The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 290

290.

Damian, who had been screaming and thrashing for a while, barely managed to catch his breath and pressed his hands hard against his head.

The pressure he applied with his fingers gradually turned into frantic scratching.

‘Is this the end? So futile?’

Just one defeat.

But the result is destruction.

It was an unacceptable outcome, but he couldn’t refuse to accept it.

└Hell! Hell! Hell! Hell!

└He’s had a good run. Time to go to hell now.

└That ugly bastard is one of the top 10 guilds of God’s Era Online? No way.

└He even broke the unspoken rules to reach God, but failed…jpg (a photo of Damian kneeling, tattered and torn).

└His limbs are being torn apart, not his wings, lol.

His image was falling as low as it could go.

The fierce tide was pushing him down a path of destruction that he couldn’t resist.

But the biggest reason was the executive secretary’s statement.

‘If even the large guilds have agreed…’

He wasn’t afraid of ordinary large guilds.

The gap between the top 10 guilds and the large guilds was as vast as the sky and the earth.

But what if it was a large guild ranked 11th to 20th?

Some of them had forces comparable to their own.

They were the ones who were constantly looking for an opportunity because only 10 guilds could be in the top.

With the Executive Guild backing them, they would start tearing at him with a vengeance.

On the other hand, what about his side?

‘All the executives have left. All that’s left is Marpard.’

And that’s not all.

About 70% of the combatants had also left, leaving them weaker than even a large guild.

It was like having all their armor and shields torn off, leaving them with flimsy wooden planks.

There were no soldiers left to fight a war.

That wouldn’t be much different for Leon and Shao either.

‘…Even if there were, could they beat that monster?’

To be honest, he wasn’t confident.

└Kaiser > Top 10 guilds. Where are the guys who were arguing? Say it again?

└No, no, Kaiser > Top 10 guilds, but Kaiser >>>>>>> Top 10 guilds.

└Come on, even so, there’s the Executive Guild, so that’s not true.

└Honestly, the top 10 guilds are guilds that can stand up to the Executive Guild. The standard is the Executive Guild, so it’s already over.

Chatting in real-time on the community.

Like those words, the Executive Guild was in a unique position even among the top 10 guilds.

The executives themselves were stronger, but that difference in power wasn’t the problem.

└It seems like they were neck and neck in the early days, but these days, the Executive Guild is the undisputed number one because of Annihilation, right?

└I agree. Everyone else has stopped growing and is in a slump, but he’s the only one who has no limits. There are rumors that he’s gotten even stronger while he’s been stuck in the New Continent lately.

└Creepy;; How strong is he trying to get? It’s nice to say the top 10 guilds, but Annihilation is in a different class.

└Hmm, that’s true, but in that case, shouldn’t we take out Corpse Light too?

└Corpse Light? Ah, the Death King. Why him?

└He doesn’t like to show off, so he doesn’t do any external activities, but he’s a very strong person. There are a lot of rumors that he’s the epitome of a hidden powerhouse?

└He’s just full of rumors and hasn’t proven anything, so I don’t know.

Annihilation.

His existence was making it so.

Even Damian couldn’t guess what level of monster Annihilation was now.

‘Damn it… If only that bitch Cheonma [a powerful female warrior or demoness] hadn’t betrayed me…’

No, if only the Kashin Church hadn’t appeared.

If only the Empress had helped him before that, he could have finished it.

Damian, who was constantly looking for something to blame, suddenly looked empty.

‘…It’s a meaningless excuse.’

He was struggling to avoid admitting it, but he knew it.

History favors the victor, and if he hadn’t been defeated one-on-one, none of this would have happened.

But he lost.

Pathetically, despite having superior specs.

It was such an overwhelming defeat that he didn’t think the result would change even if he faced him again.

‘I thought… I could stop him.’

It was the insignificant arrogance of a frog living in a well without snakes.

He just realized it too late.

So now, it was time to pay the price for that arrogance.

* * *

And while they were paying the price.

Buzzing-

The Imperial Palace.

A place where ordinary users could never dare to enter was now crowded with countless users.

“Wow~ This is the Imperial Palace. The corridors are so shiny.”

“Is that all gold? Crazy… If this were reality, how much would it all be worth?”

“He’s like the most powerful person on the continent, so he must have money to burn.”

“I even got a chance to come to a place like this… I’m glad I gritted my teeth and endured the raid.”

They were the rankers who participated in the Undoing Labyrinth raid.

As the Emperor had promised to give rewards himself, he had allowed the raid team to enter only for today.

Their faces and voices were full of excitement and anticipation.

“This is an opportunity. An opportunity to leave a deep impression on the Emperor.”

“I’d get mobbed if I asked to take a picture with him, right?”

“Do that if you want to take a selfie with a prisoner in jail.”

“Damn it. Just get the reward quietly so you don’t get caught. Just making eye contact is good enough.”

“Eye contact? There are over a hundred people, do you think he’ll remember everyone? The Emperor isn’t a service worker.”

“Even service workers don’t do that.”

“Why are you guys pouring cold water on me since a while ago?”

It was only natural since they had been given an opportunity that they might never get even if they played the game for the rest of their lives.

They were briefly filled with hope that they would build a strong network at this opportunity.

Squeak.

“Wow… goosebumps.”

“What’s with his eyes…”

“It looks like he’ll cut you down right away if you say anything stupid.”

“Those are the Imperial Knights next to him, right? Their eyes are fierce. The vice-captain is that strong, how strong is the captain?”

“Networking? I’ll just be satisfied with stepping on the floor of the audience chamber.”

Their faces were pale as they came out of the audience chamber.

They had personally felt how arrogant it was to think about building a network.

That’s why they had to quickly receive their rewards and leave without even having a conversation.

“Wow, the rewards are pretty good though? Is this what you get even if you’re outside the top 100?”

“I got the same thing as you. Hey, what did you get? You’re the only one in the top 100.”

“I barely made it… Well, I got the same thing too. But I got a title. Undoing Labyrinth Raider?”

“What, it looks like only the top 100 get titles.”

“Marpard and Lavaon even received medals from the vice-captain of the Imperial Knights? They must have gotten more rewards too?”

“Jackpot. I wonder what they got… Huh?”

They hadn’t achieved their original goal of getting close to the Emperor.

But they were somewhat satisfied because the rewards weren’t bad considering they were additional rewards after already receiving the labyrinth rewards once.

Squeak.

A man in sacred armor came out of the audience chamber.

It was Arthur.

Starting with Arthur, those who came out in droves were faces they knew well.

“It’s the Empress!”

“The Sword Saint, the Cheonma, the fanatic, and even the owner of the armory?”

They were the core members of this raid.

At their appearance, they stepped aside and glanced sideways, whispering.

“Wow… their aura is crazy. What would it feel like to be in that member?”

“Did you see that just now? I met the Empress face to face, and wow, I frowned and my breath stopped.”

“No, but why are they so pretty? I thought I was seeing celebrities.”

“My eyes are purified… Ah, can Ast move aside a little? He’s blocking everything. How can he be so big?”

The Empress, who was fierce but fatal. The Sword Saint, who was pure but sharp.

The Cheonma, with an aloof atmosphere as if she was reigning above. The voluptuous mixed-race fanatic.

All of them were famous in God’s Era Online as female players with excellent skills and beauty that stole men’s hearts.

That’s why they knew they were good-looking, but seeing them all together like this made it hit them even harder.

“…Suddenly, I hate Kaiser.”

“Hey, hey, shh, shh. What are you saying in front of the fanatic… Do you want me to die too? The Kashin Church is still in the Imperial Palace.”

The startled colleague quickly covered his mouth and looked around, and fortunately, he nodded, blinking his clear eyes, as if he hadn’t heard.

The others were the same.

Relieved, they looked around and expressed their doubts.

“Where’s Harrington?”

“He went in and out in a hurry.”

“We already know his identity, why does he bother so much?”

“I don’t know, he says he can’t face him directly.”

“He’s so harsh. Was Harrington always like that?”

“I don’t think so… Wait a minute. But where’s Kaiser?”

“Huh?”

And that question soon turned to Kaiser.

In a situation where even Harrington had been identified, Kaiser was the only one who hadn’t been seen coming out.

On the other hand, many people had witnessed him entering the audience chamber.

“What’s going on? I think he went in with the Empress and everyone else?”

“So Kaiser is the only one who didn’t come out?”

“…Could it be?”

They all went in together, but they left Kaiser behind?

No sooner had they felt the doubt than the knights came out of the audience chamber this time.

Among them was the vice-captain of the Imperial Knights.

“Crazy… this is definitely it.”

At this point, it was certain.

Kaiser, he was having a private audience with the Emperor.

“The Emperor, who was so harsh to us, is even sending out the knights and having a private audience.”

“Is this Kaiser’s class [level of importance]?”

“He’s the number one in the raid ranking. He met the Emperor before the raid quest was even created.”

“Ah, is that so? He’s really crazy.”

Thanks to this, they became noisy, but at this moment, they all had the same thought in their minds.

It was curiosity and wonder.

‘What kind of conversation are they having that they even sent out the knights?’

‘I heard that the Empress received a legendary title as a reward… Then what about Kaiser, who is number one?’

‘Damn it, I’m so curious.’

‘I can’t eavesdrop because of the knights’ eyes…’

What exactly was happening inside.

* * *

Meanwhile, inside the audience chamber that everyone was curious about.

The Emperor, who had been watching the knights leave, leaned back leisurely and said.

“Is this enough?”

“Yes. Of course. Thank you for granting my request, Your Majesty.”

In response, Do-hyun expressed his gratitude politely.

Asking to send out the Imperial Knights, who could be said to be the Emperor’s sword, was a request that could easily lead to misunderstandings.

Even if that wasn’t the case, it was an act that he couldn’t dare to suggest to the Emperor, but the Emperor didn’t seem to care at all.

“Alright, tell me. What did you see in that place?”

The private audience was also something the Emperor wanted.

He had only asked Do-hyun to get clues about the prince’s illness.

Was that why?

Swish.

As he did so, the Emperor took his arm away and took his waist off the backrest.

The appearance of consistently showing a troublesome expression was nowhere to be found, and his serious eyes watched Do-hyun as if to imprison him.

Why? Why does that eye feel different than before?

‘I don’t know if it’s anxious or expectant.’

Is it just a feeling?

[The Eye of Truth is activated.]

‘The range of red has increased even more.’

Or is it related to the fact that the red color that only occupied the Emperor’s chest and shoulders has become wider?

Do-hyun also opened his inventory, looking at the Emperor who was just looking down heavily.

[Ominous Remains]

The remains that fell out when he obtained the old gold badge.

It was the clue to the second prince’s illness.

“Before I explain in detail… I defeated the legion commander and obtained this.”

“Come closer.”

Did he feel the ominous energy from the remains?

The Emperor, who had hardened, made a heavy voice. In response, Do-hyun, who had bowed his head, slowly took a step.

[Old Gold Badge]

With the badge in his opposite hand.

‘…Approximately 7M [meters].’

It is the distance between the Emperor and himself.

Do-hyun, who specializes in distance control, was almost certain.

He would be able to know the truth if he took a few more steps.

Step.

6M.

In the tense silence, the sound of Do-hyun’s feet stepping was low.

Step.

Finally, the moment he took the last step.

Do-hyun’s eyes turned to the badge, and soon his eyes widened.

Oh