I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-139

Ch-139

—

**《‘The Supreme Hero’s Rank’ has been completed.》**

**《A new Supreme Unique-grade equipment has been born!》**

**《The class ‘Supreme Sword Saint’ can now use the hidden skill, ‘Supreme Sword.’》**

A hidden skill whose existence I knew of only because I’d gained the Supreme Sword Saint class.

It meant I could finally use it.
It meant I had fulfilled all the conditions for its appearance.

But those words did not appear before my eyes.

‘…Ah.’

Of course they wouldn’t.

The moment North Heaven Ice Sword regained its original form and was further elevated by the Last Twilight—
the majesty of the sword created from that process overwhelmed me entirely.

It was on a completely different level from any Unique-grade I had crafted before.

—

—

**Winter.**

Just like its name, it was a pure-white sword.
Transparent like ice, a winter that would never melt.
Just looking at it alone was breathtakingly beautiful—
but if appearance were all it had, I would not be this overwhelmed.

‘The Last Twilight—the rune engraved with the rank of the Radiant Hero’s constellation.’

A mere engraving capable of elevating another object’s rank to a transcendental level.

Even I had never seen such a “rune” before.

And the result produced by this rune was equally unfamiliar.

**《A ‘Collection’ has been completed and activated.》**

**《Two Unique-grade names have been added to the Collection.》**

**《‘Throne of Light’ + ‘Winter (Last Twilight)’ = ‘The Dazzling, Frozen Throne (All Penetration Rate +2%)’》**

**《All Unique-grade items possess Collection names that interact with each other.》**

A Collection that activates when you obtain at least two Unique-grade items.

Among them, the combination that boosts all penetration rates was the best of the best.

One of the reasons I had funneled all seven Unique-grades into Wilhelm during the Great Expedition was precisely because of this “Collection.”

‘The more Unique-grades you have, the more exponentially your Collection names and effects grow.’

Some Collections activate with two items, some require five.
And the more items required, the greater the effect.

But because Unique-grades are required, most people don’t even know Collections exist.

Still, all of that was secondary.

I grasped the sword of Winter.

And immediately—

—

### **【Winter (Supreme Unique Grade)】**

* The Final Twilight (Rune) has been engraved, transcending its rank.

* North Heaven Ice Sword has regained its original form, ‘Winter.’

* Due to a highest-tier contract, it is bound to **Randolph**.

* Those who are sub-contracted under North Heaven Ice Sword are also bound to Randolph.

* ‘Winter’ is summoned.

* All penalties from any source are reduced by 50% due to ‘Final Twilight.’

* You can use anything bearing the name of ‘Supreme.’

* All stats +10

* Sword mastery limit increased by 5 levels.

—

—

Staring at Winter’s abilities, I shut my mouth again.

I could say this with certainty—
I was the person who had crafted the most Unique-grades in Pangaenia.

This was the best.
A final graduation weapon without equal.
I doubted whether it was even possible to find a better sword.

It was even superior to Wilhelm’s **Path of Light**.

Of course, *Path of Light* delivered immense bonus damage against “demonic attributes”—
but unless I was fighting demons specifically, Winter was undeniably superior.

‘A 50% penalty reduction. That must refer to penalties from skills or items.’

For example, **Darkening**.
Darkening causes you to take extra damage from light and holy attacks—
but even that would be reduced by half.

Effects like that—penalties attached to the things I *had* to use.

‘If penalties can be halved, there are quite a few dangerous setups I can finally attempt.’

Just off the top of my head, I could think of more than five high-risk equipment or tool combinations.
Dangerous Honors, the Blue Blood Covenant sets, and more.

But most importantly—

‘…I can now raise my sword mastery to level 35.’

Winter was the only weapon that freed *five* levels of mastery limit.

Even Skullcrusher only raised it by two.

“Insane” wasn’t even enough to describe it.

It was simply beautiful.
There was nothing—*nothing*—to throw away.

**‘Supreme Sword.’**

How could I possibly stay still?

I swung the sword.

The Supreme Sword Saint.
The name formed when Sword Saint Riley and the Supreme Dragon became one.
Within that name was a hidden skill.

Although I’d known it existed, I had no idea what it actually was—until now.

Whoosh—!

I thrust the sword into the air, and winter descended upon the desert.

And then—

**Zzzzzzzrrok.**

Above me, a massive **dark space** opened up.

It resembled Sword Saint Gracia’s *Heavenly Sword Domain*,
but it was so much larger that the comparison itself felt absurd.

—

—

 

## **Aria**

Aria stared at the suddenly transformed North Heaven Ice Sword, her eyes trembling deeply.

*That… that’s the true form of North Heaven Ice Sword?*

She couldn’t believe it.

It was as if the contract she had made meant nothing at all.
The entirely transformed sword recognized that man—Randolph—as its rightful master.

How could this be?

And the appearance of the sword—

…was simply too breathtaking.

*What… are you?*

The one who transformed North Heaven Ice Sword.
She could not comprehend Randolph’s identity.

A human who created “Sword Force,” the King of Swords.
At the same time, one of Cramdel’s Five Great Powers—Corpse Crow.
And now he had reclaimed even the North Heaven Ice Sword that White King himself had sealed away—
as if it belonged to him from the start.

How desperately she had tried to contract with North Heaven Ice Sword.

Yet instead of feeling frustrated, awe rose before anything else.

‘…Ah.’

Because she *saw* it.

Whoooooosh—!

A sudden winter swept across the desert.
A harsh blizzard so cold she thought she’d get frostbite just standing in it.

But that wasn’t all.

Above Randolph’s head—

**Zzzzzrrok!**

A jet-black domain rose, as if a chunk of space had been cut open.

Just looking at it filled her with an inexplicable chill and terror.

What she saw could not be explained by any experience she had ever lived.
Far more dangerous, incomparably wondrous—

“…I shouldn’t summon this here.”

As something tried to emerge from the black domain, Randolph shook his head.

It was too dangerous.

Immediately, the black domain closed its mouth again.

Thud!

Aria’s legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground.

She couldn’t clearly express what she had just seen or felt.

*This human… is far too dangerous.*

And yet one thing was certain—
Randolph was an unimaginably dangerous existence.

But she could not defy him.

Whenever the thought of defiance rose, it vanished instantly.
In its place, a desire to obey emerged.

The contract with North Heaven Ice Sword—

That contract had shackled her feet.

Then Randolph looked at her and spoke.

“Aria. From this day forth, you will forever keep my identity a secret. You must not show even the slightest sign of knowing. Understood?”

“…Yes.”

The answer slipped out on its own.
A humble answer—too humble for a human.

And yet she felt no resentment.
And the fact that she didn’t feel resentment only made her resentment stronger.

“Tell the White King that the Fifth Pillar has taken over Faisalmer.”

“…What will you… do next?”

He wasn’t even delivering the message himself—he was sending her.
Because even though she saw his true nature, she was fully “bound” and could never betray him.

Which made her wonder—
What did he plan to do after sending her away?

Randolph shrugged.

“I’m heading up the Tower of Rift. After you’re done, join the others.”

“…Excuse me?”

“You need five people to enter the Tower of Rift. So join the other Pillars and come in together.”

“…Together with the other Pillars?”

“Yes. White King and Black King will both want to climb the tower. They can’t climb it themselves, of course, but they’ll send representatives.”

“…?”

Aria tilted her head at his confident tone.

But she could ask no more.
Her mouth wouldn’t open.

It must have been Randolph’s will—
commanding her not to bother him.

Aria was certain now.

*I’ve been bound… completely.*

Her body and mind were no longer entirely her own.

She wasn’t even some piece of equipment or tool.

Aria trembled.

‘…’

But even that trembling was forcibly stopped.

—

—

 

## **Tower of Rift**

One condition to enter the Tower of Rift was having five people.

Since no one knew what awaited inside, forming a proper party came first.

‘Seia is definite.’

Seia could heal the injured with her holy power.
She could also strengthen bodies with blessings.
In dangerous situations, Saint Seia was essential.

‘Isabella + Serengeti would make an excellent combination.’

Forced displacement and binding.

The potential synergy of those two was absurd.

But to bring Isabella, I needed Serengeti.
And to bring Serengeti—I had to wake him first.

“…I’m not mentally prepared yet…”

In the Knight’s Garden, inside Marquis Weiser’s estate, Hudson spoke with nervous reluctance.

I tapped his shoulder once.

“We can lift the curse now.”

This was the perfect timing.

Thanks to Winter, all my stats had increased—my star power included.

Right now, I thought I could completely remove the curse.

“But… won’t Serengeti think my appearance is strange?”

“You are you, Hudson.”

“That’s true, but… my appearance…”

“That appearance is also you. Serengeti will understand.”

“…You think so?”

Hudson swallowed hard.

A natural reaction—
for he still hadn’t reverted from his ‘transformed’ state.
He still looked exactly like Serengeti.

When Marquis Weiser first saw him, he nearly fainted—
that said everything.

*He thought Serengeti had awakened and cried tears of joy… only to be devastated.*

But now, the real Serengeti would finally awaken.

Hudson asked, his eyes filled with a swirl of emotions.

“Serengeti… can she finally awaken completely?”

“Probably.”

Even I wouldn’t know until I tried.

Then Hudson slowly knelt before me.

“P-please. Please awaken Serengeti.”

“Stand up. I was going to do that anyway.”

There was no longer any room for doubt regarding Hudson’s loyalty.

And Serengeti being cursed was not his fault.

As I kept looking at him, Hudson hesitated and then rose awkwardly to his feet.

Exhale.

After that, I slowly turned my gaze to Serengeti and drew in a deep breath.

The knight who took the curse in my stead.

It was far too late.
It had taken far too long.

So now—it was time for her to awaken.

**《‘Blessing of the Stars’ erases ‘The Demon King’s Curse.’》**

**《Star power is overflowing.》**

**《‘The Demon King’s Curse’ resists.》**

**《The remaining ‘Demon King’s Curse’ is devoured by ‘Darkness.’》**

**《The level of ‘Darkness’ has increased by 1.》**

**《The ‘Demon King’s Curse’ on Serengeti has been completely nullified!》**

**《Achievement ‘One Who Lifted the Demon King’s Curse’ has been added.》**

**《Honor +500.》**

**《Achievement “Serengeti’s Resurrection” has been completed.》**

**《Honor +300.》**

**《‘Serengeti’ opens his eyes.》**

—

—

The Master looked at the “Tower of Rift” rising before him.

A massive black tower stretched high into the sky.

Its size was so great that the end was impossible to even imagine.

Even the entrance alone looked like it had dozens—no, hundreds of possible doorways.

“His Majesty the Black King wishes for this tower to be conquered.”

But before he could even afford to be overwhelmed by its enormity, the Master glanced to the side with a sour expression.

The companion who had come with him to fulfill the five-member party requirement was not human.

“Raktusha. If you fail again this time, I will kill you myself.”

“…That will not happen.”

Damn monster bastards.

Who would have thought the day would come when he would form a party with creatures like these.

—

 

 

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