An Honorable Competition

A contest fought atop countless stars, just as the name suggested.

Scatter, and they risked being picked off one by one. Stick together, and they might run out of time before a decisive victory could be claimed.

For now, he decided to start with what he could do immediately.

That was enough for now.

The Stage 1 and Stage 2 Dignity effects stacked, raising every stat by three. It looked small on paper, but the difference was anything but. The stronger you became, the more a slim margin could produce overwhelming results.

The more souls he gathered to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠strengthen the Knight Order, the higher its Dignity climbed—and with it, additional effects. One of them stood out above the rest.

Dignity 500. Strengthen the Knight Order with a hundred souls, and you acquire Divinity. Don't tell me that means obtaining a Godhood…?

The rewards for raising Dignity were staggering. The higher the stage, the more the effects left him speechless. And the Divinity promised at Dignity 500 filled him with a near-maddening curiosity.

Winning within an hour isn't enough. I need to complete as many Wondrous Achievements as possible.

To break more achievements and raise Dignity, both sides—his own and the enemy's—would have to work toward the same goal: completing those Wondrous Achievements.

And the easiest among them was probably this.

The monsters on the stars. Clear those out, and it looks like you can break an achievement.

The Star Lands. Upon countless stars, monsters waited. Defeat them, consume the star, and claim its special effects—a kind of territorial conquest. The side that seized more ground would hold the advantage.

"All units, scatter and clear the monsters."

"…Does that mean you intend to operate alone, sir?"

Hudson asked. He nodded.

"That's the plan."

The words had barely left his mouth when Hudson roared with everything he had, as if the very idea were pure insanity.

"Absolutely not!!!"

"…?"

Hudson's eyes, blazing with absolute refusal, were full of resolve. No matter what happened, he would not let him go alone. It had been a very long time since he had seen that look on Hudson's face—the last time had been at the wedding, if he remembered right. That alone told him how serious this was.

"…Commander. I share Hudson's view. Going alone is too dangerous."

Serengeti stepped forward without hesitation. Isabella added her voice as well.

"The Giant of Ruin is powerful. So are the other Star Guardians. In particular, several of the Star Guardians have even my Transcendence—Jormungandr—on high alert."

Isabella's named star, Jormungandr. True to its ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠epithet as the serpent that swallowed the world, even a beast that could devour anything found these creatures worth watching—and a number of such monsters were arrayed on the opposing side.

Even those who said nothing wore the same look: You're in danger alone.

The Giant of Ruin is definitely dangerous.

Guardian of the Mother Star—the Giant of Ruin. Alone, that monster had beaten the King of the Dead, Ahram, into the dirt. Ahram, Lord of the First Hell, who had been preparing an invasion alongside the demonkin beneath Kramdel. Even the resurrected and strengthened King of the Dead had ultimately chosen self-destruction, certain of defeat.

The Giant of Ruin was strong enough to crush a Hell Lord by itself. He had trembled watching it. Only yesterday he had been grateful the thing was on their side—and now he was supposed to face it as an enemy. On top of that, there were Star Guardians he had never even seen before.

If the enemy moves in force, it really will be dangerous.

He considered it for a moment. The risk of being picked off one by one was real. If they swarmed him from every direction, even he would be in trouble.

They won't try to kill me—the god of the Druids and master of the World Tree…

Of course, if they had any sense, the Giant of Ruin and the Star Guardians would not kill him. He had burned that fact into their minds before entering. Kill him, and they would cross a river with the Druids that could never be uncrossed. The revival of other World Trees would also be finished. Star Guardians charged with maintaining the world's balance would never make that choice.

"…Then I'll take your counsel. We move in pairs."

He organized his thoughts and spoke. Two should be enough. Too many clustered together, and finishing within the hour would become difficult.

"However."

He needed one additional condition. Every eye locked onto his mouth. He spoke the terms slowly, clearly, word by word.

"You are not to kill any Star Guardian. Subdue them only. No exceptions."

"…Can we really control that?"

Hudson asked, doubt plain in his voice. Against powerhouses like these, was mere subdual even possible? In a life-or-death struggle, someone dying would hardly be strange.

But he nodded.

"If you can't subdue them, run."

"Will the enemy let us go?"

"They will."

He was certain. The Giant of Ruin. That one would not go out of its way to kill a fleeing opponent. This contest was not a deathmatch over who could kill more. There was only one objective: subdue the enemy's leader.

…How exactly one was supposed to subdue the Giant of Ruin was still a blank, but even so, he put force into his words.

"Remember this. We will engage in an honorable competition."

This was a rule that had to be kept. He had seen it clearly upon entering the dungeon.

…The Knight Orders must face each other in honorable contest. In other words: play fair. Not tear each other apart in a mutual slaughter—combine their strength. Why else would a line like that appear as a Tip?

Make it so both sides can complete more achievements. Join forces so that the finest Knight Order reaches the root—that is the true clear method for this dungeon.

He had entered a similar dungeon once before, chasing a party dungeon quest.

…The Demigod trait dungeon was like this.

Demigod. That half-god of tainted honor had endlessly obstructed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their clear—sowing discord, breeding distrust, trying to fracture them. When that failed, the Demigod revealed its true face and appeared in person to challenge them. Because they had not wavered under its interference, they had cleared it.

This place was the same. Against the Forgotten Gods who would do anything to divide and obstruct them, binding themselves tightly together was the surest path to a clear.

The only difference from then was the numbers. Back then they had entered as four. This time, ninety-one. And seven groups of entirely different kinds. Uniting their strength was nearly impossible.

…Even so, he did not want an ordinary clear. What he wanted was only one thing—not merely climbing to first place.

A perfect clear.

To clear this Primal-grade dungeon completely.

Raiga turned his head and looked to the side. The partner assigned to him under the two-person rule. He had naturally assumed he would be paired with his disciple, Hyun.

"…"

"…"

A heavy silence. Of course there was. He had never imagined they would stick him with Albino.

"We did need time to talk, I suppose."

Albino broke the long silence. Great Elder of the Palga and Great Chief of the Druids, he had already found his relationship with Raiga awkward enough. The appearance of the Druid of the Golden Rule had tangled the hierarchy beyond recognition. He had never faced a situation like this in his life, and had no idea how to handle it.

Raiga answered as if it were nothing.

"Just do as you always have."

"…I can hardly address the man whom the Druid of the Golden Rule serves as master however I please."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Let's just fight."

In the end, Raiga had no choice. He could not casually order around a being so far above him in standing, so he proposed a compromise: they would both speak formally. Close, yet distant. They were still far too awkward with each other.

But the work ahead was clear. Under a sky black as the cosmos, monsters stood upon the small stars scattered everywhere. Defeating the black-armored beasts and claiming territory was the priority.

Albino nodded.

"That would be better."

"Or shall we punch straight through?"

"You mean the two of us go all the way?"

"Albino. Are you afraid of the Giant of Ruin?"

"I am not. It is what I have been waiting for."

In the most awkward register imaginable, the two reached agreement. With their combination, they were confident even against the entire Knight Order of Ruin. Raiga and Albino exchanged a look and sprinted out.

The Knight Order numbered thirteen. Pair them two by two, and one person was inevitably left over. That leftover was none other than Hudson.

"What am I supposed to do alone…"

Left standing by himself, Hudson found the road ahead utterly blank. In practical terms, the weakest member of the Knight Order was Hudson himself. Even if Randolph were dead and only Park Hyunmyung remained, Hyunmyung would still be stronger.

Hudson took stock of himself.

Level 11. Still not Transcended.

When he first met Randolph, Hudson had been Level 9. Stuck at nine for over a year, he had met Randolph—and now he had broken past his limits to reach eleven. Even so—

I'm the slowest.

His growth rate was still the worst. Serengeti had long since surpassed him, as had Isabella and Isaac. And Saintess Seia? She already occupied a position beyond any comparison to him. Priest Andrew? Seeing him again after so long, the man seemed incomparably stronger than before. …Even Valte, who had joined last, had overtaken him ages ago.

All of them have Transcended, or grown as strong as if they had.

That was why the path looked so bleak. Of course he had excuses. He was a merchant, and his work piled higher than mountains. He had built the Labyrinth City, and in reality he had to act as a British prince. But even so—

…I'm in no position to say anything about Hyunmyung.

Park Hyunmyung. Looking at him, all Hudson could feel was awe. The man was essentially starting from scratch, and he had already climbed to a height that left everyone else staring up. Disciple of Raiga, the Empire's strongest, and god of the Druids—he kept beings Hudson would never dare approach casually at his side.

I have to get stronger.

He could not keep receiving help forever, could not keep being protected forever. And here, he might find the key to surpassing himself. The Star Guardians. If he could only obtain a clue to Transcendence from those who protected the stars…

"Oho. What a delicious-looking morsel."

"…"

That was when it happened. With the sound of something striking the ground, a massive wolf appeared before Hudson's eyes. A wolf vast as the mythical Fenrir. To have already reached this far—what absurd speed was that?

The moment he saw the wolf, Hudson thought:

I'm fucked.

…It looked like this was as far as he went.

Sentences that rose unbidden. Text announcing that ten stars had been conquered and an achievement completed.

"Not a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bad pace."

Barely ten-odd minutes had passed. At this speed, the start was solid.

"…Are you truly content to just sit here?"

Beside him, Priest Andrew asked. Because he and Andrew had been, quite literally, sitting still at the starting point. But there was a reason for that.

"It's safe here."

"For the Commander, yes, but…"

By the effect of the starting point, the Commander was guaranteed a measure of safety here.