Kai's figure blurred across the arena.
Every step left behind a lifelike afterimage.
Ten Kais surrounded Darius from every direction.
The Guardian's eyes shone with excitement.
"So this is your newly created technique..."
"Phantom Sovereign Steps."
He laughed heartily.
"Show me its full power!"
The ten afterimages charged simultaneously.
Darius swung his enormous sword.
BOOM!
Five illusions shattered instantly.
But the real Kai was already above him.
"Nova!"
"I know!"
Their minds were perfectly synchronized through Absolute Beast Link.
Nova unleashed a stream of brilliant golden flames.
"Origin Flame Storm!"
Hundreds of golden fireballs rained from the sky.
Darius crossed his sword before him.
A black barrier surrounded his body.
The explosions echoed throughout the arena.
Smoke covered everything.
Kai didn't hesitate.
He activated Eye of Truth.
Through the smoke, he immediately spotted Darius.
"There!"
Using Phantom Sovereign Steps, Kai flashed behind the Guardian.
He concentrated all his strength into one punch.
"Sovereign Strike!"
BOOOOM!
The attack landed squarely on Darius' back.
For the first time...
The Guardian took three steps forward.
A crack appeared on his black armor.
Silence filled the arena.
Then...
Darius smiled.
"Excellent."
"You've finally managed to wound me."
Nova cheered happily.
"We did it!"
But Darius slowly removed his cracked shoulder armor.
Beneath it...
Ancient silver scales covered his skin.
Kai frowned.
"Dragon scales?"
The Guardian nodded.
"I am only half human."
"My mother..."
"...was an Ancient Dragon."
A terrifying dragon aura erupted from his body.
The arena shook violently.
The System immediately issued a warning.
Warning!
Guardian has entered Phase Two.
Power increased by 200%.
Kai took a deep breath.
"So there was another phase..."
Darius raised his sword.
"I'll stop holding back."
He swung once.
A gigantic crescent of black energy rushed toward Kai.
Nova reacted instantly.
"Origin Barrier!"
A golden shield formed before them.
CRACK!
The barrier shattered immediately.
Kai and Nova were thrown backward.
Kai slid across the arena floor.
His breathing became ragged.
Nova looked exhausted.
"Master..."
"My energy is running low."
Kai gently rubbed her head.
"You've done great."
The System suddenly chimed.
Host has reached battle limit.
Would you like to use:
Infinite Luck
Cooldown:
Available.
Kai smiled.
"Not yet."
"If I rely on Infinite Luck every time..."
"I'll never truly become stronger."
Instead, he opened the System Creation Workshop once more.
Darius watched curiously.
"Creating another skill?"
Kai nodded.
"I've learned something from fighting you."
He quickly entered a new skill design.
Skill Name:
Sovereign Dragon Body
Effect:
Temporarily strengthens the body using beast energy.
Rank Requested:
Legendary
The Workshop glowed brilliantly.
After several seconds—
Creation Successful!
Rank:
Legendary
Golden light flowed into Kai's body.
His muscles strengthened.
Golden dragon-like markings appeared across both arms.
Kai clenched his fists.
"So this is..."
"...Sovereign Dragon Body."
He activated it immediately.
A powerful aura burst from his body.
Even Darius looked surprised.
"You created a body-enhancement skill..."
"...during combat."
Kai smiled.
"I learn quickly."
The battle resumed.
This time...
Kai met Darius head-on.
Their fists collided.
BOOOOM!
Neither retreated.
Darius laughed loudly.
"Good!"
"Again!"
The two exchanged dozens of blows.
Each collision shook the arena.
Nova supported Kai from a distance, launching precise bursts of Origin Flames whenever an opening appeared.
Minutes later...
Darius suddenly stopped attacking.
He lowered his sword.
Kai remained alert.
"What's wrong?"
The Guardian smiled proudly.
"You've passed."
Kai blinked.
"...Really?"
Darius nodded.
"This trial was never about defeating me."
"It was about surpassing yourself."
"You created two new skills."
"You refused to rely on luck."
"And you fought until the very end."
"You've proven your strength."
A pillar of golden light descended from the sky.
Congratulations!
Eighth Floor Cleared!
Rewards:
Level Up!
Level 6 → Level 8
30,000 System Points
Dragon Combat Manual (Mythical)
Kai smiled.
"We did it."
Nova happily jumped into his arms.
"We're getting stronger!"
Darius walked toward them.
"You have only two floors remaining."
"The Ninth Guardian..."
"...is the strongest warrior in the Tower."
He handed Kai a black crystal.
"This crystal contains one of my sword techniques."
Kai accepted it respectfully.
"Thank you."
Darius nodded.
"When you reach the top..."
"Tell the Tower Master..."
"...that Darius kept his promise."
Before Kai could ask what he meant, the Guardian dissolved into countless particles of light.
The staircase leading to the Ninth Floor slowly appeared.
Kai looked upward.
"Only two more floors."
Outside the Beast Tower...
The battle in the sky reached its climax.
The Fishing Immortal and the Black Monarch clashed once more.
Their attacks split the clouds for hundreds of kilometers.
Suddenly...
The Black Monarch smiled.
"You've been distracted."
The Fishing Immortal frowned.
"What?"
Far below...
Mordecai secretly appeared at the base of the Beast Tower.
In his hands was a crimson crystal pulsing with dark energy.
He laughed.
"By the time they notice..."
"...the Tower will already have fallen."
He slammed the crystal into the Tower's foundation.
The entire Beast Tower trembled violently.
A deep cracking sound echoed through every floor.
The System immediately sounded its loudest alarm.
CRITICAL WARNING!
The Beast Tower Core has been corrupted!
Emergency Protocol Activated!