The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 314

314.

A Pitch-Black Helmet.

Reptilian eyes glinted from within.

The aura emanating from the black armor took the form of wings, inspiring primal fear.

Was this what it looked like when a master of the abyss wore a human guise?

“What is that…”

“Crazy…”

The mere sight of him was enough to make their legs buckle, rendering them speechless.

This was true for both users and NPCs alike.

In fact, the NPCs seemed even more bewildered than the users.

“Is that really Lord Garion?”

“Good heavens… what grotesque form is that?”

“He looks like a dragonkin from mythology.”

“That? To me, he looks more like a knight consumed by the abyss.”

There was much talk of dragonkin and the abyss, but one thing was certain.

The Garion they knew was gone.

He had transformed into a horrifying being that could no longer be considered human.

“L-look over there! The First Prince is bound.”

“Heavens, it’s true!”

“Your Highness! Are you alright?”

“Damn it, His Highness’s condition is not good. He’s already becoming corrupted by the abyss.”

Behind him, the First Prince, Lior de Arnis, was bound to a black pillar.

Dark blue veins testified to his abyssal corruption.

Fortunately, there were no black tears yet.

Black tears were a symbol of one completely consumed by the abyss.

The liquid flowing down Lior’s dark skin was transparent.

[Do you see, Your Highness?]

“…….”

Garion opened his mouth without even looking at Lior.

[The sight of the empire’s last remaining prince captured, yet no one comes to save him.]

“…….”

[This is the reality of the empire you have protected. Or rather, it could be said to be the nature of humanity.]

His face was hidden by the helmet, but his smirk could be felt.

“…Why.”

Lior struggled to focus his blurring vision and spoke with difficulty.

“Why did you betray us?”

[Betrayal…]

Only then did Garion face Lior.

Garion smiled mockingly at the eyes filled with grief, sorrow, anger, and lamentation.

[Humans are always like this. They only remember what they have suffered, and never remember what they have done.]

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

[I suppose not. You never have. Well, it doesn’t matter. That’s not important anymore.]

Garion replied calmly and took a step closer, continuing.

[Your Highness is very fortunate. Unlike the Second Prince, who was born sickly and couldn’t even become a mummy, you were born with martial talent and can become the final piece of a great plan.]

“…Garion.”

[Relax your eyes. It only speeds up the corruption. You must watch, mustn’t you? The moment the empire falls into my hands.]

“…Garion!!”

Tears, now almost gray, streamed down from the First Prince’s eyes as he screamed.

He thrashed his body as if having a seizure, but the chains of the abyss were not something a mere human could break with strength.

Rather, the force constricting his body only grew stronger, tearing his flesh and causing blood to splatter.

[One thing is regrettable. That Your Highness will not have the intellect to appreciate ‘that day’ which is soon to come… That is truly a pity.]

He shook his head as if he meant it, when suddenly-

Tting-

[A party has entered the Abyss Barrier.]

[The First Prince’s corruption is delayed.]

A message announcing someone’s arrival.

[Oh… so there are some who aren’t cowards.]

He turned his head and saw.

Crunch.

“Garion… how dare you…”

“He’s no longer human. Has he truly broken the taboo?”

“A disgusting wretch who has abandoned the pride of a knight…”

Two knights in splendid armor and a mage who radiated nobility at a glance.

“We will punish you and save His Highness.”

And a knight in wind armor walked out in front of them.

[Dran, is it?]

Dran, the Knight of Gale.

A knight who ranked in the Empire’s NPC Top 100 and a young knight belonging to the Empire’s strong.

He was also a talented knight who was particularly close to the First Prince Lior and often sparred with him.

His appearance caused those who had been watching inside the barrier with bated breath to whisper.

“Jackpot, it’s Dran.”

“If it’s Dran, is that the Knight of Gale? Wow… I’ve only heard rumors, this is the first time I’ve seen him fight. They say he’s the next commander of the Knights, right?”

“He hasn’t inherited the title yet, but they say his skills are already at the level of a Knight Commander.”

“Oh! Lord Dran has stepped forward.”

“Lord Dran is trustworthy!”

Moreover, it wasn’t just Dran.

“Good heavens, look at the people who came with him!”

“Lord Mahas, Lady Levia, and even Zeaon? Good heavens, all of them have come together!”

“Why are the NPCs like that? Are they famous people?”

“Don’t you know? They’re powerhouses in the Top 100. I heard they’re rivals competing with Dran, but they’ve formed a party.”

“Wow… then isn’t it worth a try? That’s like four of the top 10 guild masters.”

The users’ expressions brightened at the appearance of powerhouses comparable to Dran.

They had cleared Phase 1 with just the Cult of Cthulhu and Harrington.

If there were four powerhouses of that level, wouldn’t Phase 2 be possible?

Garion, who faced them as they appeared with everyone’s expectations, let out a small exclamation.

[You have become the hope of the empire. How is it, Dran? How do you feel about fulfilling your long-held dream? Haven’t you wanted to be a hero since you were young?]

“Do not dare utter my name with your filthy mouth.”

[It feels like just yesterday you were following me around, saying you respected me. I’m disappointed.]

“Shut up. How dare you insult the empire and harm His Highness. In place of the absent Seven Stars, this Dran will stake his name and punish you.”

Only a cold response returned, but Garion merely let out a sneer.

[Do you know? Now that the Seven Stars and the empire’s powerhouses have disappeared, how many of my own people have stood in my way?]

“If you’re going to say useless things, shut that m…”

[Three. Only three parties have come to stop me.]

“…….”

[The apostles, who aren’t even treated as citizens, come in droves, yet only three. Isn’t it laughable?]

The so-called masters of the empire were frightened and didn’t budge.

What was so great about the knights?

What was so great about the mages of the Great Magic Tower?

[Those who are afraid for their lives and have no pride in protecting the empire.]

“…How dare you speak of pride.”

[The Seven Stars? The seven powerhouses who illuminate the empire? You’ve been fundamentally wrong from the start. You rely too much on them. That’s why you’re all so weak…]

Dran trembled as he looked at Garion’s mocking appearance.

He was angry enough to tremble with uncontrollable emotion, but he had no words to refute.

It was a problem he himself was aware of.

Garion shrugged, watching Dran’s eyes widen as he was hit where it hurt.

[Let’s see how different you are.]

With those words, he drew his sword and took a breath.

The brief moment when his breath stopped.

“……!”

Dran’s eyes widened.

Swish-

A chilling sound of something being cut filled the space.

* * *

-We’re screwed.

-Wow, we’re really screwed.

-WTF is this for real, guys?

The community was in an uproar.

The empire’s powerhouse in the Empire’s Top 100?

The empire’s future, each of whom was at the level of a top 10 guild master even in their current state of growth?

-The Knight of Gale got one-shotted, WTF.

-Is this just rumors being exaggerated? Or is Garion an unbelievably monstrous bastard?

-I don’t know, what’s certain is that he’s not someone made to be caught.

In front of Garion, they couldn’t even leave a scratch and self-destructed.

It would have been fortunate if they had at least bought some time.

Starting with the brutally murdered Dran, even the remaining three couldn’t last even 5 minutes before dying.

The deaths of those who were supposed to be the future of the empire were too futile.

-That’s why Shina ran away 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measures were tightened, but the proofreaded version is as follows:

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