Sora noted Kara’s level: only 142. With himself at 145, they were the lowest-level players remaining in the tower. Most other players in their range had long been eliminated, many falling in the [Challenge Room], unable to evade challenges repeatedly.
Against the best high-level players who remained, they had all lost their spots.
Kara, having finished reviewing her group, sent Sora a message.
[Kara Spirine: I’m in tier 2. My trial rankings were quite high until I reached the 13th and 14th floors. I’m in group A with Adebayo from the Nigerian region. He’s a tier 1 player at level 170. The other tier 1 is Eloj, level 172… I remember her. She’s from the Demon Race and ranked seventh on the 12th floor. I guess I’m doomed.]
Sora quickly replied.
[Ralph Eden: Don’t think that way. Focus on the matches you can win. Tell me about the other opponents. Maybe we can come up with a plan.]
For several minutes, they exchanged details about Kara’s group. Relying on his observations from the [Challenge Room] and the 12th floor, Sora studied her chances.
Without using her innate ability, Sora estimated Kara could likely win two matches, assuming they had no overwhelming trump cards. Two others were uncertain, heavily dependent on her opponents’ fighting styles.
If she used her [Time-Bending] innate skill, there was hope for her to beat the other Tier 2 player. Beating Tier 1 players, however, seemed difficult.
As the system prepared to transport them to their respective arenas, Kara sent one last message.
[Kara Spirine: If I don’t make it to the next floor, I’ll wait for you outside the tower at the inn near the adventurer’s guild. And if I’m not there for some reason, and you have changed identities, check your parents’ place on the first Monday of every month.]
Sora nodded to himself, understanding the meaning behind her words. Still concerned, he focused on his surroundings as he materialized in his own arena.
Seven figures appeared with him in a massive coliseum, each near one of the four square platforms at the center. His opponents gave him wary glances, but Sora ignored them, focusing instead on his surroundings.
The stands were filled with rows upon rows of ghostly figures, spectating silently. The sight stirred memories of the war against the Dark Elves, making him frown.
‘I thought these ghosts were just the system’s way of filling the seats… but why do I feel there’s more to them than I originally assumed?’ Sora wondered. He used mental power to probe the barrier.
[Warning! You are attempting to probe a restricted area! This is your final warning before punishment.]
Sora hesitated, recalling the previous time he had been punished by the system.
Confident in his growing strength and prepared to defend himself if necessary, Sora felt an irresistible pull to probe again.
‘The system can’t bully me anymore,’ he thought.
He sent a far more powerful wave of mental power toward the audience, probing deeper into the barrier surrounding the ghostly figures. The other competitors noticed his actions, some looking his way in confusion, but he ignored them.
The resistance of the barrier began to weaken, encouraging him to press harder. ‘Seems like I can break it! This might be a dumb decision, but I want to know the truth,’ he thought, using more mental power.
Suddenly, an immense power descended from above. It moved with incredible speed, locking onto him instantly.
Sora’s eyes widened as he realized it was impossible to evade. ‘No choice but to confront it,’ he thought, as he prepared his defense.
Summoning his strongest ability, he immediately activated [Psychic Hold] and materialized a shield reinforced with layers of mental power and mana. The strike collided with the shield in an explosive clash, shaking the entire arena.
‘This skill is incredible.’ A smile tugged at Sora’s lips as he observed his barrier in action, adapting to the threat and gaining the upper hand.
[Sentient Elemental Nexus] [Description:] A powerful fusion element combining space, fire, earth, water, wind, and lightning into a unified core. Relying on the user's psychic domain, the core gains sentience, allowing it to act independently and adapt to various scenarios based on the user's intent.
[Element Composition:]
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* Spatial Element: 30%
* Earth Element: 14%
* Lightning Element: 14%
* Fire Element: 14%
* Water Element: 14%
* Wind Element: 14%
Sora had developed the skill during his time in the [Alternate Dimension], giving it the power to counter attacks by analyzing mana and elements to find the best response. The [Sentient Elemental Nexus] could even freely adjust its elemental composition or drain the necessary resources needed from Sora to accomplish its mission.
Distancing himself from the others players, he moved to take the clash away from the group.
Transforming into a shield to block the sudden strike, the [Sentient Elemental Nexus] completely broke down the series of attacks in a few seconds.
Before he could catch his breath, however, Sora sensed another threat entering his domain which was spread across the entire arena.
-----------------------
Salim, already upset with the trial’s content and thinking it couldn’t possibly get worse, fumed as he scanned the list of opponents in his group.
Seeing the name of the first player, he sighed in resignation, knowing his only option was to surrender as soon as the match began. 'Thank God, that guy shouldn't be an enemy outside of the tower.' He thought.
But as he read through the rest of the names, a realization struck him. 'I can’t win a single duel against these monsters, unless...
His thoughts drifted to his innate skill:
[Innate Skill: Born King] Description: A ruler born with unparalleled authority, you command absolute dominion over your territory and those who pledge loyalty to you. [Skill Option 1: Allegiance - Form bonds with vassals who swear loyalty.
Gain a portion of each vassal's stats and access to their real-time status and position if they allow it.
Vassals receive enhanced growth and protection under your rule. [Skill Option 2: King’s Insight - While outside your territory, your kingly aura disappears, but you gain heightened awareness.
Sense all living beings within a radius based on your level, including their appearance, stats, and intentions. [Skill Option 3: King's Guard - Empower loyal vassals as [King’s Guards].
Share power with guards to enhance their abilities.
Summon guards to your side or permanently harvest part of their strength to amplify your own. [Skill Option 4: Kingdom - Move your territory to a secure alternate dimension.
Territory becomes inaccessible to enemies, functioning as a sanctuary and a stronghold. Gain access to your [King's Palace].
It was a secret he had accidentally revealed during a careless moment. Not long after, it caught the attention of his government.
Expecting interrogation or even torture to extract the truth, Salim was shocked when, instead, his country gave him full support. Tunisia, a small nation in the North African Region, invested heavily in helping him push his skill to its limits, betting on his potential to achieve greatness.
As the first person in Tunisia to reach level 100, Salim quickly repaid the trust his country had placed in him. But he also discovered a truth he could not share with anyone.
Frustrated yet determined to make a difference, Salim focused on securing a place for Tunisia on the global stage. Carrying the responsibility of millions, he sought hidden talents to help him develop his skill and kingdom.
On the 16th floor, Salim hesitated, debating whether to harvest the power of his vassals. Though they trusted him, the thought of taking their strength left a bitter taste in his mouth—even if he planned to repay it later.
While discussing his decision with his guards through a special method, Salim was suddenly distracted by a powerful wave of mental energy. The pressure was familiar—it came from Ralph Eden.
'What is happening?' He looked up.
He watched, confused, as Ralph Eden disappeared without a word. One moment, he was standing with them, and the next, he reappeared several meters away, controlling a radiant shield that pulsed with a terrifying intensity. His body tensed, and his eyes locked on a target. It was clear he was fighting something, but Salim couldn’t see anything.
“What… is he fighting?” Salim muttered, his heart racing. His eyes darted around the coliseum, but there was no visible enemy. Ralph appeared and disappeared, dodging as if he were battling an invisible adversary. After a few impacts, his face seemed to relax, as though he had emerged victorious.
Then it happened.
A blinding light erupted from Ralph’s position, followed by a deafening boom that reverberated through the arena. The force of the shockwave sent Salim flying like a ragdoll, his body twisting helplessly in the air before slamming into barrier of the coliseum. The impact knocked the breath out of him, and darkness flickered at the edges of his vision.
When Salim’s senses returned, it felt like waking up in the aftermath of a catastrophe. Feeling pain in his chest, he coughed hard, blood staining the ground in front of him. Glancing at his body, he saw his legs were shattered, and his arms—used to block the shockwave—were badly damaged. Activating his regenerative abilities, he ensured his survival before scanning the arena.
Using [King’s Insight] to see through the dust, he took in the devastation. Massive cracks snaked through the ground, and chunks of stone from the arena were scattered everywhere.
“What… what just happened?” he whispered, confused by how the scene before him matched neither the trial's description nor its rules.
Salim's senses were drawn to the center of the coliseum. There, in the rubbles, lay Ralph Eden—or what was left of him. His body was torn apart.
“No… no way. That can’t be real,” Salim mumbled, his expression one of shock.
He had seen Ralph Eden’s strength firsthand and couldn’t believe anyone inside the tower could obliterate him so completely before the official duel started—even before the system could react.
'Unless… the system did it?' A scary thought appeared in his mind.
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image-2024-11-02-192827181 [https://i.ibb.co/ZGDZGCj/image-2024-11-02-192827181.png]
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