The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 21

Part 2, Episode 21.

Perhaps Do-hyun’s eyes betrayed his intentions.

[+15 Thousand Transformations shifts into ‘White Lion’s Snowflake Sword’.]

Twitch.

The users in front, who had been cautiously testing the waters, flinched slightly at Do-hyun’s grip on Thousand Transformations as if he had been waiting for this moment.

They probably didn’t expect him to confidently step forward, facing such a large number.

But that was just for a moment.

“Huh.”

“Wow, seriously…….”

“What’s with that reaction? Is he trying to pick a fight with us right now?”

“Unbelievable.”

They scoffed in disbelief and rose from their seats.

“Hey, buddy. You’re gonna die if you keep that up.”

“This is the New Continent. There’s no one to protect you here.”

“Just because they keep praising you as the God of All Things, don’t think it’ll work here too. The New Continent and the Main Continent are on different levels.”

They approached with large strides, their earlier cautious demeanor completely gone.

Their faces were fierce, as if they were about to resort to violence at any moment.

The sight of half a dozen burly men with the unmistakable look of hardened criminals, pulling out double-edged axes and knuckles, was quite intimidating.

“Even those who cower and play it safe here kill ten people each when they go to the Main Continent.”

“Even the errand runners in District 4 massacre newbies like you without breaking a sweat, you…….”

But the moment the guys in front reached out to shove his shoulder.

Swish-!

“……Argh!!”

His wrist twisted, his center of gravity shifted forward, and his vision spun as a heavy impact struck the back of his knee.

At the same time, he felt a chilling sensation on his neck.

[Thousand Transformations shifts into ‘Kayana’s Dagger’.]

[Haste is used.]

[For 80 seconds, the power of wind is imbued, increasing movement speed by 20%.]

[Quick Footwork is used.]

[For 100 seconds, speed related to footwork increases by 15%.]

Stab- Thwack!

While still suspended in the air, he plunged the dagger into the man’s neck and slammed him into the ground.

But it didn’t end there.

Swish- Bang.

Do-hyun twisted his knee fluidly, gripped the handle with both hands, twisted it to the side as he pulled out the dagger, kicked the body up, and then swung Thousand Transformations, which had transformed back into a sword.

[Bairan Swordsmanship, 4th Form, One Sword is used.]

Slice-!

“……!”

“What the……!”

The slash, too fast to react to, cut through the neck of the man in the air and extended in a straight line, causing those who had been leisurely approaching to quickly lower their stances.

But not everyone reacted, and some unlucky ones were hit by the slash and crashed into the wall.

The group hesitated for a moment at the sudden turn of events, then shouted.

“W-What is this!?”

“You bastard! What are you all doing? Kill him!”

The relaxed demeanor was gone, replaced by men grinding their teeth and rushing forward.

Stab- Slash!

[Player ‘Gravid’ has been killed.]

[Player ‘Gravid’ has been identified as ‘Evil’. The preemptive strike penalty does not apply, and Karma does not increase.]

Regardless, Do-hyun calmly finished off the fallen man, and as soon as he checked the message, he swung his sword upward.

Swish-!

The double-edged axe, which had been approaching like a magnet, was easily deflected to the side, and the heavy red energy surrounding the axe dissipated like a mirage.

[A perfect parry is successful.]

[‘Merciless Strike’ is deflected.]

“……What?”

Ignoring the man whose eyes widened in disbelief that his surprise attack had been blocked, Do-hyun quickly scanned his surroundings.

Two terrified guys, one who had fallen while dodging the slash.

Those guys were out.

Do-hyun’s gaze quickly assessed the situation, passed the martial artist with knuckles and the man with a sword, and went behind them.

Screech-

The moment he spotted the archer drawing his bow.

‘There.’

The guy drew his bow.

[Hero Skill, ‘Gravity Arrow’ is used.]

Whoosh-!

Do-hyun reached out, grabbed the berserker who was stunned that his attack had been blocked, and pulled him closer.

“……Cough!”

The arrow that flew in an instant passed over the berserker’s back and pierced his heart.

The arrow squeezed his heart like a black hole.

“Where are you shooting, you bastard!”

“Ah, no. That guy suddenly…… He’s coming! Block him!”

“What?”

It was then that Do-hyun, without hesitation, threw away the man who had served as an excellent meat shield and jumped in.

Do-hyun, who had entered the enemy’s formation, began to rampage like a tiger released from its cage.

That wasn’t just an expression.

“Kill him! What are you doing, you bastards? He’s just one guy!”

“Damn it, how are we supposed to hit him?”

“Why aren’t you shooting!”

“Give me an angle to shoot, or shut up if you’re just going to complain about hitting you again!”

“Ugh, this fog is so annoying. Why is the range so wide?”

Like a mountain god ambushing humans in a foggy forest.

Do-hyun, who moved around in all directions, taking down one enemy at a time, was instilling fear in them.

Whoosh- Stab!

“Cough!”

If an angle barely appeared and they shot an arrow, he would knock down or drag out his comrades like a ghost, creating team kills.

The same was true in close combat.

If they attacked from both sides, he would deflect the attacks, causing their bodies to become entangled.

And if they attacked one at a time, Do-hyun would start targeting the archer.

“Argh!!”

A one-versus-many fight.

A fight where the many should have the advantage was instead becoming disadvantageous.

“I-Impossible.”

“Is this even possible?”

“Good heavens.”

The newbies who had entered the village and were suddenly witnessing an unprecedented act of insubordination were shocked.

This situation was completely incomprehensible to them.

But for Do-hyun, it was only natural.

The reason why having more people is advantageous is because it allows one to establish a unilateral exchange of damage through initiative.

But what if that initiative is on the side of the one?

‘The team members end up holding each other back.’

Just like now.

That’s why the most important thing in a one-versus-many fight is not to lose the initiative.

And Do-hyun was confident that he was better at that than anyone else.

He had been doing this kind of one-versus-many combat in Demlock as if it were a daily routine.

Moreover, it wasn’t just Do-hyun.

“No, how can a Guardian be this strong!”

-Do you fight with your mouth? It’s quite disgusting, so I wish you would shut your stinky mouth.

“……Why is this bastard picking a fight with me since earlier!”

Groan- Groan-

“Damn it! These undead are endless.”

“Ugh, do something!”

As the guys seemed to be pushed back, the criminals who were trying to help were blocked by Charlie and the Undead Legion.

The criminals of the New Continent, who should have been an insurmountable wall for the newbies, were unable to break through even the Guardians, let alone Do-hyun.

And so, the one-sided fight continued.

[Player ‘BalconHate’ has been killed.]

[Player ‘Dranbi’ has been killed.]

…….

[Player ‘JustForKicks’ has been killed.]

[Player ‘JustForKicks’ has been identified as ‘Evil’. The preemptive strike penalty does not apply, and Karma does not increase.]

About five minutes passed.

Only Do-hyun was still standing.

“Wowwwww!!”

“This is crazy!”

“No, how can someone who just started be this good?”

“Is this the God of All Things?”

A thunderous roar erupted from the newbies who had boarded the ship with Do-hyun.

But that wasn’t just their reaction.

“……Oh ho?”

“This is a sight I’ve never seen before.”

“Hmm…….”

Not only the elves who had been ignoring it as someone else’s problem, but even the users who had been watching with interest.

Everyone was looking at Kaiser with surprised eyes.

This was the first time a user who had just entered Ellanis had survived this ugly initiation ceremony.

Moreover, he had not only survived but had also wiped out five people alone.

“……So the rumors weren’t entirely unfounded.”

“Interesting. Even if those guys are just low-level scrubs, such a gap……”

“Hey, humans. Who is that man? He reminds me of those guys from the early days. Judging by the reactions, he seems to be quite a famous apostle?”

The way people looked at Do-hyun couldn’t help but change.

Some elves were even openly showing interest.

But not everyone’s gaze was filled with admiration and interest.

For example…….

Clang-

The men in the old weapon shop, with serious expressions, slowly adjusted their weapons.

Or the criminals in the alleyway, exuding a dangerous aura, slowly approaching this way.

Do-hyun smirked, raising one corner of his mouth as he looked at the guys exuding a cold atmosphere.

“Come on.”

As he gestured for them to come in, the guy stopped abruptly.

Do-hyun’s figure suddenly disappeared as he stared at the guy who was glaring as if engaging in a battle of nerves.

[Backstab is used.]

[A mark is created.]

Thud!!

When Do-hyun reappeared.

The hooded man had already been slammed into the wall, accompanied by a heavy impact sound.

“You should have come in when I told you to. What were you hesitating for?”

The impact was solid.

He had unleashed the energy of the 1st Form of Defying the Heavens, so he must have suffered at least a critical injury.

But that thought soon changed.

—!

Something that emerged through the dust cloud flashed and flew towards him.

In that moment, he instinctively tilted his head back, and an invisible object changed its trajectory with a whooshing sound.

Swoosh-!

Something bound Do-hyun’s body.

It was a chain.

A technique performed with high stats and skill, not a trait or skill.

[Bound by Shackles of Restraint.]

[You cannot break free from the chains with strength.]

[Stats are temporarily stolen by the opponent in proportion to the time bound by the chains.]

[You cannot use movement skills while bound by the chains.]

“Huh.”

But the ability that was activated was by no means ordinary.

Moreover, the guy was perfectly fine.

Considering how solid the impact had been, he must have had some kind of item that absorbed damage.

He pretended to be hit on purpose to lower his guard, and then used the opportunity when his vision was obscured to securely bind him with the chains.

“So. You’re a bit different, huh?”

But Do-hyun smiled.

You can’t use movement skills? Stats are stolen in proportion to the time bound? So what? He had no intention of moving in the first place.

Clench-

“This, you were the one who bound me first, right?”

“……?”

Do-hyun smirked, and the guy’s expression became strange.

Once Shackles of Restraint are applied, it’s difficult to break free by ordinary means.

“Fool. Did you really think that bluff would work?”

“You’re all tied up, yet you’re still running your mouth.”

“To think you’re so cocky after only catching a few scrubs…… I’ll let you feel the difference between a combatant and a scrub.”

Moreover, there were three more companions besides himself.

With his movement skills bound, he couldn’t escape, so if he just kept the chains bound, he would be doomed to lose. He couldn’t understand why he was so relaxed.

[Guardian’s Blessing is activated.]

[Guardian’s Blessing is activated, creating marks above the target and the caster.]

[As long as the marks are maintained, they must only face each other.]

[If you break the promise and attack an enemy other than the designated target, a mark will also be created on the attacked enemy.]

[The marked person can attack the caster.]

But the moment he saw the shield and sword marks floating above himself and the guy’s head.

His expression became urgent.

“T-This……!”

He realized that he, not Kaiser, was the one who was bound.

But no matter how much he struggled, the chains didn’t budge.

[Defying the Heavens, 1st Form, Beginning is activated.]

He had made his feet heavy with the energy of Mount Tai [a sacred mountain in China, often associated with immense weight and stability], wrapped the chains around his arm, and was gripping them tightly.

Thud. Thud.

The closer he got, the greater the weight became.

The moment he came within striking distance, Do-hyun smirked.

“Hold the chains tight. If you don’t want to die.”

At those words, he paused, gripping the chains tightly without realizing it.

He felt that something was wrong with what he had said.

“Even if I hold on, I’ll die anywa…….”

But he couldn’t finish his sentence.

[Fierce Strike Slash is activated.]

[The energy of Fierce Strike is imbued in the sword.]

“Ah…….”

Before he could finish speaking, the sword flew in and beat his entire body like a club.