Chapter 233

Chapter 233
## Chapter 233

### Chapter Title: I Want to Kill You. (1)

—

Employ every tactic at your disposal.

Step over one another to ascend!

A presence had arrived that shifted the entire equilibrium of the War of the Populace.

It was impossible to overlook.

The Constellation of Purity was the being who had successfully ascended as the “Highest Star.”

He had attained the ultimate ambition that every celestial entity craved.

‘The true battle has commenced.’

The Constellation of the Most Radiant Hero grasped the situation instantly.

He saw the fluctuations in the other divine beings that followed the arrival of the Constellation of Purity.

They would no longer observe the mortal realm with their previous detachment!

‘They have witnessed through my example that the rewards a constellation reaps from a chosen human’s evolution are beyond measure.’

Every celestial eyes the chronicler Randolph with greed.

Yet, Randolph remained pledged solely to the “Constellation of the Most Radiant Hero.”

Randolph’s progression had bolstered his patron’s status, casting him in a more brilliant light.

Among all the powers gathered for the War of the Populace, he stood without equal.

It was the richness of Randolph’s narrative that had empowered him so.

However, Randolph’s worth had not been so obvious from the outset.

‘The focused gaze of a constellation spurs a mortal’s advancement. They believe that manufacturing a successor to Randolph is a viable goal… that is their current logic.’

A majority of the constellations were now scrambling to engineer a second Randolph.

They scouted humans possessing raw talent, offered them patronage, and granted them strength.

Certain deities were even meddling directly in human affairs to force their growth.

This was a radical departure from their traditional conduct.

In fact, a small number of constellations had gone so far as to establish “Apostle Contracts,” unveiling their true identities.

They had essentially transformed humans into their direct earthly proxies.

‘These shifts aren’t inherently negative. The risk lies in the frantic nature of the rivalry.’

It had devolved into a conflict of its own.

Some were even attempting to assassinate the champions cultivated by their rivals.

Others sought to seize them through coercion and forced pacts.

It was as if they had discarded their dignity as exalted beings.

But in this chaotic environment, the likelihood of producing another Randolph was fading.

Randolph had thrived specifically because he held the collective attention of the entire celestial host.

“Cultivating those with potential—is that not the core essence of our existence? Randolph is a masterpiece, certainly, but he has hit a ceiling. Is it not inefficient to remain obsessed with a single vessel?”

The Constellation of Purity.

He drifted closer, his voice smooth.

His features were masked by shifting icons of inquiry, making it impossible to tell if he was testing his peer or speaking with sincerity.

“Randolph’s strength will continue to scale.”

The Constellation of the Most Radiant Hero dismissed the suggestion with a firm gesture.

Having observed Randolph from his first steps, he knew the man never remained static.

“Do you truly hold that conviction? He may improve, yes. But you cannot ignore the reality that Randolph has encountered his current threshold.”

“……”

“Furthermore, with the intensity of your radiance, wouldn’t your influence be better spent fostering a wider array of humans?”

…The logic wasn’t entirely flawed.

Randolph had reached level 9.

He was currently stalled by a staggering requirement of experience, making a standard level-up seem like an impossibility.

While he was finding alternative paths to power and refining his martial prowess, it was undeniable that his primary progression had hit a wall.

Nothing provides a constellation with more prestige than the tale of a level breakthrough or an act of transcendence.

Therefore, strictly from a “performance” standpoint, Randolph’s current trajectory was lackluster.

The Constellation of Purity was questioning why he didn’t pivot to nurturing multiple prospects in the interim.

“……Begone. I have no words to exchange with you.”

But the Constellation of the Most Radiant Hero severed the dialogue immediately.

He refused to be swayed by the other’s subtle provocations.

Even if the newcomer was a vital piece of the War of the Populace, he held no value for him personally.

“I see. I truly hope your persistence proves fruitful.”

The Constellation of Purity gave a slight shrug and withdrew.

He had clearly recognized the immovability of his peer’s resolve.

Truthfully, there were many things he wanted to probe.

The stranger’s techniques, the specific individual he was backing, his hidden nature, and the rest.

Questions regarding the other players in the War of the Populace.

But he suppressed his inquisitive nature.

To the “Constellation of the Most Radiant Hero,” the “Constellation of Purity” was no longer a subject worthy of his focus.

He had a much higher priority.

‘Randolph has reached his limit?’

…If that deity had witnessed what he had, if he had truly followed Randolph’s journey, would he be so bold as to make such a claim?

He turned his attention back.

He began to immerse himself in the unfolding chapters of Randolph’s story once more.

This moment was more pivotal than any that had come before.

【You have discovered the ‘Starlight of the Weapon Master.’】

【Attack: 4, Health: 4】

【You have donned the ‘Starlight of the Weapon Master.’】

【’Memory of the Stars’ is now complete.】

【Attack and Health values for all held ‘Starlights’ are boosted by 1.】

【Aggregated Attack: 40, Aggregated Health: 40】

【Concealed ‘Starlights’ are manifesting across the landscape.】

As he claimed the final light, the Heavenly Demon paused, deep in thought.

‘Even with the full set, I don’t reach 60?’

The terrifying specter that had confined him within the “Star Prison” possessed stats of 60 in both Attack and Health.

He had assumed that gathering the complete set of starlights would bridge that gap.

Yet, even with the collection finished, his totals sat at 40—significantly lower.

‘I have eight hidden traits. Does that imply that wretch possesses even more?’

He had arrived at the Isle of Gods less than twelve hours ago.

It was still before dusk, and he hadn’t yet secured the hidden starlights.

Logically, his rival should have only gathered the standard lights, just as he had, meaning they should share the same constraints.

And yet, that limit was 60.

That was the figure displayed when the expedition’s challenge began, so there was no room for doubt.

‘More hidden traits than I…’

The Heavenly Demon rubbed his jaw.

The terrifying specter.

It was evident that the creature held more “hidden traits” than he did.

But by what means?

The mathematical difference was 1.5 times.

This meant the creature possessed half again as many hidden traits.

How was that feasible?

‘A minimum of 12 hidden traits?’

…The math simply didn’t work, no matter how he looked at it.

Setting aside keys, the known limit for standard hidden traits was 12.

Even that was considered legendary; no recorded individual had ever unified them all.

Whispers existed of someone achieving it, but he had never encountered such a person.

And yet…

The disparity in raw power was baffling.

‘He must have triggered a secret requirement.’

The Heavenly Demon dismissed the thought for now.

Regardless, his purpose on this island was to trace the “Memory of the Stars” he held.

The priority was to finalize the Memory of the Stars and eliminate the other contenders.

But there was more to it.

There were obscured stars, specific protocols, and hidden wealth.

The advantage would naturally go to the one who unearthed these “hidden elements.”

The terrifying specter had undoubtedly tapped into one of these “hidden elements.”

“Hmph.”

The Heavenly Demon let out a sharp breath.

He had attempted to follow the path laid out by the god-flesh hybrid, but his approach would now shift.

‘Once darkness falls, I will hunt him down.’

He had been approaching this incorrectly from the start.

Night.

The protocols stated that formal duels were forbidden after sunset.

It warned of the arrival of “Night Demons” if one engaged in combat, but couldn’t he simply execute the wretch and vanish before they manifested?

It was a simple solution.

It aligned much better with the Heavenly Demon’s temperament anyway.

‘The Heavenly Demon Path belongs to me.’

Most importantly, he could sense the coordinates of the Heavenly Demon Path in real-time.

The Heavenly Demon Path was a relic of divinity that only the true Heavenly Demon was meant to carry.

For some arrogant pretender to grasp it, they had to be suffering the consequences by now.

There was no task simpler than slaughtering a broken madman.

The Heavenly Demon waited in silence for the sun to set.

And then.

【’Night’ has fallen.】

【The ‘Night Demons’ have been unshackled.】

【There are currently four ‘Night Demons’ active.】

He began his hunt.

Isabella walked toward the mouth of the cavern.

The sun had disappeared.

【Transformation has been triggered.】

【You have taken the form of a ‘Night Demon.’】

Fwoosh!

A dark, swirling miasma erupted from her skin.

She had been fully claimed by the demonic state.

Isabella looked down at her palms with a slow, deliberate gaze.

Her hands were soaked in crimson.

Every drop was her own.

“I am… still so fragile.”

She had been shaken by a mere phantasm.

She hadn’t been able to master her sudden flash of fury.

The vision granted by the starlight.

There was no proof that any of it was authentic.

This was the abyss, its darkest core.

Therefore… it had to be a fabrication.

A blatant attempt to drive a wedge between herself and Randolph.

“It cannot be the truth. That Sir Randolph has been pullstringing me… that he is not a resident of this realm…”

Isabella shook her head vehemently.

From the moment that vision began, her life had been a living nightmare.

How many times had she stared death in the face before becoming the Snake Princess?

While others perished under the Desert Queen, she had fought tooth and nail just to draw her next breath, her very frame shattered.

Not a single day passed without injury; she lived as little more than a tool, her autonomy stolen from her.

She never knew why.

Her existence was defined by agony and bitterness.

To believe all of that was Randolph’s doing.

To believe Randolph wasn’t a man of this world, but an entity merely inhabiting that shell.

…Impossible.

How could that be logical?

Even if she considered it from every impossible angle, it remained a lie.

Randolph had always been genuine.

That was a quality no one puppet-mastering a body could ever fake.

Thus, this was undeniably a ploy by the abyss to tear them apart.

Randolph was the true heir of Wilhelm.

A reality that Serengeti himself had verified.

Therefore… Randolph could never be the trigger for “divine punishment.”

‘Stay focused, Isabella.’

To be tempted by such a transparent lure was only proof of her lingering weakness.

Isabella steeled her resolve.

She would not falter again.

A significant amount of time passed in that silence.

“…What is a Night Demon doing in this place?”

A figure emerged before the cave, pausing in confusion.

Isabella’s eyes widened the moment she recognized him.

‘The Heavenly Demon!’

Demons possessed the ability to recognize the identities of the contenders to a certain degree.

The man standing there was the Heavenly Demon.

…This was her moment.

The perfect opportunity to strike down the Heavenly Demon!

While contenders were barred from dueling, Night Demons were free to engage even under the moon.

She possessed the overwhelming stats of 500 Attack and 500 Health.

If she initiated a duel now, her triumph was guaranteed.

Just as Isabella braced herself to strike.

Rumble—!

Thump! Thump! Crash!

A massive presence was tearing through the undergrowth, heading their way.

As the titan came into view, Isabella felt a wave of cold dread.

‘The Tomb Master!’

The primordial golem.

The sovereign and absolute entity of the abyss had arrived as if they had coordinated their timing.

And it was moving with murderous intent.

If its target wasn’t the Heavenly Demon, then it was Randolph.

Who was the prey?

…She couldn’t engage two foes simultaneously.

If the Tomb Golem intended to kill Randolph, she was in an impossible position.

If she lunged for the Heavenly Demon, the Tomb Master would crush Randolph while she was occupied.

“You aren’t attacking. No, are you playing sentry for this cave?”

The Heavenly Demon gave a mocking smile and spoke again.

“Do you intend to stand there until dawn? Are you really prepared to sacrifice your existence just to shield whoever is hiding in there?”

They were unaware of the Night Demon’s identity.

However, he seemed to intuitively understand the motive behind her inaction.

Isabella bit her lip until it bled.

He was right—if she remained passive until daybreak, both would perish.

Herself and Randolph.

The best outcome would be for the Tomb Master and the Heavenly Demon to destroy each other, but neither was moving away from the entrance.

Their focus was purely on Randolph.

But why?

‘They are the ones who were stripped of their most prized possessions by Sir Randolph!’

Evidently, these two were the victims of Randolph’s previous triumphs.

They had come under the cover of night to reclaim their losses by ending Randolph’s life.

This meant the Heavenly Demon and the Tomb Master had no reason to fight one another.

As the realization hit, Isabella’s panic surged.

She couldn’t see a way out of this trap.

She couldn’t afford to let the clock run out either.

‘What can I do…’

What choice did she have?

…It happened in an instant.

BOOM!

Like a falling star, a colossal blade crashed down from the heavens.

It struck with pinpoint accuracy, aimed directly at the Heavenly Demon.

“Gah!”

The Heavenly Demon was slammed into the earth amidst a cloud of debris, coughing up blood as his internal energy recoiled violently.

A wave of terror washed over him.

If he hadn’t raised his defensive mantle by sheer reflex, he would have been split in two.

The strike had bypassed his aura and caused severe internal trauma.

Entities of this caliber were unheard of, even in the abyss’s lowest reaches.

The Heavenly Demon glared upward, his face twisted in a snarl.

“You… who are you?”

Clop, clop.

A stallion drifted through the air, its hooves wreathed in ghostly blue fire.

The rider was a man in midnight-black plate armor, his helm forged into the likeness of a dark dragon.

He sat atop his mount with an air of absolute authority, looking down at the Heavenly Demon as if he were a mere insect.

‘Ah!’

Isabella trembled the moment she saw him.

She knew immediately who the figure on the flaming horse was.

And she knew the sheer scale of his power.

…He was the Conqueror.

The sole, unrivaled monarch.

A figure that no mortal or immortal could hope to reach!

‘The Sunken Emperor…!_