He struck more often than he parried or blocked.

Clang! Clang!

Each strike propelled him forward with overwhelming force.

Minimizing movement to the extreme, he advanced.

Clang! Clang!

Strike, step.

Clang-! Clang!

Strike, step.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang-!

How long did he repeat this cycle of striking and stepping?

The shoulder that had barely avoided the claws now swung in a graceful arc to strike.

The black claws that once required parrying were now deflected with a single swing, repelling three or four at once.

Do-hyun wasn’t simply swinging.

‘Here, like this… At this moment, relax the wrist a bit more…’

The sensation of wielding a sword thousands, tens of thousands of times.

The experience of fighting and winning against countless monsters and users.

The despair of facing what everyone deemed impossible. The sense of accomplishment upon overcoming that despair and finally reaping the rewards.

Swoosh- Thud-

He was imbuing all of that into his sword.

Yuneungjegang (柔能制剛) [Overcoming the hard with the soft].

The Dance of the Willow.

Among them were sword techniques learned from the Sword Emperor,

Reverse Heaven Energy (逆天期) First Form, Beginning (始).

Bairan Swordsmanship Second Form, Rain Veil (雨庇).

Krrr…!

There was also the Reverse Heaven Energy (逆天期) and the First Prince’s swordsmanship, as well as the Forgotten King’s swordsmanship.

Swish- Thud-!

Clang!

And there was also the raw sword, unrefined and untaught by anyone.

They were Do-hyun’s sword, the path he had walked, and the adversities he had overcome.

[Your next realm becomes slightly clearer.]

[The light of Reverse Heaven (逆天) imbued in your sword becomes more distinct.]

The Death God Demiseus was the same.

To Do-hyun, who flowed and melted forward like water, the Death God was no longer an insurmountable adversity.

As always.

Swish- Thud.

He simply cut down those who stood in his way.

‘I think I understand why that Sword Emperor is so obsessed with the sword.’

This feeling of creating his own swordsmanship was a novel sensation beyond comparison.

With that, he stopped thinking and surrendered himself to the sensation.

He entrusted everything to the movements his body remembered.

Thrusting, cutting, swinging, striking down.

In the series of actions, sometimes deflecting or accepting, Do-hyun moved forward relentlessly.

[Remaining time has surpassed 5 seconds.]

[Countdown begins.]

[5……]

As a result, the time limit was nearing its end.

Thud.

At some point, Do-hyun was running.

[I, impossible…!]

Demiseus, in disbelief and shock, desperately tried to split his body, but Do-hyun only struck faster.

[The energy of Gale has reached its limit.]

[Speed greatly increases.]

[You can use Periel’s Gift – Surge.]

[4……]

[3……]

Soon, as the distance closed.

[The distance to Demiseus has decreased beyond a certain point, weakening the Death God’s authority.]

[Using Periel’s Gift – Surge.]

Do-hyun, eyes gleaming like a beast about to bite its prey’s neck, activated the last move he had saved until the end.

Surge, which was certain to deal damage but had the disadvantage of being slow.

However, in this rain of countless bodies, there was no better option than this, which was guaranteed to hit no matter how it was launched.

Bang-!

But there was no way Demiseus, who had ascended to the position of God, would not know the Spirit’s technique.

[Where do you think you’re going…! Do you think such a trick will work!]

“Sorry, but it’s not for you.”

[…What?]

In an instant, he twisted the trajectory of the flying claws, offsetting the impact of the Surge as if wrapping around a circle, but that was not what Do-hyun was aiming for.

Pajijik-

Do-hyun grinned, and black sparks flew from his body.

[Used Black Lightning (黑雷電) [Dark Thunder].]

[Becomes lightning and quickly moves, piercing through everything it touches.]

[The will of Reverse Heaven (逆天) faintly dwells in the sword.]

A low, deep voice flowed from Do-hyun, who used the last remaining Black Lightning to instantly get behind him.

“I wonder. If this won’t work either.”

In Do-hyun’s sword, there was a faint but certain light dwelling.

At that moment, Demiseus felt it instinctively.

[…Could that be that man’s…?]

That sword is dangerous.

Demiseus desperately tried to summon his body, but…

[The authority of the Death God (死神) Demiseus weakens.]

[The influence and power that Demiseus exerts on the realm of death decreases.]

With his influence significantly reduced, it was not enough to catch up with the Heavenly Transformation that was already being swung.

Swish-!

A sharp cutting sound echoed quietly.

It was then that Demiseus groaned, anticipating the imminent damage.

[…?]

Unexpectedly, there was no pain, so Demiseus blinked his bizarre, giant eyes.

Looking down in confusion, he saw.

“Cough…”

Do-hyun, suddenly clutching his solar plexus and stopping.

His sword was blocked in vain, unable to cut through even his little fingernail, and the black sparks that had been coloring his entire body had also disappeared.

[The duration of God’s Tears has ended.]

[All mana has been exhausted.]

[Movement stops, and the ‘sustain’ effect disappears.]

[The muscles throughout the body stiffen due to the recoil of forcibly moving with depleted stamina.]

[Due to absolute physiological phenomena, not mental contamination, the ‘Hero’ trait is not activated.]

The backlash came as God’s Tears ended.

“Oh my god!”

-Oh, no! Why there of all places?

-Rizariza!

-My lord!

Astra and the Guardians, who had been watching with trembling eyes, let out screams close to sighs.

It was one step.

If he had stretched out just a little more!

He might not have been able to inflict damage, but at least he wouldn’t have had such an anticlimactic ending.

Thud-

Demiseus, not wanting to lose, summoned his left hand and grabbed Do-hyun by the collar, bursting into laughter.

Numerous eyes of death gleamed with madness.

[Kuh… Kkahahaha!]

A chilling voice, like insects crawling in the eardrums.

Demiseus, laughing as loud as he could, whether Astra and the Guardians covered their ears or not, suddenly stopped laughing and spoke in a low, sunken voice.

[My victory, vessel.]

There was no trace of laughter in Demiseus.

Only an endless sinking, like the end of death.

[You are dangerous.]

That sword he saw at the end.

It was different from his, but it clearly possessed a similar energy.

Although it was infinitely faint, like a newly sprouted spark compared to that person, it might become a huge fire that would engulf the sky if left unchecked.

‘It’s not a matter of power.’

It was the sword of one who defied the will of the heavens, and a means for humans to stand against God.

[I was going to subjugate you and give you to the Goddess… but I need to revise my plan. I will confine you in my realm. That way, you will not be able to complete the vessel.]

The Goddess would be angry, but Demiseus trusted his judgment.

For Do-hyun, who could become a prisoner in a jail, it was the worst situation.

Moreover, it was not a prison made by humans, but the realm of the Death God.

He didn’t know what would happen if he was trapped there, but it would certainly be difficult to escape.

[…Your companions as well. That one itself is insignificant… but that one blow surpassed the limits of a mere apostle.]

He was not harmed due to the overwhelming difference in level, but the impact alone dented the God’s body.

[It’s best to block out anything that could be a variable… Regret in the bitter darkness. For daring to covet God.]

But.

“Keuh.”

The reaction from the person in question was not despair, but ridicule.

He was making a deflated sound, as if it was absurd.

Demiseus’s voice sank coldly, displeased by it.

[…What is so funny? When you haven’t accomplished anything.]

“Of course it’s funny.”

[…?]

“It’s a shame that I couldn’t complete the Reverse Heaven Energy as you said… but I still won.”

[Are you out of your mind? What are you talking about, being caught…?]

Demiseus stopped speaking.

Do-hyun’s face, grinning with the corners of his mouth torn, was sincere.

And soon he knew why.

Crackle-

[…What?]

The giant eyes of death on Demiseus simultaneously cracked, and the cracks began to spread throughout his body like an epidemic.

The hand that was grabbing Do-hyun’s neck was the same.

[Why…]

Demiseus was bewildered, as if he couldn’t understand the situation.

Do-hyun, who had been released from the hand that had been holding him and was falling into the air, grinned at Demiseus.

The quest Do-hyun received was not to catch God.

It was just to protect the key from God during the time limit.

[Remaining time: 00:00:00]

“Time’s up, you son of a bitch.”

The second effect of God’s Tears.

He had used it from the beginning to match the remaining time limit.

[Avison’s body can no longer withstand it and is breaking.]

[The Death God (死神) Demiseus can no longer exert influence on the mortal realm.]

[The realm of death is released.]

Kugugugu-

The world filled with death collapsed along with the body, and the traces of Avison’s original realm began to appear.

The traces of the Death God disappeared as if nothing had happened.

[What is this…! Was this your purpose from the beginning?]

“Am I crazy to try to catch God? Just holding out is a break-even.”

[This… you impudent fellow! How dare you insult God with a half-baked human body…!!]

“Oh, I’m not half-baked because I’m a Successor, you know?”

Demiseus, who had been properly scratched by Do-hyun, who grinned and didn’t back down from a single word, gnashed his teeth and spat out as if cursing.

[As long as you are the vessel of prophecy, you will meet again soon… As long as ‘those guys’ are there, you will surely meet. When we meet next time… I will never let you live then…]

Crackle- Clang!

But the curse was never finished.

Avison’s body could no longer withstand it, and his whole body exploded and burst.

Do-hyun, watching the scene return to the original bizarre landscape like the underworld, lay down on his back.

“Hooah… I never thought I’d feel so grateful for this creepy wind.”

This stage, where no trace of life could be felt, could not have felt so abundant now.

-Wow, awesome! I believed in you, Master!

-Rizariza! Rizari!

-As expected of my lord! This lowly sword never doubted my lord’s victory.

-Hey, I saw Charlie struggling while tied up, saying that he had to save my lord!

-…You must have seen it wrong.

It was then that Do-hyun was smiling at the Guardians who were rushing over and chattering as soon as he lay down.

A thick hand came down next to his head.

“You son of a bitch… I really admit this. You pulled this off?”

It was Astra’s hand, who had already come to his side and was shaking his head as if he was fed up.

Do-hyun smiled and grabbed his hand, getting up and answering as if spitting it out.

“What, is it something new?”

“It’s new, you idiot. It’s not just a raid boss, it’s a God! You won against a God! Wow, I’m seeing someone win against a God for the first time in my life.”

“I didn’t win. I just lasted 1 minute.”

“That’s winning, you idiot.”

Astra, who was making a fuss and patting him on the back, seemed brighter than usual.

He seemed very happy with this dramatic victory.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, you idiot. You did it.”

Astra then held out his bear-like fist.

Do-hyun also smiled and bumped fists.

‘It’s meaningful.’

Do-hyun was the successor of the ancient humans who had opposed God.

Befitting his job, he had not only stood against the God who seemed so distant, but had also achieved results.

But the moment he smiled with pride.

Do-hyun was smiling faintly, but only for a moment.

As people’s desires are endless, it was true that regret was rising after taking a breather.

‘If I had a little more time, I feel like I could have caught something…’

At the last moment.

Faintly, but clearly, he felt a strange energy flowing from his body through his sword, something different from what he had felt so far.

‘If I had just entrusted myself to it a little more…’

Perhaps he could have completed the Reverse Heaven Energy.

How could he not be disappointed when the duration ended at that moment?

‘Sigh, I can’t even grasp how I did it now.’

The same was true of that sense of being driven to the extreme.

Perhaps because he was relieved, he couldn’t exert such concentration.

‘I think I need to be in that state to get a sense of it.’

Do-hyun, who had been thinking for a while, shook off his regrets.

Anyway, isn’t it important that he has grasped the direction of the last form, which he hadn’t even seen the tip of his nose until now?

‘Create your own Reverse Heaven…’ [逆天] [Defying the Heavens]

This could mean creating his own swordsmanship, or it could mean walking his own path.

The process would not be easy, but it was a realm he had already stepped into once.

There was no reason not to step into it again.

‘I have a reason to endure high risk.’

And that realm blooms in adversity.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the main quests were all abnormally difficult.

‘There are many opportunities.’

To seize those opportunities, he would have to become stronger than he is now.

Ding-

Do-hyun smiled and raised his head at the cheerful notification that rang at just the right timing.

[You have survived without being deprived of the key from the Death God (死神) Demiseus.]

[Clears the sudden job quest ‘Protect the Key’.]

[The quest reward changes due to clearing the job quest with an unbelievable achievement.]

[Checking achievements. Please wait.]

……

[You have survived against the God of Death for the first time.]

[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]

[Acquire the title ‘Survivor from the Death God (死神)’.]

[The title ‘Unbelievable Numerical Value’ is activated due to an unbelievable achievement.]

[All stats increase by +5.]

[As a reward……]

……

In order to become stronger, there is nothing better than high risk, high return.

And he could guarantee that the Death God Demiseus was the worst enemy since he came to the New Continent.

‘Let’s see how good the reward is.’

It was time for harvest.