Silence reigned over what remained of the battlefield.
The volcanic world that had once trembled beneath our clash had finally gone still.
Ash drifted slowly through the air.
Smoke curled upward from broken mountains and shattered magma seas.
The wind moved quietly across the ruined land, carrying heat, dust, and the fading remnants of battle.
And in the middle of that devastation—
I stood silently.
My breathing was slow.
Heavy.
Steady.
My eyes remained fixed on the cracked reddish sky above while my thoughts spiraled endlessly.
VARKHUL's words echoed through my mind again and again.
> "The Tower is not your friend."
> "You are merely a piece in a greater game."
> "One does not need to stand alone to be alone."
My fists tightened slightly.
Not from fear.
Not from anger.
But realization.
For the first time since awakening—
I truly understood how vast everything was.
The Tower.
The Administrators.
The Pure Ones.
The hidden war unfolding beyond my sight.
Compared to them…
I was still small.
Not weak.
Not insignificant.
But small.
Then—
A red screen flickered before me.
---
> [ CALCULATING REWARDS... ]
> [ FLOOR COMPLETED ]
> [ Opponent Defeated: Administrator Fragment — VARKHUL ]
---
> REWARDS ACQUIRED
• 10 Demon God Cores
• 1,000 Demi-God Cores
• 10,000,000 Trial Points
---
> BONUS REWARDS — +10% Increase
• 1 Pure God Core
• 100 Pure Demi-God Cores
• 1,000,000 Trial Points
---
> SPECIAL REWARD
Partial Administrative Authority obtained.
Authority acquired from defeating one of the strongest Administrators.
---
> Current Balance: 17,000,000 Trial Points
---
I stared at the screen silently.
Yet my mind barely registered the rewards.
The Tower itself had just confirmed everything VARKHUL said.
Administrators.
Authority.
Control.
The game was real.
Before I could think further—
BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!
A pillar of blue light engulfed my body.
Space distorted.
The volcanic battlefield vanished.
And moments later—
I returned to the endless blue world of the System Space.
Silence greeted me once more.
The endless blue stretched infinitely in every direction.
No sky.
No ground.
No laws.
Only calm stillness.
Far in the distance stood the towers.
The black Tower of Trial.
The Ascension Tower.
Watching.
Waiting.
Judging.
I remained still for several seconds.
Then finally—
"System."
My voice was calm.
Cold.
The small white tiger slowly appeared before me.
Unlike usual—
it did not smile.
Its endless blue eyes watched me quietly, already understanding what I wanted to ask.
I looked directly into its eyes.
"Was what VARKHUL said true?"
Silence lingered briefly.
Then the tiger nodded.
"Yes."
The answer came without hesitation.
Without excuses.
Just truth.
The endless blue world suddenly felt colder.
My expression remained calm.
But inside—
my thoughts churned violently.
The tiger spoke softly.
> "The System exists to help the Host grow stronger."
> "To repair the errors within the Laws."
> "If given enough time... the Host would eventually surpass every limitation."
Its voice became quieter.
> "But time is something we no longer possess."
I listened silently.
> "The Tower does not belong to the System."
> "Nor does it control this space."
The tiger's eyes narrowed slightly.
> "This place exists independently from the Tower."
> "The Administrators cannot observe this world."
> "Nor are they aware of the Tower's true Intentions."
My eyes flickered slightly.
That explained why VARKHUL spoke so freely.
Even he did not know everything.
The tiger continued.
> "The Tower exists independently."
> "Watching."
> "Evaluating."
> "Waiting."
> "It nurtures the Pure Ones."
> "But it also eliminates them."
> "Growth through survival."
> "Evolution through pressure."
My eyes darkened slightly.
"So I'm entertainment."
The tiger shook its head slowly.
> "Not merely entertainment."
> "Possibility."
> "Potential."
> "A variable."
Its voice became colder.
> "The Tower has not chosen a side yet."
That sentence alone made my heart sink slightly.
Not chosen a side.
Meaning one day—
it would.
The tiger continued.
> "Many Administrators already favor different outcomes."
> "Some wish for the rise of the Pure Ones."
> "Some fear it."
> "Some seek profit."
> "And others…"
Its eyes dimmed slightly.
> "Want you dead."
Silence filled the blue world once more.
Yet strangely—
I felt calmer now.
Not because the truth was comforting.
But because confusion was finally disappearing.
The tiger spoke again.
> "The Breach is coming."
> "When it arrives… strength will determine everything."
> "The Host requires power."
> "As much as possible."
> "As quickly as possible."
Its voice softened slightly afterward.
> "The choice remains yours."
I closed my eyes slowly.
Thinking.
Reflecting.
Digesting everything.
The Tower.
The Administrators.
Nyxarion.
VARKHUL.
The Breach.
The Pure Ones.
The hidden war.
Then—
I opened my eyes again.
Clear.
Focused.
Resolved.
"I only have one life."
My voice was steady.
"And I refuse to let anyone decide how I live it."
Blue lightning flickered faintly around my body.
"I'll grow stronger."
"Not for the Tower."
"Not for the Administrators."
"Not for destiny."
The lightning intensified slightly.
"But because I choose to."
The tiger stared at me silently for several seconds.
Then slowly smiled.
A genuine smile.
And vanished.
The System Space became silent once more.
I turned away from the towers.
Walking slowly across the endless blue ground.
Step by step.
My thoughts calm.
My heart steady.
The weight of the truth still remained—
but it no longer crushed me.
When I was far enough from the towers that their pressure became faint—
I finally sat down cross-legged.
Closed my eyes.
And began meditating.
Not to gain strength.
Not to break through.
But to think.
To understand.
To prepare.
---
********
Administrative Realm
CRACKKKKK!!!!!
Space split apart violently.
Chains burning with Abyssal Flames dragged a fragment of crimson energy through the void.
Then—
BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!
The soul fragment slammed back into its original body.
VARKHUL stood silently.
His massive frame towered over the dark hall like an immovable mountain.
His crimson eyes glowed faintly as he stared at the enormous red screen floating before him.
The replay of the battle continued endlessly.
Every exchange.
Every collision.
Every decision.
Behind him rested an enormous throne forged from black-red metal and giant demonic bear skulls.
Ancient.
Savage.
Imperial.
The throne of the Empire of the Crimson Fang.
Around the hall—
other figures sat silently.
Administrators.
Monsters powerful enough to shake worlds.
Every single one of them had witnessed the battle.
And every single one of them wore expressions of disbelief.
Nyxarion sat nearby.
One leg crossed over the other.
Red eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Silence lingered.
Then—
VARKHUL suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahahahahahahaha!!!"
The hall trembled from the sheer force of his voice.
Not anger.
Not humiliation.
Excitement.
Pure excitement.
"I lost."
He grinned widely.
"And it was glorious."
Several Administrators frowned.
One finally spoke.
> "You actually lost to a child?"
Another narrowed their eyes.
> "Your authority was restricted to his level."
> "Yet you still lost."
VARKHUL's grin only widened.
"You fools."
His crimson eyes flashed dangerously.
"That monster adapts faster than anything I've ever seen."
"He evolves during battle."
"And…"
His smile deepened.
"He comprehended Authority."
Silence instantly filled the hall.
The expressions of the Administrators changed immediately.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Fear.
Even Nyxarion's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then—
A massive red screen appeared before every Administrator.
---
> [ ADMINISTRATOR PENALTY ISSUED ]
Administrator: VARKHUL
• Administrative Authority reduced by 50%
• 10 Billion Administrative Points deducted
• Lower Floor Access temporarily restricted
---
Several Administrators inhaled sharply.
That punishment was enormous.
Yet—
VARKHUL merely waved the screen away dismissively.
"Worth it."
His smile never disappeared.
"Completely worth it."
He turned toward Nyxarion.
For several seconds—
the two simply stared at each other.
Then VARKHUL spoke quietly.
"You were right."
Nyxarion smiled faintly.
"I know."
VARKHUL laughed again.
Then suddenly turned away.
His massive body began walking toward empty space itself.
Each step distorted reality.
Before vanishing—
he spoke one final sentence.
"Looks like this era is finally becoming interesting again."
SWISSHHH!!!!
His body disappeared.
One by one—
the other Administrators left as well.
Some thoughtful.
Some wary.
Some cold.
Soon—
only Nyxarion remained.
The replay screen still showed my figure standing on the battle field, silently inside the Tower.
Nyxarion watched quietly for a long time.
Then—
a faint smile appeared on his face.
Not cruel.
Not mocking.
But hopeful.
"So this is the answer…"
His red eyes glowed softly.
"The one capable of changing everything."
SWISSHHH!!!!
He vanished as well.
Leaving the dark Administrative Realm empty.
Silent.
Watching.
Waiting.