The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 98

Part 98 of Season 2.

The Brain Flash.

The effect of this was simple.

If Lightning Movement was a technique that moved like a bolt of lightning, Brain Flash was a technique that cut through a straight trajectory like lightning.

But even its execution wasn’t simple.

Swish-!

It generated tremendous speed, literally cutting with the speed of lightning.

The moment it activated within striking range, the sword had already passed through the target point in the blink of an eye.

-……!

So fast that Grandab didn’t realize he had been cut until he saw his severed waist.

The moment his bewildered eyes met mine.

Thud-

His body collapsed powerlessly, and soon a cheerful notification rang out.

[You have defeated the last general, Grandab.]

[As a reward for the first hidden phase capture, a guaranteed piece of equipment related to Grandab will be dropped.]

[You have acquired ‘The Proud Knight’s Ring’ as a reward.]

[You have defeated all the generals and ended the war.]

[You have achieved MVP of the 14th floor.]

[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]

[You have achieved the fastest record ever, breaking the previous record.]

[You have captured with overwhelming performance.]

[Your score is recorded, and the rewards you receive afterward will be enhanced.]

He had defeated him in one blow.

‘Is the power stronger than I thought? Or is it because his health was only at 10 percent, so it makes sense that he died…….’

He was a human-type boss with excellent swordsmanship.

As outstanding skill was the point, his health was relatively low compared to other bosses.

But even considering that, it was clear that the power was outstanding.

Above all, it was only because his remaining health was 10%, so the actual damage might be even stronger.

‘If I had known, I would have left a little more health.’

It had been so long since I felt myself growing; I was too focused on enjoying it.

‘Still…… this much confirms the power and speed.’

However, the range was much narrower than I thought.

If it deviated from the length and width that the sword reached, no damage was dealt.

Moreover, once a trajectory was set, it couldn’t be changed midway.

If the target point wasn’t hit accurately, or if things didn’t align, it could result in a wasted strike and a counterattack.

If a skilled person already knew this ability, they could easily avoid it by predicting the target point.

But,

‘This, conversely, means that they must constantly be wary of Brain Flash.’

It was a fast single attack that could only be avoided by predicting it.

Increasing the number of cards meant gaining an advantage in psychological warfare.

Also, even without using Brain Flash, the buff amplification alone was worth it.

‘Moreover, the effect varies depending on where you concentrate it……. I want to use it on other parts quickly.’

The ability to utilize it according to the situation was indeed worthy of a legendary 부여 [bestowal] ability.

And that wasn’t the end of it.

[The Proud Knight’s Ring]

[Grade: Legendary]

[Description: A ring worn by a proud knight.

When worn by a knight who knows pride, it draws out steadfast will and great strength.]

[Equipping Restriction: Knight]

[Magic Resistance: 2,987]

[Durability: 80 / 80]

-All stats + 10

[Knight’s Pride: When encountering an enemy and not fleeing, all stats increase by 10%. However, the effect disappears if the back is shown to the enemy for more than 3 seconds. (Cannot be reused against the same target during one battle.)]

[Knight’s Vow: Vowing devotion, you are never knocked back for 100 seconds, and all effects related to defense increase by 20%. (Cooldown: 3 minutes)]

As the first hidden phase reward, I could obtain a legendary ring.

‘This would be perfect to give to Charlie.’

I already had accessories from capturing Avison, and Grandab was a knight, so the effects were perfect for Charlie.

When I told him this news, Jihaed pouted and grumbled.

-Again, Charlie? Sigh, yeah. We’re always second, right, Eliza?

-Lizariza?

-Charlie is so lucky~ He already has several legendary items~

-……Ahem. You also got a leaf this time, didn’t you?

-Lizariza!

-Um! That’s right. Your necklace is also very excellent.

Charlie, who was chiming in, stroked Eliza, who was pointing at her neck as if she also had a fur necklace.

-But Eliza’s necklace isn’t legendary…… Cough!

-Liza?

“It’s nothing. Jihaed must have been eyeing your necklace.”

-Liza! Lizariza!

Dohyun, who cut off the words of the tactless Jihaed by tapping his uvula, stroked Eliza, who was making an ‘ahem!’ expression.

Meanwhile, Charlie, who had put on the ring, bowed his head.

-I feel much lighter. Thank you, my lord. This humble sword will protect you with my life.

“Ah, you need to enhance that too. Give it back to me when we return to the village.”

-My lord…….

Dohyun subtly avoided Charlie’s eyes, which were shining with emotion.

Seeing that prickly middle-aged man’s face doing that never gets old. Leaving aside familiarity, as a young man, Dohyun had an instinctive aversion to it.

“Looks like you had some kind of enlightenment while fighting Demiseus, huh?”

“I think so.”

“How much more of a monster are you going to become?”

“Ajae also seems to have gotten stronger than he was during Demrok, right?”

“Well, I just mindlessly increased my stats. It’s annoying that you’re following those guys. I thought you were already at your peak.”

Those guys?

Dohyun smiled at Ajae’s words.

It seemed that he wasn’t the only one who had grown.

The Sword Saint guy said he was focusing on training after gaining some kind of enlightenment, so that was that…….

‘I guess Gugu also has something going on.’

That fighting cock has grown…….!

It wouldn’t be mental growth, and if that physical monster has gotten stronger, it feels like he’s become even more eccentric, or is that just me?

[The staircase to the 15th floor is open.]

[Would you like to enter the final floor of the tower?]

Kugugu-

Dohyun’s eyes became serious as he looked at the stairs that had appeared as the system’s message popped up.

’15th floor…… the final floor of the Tower of Disaster.’

Now, one more step and I can reach the Signature Trait.

And the top floor wasn’t just waiting for that.

‘I haven’t seen a trace of Lucia or even the Great Sage while climbing up here.’

Since the quest guaranteed both of them to be in the Tower of Disaster, they were likely to be on the 15th floor.

Dohyun was about to head to the stairs without hesitation when.

“Uh, uh? Hey, stop.”

“Why?”

Astro urgently stopped Dohyun.

“I told you on the 1st floor, right? What you need to do to get the Signature Trait.”

“You said to achieve overwhelming performance.”

“Yeah. I didn’t think you’d achieve overwhelming performance from the 1st floor to the 14th floor, but…….”

Astro, who muttered ‘Anyway, you’re a monster,’ continued, saying that wasn’t the important thing.

“There’s one more condition.”

“One more? What is it…… Ah?”

Dohyun tilted his head for a moment.

Soon, Dohyun, recalling the conversation from the 1st floor, exclaimed and nodded.

There were two conditions Astro had mentioned.

One was to achieve overwhelming performance, and the other was…….

“……Hidden Piece?”

“Bingo.”

He wouldn’t have brought this up for no reason.

As expected.

Astro twitched his scarred nose and gave a meaningful smile.

“It’s here. The Hidden Piece that only comes out when you capture the 14th floor.”

“Indeed…… I couldn’t have found it? It’s right before the last floor.”

“Usually, once they capture it, they’re too busy rushing up with their eyes flipped. With the competition, it’s even worse, so they usually don’t think about finding a Hidden Piece here.”

“How did the first guy who found it find it?”

“It was said to be by chance. It seems he was hiding to ambush at the last minute and found it.”

“Some people are just destined to be.”

“Thanks to that, the information was passed on to us, so it’s all good. The location should be somewhere around here…….”

It was when Astro was muttering and searching around.

Dohyun smiled as he heard a cheerful notification ringing in his ear as he looked around.

“I don’t think we need to look for it?”

“Huh? What’s that…… Ah, could it be that eye again?”

Dohyun nodded silently.

That hunch was right. Dohyun could see it.

[The Eye of Truth is activated.]

Something hidden in a corner was dyed red.

“Geez, it’s ridiculous every time I see it. How can there be such an easy way? This is such a scam.”

“I always say, if you’re upset…….”

“Should I have caught the tutorial boss? Yeah, yeah, it’s my fault for not catching a boss. Must be nice to be so good.”

Ajae, who was pouting in a way that didn’t suit his manly face, grumbled.

Leaving Ajae behind, Dohyun, who went to the corner where the red silhouette was visible, tilted his head.

“What, why did you stop when you were going well?”

“……Ajae, I’m asking just in case. What does the Hidden Piece here look like?”

“Um, it’s just a long brush. If you hold it and capture the 15th floor, the brush will carve letters in the air, which will lead to the Signature Trait.”

“A brush, you say…….”

Dohyun nodded, muttering that.

Yes, I can see a brush.

[The Eye of Truth is activated.]

About 200 meters diagonally to the left.

The problem is that the Eye of Truth is reacting more strongly to something else than that ‘brush’.

Swish.

I looked down again.

The red silhouette at my feet.

‘……An altar?’

To be exact, it was just a small picture engraved in the corner of the wall, but it was clearly a picture of an altar.

This meant one thing.

‘There’s another Hidden Piece?’

Dohyun unknowingly brought his hand to the altar picture.

A deafening notification struck his eardrums, and soon numerous messages greeted Dohyun and his party.

But they couldn’t see the messages right away.

-What, what! Suddenly the scenery changed.

-Lizariza!

-Ugh! What’s going on?

“Whoa, what’s going on again? If you’re going to cause trouble, tell me first!?”

“No, I didn’t intend to cause trouble…….”

Suddenly, the floor collapsed and began to transform into a different stage.

An alien and unrealistic speed, as if the scenery in a dream was changing.

When I felt a slight dizziness, the transformation of the stage was already over, and only then could Dohyun check the messages in front of him.

[You have discovered a hidden place.]

[You have entered the hidden abode of the Tower of Disaster, ‘The Black Temple of the Forest’.]

[Traces of the Great Sage are felt. The ongoing sudden quest, ‘The Great Sage Rasha’, is reacting.]

……The Great Sage?

Traces of the Great Sage are here?

It was a moment when my eyes widened at the unexpected discovery, but the message that followed covered the shock.

[The owner of this place, ‘Raon’, has become aware that someone has invaded his abode.]

With greater shock.

‘……Raon? If it’s Raon, then surely…….’

A man who reigns as one of the five rulers of the lawless zone, and the worst villain of Elanis.

It seems I’ve entered the habitat of the Black Nightmare.