the crowd in the tower yard fell into a stunned silence. The air seemed to grow heavier, charged with anticipation as everyone's gaze was locked on top of the gate where the silver light suddenly turned blue.
Mat's face turned shocked then proud. "As expected of my old friend " he said softly, his voice filled with admiration and a touch of awe.
Nearby, the assassin stood frozen, his eyes wide in disbelief. Sixth floor ? he thought, struggling to process what he was seeing. Blue... he's already reached floor six? Impossible.
Aeris, a few feet away, stood with a complicated expression. SHe'd been expecting something impressive, but this was beyond anything she'd anticipated.
Mia and Dario exchanged looks, both clearly impressed. Dario let out a low whistle. "Two people hitting floor five and now Axel's at floor six? That's insane, that's why everyone is gathered and watching."
The crowd began to murmur in hushed voices, the news spreading quickly. as more people gathered, all stunned by what they were witnessing.
"Floor 6... could it be an elite elf gaurd training?" someone gasped.
"Can you believe it? He's already made it to blue in just few hours. This is unprecedented. Even the prince took 12 hours to to light it in blue, not to mention the amount of supplies needed to replanish both his mana and his summoned creatures"
The rumors and chatter grew, as people speculated on Axel's abilities. The color of the pillar now symbolized more than just a milestone; it marked Axel as someone who defied the usual limits.
The entire tower yard buzzed with excitement, and the Aeris and the others couldn't help but wonder: what would happen when Axel reached the next floor?
---------
The throne room buzzed with voices as the ministers debated the kingdom's problems.
"The monster attacks are worsening," one minister grumbled. "Another village was attacked just days ago."
"We should send knights to exterminate them," another snapped.
"Knights?" a third scoffed. "How many do you plan to send? There are too many of those beasts."
"Then we should burn the entire forest where they nest!"
Axel listened, arms crossed. The discussion felt endless monsters, rebels, border disputes. But no solutions, just complaints.
The king sat on his throne, watching his ministers argue. His gaze shifted to Axel, unreadable.
A minister slammed his hand on the table. "And the rebels! They grow bolder! We should execute every traitor's family to send a message."
Axel exhaled, shaking his head. "This is pathetic."
The room fell silent. Dozens of eyes locked onto him.
"Excuse me?" one minister spat.
Axel leaned forward. "You blame monsters for being monsters. You curse rebels without asking why they rebel. You throw men at problems without thinking of real solutions. And when those plans fail, you do the same thing again. And again."
Fury burned in their faces. "You "
"Enough," the king interrupted. His voice was calm, but it silenced the room.
The ministers sat back, fuming.
The discussion continued, but tension hung thick in the air. Axel said nothing more, watching their reactions.
At the end of the meeting, as the ministers prepared to leave, the king spoke.
"Minister Gareth, stay behind."
The others paused, glancing at each other curiously before getting out of the throne room.
------
The tea was fragrant, steam curling gently from the delicate porcelain cup. Axel sat across from the king in a quiet chamber, the heavy tension from the throne room now replaced with something more restrained.
The king took a slow sip, then looked at Axel. "You certainly didn't hold back earlier."
Axel picked up his cup but didn't drink. "I only said what was obvious."
The king chuckled. "And yet, no one else dares to say it. Aren't you afraid of angering the ministers?"
Axel met his gaze. "If they were capable of fixing the problem, they wouldn't have gotten angry. They'd have had an answer."
The king exhaled through his nose, setting his cup down. "You're right. The real problem isn't the monsters or the rebels. It's us."
Axel leaned back slightly, waiting.
"We have abundant resources, yet we struggle internally and externally," the king admitted. "Our wealth should make us stronger, but instead, it attracts endless trouble."
Axel finally took a sip of tea, then set his cup down. "That's exactly the issue. Your resources don't just give you power they make you a target. The more you have, the more others want. Monsters raid because they sense easy food. Rebels rise because they believe wealth is unfairly distributed. Neighboring kingdoms look at you and see potential land, trade, and profit."
The king was silent for a moment, then reached for something beneath the table. With a smooth motion, he unrolled a large map across the wooden surface.
"Look here," he said, pointing.
Axel leaned in. The map depicted the Elf Kingdom, its borders drawn clearly.
"To the west and east, we are flanked by two human kingdoms," the king explained. "Both watch us closely, waiting for any sign of weakness. To the north, there's a dwarven city it remains neutral, for now."
Axel traced the borders with his eyes. "So you're surrounded. Limited room to expand, constant external pressure."
The king leaned back, watching him closely. "You seem to understand the situation well. So, tell me what would you do in my position?"
Axel didn't answer immediately. His fingers tapped lightly on the table as he studied the map, mind racing through possibilities.
The trial was clear now. it was about making the right decision, as long it's fixed I will end up in the next level.
Axel tapped the map gently, considering his response. "The monster attacks are getting worse, but they can be managed with proper strategy. You have the resources what you lack is a focused defense strategy."
The king raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."
"Start with the supply routes. They're open, vulnerable. You need to fortify them. Create checkpoints and guard posts along every major route. That will slow down the monster groups, at least give your people a chance to defend themselves. Also, dispatch scouts to track monster movements before they even make it to villages. This early warning system will allow you to send fast-response units to eliminate the threats before they get too close."
The king nodded, his fingers tapping on the table. "And the rebels?"
Axel leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Rebels are a symptom of a deeper issue. People don't rise up unless they feel they have no other choice. The first thing you need to do is look inward. You have abundant resources, but why is there suffering? Look at the corruption in the kingdom. People who control the wealth should be held accountable. You need to investigate them, root out those who are hoarding supplies and leaving the people to starve."
"And then what?" the king asked.
"Once you address the root cause of their anger, you offer them something they can't refuse: reintegration. For the rebels willing to lay down arms and surrender, offer amnesty. Those who refuse? Treat them as enemies and eliminate them swiftly."
The king remained silent, his brow furrowed. "But that's not enough. The real issue is that even with the resources, the kingdom is unstable. How do we fix that?"
Axel leaned in, his voice quieter now. "You need to create an organization. An organization that answers only to you. One that is hidden from everyone else the kind of organization that operates in the shadows, handling things that cannot be dealt with by the regular military or diplomacy."
The king looked at Axel, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"You need a team of your strongest elites assassins, spies, those with abilities that others don't even know about. They'll take care of two things: assassination and intelligence gathering. The assassinations should target the biggest threats corrupt nobles, rebels who refuse to lay down arms, anyone who would destabilize the kingdom. As for intelligence, this group will monitor every part of the government, from the lowest guards to the highest lords. They will report to you and root out any traitors."
The king's eyes gleamed with interest. "And how do you suggest ensuring their loyalty?"
Axel's lips curled into a smile, cold and calculating. "They must sign a death contract."
"A death contract?" the king repeated, his voice sharp with curiosity.
"Each member of this organization must sign an agreement with their life. If they betray you, if they speak of the organization's existence or fail in their duties, they die. No questions, no second chances. Loyalty is guaranteed because the penalty for failure is immediate and final. Only the most loyal will even dare to join."
The king leaned back, his expression unreadable. Axel could feel the weight of the king's scrutiny, but he didn't flinch. The king was calculating, considering the long-term consequences of such an organization. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence, the king spoke.
"You would have me create something like that?" The king's voice was soft but firm.
Axel nodded. "Yes. It's the only way to ensure the kingdom's stability. You can't rely on politics or force alone. You need something hidden, something that works outside the system. A tool that you can use when everything else fails."
The king stood up, his hand resting on the map. He walked to a nearby window, staring out at the horizon as if weighing Axel's words.
"I will need time," the king said, turning back to Axel. "But I see the merit in your suggestion. If we do this, it must be done with absolute secrecy. No one can know about this organization, not even the closest of my ministers."
Axel nodded. "Of course. It must be yours and yours alone. No one can know."
The king paused before speaking again. "And you? Will you lead this group?"
Axel's smile was brief, but it held no warmth. "I'm not suited for the shadows, your highness. I will give you the idea. It's up to you to build it."
The king gave a small nod, his expression contemplative. "Then we will move forward with this. It's time to take the kingdom's future into our own hands."
Axel rose, bowing slightly. "I'll leave the rest to you.."
Suddenly reality twisted and he found himself in another place.
Axel stood on the seventh floor, the air thick with tension. The illusions surrounding him shifted like shadows, weaving a nightmare based on his past.
Suddenly, faces appeared, his friends, his allies, all of them dying in horrible ways. His eyes widened, pain striking his chest as the first image of Mat's brutal death flashed before him.
"No!" Axel gritted his teeth. "This is just an illusion!"
-----
The light above the tower shifted to purple, casting an eerie glow over the surrounding area. Figures began to emerge atop the nearby buildings, their silhouettes barely visible in the dimming light. They stood motionless, their eyes fixed on the tower, watching with a sense of anticipation.
The atmosphere grew tense, as if the very air was charged with expectation. No one dared to speak, and yet the weight of unseen eyes watching Axel weighed heavily on the air.
---
In the elf throne room, the king leaned forward as a messenger knelt before him, bowing low.
"Someone has reached the seventh floor?" the king asked, his voice steady but filled with curiosity.
"Yes, my lord," the messenger replied. "A human named Axel. He's made it that far."
The king's expression remained unchanged, but the faintest glint of interest flickered in his eyes. He leaned back in his throne, his fingers tapping slowly on the armrest.
"This is… interesting," the king murmured to himself.
------
In the trial ground Axel covering his face. His aura seems different, more profound and controllable, as if freed from chains that held him back for long while fighting the illusion.
"So this where the prince couldn't go any farther ? Maybe he has strong bond with his family and strong fear of losing them. That's why he failed, on the other hand I have nothing to care about, at most I care about my new friends in this world, amazingly I have reached a new level.. ".
The trial grounds changed revealing a vast battlefield thausands of knght level monsters led by one mysterious handsome demon with white hair , red eyes wearing a black and red armor with red wings and holding a long red black sword, standing above a stone statue of a giant demonic creature with large wings.