The white doorway swallowed him.
For a brief moment—there was nothing.
No pressure.
No enemies.
No weight.
Then—
A soft green light formed beside him.
A portal.
Calm. Stable. Almost… inviting.
Drax glanced at it once.
"…Resting zone."
He stepped in.
The world shifted.
And this time—
It didn't feel hostile.
A wide chamber stretched out before him, built like a circular arena but without any signs of battle. Smooth walls, quiet lighting, and rows of benches placed along the edges.
But what filled the space—
Was not calm.
It was presence.
Drax stepped out of the portal, hands in his pockets.
And instantly—
Every head turned.
Dozens of individuals.
Some sitting.
Some leaning against walls.
Some crouched low, silent, eyes half-lidded like predators conserving energy.
All of them—
Unmeasurable.
The air was heavy with layered pressure. Not wild. Not chaotic. But controlled.
Dangerous.
Drax didn't stop walking.
He didn't react.
Didn't care.
His appearance had changed subtly—his once blue hair now completely black, short and clean. His eyes darker, deeper. His outfit simple but precise—black undershirt, fitted pants, and a jacket that sat perfectly on his frame.
He walked like he belonged.
Not here.
Anywhere.
Across the room—
A man sat quietly near a pillar.
Sharp gaze. Composed posture.
He watched Drax the moment he entered.
Lex.
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
But his thoughts were clear.
Drax Magna…
A faint smile formed.
You've gotten stronger.
His eyes gleamed slightly.
Our encounter will be spectacular.
Drax passed him without even a glance.
Not because he couldn't sense him—
But because he chose not to acknowledge it.
Instead, he walked toward an empty bench in the far corner.
No one else had taken it.
For a reason.
He sat down.
Relaxed.
Silent.
As if the pressure in the room didn't exist.
A few individuals shifted slightly.
Not intimidated—
But aware.
Then—
Footsteps approached.
Light. Confident.
A woman stopped in front of him.
Tall.
Blue hair flowing down her back.
Sharp features, balanced with a calm elegance. Her outfit matched her presence—clean, fitted, deliberate.
She smiled slightly.
"Hey."
Drax looked up.
Quiet.
"A rumor is going around," she continued, crossing her arms lightly, "that Floor Six is going to be a group scenario. Something like a shared conquest."
Drax held her gaze for a second.
Then spoke.
"I wouldn't believe anything until I see it myself."
A pause.
"The tower just appeared."
His tone was flat.
"How would anyone know that already?"
She smiled a bit wider.
"Two possibilities."
She raised a finger.
"One—it's a lie."
Another finger.
"Two—it's true."
Drax didn't react.
She leaned slightly forward.
"Divination exists."
Drax nodded faintly.
"…Could be."
She extended her hand casually.
"I'm Alexis."
Drax glanced at it.
Then back at her.
"Drax."
She didn't mind the lack of enthusiasm.
"Mind if I sit?"
"Sure."
She sat beside him without hesitation.
A moment passed.
Then she tilted her head slightly.
"You don't talk much, do you?"
Drax didn't respond.
Inside his head—
Dealing with a woman is exhausting…
He leaned back slightly.
Reminds me of Tess.
Then—
"Drax!"
A voice cut through the room.
Fast.
Loud.
Familiar.
Drax looked up—
And saw someone running toward him.
He stood immediately.
"…Isis?"
Isis skidded to a stop in front of him, breathing lightly but smiling.
"Yeah, it's me."
Drax frowned slightly.
"Why are you here?"
Isis scratched the back of his head.
"The tower started selecting people."
He shrugged.
"Those with Stage Two inner worlds and above… something about 'worthiness.'"
Drax exhaled slowly.
"…The more I learn about this tower…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…the more I dislike it."
Then he looked at Isis again.
"So how'd you make it this far?"
Isis smirked.
"My other personality."
His expression shifted subtly.
Sharper.
More confident.
"We switch when needed."
Drax's eyes lit slightly.
"…So you learned to control it."
Isis's demeanor changed instantly.
More composed.
More dangerous.
"Long time no see, old friend."
Drax smiled.
For real this time.
He stepped forward and dapped him up.
"Yeah. You look better."
Alexis watched the interaction closely.
Then spoke.
"You have a rare inner world."
Isis looked at her.
Grinned.
"Thanks."
Before anything else could be said—
The air changed.
Everyone felt it.
The room went silent.
Then—
The voice returned.
"Candidates."
Every individual looked up.
"Floor Six will begin shortly."
A pause.
"Scenario: Team Death Match."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
"All candidates will face a continuous wave of monsters."
The room grew colder.
"The environment will be an open field."
"There will be no designated retreat zones."
A longer pause.
Then—
"If you die…"
Silence.
"…you will die permanently."
The room froze.
For the first time—
Even these individuals reacted.
Some stood up immediately.
Others frowned.
A few remained calm—
But their eyes changed.
Because this was different.
This wasn't the tower's usual testing tone.
This—
Was real.
One man muttered under his breath.
"…So this is where it starts."
Another laughed softly.
"…Finally."
But others—
Were shaken.
Even unmeasurable beings.
Because now—
There was no reset.
No second chance.
Death here—
Was death outside.
Drax stood still.
Unbothered.
Unmoved.
But his eyes sharpened slightly.
Around the room—
Something else began to form.
Not fear.
Not unity.
Intent.
Some people glanced at others.
Measuring.
Calculating.
Planning.
Because if death was real—
Then survival meant advantage.
And advantage…
Could come from anywhere.
Even—
Each other.
Drax exhaled slowly.
"…So that's the game."
He looked ahead.
Then smiled faintly.
"Good."
Beside him—
Isis grinned.
Alexis leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming.
And across the room—
Lex watched everything.
Quietly.
Patiently.
Like he had been waiting for this moment all along.