The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 242

242.

Why hadn’t I thought of that?

Arthur was the strongest Paladin user in existence.

Excluding Sir Leved of Brion, Arthur’s reputation placed him at the top, even among NPCs [Non-Player Characters, computer-controlled characters in the game].

‘And clerics and paladins can exert 1.5 times their usual power here.’

It was no coincidence that users in those classes were dominating the top ranks of this world quest.

Moreover, Arthur wasn’t just any Paladin.

He was the only user who wielded the light of the Goddess of Purification.

‘Only Arthur can do this.’

That’s why he’s the answer.

Only one person can enter the King’s Temple.

‘Unless Myeolsal, who is almost unmatched in one-on-one combat, comes, none of the top ten guilds have a chance of攻略ing [conquering] the King.’

If they just bought some time…

Even delaying the appearance of that giant monster would be enough.

Then, all the guilds could gather and try a raid, and there might be a chance.

-Already 1 hour has passed!

-The casualty rate isn’t rising anymore. It seems it doesn’t rise while a user is inside?

-Is Arthur doing this?

-King God Arthur. As expected of the master of The King. Arthur was the king.

-They were all wiped out in phase 1, but he’s lasted this long in phase 2.

-But what is phase 2? I heard that in phase 1, getting hit by a one-shot pattern meant instant death.

-Crazy, instant death… so that’s how Lipard got deleted. Lipard is famous for being fearless.

As they hoped, he had already bought them an hour.

For Harrington, it felt like taking his head out of a suffocating room to breathe.

Maybe, just maybe.

‘Arthur might be able to do it…’

Before that thought could finish, a message popped up.

A message that choked Harrington, who had been enjoying a moment of liberation.

[Arthur has died.]

[The user who entered the temple has died, increasing the reproduction rate of the calamity.]

[The current reproduction rate of the calamity is 71%.]

-Wow, he died in the end.

-Ah… even Arthur…

-Too bad. He lasted over an hour, so I was hoping.

-Where are the guys who were saying Arthur was the only one who could do it and bet everything on him? You lost everything, you bastards.

-There were guys gambling in the middle of this lol [laughing out loud]

-Toto losersㅉㅉ [Korean slang for losers]

“Damn it…!!”

In the end, Arthur’s challenge failed.

Harrington was going crazy.

-But didn’t he take off a lot of health? I think he took off half.

-Who among the remaining guys can catch the King better than Arthur? I don’t think there’s any hope even if the other top 10 guilds come.

-Isn’t Myeolsal coming? Now Myeolsal is the only answer.

-I heard Myeolsal is on a hidden quest in the New World and it will take a few days. I heard the executives were sent in advance, but there’s been no news for a few hours.

-There’s no hope here anymore. This world quest is over. GG [Good Game, a term of surrender]

As they said, there was no hope anymore.

‘Myeolsal? That bastard will never come.’

From the start, he was a guy who lived for his own ego.

No matter how great a hidden quest he was doing, he put this world quest as a low priority.

The fact that he pulled back his executives when the news of the monster spread was known to all the top 10 guilds.

But why isn’t this news spreading?

‘Because the other top 10 guilds are the same. Damn bastards.’

Harrington gritted his teeth, looking at the desk that had been smashed.

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand.

In a situation where even Arthur had failed, there was no point in stepping up and taking a death penalty and damaging their image. It would be better to create the impression that they couldn’t challenge it because they were late.

Even if they did arrive, they would time it to when the reproduction rate of the calamity reached 100%.

Harrington would do the same, he was sure.

‘So I’m the only one who’s going to die. How many debts do they owe me for helping them, those damn things…’

The problem was that he was in a position where he couldn’t help but be anxious.

Harrington, who had been venting his anger, sighed with a bitter face.

‘…It’s over. Let’s think about how to talk to the Emperor. That’s the only way to live…? Huh?’

He was thinking about how to survive instead of clinging to a hopeless task when it happened.

The atmosphere of the chat on the community changed rapidly.

Because of one name that was mentioned.

At the same time, Harrington’s expression, which had been nothing but shadows, became strange, and a ray of light appeared in his eyes.

Gulp.

He had seen hope.

* * *

And at that time.

There were others who were quite anxious, though not as much as Harrington.

‘Oh, what the hell is going on?’

These were the ones waiting in front of the entrance to the Forgotten King’s Temple.

The masters of the top 10 guilds, including Cheonoecheon and Leonne, and the high rankers belonging to the NPC.

-They are all gathered, but… they can’t easily enter.

“Haa, okay, I understand. I’ll be there soon, so wait a little longer.”

Astral scratched his head, having heard the news that the formidable figures were hesitating.

He had been worried that he had gone too far because of his desire for competition and wouldn’t even have a chance to challenge it.

It was a foolish worry.

‘What is this situation? Is it true that no one has challenged it? The name of the top 10 guilds will cry.’

As those at the pinnacle, they always stood tall and looked down on others.

But there was no such dignity in the 모습 [Korean for appearance] they were showing now.

They were just silently trying to figure out who would go in first.

Leon, the master of the Leonne Guild, who was called the Lionheart King of the era, showing off his courage.

Xiao, the master of Cheonoecheon, who showed off his noble figure as the owner of Pegasus.

Even the guys who were flexing their muscles, saying they were disciples of each of the Magic Tower Lords and Knight Lords.

It was all the same.

It was a shameful sight to show to someone, but in fact, it couldn’t be helped.

[Arthur has died.]

The death message of Arthur that had rung out a little while ago was that shocking.

Arthur’s futile death, which they had secretly thought might clear it, made them hesitate to challenge it.

That was why no one had challenged it until Astral arrived here,

[The current reproduction rate of the calamity is 89%.]

And that was the result.

Even without entering, the reproduction rate of the calamity rose, and the moment it exceeded 80%, it began to rise at an incredible speed.

The current reproduction rate was created while the users hesitated.

Astral glanced sideways. An action he had been doing habitually since the reproduction rate exceeded 80%.

But this time it was a little different.

—-!

The moment he met the countless eyes of the giant mountain-like monster that felt like it was right in front of him.

[The reproduction rate of the calamity has reached 90%.]

[The crack in the seal collapses as the reproduction rate of the calamity reaches 90%.]

[The great disaster completely reveals its appearance.]

Ughhhhhhhhh-!!

A crack appeared in the space, and the monster completely revealed its appearance, making a sound like the roar of a whale.

“This is crazy.”

It was so huge that he couldn’t even see his whole body from the current distance.

[The great disaster is looking at this place.]

[The aftermath of the seal still remains.]

[The great disaster will move when the reproduction rate of the calamity reaches 100%.]

[The great disaster completely reveals its appearance, and the reproduction rate of the calamity rises rapidly.]

[The current reproduction rate of the calamity is 91%.]

…….

[The current reproduction rate of the calamity is 93%.]

It was a deep-sea fish. That was the only way to describe it.

He couldn’t think of any similar creatures on Earth.

“……What is that.”

“Wow… am I seeing this right?”

“The rate at which the calamity rate is rising is crazy? It looks like it will be 100% in less than 5 minutes. Is it okay to leave it like this?”

“Then what can we do? I heard that even the top 10 guilds can’t challenge it. What can we do?”

Astral blushed as he heard the astonished reactions from the users nearby.

He was embarrassed himself.

‘Why is the dungeon so big? Why did the temple have to be built at one end to the other… I need to move faster.’

Astral was about to move quickly as if a fire had fallen on his feet.

The users who had been watching as if they were giving up became very noisy.

“Huh? Hey, crazy! Jackpot.”

“Why?”

“It’s really crazy, so go into the community quickly. Wow…”

“Why are you suddenly making such a fuss… Ah, I know. I’ll go in… Huh, crazy?”

The eyes of the user, who had a look of annoyance at his colleague’s fuss, widened.

Then, like his colleague, he made a fuss and sent whispers to others.

This scene was unfolding everywhere.

-Ma, Master!

“What’s wrong again?”

It was the same here.

Astral asked, wondering at the urgent whisper from the vice-master, and the vice-master hurriedly recited the contents of the community.

There were various contents mixed in, but the main one was.

-Geomseong [Sword Saint]. Geomseong has appeared!

“……What?”

Geomseong.

The sword of the Seven Rivers, the direct disciple of Sword Emperor Garfield Drew.

The only user among the users who was recognized by the Empire for his swordsmanship and received the title of Geomseong.

Astral stopped moving his feet at the name and stood tall.

Then, as soon as he checked the community, it was a mess.

-Crazy, Geomseong appeared!!

-Huh? That crazy bitch with the sword?

-Isn’t he the guy who said that training the sword was more important than quests? Why is he moving?

-I think he was in the New World until recently. Isn’t he spouting nonsense about how he’ll see the end of the sword this time?

-A friend in the Empire saw Geomseong return to the mainland. I heard he went straight to see Sword Emperor.

-Geomseong, will he show us?

-Hey, if he went to see Sword Emperor, isn’t he not coming?

-You never know. Geomseong wouldn’t return without a reason.

The unexpected news of Geomseong’s appearance was causing a frenzy.

Moreover, this wasn’t the end.

-Hey, jackpot!! Real jackpot news!

-Wow, crazy. Really crazy.

Following Geomseong, news came that another user was entering the mainland.

Astral, who had been stunned for a moment after confirming the two names.

He raised the corners of his bearded mouth and smiled.

“Look at this?”

It was the appearance of welcome names.

* * *

A large room of over 10 pyeong [approximately 33 square meters].

In a clean room that looked even bigger because there was no other furniture besides various swords and doboks [Korean martial arts uniforms].

The old man, who had been stroking the window, opened his mouth at the sound of the door opening.

“So, have you achieved the realm you wanted?”

It was a sight that would surprise anyone.

A kind voice, an ordinary physique with a long beard.

At first glance, he could be seen as an ordinary white-haired old man, but if anyone knew his identity, they wouldn’t dare to open the door without even knocking.

Sword Emperor, Garfield Drew.

The strongest swordsman called the sword of the Seven Rivers and the best sword in the continent.

That was the old man’s identity.

“It’s still not enough.”

“Then why did you come back?”

However, the old man did not blame him for such rudeness and asked his intentions.

Of course.

The one who opened the door and came in was none other than the old man’s only disciple.

“It seems that an old colleague is in danger.”

“Oh ho…”

The old man finally turned around at the welcome that was subtly embedded in the calm voice.

What was seen in his eyes, which seemed interested, was a woman with calm hair like black silk.

Black hair mixed with purple light and skin as white as jade.

The neck like a deer revealed above the dobok and the 곡선 [Korean for curves] seen below were those of a beautiful woman.

Although she had a pure appearance, the woman, who had a strange sharpness befitting someone who wielded a sword, was calmly meeting his eyes as always.

“If it’s an old colleague… is it that funny guy you often told me about in the past?”

The woman nodded silently.

Then the old man nodded, gently folding his wrinkled eyes.

“Go and come back, disciple.”

“Yes, Master.”

Only then did a faint smile appear on the woman’s lips.

It was anticipation. Anticipation as she 그려 [Korean for imagined] what her old colleague would look like after a long time.

‘It’s been 2 years, Kaiser.’

Sword Star.

It was the moment when the one who was called Sword Emperor in the past Demlock moved.

And the end of the Empire.

It was also at that time that a huge white ship arrived at the pier where ships returning from the New World stayed.

Swaaaaa-

A user was revealed, stopping roughly and splashing water in all directions.

A woman fluttering her white hair, which shone brilliantly as the light reflected off it.

She was definitely a beauty, but unlike her equally white skin, her red eyes were shining, somehow giving off a fatal eeriness.

A strange atmosphere as if she might cause an accident anytime, anywhere.

Sseu.

It was then that the fiercely shining red eyes returned to normal brown.

The woman, who had been looking around the Empire’s port, which she had seen in a long time, laughed savagely.

“I’ll finally see you, 새끼 [Korean slang, roughly translates to ‘bastard’].”

One-Man Army.

It was the appearance of the crazy bitch in this area, called the devil’s talent who exchanged physical and personality.

And at the time when the two appeared.

World Quest Dungeon, the underground of the Forgotten Tomb.

[I can’t believe it… to have mastered it in just one hour.]

A beast was baring its teeth in a hidden space.

The guardian put away his sword, looking at the beast standing in the frozen and broken space, half overturned and in tatters.

[At this point, it’s worth betting on. I’ll believe in you. Go and show me the White Lion’s Song that you have made your own.]

Looking at the firm eyes that finally had a sense of trust, Doyun relaxed his body.

‘It was damn hard.’

Saying it was 2 hours, I don’t know how many times I 부딪치고 [Korean for collided] and broke.

I thought about giving up countless times.

But in the end, I did it.

[You have cleared the sudden quest.]

[Acquire the True White Lion’s Song as a reward.]

In the end, he succeeded in making the complete White Lion’s Song his own.

This wasn’t the end.

Doyun’s gaze turned downwards.

‘I didn’t know this would pop out…’

There were three skills that he hadn’t seen before.

One of them was Doyun’s skill, which he had drawn through the random skill 뽑기권 [Korean for gacha ticket, a random draw ticket] that he had left after reaching level 80 this time,

[Guardian Jihad Black reaches a certain level and a random skill 뽑기권 [Korean for gacha ticket, a random draw ticket] is given.]

[Guardian Charlie reaches a certain level and a random skill 뽑기권 [Korean for gacha ticket, a random draw ticket] is given.]

The remaining two skills were skills that he had drawn through the random skill 뽑기권 [Korean for gacha ticket, a random draw ticket] that the guardians had obtained as they reached levels.

Not only that.

Doyun still had more to believe in.

‘I’m looking forward to it. I wonder if it will work on the Forgotten King.’

Unlike at first, Doyun, who was now more 기대 [Korean for anticipation] than worried, smiled.