I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-217

Ch-217. **Abyss King**

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Early morning.

All members of the Korean Hero Alliance logged into Pangaenia were wearing excited expressions.

“Whoa…!”

“Is this really Korea’s base city now?”

“Rundella became Korea’s stronghold…!!”

“Huuuk…!”

Some even shed tears—full-on sobbing.

And Alliance Leader Park Tae-woo was no different.

*We finally have a base city.*

The Ruins City, Rundella.

After the war with Issera ended, Fifth Pillar transferred ownership of Rundella to Korea as promised.

After completing every preparation to protect the new stronghold, the Alliance finally marched into the city.

《Lord of ‘Rundella,’ Park Tae-woo, has entered.》

《You acquire the Mystery: “Ruler of Rundella” (Activation: All Stats +1).》

《Announce to the citizens that you have become the city’s lord.》

《315,779 citizens are prepared to welcome their new lord.》

《Current Tax Rate: 35%》

《550 unidentified excavated ruins are present.》

《Only the city’s owner may open “Ruins Dungeons.”》

《All formally registered “Hero Alliance Members” are exempt from taxes inside the city.》

…He suspected it might be true, but the message before his eyes confirmed everything.

Information only the city’s ruler could see.

“Alliance Leader, are you crying?”

“Hey, can’t you read the room? Quiet.”

“Damn… Korea can finally raise its head and breathe.”

Park Tae-woo wiped his tears.

He tried to hold them back, but they kept coming.

*Korea will never be ignored again.*

A base city was more important than the number of players or the presence of powerhouses.

Modern national strength in Pangaenia was judged by one metric—whether you had a base city or not.

The difference in growth between those who had one and those who didn’t could not be underestimated.

When Issera invaded, Dark Star prioritized helping countries with base cities for precisely that reason.

*Overwhelming growth potential.*

You could collect taxes, purchase superior gear with gold.

A city’s dungeons provided far more EXP and rewards than normal dungeons.

They allowed stable leveling of low-level beginners, and with the level cap now increased, city dungeons had become even more crucial.

And that wasn’t all.

*Information known only to city rulers. Large-scale trade and negotiations. The ability to build armies. The chance to attempt massive dungeon raids that previously couldn’t even be imagined. Possibilities without end.*

Until now, Korea had done nothing but subcontract.

While other city rulers hunted special raid bosses, Korea earned scraps by being hired help.

But now, they could act on their own.

They had gold. They would have soldiers.

“But Alliance Leader—no, Lord—will the Six Hero Council stay quiet about this?”

“And what if they don’t? They couldn’t do anything when Fifth Pillar was the owner.”

Members muttered anxiously.

Since the previous owner of Rundella was Master—who was part of the Hero Council—some worried they wouldn’t let this go.

But when Fifth Pillar possessed Rundella, the Hero Council did nothing.

Would they really dare touch a city Fifth Pillar *officially transferred*?

“Is it true we formed an alliance with Fifth Pillar?”

“Yes.”

Park Tae-woo nodded.

It wasn’t a publicly announced alliance, but Fifth Pillar didn’t *just* hand over the city.

“So what’s the proof? Without evidence, the Six Hero Council will move eventually.”

A reasonable concern.

They were happy to have a stronghold—but there was anxiety that they might lose it again.

Park Tae-woo smiled.

“You’ll understand once you check the warp gates.”

“Warp gates? Where—”

Alliance members rushed to the warp platform—and froze in shock.

Every warp gate connected to the Hero Council’s cities had been severed.

But something far more striking was present.

“Ghk!”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“‘Labyrinth City’… is linked?”

What stronger proof could there be?

A warp link between cities meant mutual consent.

It meant alliance.

Once the Hero Council saw the warp network, they wouldn’t dare act recklessly.

Fifth Pillar was the main force under the White King—and he was the one who killed the Sword Saint Riley, the unkillable mastermind of the Abyss Labyrinth.

A giant among giants.

There wasn’t a single player who could casually provoke him.

“I’ve been curious all along, Lord… What exactly is your relationship with Fifth Pillar?”

“Yes. For him to willingly give up a city—this isn’t an ordinary connection…”

At this point, they couldn’t help asking.

Everyone’s eyes locked onto Park Tae-woo.

After thinking for a moment, he spoke:

“He’s my big brother.”

“…Pardon?”

“Brother what now?”

His words stunned everyone.

Park Tae-woo had never met Fifth Pillar face-to-face.

He only heard through Hudson.

But if he were to define their relationship—he didn’t know why, but he *wanted* to call him “big brother.”

“…He’s a man we should follow entirely. He saved Korea from Issera’s demonic invasion. He gave us Rundella. Fifth Pillar did all of that.”

No number of lives could repay that debt.

But Park Tae-woo, in his current pathetic state, was nowhere near worthy to call himself Fifth Pillar’s younger brother.

He had to grow much, much stronger.

Only by desperately gaining power could he repay even a fraction of that kindness.

*This won’t end with gaining one city. Pangaenia’s political landscape is chaos. This age of turbulence is our chance to seize power.*

Ascension.

He would soar so high that no one could ever look down on him again.

Never again would Korea—nor the Alliance—nor he—suffer humiliation.

He would stand at the summit.

And repay the debt.

Crrrack—

Park Tae-woo clenched his fist tightly.

Watching him—

*Humans truly are fascinating.*

Basara, the strongest of the Seven Demon Lords, smiled.

Currently, she was disguised as a human by taking the body of an Awakener.

She had successfully infiltrated the Korean Alliance—and even “logged into Pangaenia” using Earth’s body.

Because of that, she began to faintly understand the interdimensional interference laws engraved by the Goddess.

Only Basara could accomplish this.

If she investigated further, she could likely understand in detail—
but it didn’t interest her.

*Let’s help them a little—for fun.*

Right now, *this situation* was far more entertaining.

Fifth Pillar Randolph was the master of the Dragon God who slew Issera—and the reincarnation of “Wilhelm.”

How far could Park Tae-woo go while calling him “big brother”?

Did he even possess the qualifications to call himself a younger brother?

*The potential isn’t bad.*

She decided to test him.

Though this was merely amusement until she officially met Wilhelm.

Time-killing until Wilhelm reached the place she hoped for.

Basara’s cheeks flushed faintly at the thought of him.

*We are destined to meet again, Wilhelm.*

*

*

King of Valan.

He sat stiffly, staring at the man across from him.

Because of this single man, the surrounding knights and vassals couldn’t even breathe properly.

The ruler of the Iron Kingdom—King Friedrich.

The monster who endlessly waged war, already annihilating two nations.

And his next target was none other than the Valan Kingdom.

*I heard he was a madman, but entering with only six people…?*

Had he lost his mind?

Or was he simply insulting the Valan Kingdom?

Friedrich entered with only six people—including himself.

Five knights followed him.

If he died here, the war would end.

However—

*Terrifying…*

Just facing him felt like sanity would collapse.

The King of Valan was a veteran of countless campaigns.

He had fought among many powerful men.

But never had he met anyone like this.

Someone whose gaze alone stole your breath.

“…Did you come to advise surrender?”

“Haha! Do you think I would come personally to do something so boring?”

Thud.

King Friedrich propped both feet casually onto the table.

“W-what insolence!”

“How dare you—!”

Vassals raised their voices, but the King of Valan lifted a hand to stop them.

The difference between the Iron Kingdom and Valan Kingdom was overwhelming.

In territory, soldiers, and national power.

Yet instead of attacking, Friedrich had come here personally.

“Then what do you want from me, King Friedrich?”

“I want nothing. I’m merely giving you an opportunity.”

“An opportunity?”

The arrogant king shrugged.

“The Valan Kingdom is known as the land of knights. So—your five strongest knights will fight my five knights. A battle to the death.”

“And the reward?”

“If the majority of your knights win, I will—yes—grant you the freedom to breathe.”

“…Freedom to breathe?”

What nonsense was this?

It wasn’t a declaration that he would or wouldn’t conquer.

It was an offer to accept surrender.

Words only a truly insane man could say.

“To make a real wager with me, the Valan Kingdom simply has nothing to stake. Therefore— I will at least grant you freedom to breathe.”

“…And if we lose—what must we give up?”

“Give up? Didn’t I just say you have nothing worth staking?”

King Friedrich grinned and continued.

“If you lose, your kingdom ends that moment. I will leave neither person nor blade of grass alive.”

“An absurd demand.”

“Yes, such mercy is indeed absurd. But—if this match entertains me, I may forget about ‘invasion.’ And fittingly… I do see two promising talents.”

His gaze shifted past the King of Valan.

No other humans interested him—except those two.

“—Serengeti, the White Knight who joined the Great Expedition. And Saint Seia, said to be dead. You’ve prepared well.”

“If you attack, you will make the Church of the Goddess your enemy, King Friedrich.”

“The Church of the Goddess? Haha! Do you think that toothless church could threaten me?”

The Church of the Goddess had the most believers of any religion.

Its reach spanned all of Pangaenia, rivaling even the Empire.

Yet King Friedrich insulted it without hesitation—calling it “toothless.”

As if it posed no threat. As if there was no reason to fear it.

“The match begins tomorrow at noon. Do not disappoint me.”

*

*

 

The Abyss.

The deepest, darkest place.

There, a massive being twitched with eyes closed.

It sensed intruders trespassing into its domain.

Ordinarily, even if invaders came, it would not move.

It had devoured countless Lords of the Abyss and claimed many Abysses as its own—earning the title:

*Abyss King.*

But—

Among the trespassers, there was a scent it recognized.

A scent so strong it was impossible to miss.

Kuuuuuung—

The Abyss King lifted its colossal body.

Haaaaaa—!

Sssaaaaaaa—!

As the Abyss King moved, the Abyss itself shook violently.

Simultaneously, the Abyss King opened its once-sealed eyes.

《“God-Skin Hybrid” is gazing upon you.》

 

 

 

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