Chapter 19: The Colosseum Trial – Orc of Despair
Lee Hwan exited the Council chambers, his thoughts heavy. The truth about the 13th floor, the warning from Elira, and the weight of being the Dragon Monarch's vessel—everything was pressing down on him like a storm.
But before he could even think of the 13th floor, the 8th floor still needed to be conquered.
[System Notification – 8th Floor Trial: Coliseum Challenge]
Defeat the Giant Orc under 5 minutes.
Limit: Only 2 skills allowed.
Skill Selection: Shadow Step & Flame Burst.
Lee reviewed the details. "Only two skills, huh… this won't be easy."
He stepped into the massive colosseum, the arena roaring to life as thousands of ghostly spectators—phantoms from past challengers—filled the stands.
Across the sandy field, the ground trembled.
A 12-foot-tall Giant Orc, clad in spiked black armor and wielding a hammer the size of a truck, stomped into the battlefield. Its name appeared above its head:
[Orc Warlord: Grogar the Butcher – Level 198]
Lee Hwan cracked his knuckles, eyes glowing faintly with flame.
"I've already defeated things far above my level… Let's dance."
The timer began—4:59… 4:58…
The Orc charged, the arena quaking under its weight. Lee vanished in a blink—Shadow Step. He reappeared behind the beast and unleashed his first Flame Burst, a blue fire explosion erupting against the orc's back, searing through its armor.
The Orc roared in pain, swinging wildly. Lee ducked under the hammer and used Shadow Step again to scale the orc's shoulder. Another Flame Burst, this time directly into the creature's ear.
The beast slammed into a wall, furious and bleeding, but still standing.
3:12 remaining.
Lee's stamina dropped rapidly—Flame Burst consumed a large chunk of his mana.
He panted. "Can't waste movement."
The Orc went berserk, entering Blood Rage Mode, doubling its speed.
Lee grinned. "Perfect."
He let the Orc charge—then vanished again.
Appearing above, he focused both palms together.
"Double Flame Burst – Dragon Echo!"
Two blasts of compressed blue fire shot straight into the orc's skull—blasting it backward with a shockwave that cracked the colosseum walls.
Silence. The dust settled.
[Orc Warlord Defeated – Time Left: 1:47]
The crowd of phantoms erupted into howls and cheers as the gates of the arena opened.
[Trial Complete – 8th Floor Cleared]
Rewards: +12 Attribute Points, +2 Skill Upgrade Stones, Entry to 9th Floor Unlocked.
Lee smirked, exhausted but victorious. "One floor closer… to the top