Owen stepped onto the hundredth floor.
It was a throne room.
Massive. Majestic. Carved entirely from black obsidian metal and gold. At the far end, sitting on a throne made of crystallized mana, was a figure.
A dragon in humanoid form.
He was tall, regal, with long black hair and golden eyes identical to Owen's. He wore robes of adorned with Red linings and gold, and power radiated from him like a sun.
But something felt odd.
The figure was translucent. Flickering. Like a hologram or a ghost.
"Welcome, young heir..." the figure said, his voice resonating within Owen.
Owen's heart pounded. "Who... who are you?"
The figure smiled sadly. "I am...just a memory. An echo left behind by the current Dragon King. I am here to test those who reach the summit of the Tower of Royals, as how the kings of the past have all tested the kings after them."
"The Dragon King" Owen breathed.
"Indeed. Though just Merely a fragment."
The figure stood, and the pressure in the room intensified tenfold.
"You have climbed the tower. You have learned our history. You have received knowledge. You have faced your shadow. But one trial remains."
He raised his hand, and a weapon materialized, a massive spear crackling with golden lightning.
"You must face me. A fragment of the current Dragon King's power . If you can withstand me, you will be deemed worthy. You will evolve and earn the right to be king"
Owen's wings spread wide. He was exhausted. His mana was low. His body ached.
But he wasn't backing down.
"Bring it on"
The Dragon King's Fragment smiled.
"Excellent."
The battle was unlike anything Owen had faced.
The fragment moved with perfect precision, every strike calculated, every movement efficient. His spear tore through the air with devastating force.
Owen dodged, countered, attacked, but nothing landed. The fragment was too fast, too skilled, too powerful.
[Dragon's Breath], blocked by a barrier of golden light.
[Piercing Dive], deflected by the spear.
[Shockwave], absorbed and redirected.
Owen was being overwhelmed.
"I can't beat him with raw power. He's too strong. I need to be smarter."
He activated [Sovereignty of Space-Time], slowing the world to a crawl.
But the fragment slowed time too, matching him perfectly.
They fought in the distorted timestream, moving at near-normal speed while the world around them froze.
Owen pushed his mastery higher. 45%. 48%. 50%.
At 50% mastery, something clicked.
He could feel time differently now. Not just slow it, but manipulate it with far greater precision.
He created a pocket of accelerated time around his claws while keeping the rest of his body in slowed time.
His strikes became impossibly fast, even within the time dilation.
The Fragment's eyes widened, genuine surprise.
Owen's claws connected, leaving a gash across the Fragment's chest.
The Fragment laughed, a genuine, joyful sound.
"Magnificent! You've surpassed the first threshold of that Sovereignty!"
He raised his spear, and golden lightning erupted across the throne room.
Owen countered with [Dragon's Breath], channeling every ounce of remaining mana into the attack.
The two forces collided, lightning and fire, creating an explosion that shook the entire tower.
When the smoke cleared, both were standing.
Both were battered.
Both were grinning.
"You have fought well, young King..." the fragment said, his form flickering more intensely now. "You have proven your strength.You have showed your worth."
He lowered his spear.
"You have passed the final trial."
The fragment began to dissolve, his form breaking apart into motes of golden light.
"Remember, young one. You carry the blood. You carry the responsibility. Protect the World. Maintain the balance. may the legacy of the Dragon kings live on through you..."
The last of the Fragment faded.
And Owen collapsed to his knees, utterly spent.
[Congratulations! You have completed the Tower of Royals!]
Ding---!
[Level Cap Reached!]
[Evolution Initiating...]