Chapter 226

Chapter 226
## Chapter: 226
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon

Splatter!

Splatter!

The rhythmic melody of tide hitting the shoreline echoed.

Past the threshold, a boundless blue expanse revealed itself.

“A landmass?”

A gargantuan island stretched toward the horizon, isolated by the infinite sea.

I remained motionless upon the shifting grains of the coast.

“What corner of the world is this?”

Could it be a layer of the Abyss?

Puzzled, I retrieved the Teleport Book from my storage.

《Translocation is prohibited in this territory.》

…Just as I suspected.

A zone where dimensional jumping was nullified.

It appeared this maritime environment was indeed a pocket within the Abyss.

However, the Abyss usually lacked such organic landscapes.

If this were a crafted dimension, it wouldn’t possess such a raw, natural essence.

The chirping of bugs and the distant calls of fowl sounded incredibly authentic.

“A fragment of the Abyss untouched by decay?”

No alternative theory seemed plausible.

Yet, could such a sanctuary truly exist?

Wasn’t the entirety of the Abyss supposed to be consumed and dragged into the dark?

That was the moment the change occurred.

【Every entrant has reached the ‘Island of the Gods.’】

【The ‘Star Hunt’ commences.】

【Entrants are required to gather 13 ‘Starlights’ from the vast array hidden throughout the isle before embarking on the ‘Star Expedition.’】

【Every ‘Starlight’ possesses distinct attributes and structural data.】

【Construct a ‘Starlight Expedition Team’ by merging them strategically to face the trial.】

【Trial attempts are unlimited, yet a defeat will result in the forfeiture of your ‘most valued treasure.’】

【A ‘Starlight Map’ is granted to every entrant.】

【Triumph in every ‘Star Expedition’ to claim sovereignty over the ‘Island of the Gods’ and obtain the ‘Holy Star.’】

Glyphs shimmered across a floating parchment.

It mirrored the mechanics of a digital guide.

“A Starlight Expedition, is it?”

The directives were transparent.

Secure 13 Starlights, launch the mission, and reach the end.

But a failure in team composition would cost me my most cherished asset.

Victory, however, meant the island and the celestial prize were mine.

“If I simply focus on gathering the Starlights, I can avoid conflict.”

There were eight other entrants besides myself.

Every one of them possessed world-shaking strength fitting of their status.

Mythic figures whose very monikers inspired terror.

Engaging them directly offered no certainty of making it out alive.

But by adhering to the framework, combat wasn’t a necessity.

I just needed to be efficient in my collection.

“This should be the chart.”

A solitary piece of paper hovered in the air.

I turned the instruction sheet over, finding a cartographic layout on the reverse side.

The luminous pinpoints peppered across the surface likely marked the Starlight caches.

“…There are so many.”

Starlights were shimmering even within my immediate vicinity.

A quick scan suggested at least 150 nearby.

If the rest of the island followed this density, there were thousands to be found.

Sourcing a mere 13 was a trivial task.

I didn’t even need to trek to far-flung regions; scavenging this area would be enough.

“Different sectors likely hold Starlights with unique traits. The objective is to pair them perfectly for a peak expedition group.”

However, I knew it wouldn’t be that straightforward.

A trap was surely waiting.

Whether those eight absolute entities would even respect the framework was highly doubtful.

“The Eternal Lord’s Heart is dormant.”

…The Eternal Lord’s Heart, capable of bypassing a single rule, was failing to trigger.

In fact, it wasn’t the only one.

None of my latent abilities were functioning.

The realization of why hit me shortly after.

A nearby Starlight caught my eye.

As soon as I grasped the faintly glowing object half-buried in the sand.

【Discovered ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’s Starlight.’】

【Offense: 3, Vitality: 5】

…A name I knew well.

It was undeniably a latent ability.

The original form of the Eternal Lord’s Heart was the ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’s Heart.’

‘Have all my latent abilities been converted into Starlights?’

I rubbed my chin, lost in thought.

The 13 latent abilities I possessed at the start.

Verifying a few others nearby, they indeed carried the titles of those original traits.

That sparked a realization.

‘I began with 13 standard latent abilities. But my power grew and branched out.’

I now held a total of 15 latent abilities.

Including Eternal Randolph and God of Bloodline.

Were those advanced versions also waiting somewhere on this island as Starlights?

There was no certainty that I was the only one whose powers had mutated or multiplied.

The eight individuals here were apex predators.

They almost certainly held multiple latent abilities as well.

‘If every ability has become a Starlight, then winning requires me to hunt down the evolved and unique ones rather than settling for the basics.’

The difficulty lay in locating them.

They wouldn’t be left out in the open.

As I considered the logistics.

Ruuuumble—!

A titanic thundering sound assaulted my hearing.

Grimacing, I peered toward the horizon: the ocean.

‘Good grief.’

I laid eyes on it.

A leviathan so vast its tail was lost in the distance.

The creature that fractured the world’s equilibrium—I knew instantly this was the Axis Whale.

That wasn’t all.

Upon its arrival, it hoisted its massive fluke and slammed it toward the coast.

It looked like a celestial body falling from the sky.

With enough force to vaporize the land, the Axis Whale disrupted the local reality.

Roooooooar!

KABOOOOOM!!!

…I pressed my palms against my ears.

The detonation was earth-shattering.

Yet, the land remained intact.

A translucent azure shield protecting the island had repelled that impossible strike.

‘The Axis Whale has zero intention of following the guidelines.’

It was obvious the moment I saw it.

The entity that broke the world’s axis.

Clearly, petty rules were beneath such a creature.

【’The Unborn Existence’ has amassed 13 Starlights and initiated the ‘Star Expedition.’】

…Hold on.

Already?

I blinked in disbelief.

Hardly any time had passed, and it was already forcing an expedition with 13 pieces?

Success seemed impossible.

It was a reckless attitude that mocked the very idea of failure.

【’Storm Multiplier’ has obliterated 120 Starlights.】

【’Storm Multiplier’ has obliterated 200 Starlights.】

【’Storm Multiplier’ has…】

…I see.

The picture was finally clear.

‘These individuals aren’t planning to play a fair game.’

They were simply imposing their will.

‘…This is actually amusing.’

A dry laugh escaped me at the sheer absurdity.

What sort of lunatics had gathered here?

To think there were so many who thought like me.

So, how does one triumph in a den of madmen?

‘By becoming the most irrational of them all.’

Exhibit a level of madness that makes even them pause.

And there was only one path to that.

The way to look most insane among the deranged.

‘Actually following the rules.’

I would play the game exactly as intended.

【Discovered ‘Void Starlight.’】

【Offense: 4, Vitality: 4】

【You may acquire or discard the ‘Void Starlight.’】

【Discovered ‘Dexterity Starlight.’】

【Offense: 2, Vitality: 8】

【You may acquire or discard the ‘Dexterity Starlight.’】

I drifted through the island like a ghost, masking my presence.

Starlights were everywhere, but the ‘unique’ ones were missing.

‘There have to be prerequisites.’

It was logical that rare Starlights required specific actions to manifest.

It was too odd that nothing special had appeared despite my extensive scouting.

What could the trigger be?

These standard Starlights all had comparable stats.

If merging them provided a bonus, I had to find the method of possession.

‘Perhaps balancing the ratio of offense and vitality?’

…No.

Maybe balance and combination weren’t the answer.

It could be a numerical threshold for total stats.

There had to be a logic behind the varying values of each Starlight.

I tested several theories.

I gathered duplicates, then tried one of every category—nothing changed.

“Oh.”

An epiphany struck.

The sequence?

The 13 latent abilities I held when I first arrived in Pangeniar.

What was their order?

Back when I first touched down in the Kaltzman Desert, bound and facing the Hydragon.

‘I recall now.’

I began organizing the Starlights in the sequence they appeared in my mind.

【Void】

【Dexterity】

【All Master】

【Weapon Master】

【Giant’s Magic Resistance】

【Druid’s Nature Affinity】

【Iron-Blooded Lord’s Heart】

【Beast Lord】

【Golden Grace】

【Heavenly】

【Mutation】

【Glutton】

【Great Sage】

As I finished the arrangement.

【’Memory of the Stars’ has been fulfilled.】

【Every Starlight’s offense and vitality is boosted by 1.】

【Current Total: 60 Offense, 60 Vitality.】

【Concealed ‘Starlights’ are appearing on the chart.】

…Success!

I checked the parchment immediately.

Vibrant orange markers.

Those were the hidden Starlights.

It appeared victory belonged to whoever reached a specific stat total by collecting items in the precise chronological order.

Rumble!

Suddenly.

A blast echoed from a short distance away.

Crash!

The unmistakable sounds of a struggle.

To keep my progress steady, I should have walked away.

“You filthy mongrel…!”

“Utilizing bizarre sorceries? Is this some sort of phantasmagoria?”

But my interest was piqued.

Just how formidable were these legendary Abyss kings and prehistoric entities?

Suppressing my aura to the absolute limit, I moved closer.

“I’ll erase you!”

In a clearing, a ragged old man was locked in combat with a figure in dark combat robes.

The man in black was captivating.

Raven hair and piercing eyes.

He swung a single blade with effortless grace.

His strikes appeared chaotic, yet they left the old man with no room to breathe.

Those erratic movements carved paths of sublime perfection.

“Hmph. Nothing more than a wild animal.”

Shortly after, the man sighed in boredom and shifted his weight.

Thud!

The elder’s body skidded through the air as if pushed by an invisible hand, crashing into the dirt.

Every motion, every stride—he was beyond ordinary.

He looked completely mundane, yet he was overwhelmingly superior.

In that heartbeat, our gazes connected.

“……”

I stepped out from my cover.

There was no use in pretending anymore.

Watching me, the man gave a slight nod.

“Decent perception for a youngster.”

His tone suggested my life would have been forfeit had I stayed in the dark.

I gave a casual shrug.

“I couldn’t exactly ignore someone bullying an old man.”

“Bullying an old man?”

“Show me what you’ve got.”

“You want a lesson? From me?”

The man smirked, clearly entertained.

……He was undeniably powerful.

So strong that a direct physical fight gave me no advantage.

Which made this the perfect opening.

A unique opportunity!

I immediately summoned my 13 Starlights into the air.

Then.

【’Heavenly Demon’ and ‘Randolph’ enter a ‘Star Expedition Duel.’】

【’Heavenly Demon’ stats: 0 Offense, 0 Vitality.】

【’Heavenly Demon’ has been overcome.】

【Expedition triumphant!】

【’Randolph’ claims the Heavenly Demon’s most valued treasure.】

“What…?!”

The Heavenly Demon’s composure shattered.

……As I suspected, these titans weren’t playing by the rules at all.

To think he hadn’t bothered to pick up a single Starlight.

Winning the expeditions to rule the island.

As I thought, it included defeating rivals in these formal duels.

To strip the most precious possession from all 8 rivals.

“You little brat…!”

And the Heavenly Demon’s most valued treasure.

The blade that was just in his grip was now resting in mine.

He erupted in fury, but the outcome was already written.

【Duel losers are confined to the ‘Star Prison’ for 24 hours.】

Whoosh!

The Heavenly Demon’s image blurred and vanished instantly, like smoke caught in a breeze.