The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 41

41.

There are two primary paths for a Necromancer.

The Commander Necromancer and the Detonation Necromancer.

While these aren’t official titles, they’re commonly known as ‘Zek’ and ‘Pokro’ for simplicity.

A ‘Zek’ Necromancer excels at safely commanding numerous Undead, including high-ranking ones, and delivering consistent DPS (damage per second). A ‘Pokro’ Necromancer’s strength, on the other hand, lies in burst damage.

And the key to that burst damage is Corpse Explosion.

It’s almost a cheat skill, where a single, well-placed explosion can redeem any previous mistakes, even after taking a beating.

It’s not for nothing that people sometimes derisively call a ‘Pokro’ a ‘one-trick pony’ reliant on Corpse Explosion.

‘It’s just that.’

However, this also means that without Corpse Explosion, they’re essentially defenseless.

It creates an extremely polarized character, whose effectiveness hinges entirely on the success of Corpse Explosion; either overpowered or utterly useless.

That’s why Do-hyun didn’t let his guard down the moment he saw the enemy use Corpse Explosion.

‘With those stats, one hit and I’m dead.’

No matter how high Do-hyun’s stats were, he couldn’t withstand a Corpse Explosion from a Hero-grade Named Boss.

It was essentially an instant-kill attack.

An instant-kill attack in Raven, where only level 24s or lower existed… It was a boss whose difficulty clearly needed patching, but from Do-hyun’s perspective, this was manageable.

‘Later on, there will be patterns where the raid only progresses when a user dies.’

Not only that, but there were also patterns where you had no choice but to die.

It was mild compared to Demrok, but there were many bosses with such mechanics in God of Creation, so what….

Therefore, Do-hyun devised a strategy instead of complaining.

Since the boss was going to use Corpse Explosion anyway, he would manipulate the timing. He created a situation where the boss had no choice but to use his ultimate ability when Do-hyun was ready.

As expected, after provoking him slightly and feigning vulnerability, the boss used Corpse Explosion as if he had been waiting for the opportunity.

[The Mark disappears.]

The boss couldn’t even imagine that Do-hyun was deliberately luring him while precisely timing the duration of the Backstab Mark.

A Detonation Necromancer without Corpse Explosion?

A weakling who couldn’t win even if he tried.

He had lost a significant portion of his power, the Undead, and even his ultimate move was now useless.

What if he even gave up maintaining distance against a close-range opponent?

He would have to endure the attacks head-on.

[You inflict a critical hit.]

“Kueeeek! W, wait a mome… Keuheok!”

…Just like now.

Thwack! Swish!

[Keueok! Keuheoheok!]

Even during that long 4-minute cooldown.

And 4 minutes was more than enough for Do-hyun. It was enough time to use Backstab at least four more times.

For Jihad, who had consumed most of his Undead, he could only be beaten like a dog on a hot summer day [an idiom for being utterly defeated].

This was the fate of a ‘Pokro’ who failed to land Corpse Explosion.

It was also the reason why most people chose the path of ‘Zek’, even though ‘Pokro’ had the potential for top-tier burst damage among all jobs.

“C, Corpse Explo… Keuheok!”

Paak!

“J, just a moment….”

Thwack! Thwack thwack!

“A, ah! Bones! Bones are cheating!”

Swish- Thud! Crack!

“Y, you’ll get reveng… Kuek! B, be a little gentl….”

At first, Jihad struggled by throwing and detonating the remaining corpses as much as possible, but Do-hyun wasn’t going to be caught by such desperate, blind attacks.

As he was being relentlessly beaten, Jihad’s once solemn and noble appearance had devolved into the most pathetic figure imaginable.

…Who would believe that this guy, complaining about being hit by bones, was a Hero-grade Named Boss?

‘This is my first time seeing a boss like this.’

This was a first even for Do-hyun.

That kind of guy was a survivor of the great Black Clan?

He didn’t know exactly what kind of clan they were, but if they saw this, they would be utterly dumbfounded.

‘Something’s strange.’

Do-hyun was beating him even more enthusiastically because he couldn’t stand to look at his face, but even so, he couldn’t quite understand.

To be exact, he had a question.

‘Is this really Hero-grade?’

Do-hyun had planned and executed his strategy well.

The power of Corpse Explosion was definitely so great that even a level 50 user would have died instantly if hit.

Perhaps even higher than that.

Thanks to his quick reactions, the activation speed was also faster than a normal Corpse Explosion, so if Backstab was on cooldown, he probably wouldn’t have been able to do anything and would have died.

Furthermore, he was even throwing Curse Orbs, so if he cornered him with Dark Vision and used Corpse Explosion, there would be no way to avoid it.

‘I understand that….’

Even considering all that, he was weak.

It was true that it was difficult for a level 24 user to catch him alone, but was this really a Hero-grade Named Boss residing in a Secret Dungeon?

If you knew the strategy, it seemed easier than a field boss?

Even while harboring such doubts, Do-hyun didn’t stop swinging his sword.

Thwack! Crack!

Swish- Thud!

“Kuek! Kkeuak! Keuheoheok!”

He beat him, knocked him down, slashed him, and stabbed him.

[The Mark disappears.]

[You inflict a critical hit.]

Then, if he tried to run, he would chase after him with Backstab and inflict burst damage.

After repeating that several times.

[The HP of the Secret Dungeon Boss, ‘Jihad Black,’ has fallen below 30%.]

[Phase 2 begins.]

[Trait ‘Bloodline Factor’ is activated.]

Do-hyun paused for the first time at the message that appeared before his eyes.

And at that moment.

“Keuheu… Keuheuheu….”

Jihad, who had been utterly pathetic, burst into laughter for the first time.

And the atmosphere changed.

Swish-.

A black gas, darker than his skin, rose up.

The black smoke, which seemed to be coming out of every pore in his body, exuded a dangerous aura at a glance.

[I’ve been waiting for this moment…….]

A voice that cracked like scraping rusty iron.

The green eyes that had been shining were dyed black like pitch, making it difficult to distinguish them unless you looked closely.

To the point where he looked like a single darkness in the shape of a goblin.

[I haven’t properly refined it yet…… But I can’t help it…….]

The pathetic appearance that had been seen until just before was nowhere to be found in Jihad’s confident demeanor.

It was understandable.

[Jihad Black is awakening the Bloodline Factor inherent in his body.]

[The Bloodline Factor is in an incomplete stage. It cannot produce its full effect.]

[When the activation of the Bloodline Factor is complete, Jihad’s tier will increase.]

Increase in tier.

A promotion of the existence itself, commonly used in fantasy, which in this case meant an increase in grade [rarity or power].

He didn’t know how much it would increase, but it would be at least one stage.

‘Hero+…….’

Then it was at least Hero+ grade.

The difference between Hero grade and Hero+ grade was not simply a difference of one grade.

To exaggerate, it was such an extreme gap that it could be seen as the difference between a river and an ocean.

It was all said and done since raids that formed multiple strategy teams in earnest started from Hero+ grade.

Even Do-hyun couldn’t guarantee victory if that trait was activated.

Considering that this Secret Dungeon was a one-person dungeon, it was a system designed to simply fail the strategy the moment it was activated.

[While awakening the Bloodline Factor, Jihad Black enters concentration, and his stats increase during that time.]

[Health recovery increases.]

[Defense increases.]

[Magic resistance increases.]

Yes, if it was activated.

“Invest 20 in Strength.”

[Strength increases by +20.]

[Strength exceeds 100.]

With this, Do-hyun’s stats exceeded 100.

To be exact, 110 Strength.

Even if you put aside all the stat rewards, it was an enormous stat value.

It was a figure that would come out when you were at least level 40 if you went through normal stat distribution.

Considering other stats or remaining points, the current Do-hyun had even more potential.

‘It’s become too much of a Strength build by accident, but…….’

Agility was also a decent value of 71, so this was not a bad balance.

It was a perfect situation to beat a stationary sandbag.

[What suddenly……! What is this absurd change!]

Perhaps he felt the change in Do-hyun’s energy as he raised his stats.

Jihad was showing off his amazing skills, but now those skills were acting as a negative influence.

It was better to be hit without knowing, but now he had to be hit knowing.

Defense increase?

Health recovery increase?

[Warrior Set is applied.]

[Additional damage of 7% is applied to Goblin-type enemies.]

[Due to the effect of Rage, 10% additional damage is inflicted on the boss.]

[Due to the effect of level 10 Swordsmanship Proficiency, damage related to swords increases by 10%.]

‘The law is equal before Deal-Press-Down [a humorous reference to overwhelming force].’

He didn’t care what the original strategy was, and he wasn’t curious now.

Because he was going to execute a strategy that was better than anything else: overwhelming force.

Step by step.

[D, don’t come……!]

Was it his imagination that Jihad Black’s complexion was gradually turning pale as he watched Do-hyun approaching?

[A…… Aaa…….]

Sensing that his black skin, as dark as pitch, seemed to be slightly lighter, Do-hyun reached out his hand.

The elegantly drawn sword line pierced Jihad’s neck, and soon a goblin’s desperate scream echoed in the hideout.

* * *

[You have defeated the Secret Dungeon Boss ‘Jihad Black.’]

[You have cleared the Secret Dungeon Black Goblin Shaman’s Hideout.]

[The reward is amplified for clearing the Secret Dungeon for the first time.]

[It is recorded in the Book of Adventures.]

[You have achieved a hidden achievement.]

[Swordsmanship Proficiency increases.]

[Swordsmanship Proficiency has become LV11.]

[Dagger Proficiency increases.]

[Dagger Proficiency has become LV6.]

[Level increases.]

Do-hyun sighed as he watched the endless stream of messages.

“Wow…… That was close.”

30 seconds…… No, the Bloodline Factor would have been fully activated if it was even 10 seconds later.

It was such a close call.

The rate of increase in his defense was so great that he wondered if he should have raised his Strength even more in the middle.

‘They made this for level 24s or lower to clear?’

Even a swordsman who only invested in Strength and Agility would have to be at least level 40.

Even considering the numerous additional damage effects that Do-hyun had, perhaps even level 40 would have a hard time with the Deal-Press-Down strategy.

He was dumbfounded even after clearing it himself, but anyway, Do-hyun succeeded.

“Keu…….”

And the fruit of that victory was very sweet.

He leveled up, his Swordsmanship Proficiency, which had been so hard to raise, also increased, and he even succeeded in raising his Dagger Proficiency.

‘It would have been nice if the Devour effect had been activated.’

It was a pity that he couldn’t devour this time because it was the same Goblin type.

He wondered if it would go up since it was the Black Clan or something, but the system was strict.

Well, it would be too shameless to ask for this as well, so let’s move on…….

‘Rewards! Let’s look at the rewards.’

It was a reward for clearing a Secret Dungeon that was discovered for the first time.

Moreover, it was a Hero-grade Secret Dungeon. The quality could never be low.

[By clearing it for the first time, a boss-related equipment item will drop for sure.]

[Additional drop rate of 30% is applied.]

This time, there was even a guaranteed reward for clearing it for the first time!

On top of that, a 30% drop rate was applied.

‘Please be Hero-grade!’

He wouldn’t even wish for it normally, but he could wish for it this time!

It was strange not to wish for it!

[Would you like to harvest the Essence Orb of Jihad Black?]

“Yes.”

Essence Orb.

Like with the Warrior and the Chieftain, it was an essence that appeared after catching the boss, and it was easy to think of it as a random reward box.

When he accepted without hesitation, the light of the essence, which had been clumped together in the shape of an orb, scattered and sparkled like fireflies.

And the items that came to mind.

[As a reward, you acquire the Black Goblin Shaman’s Soul Orb, the Trace of a Forgotten Clan, the Black Goblin Shaman’s Robe, and the Jihad Black Card.]

“Wow…….”

Do-hyun, who couldn’t have expected more than this, checked the rewards with an excited heart.