I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-277

Ch-277. **Kraaak~!**

—

—You want to become a crow?
—Kahahahahaha! Oh, my stomach!

The God of Omen and the God of Ash burst into laughter.

Many had coveted their power, but even they had never seen a beast willingly volunteer to become a crow.

“Is it really that difficult? Something even the so-called greatest crow gods can’t do?”

I spoke as if genuinely disappointed.

Those two gods had been fighting for countless eons.

If the reason truly was to decide *who was stronger*, then I judged they would react to the phrase *the greatest god*.

—I am the greatest god.
—I am the greatest god.
—Don’t copy me.
—Don’t copy me.
—You bastard!
—You bastard!

Without exception, the two agreed at the same time.

They bickered for quite a while—

*Shoooong.*

Before long, two spheres floated before my eyes.

One pitch-black orb, the other blood-red.

The moment I saw them, I knew.

*They’re cores.*

Monster cores.

It meant: eat the core and transform.

The two gods had clearly noticed that I possessed the hidden trait **Glutton**.

Yet these were on a completely different level from the *corpse crow’s core* I had absorbed before.

These two spheres were not cores of ordinary species.

—If you want to learn my techniques, become one of the Omen Clan.
—If you want to learn my techniques, become one of the Ash Clan.

…They were the cores of the Omen and Ash clans.

Top-tier species, incomparable to corpse crows.

They were telling me to become part of the administrator clans that managed the tower.

Of course, if I only grew stronger, I could gain overwhelming *martial power* that far exceeded a mere administrator’s role.

For example—

*I’ve already experienced a dreadful omen once.*

…Like that *Dreadful Omen*.

I had experienced that terrifying form’s power when I drove Baal to the brink of death.

Even then, I had merely borrowed the form and power—yet it had been that overwhelming.

If I were to properly hone and master the techniques, it was impossible to imagine how monstrous it would be.

And what about **War God Karas** of the Ash Clan?

Once, he had challenged Randolph and lost.

Though he was far stronger now than back then, he still couldn’t guarantee victory.

—What are you hesitating over? The power of Omen overwhelms the world.
—Nonsense. The power of Ash is what makes the world tremble.

Choose only one.

You cannot have both.

Omen or Ash.

It was time to decide.

“I…”

—

—

 

The moment he saw the notice,

Oliver dropped everything and logged in.

Appearing in Pangaenia as *Hudson*, he immediately headed for the Labyrinth City.

“As you all are aware, the situation has already spiraled far beyond control.”

Many people who followed Randolph had already gathered in the Labyrinth City.

Hudson swept his gaze across them.

Isabella, Serengeti, Saint Seia, Isaac, Balte.

Issera, Lucaria, and even the elf Auril.

A lineup strong enough to easily overthrow an average kingdom.

Yet every one of their expressions was stiff as stone.

Taking a deep breath, Hudson spoke.

“Currently, the ‘Randolph’ at the top of the War God’s Tower is the *Lord* we know.”

The owner of the Labyrinth City—the Lord they followed with absolute faith.

Randolph was now on the 30th floor of the War God’s Tower.

But Isabella couldn’t understand.

“Clearly… Randolph-nim was heading to the Kingdom of Valan with me.”

“He was likely forcibly summoned due to his status as Champion.”

“Then why has Randolph-nim become a *subjugation target* instead of a *challenge*?”

Normally, as Champion, he should be receiving challenges from those climbing the tower.

Yet now, he had become the target of subjugation.

Just like when the Abyssal Labyrinth surfaced and *Hexagonal Hero Riley* was designated for subjugation.

An operation that mobilized countless players, the Empire, and even one of the Four Pillars—the Death King—yet still failed.

In the end, Randolph had succeeded in that subjugation.

So why was *he* now the one being hunted?

No matter how much they pondered, no answer came.

“…Publicly announced subjugations usually apply to *entities that are obstructing something*.”

“What does that mean? Explain it simply.”

At Serengeti’s question, Hudson shared his conclusion.

“In the Abyssal Labyrinth, Hexagonal Hero Riley of the Old Empire, and Lord Solbaren of the Rift Tower’s first floor—both were publicly designated subjugation targets.”

Targets known not only to players, but to all of Pangaenia.

Players learned through notices; residents of Pangaenia through countless other means.

And this time was the same.

Randolph.

His subjugation had been *announced* to both players and Pangaenia’s inhabitants.

“So?”

“What’s the common factor?”

Hudson explained his reasoning.

“Riley was preventing the Abyssal Labyrinth from merging with the continent. Lord Solbaren was blocking the racial ‘limits’ imposed on each species. But that’s not all.”

“…?”

“Just before disaster. If they were not subjugated, they would have brought immense danger to the entire continent.”

Supreme Dragon Riley had been rampaging.

And Solbaren?

After sleeping for a long time, he awakened in the Rift Tower.

Had the first floor not been conquered, he would have *revived*.

True to the title *Lord*, he might have begun conquering the continent.

…That was what Hudson had heard from Randolph.

Serengeti asked again.

“Then does that mean Randolph-nim is on the verge of rampaging?”

“Perhaps… I don’t know the cause, but considering the subjugation reward is *five stars*, this is no ordinary matter.”

“Five stars? Don’t tell me—”

“Yes. The stars owned by Randolph-nim.”

The stars.

The Fragment of Destruction and the four Fragments of the Goddess.

It meant that ownership of *all* stars—including the *Holy Star* on the Isle of Gods—would be transferred.

“Aren’t stars… scattered across the continent when their owner dies?”

As Serengeti said, that was common knowledge.

Hudson cleared his throat.

“That is… strictly speaking, Randolph-nim can’t be called a *complete* owner.”

“What do you mean?”

“He hasn’t transcended by consuming a star.”

He possessed them.

But he was not their true owner.

Only those who transcended through stars were considered proper owners—and Randolph merely *held* them.

“…He hasn’t transcended? Even in that state?”

Serengeti’s eyes widened in shock.

After all, Randolph was stronger than most transcenders.

Yet astonishingly, he still hadn’t transcended.

He hadn’t reached Level 10.

Even though the Rift Tower raised the level cap, the level required for transcendence remained fixed at 10.

“In any case, this is a subjugation that offers five stars at once. Naturally, an enormous crowd—regardless of race—will swarm the War God’s Tower.”

“Then we must climb as well.”

“Yes. And… judging from previous subjugations, there will surely be mechanisms that *weaken* Randolph-nim. We must eliminate those mechanisms.”

When subjugating Riley in the Abyssal Labyrinth, he was weakened by *Golden Tickets*.

Solbaren was weakened by score-based conditions.

Likewise, Randolph’s subjugation would involve something designed to weaken him.

From the start, Hudson had no interest in the subjugation itself.

*No matter what—by any means—we must protect Randolph-nim.*

That Randolph would rampage and bring ruin to the world?

Nonsense.

There was no way.

Even if it were true, Hudson didn’t care.

If he could protect Randolph and Serengeti, Hudson would gladly let any world perish.

And that—

“Good. I’ll join as well.”

“…We’ll protect him. No matter what.”

“Hmm. I suppose I can’t sit this one out.”

Everyone gathered felt the same.

Randolph.

To them, he was their lord to follow—and an absolute benefactor.

Anyone who raised a blade against Randolph was the true target of subjugation.

And just as Randolph had protected them until now, this time it was their turn to protect him.

—

—

—Did you see the notice?

—What does it even mean to subjugate Randolph?

—You mean Randolph of the Five Pillars?

—No, the statue in front of the War God’s Tower—Phantom Randolph, right?

Player Chat.

The sudden notice had thrown all users into an uproar.

Naturally, the topic centered on *Randolph*.

—Whoa, that’s insane. He had five stars?

—So he’s a 5-Star Transcender?

—That’s completely nuts…

—Long live the Phantom God!

—Did he become a subjugation target because he got strong too fast?

—No way. Isn’t he just progressing the next main quest?

—Come to think of it, it’s time for Main Quest 12, right? What was 12 again?

—Something related to subjugation, I think… hardly anything’s known past MQ11.

—Huh? So being a subjugation target is the content?

—Seems like he’s doing something other than the main quest.

Even they found it strange that Randolph had suddenly become a subjugation target.

The prevailing opinion was that Randolph had *voluntarily* become one.

The discussion converged on the idea that it was a step toward completing another *myth*—not the main quest.

—Isn’t this way too dangerous?

—He must be confident. Who beats a 5-Star Transcender?

—Phantom God! Phantom God! Phantom God!

—To fight a 5-Star Transcender, you’d need someone like Raiga.

—The Empire’s First Sword?

—Wait, isn’t Raiga holding a tournament in the War God’s Tower?

—What happens to that tournament then?

—Don’t tell me Raiga’s challenging him too?

—As if it’ll be just Raiga. All the reclusive masters will come out, lol.

—What’s Gracia doing these days anyway?

—Yeah. Ever since the Hero Association collapsed, he’s been nowhere.

—No way Gracia’s climbing the War God’s Tower too, right?

Once the strongest of humanity—Gracia.

But since the fall of the Hero Association, no one knew his whereabouts.

Then—

—Gracia’s climbing the War God’s Tower.

—What? Seriously?

—He’s climbing with Union, the Golden Scale Mage.

—So that’s what he’s been doing…

—Union? Isn’t that the guy from when Issera invaded?

—Yeah.

—Wow, those two in a party? That’s a weird combo.

—Orcs are moving in droves too.

—Dark Elves are marching en masse.

—Lord-level monsters suddenly stormed the tower—I can’t even get close.

—This is insane… absolutely insane.

—Is Randolph actually going to die?

—Nah, no way.

—Are you insulting the one true god, the Phantom God?

Chaos didn’t even begin to cover it.

A truly unprecedented situation.

Then—

Another message appeared before everyone’s eyes.

《The “Golden Scale Mage Union” challenges “Champion Randolph.”》

《Phase 1: “Four Calamities (四凶) Baal” has appeared.》

The sudden announcement left everyone stunned.

—Baal?

—Why Baal…?

—I’ve heard rumors that Randolph of the Fifth Pillar controls Baal…

—So Phantom Randolph and Five Pillars Randolph are the same person?

—What the hell is even happening right now?

—

—

I had experienced this once before.

But it was clearly different now.

—Hooh.
—This… exceeds our imagination.

Watching me, the God of Omen and the God of Ash voiced their awe.

My transformation had surpassed even their expectations.

I spread my hands—now filled with black feathers—and shouted loudly at the world.

“Kraaak~!”