Several days had passed since the fall of the Flame Monarch's vessel.
The world was still reeling from the news — that the 9th strongest player, Lee Hwan, had risen to the 8th rank, and even more shockingly, now wielded six Dragon Hearts, a trait only the legendary Dragon Monarch once possessed.
But Lee didn't care for fame.
Not yet.
He had a goal — to conquer all 100 floors of the First Tower.
And now… the 11th floor awaited.
Seoul, Korea – Dragon Guild HQ
Lee stood in the guild's teleportation chamber. His long black coat swayed with the mana winds.
Dozens of guild members watched with awe and fear.
"Guildmaster…" one said. "You just recovered. Are you sure you want to rush the Tower again?"
Lee didn't respond.
He stepped into the teleportation circle, eyes cold and focused.
"Send me to the 11th Floor," he ordered.
[Teleportation to First Tower – 11th Floor Initiated.]
[TOWER – 11TH FLOOR]
In a flash of blinding light, Lee appeared on ancient stone ground.
The air was colder.
The sky above him was dark, swirling with violet clouds that looked more alive than natural. The entire floor resembled a cursed, decaying battlefield, abandoned by gods.
Dead trees, rusted swords, and cracked statues lined the horizon.
And then—
[SYSTEM NOTICE – 11TH FLOOR TRIAL]
"Welcome, Challenger. You have entered the 11th Floor: The Trial of Souls."
Trial Type: Mental & Spiritual
Objective: Confront the Echoes of the Past. Conquer your guilt. Purify your soul. Or be consumed by it.
Timer: None
Lee frowned.
This wasn't a physical challenge.
It was personal.
The winds shifted, and a figure appeared before him — a man in armor, blood-soaked and pale.
Lee's eyes widened.
"…Hyun?"
It was Hyun Tae-Wook — his old friend from their early days. The one who died in a dungeon raid beacause he save lee
"You left me to die," the ghost of Hyun said, hollow and broken.
Lee took a step back.
This… wasn't an illusion.
It felt real. His soul trembled.
"You said you'd protect us… but you chose to run."
Another figure appeared — this time a young girl, barely in her twenties. One of Lee's guild members who fell during a failed raid when he'd underestimated the enemy boss.
More shadows emerged, each one a memory Lee had buried deep.
Dozens… no, hundreds of them.
The Tower was forcing him to relive every death he couldn't prevent.
Every regret. Every failure.
[Warning: Mental Strain Rising. Your Spirit Gauge: 72%]
Lee clenched his fists.
"So this is the test… not of strength, but will."
The shades surrounded him, whispering. Crying. Accusing.
"Coward."
"Monster."
"You don't deserve to lead."
"You became strong, but too late…"
[Spirit Gauge: 54%]
Lee fell to one knee, his breathing heavy.
But then—
He remembered the present.
He remembered why he fought. The guild he now protected. The future he was trying to secure.
Lee slowly stood.
"No," he whispered. "I won't run from you anymore."
Flames ignited around him.
Not destructive flames… but cleansing ones — golden, flickering with aura.
"I can't change the past. But I can carry your memories forward. I can make sure no one else dies like you did."
[Dragon Heart Resonance Detected.]
[Activating: Soulfire Mode – Cleansing Flame]
The fire burst from his chest, spiraling outward. Each shade it touched turned to light — not erased, but freed.
They smiled before fading, their pain soothed.
One by one… the echoes vanished.
Until only Hyun remained.
He stepped forward… then offered his hand.
"You've grown strong, brother," he whispered.
Lee took the hand.
"I'll never forget you."
[Trial of Souls – Completed.]
[Congratulations. You have cleared the 11th Floor.]
Your Spirit Stat has permanently increased by +150.
Your Soul Resistance has reached Rank S.
You have acquired Title: "Soulbearer of the Tower."
You have unlocked access to the 12th Floor.
After the Trial
Lee stood alone on the stone field, his head lowered.
But this time… there was no guilt.
Only resolve.
He opened his eyes, and they burned brighter than ever.
"I'm ready for what's next."
And the Tower… listened.
Awesome — let's continue right where we left off, with Lee stepping onto the 12th Floor of the First Tower. This one will be intense, mystical, and battle-focused — and we'll build it up to around 2000+ words worth of detail as Lee faces a new challenge worthy of someone with 6 Dragon Hearts and the title "Soulbearer."
12th Floor
The moment Lee cleared the 11th Floor, the ground beneath him trembled.
[Initiating Transfer to 12th Floor – The Celestial Guardian's Gate]
The world turned white.
The next time he opened his eyes… he stood in an entirely different realm.
Gone were the ruined fields and stormy skies.
Here, Lee was in a boundless realm of floating platforms, each made of glowing crystal and ancient marble. Above him floated stars — not real ones, but illusions of constellations swirling in time.
It was like stepping into the core of the universe.
[SYSTEM NOTICE – 12TH FLOOR TRIAL]
You have entered the 12th Floor: The Guardian of Eternity's Gate.
Trial Type: Battle – Single Combat
Objective: Defeat the Eternal Guardian who has guarded this floor for 3000 years.
Warning: Your soul will be sealed within this floor if you fail.
Lee's eyes narrowed.
"A proper fight… finally."
He cracked his knuckles.
Suddenly — BOOM — a shockwave struck the platform. Something had landed.
Something ancient.
Something terrifying.
From a pillar of light, a figure emerged.
A giant armored warrior at least 3 meters tall, cloaked in silver and starlight, carrying a massive double-edged glaive etched with celestial runes. Its helmet glowed with blue fire.
"So… you're the one who passed the Trial of Souls," the warrior spoke. Its voice echoed through the entire dimension.
"I am Seraphion, the Eternal Guardian. For 3000 years, I have protected the gateway to the higher floors. You are the 20th challenger to ever reach me."
Lee didn't flinch. "And how many passed?"
Seraphion raised his glaive.
"None."
[BATTLE INITIATED – Eternal Guardian Seraphion – Level ???]
The Fight Begins
Lee's aura burst outward instantly — five different colored flames swirled around him: red, white, blue, violet, and black. Each one represented a different Dragon Heart.
His sixth heart — the core heart — pulsed with golden energy, ready to synchronize all of them.
"Let's test how eternal you really are," Lee muttered.
BANG!!
The first clash shattered the platform under them.
Lee vanished and appeared behind Seraphion mid-strike, his True Dragon Eye already activated — seeing five seconds into the future.
But the Guardian was faster.
CLANG!!
Seraphion's glaive spun, clashing with Lee's flame blade. Sparks and pressure waves exploded around them.
[Warning: Dimensional Platform Integrity – 84%]
The battle shook the entire floor. Blades of light, flame bursts, and time-manipulating footwork collided again and again.
But then—
Seraphion lifted his glaive high.
"[CELESTIAL JUDGMENT]!"
A ring of galaxies formed above them and dropped hundreds of energy spears. Lee countered with [Flame Void Spiral], deflecting the barrage while dashing forward.
The two collided in a flash of blue and gold.
But Seraphion's attacks were different.
Even with Lee seeing seconds into the future, some strikes were delayed in time, hitting him from the past — like echoes.
[Dragon Heart Synchronization – 78%]
Lee gritted his teeth.
His eyes bled.
"This guy… he's not just a warrior. He's using time-based combat."
The Turning Point
As Lee took a few glancing hits, he activated a forbidden combination:
[Skill Fusion Activated: Dragon's Eternity Mode]
A fusion of all six Dragon Hearts' power — now operating in harmony.
His body ignited with six-colored flame armor, his speed quintupled, and his perception extended from 5 seconds to 9.8 seconds into the future.
He blurred forward, dodging even the time-echo attacks.
His blade carved deep into Seraphion's side.
The guardian staggered.
But then… it smiled.
"You've pushed me this far. Then… I shall reward you with my final form."
[Final Phase Initiated – Seraphion, Guardian of Time]
His body cracked apart, revealing a core of stardust, and his glaive transformed into a weapon of light.
"I exist in three timelines simultaneously now," Seraphion whispered.
Lee's eyes widened.
Suddenly, Seraphion was attacking from the left, right, and center at the same time.
Even with his vision of the future, Lee was hit.
-4,621 HP
-5,104 HP
Lee staggered, blood dripping from his mouth.
But…
"I can't fall. I've made it too far."
He clenched his fists. His sixth Dragon Heart glowed.
[Awakening: Dragon King's Will – Tier I Unlocked]
Your Dragon Hearts reject the concept of linear time.
You may now act freely for 5 seconds, ignoring the timeline manipulations of others.
Lee's aura exploded.
His hair turned silver-blue, and his flame blade evolved — glowing like a sun.
With a roar, he broke into Seraphion's triple existence.
"[DRAGON ASCENSION – FINAL STRIKE!]"
A single slash, carved through space and time, cutting all three versions of Seraphion at once.
There was silence.
Then—
BOOOOM!!!
The entire floor trembled as Seraphion was flung back, his core cracked.
He fell to one knee.
And smiled.
"…You win, Dragon Bearer."
[Trial Complete – 12th Floor Cleared]
[Rewards Granted:]
Title Unlocked: "Conqueror of Time" Passive Unlocked: Timeline Immunity – Rank A New Path Unlocked: "Dragon King's Dominion – Path of the Timefire Sovereign" Access to 13th Floor granted Post-Battle
Seraphion's armor faded, and a human-like figure stood before Lee — older, wiser.
"You are the first in 3000 years," Seraphion said. "And you will not be the last, I sense. The Tower changes because of you."
Lee looked up, breathing hard.
He knew the battles would only get harder.
But he also knew one thing…
"This Tower will remember l.
Lee stepped through the gate to the 13th Floor. His steps echoed against the stone-like ground as the air turned cold, dense… and rotten.
The sky above was blackened, painted with swirling violet clouds. The ground was lifeless, scattered with bones of warriors long gone, and cursed symbols etched themselves into every structure.
Lee narrowed his eyes.
"So this is it… the cursed floor."
He recalled the system notification from before.
[Warning: Only one being has ever cleared this floor – the Time Monarch, Chronos. All others have perished or been corrupted.]
"But now I have six Dragon Hearts… and the title of Conqueror of Time," Lee muttered. "This won't be the same as before."
As he stepped deeper, he passed through a gate formed entirely of runes — and the world shifted.
He arrived in a vast circular arena surrounded by towering ruins. Energy pulsed around the center. Standing in his way were three enemies:
A Vessel of the Curse Monarch – cloaked in black, oozing with corruption, his hands covered in sealing bands. A High-Ranker – Lee recognized him from the global rankings, a monster named Ryzer, ranked 31st. His aura was wild, unstable. And finally… Elira.
She stood calmly beside them, arms folded.
"Elira?" Lee stepped forward, confused.
Elira didn't smile. "I had a feeling we'd meet again here."
Ryzer cracked his neck. "So you're the kid everyone's been talking about… Dragon Boy."
Lee's eyes flicked between them. "Why are you all here? What's going on?"
The Vessel stepped forward, voice cracked and sharp. "This floor is not just a test of strength. It is a test of your will… your very identity. Chronos passed because he rejected fate. Let's see if you can."
Elira spoke again. "I'm not your enemy here, Lee. But I am part of this trial."
Ryzer grinned. "And I just want to see if the rumors are true."
Suddenly, the runes glowed, and a massive circle formed around them.
[Trial Initiated – Cursed Ascension Ritual]
Defeat the Corrupted Vessel. Resist the Curse. And face the Final Illusion left behind by Chronos himself.
Survivors: 4. Only 1 may advance.
Time Limit: 30 Minutes.
Lee's jaw clenched. "Only one…"
Elira nodded. "Don't hold back."
The Battle Begins
The Corrupted Vessel struck first — he opened his arms and thousands of curse symbols flew toward Lee. The air burned with dark energy.
Ryzer leapt in, slicing through the symbols while charging Lee with his lightning-infused greatsword.
Lee activated Dragon Eye, dodging mid-air and delivering a counter-strike — but Elira stopped him with a wall of ice between them.
"You'll have to earn your way past me," she whispered.
Lee growled and activated Dragon King's Will – Phase I.
His flame burned through curses.
He flew toward the Vessel, engaging in deadly close combat, while Ryzer targeted Elira. But the curses grew thicker, and one by one, the arena started shifting — illusions and memories seeping into everyone's minds.
Lee suddenly saw…
Himself… failing. Dying. The world burning.
A future where he was too late to save anyone.
[Curse of Despair – Applied]
Your strength is reduced by 40%. Your hearts burn with doubt.
Lee fell to one knee.
But then — his sixth Dragon Heart pulsed.
[Dragon Heart – Core Override]
"You have seen death. You have risen again. You do not fear fate."
Lee stood up, breaking through the curse illusion with sheer willpower.
"I'm not the same Lee anymore."
He focused all his energy.
[Flame Sovereign Technique – Infernal Orbit]
Six dragons made of flame erupted from him, targeting the corrupted Vessel.
The enemy screamed, burning as the dragons tore through every layer of his curse. In moments, the Vessel exploded in black light.
[Corrupted Vessel Eliminated]
But Lee didn't rest — Ryzer suddenly broke through and slashed his back.
-4,202 HP
Lee turned, just in time to block a follow-up strike.
"Get out of my way, Ryzer."
Ryzer laughed. "Only one of us can go forward, remember?"
They clashed again — sparks flew, flame met lightning, until Lee hit him with a critical point-blank Flame Burst, blasting him across the arena wall.
Then, Elira appeared in front of Lee.
Her eyes were serious.
"No more holding back."
She powered up.
[Ice Monarch's Vessel – 80% Power Unlocked]
The battlefield turned into frozen eternity. Lee activated Dragon King's Will – Phase II.
Their powers clashed in a devastating dance — ice blades and flame wings crashing mid-air.
Lee's eyes bled again from pushing his Future Sight to nearly 10 full seconds.
And in that instant, he saw Elira's fatal opening.
"I'm sorry… but I have to win."
[Dragon Fist – Flame Collapse!]
A final punch to her core — not fatal, but enough to knock her out cold.
She collapsed gently, ice cracking around her feet.
Ryzer was still conscious… barely.
Lee turned to him. "Still want to go?"
Ryzer looked at Elira, then Lee, and smiled weakly. "Tch. Nah… I'm not suicidal."
He raised a hand.
"I forfeit."
[Trial Cleared – You are the Last Standing]
[13th Floor Cleared]
[Rewards:]
Skill Gained: Curse Resistance (S) Passive Gained: Unshaken Soul Title Gained: Breaker of Fate Access to the 14th Floor granted
As the arena faded, Lee was left alone on a floating stone bridge, with the next floor's gate ahead.
But just before he stepped forward…
A voice echoed.
"Impressive… Dragon Bearer."
It wasn't Seraphion. Nor the Tower system.
It was something older.
Something watching.
"We are all watching now… especially him."
The skies trembled.
And far beyond the cursed clouds… a throne shifted in the void.
The Monarch of Time had opened his eye
Lee stood silently at the edge of the 13th floor's floating bridge, the portal to the 14th floor humming faintly behind him.
But he didn't step through.
His mind drifted back to a moment—when the Dragon Monarch's voice echoed within him during their first pact.
"When you reach the cursed floor, you must stop. You will gain power. But to control it, you must master the flames."
Suddenly—
[Personal Quest Activated]
Quest: Awaken and Master an SS-Rank Skill granted by the Dragon Monarch.
Condition: You cannot proceed to the next floor until mastery is proven.
Reward: Title – True Vessel of Flame, Skill Evolution Path Unlocked.
Lee's eyes glowed. "So this was the real reason he wanted me to stop here."
He looked around.
The cursed floor was now quiet, drained of its deadly energy. But fragments of time, curses, and power still lingered — perfect for pushing his limits.
He took a deep breath and sat down in the center of the broken arena.
[Dragon Monarch Skill Transference – Begin]
Skill Received: SS-Rank – "Solar Flare Drive"
A blinding light engulfed him, flames shaped like a celestial dragon wrapping around his body. His Dragon Hearts began to synchronize.
[Solar Flare Drive]: A unique SS-rank technique that compresses all dragon flames into a solar core within the heart, allowing bursts of sunlike destruction. Can only be mastered by one with six Dragon Hearts.
Current Mastery: 0.3%
"Damn... this isn't just power," Lee muttered, feeling his organs heat up like a miniature sun was trying to burn him from the inside out.
Training Begins
Lee created a separate domain using leftover curse fragments and mana crystals from the battle. For the next three days, he didn't sleep, eat, or rest.
He focused only on control.
Day 1: Burn Phase
Every time he activated Solar Flare Drive, the flames exploded around him, melting the ground. His health dropped to critical several times.
His Dragon Eyes helped him predict burn surges, but they weren't enough.
So he turned inward — he sank into his own heart, entering a meditative state inside the Dragon Flame Core.
There, he met a silhouette of the Dragon Monarch himself.
"Flame… is not rage. It is truth. It reveals what the world hides."
Lee opened his eyes.
"Then let's reveal it all."
Day 2: Control Phase
He began shaping the flare into weapons: spears, whips, gauntlets.
Each form brought mastery points:
Mastery increased to 32.7%
Mastery increased to 41.9%
He accidentally destroyed a boulder that was floating nearby — and inside it, found a hidden scroll.
[You have found: Flame Codex – Ancient Dragon's Control Scroll]
[Mastery Gain Increased by 80% when training in isolation]
Lee smiled. "Thanks, Monarch."
Day 3: Burst Phase
He trained while flying at max speed, simulating real combat. He combined the skill with Dragon King's Will, pushing his heart output past 150%.
His control improved. The flame no longer harmed his own body.
And then—
[Mastery: 100%]
[Skill Evolved: Solar Flare Drive → Solar Annihilation Core]
[You have become the First to Master an SS-Rank Dragon Skill in the Tower]
[All stats +70 permanently]
[Flame Attribute Attacks increased by 220%]
[Title Gained: True Vessel of Flame]
[Skill Evolution Path: Ignition Sovereign – Unlocked]
Lee stood up, his body now radiating calm but deadly energy. His aura had changed — less wild, more divine.
He stretched out his hand — the sun-like flame formed instantly.
"I can feel it… this is just the beginning."
Just then, his system chimed again.
[Optional Sub-Quest: Test your new power against a Monarch-level illusion]
Accept?
Lee smirked. "Bring it on
The cursed ground shook violently as a portal cracked open in the sky above the 13th floor arena. A monstrous presence emerged from it — a colossal dragon with glimmering obsidian scales and eyes that burned with ancient rage.
[Illusion Summoned – Monarch-level Dragon: "Vyrranth, the Twilight Wyrm"]
Level: 278
Type: Illusion-Based Combat Projection – Real Damage Possible
Special Trait: Immune to Fear and Stun. Wields SS-Rank Skill: "Twilight Collapse"
Lee narrowed his eyes. His level was 265, but he didn't back down.
"Let's see how far I've come."
Vyrranth roared. The sky darkened. Black and purple flame surged from its maw, crashing toward Lee like a falling comet.
BOOOOM!!
Lee dodged mid-air, using Solar Annihilation Core to generate a barrier of light, but the sheer force of the blast blew him hundreds of meters away.
[HP -72,194]
"Tch… that thing's faster than it looks."
Lee activated Dragon King's Will, increasing his resistance and flame strength. The battle continued for minutes that felt like hours.
But no matter what combo he used, Vyrranth was stronger, more experienced, and had better terrain advantage.
Finally, Lee was slammed against a cliff with full force.
[You are in a critical state.]
[System: If you lose here, the illusion ends but the curse damage will stay.]
Blood trailing down his lips, Lee smiled bitterly.
"This fight's over for me… or maybe not."
He activated a hidden ability — something that had been building deep inside his soul.
[Hidden Trait Evolved – Dragon Devourer Core Resonance Detected]
[You may devour part of this cursed dragon's essence. Initiating Devour Sequence...]
Suddenly, Lee's dragon flames turned black and gold — absorbing a sliver of Vyrranth's SS-rank energy.
Then—
[Devour Successful. Partial Skill Acquired – "Twilight Collapse"]
[Would you like to copy this skill permanently?]
[Yes]
Lee didn't hesitate.
[New Skill Acquired: Twilight Collapse – SS Rank (50% Mastery)]
[Skill Type: Wide-Range Flame Implosion]
[New Title Gained: Copy Player – You may permanently copy one skill per enemy if conditions are met.]
[Copy Skill Cooldown: 30 Days]
Lee fell to one knee, panting. The illusion dragon faded into mist. Even though he had technically lost, he'd taken something far more valuable from this battle.
The Curse Turns into Power
After recovering, Lee sat down in meditation once again.
He opened his Dragon Devourer core wide.
[Curse Energy Detected on Floor 13]
[Absorb?]
[Warning: This may alter your physiology permanently.]
Lee didn't flinch.
"Absorb everything. Leave nothing behind."
Black streams of cursed energy from the entire floor were sucked into his core like a void. Cracks in the ground widened, screams of ancient spirits echoed, and the arena trembled as the curse itself was eaten alive.
[Dragon Devourer Skill Rank Up – S → SS]
[New Effect: Devour all energy types including Cursed, Divine, and Monarch Essence]
[Stats +100 permanently]
[Floor 13 Curse Cleared]
[Title Unlocked: Cursebreaker of Flame]
Lee stood up again, stronger than ever.
Current Level: 269
New Skill Mastery:
Solar Annihilation Core: 100% Twilight Collapse: 52% Dragon Devourer: SS Rank Flame Burst: Evolved to "Flare Spearstorm"
He looked toward where 14th floor portal floated