The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 112

112.

Just before engaging in battle with the monster, Do-hyun thought.

‘Madness alone isn’t enough.’

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t defeat the monster with madness alone.

The monster had received all sorts of debuffs, but it was clearly a boss designed to be impossible to catch.

Displaying this much wit alone wasn’t enough.

Even the quest was telling him to hold out until LeBede arrived.

Battles to endure and battles to kill are inherently different.

‘Once I use Madness… even a graze will kill me.’

It might be a somewhat evenly matched fight, but could he really avoid getting hit even once?

He shook his head.

No matter how confident Do-hyun was in his control, he couldn’t avoid being hit even once against an enemy superior to him.

That was realistically and physically impossible.

‘I need to use Madness to seize the momentum when the monster is careless.’

That was the only timing.

Fortunately, the plan worked perfectly.

The cautious monster, seeing Do-hyun constantly being pushed back, eventually let its guard down.

He couldn’t hit a vital spot, but he was still able to inflict significant damage to start with.

‘No. This isn’t enough.’

But even so, it wasn’t enough.

If he was going to try to catch something that was never meant to be caught, he had to prepare numerous strategies.

Just one trump card wasn’t enough.

‘What else do I have? Anything I can use… Oh? Wait a minute.’

Then he remembered the rings.

He had been wearing them ever since catching Karuk, but he hadn’t used them even once yet.

‘If it’s this…?’

As he recalled the ring’s effect, a plan formed.

Use Madness as if using a trump card, and put on a performance of facing a glorious death.

Would that monster really not fall for it?

‘It’ll definitely fall for it.’

For some reason, the monster felt extreme rage towards him, so it would surely try to kill him with its own hands.

A psychological warfare possible because it was a humanoid boss, not a monster-type boss.

[What is this…!]

As expected, the monster fell for it.

And it fell for it perfectly.

“Peek-a-boo.”

Do-hyun, having caught a big one, reached out and summoned Thousand Transformations as if a fisherman were reeling in a line.

A deadly assassin’s dagger flew fiercely from behind.

Swish-.

The monster showed off its skill, dodging with just its senses as if it had eyes in the back of its head, but Do-hyun’s goal wasn’t to attack in the first place.

Thud.

[Thousand Transformations is transforming into ‘Bastard’s Training Sword.’]

[The damage increase of Swordsmanship Proficiency LV14 is applied.]

The weapon with which Do-hyun could unleash the greatest damage, a sword. As he grasped it, the sword was covered in darkness.

[Using ‘Darkness Coating’ on Thousand Transformations.]

This wasn’t the end.

[Gamilion’s Ring is activated.]

[Stats temporarily increase in proportion to the blood absorbed into the ring.]

[The blood absorbed by Gamilion’s Ring is at its maximum.]

[The maximum effect is applied.]

Gamilion’s Ring, which he had obtained this time.

As he activated the ring’s effect, which had been stacking throughout the battle, he felt power surging through his entire body.

[The Destroyer Gaiman’s health is below 5%.]

Like Do-hyun using Madness, the monster also consumed health when using the Corrupted Paladin’s skills.

Thanks to that, the monster’s remaining health was only 5%.

He had no doubt that it would die in one blow.

“This is the end.”

However, the monster was truly tenacious.

[Do you think I’ll let you have your way-!!]

It was a desperate blow, gathering even the last of its mana, but it reacted to it and tried to dodge.

Perhaps it was displaying some wit in its desperation.

It created a physically impossible dodging angle at point-blank range.

But it was okay. Even this was within his expectations.

-Liza!

[……Liza?]

Eliza, the beast hiding its fangs in Do-hyun’s pocket, perked up its head.

Fwoosh!

Then it fired a spider web.

The spider web flew at an incredible speed and stuck to the Destroyer’s ankle and the floor,

[What is this…!?]

Gaiman, never imagining that a spider would pop out of his pocket in such a tense situation, lost his balance and fell.

Grrr! Grrr!

Then, as if waiting for it, the undead threw themselves and grabbed Gaiman’s arms and legs.

They had clearly come to save Do-hyun’s life, but somehow they were helping with the restraint.

This was truly irresistible force.

[N, no…! I can’t die so meaninglessly…. ]

“Yes, you can! Just die already.”

Conflicting emotions crossed paths, and soon Thousand Transformations pierced through the monster’s chest.

A crack formed in its chest and shattered like glass,

[You have defeated the abyss contractor who broke the taboo, ‘Destroyer Gaiman.’]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have reached the graduation level, and a graduation quest has been generated.]

….

Soon, the monster’s body shattered into pieces and a message appeared.

Do-hyun, confirming it, let out a roar.

“Aaaaaah!”

Finally, he had finally caught it.

For someone, it might have been less than 10 minutes, but for Do-hyun, it felt like 10 hours.

Without a doubt, it was the most difficult challenge he had faced while playing God of War Online so far.

In some ways, it was even harder than the tutorial.

-Kuh… Master! I believed in you!

-Liza Liza!

-Yes, Eliza. You did well too! I’m proud of you!

-Liza!

But he had overcome it.

He had overcome countless crises and finally caught it.

The timing was perfect, and he even leveled up.

Now, all he had to do was obtain the Fragment of Fate and complete the quest….

‘…Wait a minute.’

Do-hyun’s expression hardened. A chilling sensation ran up his spine.

‘Where’s the Fragment of Fate?’

He had clearly pierced the monster’s heart.

He had hit it off-center, so the monster should have spat out the fragment as it died.

No, even if it wasn’t the Fragment of Fate, it should have spat out something else. It was only natural for a boss to drop essence when it died.

Moreover, was that monster just any boss? It was an unprecedented boss that couldn’t be caught.

‘There’s no message that the quest has been completed either.’

Do-hyun’s gaze turned to the priests.

He didn’t know why he looked at them at this timing. He could only explain it as instinct.

And sometimes, instinct was more accurate than reason.

“N, no way….”

“What is that….”

They were in shock.

The problem was that it wasn’t a positive kind of shock. Their pale faces were filled with urgency.

‘Could it be…?’

…The moment a truly absurd thought flashed through his mind.

Swish-.

-Master! Look behind you!

He felt something chilling, and Jihad’s urgent voice echoed.

Without even needing to look back, Do-hyun knew what had happened.

[The abyss contractor who broke the taboo, ‘Destroyer Gaiman,’ has been resurrected!]

[Maximum health is fixed below 10%.]

[All stats are reduced by 70%.]

[Entering hidden phase.]

‘This is insane! A hidden phase?’

The message that appeared before his eyes was explaining the situation.

It was an absurd situation.

It was common sense for bosses to consist of 2 or 3 phases.

Occasionally, very rarely, there were monsters with hidden phases….

‘What the hell! This is too much!’

Of all things, it was that monster, and who would have imagined that it would resurrect twice!

Resurrecting a boss that was set up to be uncatchable twice?

The urge to tear open the head of whoever developed it soared.

This was an intention to not acknowledge it even if he caught it.

[Die… .]

The monster that turned around looked pathetic.

Its once sleek, muscular body was gone, and it was emaciated, flickering like a mirage.

But that made it even more desperate and terrifying.

Swaeaeaek-!

A blow containing the last of its strength.

[Thousand Transformations is transforming into ‘Special Custom-Made Silver Shield.’]

He instinctively raised Thousand Transformations, which had transformed into a shield.

Clang! Whirly-.

It flew away pathetically, as if it were useless to have taken it out.

It was impossible to block the monster’s desperate blow in a state where he couldn’t even get into a proper stance.

—-!

The monster’s flash, reflected in Do-hyun’s eyes, grew larger and larger, and the emergency lights in his head also grew larger.

[Using Backstep.]

[Not enough MP to use.]

‘Damn it!’

He had used up all his mana when he killed the monster a little while ago.

Thousand Transformations was far away.

Even if he summoned it back, the monster’s sword would cut him faster than the shield could fly over.

-No!

Jihad desperately tried to step forward, but he had also consumed all his mana.

[Guardian Jihad Black’s mana is insufficient.]

[Unable to summon undead.]

Eliza?

Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

It tried to fire spider webs diligently, but it was only effective as a surprise attack, and it wouldn’t work on a monster with its eyes wide open.

The spider web touched the monster’s sword and burst in vain.

[Danger!]

[Current health is 1%. Be careful.]

Even if he ran away, that level of attack would inevitably reach the range.

With only 1% health left, a graze would kill him.

Whooong-.

The monster swinging its sword looked like it was in slow motion.

A short time, perhaps 0.1 seconds.

Thousands, tens of thousands of thoughts flashed through his mind, and just as many collapsed. After being swept away like a receding tide, his head turned white.

‘…There’s no way.’

He couldn’t think of a way to overcome this crisis.

‘Am I going to die like this? Really?’

He had gone through all that trouble, but was he going to fail so futilely?

Wasn’t this too much of an unfair situation?

The anger that had been boiling up from his core rose to the tip of his throat, but soon disappeared, replaced by extreme futility.

‘Ah.’

It was over.

That was the moment he thought as he saw the sword flashing before his eyes.

A cheerful notification rang in his ear.

[You have reached level 35 and have met the requirements.]

[The second special option of the Blood Oath Necklace is unlocked.]

[You can use the special option ‘Oath Knight.’]

[Would you like to use it?]

‘…What?’

He was momentarily stunned by the unexpected message.

As if someone had grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and pulled him up from diving underwater, Do-hyun quickly accepted.

He didn’t know what the Oath Knight was, but this wasn’t the time to be picky.

‘Please, please, something that will help now…!’

If it could just block that one attack, he didn’t care what it was.

Perhaps his desperate wish had reached it.

[Activating Oath Knight.]

[According to the oath, your sword and heart will protect you.]

A message appeared and a light flashed.

At the same time as a man’s shadow was cast through the dazzling light, the sound of a sword being drawn was heard.

Chaeang-!

It was a knight.

A knight wearing silver armor and wielding a longsword.

He easily deflected Gaiman’s blow.

[Kuaaaa! What are you again! Why, why can’t I kill him!]

It was finally the prey he had caught.

Gaiman was truly furious at the knight who had suddenly intervened at a miraculously timed twist of fate.

-There is no name to reveal to you. Daring to endanger my lord, you deserve to pay with your death.

A heavy bass voice flowed out.

Taat!

The knight lunged at the monster and swung his longsword.

The dazzling sword, as if containing light, flashed, and the knight’s figure disappeared.

Swish-.

An iaijutsu strike [a Japanese swordsmanship technique focused on drawing the sword and attacking in one motion].

A clean horizontal slash that the word could not be more fitting for.

As he sheathed his longsword, the light flashed and illuminated the darkness that was like pitch.

While he was frowning at the bright light.

“One who has sworn the oath of a knight and become the lord’s sword. He has manifested to keep the oath after an eternity of time.”

The knight, turning around with precision, knelt on one knee and paid his respects.

“Your first sword greets the lord.”

But Do-hyun wasn’t looking at him.

Rather, he was looking a little higher, at the numerous messages floating above his bowed head.

[Oath Knight, ‘Kaiser’s First Sword, Charlie,’ has manifested.]

[‘Kaiser’s First Sword, Charlie,’ becomes your guardian.]

[Charlie’s favorability is at its maximum.]

[Acquired the title ‘Favorability Max as Soon as You Get a Guardian?’]

[Acquired the title ‘Veteran Tamer.’]

‘……?’

The former commander of the Arren Castle Knights and the man who showed the essence of reaction in the tutorial and gave him the necklace.

Charlie had appeared through an eternity of time.