The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 146

146.

After that, his life changed.

His brethren were freed from that hellish pain.

Because he bore all that suffering.

-Ah… Aaaah…!!

Whenever that happened, a burning pain seized his entire body and corrupted his mind.

The surging rage made him stronger and more brutal.

-A, an outlaw… Ru, run away…!

-Please… Please don’t leave me behind…!

It was from then on.

That they no longer ostracized him but began to flee.

That the Ghost Soldiers were called ‘Outlaws’ instead of insignificant strangers.

Now, no one ignored them.

As if repaying what they had suffered, he showed no mercy.

[You are now immune to the pain once received from the target.]

The power of a name was truly astonishing and great.

The pain once received from the opponent would never have to be experienced again.

The pain that couldn’t kill him only made him stronger, and

[Inflict pain upon the target.]

When he grabbed the target and used the power of the name, everyone felt terrible pain.

If he grabbed their head, he could inflict the pain of their brain burning, and if he grabbed their arm, he could inflict the pain of their arm twisting.

Everyone couldn’t overcome the pain and repented and apologized for their past wrongdoings, but….

-Death… will… repay… it….

The pain merely scoffed.

The past wrongdoings do not disappear just because they are repented.

The pain caused by them cannot be erased.

Only forgotten or forgiven.

-Remember… clearly….

He hated that.

That the perpetrators who killed countless comrades lived comfortably just because they were ‘forgiven.’

That the pain they felt was so easily forgotten.

Therefore, he wanted everyone to feel this pain and remember it.

-Kuaaaaak!

-Save me… Please….

-What, what sins have we committed…! It wasn’t us who did it!!

…But when did it start?

Was it from the time he annihilated three generations of the family that killed his comrades?

-Outlaw! The Outlaw has appeared! Everyone, run away!

-Tell the lord…! Tell the lord!

-Euaaaang! Mommy, Daddy!! Don’t leave me behind!!

-S, sorry… I’m sorry….

Parents who turned back to look at the child they missed while running away, yet chose to flee alone.

Was it from the time he killed an innocent child whose parents abandoned their child after barely a second of hesitation?

-Keuheok!

-Kkeuaaaaaaa!!

-Sa, save….

Or was it when he burned down an entire district?

I don’t know.

Only one thing was certain.

The revenge that started with hatred for the world that ostracized them had, at some point, turned into something hideous.

That he had been consumed by the flames of revenge.

-You have committed too many sins.

-….

It was too late when he realized that.

-Murder, torture… Ugh, just these two, and the count is this high? I wouldn’t even do this much… Hmm, or would I? Anyway.

-This can’t be helped. According to the laws of the Netherworld Gate, you have to be exterminated.

First Lord.

Managing the Netherworld in place of the absent master, an absolute monarch whose words are law.

Because he was caught by him and his entire race was on the verge of annihilation.

-Isn’t it amazing? When we first met, you were the victim, but now you’ve become the perpetrator. I never thought I’d run into you again as such a large-scale massacre-committing psycho.

-…The… sin… was… committed… by… me… Please… end… it… with… me….

-Can’t do that. If I don’t deliver punishment according to the law in the trial, I’ll be stripped of my lord status?

He was too strong.

Even if he used the power of pain to gain immunity, new pain came flying.

It was a pain he couldn’t bear.

Over 90% of his race died, and his precious comrades and subordinates died.

-Wh… why… am… I… alive….

Ironically, the only ones alive were himself and the 50 soldiers who followed him.

He thought he had fought at the forefront more than anyone else, but his instinct feared death.

-Ah….

He was going to bear all the pain, but at the last moment, he wanted to live.

He had accepted the sacrifice of his comrades in a hideous way.

-…Ah… Aaaah…!!

He couldn’t bear his own patheticness.

On the cliff where the waterfall of lava melted the earth, ‘Pain’ cried out endlessly.

It was then.

That chance encounters come about by coincidence.

-Aish… Who keeps making so much noise?

A man appeared through the lava waterfall.

He seemed to have just woken up and was clearly annoyed, and he was a being that even those who had been in the Netherworld for a long time had never seen before.

But one thing was certain.

That he was an incredibly strong person who felt distant just by looking at him.

-…Who… are… you…?

-None of your business. I shouldn’t have lost at rock-paper-scissors… I finally fell asleep during infiltration, but what is this commotion, tsk.

The man answered coolly and grumbled to himself.

Why was that? At that moment, ‘Pain’s’ instinct spoke.

That if he caught that guy, he might be able to escape this crisis.

-What? You want me to help you? You’re going to be exterminated?

So, he grabbed at straws, but all that came back was ridicule.

-What does that have to do with me? No way. I hate troublesome things. I only came here against my will.

-…I’m… not… asking… for… much….

-Then what.

-You… seem… to… be… from… outside… Just… let… us… live… in… the… mortal… realm….

-Wow. What is this guy saying? How is that not much?

-…So… it’s… impossible… after… all….

Indeed, they were beings born in the Netherworld.

Except for special situations like when the Netherworld Gate was accidentally opened before, they couldn’t go to the mortal realm.

There was no way he could make that possible….

-No, well… it’s not impossible. That monster-like captain… no, if it’s the captain, he might be able to do it.

-…In… that… case…!

-No way. You’re not one of our members. The captain doesn’t see anyone other than our members as living beings. …Actually, I don’t think he thinks of us any differently.

-…Then… I’ll… become… a… member….

He had the power of pain.

He was sure he could be of help.

He tried to appeal to that point, but the man scoffed as if it were ridiculous.

-Ha, you, running away from a place like this? You better know you’re lucky. I’m letting it slide because it’s me, but if those guys knew you were spouting such nonsense, they wouldn’t let it go.

-….

Then, as he gathered his energy, the lava overturned.

The lava that flowed like a waterfall stopped as if it were a lie, and the flowing lava stopped moving as if it had hardened.

All of the Outlaw’s senses were warning of danger.

This was like….

When he stood before the First Lord.

‘No, maybe even more….’

But that was only for a moment.

He smiled and chuckled.

Then the world returned to normal.

-It’s a 5-person system from the start, so it’s not possible. Well… recently, a vacancy opened up, so that monster came in, but that’s an exception.

It was then.

-There they are! The Outlaws are over there!

-Everyone, prepare your magic! It’s First Lord’s order to exterminate them for sure!

The First Lord’s army, who had discovered them behind them, poked their heads out.

The distance was quite far, but if they were skilled enough, they would arrive within 20 seconds.

There was no more time.

-Looks urgent.

-…If… you’re… not… going… to… help… us… then… nevermind….

‘Pain,’ who gritted his teeth at the sight of the laughing man, was about to lead the Outlaws to flee when.

The man, alternating between looking at him and the army far away, smiled intriguingly and flashed his eyes.

Then, the man took something out of his pocket and handed it over as if throwing it.

-Th… this… is…?

A half-piece key with an eerie energy that seemed to cut the flesh.

It was such a powerful eerie energy that even he, who was used to the cold of the Netherworld, felt a chill.

-On the night of the full moon. Only then can you go down to the mortal realm with that.

-Look for the fragment of fate. It will guide you. It’s kind of important to us.

-…Why… to… me…?

-It’s a kind of test. We can’t move yet because it’s not our time. If you bring the fragment, we’ll accept you as a member. The captain will be satisfied with that much, right?

Then, the man stepped forward as if he were doing a favor and reached out his hand.

Kwagagagagak-!!!

Then, the shockwave that poured out swept through the area.

With a single attack, he swept away the entire army beyond the rocky area.

While he was 넋을놓고 [넋을놓고 is a Korean expression meaning to be stunned or to lose one’s mind] at the overwhelming majesty.

-What are you doing? Not going? Don’t you want to save your race?

-…Thank… you… I… won’t… disappoint… you….

-Ah, you’re really frustrating to talk to. Just go quickly. It must be a full moon right now.

-….

That’s how the Outlaws crossed over to the mortal realm.

And that day, riding on the moonlight.

That day, when they were planning to find the remaining half and capture the Castle of Sargis.

-Who… are… you….

-…Me?

A terribly unlucky-looking human ghost was discovered.

-Uh… Call me a handsome phantom thief.

Then he winked and ran away quickly.

They were dumbfounded for a moment. They were able to grasp the situation. The clearly visible vision was enveloped in a hazy fog.

-Waa…, Your… Majesty… He… stole… the… compass….

-…Catch… him… No… matter… what…!

-Keu… Keuaaaaaaaa…!

That day was the day they had the Compass of Souls, the culprit who created the current situation, stolen.

That’s how today came to be.

* * *

[Phase 3 has been activated.]

[The leader of the Outlaws, ‘Pain,’ opens his eyes.]

[…Just… one… step… ahead….]

Redly flashing eyes.

It wasn’t eyes. Just pain.

Beyond the chilling eyes, as if stained with the blood of countless people, the pain of countless living beings could be seen.

[…It… was… just… one… step…!!]

Tears of blood flowed from his eyes, bearing all that pain.

It was so desperate that it sent shivers down your spine.

The users rubbed their arms at the sight of the guy’s pathetic appearance that was revealed as the smoke cleared.

“Goosebumps….”

“Is this Phase 3…? The force is crazy….”

A distant emotion that humans who have lived for only a few decades at most cannot imagine.

Therefore, at the moment when even Do-hyun paused at the chilling desperation that just gave him goosebumps.

Saa.

The guy who approached in an instant reached out his arm.

He missed the movement, but thanks to instinctively pulling his body back, his neck wasn’t grabbed.

Tuk.

However, there was no way to avoid having his arm grabbed.

The price was terrible.

[Your arm is broken by the power of pain.]

Kwaddeuk!

The grabbed left arm was literally twisted and broken.

‘Crazy…!’

It was absurd.

No matter how realistic it is, a game is a game. Even if you suffer damage that ruptures your organs or get stabbed in the heart, only critical damage is applied, and it is not damaged.

There is no case where your arm is broken just because you take damage.

‘Special abnormal status…!?’

Except for a few boss patterns.

The guy was using abilities that were so OP [Overpowered] that it was hard to use them easily, like eating a meal.

It was a perplexing situation, but Do-hyun wasn’t just going to take it.

Seogeok-!

In the meantime, he swung the Cheonbyeon [likely a weapon name] wrapped in darkness and slashed at a vital point.

But the guy didn’t budge.

[The target has received the pain once.]

[The leader of the Outlaws, ‘Pain’s’ power is not complete.]

[You are immune to attacks received once with the power of pain for 20 seconds.]

‘What, this kind of scam…!’

An invincible pattern that even blocks normal attacks, let alone skills?

Even holding a pattern that makes you disabled just by touching it?

It was truly a crazy combination and difficulty.

[Using Blue Peacock.]

Still, not giving up, Do-hyun poured out attacks close to desperation.

The few skills that that guy wasn’t affected by.

[Using Charge Slash.]

[Using Rising Dragon Kick.]

He tried to mobilize all those skills, but this was not enough.

[The leader of the Outlaws, ‘Pain’s’ health is below 10%.]

Blue Peacock, Charge Slash, and Rising Dragon Kick.

Even after being hit directly in the vitals with all these combos, he couldn’t kill the guy.

‘Skills not used… more skills….’

There aren’t any.

There were no more means left.

All the skills were on cooldown, and all the skills had been used on the guy at least once.

[The pain immunity effect has 6 seconds remaining.]

On the other hand, the guy’s invincibility time still had 6 seconds left.

Tuk.

‘Pain,’ who easily grabbed his neck, gritted his teeth as if he couldn’t bear it.

[Because… of… that… guy… comrades… who… didn’t… have… to… die… died….]

The 50 soldiers were now only sixteen left.

He tried to escape somehow by hiding behind the lava waterfall where that man was staying, but he couldn’t help but watch the deaths of his comrades who were caught in their encirclement.

Each time, ‘Pain’ gritted his teeth and tore at his arms, and could only watch his comrades die.

[Those… who… interfere… will… be… punished….]

There must be no more interferers.

He would kill this guy, tear that damn ghost to death, and then achieve his great cause.

-Lo, Lord!!

-No, no!

-Liza!!

Amidst the Guardians’ screams, ‘Pain’ put strength into the hand that grabbed his neck.