The golden light of the third floor slowly faded.
Rudra's small body stood in the silent chamber of the Sovereign Tower, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
His palms still tingled from the force of the final strike.
The knowledge of the Swift Step movement technique flowed through his mind like a stream of light.
Every step.
Every pivot.
Every breath.
It was all becoming clearer.
Ahead of him, the stone wall trembled.
Ancient runes ignited one by one.
The staircase to the next level revealed itself.
A fourth gate stood above, glowing with deep crimson lines that pulsed like veins of fire.
Guardian One stepped forward, its golden armour reflecting the red glow.
"Fourth Floor Trial: Elemental Endurance."
Rudra looked up at the gate.
A wave of heat rolled down from above.
His brows furrowed.
This floor felt different.
More dangerous.
Guardian One's voice echoed in the void.
"The fourth floor will test pain tolerance, focus, and spirit."
The doors slowly opened.
A burst of scorching air slammed into Rudra.
He instinctively raised an arm to shield his face.
Then he stepped inside.
6
The chamber was vast and circular.
Its walls were made of black volcanic stone.
Streams of lava flowed through carved channels in the floor.
At the centre stood a ring of stone pillars, each crowned with a floating flame crystal.
Ten crystals.
Each one burnt with scarlet fire.
Rudra could already feel the heat pressing against his skin.
Guardian One's voice resounded behind him.
"Trial condition: extinguish all ten flame crystals."
Rudra blinked.
Extinguish fire?
With what?
As if answering his thoughts, the floor beneath him lit up with ancient runes.
The Swift Step technique in his mind pulsed.
This trial was not about attacking.
It was about movement.
Control.
Speed.
The first crystal suddenly released a stream of flame.
A pillar of fire shot straight toward him.
Rudra reacted instantly.
Using the newly learned technique, he pushed off the ground.
His body blurred sideways.
The flames barely missed him.
His eyes widened.
It worked.
The second crystal flared.
Two streams of fire crossed toward him.
Rudra inhaled sharply.
Then moved.
Left step.
Pivot.
Forward burst.
The Swift Step carried him through the narrow gap.
He reached the first pillar and struck the flame crystal with the wooden spear.
The crystal flickered.
Then shattered.
First crystal extinguished.
The chamber shook.
The remaining nine crystals glowed brighter.
Guardian One's voice remained calm.
"Difficulty increased."
Rudra gritted his teeth.
Of course it did.
Three pillars of fire surged from different directions.
He moved quickly.
The footwork from the third-floor trial guided him.
Step.
Slide.
Turn.
Jump.
His movements were still clumsy, but far smoother than before.
Second crystal.
Third.
Fourth.
Sweat rolled down his face.
The heat was becoming unbearable.
His skin stung.
His breathing grew ragged.
By the fifth crystal, the flames had begun forming spirals that chased him across the chamber.
Rudra nearly stumbled.
A streak of fire grazed his shoulder.
Pain shot through him.
He bit his lip but kept moving.
He remembered Vajra Sen's lesson.
Strength is forged in pain.
Then—
A familiar warmth flowed from the pendant.
The body-tempering art circulated on its own.
The heat became slightly easier to bear.
Rudra's eyes brightened.
The previous rewards were helping him.
The tower trials were connected.
He moved faster.
Sixth crystal.
Seventh.
Eighth.
Only two remained.
The chamber suddenly darkened.
The final two flame crystals merged their power.
A massive fire serpent rose from the lava channel.
Its body was made entirely of blazing spiritual flames.
Its eyes burned like molten gold.
Rudra froze.
This was no simple obstacle.
The serpent lunged.
He activated Swift Step.
His body flashed to the side.
The flames scorched the ground where he had stood.
He landed on a pillar.
The serpent coiled around it.
Its jaws opened wide.
Rudra inhaled deeply.
Then—
He thrust the spear into the ninth crystal.
CRACK!
It shattered.
The serpent roared.
Its flames weakened slightly.
The final crystal floated above the serpent's head.
Too high.
Too dangerous.
Rudra narrowed his eyes.
Then ran.
He sprinted across the stone pillars.
One.
Two.
Three.
The fire serpent chased beneath him.
At the last moment, Rudra leapt into the air.
His body rose above the serpent.
He raised the spear with both hands.
And drove it down.
CRACK!
The tenth crystal shattered.
The serpent exploded into sparks of crimson light.
The chamber fell silent.
Guardian One's voice thundered.
"Fourth Floor Trial Cleared."
"Reward Granted: Crimson Flame Body Refinement."
Golden-red light flowed into Rudra's body.
Warmth spread through his meridians.
His body became tougher.
His resistance to heat and pain increased.
The fourth floor had given him another inheritance.
Far above, the fifth floor lit up faintly.
And far, far higher—
The sealed tenth floor pulsed once.
The sleeping guardian within had felt its future master drawing closer.