CHAPTER 72: INTO THE 10TH FLOOR PART II - GM’S REACTION

Location: Sky Dominion Guild War RoomGuild Master: Arkveil Silvaran, the Skybrand Strategist

Arkveil’s silver hair shimmered in the artificial light as he stared at the holographic replay. His expression was unreadable, arms crossed, while his lieutenants nervously shifted behind him.

"...He didn’t even flinch," one whispered.

Arkveil nodded slowly. "He didn’t even change breathing patterns."

"So, what do we do, Guild Master?"

Arkveil’s eyes narrowed.

"...We pray he doesn’t become an enemy."

-

Location: Titan’s Maw Guild – East Asia HQ

Guild Master: Ulran Bhor, the Iron Colossus

"Hah! That’s a real warrior!" Ulran bellowed, smashing a hand against the table with a grin. "I’d love to fight him—once."

"But sir... if he’s really that far ahead—"

Ulran turned. "Then we train harder. Or we stay the hell out of his way."

-

Location: Eternal Bloom Guild – Japan

Guild Master: Amaris Vael, Lady of Verdant Light

Watching the broadcast from a room full of analysts, Amaris said nothing. Her glowing eyes focused entirely on the slow-motion footage of me activating Explosive Ember Stance.

Her aide leaned in. "He’s—scary."

Amaris didn’t blink. "He’s a storm. And he’s not finished."

-

[FLOOR 10 — ARENA: WAVE 2 INCOMING]

[Warning: Increased Threat Level Detected.]

[Deploying Tier-Adjusted Opponents based on Challenger Profiles...]

[Wave 2 Begins in: 3... 2... 1...]

—

The sky above the arena convulsed—blood-red lightning surged across the warped dome. The floor beneath trembled like something immense was crawling beneath it.

Then, they rose.

Constructs.

Towering, humanoid war machines—eight of them, each one standing over three meters tall. Their bodies were composed of obsidian armor fused with crystallized mana veins, pulsing like molten lava beneath dark plating. Their heads were smooth, almost featureless—except for a single red slit of a "visor" burning across their upper skulls.

And they were armed.

Each wielded dual ether-forged axes—mana-infused weapons that hummed with destructive resonance.

The nearest Juggernaut lunged forward, blurring with sudden acceleration that didn’t match its size. Its first strike cleaved a crater into the ground where I stood just moments before.

I ducked, slid under its follow-up swing—then retaliated with a rising uppercut laced with flame.

[Burn Stack: 1]

It didn’t even flinch.

The burn mark on its armor shimmered—and began to harden, repairing itself.

"Tch. Regenerative alloy..."

Another Juggernaut slammed down behind me. I twisted mid-air, landing on its arm and launching upward with a kick—maneuvering into a rapid spin and crashing both fists into the side of its head.

BOOM!

It staggered—but this time, it adapted. Its armor surged, redirecting mana flow to reinforce where I had struck.

’They’re distributing mana to resist my Emberfang stacks.’

I shifted into Precision Flame Stance, focusing strikes into weaker joints—elbows, knees, neck base.

[Burn Stack: 4]

[Burn Stack: 6]

Still, they pressed. One struck from behind—I rolled aside, but another was already mid-swing.

CRASH!

The side of my body took a partial hit. My barrier flickered. Blood sprayed.

—

Astraia’s Arena — Simultaneously

Waves of shadowborn hounds surged toward her. But she wasn’t slowing. With divine steps and precise sword arcs, she danced between them, light magic bursting like sun flares behind her.

Still—there were cracks forming. Even she was getting pushed.

—

Noel’s Arena

He roared, slamming a Juggernaut’s foot with a rune-enhanced blow. The entire construct buckled—but a second one drove a spiked arm into his shoulder.

Blood spilled. Noel grunted—but he didn’t fall.

—

My Arena — Present

"Alright..." I breathed out, wiping blood from my chin.

[Emberfang Style – Form Shift: Explosive Ember Mode]

"If you’re gonna learn my flames..."

"Then BURN faster than you can adapt."

I rushed in.

I didn’t care about armor now—I was going to outpace their reaction cycles.

Strike.Dash.Strike again.Low kick, elbow spike, aerial slam.

[Burn Stack: 10]

[Burn Stack: 12]

[Burn Stack: 14]

Two down.

Three left converging.

I jumped—spun mid-air, a trail of flames spinning around me like a cyclone.

[Burn Stack: 15 Applied to Target Alpha][Defense and Healing Reduced by 30%]

"NOW—!"

I struck downward, fists blazing, exploding the head of one Juggernaut in a column of fire. It collapsed. The others hesitated.

’Mistake.’

I dashed low—spun on my heel, and drove my flaming palm upward—

Directly through its chest core.

It erupted in a scream of fractured mana.

One remained.

It rushed me.

I met its charge head-on—

Our fists collided—mine flesh and fire, his forged and cold.

I pushed.

It trembled.

I roared—

And it shattered.

I stood amidst the burning metal and ash, breath ragged, knuckles bleeding.

"Harder, huh?" I muttered, barely suppressing the adrenaline-fueled grin. "Keep them coming."

—

Scene Switch: Astraia’s Arena

The air crackled with divine tension. Astraia spun on her heel, slashing down a howling wraith-beast that lunged with a serrated fang of void-wrought bone. Her blade of crystallized light cleaved it clean—but her stance faltered slightly.

Blood streaked the edge of her cheek. Sweat clung to her silver hair.

Five enemies remained—each one different, adapted. The system wasn’t giving her shadowborn beasts anymore.

These were Echo-Knights—illusory specters wearing armor of mirrored mana, reflecting light and magic alike. They moved like her. Struck like her. They were designed to counter her grace.

And they were learning.

"Dammit..." Astraia growled as she blocked three consecutive attacks, spinning out with a radiant burst to create distance.

Her lungs burned. Her barrier flickered. And her mana was thinning faster than expected.

One Echo-Knight rushed forward—flickering in and out of visibility like a skipping reflection. Astraia raised her sword too late.

CLANG!

Her barrier shattered on impact.

"Gkh—!"

She skidded back, crashing into the edge of her arena, coughing blood.

Her grip tightened. Gritting her teeth, she muttered through the pain, "You’re not better than me..." Her aura surged—another divine burst. But even then, her arms trembled slightly.

She was still standing. But she was struggling.

—

Scene Shift: Noel’s Arena

A crater exploded at Noel’s feet as he barely rolled away—an impact hammer slamming the ground just inches behind him.

"HAAH—!" he shouted, slamming his twin reinforced gauntlets together. A defensive rune lit up around his forearms—absorbing part of the shock.

Two Juggernauts were left. One had already lost an arm. The other? Still fresh—and moving faster than the first.

He was strong. But not Blank-level strong.