The king rose from his throne, a look of determination on his face. "I must prepare for my guild's next World Tower raid," he said, his voice resonating with authority. "Excuse me, Leo. We shall meet again."

Leo nodded respectfully as the king descended the steps, approaching him and Ai. He extended his hand, and Leo shook it firmly. "If you need anything, do not hesitate to reach out," the king said, his eyes reflecting a rare warmth.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Leo replied, appreciating the king's support. He then turned to Lady Kurea and offered a polite nod. "Goodbye, Lady Kurea."

"Fare thee well, Leo," she responded with a slight bow, her eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

As Leo and Ai exited the grand hall, Lady Kurea called out, "Coco." Her staff lit up and transformed into the magical owl with shimmering icy blue feathers. The majestic bird materialized beside her, its eyes glowing with an ethereal light, radiating an air of ancient wisdom.

"I told you I was right about Leo all along," she boasted, a smug smile playing on her lips.

The owl blinked its large eyes slowly, seemingly unimpressed. "Indeed," it hooted softly, its voice carrying a hint of exasperation.

As Leo walked away from the king's hall, the weight of their conversation still lingered in his mind. He had barely scratched the surface of his system’s potential, yet already his actions were creating ripples through the kingdom. He wondered how many more system users he would have to face and what powers they held. Was he ready for what lay ahead? Ai walked silently beside him, ever-watchful, her feline eyes scanning the streets for danger. He steeled himself, knowing that their journey had only just begun.

Inside the world tower on floor 30, a chorus of voices echoed through the icy cavern. "Earth arrow!" Multiple mages chanted in unison, their hands moving rhythmically as arrows of stone materialized in mid-air. The arrows shot forward, their sharp tips glinting as they pierced the monster's shoulder, halting its attack.

Swordsmen took this opportunity and sprinted towards the beast, their feet barely making a sound on the icy floor. They slashed at its heels, ankles, and calves with precise strikes, their swords cutting deep into the monster's flesh. Blood oozed from the wounds, staining the ice below.

From behind, archers moved swiftly, drawing their bows and releasing a volley of arrows that struck the monster's exposed wounds. Each arrow hit its mark with a satisfying thud, causing the creature to wail in agony. Its cry reverberated through the cavern, creating a mini quake as its massive body dropped to its knees and arms.

The ice beneath the monster began to crack, and icy cold smoke billowed from the fissures, filling the area with a chilling mist. The monster, now on all fours, felt a surge of power emanating from its front. It lifted its head, eyes widening in shock and fear, as a formidable presence made itself known.

A figure emerged from the swirling smoke, its aura radiating immense power. The swordsmen and archers paused and watched in anticipation.

The monster was momentarily stunned, and before it could react, a deafening bang reverberated through the area.

The force of the impact was tremendous, shattering the monster's head into icy fragments. "Earth Canon!" a feminine voice rang out, clear and commanding. The cannon’s blast echoed like thunder through the icy expanse, and the force of the explosion reverberated beneath their feet. Ice shards flew in every direction, some clattering harmlessly against the cavern walls while others sliced through the air like deadly missiles.

The shockwave hit the adventurers in waves, pushing them back slightly as the monster’s colossal form crumpled, crashing into the frozen ground with an earth-shaking thud. For a brief moment, silence reigned—broken only by the groaning sound of cracking ice.

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The party of adventurers erupted in cheers, their victory cry resonating through the tower. "The Cannoneer's power never ceases to amaze us!" one exclaimed, his voice filled with awe.

The sound of breaking ice echoed across the battlefield, as other monsters—ice goblins, frost wolves, and frozen undead shattered along with in the aftermath.

The Cannoneer emerged from the mist, her hair dancing in the cold breeze. Her breath, visible in the frigid air, was slow and steady. As the cheers of her fellow adventurers echoed in her ears, a sense of pride welled up in her chest—but it was tempered by the familiar weight of responsibility.

Another one down, but how many more will it take? she wondered. Despite the victories, the endless fights in the World Tower wore on her. She had to remain strong for them, but the cracks in her resolve were beginning to show.

She adjusted her stance, lifting her enormous cannon with ease and letting it rest beside her, towering like a sentinel.

A figure walked up from behind, his steps deliberate and confident. "Splendid job," he said, his voice carrying authority.

The Cannoneer turned to him and smiled, bowing slightly. "Thank you," she replied, her tone respectful yet filled with pride.

The man's presence was powerful, commanding the attention of all around him. The adventurers watched him with anticipation, awaiting his next command.

He continued to walk, each step echoing through the vast hallway, until a colossal door loomed ahead. He sighed, his breath visible in the cold air. "Failure is not an option," he murmured to himself, steeling his resolve.

As he approached the door, the weight of their current title pressed heavily on his mind. The Dragon Lord’s defeat had shaken them all—especially the Chronos guild, to which the late Dragon Lord belonged. His failure had tainted the prestige of their World Title, and it was now their duty to relinquish it with dignity. Titles like theirs conferred great power, after all, but that power came with a price.

Around him, adventurers whispered in disbelief. "Sure, the Dragon Lord was a scum," one murmured, "but his power was unparalleled. He was one of our elite."

Their leader, standing tall, turned to face them. "The Dragon Lord may be gone, but we won’t let his shame follow us. We return with our honor intact!" he barked, his voice cutting through the cold.

"Now, let’s move!" He then stepped forward, and a brown aura began to swirl around him. The aura thickened, molding itself into an intricate set of armor.

The armor shimmered with a dark, bark-like texture, runes etched deeply into its surface. It radiated a warmth that melted the frost at his feet and emitted a low hum that cut through the biting cold.

"Igneous Aegis"

As he reached the colossal door, he pushed against it with all his might. Ice smoke began to leak from the edges, hissing and swirling around his feet. The sound of the door creaking open was a deep, resonant groan, like the shifting of ancient glaciers.

The cold seeped out, chilling the air further, but he stepped inside without hesitation, his eyes reflecting nothing but determination.

"Follow the Armorsmith," someone shouted from behind, "but maintain battle formation!"

The adventurers moved as one, their formation tight and disciplined, each step synchronized with precision. As soon as the last of them crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut behind them, shaking the ground with a thunderous boom. The vibrations traveled through the icy floor, sending shivers up their spines.

The area slowly began to light up, revealing its surroundings. The walls glistened with frost, and massive icicles hung from the ceiling like crystalline daggers. Gradually, they saw the towering cotton-white wyrm standing in the center of the cavernous space.

The creature's scales shimmered like fresh snow under the light, but its eyes burned with a fierce, malevolent intelligence. Its body coiled and uncoiled, muscles rippling beneath its icy hide, and its massive claws scraped against the frozen ground, leaving deep gouges.

The wyrm's head was adorned with menacing, jagged horns, and its breath came out in visible puffs of freezing mist. Each exhale sent a shiver through the air, adding to the already frigid environment.

The creature's gaze locked onto the intruders, and it let out a low, rumbling growl that reverberated through the cavern, a sound that promised an imminent, deadly confrontation.

World Tower Floor 30 Boss

Level 40 Frozen Wyrm

The adventurers tightened their grips on their weapons, their exhalations forming misty clouds in the frigid air as they prepared for battle. At the forefront, the Armorsmith stood firm, his hands rising slowly.

Wisps of brown energy coiled around his arms, gathering and solidifying into a gleaming shield. The shield emerged, intricate patterns etched into its surface, glowing with an intense, earthen light as the aura around him flared brighter.

With that, the wyrm let out a deafening roar, and the battle began.