Ranker's Return

‘Matters of Arena need to be solved in Arena.’

Hyeonu was extremely cautious. It wasn’t at the level of tapping a stone bridge. It was more like placing a new stone on top of it. Nevertheless, Hyeonu felt that it was still insufficient.

‘If I fail... There is too much to lose.’

He had many things now. His situation was different from when he previously deleted his character. Hyeonu hadn’t had his parents around to provide him with strong support. Now he had to take care of them.

“Tang-E,” Hyeonu called out to Tang-E, who was sitting on top of his head and moving his magic power.

“Why are you calling me, Master dude?” Tang-E removed the magic power around his paws and lowered his head to look at Hyeonu.

“If you meet Cancun later, play with him. Understood?”

“Understood, Master dude. The two of us will go to play.” Tang-E nodded at Hyeonu’s words. He had originally intended to do so even if Hyeonu hadn’t said anything.

‘Raccoon definitely knows the emperor.’

If so, Raccoon would have a rough idea of what would happen when the emperor and Hyeonu fought. Therefore, Hyeonu came to the Black Forest to hear Raccoon’s opinion.

A few minutes after their conversation, Hyeonu and Tang-E faced the orcs.

“It has been a while.” Hyeonu bowed to Raccoon and Dakan. As Hyeonu lowered his head, Tang-E jumped off it as if he was coming down from a slide. Then he immediately started running toward Cancun, who was swinging an axe in the distance.

“How did he grow up so well...?” Raccoon shook his head when he saw the small bear covered in fluffy fur.

“So why didn’t you raise him well?” Dakan clicked his tongue when he saw such a Raccoon.

In his view, Cancun was just like Raccoon. Raccoon had only become a bit pleasant now. When he was young, he was synonymous with reticence and bluntness.

“Didn’t he grow up well because I raised him well? He has grown up well. So what do you mean by how was he raised? It is better to eat well and be a big guy.” Raccoon was angry.

Dakan’s words made him feel that uncomfortable. However, Raccoon couldn’t say anything else. It was because he was the only one who would lose out the more they spoke. Then Raccoon turned his eyes to Hyeonu. “Are you here to keep your promise?”

“Well, I came here for a double purpose,” Hyeonu said.

He had a previous appointment with Raccoon. It was to meet with Cancun and spar periodically.

“A double purpose? You want to see me for something?” A sharp look appeared in Raccoon’s eyes. Hyeonu’s words were something he hadn’t expected.

“I just have a question for you.”

“What is it?” Raccoon asked with a curious expression.

“What will my winning rate be if I fight against the emperor?” Hyeonu asked bluntly. There was no need to beat around the bush. It was enough just to talk and hear the answer.

“The emperor....? That human? Against you?” Raccoon cocked his head for a moment as he wondered who the emperor was that Hyeonu was talking about. He soon remembered the face of a blonde-haired young man.

“Why are you curious about that?” Raccoon didn’t immediately give the answer that Hyeonu wanted and instead changed the topic.

“I’m just curious.”

“Are you really just curious?”

“Yes, I’m curious.”

“It is 0%.”

“Huh?”

Hyeonu automatically frowned.

0%—it was a number stating that there was no possibility at all of him winning.

“Are you saying that if we fight 100 times, I will lose all 100 times?” Hyeonu asked again with a dumbfounded look.

“Then do you think you will win? You have big dreams.”

On the contrary, compared to Hyeonu’s expression, Raccoon had an expression that showed he found the idea even more ridiculous.

“When I first met him, he was stronger than you are now. This is even when taking into consideration what you showed when you fought Luke.”

Raccoon recalled the first time he met the emperor, Alexander—a human being who was hiding sharp killing intent like a refined sword. Alexander didn’t really make sense to Raccoon. He found it strange that a swordsman could handle magic power better than the sword.

“That guy’s talent is real. He is more suited to be a magician than a swordsman. I’ve never seen someone handle magic power so well. He is better than the ones who call themselves dragons.”

However, Alexander was definitely strong. Thus, Raccoon admitted that this could be a style as well.

“Still, I don’t understand something. It isn’t to the point where I will just get beaten up. Yet I can’t beat him at all?” Hyeonu was gradually getting upset.

Thinking about it, he wondered if Raccoon was underestimating him too much.

“Of course. Do you think you can even hold out for a second?”

“Is there that much of a difference?”

“Yes, there is a massive difference.” Raccoon nodded coolly. He admitted it too easily.

“I’ve become stronger than I was back then. I got some good artifacts.”

“Nevertheless, I don’t think that anything will change. It isn’t just about becoming stronger and gaining more magic power,” Raccoon lightly refuted Hyeonu’s argument. His opinion was still the same. “I don’t think you know it properly... No matter what you see, it isn’t all of him.”

Hyeonu, who was about to become angry, shut his mouth. It was because he felt something disturbing from Raccoons’ words.

‘It is new information.’

“Is there something I don’t know?” Hyeonu asked in his usual voice.

“That guy’s strong point is something separate. The invisible is more dangerous than the visible. Rather, anything that is visible is easy to prevent.”

A scene flashed through Hyeonu’s mind after hearing Raccoon’s words.

‘That’s it. It is when he killed the hatchling...’

In the past, the emperor had caused the hatchling Hyeonu encountered in Rondal, the advanced academy of the Luos Empire, with a single gesture. That was what Raccoon was saying.

“I know. I’ve seen it once. The thing I want to say is... What if I was fighting the emperor in a slightly less healthy state, not the emperor who is in good condition?”

“Less healthy? By how much?”

“It is to the extent where he is cursed and can’t use one arm. How about that?”

“Hmm...” Raccoon was lost in thought for a moment. “I think it is 50:50.”

“Half? Is it that much?” Hyeonu asked with wide eyes.

Just then, Dakan opened his mouth from beside Raccoon and said, “I was with you back then... I think this is enough.”

Dakan had also been present the first time Raccoon met the emperor. He had watched the fight between Raccoon and the emperor carefully.

“I don’t really know for sure? I think I need to test it out before I know. Didn’t you say it? You are different from what I know.” Raccoon finished his contemplation and shrugged.

“I understand. Let me show you how much I have changed,” Hyeonu obediently responded to Raccoon’s suggestion. He would’ve never have agreed to it at other times, but Hyeonu was currently in a hurry.

“Please take into account the lack of help from other adventurers and Tang-E,” Hyeonu said as he slowly stepped back. He wasn’t showing his best against Raccoon right now. It was just an opportunity to show his change.

“I understand. I will take that into consideration.”

Raccoon was well aware of what a battle was like when Hyeonu wasn’t blessed by other adventurers. It was because he had watched a few battles where Hyeonu fought against the ra tribe. Hyeonu received Raccoon’s confirmation and immediately used his skills.

‘Acknowledged Giant.’

[Acknowledged Giant has been used.]

[All stats have increased.]

‘Unseal.’

[Unsealed has been used.]

[All stats have increased.]

A tremendous amount of pressure was released from Hyeonu’s body when he used the item skills. It was only two buffs but his stats rose enormously. However, the buffs didn’t end here. There was one more.

‘Manifestation of the Chaos Dragon.’

[Manifestation of the Chaos Dragon has been used.]

[The effect of all skills has increased.]

Light exploded from Hyeonu’s body and gathered behind him to form a shape. It was the image of a giant dragon. The dragon cried harshly toward the sky and started to roam around in midair. It weaved through the air several times before rushing straight toward Hyeonu’s body.

Hyeonu absorbed the dragon, and a change occurred. Two horns rose from his helmet.

“Hoh?” Raccoon exclaimed when he saw that. He seemed to know why Hyeonu was so confident, but this wasn’t enough. He wouldn’t know precisely until they fought.

‘Right. I have to compare it to know.’

Raccoon didn’t draw the axe he was carrying on his back. Instead, he gathered his magic power to create an axe with pure energy.

“Come!” Raccoon called out to Hyeonu.

Hyeonu took it as a signal and kicked off from the ground, rushing at Raccoon.

‘I will finish it at once.’ Hyeonu knew how to fight against an overwhelmingly strong opponent like Raccoon or the emperor. Unless the other person was careless, he should not drag it out for a long time. He had to pour everything unconditionally into one opportunity. It was one of the reasons why the battles were sometimes long. He had to hold on until a clear opportunity arose.

‘Now is the time.’

It was when the opponent gave up a preemptive attack like just now. At this time, Hyeonu had to put everything into the first attack.

‘The start is Mixed Sky Steps.’

Hyeonu’s body scattered in an instant. Like a ghost, his presence was lost, and he drifted through the air. More than a dozen Hyeonus appeared in midair. Each of the clones took on different postures. Some lowered the Mixed Sky Sword toward Raccoon while others drew The Last Divine Artifact and aimed it at Raccoon.

‘The skill effect is doubled... Was it this much?’

As usual, Hyeonu used magic power to activate Mixed Sky Steps, but the result was completely different this time. It was many times faster and with more manifestations.

‘Isn’t this sufficient to try it?’

A bit of confidence developed in Hyeonu’s heart. The effect of Manifestation of the Chaos Dragon was great.

Raccoon swung his axe at Hyeonu, who had split into dozens of copies. There was no fool who would patiently wait for the opponent’s attack. The pure energy Raccoon fired swept through the air. The dozens of Hyeonus responded to the pure energy by swinging their weapons, but all of them were fine.

Most of them disappeared under the power of the pure energy. The survivors surrounded Raccoon on all sides. Then they swung their weapons.

[You possess the magic power of the guardian.]

[Attack power is increased by an additional 75%.]

[You have the magic power of the sentry.]

[Attack power is increased by an additional 75%.]

[You have Road to Complete Perfection.]

[Attack power is increased by an additional 200%.]

Among the clones, a spear was held in the hand of Hyeonu, who was preparing a real attack. It was because the strongest blow that Hyeonu could show would only come out when he lifted the spear.

‘Mixed Sky Demonic Strength and Cutting the Moonlight.’

Purple magic power flowed into the spear in Hyeonu’s hand. Hyeonu kicked hard against the air and threw the spear.

‘This is a bit dangerous...’

Just then, a purple dot appeared on Raccoon’s green axe. Raccoon saw it and placed the axe in his other hand. He quickly stepped back and threw a punch. There was a loud explosion, and a huge crater appeared where Raccoon had been standing.

“...Okay,” he said. In the middle of the crater, Raccoon stood in good shape while dusting off the dirt on his body. He continued, “The odds are 50:50 as Dakan said. It could be even higher with the help of other adventurers.”

It was only one attack, but Raccoon fully sensed how different Hyeonu had become.

‘It is definitely different from when he was against Luke.’

The change was certain. It wasn’t to a ridiculous degree, but it was a noticeable change. He wondered if it made sense for Hyeonu to have developed so quickly.

“Really? Is that correct?” Hyeonu ran to Raccoon and asked again and again.

“Yes.”

It wasn’t until he received a definite answer from Raccoon several times that he smiled.

“Then I’ll go and see Tang-E.”

With a lighter heart, Hyeonu immediately abandoned Raccoon and left. Dakan confirmed that Hyeonu had disappeared before approaching Raccoon. “Brother, is there a being who can cast a curse that will work on that man?”

“Of course not. He is someone who can even shake off the curses that the dragons use.”

“Then why didn’t you tell him?”

“Why didn’t you do it?”

Dakan and Raccoon’s eyes met. After a few seconds, the two of them burst out laughing as they looked at each other.

“I think something interesting is going to happen... It isn’t right for me to step in and ruin it,” Raccoon said with a smile on his face.

“Why are you lying? You’re being mean for no reason.” Dakan shook his head.

Raccoon’s behavior was clearly a show of his temper. This was because he would soon have to work for the league again.

“I can’t be the only one suffering.”

It naturally wasn’t the type of work that used the body. Instead, it meant sitting in a chair and looking at the papers stacked on the desk.