Chapter 38 – The Return of the Dragon
Lee Hwan stood atop the scorched remains of the final Ember Guardian, his aura flickering like wildfire mixed with abyssal darkness. The third and last challenge of the 10th Floor had fallen to him—another stepping stone crushed beneath the rising power of the dragon vessel.
[All Ember Lords Defeated]
[10th Floor Cleared]
[Reward: Gate Access to Floor 11 | Skill – Infernal Pressure | Bonus: Ember Lord's Crown]
The system chimed, and a bright light engulfed him.
In the blink of an eye, Lee Hwan returned to Earth, standing just outside the Dragon Guild's headquarters—tall, black-glass towers piercing the clouds of Seoul.
The moment his feet touched the ground, the atmosphere around him twisted—his pressure alone distorted mana in a 30-meter radius. The guards posted at the gate dropped their weapons out of instinct.
"Is that... the Guildmaster?" one whispered, wide-eyed.
Lee's aura had changed. No longer just overwhelming—it felt ancient, divine... monstrous.
He walked through the main gates, eyes scanning everything.
"Three months... Let's see how far they've come."
Inside, the guild was bustling. Dragons were carved into every wall, elite players trained nonstop, and a large screen showed global rankings.
A crowd had already gathered.
Then, someone shouted:
"T-That's Lee Hwan! The Dragon Monarch's Vessel!"
Gasps spread like wildfire.
And then—his three disciples appeared, kneeling before him.
"Master!"
"We've followed your orders. The Dragon Guild is now ranked #1 in Korea, and #3 globally."
"We've even started developing our own dungeon raid teams!"
Lee Hwan gave a rare nod.
"Not bad… but we're still not ready for what's coming."
He turned to the screen. The top name still glowed in gold.
1st: Chronos (Vessel of Time Monarch) – Floor 20 – Level ???
His fists clenched.
"I'm coming for you, Chronos."
To be continued…