I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-79

Ch-79

—

To create a new Unique-grade piece of equipment, a *blueprint* was also required.

But now, they were saying that a *new Unique-grade item* had been crafted.

Meaning—

‘This is the sixteenth Unique-grade item a player has created.’

Up until now, the number of Unique-grade items known to have been player-made was fifteen.

Among them, eight had been made by Phantom alone.

But that number had been stuck there for over a year.

For the past year, not a single new Unique-grade weapon or tool had been discovered.

Wilhelm had died, and although some people had simply followed his methods and made copies of the items he had once crafted, none of them were new.

Even that World Notification had appeared for the first time in a year.

‘Someone has begun to pull ahead…’

Crack!

Gracia ground his teeth.

The one who *should* have been the subject of that notification was him.

The Hydragon’s Soul.

If he had just managed to acquire that one thing, his name would have been the sixteenth!

‘To think I’ve been delayed because I couldn’t get my hands on one damned soul.’

It was just a Hydragon’s Soul.

He had killed over a thousand Hydragons trying to get it.

He had asked around, gone everywhere worth searching.

He had even gone to Earth—had he not searched Korea?

And yet he still hadn’t found it.

He had secured everything else, but because he lacked that one Hydragon’s Soul, he still couldn’t create a new Unique-grade item.

So naturally, seeing that World Notification, rage surged through him.

《You attempt enhancement.》

《The value of the crafted Unique-grade equipment increases.》

《You attempt enhancement.》

《The value of the crafted Unique-grade equipment increases.》

《You attempt enhancement.》

《The value of the crafted Unique-grade equipment increases.》

······

And the crafting wasn’t even the end.

World Notifications proclaiming the item’s rising value through enhancement continued to appear nonstop.

‘What the hell is he doing?’

No sane person tried to enhance a Unique-grade item.

Those items were already complete in themselves—burning them in an enhancement that carried a chance of failure was utter madness.

Even Wilhelm had never done something that stupid.

Some lunatic was doing a lunatic thing.

And yet that lunatic thing kept succeeding.

《A “Radiant Unique-grade Item” has been created!》

“······.”

At last, the prefix *Radiant* had appeared.

It hadn’t been normal enhancement at all.

If it had been ordinary enhancement, the prefix would have been “Extreme.”

He had likely attempted a special enhancement designed specifically to grant a prefix.

Such equipment did exist, on rare occasions—items whose power only manifested when they carried a specific prefix.

But those were extremely rare, and there had never been one among the Unique-grade.

But now, *Radiant*…?!

Gracia’s pupils trembled faintly.

“What on earth did he make…?”

*

*

Many hoped for MintChocoIsDelicious’s challenge to succeed—but many others were skeptical.

—He’ll retreat soon, probably.

—Even Gracia and the Empire ran the moment they saw Phase 4.

—MintChoco’s just trolling, he’ll never clear it anyway.

If both Gracia and the Empire had failed, how could MintChocoIsDelicious succeed?

A reclusive player who rarely showed himself.

With so little known about him, his track record appeared just as thin.

Compared to high-rankers at the top of the Hall of Fame, wasn’t he in a different league entirely?

Of course, for every hater, there was always a fan.

—He just avoids the spotlight; MintChoco’s skill is the real thing.

—Didn’t MintChoco succeed once after Gracia failed?

—Yeah. He cleared the Lionheart King’s Trial solo.

—Honestly Gracia did all the work and he just finished it lol.

—Then maybe he’ll “finish it” again this time?

Opinions on MintChocoIsDelicious’s skills were divided.

But unlike the previous two challengers, hours passed with no retreat message.

—It’s been over two hours since he challenged… is he seriously still fighting?

—At this point he might be dead.

—He’s not dead, I still see him listed as “challenging.”

—Where are you seeing that? I don’t.

—I just logged out of the labyrinth. Only people inside can see real-time status.

—So he’s been fighting for more than two hours??

—Was that Radiant Unique item made by MintChoco?

—Ooh… if that’s true, maybe it *is* possible?

The monster that made Gracia and the Empire flee instantly—

He was fighting it *alone* for over two hours.

It was clearly different.

If MintChocoIsDelicious was the one who crafted the Radiant Unique-grade equipment…

Then maybe—just maybe—he could succeed.

Everyone waited, half in doubt, half in hope.

—…It’s been 12 hours now.

—Corruption rate’s almost at 14%.

—Is he really still fighting?

But no matter how long they waited, no message appeared—no failure, no retreat, no advance to the next phase.

Meanwhile, the Corruption Rate kept rising.

Approaching 14%.

At this speed, they had only six days until it reached 20%.

—We should start preparing for the second invasion.

—Shouldn’t we warn people

—If another invasion starts in six days, there’s gonna be chaos.

—At this speed, even the Demon King probably isn’t prepared lmao.

—Why don’t we just invade the Demon Realm instead?

—They failed the Great Expedition, what excuse do you have for trying again?

—Only Wilhelm could gather that many people.

—You think the Knight King is weak? Tens of thousands rallied just from hearing Wilhelm’s name. They still failed to conquer the Demon Realm.

—You go. I’m not going to the Demon Realm. Ever.

—That’s literal suicide; might as well get hit by an isekai truck.

—MintChoco will win.

—Stop jinxing it lol. Have some faith.

Posts continued to pour in, endlessly.

Dozens, then hundreds of pages.

Still, the fight didn’t end.

—24 hours… it’s been 24 hours.

—Corruption just passed 14%.

—What the hell is going on in there?

—I’m gonna pass out someone please tell me what’s happening.

People were dying of curiosity, but there was no way to know.

Except for the one challenging Sword Saint Riley.

Several more hours passed.

—Ah…

—Ah….
—Aaaah……

—He’s gone.
—MintChoco finally retreated, huh.

After nearly thirty hours of battle—MintChocoIsDelicious had finally retreated.

The notification appeared before everyone’s eyes.

—We’re screwed!

—Still, with that much time, he must’ve taken tons of HP off, right?

—Is Gracia really challenging again?

—Who knows.

—If MintChoco made that Radiant Unique himself, and *still* couldn’t beat it, that means it’s hopeless, right?

—Prepare yourselves. We need to protect our families.

—I barely have any fragments left…

—I used way too many in the labyrinth…

—I’m screwed;; I have like ten minutes left.

—I used all mine.

—Isn’t everyone in the same situation?

—They should’ve warned us! If you fail Riley, the corruption rises this fast!

—You’ve played Pangaenia for how long now?

—Someone PLEASE tell us how to reach the underground labyrinth through the Death King…

—Yeah that’s literally the only option left.

Everyone gave up on clearing Sword Saint Riley.

The only remaining method was to tell the Death King how to enter the underground labyrinth so *he* could clear Riley.

To think they’d live to see the day they prayed to a monster.

But if even *that* failed, there was no answer left.

Most people had already exhausted their “Broken Golden Scale Fragments.”

In six days the second invasion would begin, and too few players would be able to descend.

No matter how strong the heroes were, there was a limit to how much area they could defend.

Countless humans on Earth would die.

—Okay I’ll go. Anyone know the Death King’s coordinates?

—Are you insane? You think he’ll listen to you?

—Wasn’t he the one-shot kill boss if you brushed against him? lol

—Last sighting was around
645.1594, 16 hours ago.

—599.1432, 8 hours ago.

—Any more recent?

—660.1744. He’s been wandering that area.

—Looks like he’s moving back and forth. Something must be there?

—Okay. If that’s the latest, I’m going.

—Good luck.

—For real?

—Hero roleplay again lol

—He’s lying. Don’t fall for it!

—Wa-wait wait wait
—Huh?
—Huh??
—Uh???
—???
—What??
—Huh???

—What the—did I see that right?
—Wh-wh-what???!!

—No way, right?
—Didn’t he *not* challenge?
—I must have misread it?

—Hold on was he in the labyrinth this whole time????

—Is this real??
—Wow
—?????????????????

—What is happening
—Seriously????

—Randolph?
—RANDOLPH SHOWED UP!!!!!!!!

*

*

 

After finishing the creation of the Radiant Unique-grade equipment—

I opened the Golden Rule Gate and challenged Sword Saint Riley.

And when I saw the form he had taken, I couldn’t help but nod.

‘So *this* is why everyone fled.’

He was not something that could be called human.

A massive body covered in scales. Reptilian golden eyes stared down at me.

《Phase 4: You challenge “Supreme Dragon Riley.”》

The myths were wrong.

…Sword Saint Riley did not slay the Supreme Dragon—he *was* the Supreme Dragon.

The Throne of Radiant Light!

《Hidden Piece! You have entered the ‘Golden Rule Gate.’》

《According to the Golden Rule, all of “the Sword Saint’s Intimidation” is applied in reverse.》

《All stats increase by 5.》

《Your field of vision expands.》

《Regeneration ability greatly increases.》

《Body temperature regulation is vastly improved.》

《Magical defense increases.》

《While inside, you do not suffer Curses (Added Action Conditions).》

······

《The soul of “Sword Saint Riley,” sunken into the abyss, returns to its body.》

The Hidden Piece, the Golden Rule Gate.

When I inserted the Golden Ticket into the vending machine, it was not only the item list that changed.

Crossing the Golden Rule Gate rewrote the entire battlefield.

All of the Sword Saint’s Intimidation was inverted into buffs.

《You lock eyes with ‘Supreme Dragon Riley.’》

《The authority “Add 10 Random Action Conditions,” carved into Riley’s eyes, is nullified by the Golden Rule.》

The annoying authority that added random action conditions was blocked completely.

A colossal dragon of white and black, perfectly interwoven.

Myths said Sword Saint Riley severed its neck, but the legend was wrong.

Riley had been the Supreme Dragon all along.

I steadied my breathing and met the dragon’s eyes again.

【Lv.??】

His level appeared as question marks.

Meaning only one thing—two digits.

At least above ten.

‘The Golden Rule Gate only allows in the one who inserted the Golden Ticket.’

I had wanted to bring Greed with me, but the Golden Rule Gate admitted only one.

So I had been forced to choose:

Enter the normal way and challenge with a party, or cross the Golden Rule Gate and challenge alone.

I chose the latter—and it had been the correct choice.

Also—

‘His condition isn’t normal. He took quite a beating from the previous challengers.’

Looking closely, Riley’s whole body was covered in wounds.

Three harpoons lodged in his torso, places where flesh had been forcibly torn away.

Damage inflicted not by several people—by *one*.

Likely the traces left behind by the longest challenger, MintChocoIsDelicious.

Perhaps because of that, he was watching me, evaluating me—just as I was evaluating him.

‘That is…’

Something small caught my eye.

Lying on the floor—

A torn drawing.

—

 

 

 

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