Chapter 285

Chapter 285
## Ruler of Enigmas

In the realm of gaming, a “Mystery” was a specialized effect earned by a character who reached a certain threshold of development. It was often categorized alongside unique auras or visual flair. Sometimes labeled as “Dignity,” it functioned as a physical manifestation of a hero’s status and power.

However, there was a fundamental distinction between the Mystery of a mortal and that of a beast. For a human, this trait was largely cosmetic, designed to make the individual appear more radiant or imposing. In contrast, for a monster, a Mystery represented their “Status” (Gyeok)—the literal weight of their existence and the power they had amassed. It was intrinsically tied to their core stats, their life force, and their combat potential. Some entities even housed their entire soul within this effect, undergoing radical transformations depending on whether it was active. The “Fairies” were the most famous example of a race that utilized this trait to its extreme.

And now, there was the Mystery of the Ant King Pheromone.

For Pheromone, this was the very essence of his being. He shook violently, gripped by a primal terror he couldn’t suppress.

“No… it can’t be…!” he stammered. “I won’t go back. I am… the King!”

As the King of Ants, his Mystery was his crown. Had it been a simple matter of losing a title, he might have sought to reclaim it. But Pheromone’s fear went deeper. His very foundation—the origin of his life—was being obliterated.

His body began to bloat unnaturally, looking like a sphere filled to the point of exploding.

“How… how could he destroy the ‘Grace’?”

The “Grace” was the power woven into his Mystery, the Hidden Trait: Mutant! Bestowing Grace was the signature move of the Black King, an act of infusing a Mystery with a Hidden Trait to create a Unique-grade existence. By all known laws, a Unique-grade Mystery was indestructible. There was supposed to be nothing in existence capable of shattering it.

And yet, it was happening.

Pheromone turned his trembling gaze toward Eternal Randolph. This was the legendary final adversary of the Tower of the War God, the master of five stars. Initially, Pheromone assumed this was simply the third phase of a difficult boss fight. He was wrong. Only now, seeing the true nature of his foe, did he understand.

“You aren’t a living person,” Pheromone realized in horror. “You… you are a ‘Mystery’ yourself!”

It was a Mystery that defied all specifications, a physical incarnation bearing the name Eternal Randolph. Like a Fairy, he had materialized his entire status into a physical form. But Randolph was no Fairy, which meant that the figure standing there was merely a fraction of his true self.

The Ant King’s body rattled with uncontrollable dread. This was a fear far beyond the intellectual “Despair” he had faced previously. Back then, he had at least possessed the will to struggle. Now, he was paralyzed. He couldn’t even imagine a future.

“A Mystery that can erase other Mysteries? That shouldn’t exist!”

A Mystery was a lifetime’s qualification. It was a law of the world that such a thing could not be forcibly taken away. If someone possessed that power, there was only one title for them: The Monarch of Mysteries.

The entity before him was the sovereign of all qualifications. Only a Monarch could strip away what a lifetime had built. Pheromone had assumed the Black King, who granted these powers, held that title—but he had been mistaken.

Even more terrifying was the realization that this “Mystery Destruction” was only one facet of Randolph. He had already seen the Calamity Baal and the Blade Dragon Queen. What else was hidden within this man? Randolph was the ultimate counter to the Black King. The “Grace” they had relied upon as an absolute power was nothing more than glass before Randolph’s touch.

Pheromone wanted to warn his master, but his mind was failing. He was losing the ability to think or speak. His vision blurred as his sapience drained away, leaving only the base instincts of a common insect. He was reverting to the tiny ant he had started as.

*I don’t want this… I hate this!*

> 《’Ant King Pheromone’ has been defeated.》
> 《Remaining Health of ‘Eternal Randolph’: 100%》
> 《’Curse of Domination’ stacks.》
> 《’Curse of Domination’ is activated.》
> 《’Ant King Pheromone’ is dominated by ‘Eternal Randolph’.》

Laktusha watched the floating text and scowled. He could accept a defeat, but to be completely subjugated after a single loss was baffling. Had Pheromone simply given up?

“Pathetic,” Laktusha muttered.

The Ant King was young and lacked wisdom. No matter how much raw talent he possessed, his lack of experience had led to this disaster. His impulsive actions had only made the current situation more dangerous for the rest of them.

“I’ll have to handle this myself,” Laktusha decided, tightening his grip on the Black Heaven Sword. His ribs still ached from his encounter with the Blade Dragon Queen, but he couldn’t show any vulnerability. If he faltered, the surrounding Patrons would tear him apart. He knew the Great Earth Dragon, Qiongqi, Medusa, and Aria were all waiting for a moment to strike him or the Dark Elf Lord.

Suddenly, Qiongqi turned his attention away from Laktusha and toward the group of humans.

“Is the 5th Patron Randolph actually a human?” the beast asked.

Hudson and his companions remained silent, but Qiongqi continued anyway.

“In the land of Kramdel, there is the Tower of Mystery. The 5th Patron Randolph was the first to conquer its Mythic Trial. Now, that very trial is being mirrored here in the Tower of the War God.”

Only Randolph had reached the conclusion of that Mythic Trial. Even the White King had failed to see its end. The fact that the Tower of the War God was projecting these specific events was telling.

“This tower is ‘materializing’ the life of ‘Champion Randolph.’ And that Champion is human.”

There was a heavy, vibrating tension in Qiongqi’s voice. If the 5th Patron, a man they considered a peer, was actually a human who had infiltrated their ranks, it would be an unforgivable betrayal.

Qiongqi’s eyes then landed on the figures behind Hudson. “And you two… weren’t you supposed to be Half-Dragons?”

He was looking at Isaac and Isabella. They had entered Kramdel using the Michela Set to hide their humanity, but now they stood in their true forms. Medusa, whose gaze missed nothing in Kramdel, hissed in confirmation. She remembered their auras perfectly.

The pieces were falling into place: humans disguised as Half-Dragons, working alongside the 5th Patron.

“How dare you mock us,” Qiongqi snarled. Suspicion had turned into absolute certainty. Randolph was a human, and he stood with his own kind.

The beast bared his fangs. Reasons and excuses didn’t matter anymore. He would slaughter every human present and then tear Randolph limb from limb.

“Stand down,” Aria commanded, stepping into his path.

“Move, Aria! Do you intend to protect the friends of a traitor?”

“I am the voice of the White King right now,” she replied coldly. “Mind your tone.”

“You are just a proxy, not the King himself,” Qiongqi roared. “Step aside before I devour you too!”

The beast’s rage triggered a transformation. He shifted into a massive, terrifying creature with the face of a tiger, hooked talons, and wings. His mana surged, solidifying his reputation as the Beast King.

Despite the pressure, Aria didn’t flinch. Her mind was racing. Ever since she had entered the Tower of the War God, she had been struggling to process the truth.

*The man I met at the Mountain of Cultivators… is the 5th Patron Randolph.*

The warrior who had rescued her—the one whose strength eclipsed her own—was the same man whose image was immortalized as a statue at the tower’s base.

When she first saw the statue of Champion Randolph, she tried to tell herself it was a coincidence. She had once told the White King that there was a powerhouse she admired, someone who could best Laktusha and perhaps even subdue the Four Calamities. She had kept that swordsman in a special place in her heart ever since he had shattered the stone tablet with his Sword Force.

But as she ascended to the 25th floor, the truth became undeniable.

*Why is Spearman Balte here?*

She had felt a wave of shock seeing Spearman Balte standing with Hudson’s group. She had told that man to quit back at the Mountain of Cultivators, claiming he had no potential, yet he had persisted. Seeing him with the humans meant only one thing: the swordsman from the mountain had taken him in.

If Hudson served the 5th Patron, and that swordsman was Randolph… then the deception was total.

*But why?*

Why would he trick her? Why would he trick the Patrons and the White King? Why play the role of a Corpse Crow? Even when they traveled together to the city of Paisalmer, he had acted like a complete stranger. Had he been using them all as pawns from the start?

“I will verify this myself,” Aria said, her voice steady. “Qiongqi, remember why we are here.”

She needed to see him. If she looked upon Eternal Randolph, she would have her answer. The other Patrons were stunned by her boldness.

“Aria, don’t,” the Great Earth Dragon warned. “If he uses ‘Mystery Destruction’ on you, it’s over.”

Aria ignored the warning and stepped forward.

> 《’Aria’ challenges ‘Eternal Randolph’!》