I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-181

Ch-181. **The Panic of the Light Dragon Einhassar**

—

Hudson looked down at his own body with a bewildered expression.

*‘Why am I here?’*

This place was unmistakably Pangaenia.

But just moments ago, he had been on Earth.

He had been spending busy days meddling in the succession structure of the British royal family, when suddenly it felt as if light poured down upon his head—and he heard Randolph’s voice.

*‘I heard Lord Randolph’s voice telling me to come to the gate of the Tower of the War God.’*

And so, Hudson immediately accessed Pangaenia and headed toward the Tower of the War God.

He acted without a trace of doubt, as if guided by a divine revelation.

Hudson knew very well of phenomena like this.

*‘This is a divine oracle. The “divine speech” supposedly allowed only to popes or saints who directly commune with gods!’*

Had Randolph finally obtained divinity?

But looking back on his life’s trajectory, it wouldn’t even be strange for him to possess a divine rank.

And if this truly was divine speech—then the person who heard that voice would be the one in closest communion with the god!

*‘Lord Randolph trusts me deeply.’*

His heart throbbed.

He had always considered himself Randolph’s closest aide, but now he had gained confirmation directly from Randolph himself.

To Hudson, there was no greater blessing.

“Aah!”

Hudson trembled violently.

With that confirmation, a wave of emotion surged through him like a tidal flood.

His pride at following Randolph from the closest position felt as though it might pierce the stratosphere.

*‘This isn’t the time to stand around. I have to work even harder to grow stronger!’*

Hudson quickly calmed his racing heart.

Randolph’s ascension continued—but Hudson was still not strong enough.

If he wanted to remain useful by Randolph’s side, he could not grow complacent.

The delayed wedding with Serengeti had thrown him into temporary confusion, but Hudson had now realized even that time was too precious to waste.

*‘Inherit the British royal family, and expand power in Pangaenia as well.’*

He would grow strong enough that neither world could treat him lightly.

For that, every second counted.

 

“Auril.”

“…?”

Auril looked blankly at Hudson.

Her mind still seemed tangled in confusion.

But Auril was one of Randolph’s strongest assets.

He couldn’t simply watch her sit idle.

“There is a place you must visit with Isaac and Baltë.”

“And why should I listen to you?”

Auril shot back coldly.

She was an elf—and she still despised humans.

Hudson shrugged.

“Because it is something that will aid Lord Randolph.”

“…”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Auril’s expression.

The only person she followed was Randolph.

But while she followed him, she had never once considered *doing* anything on her own initiative.

So she simply threw him a stare—as if to say, *go on and keep babbling.*

*‘She’s looking at me like I’m an insect.’*

Hudson swallowed a dry, mocking laugh inwardly.

She saw him as if he were a cockroach.

Isabella had been one of the coldest individuals he’d ever met—but even she had least treated him like *a human.*

Yet Auril gave him the feeling she wouldn’t even grant him that.

Ahem. Clearing his throat, Hudson continued.

“The Ruin City of Rundella. On behalf of Lord Randolph, you will protect that place for a while.”

“On behalf of Lord Randolph?”

“Yes. Under the authority of the Fifth Pillar, Randolph.”

“The Fifth Pillar…? What is that?”

Auril tilted her head.

Ah—she still didn’t know Randolph had become the *Fifth Pillar.*

But in time, she would naturally learn.

*‘Rundella is a critical stronghold.’*

The master had died—Rundella was now a city without an owner.

He thought Randolph would head there immediately, but Randolph was far too busy.

For now, it was fortunate that every player was occupied with pushing back the invasion. But if Rundella were left unattended, someone might try to seize it by force.

*‘The players aren’t the only threat—the movements of the kingdoms are suspicious as well.’*

Recently, the official decree delivered to Marquis Weiser had been concerning.

—*We command you. Draft and gather more soldiers.*

A proclamation sent by the King of Vallan to all thirteen cities simultaneously.

Marquis Weiser was under the jurisdiction of the Vallan Kingdom, so he had no choice but to obey.

*‘They must be wary of the Iron Kingdom expanding its power.’*

The Iron Kingdom’s ruler, King Friedrich—

He had begun launching wars indiscriminately.

Given the proximity of the Vallan Kingdom, they could not ignore it.

The problem was that between them lay the Ruin City Rundella.

*‘There’s no reason NOT to conquer a masterless city.’*

So they had to *at least pretend* Rundella had an owner.

Before the Iron Kingdom extended its claws any further.

*‘King Friedrich. The Iron-Blooded Monarch…’*

It was hard to believe he would directly provoke the Vallan Kingdom, but the recent political climate was troubling.

Thus, preparations had to be made.

If Rundella were stabilized and the labyrinth city fortified, they might endure this chaos.

If the city belonged to a *Fifth Pillar* protected by the White King, even Friedrich would think twice before touching it.

And amidst chaos, opportunity always bloomed.

Only the prepared could seize opportunity.

And Hudson had no intention of letting it slip.

*‘Everything is for Lord Randolph.’*

Hudson clenched his fist tightly.

—

—

**Light Dragon Einhassar**

The Light Dragon Einhassar was confident.

He would bestow a trial that would make the humiliation he suffered laughable in comparison.

—*My trial consists of three stages. If you overcome them all, you shall stand upon the path to “a new leap.”*

A new leap.

Those who overcame his trials could receive *a powerful blessing.*

New abilities would be added, allowing them to wield power that was entirely different from before.

But only a tiny handful ever succeeded.

Most succumbed to despair and gave up.

*‘I determine both the nature and the number of trials.’*

The harder the trial, the better the reward—but if he wanted to send this peculiar fellow away with certainty, three trials should be enough.

*‘Let’s start off lightly.’*

The trial that previously attempted—and failed.

Most 1-Star Transcendents had failed that one.

Calling that to mind, Light Dragon Einhassar opened his mouth.

—*Swing this sword one hundred times. Consecutively.*

A sword the size of a massive beast—one even giants struggled to wield—materialized.

It had to be swung one hundred times.

Not merely swung—but continuously, without rest, to pass.

“…”

The challenger simply stared at the sword.

Was he terrified after seeing it?

—*Giving up is sometimes wise as well.*

Einhassar sneered.

He had thought this one was unusual. Perhaps it had only been his imagination.

But the challenger did not give up.

He slowly approached the sword, grasped it—

“Hrrgh!”

With a rough breath, lifted it.

Fwoooosh!

And swung.

*‘Oh?’*

Was he saying *he can do this much*?

It looked strenuous, but he was clearly beyond 1-Star Transcendent level.

“Huff! Huff! HUUFF!”

Sweat streamed as the challenger swung the sword one hundred times.

So he actually managed it.

—*The first trial is passed. Impressive.*

But that was only the beginning.

He had solved only one.

The remaining two trials could have their difficulty raised further.

*‘So roughly a 2-Star Transcendent?’*

Judging from how he swung, that seemed accurate.

He hadn’t done it *too* easily.

He looked like a slightly lacking 2-Star Transcendent.

Of course, a 2-Star Transcendent appearing in this nest was unprecedented—but it didn’t matter.

*‘I’m prepared for 2-Star level trials as well.’*

He had some—even at the highest difficulty.

Fwoooosh!

Behind Einhassar, thousands—no, tens of thousands—of fireballs ignited.

—*Without using any skills, equipment, or tools, dodge them all with pure ability.*

He must not get hit—not even once.

The challenger’s expression trembled.

Dodging all that in a fatigued state was impossible.

*‘This is where it ends.’*

Still—he was curious.

How many could he dodge before collapsing?

Einhassar unleashed the fireballs all at once.

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

Explosions thundered without pause.

Instinctively using a defensive skill or tool would result in failure.

At first, the challenger narrowly evaded the fireballs—but he would soon tire.

Einhassar watched, eyes gleaming with expectation.

*‘Hmm?’*

Something felt wrong.

He was dodging *all* of them—by the smallest of margins.

…What?

Hadn’t swinging the sword a hundred times exhausted him?

Even a 2-Star Transcendent would find dodging every fireball nearly impossible—like pulling a star from the sky.

It usually took dozens of attempts to finally succeed.

Yet this challenger was succeeding—barely, but on the *first* attempt.

So he wasn’t merely a 2-Star Transcendent?

—*Hmm. So you were hiding your true power.*

Well, well.

This fellow—

A sly one.

He pretended it was difficult—pretended he was struggling just to breeze through the first two trials.

Had he completed the first trial easily, Einhassar would have immediately given him the *harshest* trial.

So the challenger had clearly acted, knowing exactly what Einhassar would do.

He had feigned weakness to climb the difficulty ladder safely.

*‘Fine. I admit you fooled me.’*

Einhassar nodded.

Normally he would have seen through it easily—but this challenger was *unobservable.*

Knowing Einhassar could not observe him, he had turned that limitation against him.

*‘A fresh one indeed.’*

Einhassar felt almost like *he* was the challenger.

*‘But this is the end.’*

No matter what tricks he pulled, there was no defeating the last trial.

The third and final trial.

It had been attempted only a handful of times—and only *one person* had ever passed.

With this trial, he could send even this peculiar one away with certainty.

—*The final trial is to attack me. If you inflict even a single wound upon me, you pass.*

He declared that he would personally receive the attack.

However, inflicting a wound upon him was impossible.

Even a 3-Star Transcendent couldn’t.

Light Dragon Einhassar possessed absolute immunity to all attacks.

Even *Ruin* itself had been unable to kill him.

*‘There is only one type of attack that can wound me.’*

No attribute.

Not physical, not spiritual, not transcendental.

Nothing could harm him.

That was his power as a Guardian.

As with all Guardians—but in Einhassar’s case, the condition was especially unique.

There was only one requirement to inflict damage upon him:

*‘Only one who has achieved countless great feats may wound me.’*

A great one.

Unless a being had accumulated truly mythic achievements, no attack could leave the smallest scratch.

That was why even Ruin could not kill him.

Ruin had failed to achieve feats equal to the weight of killing him.

*‘Now then. Go ahead and strike.’*

Einhassar offered his body with confidence.

The challenger lifted the enormous sword—

SPLAAAAASH!

“Hm—…?!”

A sound of shock and agonized groaning tore out of Einhassar.

And no wonder—

SHRRRRRRRK!

Blood burst like a fountain, and his intestines spilled out.

—

—

Einhassar stared at the challenger with a pale, sickly face.

*‘…I almost died.’*

Had he not healed himself immediately, he truly would have died.

He had been wounded before—but never once had he felt such terror of death.

Einhassar stared at the challenger in panic.

At the human smiling mockingly at him.

*‘What in the world… IS this thing?!’*

—

 

 

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