The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 238

238.

From the increase in all stats due to the title, to the messages about the Adventure Tome and Swordsmanship Proficiency increasing.

‘It’s been a while since my Swordsmanship Proficiency has increased.’

After my Swordsmanship Proficiency reached level 28, it was incredibly difficult to raise, but it went up by two levels at once.

Moreover, it wasn’t just Swordsmanship Proficiency that increased.

Looking at the various proficiencies that had risen, Do-hyun smiled slightly.

The proficiencies of other weapons had also increased to various levels, such as level 22 and level 24.

Among them, the Assassin’s Dagger, which he had favored since the beginning, was at level 26, and the Scythe, which he had used most recently, was at level 16.

‘I’ve been focusing on swords a lot lately. I need to raise the others to the same level as swordsmanship.’

That way, no matter what weapon he uses, he can display the same strong power, showing the true aspect of a Weapon Master.

‘Why did the Unbelievable Achievement pop up? It doesn’t seem like I achieved a ranking or the quest content changed.’

It was strange.

Unlike what he had experienced so far, he had simply done as instructed.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter. It was difficult enough, and it’s a good thing for me.’

Do-hyun, dismissing the messages that were distracting him, finally lowered his sword.

‘That was really damn hard.’

It was no exaggeration to say that he had barely survived.

The warning message that his health was below 10% was proof of that.

Do-hyun’s White Lion’s Song was not enough to withstand the Guardian’s swordsmanship, a knight who had reached the supreme realm.

That’s why he instinctively mixed in the first stance of the Inverse Heaven Technique, Beginning (始) [Shi – literally “beginning” or “start” in Chinese, referring to the initial stance]…….

‘That was the right answer.’

He had skipped the process that would have originally taken at least a month and obtained the next stance.

It was close to a lucky chance, but this was not just a mere coincidence.

[An overwhelming difference in class.]

[Without backing down from the arduous adversity, you move forward, and the path to the next stance opens.]

[You have seen the realm of the next stance.]

[You have acquired the second stance, Rupture (破) [Po – literally “rupture” or “break” in Chinese, signifying a breaking through]].

The message that appeared when Do-hyun mixed footwork into the White Lion’s Song.

‘Signature swordsmanship has its own training method for each school.’

From swordsmanship that accumulates proficiency by simply and mindlessly swinging the sword, to swordsmanship that increases proficiency as you master the techniques.

‘Since there are so many methods, I was curious about the training method of the Inverse Heaven Technique, but I didn’t expect it to be this kind of method.’

The Inverse Heaven Technique (逆天期) [Yeokcheon Gi – a technique defying the heavens] is a swordsmanship to move forward solely, no matter what adversity or disaster strikes.

As befitting its creation story, it was a skill that increased proficiency when overcoming adversity.

In other words, it meant that this fight had such an absurd difference in power that it was considered an adversity.

[That was excellent swordsmanship. I can see what kind of will you hold when you wield the sword. I think I can trust you.]

Do-hyun raised his head at the Guardian’s pleased voice.

The Guardian, who made eye contact, had a gentle atmosphere, unlike before.

However, Do-hyun, who was looking at the Guardian, had a somewhat sullen expression.

‘If I hadn’t stopped the sword at the last moment, I would have been the one lying there.’

The moment he broke through the sword strike and took a step forward.

The moment he awakened the second stance with death before his eyes and unleashed its power.

As he barely broke through the fierce blizzard, he felt an unbearable force pass by his neck.

A chilling sensation. That was definitely death.

He instinctively felt defeat, but the Guardian stopped without launching a follow-up attack.

‘I guess this was just a test.’

Thanks to that, he didn’t have to waste a day in the world quest, which was like blood [extremely valuable], due to the death penalty, so it was a great relief.

But he couldn’t help but feel bad.

However, Do-hyun was unaware.

That the Guardian was struggling to suppress his astonishment.

‘For a moment, I unknowingly tried to cut him down with all my sincerity.’

No, in fact, he had been half-serious from the moment that guy unleashed his unique swordsmanship.

Although he was old and weakened, it was an excessive display for a knight who had reached the supreme realm to show to an apostle who was still growing.

He had sensed that something was hidden in that guy, so he had done it by measuring it to the maximum.

But that guy had surpassed it.

‘Did he feel it was dangerous…… this me……?’

For a very brief moment, he was pushed back by the momentum.

It felt like he would be swallowed by fangs that would dig up anything. He even felt a chill at the moment from the swordsmanship he was seeing for the first time.

He was even about to make a mistake out of embarrassment.

It was a feeling he had felt for the first time in a long time since reaching the supreme realm.

‘I felt that kind of feeling from just a rookie like that…….’

The Guardian smiled as he looked at the space that had been devastated by the aftermath.

Half of that was that man’s doing.

‘Interesting.’

However, unlike that impression, the smile drawn on the Guardian’s face was fading.

It was because he was disappointed.

‘If only I had visited this place a little later…….’

That a talent with so much potential had come at such an early time.

If he had come just three years…… no, just one year later.

‘Perhaps I could have suppressed it.’

He was inwardly disappointed, but the Guardian soon shook off his regrets.

It was greedy to even wish for that.

He was now the Guardian of this place. It was right to put aside the regrets of his past life.

‘It won’t matter as long as no one touches the seal.’

The Guardian, who had erased his 잡념 [japnyeom – idle thoughts or distractions], approached Do-hyun a little closer.

It was to give the promised reward.

[I am the Guardian. I have lost all the treasures of my past life. This is all I can give you.]

As he reached out his hand, a stream of light settled at the Guardian’s fingertips.

The light quickly spread out, passing through the Guardian’s heart and brain, and soared upwards.

At that, Do-hyun also removed his sullen expression and became curious.

He was looking forward to what kind of treasure he would give.

Whoosh-

The light gradually grew larger, and at some point, it became as small as a dot.

Do-hyun was startled and widened his eyes.

The reduced point of light quickly shot out and settled on his hand, creating a small bottle.

It was then that the message appeared.

[You have acquired the Guardian’s Treasure as a reward.]

[You have acquired the ‘Determination Crystal,’ a potion that embodies the Guardian’s belief, the heart that never gives up.]

[This is the only reward given to the first person to be recognized by the Guardian.]

[Upon acquisition, the Guardian’s Treasure will be permanently bound to Kaiser.]

‘……What?’

A unique legend?

Do-hyun was dumbfounded for a moment.

Do-hyun hurriedly checked the information.

[Determination Crystal]

-Grade: Legend (Unique)

-Description: A potion containing the belief of a great king who had a heart that never gives up.

-Effect: When consumed, it disappears, and the king’s belief is absorbed into the body, allowing you to use some of the power of determination.

‘It’s a real unique legend?’

It was only today that he obtained the White Lion’s Mythical Sword.

With this, he had obtained two unique legends today alone. Do-hyun, who swallowed hard, was filled with excitement.

His eyes sparkled like a child who had received an unexpected gift.

‘Your nostrils are flaring a lot, Master. Is it good?’

‘Liza?’

‘Of course, it’s good. It’s a unique legend!’

‘Liza.’

That’s because he had already tasted the unique legend with the White Lion’s Mythical Sword.

In that situation, he couldn’t help but be excited when the second unique legend appeared.

‘But isn’t that a consumable? I think Master said that equipment is better than consumables.’

‘Liza?’

‘Well, it’s true that it’s more powerful in one shot, but it’s usually one-time use…….’

Do-hyun, who trailed off, checked the information again and smiled.

‘When consumed, you can use some of the power of determination……. That’s practically giving me a trait?’

If it was this kind of consumable, it was a different story.

It was an item that permanently granted abilities, not something that disappeared after one use.

Do-hyun opened the lid without hesitation and drank it in one gulp.

[You have consumed the Determination Crystal and gained some of the power of determination.]

[When you show a determination that never gives up, power is unleashed, temporarily surpassing the limits of the body.]

‘Look at this? It’s really like a trait.’

Although it was conditional, it was close to a passive, so it couldn’t be denied that it was an effect close to a trait.

Of course, it couldn’t be compared to a real trait.

It was also classified as a passive skill for convenience, but a trait was not that simple.

‘Because traits can be transcended. There’s a world of difference between a transcended trait and a non-transcended trait.’

Just looking at the Fire Sword that Verze used, it was originally close to a Fire Sword that simply imbued fire attributes.

Similar to how Do-hyun grafted Darkness Coating onto his sword energy.

When that Fire Sword underwent transcendence, it unleashed terrifying power.

‘Well, not all transcendences become overpowered. Even Foot Eater, it is said that what you get from transcendence is that the user’s feet turn into the feet of the animal they ate.’

What’s funny is that most skills are sealed after that transformation.

Is it because you are judged to be half-monster and cannot use skills except for a few?

It was a truly trash-like trait from beginning to end.

‘Well, forget about that.’

Do-hyun, who had escaped from his thoughts, focused on the Determination Crystal again.

At first glance, the effect of determination had some ambiguous aspects.

Because it was conditional, and he didn’t know exactly how much it would surpass the limits of the body.

But Do-hyun was not disappointed. Rather, he smiled.

‘I’ll have to use it to know the details, but even if it’s ambiguous, I’ll be grateful.’

He had gained a passive skill without filling the limited skill slots or equipment slots, so there was no reason to be disappointed.

Besides, the passive effect had no cooldown.

This difference will continue to grow.

For users who have become strong to the limit, these small differences tend to determine victory or defeat.

‘This alone is worth more than a unique legend.’

He was satisfied with the rewarding reward.

[By acquiring the treasure, a special event occurs as a linked event.]

[Special Event, The Truth of the Forgotten Tomb, has occurred.]

At the same time as the message appeared, the Guardian slowly opened his mouth.

[My belief has been fully conveyed. With this, I have relieved one of the duties I bear as a Guardian.]

“Ah.”

[You are the one who has inherited my belief. You are qualified to know why this place was created and what is buried here.]

The Guardian’s eyes, who had closed his mouth, became endlessly heavy.

The eyes of someone who had gone through countless storms. Also, the eyes of someone who had gone through countless pains.

At that moment, when he felt that some of the life he had lived was being conveyed, his spine tingled.

[Do you know why this place is called the Forgotten Tomb?]

The Guardian opened his mouth.

Do-hyun answered without thinking for long.

“……Well, isn’t it because it’s the place where the forgotten king is buried?”

And the content of the world quest is to save the buried king.

But the Guardian shook his head at that answer.

[No, this is not a tomb for the king.]

“Then…….”

[In my prime…… not a half-baked version of myself that fell out in the form of belief, but when my main body, who had reached the supreme realm, was shining most brilliantly. There is one tragedy that even my main body could not overcome.]

Do-hyun paused at the content he had heard somewhere.

He was about to think about when he had heard it. Do-hyun’s eyes widened at the conversation with the Lion King’s spirit that suddenly came to mind.

[It was so powerful that even after fighting with a colleague and friend who had reached the supreme realm, we could not win, so we had to choose to self-destruct together.]

“……Could it be?”

[Oh, you seem to already know. Well, you, who have been recognized by me in another era, may know.]

The worst and most ferocious demon born from the abyss.

A terrible creature that craves not the flesh but the existence itself.

At the same time, the one who self-destructed with him and fell into the abyss.

[The one who devours existence. This is the tomb where that guy is sealed.]

A tomb where the abyss that almost brought destruction to the great empire in the distant past lies dormant.

That was the identity of the Forgotten Tomb.