Volume 2: Rise of the Vessel
Chapter 18: Refusal of Darkness
The rooftop wind howled softly as Lee Hwan stared at the golden scroll still hovering in front of him. The words glowed ominously:
[Secret Side Quest Available – Enter the Forgotten Floor]
[Condition: Defeat 100 Players on 6th Floor within 10 Days]
[Reward: ??? + Access to the Forgotten Floor (??? Difficulty)]
But something wasn't right.
Lee's golden eyes, activated by Eye of the Dragon, caught a strange aura trailing behind the scroll — faint, nearly invisible to normal players. A deep purple-black energy was clinging to it like a curse. The same type of energy that leaked from the cloaked man when he first appeared.
Lee narrowed his eyes. "Dark energy... and it's not just corrupted. That was monarch-level darkness."
He stepped back and extended his palm toward the scroll. "System," he spoke coldly, "Cancel this quest."
Ding!
[Secret Side Quest Declined.]
[The scroll has been destroyed.]
[Warning: The Unknown Presence has been alerted.]
Suddenly, the rooftop trembled slightly, and the last remnants of the scroll turned to ash, carried away by the wind.
Lee clenched his fist. "So that guy wasn't trying to help. He was trying to bait me into something darker… something even the system doesn't fully control."
He turned and leaped down from the rooftop, landing effortlessly in the bustling street below. Players were training, trading, laughing — unaware of what had just transpired above them.
Lee Hwan sighed and muttered, "This Tower… it's not just a trial. It's a battlefield for something far bigger than we can see."
He opened his system window again:
Remaining Enemies to Defeat: 41/100
Time Left: 9 Days
Level: 67
Strength: 202
Speed: 181
Flame Burst: Lv. 5 (Close to Level 6)
He tightened the straps on his gauntlets and looked toward the arena plaza where strong players gathered.
"No more distractions," he said, stepping forward. "I'll clear this floor and move forward on my terms."
Just as he moved, his second dragon appeared beside him in spectral form for a moment, sensing the dark energy that had vanished.
"You felt it too, huh?" Lee muttered.
The dragon gave a low growl, almost like a warning.
"I know… next time, I'll be ready."
He vanished into the crowd, ready to resume the trial, this time with sharper instincts and an even stronger resolve.