The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 9

343.

Part 2, Episode 9.

Clang!

As I swung the Cheonbyeon [Heavenly Change Sword], a surprisingly light sensation accompanied the scattering sparks, and a sharp ringing echoed through my hazy vision.

‘A dagger?’

Instead of being flustered by the collapsing wall, they seized the opportunity to attack, which I inwardly admired. But seeing it was a dagger, I understood.

Classes that wield daggers invest heavily in agility and senses, given the short range they deal with.

Their reaction speed is bound to be faster than other classes.

‘Probably not a rogue… more likely an assassin type.’

The opponent, on the other hand, seemed quite taken aback.

They probably didn’t expect their surprise attack to be countered. Though their face was hidden by a robe, I could sense their bewilderment from the dagger that met mine.

But only for a moment.

Clang-!

In the blink of an eye, the composed intruder deflected Do-hyun’s sword and spun around.

Whoosh-

Simultaneously, they tossed the dagger slightly upward, then caught it with the other hand, adding more spin as they aimed for my carotid artery [major artery in the neck].

A near-acrobatic display of dagger skills.

Moreover, there was more than one dagger.

‘The second intruder. Is this one an assassin too?’

The intruder, who had been using stealth until this moment, subtly twisted the trajectory of their blade as they intervened.

If it were ordinary users, they would have been stabbed in the carotid artery and heart before they knew it, succumbing to bleeding and poison.

[Eye of Truth is activating.]

But Do-hyun, who was already watching through the Eye of Truth, wouldn’t fall for such petty tricks.

I don’t even need to move myself for this.

[Activating True White Lion’s Song.]

A fierce blizzard swirled, deflecting the attacks.

Perhaps it was because they were in an unstable stance with both feet off the ground, facing the fierce currents of the blizzard.

Krrr… Krheong!

The White Lion snarled and charged at the intruders, who were pushed back about 1 meter, unable to withstand the impact.

A complete fusion of offense and defense, where attacks and defenses are executed merely by holding the will, regardless of the caster’s physical condition.

-What is this……

Now was the chance, but there weren’t just two intruders.

Pshwshwsh-

Chaeang-!

Do-hyun, who deflected three arrows that flew from a blind spot, avoiding the blizzard, turned to see the third intruder, an archer, who had been watching for an opportunity until the very end.

Pshwshwsh- Phew-!

Even though his attack was blocked, he didn’t hesitate.

The archer intruder fired arrows without hesitation, as if he had anticipated it.

In the brief moment when the blizzard obscured the vision while blocking the arrows, he slid through the air and ran, carrying the assassin.

-Uh oh? Master, they’re running away!

-This lowly sword will bring them back, my lord!

From the start, their goal was to escape.

There was no reason for them to engage in a life-or-death battle with Do-hyun.

And Do-hyun felt the same way.

“……Ki.”

Do-hyun, who had been waiting for the last intruder to appear, opened his mouth, and Shin-hyung disappeared, soon appearing behind the archer.

A glimpse of a black shadow and a mark floating above his head.

They couldn’t possibly not know what this meant.

-……Backstab? He wasn’t a swordsman……!

-Eliza!

Cutting off the intruder’s astonished words, Eliza popped out of Do-hyun’s uniform with a ‘bbok,’ and spat out a spider web with a ‘pew.’

The web accurately hit their ankles and both hands, causing them to lose their balance and float in the air.

“Good job! Eliza.”

-Liza Liza!

Leaving Eliza, who was proud and puffed up after her rare moment of glory, behind, it was the moment he was about to swing the Cheonbyeon.

Whoosh-

‘Oh, my? Look at this?’

The archer, who twisted his body in the air like a cat to regain his balance, crouched down and kicked the bound assassins with all his might.

Before I could be amazed by his incredible improvisation, the assassins’ fierce daggers, now within striking distance, came at my vitals.

Moreover, it wasn’t just one strike.

The relentless barrage pouring from the two skilled assassins at a tremendous speed covered my vision, making me feel like I was being sucked into a mechanical car wash.

Krrr……!

The White Lion and the blizzard were rushing in from behind, but they were still quite far away.

The only drawback of the White Lion’s Song.

The fact that it was vulnerable to speed battles and variables because there was a limit to the speed of the blizzard and the White Lion was being exploited properly.

But Do-hyun smiled instead.

‘You want to try?’

I’ve already had enough close-quarters combat with that Kkukku guy.

Compared to Kkukku’s insane barrage and beast-like attacks fired from bizarre angles, I could block this with my eyes closed.

[Using Hero Skill ‘Acceleration’.]

[Attack speed and movement speed increase for 40 seconds.]

[Using Bairan Swordsmanship Second Form, Rain of Blades.]

An eye for an eye, a barrage for a barrage.

Activating the 2nd form of Bairan Swordsmanship, which embodies the idea that you cannot avoid the rain falling from the sky, countless sword paths unfolded.

Clang! Kaang-! Kakakang! Clang!

Daggers and swords collided incessantly, sparks flew, and ear-splitting ringing echoed.

Barely 3 seconds.

During the short time in which dozens of exchanges were made with a brief lapse in attention.

Tat-

The two assassins suddenly leaped back and retreated.

I thought it was another escape, but it was half right and half wrong.

It was right that they were escaping, but they weren’t just cleanly escaping.

[The intruder is preparing a powerful strike.]

[Danger! Be careful.]

The archer, who had already cut the spider web, was pulling the bowstring.

But the energy contained in the arrow was unusual.

-It’s dangerous, Master!

-Li, Liza!

-If, if you get hit by that, it’s over, Master?

The immense energy condensed on the arrowhead, making the dark tomb feel bright, was enough to know it was dangerous without even seeing the warning message.

-……Try to avoid it well. It’s a weapon that even I can’t handle properly yet…….

The solemn man released the string.

Flash-

Soon, a murky light mixed with gray and green exploded, covering the tomb.

An oppressive feeling that could be considered a disaster.

The end of that disaster was staring right at me, but Do-hyun calmly took a step forward.

Then, an energy like Mount Tai [sacred mountain in China, symbolizing stability] swirled around his entire body,

Thud. Thud.

Thud.

Finally, the moment Do-hyun, standing in front of the arrow, slowly extended the Cheonbyeon forward.

[Reversing the Heavens.]

[Using the 3rd Form, Heaven.]

Everything became clear in slow motion.

Moreover, Do-hyun could see it.

[Accepting the intruder’s powerful strike and grasping its foundation.]

[It is an overwhelming energy.]

[The duration is reduced, and only a portion of the foundation is grasped.]

[Negates damage only on the first contact and can influence the energy of destruction for 3 seconds.]

Where that immense energy started, what trajectory it was being emitted in.

Which part was the most threatening.

The massive energy that was just like a disaster no longer felt threatening.

Swish.

Soon, as the Cheonbyeon moved, the energy seemed to ripple and gradually began to be absorbed.

And the moment he took another step.

[Successfully parried.]

With a ‘paang’ sound, the immense energy scattered and disappeared in an instant.

“Whew, that was tough. This one was a bit difficult.”

I don’t think I’ve had such a tough time since facing the 4th Commander of Destruction.

How could an attack from a mere intruder be like this?

Do-hyun frowned as he complained, but the intruder himself was even more shocked than Do-hyun right now.

-……He blocked it? What is this nonsense…… How could a half-human being use such swordsmanship…… This doesn’t make sense. Could the prophecy be wrong……?

Watching the intruder, who was rambling as if a screw was loose, Do-hyun casually said a word.

“Ah, and thanks for the tip.”

-Tip…… what?

“Thanks for letting me know it’s a weapon skill. As a reward, I’ll give it back to you in the same way.”

-What is that…….

Do-hyun smiled at the intruder, who looked blank as if he didn’t know what was going on, and activated his ability.

[Using the Cheonbyeon’s special option due to enhancement.]

[It has been confirmed that the weapon has been in contact for more than 3 seconds.]

[Activation conditions have been met.]

[Activating ‘Option Devour’.]

[Devouring the ‘Hero’s Poem’ option of ‘Astra’s Arrow’ and granting it to the Cheonbyeon.]

At the same time, immense energy condensed on the Cheonbyeon.

The archer, as well as the assassins, stared blankly at the familiar energy emanating from the stranger’s sword.

And the moment the light emitted from the Cheonbyeon reached its maximum.

[Casting Hero’s Poem.]

“Now it’s your turn to dodge. It’s your skill, so you can do it, right?”

-Ah……?

Do-hyun threw the Cheonbyeon, and light exploded.

[Intruder ‘Rnel’ has been eliminated.]

[Intruder ‘Kayana’ has been eliminated.]

[Intruder ‘Akira’ has been eliminated.]

[It has been determined that all intruders have been eliminated, preventing escape.]

[Sudden quest, ‘Intruders of the Tomb,’ has been cleared.]

-WTF;;;

-What did I just see?

-This is more like an action movie? It’s so damn flashy.

-No, I don’t know what’s going on since he suddenly broke the wall.

-The scale is crazy, but what did he do at the end?

-Didn’t you watch Garion’s video? It’s the skill he used back then.

-You don’t deserve to be a Kashin follower.

-Kya~ This is why I watch Kaiser.

-Kaiser, he is a god! Kaiser, he is a god! Kaiser, he is a god!

-No, weren’t we supposed to stop them? He just eliminated them?

The chat room was in chaos at Do-hyun’s performance, who had achieved a one-punch three-kill.

Suddenly, such a battle while peacefully searching for a path.

From their perspective, it was like a fun entertainment show suddenly transforming into a blockbuster movie with CG and flashy action.

-Kaiser! Kaiser! Kaiser! Kaiser!

-Ah, I believe…….

-Kamen…….

-Wow, how is he level 99 without even transcending? How strong will he be when he goes to the New Continent?

-Look at Marty’s expression, lol. He’s totally spaced out, so funny.

-He’s already fallen for him. Is Marty going to Thailand soon? [reference to a meme about someone being so impressed they’re going to change their life]

Do-hyun scratched his head as he looked at the noisy chat room, which hadn’t calmed down even after 10 seconds.

‘……What, was this skill this strong?’

I felt how powerful it was when using the 3rd Form, Heaven, but I didn’t expect it to be a one-hit kill.

‘Wow. We would have all died if we got hit by that, Master?’

‘Li, Liza!’

‘Hmm, it’s more powerful than expected. Just looking at that skill, it far surpasses the archer who had a great mindset during the Commander of Destruction battle.’

The guardians were also surprised and had dazed expressions.

Even though they were unusual guys, how could they have such a cheat-like weapon when they weren’t even bosses?

Isn’t this practically an instant-death skill?

There’s a weapon that can copy such cheat-like options if the conditions are met?

‘Is this a +15 Mythic-grade weapon from the future?’

I already felt it during Garion, but it was the moment I realized once again how much of a cheat item the Cheonbyeon was.