Chapter 31: The Hunt Before the Storm
Lee Hwan dashed through the dense, ember-lit forest of the 9th Floor, leaving trails of scorched earth behind him. Every monster that dared to face him was obliterated in a flash—no hesitation, no mercy. His blade no longer needed effort—his presence alone was overwhelming.
"Level 187..."
He glanced at his status screen.
Strength: 277
Agility: 261
Stamina: 258
Dexterity: 259
Mana: 2850
All his stats had now crossed 256—his body, mind, and soul were beyond human.
But there was still one skill he had never dared to activate:
Void Flame – a skill that had remained untouched.
"There's a reason I haven't used this yet… even the system warned me it's unstable."
Just then, the system's notification rang in his ears:
[System Notification]
To clear the 9th Floor, you must defeat all current players on this floor except the Ruler — the Vessel of the Dark Monarch.
Additionally, defeat the Vessel of the Flame Monarch to open the path to the 10th Floor.
Lee's eyes narrowed.
"So this is a battlefield… not just for survival, but dominance."
He finally stopped walking.
"Fine. I'll burn them all down if I have to."
He unsheathed his sword, which now burned not with blue or orange—but with black-crimson flames dancing along its edge.