The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 68

Part 68.

‘Sigh, well. That’s how RPGs are.’

God of Creation Online was, after all, a MMORPG.

It was so common for NPCs [Non-Player Characters] to ask for help from users while claiming they needed to be saved, that Do-hyun, deciding to just accept it, opened his mouth.

“I understand.”

“Ah, thank you so much. Our Nymphs will not forget your help.”

“Yes, well……”

After receiving the usual thank you and a brief handshake, Ellowen spoke with rare excitement.

“Then… can we fulfill the promise right away?”

“Yes. But what promise are you talking about?”

He was already curious about this promise, which had been mentioned since they first met.

At Do-hyun’s direct question, Ellowen immediately stood up.

Then, he took something out of the fancy storage box on the table, went to the glass case, and called Do-hyun over.

What Do-hyun saw in front of the glass case was…

“…Juice?”

“It is juice that has been aged for a long time, collected from the liquid that drips from the World Tree’s branches. It is a precious treasure that is now rare.”

“I see. But why this?”

“The bracelet you are wearing. What do you think the material is?”

The moment Do-hyun’s face flashed with a ‘could it be’ expression as he thought for a moment, Ellowen smiled as if he was right.

“That’s right. It’s a bracelet made by weaving the leaves of the World Tree. Originally, leaves bloom from branches. If you drop this juice on that bracelet…”

Saying that, Ellowen, who came closer, held out his hand to Do-hyun.

As Do-hyun unconsciously reached out his arm, Ellowen shook his head.

“No, hold the Queen’s hand, not mine.”

“…Can I do that?”

“The World Tree said that when performing the ritual, the Queen’s body, the wearer of the bracelet, and the bracelet must all be connected. He said that if we do so, the path will open. This is the promise we must fulfill.”

Do-hyun nodded and carefully reached out his hand.

When he touched the Queen’s white hand, he felt a soft but very cold sensation.

Clearly, the touch was that of a living person, but the chill he felt was a strange feeling, as if he were touching a dead person.

But strangely, when his hand touched hers, he felt a subtle tremor in the bracelet.

“…Let’s begin.”

Seeing that, Ellowen, with a nervous face, swallowed hard and carefully dropped a drop of juice onto the bracelet.

Poong-

The moment the pleasant sound rang out.

“Hmm?”

“……?”

The two looked at each other at the same time.

That’s because…

“…Why isn’t anything happening?”

“Uh… I don’t know.”

-Isn’t it ruined, Master?

-Lizariza…….

Of course, they thought that if they performed the ritual, she would wake up, or a revelation would come from the World Tree.

Contrary to expectations, nothing happened.

At that moment, unable to hide his embarrassment.

Ting-

Suddenly, a cheerful notification rang, and soon Do-hyun’s eyes widened.

[Condition has been met.]

[The minds of the wearer of Elinel’s bracelet and the Nymph Queen ‘Aridna’ are temporarily connected.]

[A scheduled event will occur.]

[Aridna is trying to show you something.]

‘What?’

It was an unexpected direction.

Do-hyun, surprised, was about to open his mouth when his eyes were filled with white light.

Soon after, the view was reversed.

* * *

‘Here is…….’

Do-hyun, who opened his closed eyes, frowned.

This was a forest.

The nature, which would have been beautiful, had an artificial desolation, as if someone had deliberately disturbed it.

‘……The kids are gone too.’

Jihad and Charlie, Eliza.

And even Ellowen, who had been with him until just now.

All disappeared without a trace, and Do-hyun was alone in this strange forest.

No, to be exact, he *had* been alone.

Saaa-

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and the forest shook violently, and the flora and fauna began to move at an unbelievable speed.

The deer that jumped out of the bushes quickly moved hundreds of meters away.

The branches swaying in the wind dropped leaves without rest, and the butterflies wandering around teleported here and there as if they were lagging.

A phenomenon that was beyond bizarre.

No, this feeling is more like…

‘……It’s like fast-forwarding.’

The entire forest was close to being fast-forwarded several times faster, except for Do-hyun.

Surprisingly, that was a surprisingly accurate guess.

[This is in the memory of the noble Nymph Queen, ‘Aridna’.]

[She is showing you what she has seen.]

[Find your way in the aimlessly flowing memories.]

‘Ah, is that so.’

Currently, Do-hyun and Aridna’s minds are connected.

However, since she is in a coma, her memories are flowing chaotically, causing this phenomenon.

In other words, Do-hyun was in a situation no different from walking on Aridna’s death row [a metaphor for a chaotic and potentially dangerous experience].

In fact, the forest sped up as if it were fast-forwarding, and then at some point it became infinitely slow motion, and then sometimes it changed to another scene, making it a mess.

‘No, that’s a relief.’

If he closed his eyes for a moment and opened them, the scenery would change to another forest, or sometimes it would be a cliff or a stone tower instead of a forest.

‘Those are all scenes seen with Clairvoyance [the ability to see events happening elsewhere], right?’

It was truly an amazing ability.

A vision as if looking into the entire world.

If the enemy had this ability, there would be nothing more frightening.

No matter how innovative a plan they devised or how they prepared an ambush, they would not be able to escape her eyes.

Do-hyun’s expression suddenly became serious as he admired honestly.

‘By the way… am I supposed to find a way here?’

The memories she was showing him were not for nothing.

The phrase also said so, so there must be an answer here to wake up the Queen.

It was even a revelation from the World Tree.

‘Hmm, I haven’t seen any special memories yet.’

However, even after a few minutes, no remarkable scenes were seen.

Just like looking out the window from a car running at 100 km/h, various landscapes were passing by Do-hyun, who was walking slowly.

‘Well, something will come out if I walk.’

How long had he walked like that?

About 10 minutes passed, and just as he was starting to feel like he was getting motion sickness.

‘That is…….’

Do-hyun stopped walking.

The scenery that had been passing by mindlessly stopped, and for the first time, it was fixed as one memory.

‘……Grandacia? No, it’s a bit different to say that.’

This place was not a flower garden, but a forest.

Nevertheless, Grandacia came to mind because he felt the unique abundant life force of that place.

However, no trace of people was felt.

Not even an animal was walking around, and not even a single insect could be seen.

It felt like he was stepping into a forgotten forest for the first time.

‘There are no withered or devastated plants. Is this the land blessed by the World Tree?’

Even though it was not managed in any way, the lush and vast nature was full of life.

Just looking at it made him feel overwhelmed by the mystery.

It was when Do-hyun was walking around there blankly.

Sreuk-

The scenery that continued like a picture stopped, and a huge tree was revealed.

The only sacred tree in Elannis.

‘World Tree?’

Unlike now, the World Tree, which emitted a brilliant light, was showing off its majesty worthy of being called a sacred tree.

However, there was something else that caught his attention more.

A woman and a huge deer were smiling and resting under it, and they were quite familiar.

Of course.

‘That’s the scene I saw when I broke Rupalo’s horn, right?’

No, to be exact, it was a little different.

At that time, the deer, presumed to be Rupalo, was suffering, and the woman also had sad eyes, whereas the two of them now looked very happy and comfortable.

The vitality and light felt from the World Tree were also completely different.

‘Is it a previous appearance than what Rupalo showed me?’

Just as he was thinking that, based on the circumstances.

Kwaddeuk-

Suddenly, the scenery in front of him began to twist grotesquely, and then a deafening noise rang out.

When he closed his eyes and opened them, the stage had already changed.

A burning forest.

In this place, which was more miserable and desperate than what he had seen through Rupalo’s horn, countless lives continued to die.

Each and every part of nature seemed to be screaming.

Kaang-! Kaang!

Ughaaaaaaaa!

Soon after, the sight of nymphs, elves, and unique alien races he had never seen before screaming and running away quickly passed by.

The sky was shrouded in darkness, and the forest could no longer be found in its previous state.

The center of the stage was filled with the energy of death.

Seueu.

There was someone walking leisurely alone in this chaotic place.

‘Robe……!’

Someone wearing a robe.

Although his face could not be seen, he could be sure. That he was the same person he saw in the Tomb of Information.

He was walking unsteadily like a drunk person, and he seemed to be smiling somehow… which made him feel even more creepy because it didn’t fit the atmosphere here.

How long had he walked like that?

Seuk.

The moment the man suddenly stopped and looked up at the sky.

A brilliant light was emitted, illuminating the sky stained with darkness, and a woman was flying in, holding a greatsword.

As the woman swung her greatsword.

Seogeok-

Kugugugung-

The world was turned upside down.

-Ah…….

The person wearing the robe let out a moan that was neither a sigh nor an exclamation and reached out his hand.

Then, a strange energy flashed from his hand.

‘……That is.’

At the same time, Do-hyun’s eyes widened,

Hwaaaak-

-My Lord!

-Lizariza!

-M, Master! What. What did you do?

Soon, a bright light filled his vision, and then he heard the familiar voices of the guardians in his ears.

[Aridna’s mind and body feel a great burden because her mind is not perfectly bound.]

[Mental sharing is forcibly released.]

[Event has ended.]

“Ah…….”

He had returned to the original world.

“Ah, the energy I felt just now was definitely Her Majesty’s magic… Could it be that I was connected to Her Majesty?”

“……Yes. She showed me something.”

“Wh, what something?”

“Memories. It seems to be countless memories she saw through Clairvoyance.”

“Goodness…….”

Ellowen Lassed swallowed hard as he saw Do-hyun still showing excitement and calming his emotions.

Aridna’s mind is stronger than anyone else.

The memory she showed by squeezing out all her strength would never be meaningless.

‘It must be an important memory!’

However, he waited without asking questions right away, even though he felt anxious.

He was trying to give Do-hyun time to calm down as he seemed very surprised.

‘Crazy…….’

And that was a very good consideration.

In fact, Do-hyun was very excited right now.

Of course, he had no choice but to be.

‘That thing I saw at the end. If I’m not mistaken…….’

Do-hyun saw it when the man in the robe reached out his hand at the last moment.

‘It was definitely a ring.’

A ring emitting a strange energy from his hand.

And that ring was one that Do-hyun knew well.

He had no choice but to know.

Because it was a ring that looked exactly like the one Do-hyun had.

[The half key of the fifth fragment of fate, ‘Ring of Oath’, reacts.]

[Acquired a clue to the remaining half key.]

‘The queen didn’t have it, but that guy did.’

It was the moment he found the whereabouts of the remaining half key of the fifth fragment of fate.