The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 158

158.

The Ice Stream’s effect was undeniable.

[You have inflicted ‘Slow’ on the target for a duration.]

Every troll I encountered was slowed, making attacks easier to evade.

Securing a position to avoid being surrounded became simpler.

Even if surrounded, it wasn’t a significant threat, but hunting was certainly easier.

[Prolonged exposure to the Ice Stream inflicts the ‘Frostbite’ status ailment.]

[Attacking frozen enemies deals bonus damage.]

[You have defeated the trolls of the Blue Forest.]

The slowed trolls couldn’t escape and stumbled around; once frozen, a few slashes finished them off.

-Wow… it’s a buffet. I can’t watch; I feel too bad for the trolls.

-Rizariza.

-As expected, our lord is steadily growing stronger.

Jihad felt so sorry for them that he covered his eyes, unable to watch the slaughter.

Eliza even mimicked Jihad, covering her eyes with her small hands in agreement.

Swish-

Of course, Dohyun remained unfazed.

After hunting ten more trolls, Dohyun sheathed Thousand Transformation.

“The effectiveness is confirmed.”

He decided he had gathered enough data.

Having used it firsthand, the versatility of ice magic was as incredible as he’d heard.

There was a reason those who faced Lepiath [a powerful ice mage] cursed him.

‘But he’s just a mage.’

Moreover, an ice mage lacking explosive power.

Even when Lepiath used it, it was tricky, but in Dohyun’s hands, armed with backstabs and close-combat skills, it became devastating.

Whether chasing or escaping, it proved exceptionally effective in all situations.

‘The key is how well it will work on bosses.’

Bosses typically have higher stats, placing them in a higher class than ordinary monsters.

That’s why status ailments and attack skills are less effective against them.

He needed to see if the Ice Stream would be useful even against bosses.

‘By the way, no one is attacking me today.’

Dohyun glanced around, puzzled.

Whenever he entered a new city, he was usually greeted by ambushes like a welcoming ceremony.

But this time, for some reason, there were none.

Was it the influence of the outlaw video spreading, or was the Kaiser’s reputation growing?

‘It’s faster than expected, but understandable.’

Perhaps only a guild-level group would dare to attack him now.

Dohyun’s achievements were high enough to deter most opportunistic attackers.

It was a welcome change, but he felt a twinge of disappointment.

‘I was hoping to get some items.’

He couldn’t acquire items in Sargis due to the correction effect [a game mechanic that prevents item drops in certain areas].

So, he had secretly hoped to find some here…

Not only were there no ambushes, but there were also few users around.

Even deep inside the area, he sensed they were avoiding him.

“Jihad.”

-Huh?

Now was the perfect time.

“Let’s do it soon.”

-What? Ah, that? Okay, Master.

Jihad nodded, understanding, and gathered mana.

As he extended his hand, black mana spread, and the ground writhed.

Not just in one place; the ground writhed in several spots, and rough hands emerged, soon revealing their forms.

[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’ summons undead.]

[Summoning 2 Forest Red Goblin Undead, 1 Forest Blue Goblin Undead, 3 Orc Undead, 3 Lycanthrope, and 2 Outlaw entities.]

[Using Legion Manipulation, they are all judged as one entity.]

[More than 50% of the legion’s undead are monsters from lower cities. Mana consumption is reduced.]

A total of eleven undead.

It was now a number that anyone would consider a legion.

Tap… tap…

And an undead wearing a robe appeared before them.

[Legion Commander ‘Pain’ reveals himself.]

It was Pain, the King of the Outlaws.

“Oh.”

-Ugh…

-Hmm…!

Dohyun was impressed by the eerie and imposing figure, while the guardians groaned.

Pain, meeting Dohyun’s eyes, bowed.

Though once the king of a race, he had chosen to follow Dohyun.

It was a display of his determination to set aside his past position and be loyal.

Pain, with a solemn face, addressed Dohyun, who wore a satisfied expression.

Tap… tap…

“…Tap tap?”

Not a woodpecker.

Dohyun frowned at the unimpressive sound, considering Pain’s imposing figure, and Pain spoke again.

Tap tap tap… tap…

“…”

Dohyun instinctively looked at Jihad, then paused.

He had habitually turned to him for translation, but realized it wouldn’t be any different this time.

But what was this?

-He’s greeting the lord. He says please take care of him.

Jihad translated casually, as if it were nothing.

Tap…!

Tap tap…

Tap… tap tap tap…

Then Pain nodded as if that was right, and the outlaws behind him knelt on one knee in agreement.

“…Why are they like this?”

The answer came from elsewhere.

[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’ is at a low level.]

[The legion commander’s class is too high compared to the guardian’s level, so it is being downgraded. The legion commander will grow along with Jihad Black’s growth.]

‘…Is it the downgrade’s influence?’

It wasn’t surprising that he was downgraded.

Undead are usually adjusted to their master’s level.

No matter how strong an undead you create, its master must have high achievements to exert its full effect.

And usually, undead cannot speak.

It seemed they had lost their language as their class was lowered…

Tap… tap…

Tap tap tap…

…This is too unimpressive.

Even the tapping sound, a racial trait, was frustratingly cut off.

And there weren’t just one, but three of them.

That… uh…

Thaaat… uh…

…No, there were twelve.

-No, why are they like this?

-Hmm… it’s a bit unpleasant to hear.

-Riza…

The legion follows the legion commander, and even such useless traits were transferred.

Dohyun sighed and rubbed his forehead.

‘Tsk, nothing can be done.’

It was fortunate that Jihad could understand them.

If he couldn’t even understand their frustrating words, he would have been tempted to sew their mouths shut.

‘How does that guy understand every language?’

Well, he is his legion commander, so perhaps he can understand him?

Dohyun was briefly impressed by his amazing talent and focused on the status window.

[Legion Commander List]

-1st Legion Commander: Pain

Legion Undead under command – 11

[Would you like to view the information of 1st Legion Commander ‘Pain’?]

‘Let’s take a look at some information.’

He wanted to check exactly how much Pain had been balance-adjusted.

The information that unfolded was quite detailed.

[Pain]

[Title: Leader of the Outlaws, One Who Lives Through Eternal Pain, One Who Tries to Achieve a Great Cause]

[Type: Ghost Soldier]

[Traits: Battle Mage, Born in the Underworld, Pain, Black Magician]

[Legion Traits: Clear Cause, Terrible Obsession, Revenge]

[Description: The underworld, or the lower world, called the afterlife.

A ghost soldier race born there but ostracized and rejected as strangers for not obtaining a district.

Having obtained the name Pain, he took on the pain of all races and made them, weak beings, into outlaws of the underworld.

At first, he was consumed with revenge, but now he is striving to achieve a great cause and prevent extinction.]

[‘Jihad Black’ is at a low level, so most abilities are sealed.]

[Usable Skills: 2]

-Intermediate Black Magic

-Outlaw-Style Battle Mage Arts

‘Not bad?’

As if the saying that it follows Jihad Black’s growth was true, he had two skills from the beginning.

The titles and traits were all unusual names.

Even the description was unusual.

‘A being born in the underworld and rejected… is that why he was so desperate?’

There are no villains without a backstory.

Even just reading the text, you could roughly imagine what kind of life he lived.

‘How strong would he be if he regained his true power?’

He wondered if he could recover to that extent as an undead legion commander, but the setting is the setting, so the potential in the later stages is something to look forward to.

Tap… tap tap…

-Lord, what will you order… no, wait a minute. Aren’t you my lord? Why do you keep calling the master lord?

Jihad, suddenly remembering his position while translating, glared with his eyes wide open.

As someone who respected strength, he couldn’t tolerate his subordinate ignoring him.

Tap…?

But Pain glanced at Jihad and frowned.

Then he bowed to Dohyun again.

Tap…

-Wow, did I just see that? He frowned just now? Master, he ignored me, right, right.

-Ri, Riza…

-Wow! Jihad is dead! You, huh? If it were the old days, you would have been Bomb No. 1 [a term for someone who is easily angered or explodes in anger] right away, you punk.

Jihad chuckled as if he was dumbfounded.

Certainly, considering his past as a 폭크 [a Korean slang term for a hot-tempered person], it was understandable. He had never seen that guy respect undead as living beings.

But that was only in the past.

Pain didn’t care about Jihad’s threat.

Tap… tap…

He just sighed and shook his head as if he was pathetic.

‘He’s got conviction.’

As expected of a king who risked his life for the survival of his race.

Dohyun understood Pain’s position too.

Whatever it is, if it’s Dohyun who will defeat that guy and oppose God, I don’t know, but if some goblin tells him to follow him because he’s the lord, wouldn’t his pride be hurt since he was from a king who swallowed a country?

-No, that guy, I’ve been watching him…!

-Calm down. The education of subordinates is important, but isn’t now not the time? How about taking the time to educate them later?

-Rizariza!

Of course, it was something that Jihad would jump at.

Charlie and Eliza hurriedly stopped Jihad, who was jumping around with high blood pressure.

Dohyun shook his head at the sight of the 콩트 [a short comedic skit] members increasing.

He didn’t know why those guys couldn’t have quiet days.

“My master is not me, but that guy. Well, that guy’s master is me, so it’s the same thing… but Jihad is your direct superior. Make sure to follow Jihad’s words well.”

Tap…

-Did you see that? He’s sighing reluctantly now?

Tap? Tap.

Me? I never did that.

Even if he didn’t translate, seeing him snort made it feel as vivid as if he had a speech bubble.

…Dohyun changed the subject, promising to give him a chance to sort out the hierarchy someday.

-Hoo… okay, Master. I’m enduring it because I’m nice, enduring it.

-Rizariza!

-Hmm! Excellent. All great lords have great patience. It seems like you have the qualifications!

-Re, really? Ahem. I’m kind of like that.

It was also thanks to Charlie’s words that the simple Jihad was completely fooled.

Seeing the guys who had finally become quiet, Dohyun gave a signal, and Jihad cleared his throat and made the most solemn voice possible.