Chapter 278

Chapter 278
## Chapter 278

### An Unreachable Conquest

There was a single mystery that had occupied the minds of every Player.

—Exactly how powerful is Randolph?

It was a lingering obsession regarding his sheer martial capability. From the moment he first surfaced, he had dominated the Hall of Fame, reclaiming the top position as if it were his birthright. Randolph had carved his name into legend by reaching milestones and securing scores that defied all logic and standard progression. Yet, despite his fame, the true extent of his combat prowess remained shrouded in shadow.

The explanation was straightforward.

—He never shows his face.
—That is simply the way of Phantom.

Theories regarding his reclusive nature were endless. Some whispered that he preferred exploiting “bug-like” mechanics, while others claimed he was antisocial, non-human, or perhaps even an Administrator hiding in plain sight. However, the truth had never been brought to light.

Within the world of Pangaea, Phantom was an entity without equal. The countless strategic manuals he had authored were still revered as gospel by the Player base. Furthermore, every persona Phantom developed exhibited a “strength-to-level” ratio that defied explanation. It wasn’t merely a difference in mechanical skill; it was a result of his unorthodox and meticulous cultivation of every character. It was no surprise he was worshipped as “Phantom-shin.”

Thus, although many impostors had attempted to claim his mantle in the past—

—This time, there is no mistake.
—The real “Phantom” has arrived!

Randolph was the vessel of Phantom. When Phantom was pulled into Pangaea, Randolph was the character he inhabited. It stood to reason that he had refined this avatar with unparalleled focus and intensity. While the reasons for Randolph becoming the target of a “Subjugation” quest were a mystery, the sentiment among the masses was clear:

—This is the moment.
—Finally, we will see what Randolph can truly do!

Just how high was the ceiling of his power? This was the ultimate chance to satisfy that collective curiosity.

—

### Baal of the Four Perils!

The moment he stood before the obscenely massive nightmare, Union, the Mage of the Golden Rule, felt his pulse falter.

‘…Phase 1? It is Baal, not Randolph?’

He had scaled the tower with haste to confront his rival, yet the guardian blocking his path was not the man he sought. To earn an audience with Randolph, one first had to bypass Baal. Union, who had previously descended upon Earth alongside Isera, took a long, steadying breath.

‘Fine. Hide if you must. I will be at your doorstep shortly.’

Union overflowed with self-assurance. Though he had been humiliated during his duel with Isera due to the interference of the orthodox faction, he had spent the intervening time in bitter preparation, reclaiming the vast majority of his former standing.

‘How dare they plunder my hoard of experience……!’

He felt a surge of fury every time he recalled that loss. He hadn’t been weak; he had been crippled by the theft of his accumulated resources. Under normal circumstances, Isera would never have defeated him so easily. But the situation had changed.

‘I will demonstrate it. My true authority.’

With his strength restored, Union was certain of his victory. He intended to reclaim his shattered dignity by single-handedly defeating Randolph and subjugating the Champion of the Tower of the War God. After all, this tower was accessible even from the surface of Earth.

—Gu-ooooooo—!

Suddenly, a suffocating miasma of curses erupted in every direction. Baal of the Four Perils. Most mortals would have perished from internal hemorrhaging just by standing in its presence.

“O wretched creature that was once divine,” Union declared.

Fwhiiiiing!

He hoisted his staff, which pulsed with the brilliance of the Golden Rule.

“Perish.”

In that heartbeat:

Kureung!
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-boom!

A deluge of meteors, summoned from the heavens, rained down upon Baal.

—

《‘Union, the Mage of the Golden Rule’ has been defeated.》
《Phase 1, remaining vitality of ‘Baal of the Four Perils’: 85.7%》
《If the challenge remains stagnant, ‘Baal’ will begin to regenerate.》
《Ascend the Tower of the War God.》
《As more challengers reach the upper limits, the raid on ‘Champion Randolph’ will grow more accessible.》
《If ‘Champion Randolph’ is not subdued within 15 days, the ‘Tower of the War God’ will plummet to the surface.》

Union’s fall was a result many had anticipated, yet his failure provided crucial data.

—He managed to take off nearly 15% by himself?
—He looked like such a joke against Isera.
—True. I suppose there’s a reason Gracia keeps him around.
—Maybe this version of Baal is just a weak summon?
—Yeah, that’s probably it.

The logic followed that if one person could strip 15% of the boss’s health, a coordinated effort might actually succeed. It was then that the Player Talk forums began to buzz with deeper questions regarding Randolph’s nature.

—Wait, how is Randolph even summoning Baal of the Four Perils?
—If it’s Randolph, it’s Phantom.
—Even if Phantom cleared mythical trials, didn’t Baal already die?
—Remember those rumors about Randolph being the ‘Ill-Omen’ from back then?
—Think back to the ‘God of the Black Egg’ from the Jeju Island incident.
—What about it?
—Baal swallowed the Ill-Omen, right? And when Baal’s belly was ripped open, the ‘Black Egg’ emerged.
—Exactly. And the ‘Reaper of the Black Egg’ was the one who saved the survivors through warps.
—Does that mean Randolph *is* the ‘God of the Black Egg’?
—The one who was born from Baal’s corpse? Is that why he can control him?
—The survivors in Jeju literally worship the God of the Black Egg.
—If this is the truth…
—I’m getting chills just thinking about it.

The consensus began to shift: Randolph was likely the ‘God of the Black Egg,’ which meant he was also the ‘Terrible Ill-Omen.’ Those who had been trapped in the Abyss remembered the Ill-Omen overwhelming Baal. That terrifying, twisted power of the curse had paralyzed everyone with fear. To think that entity was actually Randolph!

He was a deity to the people of Jeju. Furthermore, when Isera launched her invasion, the ‘Reaper of the Black Egg’ had reappeared to turn the tide.

—If the Reaper serves Randolph, everything clicks.
—It explains why a being from the Abyss appeared on Earth.
—Is the ‘Reaper of the Black Egg’ going to be a boss too?
—This is only Phase 1. If there are more phases, it’s almost certain.
—During the Abyss Labyrinth, how many forms did Sword Saint Riley have?
—It was Phase 5, right?
—Damn it. I’m from Jeju; I can’t bring myself to attack him.
—Me neither. It feels wrong…
—And if the Reaper follows him, then the Hero Alliance was lying when they said Randolph didn’t care about Earth.
—In reality, Randolph—or rather, Phantom—was the most dedicated protector we had.

The mood turned somber. It wasn’t just the shock of his identity; it was the realization of Randolph’s silent sacrifices. Until now, he had been painted as a selfish recluse who only looked out for himself. This narrative had been carefully crafted by the Hero Alliance, who had gone to great lengths to tarnish Phantom’s reputation.

Their propaganda was blunt:
‘Phantom is a loner who ignores the plight of others.’
‘He won’t lift a finger, even if the world ends.’
‘He’s done nothing but chase Main Quests for his own gain.’

They had pushed a story of arrogance and mystery. But they were wrong. Even without recognition, he had been working in the shadows for the sake of everyone. He had focused on survival rather than fame or public approval.

From the solitary defeat of the King of the Dead and the first demonic invasion to the rescue mission against Baal, he had even influenced the outcome of the duel with Isera during the second invasion.

—Phantom-shin…
—I’m officially joining the Phantom Cult…
—Count me in…
—Leaving the Mint-Choco faction for this…
—I feel terrible for doubting him… Phantom-shin…
—The Hero Alliance manipulated us… but I’m the fool for believing them.

A heavy silence settled over the message boards. But the world didn’t stop moving.

《‘Ogre Lord’ has initiated a challenge against ‘Champion Randolph.’》
《Phase 1, ‘Baal of the Four Perils’ has engaged.》
《Baal’s remaining vitality: 81%》
《‘Red Dragon’ has initiated a challenge against ‘Champion Randolph.’》
《Baal’s remaining vitality: 75%》
《‘Vampire Lord’ has initiated a challenge against ‘Champion Randolph.’》
《Baal’s remaining vitality: 69%》
……

The “Lord-class” entities of Pangaea—Dragons and Vampire Nobles alike—seemed to be in a frantic race to see who could conquer the tower. Yet, after a certain point, Baal’s health refused to drop further.

—It’s stuck at 54%?
—Is that the limit?
—Is it a wall or just exhaustion?
—This is terrifying. Why are there so many monsters that could level a city just standing in line?

These were the ‘Named’ monsters—creatures that players would normally flee from on sight. However, as the gap in power became apparent, the frequency of challenges began to dwindle. Just as a sense of stalemate began to set in, a new notification flashed.

《‘Sword Master Laktusha’ has initiated a challenge against ‘Champion Randolph.’》
《Phase 1, ‘Baal of the Four Perils’ has engaged.》
……
…
《‘Sword Master Laktusha’ has successfully defeated Baal!》

In a sudden burst of violence, Baal was gone. A single combatant had obliterated the remaining half of the boss’s health in an instant. The forums exploded.

—?????
—What just happened?
—He deleted 54% of a Peril’s health in one go?
—Who the hell is Laktusha?
—He’s a high-ranking subordinate of the Black King… but wait, Laktusha shouldn’t be that strong?
—Don’t celebrate yet. That was only the first phase.
—What comes next? What could be worse than Baal?

The eyes of the world were fixed on the tower. If a Peril of the Four Perils was merely the opening act, the second phase promised something far more formidable. Players and monsters alike watched Laktusha, waiting for the next horror to emerge.

—

### The Unwavering Queen

“Hooo—”

Laktusha exhaled slowly, trying to still the tremors in his hands. He had come within a hair’s breadth of death. Baal of the Four Perils was every bit as monstrous as he remembered from their encounter at the Mountain of the Practitioner.

‘Baal hasn’t changed, but I have.’

The victory was the result of his own evolution. He had transcended his previous limits, receiving superior blades and blessings from the Black King and sharpening his skills in the life-or-death duels with Ant King Phermon. Even so, the fight had been desperate. A Peril was still a Peril, even if this was just a manifestation of one.

‘Despair is still more dangerous.’

He knew that the entity known as Despair was far more potent than this version of Baal, as Despair was no mere shell.

“What follows this?”

Phase 1 was merely the threshold. His objective was the summit, where he hoped to claim a fragment of Baal. There was a long road ahead, but if the subsequent trials stayed at this level, he believed he had a chance.

At that moment:

Zzzzzzzzt!

A shimmering golden rift tore open the air before him, and a figure stepped through.

Step.

A woman emerged from the light. She wore a human form, yet the air around her screamed that she was anything but. Laktusha’s mind went blank.

‘What is this……’

He was rooted to the spot by sheer instinct. She existed on a plane of power that Baal couldn’t touch. Baal was a force of nature—a massive, high-health tank that could be countered with enough preparation and raw force. But the woman standing before him……

《Phase 2, ‘Blade Dragon Queen’ has appeared.》

……She was a masterpiece of lethality with no visible flaws.