Chapter 175

The reason for Ragnar’s existence.

They were often referred to as the pinnacle of martial dominance, yet they bore the responsibility of protecting the world?

For Theo, that explanation made sense.

After all, who else had stood against the Abyssal Beasts for over a millennium?

It might sound grander than before, but it doesn’t really change the duty Ragnar has always upheld.

「Now that you’ve conquered the White Tower, let’s discuss the rewards you’ve earned.」

With a snap of Keratosukus’s fingers, a cascade of messages filled Theo’s view.

[You have been granted ownership of the White Tower.]

[The White Tower is updating.]

BOOM!

The ground beneath Theo trembled as the White Tower shifted.

It felt as though something immense was being added to its summit.

The structure is changing.

Theo gazed upward, eyes wide.

The sight of the White Tower expanding outward in real time was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

[All stages of artifacts you’ve previously conquered have been added to the White Tower.]

[The White Tower has been set as a new dimensional space. It is now linked to the real world, allowing material transfer between dimensions.]

“Transfer?”

Theo tilted his head in confusion, prompting a nod from Keratosukus.

「Indeed. The recent update has paired the White Tower with all artifacts. Their functionalities will now be shared, enhancing synergy significantly.」

Theo glanced down at his hands.

The rings on his fingers, the earrings he wore, and the swords on his back all vibrated faintly.

He could instinctively sense that the artifacts' abilities had been greatly enhanced.

「But the most significant change is this: you can now summon the guardians of each artifact.」

Theo turned his gaze sharply back to the guardians gathered nearby.

Were they here because of this reason?

KREEEK!

The Lesser Drake stomped the ground and roared, shaking the very earth.

The Griffin spread its wings wide and soared into the sky, exuding majestic might.

「They may be strong but lack wisdom. Should you require intellect, I am always here to assist.」

The Fairy Dragon fluttered its wings, scattering glimmering powder with every movement.

Beneath them, the ground trembled as the Desert Worm burrowed unseen.

「Hmph.」

Magara turned her head away in open displeasure, her body language betraying her frustration at being forced to obey Theo.

If I can truly summon these beings into the outside world… my forces will grow exponentially.

Beyond these guardians, Theo also held sway over Umbra and Pontus, rulers of the skies and seas.

With dominion over land, sea, and air, his control was now practically absolute.

「I will serve as your steward, ensuring these guardians fulfill their duties and conveying the will of the Pantheon.」

Keratosukus bowed deeply in deference.

「I, Keratosukus, humbly reintroduce myself as the steward of the White Tower, your domain.」

Theo nodded before speaking casually.

“Then I’ll call you Kerto from now on. That works, right?”

「As you wish. You are the heir of the Primordial Dragon’s trials, so it is only natural for dragons to follow you.」

“Then I have my first request.”

「Command me.」

There was no hesitation in Theo’s demeanor as he issued the order, as if he had worn authority his whole life.

“There’s an uninvited guest in this place. Bring them to me.”

「Shall I remove them?」

“No, bring them alive.”

「By your command.」

At Kerto’s signal, the Lesser Drake and the Griffin sprang into action.

KREEEK! KAAAH!

A rift opened, and out tumbled Gishar, his face twisted in panic.

Damn it!

Gishar had been planning to assassinate Theo while he was distracted sorting through his rewards, but—how had they discovered him?

Theo hadn’t noticed Gishar’s presence until moments ago.

He’d been too preoccupied conquering the White Tower, unlocking Nirvana, visiting the Pantheon, and receiving his rewards.

He hadn’t expected an unauthorized intruder to even be able to enter the Tower.

However, the moment Theo claimed ownership, he sensed Gishar’s presence.

Ownership of the White Tower wasn’t mere possession—it was domination.

As a manifestation of Theo’s mental world, nothing foreign could hide within it, especially not after he’d mastered Nirvana.

Gishar didn’t intend to go quietly.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

SHHHING!

Unleashing a flurry of blades, he aimed to hold off the Lesser Drake and Griffin.

If it comes to this, I’ll have to go all in!

Gishar’s unique swordsmanship earned him his reputation among the five contenders.

Like a prowling cat, his movements were unnaturally light, and his daggers left no shadows.

SWISH! SWISH!

Dozens of blades floated midair, each connected by nearly invisible threads.

When Gishar tugged the strings, the daggers shifted unpredictably, targeting the guardians' weak points.

The Griffin grew increasingly enraged as the elusive daggers found every blind spot, while the Lesser Drake paused to consider how to crush the threads binding its legs.

You’ll never get the better of me! Do you even know what these threads are?

The threads were Heavenly Silkworm Silk, extracted from rare silkworms born in the far eastern regions.

Stronger than steel and highly elastic, the threads were prized as material for armor—but Gishar used them to manipulate his daggers.

“Be ensnared!”

From the ceiling descended an intricate net of silk threads, falling toward Theo and his guardians.

Magara snorted, blasting the web with a torrent of water.

The net wavered but succeeded in hindering their movements.

While everyone’s attention was on the falling net, a dagger shot up from the ground like a striking snake, aiming for Theo’s throat.

It’s over!

But at that moment, Theo did something unexpected.

He smiled.

Why is he smiling?

Gishar suddenly realized Theo had not moved from his position since the fight began.

THUD.

The Fairy Dragon stepped in front of Theo, casting a shimmering barrier.

CLANG!

The dagger rebounded harmlessly.

“When…?”

Theo chuckled, shaking his head.

“You really don’t know me well, do you, Brother?”

Gishar froze.

The Fairy Dragon had been using [Detection Magic] to monitor everything approaching Theo.

No matter how stealthily Gishar’s dagger moved, it had been spotted long before.

“And for the record, I never fight battles I can’t win.”

「Freeze.」

The Fairy Dragon’s incantation chilled the air to an unbearable degree.

CRACK!

Frost crept over Gishar’s legs, rooting him in place.

BOOM!

Seizing the opportunity, the Desert Worm erupted from beneath, swallowing Gishar whole.

SLURP.

A moment later, it spat him out, his body coated in venomous saliva.

"You...!"

Gishar, drenched in saliva, struggled to lift his head.

The Desert Wyrm’s saliva was laced with venom, and the poison was already actively coursing through his system.

Meanwhile, the Fairy Dragon wasted no time, casting a binding spell to completely restrain him with magical ropes.

"I’ve heard that heirs to the throne occasionally end up killing each other, but I didn’t expect you to attempt such an obvious assassination."

"If you kill me here... the consequences won’t be in your favor..."

Gishar glared at Theo with bloodshot eyes, his voice heavy with both defiance and desperation.

"Are you begging for your life?"

"Don’t be ridiculous. I’m telling you how to save yours."

Having failed in his assassination attempt, Gishar was now doing whatever he could to survive.

‘Even if I lose here... I must expose that bastard’s truth to the outside. I have to tell my master!’

Gishar, who had followed Theo all the way to the top of the White Tower, had realized one undeniable truth: Theo wasn’t a "normal" Ragnar.

He might be connected to another world.

Perhaps he was just wearing the guise of a Ragnar, without actually being one.

‘Until the Rite of Awakening, he kept a low profile. But suddenly, he changed. If that gray city from earlier is connected to him somehow...!’

If this theory turned out to be true, Theo didn’t even deserve to challenge for the throne.

Gishar resolved to reveal secrets he had long kept hidden, even at great risk.

A strategic retreat for the sake of a future advance.

"For the sake of the throne competition, I’ve kept this hidden, but let me tell you this—my backer isn’t someone you can take lightly."

"That’s why I’ve kept it hidden, but my backer isn’t someone you can ignore. If you kill me here, you’ll face hardships for the rest of your life. However, if you let me live, your path ahead will be much smoother. Let’s join hands."

Gishar was certain Theo couldn’t refuse his offer.

The Theo he’d heard about from Leje was someone who knew how to negotiate and strike deals.

It was true that figures like Julius, the Plum Blossom Sovereign, the Black Dragon, and the Lantern Dragon had shown interest in Theo.

But he didn’t yet have a true backer to support him.

In fact, Theo couldn’t completely disregard his eldest brother, Kinkarnon, so it was logical that he’d see the appeal in this offer, an opportunity to solidify his position.

"Are you suggesting you’re the hidden disciple of the Tyrant Dragon (霸龍)?"

But before Gishar could reveal his trump card, Theo laid it bare, leaving him stunned.

"You… how did you…?"

"An alliance with the Tyrant Dragon… It’s certainly intriguing."

The Tyrant Dragon.

Among the Nine Dragons, he was one of the strongest, alongside the Demon Dragon and the Illusion Dragon.

His domineering nature made it so that, apart from Kyle, he never associated with others.

Like the Lantern Dragon, he operated alone, but his presence alone was equivalent to an entire army.

That’s why he was called the "One-Man Army."

‘Even so, the Tyrant Dragon has a deep interest in the throne. Contrary to his reputation, he doesn’t entirely reject forming factions.’

Unlike the other Nine Dragons, the Tyrant Dragon didn’t directly lead a faction, but that didn’t mean he had none.

The followers under Gishar were the very faction aligned with the Tyrant Dragon.

"But there’s one thing you’re overlooking, Brother."

"…What is it?"

"Surely, you don’t think you’re the only one with access to the Tyrant Dragon, do you?"

"What are you…!"

Gishar shouted in frustration, but a sudden thought struck him, and his eyes widened.

"Yes, the Tyrant Dragon didn’t take you as his only disciple."

"…!"

At that moment, Gishar thought of Ansio, his beautiful fraternal twin sister, whose thoughts and intentions were often inscrutable.

"It seems you weren’t aware."

"Th-That…!"

"Apologies, but I’m not someone kind enough to spare the life of someone who tried to kill me. And I don’t plan on being stabbed in the back again."

Gishar wanted to shout, "Wait!"

"And considering how much you now know about my secrets, how could I possibly let you live?"

The secrets of the White Tower.

The fact that Theo commanded draconic entities.

For now, these were things that needed to remain concealed.

Slash!

Gishar didn’t even have the chance to argue.

From behind, Kerto struck with a sharp hand chop to his neck.

Thud!

Roll…

Gishar’s severed head hit the floor, his face still frozen in shock.

Thud!

His headless body collapsed. Theo looked at it and thought:

‘This is just the beginning.’

He had taken down one of the five great candidates, someone who once seemed insurmountable.

This was certain to become a trigger.

A spark that would ignite the true beginning of the struggle for the throne.