Chapter 39

Chapter 39
## Chapter 39: Exceeding Expectations

A shimmering rift pulsed above the world’s edge.

Before stepping through to confront the upcoming challenge, there was a necessary task at hand.

“Select the most resilient remains, caw.”

Caw!

Caaaaw!

Eleven dark avian forms dived from the firmament, scavenging through the scattered skeletal remains of the colossus.

**【Lv.6】**

The creatures, previously level 4 elite monsters, had ascended to level 6. This evolution was triggered by the transformation of basic Corpse Crow Summoning into the higher-tier Advanced Corpse Crow Summoning.

The level increase wasn’t the only modification. As the crows beat their wings, spectral violet hands, dripping with malevolence, manifested to hoist the massive shards of bone. These were fresh abilities granted upon their advancement.

Such a rapid mastery of skill evolution was solely possible due to the concealed ‘Dexterity’ attribute.

*‘Dexterity even influences the starting point of evolved skills.’*

Typically, when a skill undergoes transcendence, its proficiency marks a total reset. This is where the overwhelming advantage of ‘Dexterity’ becomes apparent. Even with the standard summoning, Dexterity had pushed the skill level up by one. Now, upon becoming ‘Advanced,’ it provided an additional boost, allowing the skill to debut at Lv.2.

This explained why eleven of these upgraded crows could be called forth at once.

*‘Having Dexterity is essentially like possessing two permanent bonus levels.’*

Even though the counter technically restarts after transcendence, the essence of the skill is preserved and inherited. It retains the original characteristics while expanding the potential ceiling of the ability. Whether this was an oversight in the world’s logic or a deliberate design remained a mystery, but as more skills evolved, the benefits of Dexterity multiplied like interest on a loan.

Furthermore, it drastically accelerated the rate of mastery. Very few traits provided such universal utility. While a ‘Weapon Master’ might excel with blades or bows, ‘Dexterity’ improved the proficiency of every single action.

Caw!

Thud!

The crows gathered pristine, undamaged giant bones and piled them into a tidy heap before me.

*‘They failed to hold their ground because of their level, but the material itself is top-tier.’*

It wasn’t just that the skeleton soldiers had grown in physical dimensions. They possessed the ‘Giant’ trait, meaning these bones were imbued with significant resistance to magic. Their density exceeded that of refined steel; a standard physical strike wouldn’t even leave a mark.

The motive for collecting these specific pieces was clear.

*‘I’ll use these eleven advanced crows to construct a singular masterpiece.’*

I intended to build a definitive work of art for the trial ahead. Summoning wasn’t the only power that had been refined.

**[Activating ‘Master of Corpse Art (Lv.2)’.]**

My previous ‘Corpse Art’ had been honed into ‘Master of Corpse Art.’ Before, I could only stack bones into simple, golem-like shapes. Now, as a ‘Master,’ my creative range had expanded. I could utilize a far greater volume of material for more complex designs.

*‘If the following stage incorporates the Druid trait, nature spirits are a certainty.’*

Druids were a lineage deeply connected to the natural world, specializing in the manipulation of spirits. Such entities could easily provide the structural support needed for a giant’s frame. The most daunting aspect of a Druid’s power was their command over every spirit associated with the natural elements.

However, I feared a more dire possibility.

*‘…Void introduced the element of light. It’s possible these entities can now wield light spirits.’*

Light spirits were a tier above basic nature spirits. If those high-ranking beings were called into the fray, my current power wouldn’t be enough to secure a victory. Total preparation was the only path forward.

“Bind them tightly, caw! Leave no openings, caw!”

—

The perimeter of the Mystic Tower was now teeming with life. Monsters had flocked from every corner of Kramdel, their numbers swelling past ten thousand. Among the crowd were the most influential figures of the realm.

“The Young Phoenix, the Imugi, a fully-grown Leviathan, the Minotaur King, various Ogres, the Sovereign of Corpse Crows, the True Blood Clan, the Great Serpent…”

Attendants wearing crimson helms were cataloging the attendees at the tower’s base, trying to track those who had ventured inside.

“Precisely one hundred individuals have entered.”

“And several among them are Transcendents.”

The Mystic Pavilion only allowed a century of challengers at any given time. The goal of these observers was to vet every single one of them—to see if the person currently facing the ‘Mythic Trials’ was an ally or a threat to Kramdel. Friends would be embraced; enemies would be neutralized.

“Only four have the true potential to succeed.”

“The Imugi, the Leviathan, the True Blood representative, and the Minotaur King.”

Even for those of great power, surpassing the limits of their species required a monumental foundation. Those of lesser lineages stood almost no chance. These four had been singled out for their lineage, particularly the Imugi and Leviathan, who were considered mythical beings.

“Exclude the Minotaur King.”

“…Lord Gongki?”

Gongki stepped forward, cutting off the discussion. The red-helmeted officials stood at attention, their fur bristling in his presence. He was one of the four most powerful figures in Kramdel—one of the White King’s inner circle and a Commander among the Four Pillars.

He shook his head with absolute certainty. “The Minotaur King serves under me. He has not yet reached transcendence.”

“I see. So the one in the tower is the young King born recently in your territory?”

“That is correct.”

A name was struck from the list, leaving three. One official noted, “The Leviathan is currently accounted for in the depths of Lake Apendel. However, we have no current data on the Imugi or the True Blood Clan.”

“So, one of those two is the one attempting the Mythic Trial?”

When a Mythic Trial is in progress, the tower seals itself. No one enters, and no one leaves. Whoever emerged successful would immediately be the center of attention.

Gongki looked around with a skeptical expression. “Where are the other Pillars? Why is it only you low-level clerks here?”

Coming from him, the question was heavy. The administrators couldn’t avoid answering.

“Lady Medusa is still in a deep state of recuperation…”

“The Death King is preoccupied with a vital ritual…”

“The Great Earth Dragon has entered his period of slumber…”

Gongki scowled at the litany of excuses.

“Three rings have manifested in the sky, and they remain so indifferent? I suppose they haven’t changed since ‘that human’ arrived. They haven’t learned a thing.”

He sighed. Two years ago, the Four Pillars had faced a crushing defeat. Had they fought as a unified front, the outcome might have been different, but their arrogance allowed a single human to dismantle them one by one.

*‘He only let us live so he could lure out the White King.’*

The memory of that shame burned. The human had been overwhelmingly, inexplicably powerful. In the end, even the White King had to pay a steep price—a single molar—to end the crisis. Yet, the other Pillars acted as if nothing had changed. They all existed only by the King’s mercy. Without his sacrifice, they would have been erased by that lone man.

*‘But I am different now.’*

Since that day, Gongki had pushed himself to the breaking point. He had grown exponentially stronger, fueled by the desire to never suffer such a loss again.

*‘I won’t be defeated so easily next time.’*

He lived for the day of their rematch, certain he would not fall again. He calculated the time remaining until they met.

*‘Still, the challenger should be emerging soon.’*

Three rings. A feat that matched the White King’s own legendary record. It was nearly time. Yet, the tower remained closed, silent as a tomb.

*‘…Is it possible they are attempting a fourth ring?’*

A fourth ring would mean surpassing the White King himself. If that happened, the other Pillars would be forced to show their faces. Such an unprecedented achievement would demand the attention of every power in the land.

Gongki stared up at the summit. Three rings still shone. But if a fourth appeared… every Pillar in Kramdel would converge to meet this mystery transcendent, whether to offer a hand or a blade.

—

The leap in difficulty between the third and fourth trials was staggering.

**[‘Skeleton Soldier’ level scaled to the challenger.]**
**[‘Skeleton Soldier’ acquires an attribute to counter ‘Void’.]**
**[‘Skeleton Soldier’ acquires the ‘Giant’ trait.]**
**[‘Skeleton Soldier’ acquires the ‘Druid’ trait.]**

The skeletons now possessed the full capabilities of a druid. They used spirits to bolster their massive, giant frames and rained down arrows of pure light. Their original range of 50 meters had expanded along with their physical size, as had their capacity for destruction.

Boom! Boom! The ground groaned under the assault.

Using my ‘Master of Corpse Art,’ I had constructed a massive, incredibly dense fortification. It was a standardized wall, ten meters high, wedged into the narrowest point of the cliffs.

*‘Light-based attacks can’t penetrate the Magic Resistance of a Giant.’*

I was using the skeletons’ own racial advantages against them. The density of these bones successfully absorbed the light projectiles. To break through, they would need overwhelming physical momentum, but the spirit-based support they were using focused on stability, not kinetic force. Furthermore, the cramped terrain prevented them from simply toppling the structure.

*‘The trap is set.’*

It was a perfect bottleneck. My previous skill level couldn’t have managed this, but as a ‘Master,’ and with enough holy energy, the possibilities were endless.

*‘There’s no countdown for the next stage.’*

I took every second available to me. The wall was a result of painstaking work—cutting, joining, and reinforcing bone after bone. It was a masterpiece born of sheer repetition. The skeleton army found themselves stymied by a wall made of their own kin.

*‘The landscape for every trial has been identical. It took ages to find the perfect spot.’*

Since the terrain didn’t change, I had scouted the location beforehand. The wall was fitted with sub-centimeter precision, anchored by nine deep pillars to ensure it wouldn’t budge. This effectively stopped the skeletons’ physical advance.

*‘The spirits, however, are a different story.’*

Spirits can become incorporeal. They could easily bypass the stone and bone to reach me.

“Just hold out, and we win, caw!”

Swooo. Shaaaaah!

Right on cue, ghostly forms began to seep through the barrier. But spirits are fueled by mana; they aren’t permanent. If I could survive their onslaught until the mana ran dry, the spirits would vanish and the skeletons would crumble.

It was a test of endurance. If the wall fell first, I was dead.

*‘I have to survive.’*

It was a better gamble than fighting both the army and the spirits simultaneously. I thought back to my arrival in Pangeniar—starving and alone in the desert with death at my heels. I channeled that same desperation now. I had to live. I would fight for every breath.

**[Activating ‘Star Claw (Lv.2)’.]**
**[Stellar energy will circulate for 76 seconds.]**

—

Gongki looked up at the tower, his eyes widening.

“…Four.”

“Four rings!”

The crowd erupted. An event no one had dared to predict was unfolding. Four rings! The record of the White King had been broken. It was impossible to look away now.

Finally, the Four Pillars of Kramdel were united before the tower. As they approached, the lesser monsters scrambled to get out of the way. These four beings were the living embodiment of the empire’s power.

“…It’s been a long time since we were all in one place.”

The Great Earth Dragon spoke first. He was the pinnacle of his kind, a massive, mountain-like creature of brown scales that seemed to stretch as high as the tower itself.

“Not that long. Exactly two years and eighty-seven days.”

The Death King replied. Cloaked in robes of bone and shadow, he was the master of the grave. Even being near him caused the surrounding flora to shrivel and die within seconds.

“…”

Medusa arrived last, her eyes veiled and her limbs restrained. She had intended to watch from a distance, but the appearance of the fourth ring had forced her hand.

“Gongki. What is your assessment of the challenger?” the Earth Dragon asked. Since Gongki had been there since the start, he was expected to have insight.

“…I have no idea,” Gongki admitted, shaking his head.

It was a total enigma. None of the known Transcendents who entered fit the profile. The True Blood Clan was a possibility, but their relationship with Kramdel was cold at best. Unless their hidden Grand Master had entered secretly, it made no sense.

The Death King spoke with a raspy voice. “Four rings signify the completion of a myth. I am curious to see what story has been written.”

“Something even the White King couldn’t finish…” the Earth Dragon mused. The mystery was intoxicating. Someone had actually reached the conclusion of the Mythic Trial.

*—If they are a threat to our city, they must be destroyed immediately.*

Medusa sent the telepathic command, and the others silently concurred. Kramdel was a kingdom of monsters, a peak of civilization for their kind. Together, the Four Pillars could bring down anything—even a Demon King. Their primary duty was to protect the empire the White King had built.

“…Why haven’t they come out yet?”

“Could there be another stage…?”

The Pillars were confused. Typically, a Mythic Trial consisted of four stages. Once the fourth was conquered, the myth was complete, and the tower door would unseal. Yet, despite the four rings, the entrance remained barred.

*‘It shouldn’t be possible…’*

Gongki dismissed the thought. The White King’s words were absolute law, and he had claimed he had failed just before the final hurdle.

—

“…”

I stared silently at the artificial sky. My body was a wreck.

*‘At least my vital core remains intact.’*

The last of the spirits had faded away, and the skeletons had self-destructed. I had survived, but I was in no condition to move. I lay there, unable to even twitch a finger.

Then, the messages appeared.

**《’Wall of Species (4)’ trial: Cleared.》**
**《All species-related trials have concluded.》**
**《The tower pays homage to you, the one who completes the myth!》**

It was over. Every trial was finished. But something felt wrong.

*‘The Heavenly Being?’*

The Heavenly Being was still out there. How could it be over? Was this truly the conclusion?

**《The tower offers a final tribute to the myth-maker.》**
**《Acquiring Unique-grade mystery: ‘Randolph’.》**

*‘Ah…’*

Unique-grade. I was stunned into silence. I hadn’t even known that mysteries could reach such a rank. And it was named after me.

‘Randolph.’

It was the ultimate proof of my existence and my journey. I had finally authored my own legend. There was no rank higher than Unique for an item, and likely none higher for a mystery. The tower called it the “final gift.”

**《The constellations of Baekseongjeon applaud your perseverance.》**

The observers had witnessed my struggle. Completing this would finish the fifth main quest, bringing even more wealth and status. The constellations were ecstatic; many would likely upgrade my rewards. Would it be another legendary weapon? Or something even more profound?

**《The acquisition of the Unique-grade mystery ‘Randolph’ has been rejected.》**

But I refused to let it end here.

*‘I can’t take this.’*

I wouldn’t accept it. Why should the tower decide when I am finished? There is still one left. I haven’t reached the true summit yet. I am still incomplete.

Therefore, I refuse this conclusion. I refuse this ending.

In that heartbeat, a new message flashed.

**《’Wall of Species (5)’ trial: Commencing.》**