The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 294

294.

Tap.

Following Do-hyun’s command, Goth bowed and turned around.

Then, the Undead Legion turned to face the Insectoid swarm, following Goth’s lead.

Do-hyun swallowed hard, watching Goth slowly spread his arms wide as if preparing for something.

‘I wonder what skill it is.’

It was even more anticipated because it wasn’t a skill he had drawn himself, so he couldn’t even guess.

Then, at that moment.

Flash.

Goth’s red eyes flashed, and something black spread around him.

It was a sticky, creepy swamp.

[The Swamp of Pain is activated.]

[While in the swamp, the legion grows stronger in proportion to the number of soldiers who have died, and reduces the movement speed of enemies in the swamp.]

A vile swamp made of the resentment and pain of dead soldiers.

The insects, half-submerged in the writhing black swamp that seemed to be made of pollutants, appeared sluggish and slowed down.

‘Is this a higher-level skill used during the Forgotten King era?’

A higher-level skill that could only be used temporarily back then can now be used freely.

It’s definitely a remarkable change, but…

‘Hmm…’

I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

It was like anticipating what the lunch menu would be, only to find out it was the same spicy pork stir-fry as yesterday.

Not bad, but a little disappointing.

Tap. Tap.

Goth, oblivious to his feelings, straightened his back and looked triumphant.

Do-hyun couldn’t blame the innocent Goth, so he nodded appropriately.

“…Okay. Well done. You’ve grown a lot.”

Tap.

-He says it’s all thanks to you, Master. He’s always grateful for giving him a chance when he was about to give up.

“Yeah, yeah.”

It was a very heartwarming sentiment, but it didn’t quite resonate with him right now, so he replied absentmindedly.

Tap. Tap.

-Oh, and there’s one more thing.

“Yeah, yeah, okay… what did you say?”

-There’s one more thing.

At that, Do-hyun stopped picking his ear and straightened up.

“Ahem. You should have said that sooner.”

-Huh? Your nostrils are flaring. They were shriveled up until just now…

“Ahem. Enough talk, just show me quickly.”

Tap. Tap.

Goth, who understood Do-hyun’s words directly without the need for translation, bowed his head.

Then, he turned back and stretched out his hand towards the insects.

Whoosh-

A chilling aura emanated, then began to divide into strands from a certain point and scatter.

The scattered aura in the air soon took on a shape.

‘An Orb of Darkness?’

It rippled in a color similar to the Swamp of Pain and resembled what Jihad had used in the past.

The difference was that it was darker and more ominous.

The change didn’t end there.

The scattered aura began to draw a huge line as if using the space in front as a canvas to draw a musical score.

Kieee…?

The moment the line wrapped around the insects.

[The 1st Legion Commander, ‘Goth,’ activates ‘Melody of Pain’.]

Ggggh… Kkeueugh…

Numerous Orbs of Darkness fell on those caught in the line, and melodies of pain echoed from the insects struck by the Orbs of Darkness.

It wasn’t the sound of insects.

It was the screams of the dead, filled with deep resentment.

[The power of the Legion Commander, ‘Goth,’ is amplified by the number of times the Melody of Pain echoes.]

[The 1st Legion Commander becomes stronger, and the power of the legion he leads becomes stronger.]

‘Oh?’

He wondered what kind of skill it was, but it was a buff skill [a skill that enhances a character’s abilities].

A skill that manipulates pain, possible because Goth had felt the pain of the outlaws instead.

‘So that’s why he used the Swamp of Pain first.’

To debuff [weaken] with the Swamp of Pain and then become stronger with the Melody of Pain.

Ggggh! Ggggh!

The strengthened Undead Legion began to massacre the slowed-down insects.

The sight of the Undead Legion relentlessly chasing after them with daggers and stabbing them to death was chilling to see again.

They were already highly obsessive, and with their physical abilities enhanced, their actions were merciless.

[The 1st Legion Commander, ‘Goth,’ uses intermediate black magic ‘Terrible Sensation’.]

[The 1st Legion Commander, ‘Goth,’ uses outlaw-style battle mage techniques.]

Among them, Goth was the most outstanding.

He demonstrated the dignity of a legion commander, unleashing black magic while displaying martial arts based on his noticeably enhanced power.

‘Oh? If he uses that here too?’

If he’s this strong now, what will happen when he uses a higher-level skill…

The thought was brief, and the action was quick.

“Jihad!”

-Yeah, I was just about to try it, Master!

“Okay.”

The quick-witted Jihad immediately reached out.

Then, darkness seeped out like cigarette smoke and crawled into the bodies of the Undead Legion.

[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’ uses ‘Legion Frenzy’.]

[Due to Legion Frenzy, the physical abilities of the 1st Legion are temporarily increased.]

[The senses of the 1st Legion become sharper, and their personalities become violent.]

Ggggh! Ggggh!

Kieee!? Kieee!!

-Hoo? I can’t just watch either.

As the Undead Legion, with their eyes half-rolled back, began to rampage, Charlie was also stimulated, and the speed at which he swung his sword increased even further.

However, Do-hyun’s gaze was not directed at either of them.

A skeleton wearing a robe, Goth, was fighting alone a little further away.

[Legion Commander, ‘Goth,’ is under the effect of ‘Legion Frenzy’.]

[Can use a skill one level higher than the current level, once.]

He was even more curious about the higher-level skill that the guy would show.

Unfortunately, that expectation could only be half-fulfilled.

[The level of the higher skill is too high to reach.]

[You can choose and use one of the skills below the existing rank.]

He was able to use a new skill, but it wasn’t a higher-level skill.

It was a pity, but not bad.

He was able to choose and use a skill at the level of the Swamp of Pain.

More than anything.

[The 1st Legion Commander, ‘Goth,’ selects ‘Orb of Pain’.]

[Creates an Orb of Darkness with damage proportional to the pain received by nearby targets.]

Kieeeeeeeek!!

Goth’s own signature skill.

The performance of the Orb of Pain was enough to satisfy Do-hyun, who was feeling disappointed.

The insects here were all suffering from the strengthened Goth, the Undead Legion, and Charlie.

The damage proportional to that pain was at a critical level.

Moreover, this wasn’t the end.

[It has been confirmed that you are leading the legion.]

[The Legion Commander effect is activated.]

[All stats increase and attack power and defense are amplified while leading the legion.]

‘Oh?’

The fourth sign of the Legion Commander of Destruction.

Its second effect was activated.

‘I didn’t expect this…’

Jihad leads the Undead Legion. And Do-hyun is the master of Jihad.

It seemed that such a correlation was applied.

He thought it was an option that could only be used in specific situations like dungeon raids, but it was an unexpected gain.

[Defeated a Mutant Cave Insect.]

[Defeated a Mutant Cave Insect.]

…

[Defeated a Mutant Cave Insect.]

Messages kept popping up without a break.

In the end, Do-hyun couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

‘Kuh~’

How could he not be satisfied when the Guardians, the Legion Commander, the Undead Legion, and even himself had been properly upgraded?

The amazing thing was that it wasn’t over yet.

[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’ can create additional undead.]

[Up to 20 individuals are possible, and the current number of undead is 16.]

The number of undead that the rapidly growing Jihad could handle had increased.

This wasn’t just about being able to add 4 more individuals.

20 individuals was enough to create another legion.

‘That means there’s a spot for recruiting the 2nd Legion Commander.’

It would be difficult to find a legion commander on par with Goth, but it didn’t matter.

The difference between having one more legion commander and not having one was huge.

That’s why necromancers’ combat power increases significantly in units of 10 individuals,

-Master, Master. What should we do? Should we increase the undead right away?

Do-hyun was also pleased, like Jihad, who was excitedly chattering, but the answer that came out was firm.

“No.”

-Eung…?

Jihad, intimidated by the firm face and voice that couldn’t be more resolute, cautiously looked around.

His eyes were rolling, as if he was pondering whether he had done something wrong.

But Jihad was innocent.

“…Are you really going to make them undead? Are you thinking of making the 2nd Legion an Insectoid Legion? Ugh, it’s too horrible to even think about.”

The fault lay with those disgusting insects.

Jihad, who had been pondering for a while at Do-hyun’s horrified reaction, soon agreed.

-……That’s true. An Insectoid Legion is a bit much. I think it’s better to do it next time.

“But didn’t you handle spider undead when you first met me?”

-They were going to explode anyway. Whether a spider explodes or an orc explodes, it’s all the same. Rather, it’s better because it’s unique… Ah, now that you mention it, I want to feel the sensation after a long time…

“Gaaaaah!!”

-Ah, no. I’m just saying, Master. I’m too good now.

But commanding an Insectoid Legion doesn’t look cool.

That was the reason Jihad agreed.

Do-hyun, who had successfully convinced Jihad and cut off the sprout of Pork [a potentially problematic or undesirable development], finally took a breath.

‘I need to think about what kind of concept to match the legion with when I leave the dungeon.’

Until now, he had included undead like goblins and orcs to receive the mana consumption reduction effect, but…

‘The situation is different now.’

Now that it has increased to 20, even if he matches it with trolls or higher, he will be able to fill more than 50% of the lower city monsters.

Now that it has come to this, he was thinking of building a legion to match the concept.

The Empire is full of various monsters.

Tap, tap.

-Master, I have completed my mission and returned.

“Ah, already?”

When he raised his head at the voice that suddenly came, he saw Charlie and Goth, who had already approached and bowed.

It seemed like there were more than ten left when he saw them just a moment ago.

It was definitely an amazing firepower.

‘At this rate, isn’t it automatic hunting level? Leave the idle RPG [role-playing game] to me.’

It wasn’t just a saying, but it seemed that even a decent dungeon would be cleared even if he left it alone.

That Jihad, who was like a real X [unspecified negative comparison], has grown into such a fraudulent necromancer.

Is this what it means to be deeply moved?

The words of the necromancers that well-raised undead legions are not inferior to divine beasts were not just bluffing.

-……Master, your eyes are creepy.

-Lizardlizard?

Jihad instinctively stepped back.

Eliza, who was on his shoulder, tilted her head, but Do-hyun lightly ignored her and turned his gaze to Charlie.

Seeing Charlie, who was the epitome of loyalty, reminded him of something.

“Charlie. Can you come closer for a moment? I have something to give you.”

-Yes? What do you mean by giving…

Charlie, while expressing his doubts, approached without complaining because it was an order.

There was a strange expectation in his eyes.

This was because Do-hyun had never given him a direct gift like this.

Do-hyun, who chuckled at the deep expectation revealed between his efforts to look solemn, put his hand into his inventory.

“It’s nothing special, but I thought this would be perfect for you.”

-T, this is!

Charlie’s eyes widened as he handed over what he had taken out of his inventory.

Charlie, trembling as if he was overwhelmed, spoke in a trembling voice as well.

-Do I dare to receive such a thing, Master?