Shadows of the Past
Now that I could fly even in my true form, I still opted for my human shape to travel. My massive size made it the practical choice.
Unlike before, when I'd ridden Giryu or Pelte, I was on my own this time, so my speed was noticeably slower.
What had taken just four days to the 99th floor at Giryu's pace dragged on for me—I hadn't even reached the 90th after four days.
I wasn't rushing, taking it leisurely, but even accounting for that, the difference was stark.
Still, I had no complaints. I was savoring the scenery I'd barely glanced at before.
As I drifted along, admiring the untouched vistas, no real trouble cropped up, which was a shame.
I'd figured someone might pick a fight, claiming this was Le Ganus territory since it used to be under his sway. But nothing.
Had word of me already spread far and wide?
It was disappointing, but now that I was SSS-rank, squabbling with monsters below even SS-rank felt beneath me.
I could crush an SS-rank effortlessly—what chance did anything lesser have?
I didn't want to bully the weak for no reason.
And so, with zero incidents, I meandered on like a tourist.
Even the best views get old eventually, right?
Finally, picking up speed midway, I reached the Sky Zone's final floor—the 99th—after about half a month.
The half-ruined Dragon King's Palace greeted me, a far cry from my last visit.
With no owner like Leysia and no caretaker monsters left, it reeked of desolation and menace.
Le Ganus had massacred the guardians here while coveting the Dragon King's remains, hadn't he?
Left like this, undead monsters might spawn.
Eh, Leysia will handle it. Or rather, Giryu or Melusio will.
Leysia had no intention of returning, freed from her duty to guard the remains.
I ignored the eerie palace and pressed on.
What mattered now wasn't the ruins—it was the warp gate to the next floor.
No one had ever found a warp gate to the 100th floor.
It had eluded everyone for ages, even before the Dragon King's time.
Not Giryu, not Melusio, not any knowledgeable monster.
Was the 99th really the end?
That thought lingered until Leysia mentioned something.
Falling endlessly into the endless sky below after losing to Le Ganus, she'd glimpsed it—a faintly shimmering warp gate.
Beneath the floating islands stretched an endless void: bottomless sky and razor winds that shredded anything plummeting into it.
Even an SSS-rank like the Dragon King would be torn apart down there, or so the stories went.
I landed quietly at the edge of a floating island and peeked over.
Whiiing—
The mere sight sent chills racing—the gale howled viciously.
For a split second, I wondered if Leysia had lied.
Not that she'd have reason to.
...I get why no one's found it.
If the warp gate was down there, of course it stayed hidden.
Who in their right mind would venture into that hell?
And now, that madman had to be me. It stung.
Winds even the Dragon King would dread.
I didn't know his exact durability, but it surely rivaled mine.
Still, with regeneration, I can endure.
Finding the gate in that vast expanse was the real issue.
Leysia's dire situation meant she couldn't pinpoint it—frustrating.
I sighed, accepting the inevitable.
Fine. Let's jump.
No hesitation—I leaped off the island.
Fierce winds enveloped me.
Whiiing—
The instant I fell, I released Inhwa's Art, reverting to my true form.
Not even at the core yet, and my scales already prickled painfully.
If the entrance was this bad, what about deeper?
Tense, I floated cautiously downward.
Then, crossing some boundary, the gale assaulted me fully.
Whooooom—
True "blade" winds.
My high durability and tough scales meant nothing against the onslaught.
Blood sprayed everywhere as regeneration kicked in.
Super Regeneration SSS has activated.
Good—regeneration would keep me alive, as expected.
But the excruciating pain searing through my scales made me want out fast.
Find that gate quick...
Unyielding SS has activated.
The shredding winds kept my eyes nearly shut.
My tongue flicked out instinctively—and shredded.
In this brutal storm, only mana sensing was reliable.
Even that struggled against the dense mana-laced gales.
This could take forever.
Time blurred.
I didn't know how long, but the constant shredding pain dulled to familiarity.
Didn't want to get used to this, though...
I tsked—then silenced as my tongue fragmented again.
Why no gate, even without proper sensing?
Did Leysia lie?
Doubt crept in—then I felt it: the warp gate.
A faint, odd mana flow amid the dense winds—familiar, warp gate mana.
No time to think—I surged toward it.
Desperate to escape this nightmare.
Familiar faint mana wrapped me; vision shifted.
I'd entered the unknown 100th floor, unseen by any.
The razor winds vanished instantly.
The body-shredding pain faded.
Sensing the changed atmosphere, I flicked my tongue cautiously.
Nothing.
Curious, I cracked my eyes—pure blackness.
No ceiling, floor, walls.
Up, down, left, right—nothing but void.
This is the 100th floor...?
Silent void, thick with stillness.
I decided caution over rash action.
Tongue flicked again—still nothing.
Mana sensing: zilch.
No life, no features—just pure nothingness.
What the hell is this place?
Special, being the 100th?
I frowned.
No intel, but I couldn't idle—started moving carefully.
All black, so I picked a direction and glided steadily.
Tongue flicks and sensing: still nothing.
Time passed.
Fast, straight-line travel—nothing.
Blackness everywhere.
Perfect place to drive someone mad.
Direction sense warping already—no gravity to orient me.
I'd seen wild stuff, thought little surprised me—this topped it.
No foes or issues, yet mentally drained.
Try Breath or Meteor?
Force something out.
That thought rose as my tongue finally caught something.
Whipping my gaze—beyond the dark, something slithered.
...A snake?
Long, thin, silent movement.
But focusing—no, not a snake like me.
No scales; more plant stem than flesh.
Slither...
Not one—many tangled stems, all silently writhing.
What the...? Monster?
No presence, like a mirage despite visibility.
Right there, yet not.
This place is a freakshow.
Dark void, bizarre "life"—too weird.
End of the labyrinth or not, staying risked sanity.
...Gotta check what that is.
Wanted out, but curiosity about the end won.
Info gathering—approach it.
As I edged closer, something caught my eye amid the stems: a bulging flower bud.
Huge—how'd I miss it? Crimson, stark against black.
Rose-like bud—I stared, entranced—as its petals bloomed wide.
Inside: a massive eyeball.
Our gazes locked—vision exploded white.
I opened my eyes slowly.
No more void—a spacious tent, me sitting alone in the center.
Where...?
Scanning, unease hit.
Glancing down—human form, not true self.
Had I unconsciously used Inhwa's Art?
More importantly, where am I?
Last memory: locking eyes with that eye in the bud.
Teleportation ability?
Rubbing my furrowed brow, I sensed presences.
Glancing—the tent flap rustled.
Someone entering.
Hunter gear inside—likely a hunter coming in.
Time for Magic Eye intel.
Decision made, I faced the entrant—plan halted.
Not who I expected.
"Jun-young? Why are you just standing there blankly?"
The kind voice belonged to the dead.
Killed by my own hand.
"...Lee Ha-na?"
Her concerned gaze—Lee Ha-na—left me speechless.