Chapter 81

"…Shouldn’t you tell me the reason why I can’t summon it?"

Whether it’s because there’s no soul, or because it can’t be summoned by the Radiant Light, or because the pieces of the Golden Rule I have are insufficient, the reason should be given.

The wording, which was the epitome of unhelpfulness, made me feel a sense of frustration.

Kuaaa!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The outside is noisy. It seems the Black Dragon hasn’t given up yet.

While waiting for the Black Dragon to tire out might not be a bad strategy, …

‘It’s still full of energy.’

Considering it has been fighting for over a day, it’s still full of energy.

If I just wait, the erosion rate will only increase.

I closed my eyes, resting my chin on the Radiant Light Throne.

Then, the roaring sound around me seemed like a song.

Numerous names brushed past my mind, in rhythm.

One of them.

The one who can most certainly hunt the Black Dragon.

‘If it’s him, it’s possible.’

*

The player chat was more intense than ever.

-...Is the name I saw really correct?

-Has anyone seen Randolph in the Labyrinth?

-How can you know if you don’t even know what he looks like?

-Where did he suddenly appear from?

-Isn’t this just a name impersonation?

The name of the challenger to the Sword Saint Laili could be chosen by the player.

The Sword Saint title was only for Gracia, and Mintchoco was using her real name.

So, ‘Randolph’ could also be a name chosen by the player.

This sparked the debate: ‘Is it really Randolph?’

-From his actions so far, it doesn’t seem like Randolph.

-But he’s been climbing with overwhelming performance. It was strange that he didn’t challenge the Abyss Labyrinth from the beginning.

-No, think about it. Has anyone seen Randolph up to Main Quest 6? Has anyone even heard his name properly?

-I agree. He must have been progressing quietly in some unknown way. He even defended against the first invasion alone.

-So, challenging the ‘Abyss Labyrinth’ where everyone goes? It’s very different from his previous actions.

-If he can defend against the first invasion alone, he must have grown to Wilhelm’s level. It’s natural that he would challenge the Abyss Labyrinth.

-Ah, frustrating, does that make sense? To grow to Wilhelm’s level, you need to eat five stars and wear eight Unique-grade items. At that level, we would know.

-It’s five stars, but Wilhelm isn’t just five stars, right?

-Well... That’s just a rumor, and only he would know. Anyway, Wilhelm roughly mentioned his specs when he started the Grand Expedition. Based on that, Randolph is far from that level. He doesn’t seem like someone who would take dangerous adventures.

-But even those ‘specs’ don’t make sense. How can a human be 5-star with eight Unique-grade items?

-...That’s not the issue. Anyway, the Randolph who is challenging now is a fake. Don’t have false hopes; we should prepare for what’s to come.

It was a reasonable argument.

The name ‘Randolph’ might just be to cause confusion.

He might have chosen ‘Randolph’ as an alias to hide his real name.

Why he chose ‘Randolph’ is unknown, but it doesn’t seem like he will succeed.

Instead of just waiting, it would be wiser to prepare for the ‘Second Invasion’ that is to come.

At that moment.

-I came back. I met the Four Kings.

-What? Are you still alive?

-This guy is also a fake.

-Really went. It was easier to talk than I thought. I offered the Labyrinth ticket, and he only cut off one arm.

-How did you survive?

-That guy is an undead pretending to be human, I saw it.

-Did you heal the cut arm?

-Healed with an elixir. It didn’t attach well, so I almost died.

-You must be quite skilled.

-But is this Randolph the Randolph I think it is? The Four Kings seemed to know him.

-Do the Four Kings know Randolph?

-What do you mean?

-Bark bark!

Everyone reacted explosively to the person who claimed to have met the Four Kings.

How could the Four Kings know Randolph?

Could the overwhelming scores in the main quests so far be related to the Four Kings?

However, it doesn’t make sense.

Kramdel’s Four Kings hate humans.

No one has ever survived meeting them.

So, it’s hard to believe the person who claimed to have met the Four Kings. The claim that the Four Kings only cut off one arm doesn’t make sense.

-Randolph seemed to really like the name? Hmm. So, he might have spared him...

-Is there a connection between the Four Kings and Randolph?

-I don’t know the details. As soon as the challenger’s name appeared, he suddenly laughed. Then he cut off one arm.

-Still, he cut off one arm...

-What a cruel guy...

-He must have been in a really good mood to cut off just one arm.

-What kind of relationship is this?

-Does that mean Randolph has been in Kramdel all this time?

-If he was in Kramdel, it makes sense that no one knew.

-How can a human enter Kramdel? Haha, that’s ridiculous.

Kramdel is a city that humans can never enter.

Entering Kramdel and forming a relationship with the Four Kings?

It’s impossible.

At least, that’s what they thought.

But if it’s Randolph, that phantom, it might be possible.

-What?

-What’s happening now?

-Did you see it too?

The entire bulletin board was covered in question marks.

Due to the sudden announcement.

-Someone is challenging the completion of a myth in the Labyrinth?

-What myth is being completed?

-...??? What are you talking about?

-What’s happening now?

*

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

《A worthy individual fitting for the ‘Radiant Light Throne’.》

《The ‘Fragment of the Broken Golden Rule’ is being consumed 500 times faster.》

《Hidden Quest: ‘Failed Myth Completion’ has started.》

The one summoned to the throne was none other than the Sword Saint Laili.

The phrase that his soul, which had sunk into the abyss, reappeared through the Golden Rule’s door.

I summoned Laili, recalling that phrase.

“Black Dragon...”

A voice echoed.

The Sword Saint Laili, it felt as if he was speaking inside my mind.

At the same time, his memories flowed into me.

He was a dragon.

A powerful being called the Black Dragon.

But he was also human.

Half-human, half-dragon.

A human with the blood of a dragon.

“My other half, my curse.”

The dragon’s blood always tormented Laili.

The blood granted him immense power and talent, earning him the title of Sword Saint, but every time he awakened to the dragon’s blood, everything around him was devastated.

The dragon’s blood was a curse to Laili.

He tried to separate it but failed.

If not for the combined efforts of the other six Hexagon members, he would have become a dragon and wreaked havoc forever.

The cursed form represents his failure.

‘A myth distorted by the other six Hexagon heroes. Laili wants to complete that myth.’

That’s why it’s called ‘Failed Myth Completion.’

“The curse being in front of me means the abyss itself is about to manifest.”

Laili sank into the abyss.

He sealed himself.

He chose to become the ‘Black Dragon’ to guard the final seal.

His strong will was that he could not become the ‘abyss itself.’

“Don’t worry. The city won’t be eroded.”

Kya kya!

Hell sat on my shoulder.

At first, he trembled at the appearance of the Black Dragon, but now he seems to have adapted.

As long as Hell is here, erosion won’t occur.

If Hell ‘rejects,’ erosion caused by warping won’t happen.

“Indeed... One of the works created by the ‘Celestial’ and the ‘abyss itself.’ And the ‘Radiant Light Throne’... Who are you? I’ve never seen you before.”

His tone suggests he knows something.

Is it because he was immersed in the abyss for a long time?

I have many questions, but...

“There’s no time for idle talk.”

There was no time.

The Fragment of the Broken Golden Rule is melting.

At a rate 500 times faster.

I have over 1,500 hours of fragments, so I can maintain this state for at least 3 hours, but every second counts.

“Let me take control. I will sever my curse with my own hands.”

“I’ll do it.”

“Very well. You aren’t even a Swordsman class, are you? Even if you were, you couldn’t match my ‘Dragon Swordsman’ level.”

Only he can handle his own abilities.

I agree.

There’s no one better at handling his abilities.

But this is also an opportunity for me.

‘Dragon Swordsman. A class that has never appeared before.’

To my knowledge, it’s a class that has never appeared.

A name of a different caliber, possessed only by the true half-human, half-dragon Laili.

However, I already have the ‘Star Successor’ class.

A person can only have one class.

Even if you can transcend a class later, you can only have one core name.

But I’m different.

“Let me handle it, Sword Saint Laili.”

“The control is yours. However, think carefully... Hmm?”

Swoosh.

Suddenly, scales cover my hand.

Scales like those of the Black Dragon.

Then, blood rises to the surface of my skin, forming the shape of a red sword.

<Hidden trait ‘Omnimaster’ temporarily adapts to the ‘Dragon Swordsman’ class.>

<You can inherit the ‘Dragon Swordsman’ class if recognized by ‘Sword Saint Laili’.>

<Skill ‘Dragon Sword (Lv10)’ is used.>

<‘Dragon Swordsman’ class unlocks sword proficiency up to level 26.>

<Proficiency is maxed out by ‘Sword Saint Laili’s soul’.>

<Stats are temporarily adjusted.>

<‘Sword Saint’s Overwhelming Presence’ adds to stats.>

...

...

Endless text appears.

After adapting, I swing the red Dragon Sword.

A sword aura, like an afterimage, rises.

A unique aura that appears when sword proficiency reaches level 20.

But it’s not something you can just produce by reaching a certain level.

Special techniques are needed to produce a sword aura.

Only those who are truly one with their sword can possess it, not just by adapting.

A mark of a true master, only those who have reached it on their own can achieve!

“...I’m speechless.”

Sword Saint Laili was shocked.

Let’s fly.

What is a sword aura?

A realm that can only be reached after relentless self-discipline and refinement.

Most swordsmen never produce a sword aura and fade away.

Even those who have trained for 10, 20, or more years can’t produce it without enlightenment.

Yet, he produced it as if it were a toy.

‘He isn’t even a Swords