On the twenty-first floor of the Dragon God Tower, the battlefield was still trembling from the aftermath of a fierce clash. The shattered remnants of the Dragonborn Executioner had only just begun to dissolve into fragnts of fading light, its massive fra breaking apart piece by piece as the projection returned to the will of the Dragon God.
At the center of the arena stood Han Yue. His golden bow was still raised, a faint glow lingering along its limbs as the last traces of spiritual energy settled slowly. Around him, two figures stood at a respectful distance, both A-Rank hunters, both breathing heavily, their expressions filled not with exhaustion alone but admiration. Reverence.
One of them stepped forward first, lowering his weapon as he exhaled.
"Senior Han... that final arrow..." His voice carried awe and disbelief in equal asure. "...it pierced straight through the Executioner’s core."
The second nodded imdiately, unable to hide his excitent. "As expected of you! Within all of Red Lotus City, who can compare?"
He then straightened slightly, his voice rising as if declaring sothing that could not be argued.
"Oh Han Yue, whose brilliance shines across Red Lotus City, your na alone commands respect! Your arrows are like divine judgnt, your presence like a blazing sun. This tower was never ant to stop you!"
Their voices overlapped, praise flowing freely and unrestrained, almost theatrical in delivery. But their expressions made it clear. They ant every word.
Han Yue lowered his bow slowly. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips. His chest rose slightly as he inhaled, the lingering tension of battle fading into sothing steadier.
"...It was nothing," he said.
"But a level 20 boss should at least require so effort."
He then glanced at the fading remains of the Executioner, eyes narrowing slightly.
"...If this is the standard of the lower floors, then the upper levels may prove more interesting."
One of his teammates stepped closer, voice lowering. "With your strength, Senior Han... even the higher floors will fall."
The other added quickly, "You’re already level 34. Among all eight cities, who could possibly match you?"
Han Yue said nothing for a mont. But his silence was agreent. Because in his mind, the outco was already clear.
Level 34.
That number alone placed him far beyond the reach of ordinary students. Even among S-Rank hunters, reaching such a level before entering a Regional Academy was rare.
His class, Godslaying Archer, granted him the ability to condense spiritual energy into Mythical-grade arrows. Each shot a guaranteed kill against anything within his level range.
Efficiency.
Precision.
Lethality.
While others struggled through floors, he advanced steadily, each second converting into progress with no wasted motion and no wasted effort.
His eyes lifted slightly. "...First place."
He spoke the words softly, but firmly. "As it should be."
His teammates exchanged glances, smiles forming instinctively. Because to them, there was no doubt. None at all.
"Let’s move," Han Yue said. The staircase to the next floor opened and floor twenty-two awaited.
.....
Far above, the monitoring hall remained active, voices rising and falling as different projections displayed the progress of countless teams. But one screen drew more attention than the rest.
"...Wait." A principal leaned forward suddenly, his eyes narrowing.
"That team..." Another followed his gaze.
"...Jianghe City." A third frowned.
"...J45."
A brief pause.
Then, "...They’re already on the twenty-ninth floor?"
Half a second of silence. Then the room erupted.
"That’s impossible!"
"They just cleared the twentieth floor not long ago!"
"How can they already be at twenty-nine?!"
Principal Zhou said nothing. His eyes remained fixed on the screen. Because he knew. It wasn’t impossible. Not for him.
....
Floor 30. The air itself felt different the mont their feet touched the ground. A wave of searing heat rolled across the battlefield, warping the space slightly as if the temperature alone was enough to bend reality.
Wang Hao wiped sweat from his forehead almost imdiately. "...Why is it suddenly this hot?! This is only floor 30... right?!"
Su Qinghan’s expression tightened, her frost energy surging outward instinctively and forming a thin protective layer around her body.
"...No," she said quietly. "...This isn’t normal."
Lin Yi’s gaze remained fixed ahead. Because at the center of the battlefield, sothing was forming.
Flas gathered and condensed, coiling inward as if drawn by an unseen force. Then they exploded outward. A massive figure erged, wings spreading wide as feathers of fire cascaded downward like molten embers.
Then, a piercing cry echoed through the entire floor.
The Phoenix had awakened.
[Blazing Sun Phoenix]
Threat Level: 30 (Boss)
Health: 5,200 / 5,200
Physical Attack: 280 – 350
Physical Defense: 260 – 320
Magic Attack: 420 – 510
Magic Resistance: 300 – 380
[A high-tier elental boss born from condensed fire essence within the Dragon God Tower. The Blazing Sun Phoenix possesses overwhelming magical output and extre regeneration capabilities. Its flas can incinerate both physical and spiritual defenses, and its wings generate continuous heat waves that distort the battlefield.]
"...We’re dead." Wang Hao’s voice ca out imdiately. "That thing is not ant for us."
Su Qinghan didn’t respond, but her grip tightened and her instincts scread.
Lin Yi stepped forward. The Celestial Lord Blade slid free and golden light erged.
Then he swung.
A massive arc of sword qi tore through the air, slicing forward with overwhelming force and cutting through the flas in a straight line toward the Phoenix.
The attack landed directly.
For a brief mont the flas parted. Then they closed. The Phoenix remained unhard.
Wang Hao blinked. "...It... ignored that?"
The Phoenix let out another cry, its wings beating once as flas surged violently across the arena.
Then it moved.
Fast, far faster than the Executioner, as a streak of fire descended from above.
Lin Yi raised his blade.
BOOM!
The impact forced him back half a step. The ground beneath him cracked, as his eyes sharpened slightly.
Stronger. Faster. And capable of neutralizing ranged attacks.
The Phoenix rose again, circling with flas trailing behind it like a cot. Another dive. Lin Yi stepped forward and t it mid-motion.
CLANG!
Fire and gold collided violently, sparks and embers scattering in every direction. For the first ti, his movent carried more force and more intent. The Phoenix scread, releasing a burst of fire at point-blank range. Lin Yi twisted and the flas grazed past him, scorching the ground behind.
Regeneration. Aerial control. His eyes locked onto the circling form above. Then I don’t give you ti to recover.
Phantom Void Step activated. His figure vanished. Then reappeared.
Above.
The blade descended.
SLASH!
The Phoenix shrieked as the strike connected, its body forced downward and crashing into the ground with a violent explosion of fire.
The arena shook, as the flas surged wildly. But this ti they didn’t close imdiately, as a faint glow appeared within its chest.
The core.
Lin Yi saw it. And moved. One step. One strike. The blade pierced forward.
BOOM!
The Phoenix erupted. Flas burst outward in all directions, a final explosion consuming everything within range. Wang Hao covered his face. Su Qinghan braced herself. Then silence. The flas faded, and the Phoenix was gone, only fragnts of light remaining.
Lin Yi stood at the center, as he lowered his blade. "...Floor 31."
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