The explosion shook the entire Ninth Floor.
Golden and crimson energy collided violently, creating waves of spiritual pressure that tore apart the ancient throne room.
For several long seconds...
Nothing could be seen.
Then the smoke slowly began to clear.
Kai stood at the center of the battlefield, breathing heavily.
His clothes were torn, and blood ran down his right arm.
Nova lay beside him, exhausted but conscious.
Opposite them...
Leonis remained standing.
A deep cut stretched across his golden armor.
His legendary sword had shattered into countless fragments.
Silence filled the hall.
Then—
Leonis smiled.
"Hahaha..."
"Magnificent."
He slowly lowered himself onto one knee.
"I concede."
The System rang loudly.
Congratulations!
Ninth Floor Cleared!
Rewards:
Level Up!
Level 8 → Level 10
50,000 System Points
King's Authority Unlocked
Beast Capacity Increased
Current Beast Contracts:
1 → 3
Kai let out a sigh of relief.
"We did it..."
Nova happily wagged all nine tails.
"We won, Master!"
Leonis walked toward Kai.
His injuries disappeared as golden light surrounded his body.
He removed the jeweled crown from his head.
"This crown belongs to no king."
"It belongs to the one who earned the throne."
He placed it gently into Kai's hands.
Divine Item Obtained
Crown of the Beast Sovereign
Rank: Divine
Effects:
Increases leadership abilities.
Beast loyalty permanently increased.
Unlocks King's Aura.
Kai accepted it respectfully.
"I'll protect it."
Leonis smiled.
"I know you will."
The throne room suddenly began to dissolve into particles of light.
"The Tenth Floor awaits."
"The Tower Master has finally awakened."
A staircase of pure golden light descended from the heavens.
Kai and Nova looked upward.
Only one floor remained.
The Tenth Floor
As Kai stepped onto the final floor...
He found himself standing beneath an endless starry sky.
There were no walls.
No ceiling.
Only floating islands connected by bridges of light.
In the center stood an enormous ancient tree whose branches stretched across the heavens.
Every leaf shone like a star.
Beneath the tree sat an elderly man wearing simple white robes.
He poured tea into two cups.
Without looking up, he smiled.
"You took longer than I expected."
Kai walked closer.
"You've been waiting for me?"
The old man nodded.
"For ten thousand years."
Nova whispered,
"He feels..."
"...different."
Kai activated Eye of Truth.
Analysis Failed
Access Denied
The System suddenly spoke.
Highest Authority Detected
The old man chuckled.
"That little System still tries to analyze me."
Kai blinked.
"You know about my System?"
The old man smiled warmly.
"I should."
"I created the first one."
Kai froze.
"What?"
The old man motioned toward the empty seat.
"Sit."
Kai obeyed.
The old man poured him a cup of tea.
"My name..."
"...is Orion."
Kai frowned.
"But the Third Guardian was named Orion."
The old man laughed.
"He borrowed my name."
"I didn't mind."
Kai slowly picked up the tea.
"So..."
"Who are you?"
The old man's eyes became distant.
"I was once known by many names."
"The King of Beasts."
"The Guardian of Worlds."
"The One Who Walked Between Realms."
"But history remembers me by only one."
He smiled gently.
"The First Beast Sovereign."
Kai's heart skipped a beat.
"The First..."
The old man nodded.
"I am merely the final remnant of his soul."
"I remained inside this Tower..."
"...waiting for someone worthy."
Nova lowered her head respectfully.
The First Beast Sovereign looked at her and smiled.
"A Primordial Nine-Tailed Origin Fox."
"I haven't seen your kind in thousands of years."
Nova blushed.
"Thank you..."
He then turned to Kai.
"I have watched every trial."
"You chose kindness over violence."
"You questioned impossible choices."
"You protected your companions."
"You never abused your power."
He nodded with satisfaction.
"You are worthy."
The enormous World Tree behind him suddenly began glowing.
Seven brilliant stars appeared above its branches.
Two of them shone brightly.
Five remained dark.
Kai looked upward.
"The Origin Keys..."
The old man nodded.
"There are seven."
"You already possess two."
"When all seven are gathered..."
"The true inheritance will awaken."
Kai asked,
"What exactly is the All Encompassing System?"
For the first time...
The old man's smile disappeared.
"It is not merely a System."
"It is..."
"...the heart of creation itself."
Kai fell silent.
"The gods who reincarnated you..."
"...only knew part of the truth."
"The All Encompassing System was created before the gods themselves."
"It has existed since the birth of existence."
"It chooses only one successor every era."
Kai looked down at his hands.
"So that's why..."
The old man nodded.
"It chose you."
Suddenly—
The peaceful atmosphere shattered.
A loud crack echoed across the sky.
Darkness spread through the stars.
The First Beast Sovereign looked upward.
"They've broken the outer seal."
The System sounded an emergency alarm.
WARNING!
Tower Core Corruption: 90%
Estimated Collapse:
10 Minutes
The old man stood.
His warm expression disappeared.
"The time for conversation is over."
He raised one hand.
The entire Tenth Floor began shining with divine light.
"Kai."
"I shall give you my first inheritance."
A brilliant golden sphere floated toward Kai.
It merged into his chest.
Immediately—
Inheritance Received
Beast Sovereign Bloodline
Rank: Supreme Divine
Bloodline Awakening:
1%
Kai's body erupted with golden light as a terrifying aura spread throughout the Beast Tower.
Outside...
Everyone stopped fighting.
The Black Monarch slowly looked toward the summit.
His calm expression finally changed.
"No..."
"He's inherited the bloodline already."
For the first time since the battle began...
Fear appeared in the Black Monarch's eyes.