The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 239

239.

The shocking statement only elicited a hollow laugh.

‘The scale is bigger than I thought?’

I was being cautious, thinking it was just the Forgotten King nearing his prime at best.

But to think that a monster that couldn’t be caught even if the Forgotten King from his prime was brought in is sealed here… what a mess.

[If the reproduction rate of the Catastrophe rises abnormally, the seal on that monster will weaken little by little. That’s why I stepped in myself to prevent you from doing anything foolish.]

“Ah…….”

A cold sweat ran down Do-hyun’s back.

‘I knew it was too good to be true… I was so excited about the experience points that I almost caused a great disaster.’

Like a rat lured into a trap by the cheese in front of it.

I almost unleashed a silent disaster with my own hands.

Do-hyun, who finally understood why the Guardian was so furious, cleared his throat.

“How strong is that monster?”

[Hmm… well. He must have weakened a lot since he took a lot of internal damage and can’t exert his full power.]

Do-hyun’s eyes twinkled at the hopeful story.

But you have to listen to the end in Korean [idiom meaning ‘don’t get ahead of yourself’].

The words that followed were enough to extinguish the hope that had risen like pouring cold water.

[If it were now, his main body in his prime might have been able to self-destruct and die together.]

“……Not catch it?”

[Catch? Him? What a joke. That monster can’t be caught. Only sealing is the only way to bind him. Even that requires at least three people at the level of my main body…….]

The Guardian glanced up and down at Do-hyun and clicked his tongue.

[……I’m afraid not. At your level, you’ll be dead in less than a minute if the monster’s seal is broken.]

“…….”

[What about the other Apostles? Are they stronger than you?]

“There are many who are stronger than me.”

Starting with the top 10 guilds and direct disciples of NPCs like Lepias.

And countless high rankers.

There were plenty of guys stronger than me right now.

The Guardian spoke in a tone that showed he didn’t trust him.

[It better be. I acknowledge your potential, but you’re still a rookie. If all the other Apostles are rookies like you, there will be no hope.]

“That’s a very hopeful thing to say.”

I answered playfully, but Do-hyun’s expression was dark.

‘Can those guys catch it? That monster.’

Honestly, I’m not sure.

I’m not comparable to the top 10 guilds yet, but I won’t be killed in a minute.

It was the same no matter who came.

I was confident that I could fight for at least 10 minutes.

If I decided to hold on, I could do more.

‘Besides, according to the information I heard from the Lion King’s spirit, there’s a high probability that I’ll have to fight the Forgotten King.’

Just dealing with the Entity Devourer is uncertain, but fighting the Forgotten King as well?

It would be a complete disaster. That’s when all the guilds would have to join forces.

Even if they did, there was no guarantee that they would catch him 100 percent.

[Well, you don’t have to worry too much.]

Was it because my tension was showing on my face?

When I raised my head at the lighter voice, I saw the Guardian with a relaxed expression.

I couldn’t see any great worries on his face.

[He’s thoroughly sealed. As long as I, as the Guardian, am holding out, his seal will not be broken.]

“……Wasn’t the seal weakening as the reproduction rate increased?”

According to that assumption, the seal would be broken when it reached 100 percent.

But the Guardian just smirked.

[Do you think I would have sealed it so carelessly? Have you forgotten my existence? I am the Guardian of this place. I am responsible for guarding the tomb from those who try to break the seal.]

“Ah?”

[Killing me, or finding the sealed place and forcibly opening the door while avoiding my eyes. These are the only two ways to break the seal.]

Even then, you have to achieve a 100% reproduction rate.

Considering the strength of the Guardian that Do-hyun experienced, it was close to impossible.

Do-hyun was about to let out a sigh of relief.

Ding-

“……Ding?”

Could it be a delusion that it feels ominous for some reason?

Do-hyun, who was bothered by the timing of the notification, slowly turned his gaze.

Then he blinked.

“……Didn’t you say the seal would never be broken?”

[Yes. As long as I’m holding out, it won’t happen.]

“……Really?”

Do-hyun, who looked ahead again, tilted his head and frowned.

It wasn’t an expression of displeasure.

It was just to see more clearly with a look close to the feeling of ‘Is this right?’

Because…….

[Someone has awakened the great disaster sleeping in the Forgotten Tomb.]

[The reproduction rate of the Catastrophe is soaring rapidly.]

[The current reproduction rate of the Catastrophe is 35%.]

[The current reproduction rate of the Catastrophe is 37%.]

[The current reproduction rate of the Catastrophe is 38%.]

…….

‘……Then what is this?’

The messages that were popping up like crazy were filling my eyes.

The reproduction rate of the Catastrophe, which was constantly rising, now felt like an emergency alarm.

The Guardian realized something was wrong a beat later.

[Ah, no, this is……!?]

Feeling the strangeness in Do-hyun’s reaction, he closed his eyes and sensed the door of the seal.

That’s when he realized what had happened.

[……Someone opened the door of the seal.]

Something that shouldn’t have happened was happening.

* * *

Ernest Guild.

An explorer guild that broke the long-standing prejudice that it had high intelligence but weak power, and proudly took a place in the top 10 guilds.

At its center was the master, Harrington.

“If Harrington is here, I can trust and follow him.”

“I have never seen an explorer and archer as good as Harrington.”

A man who is always ranked among the best archers.

A man who is always ranked just below Barion when it comes to the greatest explorers.

The only man who has reached the pinnacle in two fields.

A genius born in Europe, that was Harrington.

‘This is an opportunity.’

What brought him to this position was not only his outstanding talent, but also the unique ability he gained by luck.

The unique ability of the owner of the Mythic Divine Eye, the Evil Eye.

It was a fraudulent [deceptive] eye that could identify anything with negative energy.

Using this ability, he discovered countless hidden pieces, built relationships with NPCs, and became a great explorer.

‘The theme of this world quest is Catastrophe and Tomb. This place full of evil will be the stage to make me the main character.’

That’s why I was sure.

‘It’s not the time to hunt. Let’s find the hidden pieces.’

Today, I’m not going to prove my strength as usual, but I’m sure that the answer is to fulfill my purpose as an explorer.

That’s why Harrington led the most capable explorers among the guild members to find hidden pieces.

‘I was worried because I came late…… There are no guys looking for hidden pieces. Stupid guys.’

It was the same when Harrington was looking for hidden pieces. Even though they saw it with their own eyes, they didn’t interfere much and were only focused on the strategy.

The rapidly increasing reproduction rate of the Catastrophe. And the competitors who are rushing in like a tide.

They made them impatient and chased only what was in front of them.

‘Well, I guess it’s natural that those who don’t have the Evil Eye can’t find it even if they try.’

Only I am qualified to find it.

And I will find the hidden pieces with that qualification.

It didn’t take as long as I thought to bear the fruits of that judgment.

“Harrington…….”

“……This is probably.”

“Oh, I think you’re right.”

The guild members carefully opened their mouths as they looked at the scene in front of them.

[You have discovered a hidden place, ‘The Door of Sealing.’]

[You are the first to discover it, so you will receive the first benefit.]

[It will be recorded in the Book of Adventures.]

I found the hidden pieces I wanted, but no one dared to approach them rashly.

Harrington would have usually scolded them for being so cowardly, but this time he couldn’t.

Because his reaction was no different.

‘This is…… a door?’

Tension was evident on Harrington’s face as he wiped his dry lips.

The height of the door alone is over 50M [~164 feet].

‘I have no idea how wide it is.’

In fact, if I hadn’t seen the message that I had discovered the Door of Sealing, I would have just thought it was a floor with different patterns.

Maybe I wouldn’t have known even if I saw it if I hadn’t dug up the ground.

That’s how unbelievable the size was.

‘The Door of Sealing…… What is sealed inside?’

Should I open this?

Maybe it’s a Pandora’s box that shouldn’t be opened?

That thought was holding Harrington back.

The 고민 [Korean: worry/anguish] was short. Harrington, who had been frowning, took a heavy step.

‘……No. I’ll open it.’

I’ve come this far, but I’m going to back down now because I’m scared?

That was no different from giving up on ranking in the world quest.

I’m already late, and I’ve abandoned the strategy to find this.

And.

‘I’ve already dug up the ground, and it’ll hurt even more if other guys take it.’

If I heard that this place was a jackpot, I would be so hurt that I would be furious.

Sometimes, you need to be bold.

Squeak-

[You are about to open the hidden place, the Door of Sealing.]

[You may lose your life to the Guardian of the Tomb.]

[Caution! Be careful of the attack.]

“……!”

Harrington, who was surprised by the message that popped up the moment he opened the door, bent down as if he was lying down.

I thought it was a trap because the name was unusual.

But after a few seconds,

“Hmm?”

Why isn’t anything happening?

Harrington raised his head as if he was strange.

“Ugh…….”

“You scared me.”

“Is everyone okay……? What is it? Did they scare us?”

It was the same when I looked around.

It wasn’t that there were no traps at all, weapons such as arrows and swords were scattered around, and some of the guild members seemed to be injured.

‘It’s not enough to give a warning message?’

It wasn’t enough to give a warning about the guardian or something.

To be honest, even if I got hit by those traps without avoiding them, it wouldn’t be fatal.

It was a strange situation in many ways. The question was soon resolved.

[The Guardian is away due to current circumstances.]

[Are you sure you want to open the Door of Sealing?]

“……That’s what happened.”

The message that popped up above my head was telling me a little bit about the situation.

The fact that the guardian was away meant simply this.

‘Now is the only chance.’

I don’t know why, but if he’s called a guardian, he won’t be an easy opponent.

If I’m going to open the door anyway, isn’t it best to open it now that he’s away?

It was like killing two birds with one stone [idiom meaning ‘achieving two things at once’].

It’s stupid not to eat this [idiom meaning ‘it would be foolish to pass up this opportunity’].

Squeak-

The old and worn-out door, which had no oil, made a chilling sound like scratching a chalkboard, and

[You have opened the Door of Sealing.]

[You have awakened the great disaster sleeping in the Forgotten Tomb.]

[The reproduction rate of the Catastrophe is soaring rapidly.]

[The current reproduction rate of the Catastrophe is 35%.]

“……What?”

Harrington’s face went blank.

And before I could even figure out what this was all about, the incident happened.

——!

“Ugh, what, what!”

“My, my ears……!”

A chilling sound was heard from beyond the door, which was as black as pitch and nothing could be seen.

The guild members twisted their bodies at the tinnitus that they couldn’t control.

But Harrington stood up straight.

‘What the hell is that…….’

His face was pale.

Horror passed through his eyes, and soon despair came and took its place firmly.

Something terrible was faintly revealed above his pupils.

‘That’s…… a person?’

A silhouette was seen above the head of the giant being.

It was briefly revealed and disappeared, but it was definitely the silhouette of a man. And the moment Harrington confirmed that, he turned around without hesitation.

‘I, I can’t win against that. No one can!’

A quick decision.

“I’m running away. Everyone retreat……!”

But as fast as that decision, the terrible being’s reaction was also fast.

The moment the terrible being beyond the door moved, the place that had seemed as black as pitch turned into an ordinary space.

All of that darkness was the being’s body.

Saa-

As he slowly opened his eyes, the giant eyes that were revealed looked at Harrington’s back.

That was the end.

I thought my body stiffened for a moment, but when I came to my senses, there was nothing left in front of the door.

Crack, crack-

Wooddeukdeuk-