Ranker Who Lives Twice

Chapter 781 - Cha Yeon-woo (6)

Clack! Yeon-woo felt the last of the Giant God’s legend filling his soul. His body suddenly felt like it had become bigger. No, to be exact, he was simply regaining the power he temporarily lost.

However, although it had only been a few hours, the time Yeon-woo spent without his power felt like an eternity. It was probably because the words of the Giant God still echoed in his ears—that he was still human. Those words were deeply engraved in his heart.

‘But I feel lucid.’ Yeon-woo’s mind was more awake than ever, like someone had splashed him with cold water. It was as if he was suddenly released from tight binds that bound him.

‘Yes. I was human.’ Yeon-woo once again became certain of his identity. Although many things had happened and he had gained divinity, even if he had gone through many obstacles to get here, he realized he was human in the end. Always left wanting and longing for family and friends, Yeon-woo was human.

“What a cute little mess you’ve caused.”

Yeon-woo turned around to see the being who chilled the heated air with his sudden appearance. Yeon-woo’s injured body was done recovering, and magic power gathered as aura at his fingertips.

The Death King was looking at Yeon-woo with a face of disbelief. He had come as soon as possible after the Hoarder summoned him, but all that greeted him was boiling magma. The twisting turns of the ant’s nest were all blown away as well. He couldn’t even begin to imagine how large an explosion it had been. The caves here must’ve been durable enough to hold up no matter how much divine beings beat at it.

The Death King wasn’t a fool, and he knew Yeon-woo was the one behind this. The fact surprised him even more. When he first saw Yeon-woo, who seemed to be just a little rat, he never knew he’d grow to swallow the others in that short time.

“I see.” The Death King thought it was impossible, but he soon realized how. “Are you our origin?” Annoyance laced his voice. “But all of us were missing something… How come I don’t see that in you?”

The Death King was furious. He and the other legends were fighting because they wanted to. If only they had complete memories and identities, they wouldn’t have tried to kill the other legends to fill what they lacked.

In the past when they were in the Tower, they hadn’t fought like this although they were divided into hundreds of separate beings. Rather, they had cleared through the stage much easier than others. Because they knew precisely who they were, they were quick at making their decision. However, they weren’t able to do that here, so they had to find themselves until the end. If only they knew their own names…they wouldn’t have had to go through this.

The Death King couldn’t help but feel angry that Yeon-woo had a complete memory and identity just because he was their origin. He was jealous of him, an envy that came from not being able to have what he wanted.

“No. Sorry, but there’s no such thing as an origin.” But Yeon-woo just shook his head.

The Death King’s face crumpled. “What kind of bull…!”

“The legend of being human. I think that was mine.”

“…?” The Death King frowned in confusion, but Yeon-woo just looked at him with eyes void of emotion as if he had no reason to respond. The Death King didn’t like Yeon-woo’s lax attitude, but he swept his hair to the side as he tried to maintain composure. “Fine, whatever. Since things ended up like this, everything will be solved after someone becomes the final victor. So…!”

The Death King suddenly broke off mid-sentence because Yeon-woo began to explode the aura at the tips of his fingers. Crash! It was a strike that couldn’t be ignored. Pow pow pow! Now that Yeon-woo had swallowed the Giant God, who possessed the domain of fight, he wasn’t an easy opponent.

The Death King extended his shadow to deflect the attacks and shouted angrily, “You dare interrupt me when I’m talking?!”

“If you’re trying to offer an alliance, I refuse. I never work with people who have a history of stabbing others in the back.” Yeon-woo soon approached the Death King and attempted to slice his neck with aura. The Death King had a disbelieving expression, but he prepared to attack upon realizing Yeon-woo couldn’t be persuaded.

Just when shadow and aura were about to clash, the two stiffened.

[The legend of the ‘Giant Demonic Divine Dragon’ has been deleted!]

[The legend of the ‘Supreme God of Olympus’ has been deleted!]

“…!”

“…!”

‘What? Who’s died? The king of gods was acceptable, but the Giant Demonic Divine Dragon, who has been among the strongest, has died…?’ Questions ran through the minds of Yeon-woo and the Death King, and they reached the same conclusion. They knew the last legend had appeared!

[The ‘Alternative Ego of the Black King’ appears!]

Darkness began to stain the ground following the system message. It was a thick abysmal blackness. Yeon-woo and the Death King quickly flew up upon seeing the darkness that wouldn’t allow anyone who touched it to escape.

Keekeekeek.

It’s food. Something to eat.

Hurry and come here. Play with me. Come inside my stomach and play.

The evil intent and thoughts exuded from the darkness made them dizzy simply from looking at it.

‘Damn it! I was wondering why I didn’t see him yet!’ Yeon-woo realized that was how he would’ve looked after he had finished his destiny as an executor. The legend looked exactly like the many egos of the Black King had seen in the abyss, the Demonisms. Only greedy instinct remained after they lost themselves when they became a tool for the Black King to use.

The being in front of Yeon-woo and the Death King was like that too. Just as the being had swallowed the Giant Demonic Divine Dragon, he seemed to plan on swallowing Yeon-woo and the Death King as well.

‘I thought the Giant Demonic Divine Dragon would provide some resistance. I suppose it was too much.’ Yeon-woo clicked his tongue. He guessed the dragon must’ve had his limits without the motivation to do anything.

“What in the world…!” On the other hand, the Death King was shocked by the Alternative Ego of the Black King. Gods and demons alike exuded their energies. Even “emperors” emitted some sort of aura, but nothing could be felt from the creature in front of him. Moreover, the creature was different from the other Demonisms he knew. The ego felt like a great wall… No, like a swamp that couldn’t be resisted.

The Death King was so shocked he couldn’t defend himself when Yeon-woo’s aura came exploding from behind, swallowing him like the Giant God. As it swept through the Death King, the aura reached the Black King’s alternate ego.

Crash, crash, crash! Krrrrr, rumble!

Ticklish.

You’re tickling me!

Stop and come inside my stomach. You can get along with your other friends!

Of course, the attack didn’t affect the Black King’s alternate ego in the slightest, just itching a ticklish spot. Rather, the creature acted more ferociously, as if he was enjoying Yeon-woo’s resistance.

However, Yeon-woo didn’t think he could defeat the creature with his current state. He had to absorb any remaining legend and needed the time to combine the fragments!

[You have retrieved the legend of the ‘Throne of Death!’]

[You have successfully retrieved the ‘Third Piece!’]

…

[All fragments have been retrieved!]

[You have completed the quest!]

…

[You are being rewarded with ‘Li’s Light.’]

Fwoosh! Yeon-woo could feel a golden light shining from himself. The light was a different power than anything he had.

‘This is…the Heavenly Demon.’ Yeon-woo’s eyes widened. ‘The Heavenly Demon’s power…!’ The light of truth that overcame all darkness and created the universe warmly embraced his soul.

Play. Play with me!

At that moment, the Black King’s alternate ego dashed up and ate Yeon-woo. Gulp. The sound of something being swallowed rang out in the air.

* * *

Keekeekeek!

I ate it. I ate it! I ate it all! Now I’m the real ###!

But.

What is this? Why is nothing coming up?

Why don’t I know my name yet?!

As countless thoughts buzzed like a cluster of flies, the Black King’s alternate ego was flustered. He had swallowed the last remaining legend, Yeon-woo, but nothing was coming up. Because the creature only had instinct left behind, he couldn’t help but have the greatest desire for an identity. The ego was frustrated because he still didn’t know anything.

‘He’s gone mad with anger.’ Yeon-woo slowly opened his eyes inside of the Black King’s alternate ego. All he could see around him was a thick darkness. But it was familiar to him. He felt like he was meeting an old friend. This was where he had fought countless Demonisms and won in the end.

The creature must’ve thought he could melt Yeon-woo in the abyss after swallowing him, but the being was now faced with an unexpected standstill.

‘I didn’t even need this.’ Yeon-woo laughed in disbelief as he looked at the golden light still surrounding him.

[Li’s Light]

[Rank: Immeasurable]

[Description: The Fire of Origin. This is the first spark that was created when the universe was born. It will shine the light on your path whenever and wherever.]

Yeon-woo understood why this light was given to him. Even if he was surrounded by many legends, as long as he didn’t lose his identity, he’d have the chance to counterattack. At the same time, he understood why divine beings had balked from this light so much. Like the Giant God had said, gods were beings who walked alone. They needed to create their own paths.

But Li’s Light illuminated their paths for the gods. From then, they wouldn’t be worthy as divine beings. A god who couldn’t walk his own path and was guided by others was no longer a god. It was why the divine beings had instinctively avoided retrieving the fragments, and mortals had wanted them to be shown their paths.

On the other hand, it was useless to Yeon-woo, who had only wanted the power the fragments would give him. It was just a tool to clear this quest. ‘Well, since I think I’m starting to understand what Li is, I guess it’s not meaningless.’

The power that was opposite from his power of the Black King was a bit strange. Feeling the odd sensation, Yeon-woo spread apart his hand.

[The skill ‘Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword’ has been created!]

Then, dark lumps appeared along Yeon-woo’s palm and sharp canines were revealed. It was time to go back out.

“Devour.” Yeon-woo rammed Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword into the abyss.

Crunch!