The air shimmered with golden light as Alex stepped through the doorway, the previous ninth-floor boss battle still fresh in his mind.
A notification rang in his ears.
[You have entered the 10th floor.]
[Good luck. You will die.]
Alex’s fists clenched.
The system’s ominous message didn’t shake him, he was used to its games by now.
But what lay ahead would be unlike anything he’d faced before.
The trio found themselves in an enormous arena.
It was unlike the sprawling biomes of the earlier floors; this was a massive, enclosed battlefield.
The arena gleamed with gold, its walls etched with intricate runes pulsating faintly, and lush grass carpeted the ground beneath their feet.
Alice glanced around, bow already drawn, her sharp eyes scanning for threats.
“What the hell is this?” she asked, her voice tense.
“The top of the tower,” Alex replied, his tone low and cautious.
He looked up, his eyes narrowing.
Unlike the artificial skies of previous floors, the heavens here reflected the outside world, or what was left of it.
A vast, black void stretched endlessly, heavy and oppressive, as though the tower itself had reached the edge of existence.
“How do we finish this now?” Aurelia asked, gripping her dagger tightly, ready for anything.
She was talking about conquering the tower.
Alex’s eyes hardened. “We kill it.”
“Kill what?”
As if in response, a blinding flash illuminated the void above.
Lightning tore through the sky in jagged streaks, each bolt louder and more destructive than the last.
A massive beam of pure light descended, striking the ground with earth-shattering force.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the arena, and from the beam emerged a colossal figure.
A roar echoed through the air, shaking the very ground beneath them.
The figure unfurled massive, glimmering wings as it descended, its scales shimmering like molten gold.
It was a dragon, easily the largest Alex had ever seen, its piercing, otherworldly gaze locking onto them.
[Level 1,000 – Vorsak, Dragon of Destiny]
[The strongest monster and boss in the tower. Defeating it means conquering the tower.]
The dragon’s voice rumbled like thunder as it spoke, a mix of disdain and curiosity.
“Humans. The first in centuries. I am shocked.” Vorsak’s golden eyes glinted as he smirked. “I haven’t been called here in ages, but the moment I received the signal from the God of Destiny, I knew it was significant.”
“The God of Destiny?” Alex repeated, sweat beading on his forehead.
He knew of many gods.
For example, the [God of the Abyss], [Goddess of Fate] and the scariest one of them all to Alex, the [God of Darkness].
Even if his strength reached the peak of this world, Alex still feared that he would be too scared to face that god.
To him, it seemed like an impossible task.
Yet even then, giving up was never an option, if it was he wouldn’t be doing that.
If he wanted to live, getting strong enough and then hiding until the apocalypse of the gods ended was plausible.
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But if the dragon spoke the truth, then…
“He’s coming,” Vorsak said, tensing up.
Another blinding light filled the sky, far brighter than the one before.
Alex shielded his eyes as a colossal figure materialized above them, its presence immeasurable.
The figure’s golden eyes shone like miniature suns, piercing through the void.
Slowly, it began to shrink, its overwhelming form condensing until it resembled a humanoid figure.
With deliberate grace, it descended, stopping in the air about 500 meters above the arena.
Instinctively, Alex knew who this being was.
[God of Destiny – Level 2,000]
[You are not allowed to check the status window of this being.]
Even with his [Cursed Eyes of the King], Alex couldn’t glean any further details.
It was as if even his eyes sensed that trying to do that would result in an immediate death, thus protecting him.
The being radiated an aura so powerful it made his legs tremble despite himself.
Four golden wings flared behind the god, their light almost blinding.
Its hair shimmered like molten sunlight, a golden halo floating above its head.
In its right hand, it held a delicate golden scale, its balance perfect despite the slight sway of its hand.
The god didn’t speak at first, its expression one of mild amusement as it watched the scene unfold.
Its mere presence was suffocating.
“What the…” Alice whispered, her voice barely audible.
Her hands trembled, though she tightened her grip on her bow.
Aurelia’s knuckles were white around her dagger, her lips pressed into a thin line.
[The God of Destiny is interested in your fight.]
Even Vorsak, as powerful and ancient as he was, seemed uneasy.
The dragon’s gaze flickered toward the god before snapping back to Alex.
“Well, human,” Vorsak said, his tone more subdued.
“Hm?” Alex replied, keeping his eyes locked on the dragon while staying aware of the god’s every move.
“We have to fight. Try not to anger it,” Vorsak warned.
Alex let out a dry chuckle, “Right back at you.”
The trio were about to begin their battle against the dragon, confident they would be able to defeat it.
Vorsak also believed that getting rid of these humans and returning to what he was doing wouldn’t take much time at all.
But before either could move, a voice reverberated in their minds.
It wasn’t a sound, it was an echo, as if countless beings spoke in unison.
[Boring.]
Before Alex could process the word, two beams of golden light shot from the god’s scale, striking Alice and Aurelia where they stood.
The impact was instantaneous and merciless.
“NO!” Alex shouted, his heart sinking as the light consumed his companions.
When it faded, they were gone, disintegrated entirely.
The god smiled faintly, its expression one of detached amusement.
[This is more like it.]
[Now fight.]
“HEY!” Alex shouted at the God of Destiny, “WHY DID YOU KILL THEM, BASTARD!”
Alex knew he couldn’t fight that thing, and that it could soul attack him with such strength that even the heart of calamity wouldn’t endure it.
Yet even then…
[I did not kill them.]
It snapped its fingers, and two golden orbs appeared beside it.
Inside the orbs, Alice and Aurelia were suspended, alive but incapacitated.
[I do not kill for no reason.]
[I am simply making the fight fair.]
“Oh, ok.”
Alex had never heard of the [God of Destiny], so he couldn’t know what he was thinking.
“Let’s get this over with,” Vorsak growled, shaking off his unease and preparing to fight.
The dragon’s wings unfurled, casting a massive shadow over the arena.
“Agreed.” Alex’s gaze hardened, and his [Cursed Eyes of the King] activated, revealing the dragon’s stats.
[Vorsak, Dragon of Destiny – Level 1,000]
[HP: 1,000,000,000]
[Skills: Thunder Beam, Golden Wind, Inferno Breath, Dragon’s Roar, Destiny Slash, Celestial Charge, Divine Barrier, World Quake, Lightning Tempest, Scales of Eternity.]
Alex barely had time to process the information before the god’s voice echoed once more.
[3…]
The scale in the god’s hand rose into the air, growing in size until it floated above the battlefield.
On one side of the scale was an image of Alex; on the other, Vorsak.
[2…]
The scale began to tip back and forth, as though measuring their chances.
[1…]
The god’s golden eyes gleamed with excitement as it raised its hand.
[Fight.]
Alex and Vorsak lunged at each other simultaneously, the ground quaking beneath their combined power.