The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 293

293.

Swoosh – rustle-!

Thud! Splatter-

The gruesome sound of cutting through the shell and piercing the flesh spread through the cave.

Kieeeek! Kehk!

Then, echoing screeches spread like a reverberation.

Each time a spark flew in the dark cave, light flashed, and countless bugs fell.

Amidst dozens of bugs, only one man rampaged.

Anyone could see it was a critical situation, but the scene that unfolded was a one-sided massacre by the man.

[Using Truth – The White Lion’s Song].

Kieeek!

The bugs rushing from the blind spots were blocked by the blizzard, and the bugs aiming for the rear were quickly intercepted by the white lion.

And the man’s sword sliced everything in front.

The middle-aged knight, watching from behind, admired the almost artistic movements.

-As expected of our lord… Always an amazing skill to behold.

-I don’t know much, but isn’t his movement different from before? He’s practically flying around.

-Rizariza.

-Indeed! Growing endlessly without knowing limits. That is the greatness of our lord!

It was Charlie, Jihad, and Eliza.

As they said, the man, Do-hyun’s movements were clearly different from before.

The swinging sword was sharper, his body was lighter, and his steps were endlessly heavy.

[Reversing the Heavens Stage]

[Using the 1st Form, Beginning.]

Bugs were torn apart each time a step as heavy as Mount Tai [a metaphor for immense weight, referring to a sacred mountain in China] was taken.

Each time the sword was swung, a path that seemed impossible to open was created. Dozens of bugs were not enough to block Do-hyun.

A sight that clearly showed growth.

In fact, Do-hyun felt like his body was flying.

‘How much did my stats increase?’

He hadn’t realized it because he had only been fighting stronger enemies lately, but facing a mere monster made him feel it.

How absurdly strong he had become in a short time.

It could be said to be the result of working like a dog, but Do-hyun was sure.

‘No, it’s different from when we raided the Legion Commander.’

He was clearly stronger than even during the Labyrinth, which was right before this.

It was logically impossible, but the rewards he obtained this time made it possible.

[One Who Defeated the Legion Commander of Destruction]

-Grade: Legendary

-Description: A great title given to the ten who contributed the most to defeating the Legion Commander of Destruction.

You exert even greater power when facing a Legion Commander.

-Effect: When facing a Legion Commander, you become immune to intimidation and all stats increase.

All stats + 10

[One Watched by the Abyss]

-Grade: Legendary

-Description: The Abyss watches you for your unbelievable achievements.

Oh, you who are watched by the Abyss.

Whether you walk the path of a hero or the path of destruction is up to you.

-Effect: Hidden effects are triggered when events related to the Abyss occur.

All stats + 10

[Apostle Recognized by the Emperor]

-Grade: Heroic

-Description: A title given to the apostle recognized by the Emperor of the Arnis Empire.

You have achieved extremely rare achievements as an apostle. You are an amazing person, aren’t you?

-Effect: You are recognized as an apostle by the NPCs [Non-Player Characters] of the Empire, making it easier to increase their favorability.

All stats + 5

[Greatest Conqueror of the Forbidden Labyrinth]

-Grade: Legendary

-Description: A great title given to the one who contributed the most to conquering the Forbidden Labyrinth.

-Effect: Attack power increases by 20% when entering a dungeon.

All stats increase by 10% when facing an enemy stronger than yourself.

All stats + 10

Just the titles alone were 4, with 3 of them being legendary.

Looking at all the increased stats, a whopping 35 stats had increased.

‘The options are a bit disappointing, though…’

The first two are options related to the Abyss, and the next one is for increasing favorability, but there will be times when they will be useful in the future.

Above all, he liked the last title effect.

[Attack power increases by 20% when entering a dungeon.]

Swoosh- Kieeek!

Thanks to the already strengthened attack power becoming even stronger, bugs could be slaughtered with a single sword strike.

Moreover, the lower option was perfect for Do-hyun, who wielded Reversing the Heavens.

Not only that.

[The recovery rate of life force and stamina increases due to the effect of the Demonic Beast’s Recovery Power.]

‘Kya. This is really crazy.’

With the combination of the ring’s effect, Demonic Beast’s Recovery Power, and the Black Rain Mask, stamina wouldn’t decrease unless he overexerted himself.

‘My stats also increased while changing equipment… It was about time to graduate from accessories, and the timing is perfect.’

With the White Lion’s Song helping with attack and defense, the constantly swarming bugs were not a burden.

He was almost starting to feel sorry for them.

-…The bugs are pitiful. They are really being trampled like bugs.

-Hmm. It seems like there’s no situation where we can help.

-Rizariza…….

‘Ah, I was too excited and lost my mind.’

Do-hyun stopped his sword for the first time at the voices of the Guardians, who were standing blankly and muttering.

Kie, Kieek?

Kehek!

Then, the bugs, thinking it was their chance, hurriedly retreated.

The bugs, who only had instincts, felt the fear of death.

As expected of bugs, they were fast, and the distance quickly widened, but it didn’t matter.

He was planning to stop around here anyway.

However…….

‘Ugh, now that I see it, it’s disgusting. Was I swinging around in there?’

As he frowned at the swarming, fleeing backs, the Guardians approached and expressed their doubts.

-Huh? What, is Master just letting them run away like that? There’s no way, right?

-Hmm… Isn’t this also part of our Lord’s great plan?

-Riza?

Do-hyun turned his head and chuckled at that.

Unfortunately, Charlie was right this time.

“I told you. I’m not the main character this time.”

-Then is it us?

-Riza?

Do-hyun showed them with action instead of answering their confused reactions.

He took out and used what was in his inventory.

[Designate the target.]

[Using Proof of Bond on Guardians ‘Jihad Black’, ‘Eliza’, ‘Charlie’.]

-This is……?

-Uh, uh? What, what? Suddenly light is coming out of my body?

-Ri, Riza! Rizariza!

Charlie flinched as a subtle light suddenly emanated from his body, and Jihad made a fuss.

Even Eliza, who was jumping around in surprise next to them, the light quickly faded, making their various reactions seem insignificant.

Then Charlie carefully opened his mouth.

-I feel a strange energy inside my body. A feeling of something solid and connected… What is this?

-It’s not something weird, right, Master?

-Rizariza.

Something weird?

Of course not. Rather, the opposite.

Sasa- Sasa-

“They’re swarming again.”

-Hmm… There are more of them than before.

-Looks like they brought their friends because they thought they couldn’t win.

Do-hyun pointed ahead, looking at the bug army that seemed almost twice as large as before.

“It’s your turn.”

-Yes, I understand.

-We’re supposed to catch them? What’s going on… Cough. It’s suffocating, let go of my robe!

-We must follow our Lord’s command.

-Lo, Lord. He’s getting weirder since he met that blonde crazy woman.

Charlie, who grabbed the back of Jihad’s neck, who was invariably picking a fight, immediately drew his sword.

Charlie, who nonchalantly ignored Jihad’s finger-pointing, rushed straight into the bug army.

[Using Armor of Protection.]

[All defense and magic resistance increase in proportion to the number of aggro [aggression or threat level] held.]

[Judged to be protecting someone, twice the value is applied.]

[Using Strong Will.]

[The probability of being knocked back is reduced, and there is a low probability of resisting status abnormalities and critical hits.]

He wore everything he could, including the buff skill he obtained at level 10 and the rare buff skill he obtained before the Forgotten King battle.

Compared to Jihad, who obtained the Heroic-grade ‘Legion Rampage’, he was relatively inconspicuous, but Strong Will was not a bad skill either.

Although it was probabilistic, it had all the effects a tanker [a character specialized in absorbing damage] needed.

-Bugs that have only gotten bigger and have no intelligence. Their appearance of mistaking regression for evolution is disgusting.

Kieeek!

[The effect of Armor of Protection is amplified due to the large number of aggro held.]

But still, Armor of Protection was much more efficient for Charlie.

Charlie’s aggro skills, combined with his unique way of speaking and fluent swordsmanship, were unmatched.

Charlie was the one who boasted even stronger tanking power against such a legion.

But this time, it was even worse.

Crunch, Kieeek!

Crack, crack. Thud!

Even when the bugs attacked from all sides and bit him, Charlie didn’t budge.

He ignored them as if they were tickling him and slashed them down, looking like a real man.

It was amazing, even considering that he was blocking all the potentially fatal areas with his swordsmanship.

-What is this……?

Even Charlie himself couldn’t understand it.

He knew best that it shouldn’t be this much, no matter how much his level had increased and how much Armor of Protection was being maximized.

Moreover, it wasn’t just defense that had increased.

Swoosh-! Thud!

[Guardian ‘Charlie’ has defeated ‘Mutated Cave Bug’.]

The bugs fell down with fewer slashes than usual.

Thanks to this, he was able to stand alone against the bug legion, though not as much as Do-hyun.

The amazing thing happened around the time he caught about ten bugs.

[Guardian ‘Charlie’s level has increased.]

[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’s level has increased.]

-Goodness.

-Huh? This feeling is… Could it be already?

The simultaneous level up of the guys.

Unlike the guys who were embarrassed by the fast speed, even considering that Do-hyun had caught dozens of them, Do-hyun smiled with satisfaction.

‘Kya, this is the taste.’

All of this was not a simple coincidence.

[Proof of Bond]

[Grade: Legendary]

[Description: Bonding is the shortcut to growth and a token of trust.

It amplifies the bond between Guardians, allowing them to have stronger abilities and promotes rapid growth.]

[Bond: Amplifies the bond between Guardians, increasing attack power, defense, magic resistance, and increasing mana and stamina.]

[Growth: The amount of experience gained by bonded Guardians greatly increases.]

[The bond can be applied to a maximum of five Guardians.]

‘This is what a legendary grade is.’

Proof of Bond, which was a legendary reward.

It was an all-around option that increased attack power, defense, magic resistance, and even mana and stamina, and even increased growth speed, making it a cheat item of the century.

‘It’s worth more than most legendary grades.’

In particular, the increase in growth speed was absurd.

Guardians, especially Divine Beasts, were known for their slow growth, so it was like a homework assignment for users.

‘I thought it would only increase by about 20%… This is at least 1.5 times. Maybe even 2 times.’

If Uncle Bora knew, he would be sick to his stomach and roll around for at least 3 days.

Do-hyun smiled as he thought about that scene.

-I, I want to try too!

-Rizariza!!

Jihad and Eliza’s excited voices were heard.

It seemed like they were inspired by Charlie’s strengthened appearance.

Jihad, who swallowed nervously like a child watching a friend open a gift box in the previous order, hurriedly reached out.

Groan- Groan-

Then, the undead crawled up from the bottom of the cave.

They weren’t comparable to the bug legion, but they were undead who had a legion of their own.

And the King of Outlaws who led the legion.

[Legion Commander, calls ‘Pain’.]

[Legion Commander, ‘Pain’ appears.]

Pain, who appeared with a gleam in his eyes, looked around as if he was looking down on them.

Then, he looked alternately at Charlie, who was fighting bravely, and Jihad, who was sparkling his eyes and stomping his feet behind him, and shook his head.

Tick, Tock…….

-…Did you just sigh?

Tock? Tock.

-Uh, uh? Did you just say I’m a quick-witted brat? Do you want to do a duck walk around the block?

…….

Pain, who smoothly ignored Jihad’s outburst, bowed 90 degrees to Do-hyun.

Then Jihad shouted even more fiercely from behind.

‘Those guys are still the same.’

Do-hyun chuckled at the relationship between the two guys who were still doing skits without getting tired, and Pain moved his mouth creakily.

It felt like he was trying to say something.

Naturally, Do-hyun’s gaze turned to Jihad.

-…Sigh, what a life. Am I his translator?