Ranker's Return

NEW NOVEL: First and foremost, I'm delighted to announce that our long-time veteran translator littleshanks has finally launched his new novel, Rise!  Rise is a novel about the esports scene in Shanghai, the competitive gaming capital of China. It follows the story of Lin Feng, a boy who has just moved to the city for his last year of high school. He's a passionate gamer and dreams of being the best professional League of Legends player in the world. The twist? He almost achieved his dream, but failed at the...

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[Mysterious Sky Demonic Sage Inner Core]

[The inner core of the Mysterious Sky Demonic Sage—one of the greatest practitioners in the history of the Mysterious Sky Sect.

Rating: Unique

Restrictions: None

Effect: Once used, all stats will increase randomly by between 10-99. There is an ordinary probability of increasing skill proficiency. There is a low probability of creating a skill. There is a very low probability of creating a stat.]

“Amaaaaazing!!!!”

Hyeonu was thrilled by the item information in front of him. An unexpected item had come out. Hyeonu’s expectations had been for an item similar to the epic items as before. In the worst case, he had even expected a useless rare item. Yet this type of item emerged. In the simplest word, the Mysterious Sky Demonic Sage Inner Core was an ‘essence’ for players. When he consumed it, his stats would increase, and if he was lucky, he would be able to create a skill.

‘The difference is that I can expect an increase in stats.’

Hyeonu placed the inner core in his mouth without any hesitation and swallowed it. There was no need to delay.

‘In any case, it’s random. It would be a failure if it goes up by only 10 points later.’

It was clear there would be no difference between eating it now and later. Of course, there might be a difference, but Hyeonu couldn’t say that the difference would be severe.

[The player has taken the Mysterious Sky Demonic Sage Inner Core.]

[The strength stat has increased by 14 points.]

[The agility stat has increased by 32 points.]

[The physique stat has increased by 21 points.]

[The magic power stat has increased by 53 points.]

[The fighting energy stat has increased by 94 points.]

[The dignity stat has increased by 47 points.]

[The proficiency of the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art has increased.]

[The skill Mysterious Sky Demonic Art’s rank has risen to 5 stars.]

[A skill has been created.]

[Mysterious Sky Demonic Art 5 stars 1/1]

[Handing Down the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art has been cleared.]

[Experience has been acquired.]

[You have leveled up.]

[All health and magic power are restored.]

[The full Mysterious Sky Demonic Art has been acquired.]

Hyeonu had just eaten the inner core when numerous messages covered his eyes. It wasn’t just a rise in stats. The skill proficiency of the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art increased as well, and this helped clear the quest.

‘Shall I look at my status window?’

He opened the status window to check his condition that had changed after taking the inner core.

[Character Name: Gang Hyeonu

Level: 218

Class: True Knight of Keon

Title: Lebron’s Disciple, Warrior Acknowledged by Khan, New Star Acknowledged by Lebron, First Person to Enter the Imperial Palace, First Person to Meet the Emperor, Achieved 100 Consecutive Wins, Solo Raider, Desert Dragon Slayer, Ruler of the Spider Mine, Viscount Vampire Killer, First Detached Force Member, First Person to Clear Laek, First Player to go Beyond The Limits, First to Become a Viscount, True Knight of Keon, Centaur Slayer, Undefeated Sovereign

Stats: Strength: 484 (+1,150)  Agility: 692 (+1,450)  Physique: 341 (+1,300)  Magic Power: 388 (+1,350)  Fighting Energy: 522 (+900)  Dignity: 147 (+900)

Remaining stat points: 5

Retained Attributes: Dark]

The status window still boasted brilliant titles and stats.

‘I gained around 250 points in stats.’

It was the same effect as gaining 50 levels.

“Woohoo!” Hyeonu couldn’t help letting out an exclamation.

The thought of gaining 50 levels at once using the inner core put him in a good mood. Hyeonu was unable to control his emotions and eventually expressed himself by showing off an unidentified dance move. His dance was a struggle that couldn’t be described in one word. It looked like a dance by ancient shamans.

“Tsk...” Tang-E clicked his tongue at the sight. ‘He is like this every time he picks up something.’

***

“Take this. It has the secret techniques of the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art written on it.” Hyeonu gave the written secret techniques he gained from the quest to the Mysterious Sky Sect member. After receiving the techniques from Hyeonu, the Mysterious Sky Sect member didn’t move. It was because his memories of that time when they lost part of the art appeared in his mind. He couldn’t describe in words the suffering he and his master had gone through to restore the incomplete Mysterious Sky Demonic Art.

It was unbearable. The problem was that the pain was passed on to his disciples.

‘It is a good thing that I got it back.’

“Tell me if you want anything. I’ll listen to any request you have. If you want the position of the sect leader, I can give it to you.”

The Mysterious Sky Sect member was willing to do anything to thank Hyeonu. However, the position of leader of the Mysterious Sky Sect was useless to Hyeonu. It couldn’t even be compared to an item that fell on the road.

‘Give me a title or an item then...’ Hyeonu thought. 

He said, “It’s fine. The position of leader is for those who have dedicated themselves to the martial arts sect. I’m just satisfied with learning the full Mysterious Sky Demonic Art. Just... I need something.”

The thing Hyeonu needed was an item, that’s all. No formal positions were needed. Only specific items were wanted.

“Tell me. What do you want? I’ll give you anything I can.” The Mysterious Sky Sect member’s expression changed several times at Hyeonu’s words. He expressed feelings of relief and disappointment when Hyeonu said he wasn’t interested in the position. Then he was glad when Hyeonu said he needed something.

“I want to have the treasure of the martial arts sect. Something like this ring.” Hyeonu took off Master of the Mysterious Sky and showed it to the sect member. Master of the Mysterious Sky was literally a treasure used by the disciples of the Mysterious Sky Sect.

‘Other items will also be epic rated. Unique is also possible...’

Hyeonu tried to get as much as possible. However, Arena wouldn’t just give Hyeonu items.

“There is no such treasure in the sect anymore. The missing master ancestor had the last treasure of the sect,” the Mysterious Sky Sect member replied. His answer was neither a positive or a negative one. It was an ambiguous answer.

‘There isn’t one?’ Hyeonu’s expression changed dramatically. It existed, but the sect did not possess it.

Hyeonu questioned the Mysterious Sky Sect member in a more urgent tone, “So you don’t know the last treasure’s whereabouts?”

Hyeonu was forced to feel nervous. It was different when he didn’t know the existence of the epic items. Now it was almost impossible to maintain his normal self under the current circumstances, even if he had good items.

“From what I’ve noticed, there didn’t seem to be a conflict with the forces currently revealed in Jianghu. The last traces of it were in Shuiyang of Shao Hao province. I don’t know any more details.”

“I will look for its traces.”

The moment Hyeonu’s words were over, a message window appeared to inform Hyeonu of a quest creation.

[A quest has been created.]

[Missing Treasure]

[Find the treasure that disappeared together with the former Mysterious Sky Demonic Senior.

His last traces were in Shuiyang of Shao Hao province.

Rating: S+

Conditions: Whereabouts of the former master ancestor 0/1

Rewards: The treasure of the Mysterious Sky Sect.]

‘Good. I got a quest.’

Hyeonu smiled with satisfaction at the quest. Now there was a way to get the item. He could slowly think about the other things while playing.

“Then I will be going now.” Hyeonu bowed toward the Mysterious Sky Sect member and said goodbye. He no longer needed to remain here. Hyeonu had gotten information about an item and also a quest, so he wanted to leave as soon as possible.

“I wish you luck,” the Mysterious Sky Sect member said.

Hyeonu bid him farewell and left the Mysterious Sky Sect behind.

***

The first thing Hyeonu did outside the Mysterious Sky Sect was to check the newly created skill. A characteristic of the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art was that a new skill was created every time its proficiency reached an odd number. As a result, one new skill was created for Hyeonu.

[Mysterious Demonic Martial Art]

[A famous martial art in the East Continent.

Once the proficiency reaches 3, 5, 7, and 9 stars, new skills will be opened.

Type: Martial Art

Rating: Unique

Skill Proficiency: 5 stars (the proficiency of martial arts is indicated by the star unit)

The attribute is fixed as the dark attribute.

The effect of magic power is increased by 70%.

Mysterious Sky Steps can be used.

Mysterious Sky Range can be used.

Mysterious Sky can be used.

Mysterious Sky is activated during combat.]

Hyeonu read the skill description and frowned. ‘What is this?’

The description of the new skill was very poor. Even so, his experience with other games and in reading novels of the video-game genre made it possible for him to guess the effect of Mysterious Sky.

‘For example, my senses are sharper than before.’

However, this was just speculation. The information wasn’t accurate.

“I need a real battle to determine it.”

Hyeonu chose the more ignorant but effective method to understand the Mysterious Sky skill. It was practice.

***

It wasn’t boring as he moved toward Shuiyang of Shao Hao province. However, it wasn’t because of Tang-E. Instead, it was the people who appeared that stopped him from being bored. There were monsters, but there was only a limited variety—bandits and mounted bandits.

They were mainly humanoid monsters. Monsters such as golems, scorpions, and trolls common in the west weren’t easy to see here. Why? There were many monsters on the East Continent. They just weren’t easy to meet.

The reason was simple. They had been pushed out. Compared to the West Continent, the monsters in the East Continent were weaker. There were some powerful monsters, but they were very few in number. On the other hand, the average level of the NPCs was high. Even the most common bandits were level 130 or higher. The NPCs on the East Continent were usually grains of sand, but they were as hard as cement when enemies appeared. They joined forces to push the monsters out.

“Your life will be spared if you hand over gold coins!!” Men with bushy beards and poorly trimmed hair stood in Hyeonu and Tang-E’s way. It was the emergence of bandits.

‘How can they appear when they are needed?’ Hyeonu thought as he shouted loudly at the mountain bandits. “That is what I want to say. Your lives will be spared if you put down your weapons!!”

Hyeonu’s provocation sparked a change in the bandits’ expressions. It was just a routine business practice a moment ago, but now they were genuinely angry.

“You don’t know who you are going against! If I can’t tear you apart today, then I’ll go to the castle!” The man believed to be the leader of the bandits shouted, and all the bandits started to move toward Hyeonu.

Of course, the bandit boss was also present.

“No one knows who you are as well as I do! You big heads!” Hyeonu poured his fighting energy toward the mountain bandits.

[Master of Combat is activated.]

[Your stats have increased.]

[The stat ‘fighting energy’ has caused your stats to rise.]

[The player is stronger than the opponent.]

[The other person’s stats will drop.]

[The stat ‘dignity’ has caused the opponent’s stats to fall.]

[Mindset of a Murderer has activated.]

[All stats have increased by 15%.]

Once Hyeonu’s skills and stats were activated, the bandits’ movements slowed down markedly. The dignity stat first decreased the stats of the bandits. Then there was an additional drop in stats due to fighting energy. Hyeonu also used Fighting Energy Emission. The red energy that stretched out from his body started to imprison the bandits. Fighting Energy Emission was a disaster for the bandits because the higher the stats difference, the greater the effect.

[Mysterious Sky is activated.]

[Your five senses have sharpened.]

The most important thing was this message. Mysterious Sky had activated. The more Hyeonu used Mysterious Sky, the more he thought it was a scam. The most important thing about combat was the five senses, vision in particular. The basics of combat was to see and respond to the opponent’s attacks. It went without saying that Mysterious Sky reinforced this view to the extreme.

The bandits were slowed down due to the skills Hyeonu used. In addition, the perspective enhanced by Mysterious Sky allowed Hyeonu to grasp the movements of the bandits. The effect produced a very absurd result. The axes wielded by the bandits swept past Hyeonu’s body. They were so close to Hyeonu’s body that the bandits felt it was a waste.

In other words, it meant Hyeonu avoided the axes in a breathtaking manner. He used Mysterious Sky Steps to dig into the gaps that emerged after the bandits failed in their attack. Hyeonu didn’t use any special skills. He just swung Dark Star, but the bandits couldn’t even resist.

Hyeonu’s movements and attacks were too exquisite. Nearly 10 bandits flew through the sky. The battle ended in an instant.

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