[Academy Gates – Midnight]
Thunder cracked.
A figure cloaked in bone and shadows stepped through the rain.
No aura. No heartbeat. Just silence.
Students peered from windows, frightened. Professors prepared spells. But the figure did nothing… except place a scroll at the gate before vanishing into the night.
Lohan picked it up moments later.
The wax seal was not from the academy or the council.
It bore the mark of Divine Challenge.
He unrolled it.
> To the one who walks in fire,
Ascend now. Floor 10 awaits. The Hollow Champion has been summoned.
Face it—or lose everything beneath the tower's gaze.
---
[Lohan's Room – Later]
Winter paced.
"You're not ready. You haven't even cleared Floor 6 in public."
Lohan stayed calm. "They're calling me out. If I don't go, they'll target Kael."
Winter clenched her fists. "Then let me go with you."
Lohan turned to her slowly, eyes soft.
"No. This is between me and the gods. Justine sent the challenge."
---
[Tower – Hidden Entrance]
Lohan entered the hidden gateway beneath the academy.
He placed his hand on the seal.
> [System Confirmed: Hajun Ardyn – Soul Sync 94%]
[Access Granted to Floor 10: Trial of the Hollow Champion]
The world turned red.
---
[Floor 10 – Trial Grounds]
Ash covered the battlefield. A giant stood in the center, hollow eyes burning like dying stars. Chains hung from his back, dragging the broken weapons of fallen challengers.
It was The Hollow Champion, a god-slayer bound by divine order.
"You are not the Phoenix," it growled. "You are his shadow."
Lohan cracked his neck.
"Then try and kill my shadow."
---
[Fight Begins]
The Hollow Champion moved with terrifying speed. Lohan dodged, barely keeping pace.
> [System Sync Boost – Temporary Soul Unleash: 30 Seconds]
[War God's Instinct – Fully Activated]
[Copied Skill: Shattering Pulse – Enhanced]
Lohan countered, striking the Hollow's core—but the champion laughed, not even flinching.
"You strike like him. But you are not him."
Lohan's eyes flared with red mana.
"Wrong."
He summoned the Phoenix Pulse—a forbidden move from his past life—and slammed it into the Hollow's chest.
The champion roared, collapsing in a pillar of smoke.
---
[Trial Complete]
> [Congratulations. You have cleared Floor 10: One Year Ahead of Schedule.]
[Reward: Divine Key – Vault of the First Flame.]
[Warning: Divine Eyes are no longer watching. Divine Hands are moving.]
---
[Aftermath – Justine's Temple]
Justine knelt before a mirror.
She saw Lohan standing victorious.
"…You really did it."
Her hand trembled—but she smiled.
"It begins again."
---