Chapter 238

Chapter 238
## Chapter 238

—

### Destruction

Raiga funneled every ounce of his cognitive focus.

The current circumstances baffled him, but a faint, resurfacing memory had begun to take shape in his mind.

For a warrior of Raiga’s caliber, even a devastating ambush shouldn’t have been enough to plunge him into total oblivion. Unless his life force had been snuffed out entirely, his consciousness should have remained tethered to reality.

Raiga was the master of an infallible sixth sense, a perception that functioned with absolute clarity even when his physical eyes were failed him.

‘I remember it… Yeomso stepped out from that cavern.’

He began the arduous process of stitching together his fractured recollections. He retrieved the jagged shards of memory that had been torn apart and systematically reconnected them.

Finally, as the complete picture solidified.

‘…This is madness.’

A violent shiver ran through Raiga.

The events that had transpired following Yeomso’s exit from the cave defied every law of nature he knew.

‘What is that man’s true nature?’

Haunted by the images of that moment, Raiga fixed his gaze upon Yeomso.

—

**Kwaaaaaaaaang!**

An explosive boom erupted, so violent it felt as though it would rupture his eardrums. In the heart of that chaos, a gargantuan monstrosity manifested.

“……!!!”

“……”

As Baal, one of the legendary Four Perils, made its entrance, the atmosphere grew heavy with the weight of dozens of gazes. Finding myself the target of so many elite powerhouses simultaneously, I calmly pushed off from the earth and ascended.

My movements were fluid. There was no trace of hesitation or fear. I acted as though this were a routine I had performed a thousand times over.

‘Its scale is excessive.’

The primary issue was that Baal’s physical form was simply too massive to serve as a practical steed.

**Sssssss—!**

As if sensing my internal critique, Baal’s body began to contract. Thick plumes of vapor billowed from its hide as its mass shifted. While it remained formidable, it shrank from the proportions of a mountain range to something resembling the size of a heavy transport truck.

This was a phenomenon I had never witnessed before.

‘This must be a byproduct of my Hidden Trait evolving.’

The fusion and subsequent advancement of my Hidden Traits, coupled with the process of Sloughing, had been transformative. Jumping across two major thresholds of power at once had yielded dramatic results.

This was clearly one of them: Baal’s ability to reshape its own physical dimensions according to my silent requirements. It appeared that my ‘Dominance’ over the creature had reached an unprecedented level.

“……Baal.”

The Sunken Emperor’s voice cut through the air.

As I suspected, the Masters of the Abyss recognized the entity instantly. They saw it not as a mere spectral imitation or a summoned spirit, but as the authentic Baal.

“Are you…… the one who commands Baal?”

Their curiosity regarding my identity peaked as they watched me summon the beast and claim its back as a mount. The phrasing of his question—asking if I was the Master of Baal—carried profound implications.

In the history of the ancient empire, there were noble lineages that had attempted to wield the Four Perils. Yet, even they had never achieved the level of total subjugation required to be titled a ‘Master.’

Thus, he wasn’t inquiring if I was a mere descendant of those old bloodlines. The Sunken Emperor was probing for something deeper. He was asking if I was ‘Destruction’ itself.

‘Can he truly not see who I am?’

I looked at the figure atop the steed of azure flames and confirmed it was indeed the Sunken Emperor. If I could identify him, it stood to reason he should recognize me.

However, his demeanor was worlds apart from the avatar I had spent the previous day with. The weary old man who had shielded me from the Heavenly Demon felt like a completely different person than the primary body standing before me now.

‘My metamorphosis must have masked my essence from his perception.’

I came to a silent realization.

Eternal Lord Randolph.

With the Heart of the Iron-Blooded Lord evolving and the Heart of the Eternal Lord reaching transcendence, my true name had been forged. That specific trait—which allowed for a cold, clinical analysis of my surroundings and the power to bypass fundamental laws—was radiating a sense of profound danger that even the Masters of the Abyss could not ignore.

If they were confusing me for Destruction personified, then the ruse was more effective than I could have hoped. Consequently, I didn’t mind his lack of recognition. Addressing his question was the most pressing matter.

Was I the Master of Baal?

“No.”

I was not.

“……”

For a fleeting second, an unrecognizable spark flickered in the Sunken Emperor’s eyes. I could sense a ripple of unease moving through the other Masters as well.

A man who claimed not to be the Master of Baal, yet rode upon its back? To their logic, such a thing was an impossibility.

I let a faint, knowing smile touch my lips before continuing.

“Did I not make myself clear? It is merely a ‘decent mount.’ I do not view ‘this’ as something I own.”

I reached down and gave Baal’s head a casual, dismissive pat, as if it were nothing more than a stray animal I had encountered on the road.

I reasoned that if I truly were ‘Destruction,’ this is exactly how I would respond. Legends said the Four Perils were the property of Destruction, yet Destruction had turned them loose upon the world. Was it a calculated move to watch the empire crumble under their weight?

‘Destruction does not comprehend the concept of ownership.’

No. It simply discarded them. Destruction is the force that negates all things. To possess is to value, to treasure, and to protect.

But Destruction treasures nothing. It is because it holds nothing dear that it can annihilate the world without a second thought. Therefore, it does not own. It is the ultimate state of non-possession.

The same logic applied to the Four Perils.

“……”

The Sunken Emperor offered no rebuttal. Instead, he pulled on his horse’s reins and turned away. The other Masters of the Abyss followed suit, their figures retreating into the distance.

The threat of battle vanished. With a single, calculated sentence, I had repelled the most dangerous entities in the Abyss.

**Gooooooooo—**

Only one remained stationary. The ancient stone titan, the Master of the Tomb.

—

She had hair the color of the deep sea and eyes to match. From her brow, long ivory tusks curved upward.

**Step. Step.**

**Ssssss.**

With every footfall, the environment around her suffered. Moisture was sucked out of the air; the very ground withered beneath her boots. Grass and timber shriveled instantly, turning into brittle, gray husks.

“Whale of the Heavenly Axis. I was unaware that this ‘Island’ held any charms for you.”

**Crack! Cr-crack!**

A man materialized out of thin air, as if stepping through a hidden door in reality. This was the Storm Scaler, the driver of the lightning-wreathed chariot.

“As I recall, you find this ‘humanoid’ shape distasteful. Do you intend to reduce this entire landmass to a barren desert?”

“……”

“I didn’t expect a reply. I am well aware that you are beyond the reach of words.”

The Storm Scaler gave a nonchalant shrug.

The Whale of the Heavenly Axis was an absolute entity that historically never ventured beyond its own borders. It was a place of no return for any trespasser, a kingdom made entirely of salt and spray. Yet, that leviathan had compressed its vastness into a human-like shell.

‘The legends were accurate—a reaper of the tides in whale form, and a reaper of the soil in human form.’

Ancient myths even whispered of a third manifestation, a fusion of both forms that occurred when the Whale broke the very axis of the world. But these were ancient stories; the creature hadn’t been seen outside the ocean for millennia.

Her presence was a testament to the island’s value. If the Whale was here, the stakes were higher than anyone had imagined.

“I suspected this was a snare set by the ‘Divine Skin Hybrid,’ so I spent my time snaring the starlight. But I’ve reconsidered. Whale of the Heavenly Axis, why not form an alliance with me?”

“……”

Silence was her only response. Conversation was futile, yet he knew his point was being understood.

The Storm Scaler pressed on.

“Don’t you wish to claim victory? Or at the very least, don’t you harbor a desire to slaughter the ‘Four Perils’?”

**Thud!**

The Whale of the Heavenly Axis stopped in her tracks. She turned her impassive gaze toward the Storm Scaler.

‘Just as I thought. Mentioning the Four Perils gets a reaction.’

The sudden arrival of Baal had forced them to retreat. More accurately, it was the combination of Baal and the ‘Terrible Omen’ who sat upon its back.

‘…Is that truly Destruction?’

The Storm Scaler harbored his doubts. Yet, if anyone could break Baal to their will, it would be Destruction. Only such a being could treat the ancient terrors of the Abyss like common lapdogs. The way Baal had diminished its own size was a staggering display of submission.

‘But it wasn’t just the beast. There was an aura… something far more predatory. Exactly like the real thing…’

They hadn’t fled out of fear of a single beast. It was the skin-crawling dread emanating from the rider. His poise, his absolute lack of agitation, and that perfect answer—that he was not the Master.

Had he claimed to be the Master, the Storm Scaler would have known it was a lie. Destruction takes no servants and claims no property. Everything about the stranger screamed of the ancient end-bringer. So, the Scaler had withdrawn to observe and calculate.

He turned his attention back to the silent woman.

“I can assist you. If you seize control of this island, you will undoubtedly earn the favor of Destruction.”

“……”

“Ah. You’re wondering how I could possibly know that.”

The Storm Scaler smirked. He possessed knowledge that had been scrubbed from the history books.

“The ancient terrors. They are chronicled as the Four Perils, but wasn’t there originally a fifth? Whale of the Heavenly Axis. You, the suitor of Destruction.”

“……”

“Relax. I have no interest in sharing your secrets with the world.”

Four beasts were said to be born alongside Destruction, but in truth, there were five. The Whale had simply missed the original Great War, having been born in the shadow of the others.

The Storm Scaler closed the distance between them.

‘With her on my side, my objective is within reach.’

She was the perfect counter-measure for the one horror he dreaded facing.

‘Only the Whale can check the Unborn Being.’

The Scaler knew that the Unborn Being had remained in the shadows specifically because the Whale was present. She, who consumed life, was the polar opposite of that monster.

“You don’t intend to just roll over and let Baal take your place, do you? You came to this ‘Island’ to prove your worth.”

He twisted the metaphorical knife. He had finally figured out her motivation. If that ‘Terrible Omen’ truly was Destruction, then the Five Perils would naturally gravitate toward him, competing for his attention.

The Storm Scaler extended his hand in an offer.

“I have only one goal: to end the ‘Divine Skin Hybrid.’ I care nothing for the sovereignty of this ‘Island.’ You may have it, Whale of the Heavenly Axis.”

—

The sun climbed higher, flooding the world with the light of morning. It was only after I had put a significant distance between myself and the cavern that I allowed myself a moment of internal relief.

‘It looks like I’m not being followed.’

Facing one of them might have been manageable, but if they had coordinated an assault, my chances of survival would have been slim. My performance had clearly paid off.

Of course, it wasn’t just a theatrical display. Had they pushed me, I was certain I could have taken at least one of them down with me. And now that daylight had returned, the immediate pressure had vanished.

‘They won’t risk a night attack now.’

By playing the part of Destruction, I had forced them into a position where they would only challenge me through the ‘Starlight Duels,’ which played directly into my hands.

‘And the Specter of the Night didn’t intervene just because blood was spilled.’

One of those phantoms had actually acted as my guardian while I was vulnerable during the Sloughing. I found myself wondering about the Specter’s identity. Was it a protector of the island, or did it have some link to me?

Regardless, I knew the night was the time of greatest peril. But if they believed I was Destruction, they would be too wary to strike in the dark. They would wait for the formal duels.

‘Now, then…’

Finally, I had a moment of peace. I decided to evaluate the transformation I had undergone. I could feel the surge of power humming in my veins, but I needed the clarity of hard data.

I focused my mind on the interface that provided an objective measure of my growth.

‘Status Window.’

The moment the screen materialized and I scanned the updated statistics, my breath caught.

‘……This is beyond insane.’

I was utterly speechless.