Ch-236. **Eternal Monarch Randolph**
—
The infinite vessel that already existed within my body—
It was the Gate of Truth, and at the same time, a vast cosmos.
Just looking at it—ever-expanding and stretching endlessly—was overwhelming.
*‘No wonder people think a god resides within them.’*
Anyone who saw this would think the same.
That it was divine.
Compared to this universe, I was insignificant.
If someone offered sacrifices, worshiped, or devoted themselves to it, it would not be surprising.
But I was different.
I offered nothing.
I worshiped nothing.
Instead, I intended to use this Gate as my *vessel*—
A container to hold overflowing mana.
—*Congratulations. You have finally found your “Gate.”*
With those words, the “Mouth” vanished.
Surely it wasn’t congratulating me simply for finding the door.
It must mean that I had found the *correct answer for myself*.
Perhaps more people had discovered this Gate than I thought.
Some must have opened it, and many must have offered their precious things to the Gate of Truth.
And by receiving something in return, they would have gained powerful abilities—supernatural powers.
*‘But not me.’*
I truly desired nothing from the Gate.
One might ask: don’t I need to offer something as well if I wish to use the Gate as my vessel?
The answer remained the same—
No.
I simply wished to charge a “rental fee” to this so-called Gate of Truth for occupying my body all this time.
More importantly, I did not regard this Gate as a god.
If I called it god, then I would be calling *myself* god, for the Gate was inside me.
But I am not a god—just human.
Only those who sought divinity would offer their precious things to the Gate.
*‘This Gate is nothing more than a vessel.’*
My property.
Nothing more, nothing less.
—
—
【You have acquired the Hidden Trait: *Heart of the Eternal Monarch*.】
【You have mastered the Hidden Quest: *A Monarch’s Mindset*.】
【The *Gate of the Eternal Monarch* responds.】
【All tiers resonate and merge as one.】
【Hidden Trait “Heart of the Eternal Monarch” merges with “Randolph (Eternal).”】
【The two Hidden Traits transcend and fuse into *Eternal Monarch Randolph*.】
It was as if the Gate approved of how I regarded it.
Somewhere deep within the Gate of Truth, another door opened.
The Door of the Eternal Monarch.
It was *qualification*—the right to become an Eternal Monarch had merged with my essence.
Of course, that was not the end.
—
—
【Origin Quest “Genesis – Rebuild the Race” has been reached.】
【“The Eternal Ascetic” lies dormant within the Island of the Gods.】
【When you become master of the Island, “The Eternal Ascetic” will awaken.】
An Origin Quest?
I had seen Secret Quests and Hidden Quests, but never an Origin Quest.
*‘The race that is the origin of the Hidden Trait… Am I to rebuild that race?’*
The origin of the Hidden Trait.
But it hadn’t been “Heart of the Eternal Monarch” from the beginning.
Iron-Blood Monarch’s Heart had evolved into this.
So owning an *evolved Hidden Trait* must have been the first requirement.
Only one who possessed the Heart of the Eternal Monarch, opened the Gate of Truth, and satisfied specific conditions would unlock this Origin Quest.
*‘Dormant in the Island of the Gods… So the race wasn’t completely annihilated by Destruction?’*
Was something intentionally left for reconstruction?
One thing was certain—the twelve stars beyond the Gate of Truth that the Sunken Emperor spoke of.
This must be one of them.
Whether it referred to my qualification, or to the dormant Eternal Ascetic, I did not yet know.
*‘If I become the master of the island, I will find out.’*
Once I seized the Island of the Gods, everything would become clear.
Simple.
Winning this game would accomplish everything.
That had been my intention from the start.
If I had not desired that, I would not have entered.
Nothing had changed.
*‘Time to leave.’*
I could not drift in this endless sea forever.
I tore open the shell that confined me.
Shattered the barriers restraining me—
And cast aside everything that bound me.
【Shedding of the Shell is complete.】
And I emerged into the world.
—
—
When my eyes opened, I was in a dark cave.
As I tried to step outside, a “Night Wraith” blocked my path.
*‘Hm?’*
What?
Judging from the agitation of the starlight I held, it truly was a Night Wraith.
But why was a Night Wraith blocking the entrance of a cave?
*‘It doesn’t appear hostile.’*
It seemed less like it was blocking me… and more like it was *protecting me*—
From the “presences” I sensed outside.
*‘A Night Wraith protecting me?’*
Impossible to understand.
The presences outside were undoubtedly participants—
Abyssal sovereigns and ancient monsters.
Why the Night Wraith would confront them on my behalf was beyond me.
“Move.”
When the sun rose, the Night Wraith would vanish.
I was destined to face them one way or another.
There was no reason to avoid it.
I now had one more reason to claim this island.
I stepped forward.
“You’re in the way.”
If they did not intend to duel me, then move.
The shadowy figure glanced at me once, then slowly retreated deeper into the cave.
As though reluctant.
*‘So there was a battle.’*
But the situation outside took precedence.
A massive battle had taken place.
The cratered ground looked like meteors had fallen, annihilating the land.
Even just seeing the aftermath sent chills through me.
I calmly examined the traces.
*‘Three combatants. One is the man on the horse. One is Raiga lying on the ground. And the last… the Heavenly Demon.’*
Traces of Heavenly Demon Divine Arts were everywhere.
But the Heavenly Demon himself was nowhere to be seen.
Did he flee?
Raiga was lying broken on the ground as well.
It seemed the man on the horse had crushed both.
**Gooooooo—!!**
A hostile presence suddenly flared.
A gigantic golem.
An ancient golem strong enough to rule parts of the Abyss.
**Thump! Thump! Thump!**
It charged at me with murderous intent.
I searched my pocket.
Then tossed a bronze coin toward it.
“I’m returning it.”
…**Gooooh.**
The golem froze instantly, staring dumbfounded at the coin in its hand.
It hadn’t expected the stolen item to be returned so freely.
In an Expedition Duel, the loser loses their most precious thing.
But nothing forbids returning it.
Only the Night Wraith’s theft was irreversible.
I looked at the stunned “Master of the Tomb” and spoke:
“Master of the Tomb. That’s the last memento left by your creator. Are you still searching for him in the Abyss?”
The ancient golem had wandered endlessly, clinging to that coin.
The memories I saw weren’t only from the Heavenly Demon’s blade.
I also saw the memories tied to the Master of the Tomb’s coin.
*‘The creator is already dead.’*
On the brink of death from Destruction, the child created the golem.
Leaving behind only the coin.
Yet the Master of the Tomb believed—fervently—that the child still lived somewhere in the Abyss.
So it wandered forever.
Without rest.
For endless ages.
*‘The Master of the Tomb does not know the memories tied to the coin.’*
Its most precious thing.
Its most precious memory.
Just as the Heavenly Demon did not know the intent of the evil deity within his blade, the Master of the Tomb knew nothing of the story inside the coin.
What did that mean?
*‘I, too, do not know what my most precious thing is—or the memory tied to it.’*
One only learns when it is stolen.
Only when an opponent takes it, sees the memory, and tells it back to you.
And that memory was likely incredibly important.
Just like the ones tied to the blade and the coin.
*‘I must know it too—my most precious thing and its story.’*
The Island of the Gods did not merely reveal the memories of stars.
It revealed memories of *self*.
So—
“I know where your master is.”
Follow me, Master of the Tomb.
Just as I returned your most precious thing, you will return mine.
No one could clear this game alone.
I needed allies.
Participants who would move only according to my will.
To uncover what was hidden—
Absolutely necessary.
The golem made no sound.
But that was enough.
Its hostility was long gone.
I turned my gaze.
To the man atop the blue-flamed horse.
*‘So he has business not with me, but with the Night Wraith who entered the cave.’*
He, too, did not seem hostile.
But he clearly wanted to pursue the Night Wraith.
If I did not move, he was ready to fight.
Move aside—or battle.
He stared as if demanding one of the two.
*‘Everyone is watching.’*
Other participants were observing from a distance.
If I stepped aside, they would see me as a coward.
And the Night Wraith inside the cave had protected me—
Without its help during my shedding, my trial would have failed.
If I did not move aside, only one option remained.
*Battle.*
The man on horseback was the one who felled both the Heavenly Demon and Raiga.
Even after shedding, he would be a formidable opponent.
Though I only needed to endure until morning.
In the Expedition Duel, I would never lose.
But…
*‘That would not be ideal.’*
Winning by merely enduring would make me appear weak.
These beings recognized only overwhelming dominance.
If I became island master yet appeared weak, they would seize any chance to take it from me.
*‘What I seek is ultimate victory.’*
Not mere victory in a game—
True victory.
I wanted no one to ever dare touch what was mine.
Not in Pangaenia, not in the Abyss.
And to make the Master of the Tomb fully obey me, I needed something that surpassed all else.
“…I also have a fine mount of my own.”
I looked at the blue-flamed horse.
I had something even better.
And I had long been curious—
*What expression would the rulers of the Abyss make when they saw “this”?*
Just what kind of presence did “this” hold in the Abyss?
*They must know.*
More than I did—far more.
With all these Abyssal sovereigns gathered, there was no better chance to find out.
So I summoned it.
“**Baal.**”
…The Four Calamities—Baal.
**KWAaaaaaaaaaANG!**
