Volume 3: The Tower of Blood
Chapter 6: Shadows of Power
Inside the Draconic Shadow Guild's private training hall, reinforced with advanced mana-resistant walls, the newly formed trio stood before Lee Hwan. The air was tense with pressure—not from fear, but from anticipation.
Lee Hwan's dragon aura pulsed faintly around him as he looked at each member with sharp, focused eyes.
"You three passed my test," he said calmly. "But surviving the dragon's presence doesn't mean you're ready for the Tower's deeper floors."
He stepped forward and brought out three glowing artifacts from his inventory—items that radiated with overwhelming power.
"These are Unique Rank items," he said. "Each one is worth millions, some even billions. I found them in a hidden cave deep within the 6th Floor. You won't find these in the shops or from regular bosses."
He handed them out one by one.
1. To the assassin:
Shadow Cloak of the Void
Increases speed by 15% Grants invisibility for 3 seconds when dashing Can reflect one fatal hit per day
2. To the dual swordsman:
Drakefang Blades
Twin swords forged from dragon bone +20% damage to magical creatures Boosts agility and attack speed during night
3. To the tank swordsman:
Monarch's Scale Shield
Can block up to 5 direct magical attacks per day Grants +25% physical defense Emits dragon aura to intimidate enemies
The trio stared in awe, barely able to grasp the power now in their hands. One of them whispered, "This… this is beyond high-rank gear…"
Lee Hwan smirked slightly. "Good. You're starting to understand what it means to walk my path."
He then activated his Flame Burst, now burning in an intense blue flame, and struck the training ground—exploding the entire right wall with ease.
"This is just a fraction of the power you'll face in the Tower," he said, as the ground trembled. "Train with everything you've got. In two weeks… we ascend."
The members nodded, determination burning in their eyes. The training began—fierce, grueling, and non-stop. Lee personally instructed them, adjusting their forms, pushing their limits, and even simulating real tower threats using illusion-based artifacts.
By the end of the first day, all three had collapsed from exhaustion—yet each of them had already grown stronger.
To Be Continued...