The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times

Chapter 52

[‘Rising Dragon Kick’ has been obtained.]

[Rising Dragon Kick]

– Grade: Rare

– Restriction: Martial Artist class

– Description: A kicking technique that launches upward with the energy of a dragon.

Although it doesn’t truly harness the energy of a dragon, its execution evokes a dragon-like phenomenon, hence the name Rising Dragon Kick.

– Effect: Delivers powerful damage upon impact and can be applied to all parts of the leg.

– Cooldown: 21 seconds

‘Oh?’

Do-hyeon’s eyes sparkled.

This was a skill he was very familiar with.

Rising Dragon Kick was one of the most favored skills among martial artists.

With its decent power, versatile usage conditions, and stylish effects, it was a highly popular skill.

‘Not bad.’

Do-hyeon had always secretly admired the flashy skills of martial artists, which were distinct from swordsmanship.

For someone like Do-hyeon, who actively engaged in close-quarters combat without solely relying on a sword, martial artist skills would prove immensely beneficial.

‘Alright, let’s keep up this momentum and draw another one!’

Feeling excited, Do-hyeon used the remaining skill draw ticket.

Once again, ten cards appeared, emitting a silver glow, causing Do-hyeon to let out a small laugh.

This time, there weren’t even three silver cards—just two.

‘The odds are still merciless.’

What kind of extraordinary luck did those players have to draw heroic or legendary skills through this kind of probability?

Amid such musings, Do-hyeon selected his cards.

With only two silver cards, the decision wasn’t difficult.

Ding.

“Huh?”

However, the moment the skill card appeared, Do-hyeon froze.

[‘Striking’ has been obtained.]

[Striking]

– Grade: Rare

– Restriction: Buffer class

– Description: A buff skill that imbues the user with formidable strength for a set duration.

This is the most basic yet practical buff magic that all buffers can use.

– Effect: When used on a target, it boosts physical attack power by +40 for 40 seconds.

– Cooldown: 40 seconds

‘A buffer skill?’

A skill from an entirely unexpected class had appeared.

And not just any skill—it was Striking, a foundational buff that all buffers were expected to master.

While it could only target one person at a time and was more useful in the early stages of the game, it remained a skill that most damage-dealers wished to receive.

‘Because it allows for focused support.’

Nicknamed the 444 Buff, it increased attack power by 40 for 40 seconds with a cooldown of 40 seconds.

For boosting a single individual, no other buff offered such consistent uptime, and receiving this buff was considered an implicit sign that the player was the team’s ace.

More than its performance, the skill held a sense of prestige.

‘That said, it’s not like its performance is bad.’

In fact, it was quite good.

For a rare skill, its utility was excellent.

And while it might fall slightly short in later stages, that was only when considering the skill in isolation.

With the right equipment or additional skills to amplify buffs, Striking wielded immense power in the hands of a skilled buffer.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a core skill for buffers due to its ability to provide uninterrupted buffs.

‘Though my Striking probably won’t reach that level….’

Still, he was satisfied to have obtained Striking at this low level.

In this phase of the game, a +40 attack boost was no trivial number—it was equivalent to transforming a standard rapier user into someone dealing greatsword-level damage.

“Sweet.”

Do-hyeon had been worried about pulling some bizarre skill from an unfamiliar class due to being an All-Master, but fortunately, all the skills he obtained were practical.

Feeling relieved, Do-hyeon was about to leave the field when he paused.

[Would you like to harvest the Essence Orb of the hidden field boss, ‘Goblin Warrior Karuk’?]

“No way I’d skip this.”

There was still an unclaimed reward.

And not just any reward, but an Essence Orb—a guaranteed equipment item with a 30% increased drop rate for all its contents!

Reaching out toward his final prize, Do-hyeon smiled as he prepared to leave.

* * *

Chirp. Chirrup.

In the heart of the western forest.

Do-hyeon, who had wandered absentmindedly from the Warriors’ Lair, suddenly stopped.

Standing still, he gazed blankly at the air for a moment before…

“Ah….”

He let out a sigh of admiration.

He then walked a few more steps before halting again…

“Hmm….”

Repeating his sighs of awe, Do-hyeon attracted the attention of nearby players roaming the forest.

“Who is that? What’s he doing?”

“Don’t know… There are always weirdos in God of Savior. Let’s not get involved; it’ll only be exhausting.”

“Yeah… Wandering around alone is suspicious enough.”

“But who’s that kid next to him? Don’t tell me it’s a kidnapping….”

“Shh. How could there be kidnappings in a game? That’s too far.”

“Oh, right. Let’s just avoid him—we might get dragged into trouble.”

To their eyes, Do-hyeon didn’t seem normal no matter how they looked at him.

While they thought they were whispering discreetly, humans tend to hear insults directed at them with remarkable clarity.

Do-hyeon heard everything, as did Jihad, who stood beside him.

– Hmm, sharp-eyed humans, indeed.

Jihad couldn’t help but agree with their assessment.

Even in Jihad’s eyes, his master looked like a lunatic.

They only had to endure watching this briefly now, but Jihad had been subjected to this sight the entire time on their way from the Warriors’ Lair.

“Master, sometimes you’re just too scary.”

“Do you think so? I’m scared of myself too. How far do I intend to climb with this… huh.”

-…

Jihad was genuinely grateful at this moment that his robe was enchanted with face-obscuring magic.

Though he had ended up being treated like a man with flowers stuck on him, even Do-hyeon could do nothing about it.

[Karuk’s Red and Blue Leather Tunic]

[Grade: Heroic]

[Description: A tunic crafted from the leather of the great Goblin Warrior Karuk.

Karuk, who emerged between the Red and Blue Tribes, possesses traits of both tribes. This tunic, made from the leather of Karuk who lived for over a century, is exceptionally sturdy.]

[Level Requirement: 24]

[Equipment Restriction: None]

[Physical Defense: 94]

[Magic Resistance: 75]

– Strength +2

– Agility +1

– Perception +1

– Vitality +2

[Special Option: Recovers 3% of max health upon defeating a monster.]

[Special Option: 40% chance to resist knockback effects.]

[Karuk’s Red and Blue Leather Pants]

[Grade: Heroic]

[Description: Pants crafted from the leather of the great Goblin Warrior Karuk.

Karuk, who emerged between the Red and Blue Tribes, possesses traits of both tribes. These pants, made from Karuk’s leather, are exceptionally sturdy due to his century-long existence.]

[Level Requirement: 24]

[Equipment Restriction: None]

[Physical Defense: 90]

[Magic Resistance: 70]

– Strength +2

– Agility +1

– Vitality +3

[Special Option: Recovers 3% of max health upon defeating a monster.]

[Special Option: Physical defense increases each time an attack is received, stacking up to 6 times. The stacks reset if no attack is received within 15 seconds.]

[Karuk’s Red and Blue Leather Shoulder Guards]

[Grade: Rare+]

[Description: Shoulder guards crafted from the leather of the great Goblin Warrior Karuk.

Karuk, who emerged between the Red and Blue Tribes, possesses traits of both tribes. These sturdy shoulder guards were made from Karuk’s leather, aged over a century.]

[Level Requirement: 24]

[Equipment Restriction: None]

[Physical Defense: 80]

[Magic Resistance: 64]

– Agility +2

– Vitality +2

– Health Recovery Rate +5%

[Karuk’s Essence Ring]

[Grade: Heroic]

[Description: A ring imbued with the essence of the great Goblin Warrior Karuk.

Since attaining the position of a great warrior, Karuk never once stepped down. Over the century, his energy imbued the ring with extraordinary power.]

[Level Requirement: 24]

[Equipment Restriction: Warrior Class]

[Physical Defense: 101]

[Magic Resistance: 91]

– Strength +3

– Vitality +3

– HP +400

[Special Option: When HP drops below 1%, a barrier forms for 5 seconds, absorbing damage equal to 15% of max HP. (Cooldown: 2 hours)]

“Wow…”

The items obtained after defeating Karuk this time.

Even seeing their dazzling grade made it impossible not to admire them.

The upper and lower set pieces acquired as enhanced event quest rewards were impressive enough, but the performance of the shoulder guards and ring obtained from the essence orb was no joke either.

Among them, the tunic and ring stood out the most.

“Knockback resistance and a protective barrier… I’ve hit the jackpot.”

Do-hyeon possessed a Heroic Trait that blocked various status ailments.

However, the description of this trait, which seemed overpowered enough to block everything, mentioned only the prevention of mental corruption.

Then what about physical status effects like bleeding or knockback?

“I probably can’t block them.”

Like DemRock, God of Savior was meticulous with its descriptions.

The use of the term “mental corruption” clearly implied that it applied strictly to mental status effects.

Even if the effect was based on probability, blocking one of Do-hyeon’s significant vulnerabilities was certainly welcome.

“Knockback can be pretty annoying too.”

This was especially true when fighting tanks, particularly the Holy Knight class, which possessed numerous knockback skills.

In extreme cases, one couldn’t even get close, making it nearly impossible for close-range professions like martial artists to contend with Holy Knights.

High-level content often featured bosses with knockback skills as well.

This was equally troublesome for Do-hyeon, whose combat style was based on close-range attacks, but the presence of a protection option eased his concerns slightly.

“That ring is pure overpowered.”

Even the tunic couldn’t compare to the ring’s protective barrier.

Despite the hefty two-hour cooldown and the condition of HP dropping below 1%, the barrier was worth it.

Blocking one devastating attack for free and providing a chance for a counterattack made the skill invaluable.

It was almost like gaining an extra life.

“Of course, if the damage exceeds the barrier’s limit, it’s useless…”

Non-tank professions, with typically lower max HP, often ended up overestimating the barrier and paid the price.

Still, the defensive barrier option, which could act as an extra life, was highly sought after.

In a game where the death penalty mattered, options that could mitigate it were rare and valuable.

And that wasn’t all.

-3-Set: Increases range by 10% during downward slashes, boosts melee attack damage by 6.5%, and enhances all stats by +4.

“Wow…”

The set bonus was truly awe-inspiring, like taking a sip of sparkling soda that left one refreshed.

This was the power of an Heroic Set Bonus, activated by equipping three Heroic-grade items.

Conditional as it was, the increase in range, damage, and the boost to all stats by +4 made it irresistible.

[You have unequipped the Warrior Set.]

[You have equipped the Red and Blue Warrior Set Bonus.]

[You have equipped the Bastard’s Training Sword.]

Without hesitation, Do-hyeon swapped his equipment.

The Warrior Set?

It had served its purpose.

Now, it was time to let it go.

After equipping the new gear and opening the character menu, Do-hyeon’s reflection in the mirror looked visibly upgraded.