Chapter 89

That's me, after all.

To lose to a mere crow?

But when the White King continued, the Great Earth Dragon was left speechless.

"He might be the only one who can kill me."

"......!!!!!"

It was the first time the White King had ever said such a thing.

If there was someone who could kill the White King, the Great Earth Dragon had no choice but to accept it.

The same went for the other Four Forces.

"The Fifth Force desires an 'equal position.' In other words, it means that the Fifth Force does not wish to turn against me. Now that we have reached an agreement, there's no reason not to accept the deal."

"But, Hao! Can't you be sure where the fang is?"

The Fifth Force made the offer at the end.

The fang of the White King, lost to Wilhelm.

He knows where it went after Wilhelm's death.

"No, the Fifth Force is telling the truth."

If he had simply said it was in the Labyrinth, it would have been dismissed as a lie.

But the Fifth Force provided a rather credible story.

- The fang was handed over to a 'special place' after the owner's death, caw.

- Even if I tell you, it's a place you can never reach, caw.

The place where the fang was 'handed over,' unreachable even by the White King and the Four Forces.

It means someone intentionally moved it.

After Wilhelm's death in the Great Expedition.

Randolph believed he was the only one who knew and could reach it.

Thus, he asked what would be offered in return for bringing the fang.

"Equal. I will not make a deal unless it's of equal value."

But something of equal value to his fang?

There was no such thing.

The fang of the White King was the most precious thing in the world.

How could he give up something so precious again?

"What must I give to retrieve the fang?"

"Are you willing to accept the deal...?"

The Great Earth Dragon spoke with a half-dazed face.

It was because the sudden influx of hard-to-accept stories.

The White King shrugged.

"Accepting the deal is not the problem. The real issue is what to give. It needs to match the value of the fang and satisfy the Fifth Force."

After a moment of silence, the Great Earth Dragon finally spoke, half-giving up.

"Isn't there... one?"

"...... One? Could you be talking about what I'm thinking?"

"Yes."

"You mean my daughter?"

"Yes."

"Hmm."

The White King stroked his chin.

He had a precious daughter, dearer than his own eyes.

A daughter he cherished as much as, or even more than, his fang.

"Is Randolph male?"

"Isn't he?"

"Hmm. He's still in training, I suppose."

"Didn't you hear that the Black King's group has gathered in the 'Mountain of Trainees'? We have to take him out anyway."

"If it's a good plan, it's a good plan..."

The White King sighed deeply.

The only one with the potential to kill him, Randolph.

If he married his daughter, all risks would be eliminated.

Moreover, he would gain a powerful ally forever.

The problem was elsewhere.

'Will he listen to me?'

He wasn't sure if the troublemaker would listen to him.

He sent him to the Mountain of Trainees for character correction and training, but given his bloodline, he didn't think his iron-hard personality had changed.

But if it were possible, there could be no better solution.

"Hmmmm."

The White King's contemplation deepened.

*

After the Abyss Labyrinth was cleared.

The player chat was also experiencing a change.

-Knight news? There's news about Randolph in Korea.

-Yeah, he's really bold.

-Kim Hana? Isn't she the one who interviewed Gracia?

-Yes. Kim Hana seems to have done a separate anonymous interview.

-"True hero Randolph fighting alone against monsters in another dimension."

-Well, it's not a lie, lol.

-Whoever said it is probably a Phantom cult follower.

-Aren't the Master's assassins scary!

-That's right. From the Master's perspective, the name Randolph is something he wants to erase from Earth no matter what...

News in Korea under Kim Hana's name.

Not just the 'Dimension Warrior' who came here, but news about 'Randolph' fighting alone in another dimension caused a stir.

Of course, it's not a big deal.

It just says there's someone named Randolph in another dimension.

The problem is the mere mention of the name Randolph.

-Can someone summarize the news content?

-The newly created warps are from the 'Labyrinth' in another dimension, created to invade Earth. A hero named 'Randolph' sacrificed his life to stop it.

-What, it's not a big deal?

-Not a big deal? Now people will start wondering who Randolph is.

-Both the reporter and the interviewee are risking their lives.

-Or maybe they can't touch him because he's recently become famous?

-They won't make it an issue, they'll just cover it up.

-Do you think they only know that? They probably held back and only included that much content to make it news.

-Ah, I'm getting scared.

-Kids, this isn't the time. Pangea is in chaos.

At that moment.

While the player chat was noisy about the news.

Suddenly, players who logged out started talking about Pangea.

-Why? What happened?

-It's always in chaos, but it's a big deal, lol.

-A notice was sent to all cities. And it's from the White King!

Suddenly, the White King.

No player was unfamiliar with that name.

-White King? The White King of Northern Kramdel?

-Yeah, really. Even the guilds that have taken over cities are in chaos.

-What is it? What's the content?

-Wait. He's officially declaring the Labyrinth City as his territory. It's the White King's second official declaration after Kramdel. It means he'll kill anyone who messes with it.

-What do you mean? Wasn't the one who dominated the Labyrinth City Randolph?

-The ruler who will directly govern the city is the Fifth Force, Randolph?

-...?

-?????

-Fifth Force?

-Yes. The fifth force newly ascended in Kramdel. The King of Corpse Crows, Randolph.

-What, what?

-What the hell is this?

-So, the one who cleared the Abyss Labyrinth wasn't the Randolph we know, but the King of Corpse Crows, Randolph?

-You mean there's another Randolph with the same name?

-I'm so confused.

-My head is spinning.

-So, it's not Phantom Randolph, but the monster, the King of Corpse Crows, Randolph?

-What, is this... really?

-Who is the King of Corpse Crows, Randolph?

-This is insane. We were enthusiastic about Phantom, but it was a monster?

-There's no way Kramdel would accept a human, so he must be a real monster.

-Then where is the real Randolph?

-Isn't he in the Mountain of Trainees?

-Who can go and check?

-You can only go up to level 7 once.

-The monsters around the mountain have increased so much that the path to the mountain is blocked. You'll die if you go.

-Wow... creepy.

-Amazing,......

*

The Mountain of Trainees.

It starts automatically when you reach level 7 and complete the main quest 6.

You can only go up once, and if you don't reach level 15 in class-related proficiency, you can't even come down.

'The key is how high a proficiency level you can achieve.'

While the White King was contemplating the price for the fang, I planned to climb the Mountain of Trainees.

But I had to thoroughly prepare and finish it.

One chance.

No second chance.

From the moment I enter until I come down, I must achieve outstanding results.

'The maximum proficiency level varies by class.'

For a general class, like 'Archer,' you can max out the bow-related proficiency at level 15.

15 levels. That's the standard.

If you have a class of a higher caliber, the max level naturally increases.

In that sense, I was already in a favorable position.

'The Sword Saint of the Supreme. A hidden class that can max out sword proficiency to level 30.'

The hidden class, the Sword Saint of the Supreme!

I obtained a class that was recognized and promoted by both the Supreme Dragon and the Sword Saint Raeli.

A class with a maximum proficiency level of 30, unheard of.

There are cases where you can exceed the max level by consuming related stars, but starting at level 30!

'I need to at least reach level 23 and come down.'

However, after level 20, the difficulties and trials begin.

With the Baal Helmet and my crafting skills, I can probably reach level 23.

And the number of people who have reached level 23 in the Mountain of Trainees is probably countable on one hand.

"Let's go."

"Okay~"

Beside me, the Holy Maiden Seo-a answered.

She seemed a bit off, but she was the only one who had never entered the Mountain of Trainees.

Unlike Isaac or Isabella, who are player characters, she was Pangea's Holy Maiden from birth, so she didn't need to enter the Mountain of Trainees.

A small smile formed on my lips.

What's in front of me now is not a Holy Maiden.

'An infinite healing shuttle.'

A being to restore my weary mind and body in the Mountain of Trainees.

For endless training,

Just a healing shuttle, that's all.

And not just any, but the strongest healing shuttle with formidable divine power.

Not only that.

'If things go as I plan, I might even reach above level 23.'

If everything goes as planned, I might even be able to put my name at the top of the Hall of Fame for Main Quest 7.

Perhaps, even more.

The Star of the Beheaded

The volcano.

A place known as the Sanctuary of Fire.

Kiaaa!

There, a giant bird made of fire screamed.

The Phoenix, a mythic creature of a different caliber!

But now, it was immobilized with swords embedded in both wings.

"Hand over the star, Star Guardian."

In front of it, Gracia twirled the Thousand Swords.

The Phoenix is the Star Guardian of the Star of Fire.

A special being that tests those who have achieved the qualifications and grants the star.

But the Phoenix shook its head, looking at the man in front of it, Gracia.

-You are not yet ready...

Krrr!

Kiaaa!

Under the relentless attack of the Thousand Swords, the Phoenix was slowly dying.

But Gracia didn't care.

The Phoenix was already out of his mind.

《The owner of the Abyss Labyrinth, 'Sword Saint Raeli,' has been defeated by the challenger 'Randolph.'》

《Phase 5, 'The One Who Is the Abyss Itself' has been eliminated by 'Randolph.'》

《'Abyss Labyrinth' cleared! 'Randolph' rises as the owner of the Labyrinth City.》

... The memory resurfaced.

Gracia gritted his teeth.

The guy did what he couldn't.

Of course, he learned that it wasn't Phantom Randolph, but the Fifth Force of Kramdel, the King of Corpse Crows, Randolph, but the discomfort still lingered.

'I am still lacking.'

He admitted it.

His arrogance.

He was so engrossed in wielding the Thousand Swords, called the Sword Saint, that he neglected his growth.

As a result, he couldn't even defeat the old Sword Saint.

'I thought I had surpassed Phantom. I was wrong.'

Phantom's strongest character, Wilhelm, would have defeated the