The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 221

221. The Trial of the Great Lion King

Even the name of this trial, with its grand setting, was nothing short of extravagant.

The Lion King, Raode Belnuros, was the most valiant king since the empire’s founding and the strongest knight of his era.

‘Since he created the trial himself,’ Do-hyun thought.

As both king and knight, he always stood at the forefront, leading more than anyone else, and amassed countless achievements.

A truly valiant king whose accomplishments were too numerous to count.

However, public opinion was somewhat divided.

“They say the Lion King considered himself a knight first, not a king.”

“…”

“That’s right. There was no knight as brave as him. He shone brighter as a knight than as a king.”

As Avir said, his achievements as a knight overshadowed his accomplishments as a king.

“Therefore, he was also called a tyrant, but he was the one who had the greatest influence on the creation of the current empire and the Order of Knights.”

It was no wonder he was praised as a role model for countless knights.

Among them, the Order of Knights could be seen as directly inheriting the Lion King’s spirit.

Heroes become subjects of stories even in death.

Although it had been over 200 years since the Lion King’s death, his name still held great influence in the empire.

And the Lion King’s Trial held the largest share of that influence.

-Knight, prove your worth.

-I, the Lion King Raode Belnuros, shall test your worth.

-The one who passes my trial will be able to obtain treasures befitting their worth.

The Lion King, worried about the qualities of knights in the empire, created a legacy with everything he had before his death.

The Tower of the Lion King was built with the help of the best mages of the time.

He implanted his ‘spirit’ to pass on everything he had enjoyed during his life to those who climbed the tower and proved their worth.

“There’s a rumor that the Lion King attained the highest level of enlightenment at the boundary between life and death at the moment of his death. The treasures left behind by such a person are still actively used by those who have proven their worth.”

“Yes, I know.”

Do-hyun nodded at Avir’s words.

There was no way he wouldn’t know.

It was now common knowledge that famous players like the Empress or Myeolsal had climbed the Tower of the Lion King, passed the trial, and were using its treasures.

‘Especially the weapon Myeolsal obtained has become his trademark now,’ he mused.

But the hottest figure was not just any user like Myeolsal or the Empress.

‘The Sword of the Seven Rivers.’

A man who dared to arrogantly bear the title of Sword Emperor under the Emperor of the Empire, where only one emperor should exist under the sun.

The strongest swordsman representing the empire’s Seven Great Warriors and admired by all swordsmen.

Sword Emperor, Garfield Drew.

He climbed the Tower of the Lion King and recorded an overwhelming score that no one could dare to surpass.

You might wonder why it’s such a big deal that an NPC [Non-Player Character] climbed a tower, but this was a topic that gamers couldn’t help but be interested in.

‘The Lion King’s Trial isn’t just about passing.’

Passing itself was difficult, but the Lion King’s Trial gave different rewards depending on the knight’s qualities.

The Tower of the Lion King was a tower imbued with the ‘spirit of the Lion King’ to test the qualities of a knight.

Therefore, it tested pure strength, outstanding spirit, and future potential.

Looking at the process and achievements, the spirit of the Lion King dwelling in the tower was satisfied.

Depending on the degree of satisfaction, the five great knightly virtues and the monuments embedded in each tower reacted, emitting unique lights….

‘You can truly say you’ve passed when you emit a red light.’

Green, yellow, silver, gold, and red.

Among them, the only man who emitted the red light, which could be said to be the final boss, was Sword Emperor, Garfield.

To be exact, he was the only one.

Until Myeolsal and the Empress proudly completed the tower’s trial and emitted a red light.

Since then, some high rankers have seen the red light, but that was it.

‘The hidden event that only occurs for those who receive perfect scores in all tests… The Sword Emperor is the first and last to have passed even that,’ Do-hyun recalled.

They couldn’t achieve anything more than that.

In the end, information about the rewards that the Sword Emperor obtained remained a mystery even after God of Seoul had been released for over a year and eight months.

And that point touched the hearts of gamers.

-The reward the Sword Emperor got is said to be beyond legendary.

-No, no. The prevailing theory is that the Sword Emperor’s swordsmanship is actually the Lion King’s secret swordsmanship.

-I think it simply gives all stats 200 in a simple and ignorant way? That’s why he’s so damn strong.

-Isn’t it? I heard that if you get it, the earth will be split in half?

-This is Avartel, you idiot.

Unknown rewards.

But surely something good, the best treasure left by the Lion King, who may have reached the highest level of enlightenment!

This, which felt like a hidden piece even though it wasn’t, stimulated the imagination of the users.

So many people challenged it, but of course, no one broke the Sword Emperor’s achievements.

‘I’m interested, but… hoping for that is crossing the line,’ Do-hyun thought.

The consensus was that it wasn’t balanced to be cleared now in the first place.

In a situation where the dominant opinion was that it was only possible because it was the Sword Emperor, Do-hyun, who couldn’t stand rewards, didn’t even think about being greedy.

Do-hyun’s goal was to pass all the tests and emit a red light.

‘Those who pass all the Lion King’s trials are qualified to see the Emperor.’

This served a similar role to a letter of recommendation.

No, rather, it was a qualification that Do-hyun needed more now, in that it could arouse the Emperor’s curiosity even more.

“To see that now… he really doesn’t back down.”

“I know, right. Most people say you’re stupid if you see it now… how can every move he makes be so reckless?”

“Like entertainer, like fan… I think I know why the Kashin Church is so reckless.”

Although he said it as if he wasn’t greedy, even this seemed like a crazy attempt to the trainees watching.

No user had passed all the tests in half a year.

Even if you count for a year and eight months, it was only a handful of people, so it was all said and done.

“The pioneers didn’t know, and they had no choice but to build power… but why bother when everything is already known?”

“He’s even challenging it without reaching max level.”

“Well… the test proceeds according to the level, whether it’s level 100 or level 71. But it’s a bit weird to come after transcending characteristics.”

“It’s exciting. How will Kaiser do? Will he emit a red light?”

“Eh, I don’t think it’ll be easy. There are many masters of the top 10 guilds who haven’t broken it. He’s only beaten Verze at best, so it’ll be tough, right?”

“Well… I guess so.”

Above all, there was another reason why they were so focused on Kaiser’s actions.

“The opportunity to take the Trial of the Great Lion King is only once. It can be a land of opportunity, but it can also be a cold tomb. Will you still see it?”

The opportunity to take the Trial of the Great Lion King is only given once.

Once, unless you delete the character.

Even with a choice that had to be made carefully, Do-hyun answered without hesitation.

“Yes.”

There’s no point in saving it now anyway.

If he backed down because he thought one chance was a waste, the only way to get a recommendation was through the official route.

Rather than wasting six months during the main quest, it was much better to use that precious opportunity now.

There was also a way to come after reaching max level… but he had no idea how long that would take.

“Hmm… I don’t see any fear at all.”

Then Avir clicked his tongue with a displeased face.

The fearless appearance could be seen as valiant, but Avir saw it differently.

That’s not courage.

‘It’s just an opportunity for the immortal apostles. The Lion King wouldn’t have expected this kind of spirit… I wonder how much faith those who have a light weight of death will show the Lion King,’ Avir thought.

Just an expression that comes out because there’s no reason to be afraid.

The apostles who came to take the Lion King’s Trial all had such faces. And they all met with disastrous results.

That’s why Avir was sure.

‘That guy won’t be any different.’

He was interested because he seemed famous among the apostles.

Avir, who clicked his tongue, saying he had expected too much, guided Do-hyun.

“This is the place.”

The place he guided was not a tower, but in front of a monument.

The monument, which was kept in each knightly virtue, was the entrance to the Tower of the Lion King.

At the same time, a special monument that would emit light depending on the score.

The monument had a phrase written on it.

-The one who takes my trial, Raode Belnuros, will prove your worth, which has reached its limit at the boundary between life and death.

A phrase with only one sentence.

‘Ugh, why such a creepy phrase,’ Do-hyun thought.

‘Lizariliza,’ Eliza shivered.

‘I feel a mysterious energy from the monument. It seems to contain many formulas,’ Charlie observed with interest.

Jihad and Eliza were terrified by the phrase that gave them a lot of fear, and Charlie looked at it with interesting eyes.

As he listened to their words and approached, a message popped up.

[Would you like to enter the Tower of the Lion King?]

[Tower of the Lion King]

-Grade: ??

-Type: Trial

-Description: A legacy created by the Lion King Raode Belnuros before his death, containing everything.

It is said that many legacies left by the Lion King remain.

The one who overcomes death in the limit and proves the qualities of a knight. Therefore, the one who passes the trial. You will have the Lion King’s legacy.

-Entry Limit: 1 person

[Caution! You cannot retry upon entry.]

“Enter.”

Do-hyun answered without hesitation.

Flash-

[Entering the Tower of the Lion King.]

[The spirit of the Lion King welcomes the knight who takes the Trial of the Great Lion King.]

[The spirit of the Lion King wishes the knight good luck.]

When he opened his eyes, he saw a huge dome.

An area that felt as big as a school playground, to exaggerate a little.

-Huh? What, there’s nothing here?

-Liza?

There was nothing in that space.

Only a wide space, walls surrounding the space, and a high ceiling could be seen.

As he expressed his doubts for a moment.

Ding-

A cheerful notification rang as if waiting and a message popped up.

[The spirit of the Lion King measures you with the characteristic ‘Eye of the Lion King’.]

[Measurement completed.]

[The first test, the Limit Test, begins.]

[The Limit Test consists of 10 stages and is a test to measure the knight’s limits.]

[Show your qualities at the boundary between life and death in the limit.]

Koo-goo- Koo-goo-

Thud- Thud-thud-

Then, skeleton soldiers appeared, breaking through the ground.

The skeleton soldiers, made from swordsmen, holding longswords and wearing light armor, were emitting an ominous energy.

“Oh, so it’s like this.”

Do-hyun smiled as he looked at the monsters that quickly filled the empty space.

The first test, the Limit Test.

A brutal test known for its war of attrition, which doesn’t heal even after clearing stages and sends out increasingly stronger monsters.

The infamous first test, like a marathon, had begun.

-Huh? Undead? Should I summon too, master?

“No, I can’t use mana already in the first stage.”

-Then….

Do-hyun chuckled and answered at Jihad’s hesitant question, looking up.

“I’ll warm up a bit.”

For now, it was a judgment that it would be good to step out alone to test the level of those guys.

It looked easy on the outside, but this was the Limit Test.

The Lion King’s Trial, which no one had cleared for half a year.

In particular, there were many reviews from those who took the test that they were sick of skeleton soldiers, so it was necessary to properly check before entering the next stage.

The guys understood the meaning of the words right away and gladly stepped back.

-Well, I understand. I’ll be behind you, so tell me if you need anything.

-Yes! Please come back, my lord.

-Lizariliza!

“Okay.”

As he warmed up and took a few steps forward, Do-hyun suddenly disappeared.

Kueooo…… Huh?

Taat!

He quickly sprang forward in an instant.

Although it was clearly quite a distance, the orc undead was surprised and stepped back when he suddenly approached, but it was already too late.

[Thousand Transformations is transformed into ‘Grim Nightmare Scythe’.]

[Using Striking.]

Kwaduk- Seogeok-

It was after Do-hyun bent his knees and cut off his neck with Thousand Transformations, which had turned into a huge scythe.

But it was then.

Ding-

[You have defeated the Great Lion King’s Skeleton Soldier.]

[Defeated in one blow.]

[The spirit of the Lion King is astonished by the unbelievable achievement.]

[The tower senses the spirit of the Lion King. Reflected in the score.]

“……?”

……Why doesn’t it die in one hit?

Do-hyun, who was preparing for a follow-up attack, was stunned by the unexpected situation for a moment.

Attacking the skeleton soldiers next to him, thinking something was wrong,

Seogeok- Kwaduk-

Badeudeuk!

[You have defeated the Great Lion King’s Skeleton Soldier.]

[You have defeated the Great Lion King’s Skeleton Soldier.]

[You have defeated the Great Lion King’s Skeleton Soldier.]

[You have defeated the Great Lion King’s Skeleton Soldier.]

“…….”

He could see that they all died in one or two hits.

[Level up.]

Even level up.

‘……Already leveled up?’

Do-hyun’s level was 73.

Now level 74 since he leveled up.

He had raised a lot of experience, but it didn’t make sense to level up after catching only five.

‘……Is their experience that big?’

That was the only answer.

Occasionally, people who didn’t fill level 100 said that the experience here wasn’t bad, but I don’t think it was this much.

Is it because there are no crazy guys who come in from the early 70s?

Whatever it was, that wasn’t important now.

‘They die in one or two hits, the experience is beyond the wall, and the monsters are infinitely refilled up to stage 10?’

In other words…….

‘Wow, what a honey hunting ground?’

Trial? Limit? Brutal marathon?

To Do-hyun, it was just an experience event.