Darkness swallowed him the moment the massive door closed behind him.
There was no sound—no wind, no echo, no sense of direction. He stood alone in the emptiness, unable to tell whether he was moving or standing still.
The silence pressed down on him, heavy and alive.
Far away, a faint light appeared.
He turned toward it and began to walk. With each step, the light grew brighter and clearer, until—
A sudden flash filled his vision.
He closed his eyes as pressure spread behind them. A strong wind brushed across his face, cool and fresh. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
The cave was gone.
Before him stretched an endless green field. Soft grass moved with the wind like waves. Above, the sky was wide and clear, painted in deep blue. The air felt old and pure.
Then he felt it.
He was not alone.
At the center of the field stood a figure.
Its body was covered in shadow, its shape unclear, as if light refused to touch it. In its hand was a sword made of darkness.
So… I have to fight it.
Before he could react, the shadow vanished.
In the next moment, it appeared directly in front of him.
The shadow attacked.
He raised his sword. The clash sent a strong shock through his arms, knocking his blade aside. He twisted his body to avoid the next strike—but just as he prepared to strike back, the shadow stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
So it won't kill me… only defeat me.
Then he noticed it. A crown rested on the shadow's head.
He understood at once.
That's it. I need to defeat this thing… and take the crown.
Without delay, he rushed forward.
Again and again, steel met darkness. He was struck down, slammed into the ground countless times. Each time he stood, his movements grew faster, his reactions sharper.
He lost again and again.
But his mana never ran out.
The system's gift of endless mana allowed him to rise every time. Each defeat forced his body to change, pushing it to handle the huge power flowing through him.
The system appeared.
[This is your 60th defeat.]
He ignored the system completely.
"Just numbers," he said coldly. "Only
defeating him matters."
Mana rushed through his body. Muscles burned, bones ached—then adjusted.
Finally—
He saw it.
A single opening.
He stepped forward and drove his sword straight through the shadow's chest.
The shadow froze.
Cracks spread across its body. In the next moment, it shattered, breaking into countless shining pieces that scattered and faded away.
The crown fell to the ground.
Breathing evenly, he stepped forward and picked it up.
The world changed.
In an instant, he was back inside the cave. This time, it was no longer dark. Light filled the space, showing its true form.
At the center stood a huge statue—the First King.
In front of it stood an ancient altar, worn by time, with words carved into the stone:
Place the crown here to open the door.
Six stone chairs stood around the altar—five placed in a curve, and one large chair at the center. Unlike the others, the center chair was grand and imposing.
A throne.
He looked around.
The trial was hard… but is this really the end?
His eyes returned to the throne.
Slowly, he walked forward.
When his hand touched the stone, warmth spread through his palm. Without hesitation, he placed the crown on his head and sat down.
He sat on the throne.
For a brief moment, the world felt small beneath him.
It wasn't power flowing through his body—but the feeling of rule.
Authority. Pride. Desire.
A sharp smile appeared on his lips.
The world shattered.
He was pulled into another space.
This place felt different from everything before.
A vast hall stretched endlessly in all directions. Massive pillars faded into the distance, while the ceiling disappeared into darkness.
Then a voice spoke.
"So… someone finally came."
The voice echoed through the hall.
He turned.
An old man stood behind him, giving off a heavy presence. His hair and beard were white, yet his body was strong. His eyes carried many years.
Leo met his gaze calmly.
"Are you the First King?" he asked.
"Yes," the man replied. "I am Zerach—the First King."
"But you're dead," Leo said evenly. "Is this your spirit?"
"You could say that," Zerach answered. "When I died, I left a part of my soul here. What you stand in now is my domain."
"Has anyone else reached this place?" Leo asked.
"You are the first," Zerach said. "Since the day I built it."
"Then why me?"
Zerach gestured lightly. "You saw the statue."
"Yes."
"I made that statue," Zerach said. "It watches everyone who enters this place. All of them face the trial."
He turned slightly. "Most defeat the shadow, place the crown on the altar, and leave. But sometimes, someone does something… different. Or someone like me."
Zerach's eyes sharpened as he looked at Leo.
"Only then does the statue allow them to reach me."
He paused. "So tell me—what did you do differently?"
Leo met his gaze without hesitation.
"I didn't place the crown on the altar," he said calmly. "I put it on my head… and sat on your throne."
For a moment, Zerach was silent.
Then he smiled.
"And why," the First King asked, "did you do that?"
"A throne exists to be used," Leo replied. "So I took it."
Zerach laughed.
"Interesting," he said. "After a thousand years, I finally meet someone interesting."
"So you've been here for a thousand years?" Leo asked.
"No," Zerach replied. "Only a part of my soul remains, waiting for my bloodline to inherit what I achieved."
"So this isn't your full power?"
"It is," Zerach said calmly. "This is the power I had when I died. It's my domain, so I have my full power here."
Leo asked, "What do you mean by domain?"
Zerach's eyes narrowed slightly. "A domain is a place that answers to me alone. Here, I am absolute. Time flows normally… unless I choose to change it. Everything in this space follows my rules. Within it, I can act as I could not elsewhere."
He looked at Leo. "So tell me. What do you want? What is it that you wish me to teach you?"
Leo's voice was low and sharp. "You don't need to teach me anything. Fight me. Fight me—and don't stop until I tell you to."
Zerach raised an eyebrow. "Why fight? I could teach you."
"You are the only man who reached transcendent," Leo said. "To surpass you, I must defeat you."
Zerach studied him in silence, then smiled.
"Why do you want such power?" he asked.
"Nothing personal," Leo replied coldly. "Strength is only a tool. The world kneeling is the result.
Zerach's smile widened. Then he threw back his head and laughed, deep and echoing through the hall.
"You… are unlike anyone I've met," he said.
"Let's see if you can match words with action."
The hall trembled suddenly, stones grinding beneath their feet. Shadows twisted.
And then—Zerach vanished.
Where the old man had stood, a younger version of the king appeared, radiating strength and authority.
Leo's eyes glinted with thrill as he gripped his sword tighter.
"Finally… a real fight," he muttered, lips curving into a sharp smile.