I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-81

Ch-81

—

‘…Shouldn’t they at least tell me *why* I can’t summon him?’

Whether the soul simply no longer existed, whether the Radiant Brilliance could not summon him, or whether he lacked the necessary fragments of the Golden Scale — the system ought to give *some* explanation.

The message was so unkind that it left him feeling almost hollow.

Kuaaah!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The outside was in an uproar. It seemed the Supreme Dragon had not yet given up.

It wouldn’t be a bad plan to just wait until the creature exhausted its strength—

‘But he’s still lively.’

In fact, for something that had been fighting for over a day, it was *too* lively.

If he let time simply pass like this, the rate of erosion would only increase.

Resting his chin against the Throne of Light, he closed his eyes.

Then the booming noise from outside began to sound almost like a song.

Countless names brushed past his mind in rhythm.

Among them—

The one person who could, without question, hunt down the Supreme Dragon.

‘With him… it is possible.’

*

*

Player Talk was more heated than ever.

— …Did I really see that name correctly?

— Anyone see Randolph in the labyrinth?

— How would you know? You don’t even know what he looks like.

— Where did he suddenly pop out from?

— Isn’t it just someone stealing the name?

It seemed that challengers who faced Sword Saint Riley could choose their displayed names.

Only Gracia was called “Sword Saint,” while MintChocolateIsDelicious used his original name as-is.

Then the name “Randolph” could also simply be chosen at the challenger’s discretion.

This sparked the debate: *Is it really the real Randolph?*

— Based on his past actions, it’s probably not Randolph.

— Nah, he’s been rising with overwhelming performance. It *was* strange that he hadn’t challenged the Abyssal Labyrinth from the start.

— Think. Anyone seen Randolph up to Main Quest 6? Has anyone even properly heard that name?

— Agreed. He’s always been doing things quietly, out of sight, in bizarre ways none of us know. He even stopped the First Invasion alone.

— Exactly. But now he challenges the “Abyssal Labyrinth,” which *everyone* enters? That’s completely different from how he acted before.

— If he stopped the First Invasion alone, then he should be at Wilhelm-tier already, right? Then it’d be natural for him to challenge the Abyssal Labyrinth.

— You dense idiot, that makes no sense. To reach Wilhelm’s level he’d need five stars and at least eight Unique-grade items equipped. There’s no way we wouldn’t know if he had that.

— Five stars is just a phrase. Wilhelm’s not just a normal five-star, isn’t he?

— Well… that’s just rumors. Only he knows. But based on what he roughly revealed during the Great Expedition, Randolph is nowhere near that level yet. He wouldn’t take such dangerous risks.

— But that “spec sheet” doesn’t make sense either. How can a human have five stars and eight Unique items?

— …That’s not the point. Anyway, the current ‘Randolph’ is fake. Don’t place your hopes on him — just get ready for what’s coming next.

A reasonable argument.

The name “Randolph” could simply be a deception.

A pseudonym chosen to hide the challenger’s real identity.

Why he chose *that* name was unknown, but there was no reason to believe he would succeed.

Instead of praying, it was far wiser to prepare for the coming “Second Invasion.”

Right then—

—I’m back. Just met the Death King.

—Holy shit. You survived?

—This guy’s fake too.

—No seriously, I went. He was easier to talk to than I expected? I offered him a Labyrinth Ticket and he said I was adorable and cut off just one arm.

—How are you alive?

—That bastard is an undead pretending to be human, I swear.

—Did you fix the arm?

—Used an elixir. Almost died ‘cause it wouldn’t reattach.

—Guess you’re not just some nobody, huh.

—But is the Randolph I’m thinking of *that* Randolph? Even the Death King looked like he knew him.

—The Death King *knows* Randolph?

—What are you talking about?

—Woof woof, bullshit!

At the claim he had met the Death King, the entire chat exploded.

How could the Death King possibly know Randolph?

Were all those overwhelming Main Quest scores connected to the Death King?

But that was impossible.

Cramdel’s sovereign **hated** humans.

No human who stood before him survived.

So the claim that he spared someone because he found them “adorable” and only cut off an arm was unbelievable.

—He seemed really happy to see the name Randolph. Hm. Maybe that’s why he let me live…

—The Death King and Randolph are connected?

—I dunno the details. But as soon as the challenger name appeared, he burst out laughing. Then he cut off my arm.

—He still cuts off an arm though…

—Cruel bastard…

—If he’s *that* happy, he cuts off exactly one arm, huh.

—What kind of relationship is that?

—So you’re saying Randolph was in Cramdel?

—If he was in Cramdel, that explains how no one ever saw him.

—How would a human even enter Cramdel lol, get real

Cramdel was a city humans could *never* set foot in.

Randolph going there and forming a relationship with the Death King?

Impossible.

At least, that’s what they believed.

But if it was Randolph — if it was *the Phantom* — maybe it *was* possible.

—Huh?

—What’s happening?

—Are you seeing this too?

The entire message board was suddenly filled with question marks.

A notice had suddenly appeared.

—Someone in the labyrinth is attempting to complete a myth?

—What myth is being completed?

—…??? What does that even mean?

—What the hell is happening now?

*

*

《The soul of ‘Sword Saint Riley’ has been summoned.》

《A worthy and honorable figure for the ‘Throne of Radiant Light.’》

《‘Broken Golden Scale Fragments’ are consumed 500 times faster.》

《Hidden Quest: ‘Completion of a Failed Myth’ has begun.》

The one summoned to the throne—

Was none other than Sword Saint Riley.

A message declaring that the soul long sunken into the abyss had reappeared through the Gate of the Golden Scale.

With that message recalled, he summoned Riley.

「The Supreme Dragon…」

A voice spoke.

Sword Saint Riley — it felt as though he were speaking directly into his mind.

At the same time, Riley’s memories flowed in.

He was a dragon.

A being strong enough to be called a Supreme Dragon.

Yet he was also human.

A half-human, half-dragon.

A human who carried dragon’s blood.

「My other half… my curse.」

But the dragon blood had tormented him endlessly.

It granted him overwhelming strength and talent, earning him the title of Sword Saint.

But every time he awakened the dragon blood, everything around him was reduced to ash.

The dragon blood was a curse.

He tried to separate from it, but ultimately failed.

If not for the other members of the Hexagon restraining him each time, he would have become a dragon forever, destroying everything.

That cursed form represented his failure.

‘The myth distorted by the other six heroes — Riley wants to complete that myth.’

Thus, “Completion of a Failed Myth.”

「If that curse is right before your eyes… it means it is moments away from becoming the abyss itself.」

Riley had sunk into the abyss.

And then sealed himself.

He chose to guard the final seal as a Supreme Dragon.

Such was his determination that he would never allow himself to become “the abyss itself.”

“Do not worry. The city will not be eroded.”

Kyakyak!

Hel perched on his shoulder.

He had trembled at the Supreme Dragon at first, but now was completely accustomed.

As long as Hel was here, erosion would not occur.

If Hel *rejects* it, Warp-corruption cannot happen.

「I see… one of the works created by a ‘Celestial’ and ‘the one who is the abyss itself.’ And the ‘Throne of Light’… Who are you? I have never seen you before.」

He spoke as though he knew something.

Perhaps it was from being consumed by the abyss for so long.

There were many things to ask, but—

“No time for chit-chat.”

He had no time.

The fragments were melting.

Five hundred times faster.

He had more than 1,500 hours worth, so he could maintain this state for at least 3 hours — but every second was precious.

「Leave your body to me. I shall sever my curse with my own hands.」

“I will do it.”

「Absurd. You are not even of the swordsman class. Even if you were, you could never match the caliber of my ‘Dragon Swordmaster.’」

Only he could control his own power.

That much was true.

No one else could wield his abilities better.

But this was also an opportunity.

‘Dragon Swordmaster. A class that has never once appeared.’

In all his knowledge, it had never once surfaced.

A name belonging solely to Riley, the true half-human, half-dragon.

But he already possessed the class “Star Successor.”

A person could only have one class.

Though one could transcend classes later, the fundamental *name* remained singular.

But *he* was different.

“Leave it to me, Sword Saint Riley.”

「The initiative is yours. But think carefully— hm?」

Sssrrrk.

Suddenly, scales grew over his hand.

Scales identical to that of the Supreme Dragon.

Blood rose to the surface of his skin, forming the shape of a crimson sword.

<Due to Hidden Trait ‘All-Master,’ you temporarily adapt to the ‘Dragon Swordmaster’ class.>

<If recognized by ‘Sword Saint Riley,’ you may inherit the ‘Dragon Swordmaster’ class.>

<Skill ‘Dragon Sword (Lv. 10)’ is activated.>

<Due to the ‘Dragon Swordmaster’ class, the sword mastery cap is raised to Lv. 26.>

<‘Soul of Sword Saint Riley’ raises mastery to maximum.>

<Your stats are temporarily adjusted.>

<‘Sword Saint’s Pressure’ grants additional stats.>

….

…

Message after message flooded his vision.

Once the adaptation finished, he swung the crimson-tinged Dragon Sword.

A blade aura — like an afterimage — flared forth.

A unique aura that manifested once sword mastery surpassed Level 20.

But it wasn’t something that appeared *simply* for reaching the level.

To manifest blade aura required a special intuition.

A sign of one who had truly become one with the sword — something no mere adaptation could produce.

A symbol of power attained only by one who had reached it through his own efforts!

「…Unbelievable.」

Sword Saint Riley was aghast.

What was blade aura?

A realm reached only after relentlessly sharpening oneself, grinding one’s skills, and finally achieving enlightenment.

Most swordsmen died without ever manifesting it.

Even those who trained 10 or 20 years — or longer — could not manifest it without true comprehension.

Yet this man wielded blade aura as casually as a toy.

‘This man isn’t even a swordsman. And yet…’

He possessed no swordsman class.

His sword mastery was shallow.

He shouldn’t even be able to properly handle *his own* skills, let alone blade aura.

‘They say you don’t *have* to be a swordsman to manifest blade aura…’

Indeed, some lance or bow masters could manifest it.

Those who reached the pinnacle.

‘But he is neither of those.’

The problem was—

The man before him had never mastered *any* weapon.

Sword Saint Riley.

He was someone who could instinctively grasp the opponent’s level of skill.

For example, he could gauge the level of sword mastery.

Believing that a true strong individual was one who possessed both high mastery and enlightenment, he had always considered those who merely raised their physical level to be unworthy of facing him.

And in Riley’s eyes, this man—

‘…Pathetic.’

He was pathetic.

His sword mastery did not even reach Level 10.

He was someone who had not properly learned the sword at all.

Even if the man’s sword mastery had been forcibly raised to the maximum through Riley’s soul, there was absolutely no way he would have the sense or understanding to fully utilize it.

It was like suddenly placing into his hands a sword more than a thousand times heavier than what he usually wielded and expecting him to use it properly — it simply made no sense.

Unless one had originally trained with such a weight, the normal reaction would be to struggle and give up.

Yet…

He had manifested blade aura.

Manifesting blade aura by sheer accident was impossible.

‘Is it the same for his swordsmanship?’

Seeing that he possessed the Throne of Radiant Light and a Celestial spirit, Riley was now certain that this man was no ordinary individual.

If blade aura could be manifested, then what about his swordsmanship?

Sword Saint.

He was a man who had once reached the pinnacle of the sword.

Under the heavens, there was no one who could cross blades with him and defeat him.

Thus he had become a proud member of the Hexagon — a hero.

He was the one who stood out even among the six who supported the old Empire.

「If it becomes overwhelming, hand your body over at any time. A Supreme Dragon is not a being you can defeat through blade aura alone. You will need my power.」

So, if the burden grew too great, he should not stubbornly resist — he should immediately hand over control.

There was no one who could handle his body better than he could.

And no one knew how to fight a Supreme Dragon as well as he did.

“Hm…”

He swung the sword using skills, moving his body this way and that.

Stats that had been adjusted and enhanced, skills engraved into Riley’s soul.

Even the class of Dragon Swordmaster — there was nothing lacking.

Energy filled his entire body, and it felt as if he could soar into the air.

His physical state was now completely different from just moments earlier.

For most people, it would take ages to adapt.

“Not bad.”

《You have used the prefix skill “Radiant Light” engraved on the ‘Throne of Radiant Light.’》

《The prefix has been consumed. In 60 seconds, the Throne of Radiant Light’s basic maintenance function will disappear.》

The “basic maintenance function” referred to its passive option.

While seated on the Throne of Radiant Light, it would block surrounding attacks — a form of invincibility.

It was unfortunate to lose it, but necessary for the clear.

‘I can always draw the Radiant prefix again.’

…Although using it often was difficult, given the cost of the materials required.

Half the treasure plundered from Greed, as well as the Myth-grade Satyrus’s Bow, had been consumed.

But if he could obtain the Dragon Swordmaster class, then the return more than justified the cost.

—

 

 

 

---