Kai and Nova stepped onto the Fifth Floor.
The moment their feet touched the ground, the scenery changed.
The endless white space disappeared.
In its place stretched a vast mountain range hidden above the clouds.
Ancient trees towered hundreds of meters into the sky, while waterfalls poured from floating islands suspended in the air.
Dragons flew peacefully through the heavens.
Phoenixes circled the mountains.
Countless mythical beasts roamed freely.
Nova's eyes sparkled.
"It's beautiful..."
Kai nodded.
"I've never seen anything like it."
The System immediately displayed a notification.
Floor Five
Trial Type: Leadership
Difficulty: Very High
A loud laugh echoed across the valley.
"Hahaha!"
"I've finally got a challenger!"
A gigantic silver dragon descended from the clouds.
Its body stretched nearly two hundred meters long.
Unlike Aurelius, this dragon radiated playful energy rather than overwhelming majesty.
When it landed, the earth shook.
"My name is Argos."
"Guardian of the Fifth Floor."
Kai respectfully bowed.
"I'm Kai."
Argos lowered his enormous head until one golden eye was level with Kai.
"So..."
"You're the little human everyone's talking about."
Nova puffed out her chest.
"My Master is amazing!"
Argos chuckled.
"I can see that."
The dragon suddenly became serious.
"The Fifth Trial is different."
"There will be no puzzles."
"No illusions."
"And no fair fight."
Kai frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Argos spread his massive wings.
The sky darkened.
Hundreds of magical circles appeared across the valley.
One after another...
Beasts began emerging from them.
Stone Golems.
Flame Wolves.
Thunder Hawks.
Iron Bears.
Crystal Serpents.
Within seconds...
More than five hundred beasts stood before Kai.
Nova blinked.
"...That's a lot."
Argos nodded.
"You are not expected to defeat them."
Kai raised an eyebrow.
"Then what's the trial?"
Argos smiled.
"Become their king."
Kai looked confused.
"The Trial of Leadership cannot be won through strength alone."
"You must make these beasts willingly follow you."
"If even half acknowledge you..."
"You pass."
The five hundred beasts immediately roared.
Some looked hostile.
Others looked curious.
Several ignored Kai completely.
Nova whispered,
"Master..."
"How are we supposed to convince all of them?"
Kai remained silent.
Then he smiled.
"I think..."
"I already know."
He slowly walked toward the beasts.
Instead of releasing his aura...
Instead of showing off his strength...
He bowed.
"My name is Kai."
"I don't wish to rule over you."
"I wish to stand beside you."
The beasts looked at one another.
None of them moved.
Kai continued,
"I know humans have hurt many of your kind."
"But not all humans are the same."
"If you choose to trust me..."
"I'll protect every beast under my care."
Silence filled the valley.
A young Flame Wolf slowly stepped forward.
It sniffed Kai's hand.
Then...
It rubbed its head against him.
Nova smiled.
"It likes you."
One by one...
More beasts approached.
The Crystal Serpent coiled peacefully around Kai's feet.
A Thunder Hawk landed on his shoulder.
The Iron Bear sat beside him.
Within minutes...
Nearly every beast had gathered around Kai.
Argos watched quietly.
Then...
Something extraordinary happened.
The Beast Origin Sovereign Talent activated on its own.
A warm golden aura spread from Kai's body.
Every beast in the valley lowered its head.
Not out of fear...
But respect.
Argos' eyes widened.
"So..."
"The ancient bloodline has truly returned."
The mighty dragon folded his wings and bowed.
"I acknowledge you..."
"...Beast Sovereign."
The System chimed.
Trial Complete
Recognition Rate:
100%
Kai smiled.
"I passed?"
Argos laughed loudly.
"No one has ever achieved one hundred percent."
"You didn't force them."
"You earned their trust."
A pillar of golden light descended from the heavens.
The beasts slowly disappeared back into their portals.
Only Argos remained.
The dragon gently opened one enormous claw.
Resting inside it was a golden scale.
"This belonged..."
"...to the First Beast Sovereign's partner."
Kai carefully accepted it.
The moment he touched it, the scale dissolved into light.
Item Acquired
Dragon Sovereign Scale
Rank: Divine
Effects:
Dragon-type beasts begin with maximum affinity.
Increases all beast defense by 50%.
Unlocks Dragon Aura.
A second notification immediately followed.
Hidden Reward
Origin Key Detected.
A small crystal key materialized before Kai.
He smiled.
"The second Origin Key."
The System confirmed.
Origin Keys Collected
2/7
Argos nodded.
"You've earned it."
"The remaining Keys..."
"...are hidden across the worlds."
Kai frowned.
"Worlds?"
"There are other worlds besides this one?"
Argos smiled mysteriously.
"The Beast World..."
"...is only one of countless realms."
"The All Encompassing System was never created to rule a single world."
"It was created..."
"...to unite them all."
Kai stood silently.
Everything was becoming far bigger than he had imagined.
Just then—
The entire Beast Tower trembled violently.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The System's warning alarm echoed continuously.
WARNING!
External attack detected.
The Beast Tower is under siege.
Kai's expression changed.
"What happened?"
Argos looked toward the ceiling.
His face darkened.
"They've found the Tower."
Outside...
Thousands of Shadow Cult members surrounded the Royal Beast Academy.
Above them floated enormous flying beasts.
At their center stood Mordecai.
Beside him...
A figure wearing a black crown and crimson robes slowly stepped forward.
His face remained hidden beneath a hood.
Even Mordecai bowed respectfully before him.
The mysterious man looked toward the Beast Tower.
Then smiled.
"So..."
"The Heir is inside."
He slowly raised one hand.
A black spear of pure darkness appeared above the academy.
Its terrifying aura caused the sky itself to crack.
Principal Evelyn stared upward in horror.
"No..."
"Everyone!"
"Raise the academy barrier!"
The mysterious man chuckled.
"It won't save you."
He pointed toward the Beast Tower.
"Destroy it."
The spear fell.
And at that exact moment...
The tower began to shake from top to bottom.