On the Seventh Floor of the Dungeon, a catastrophic battle was unfolding.

  The cavernous battlefield shook endlessly as the Orc Horde clashed head-on with the forces of Clan Origin. The air was thick with dust, blood, and violent mana fluctuations, while the ground was littered with broken weapons and fallen bodies.

  At the center of it all stood Rey.

  A terrifying killing aura erupted from his body like an invisible storm. The pressure alone crushed the weaker Orc Warriors, causing many of them to collapse unconscious before they could even raise their weapons. Their knees buckled, eyes rolling back as fear overwhelmed their instincts.

  Even the Orc Champions and Orc Shamans—elite monsters accustomed to slaughter—hesitated.

  Some of them turned and fled.

  Rey slowly raised his gaze.

  His eyes locked onto a massive figure standing proudly amid the chaos.

  An Orc Warlord.

  Level 88.

  Inside Rey’s mind, his thoughts were calm and cold.

  “Level 88… even the Minotaur was level 89. One strike should be enough to destroy this Orc.”

  In the next instant, Rey vanished.

  With lightning speed, he shot forward, closing the distance in a blink. His fist flew toward the Orc Warlord’s chest, carrying destructive power that warped the air itself.

  But—

  The Orc Warlord reacted.

  With a savage roar, it swung its own fist to meet Rey’s attack.

  For a split second, Rey’s eyes widened in surprise.

  Their fists collided.

  CLASH!

  A thunderous shockwave exploded outward, cracking the stone floor beneath them.

  The Orc Warlord screamed.

  Its arm shattered violently, bones exploding into fragments as its massive hand was torn apart. The monster staggered back, clutching its ruined limb while letting out a howl of agony.

  Rey stared.

  “…It only destroyed his arm?”

  Before he could analyze further, the System’s mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

  “Orc Warlords are Third-Stage Evolutions. They possess far greater ferocity and physical strength than Minotaurs. Their intelligence level is also significantly higher. Host is advised to proceed with caution and apply proper strategy when engaging them.”

  Rey narrowed his eyes.

  “Oh… now I understand why this Orc is this strong. But if I face the level 96 Orc inside the palace, it might be troublesome… still, I can defeat it.”

  The injured Orc Warlord roared in fury and grabbed its massive greatsword with one remaining hand, swinging it down toward Rey with brutal force.

  Rey calmly stepped aside, avoiding the slash effortlessly. As the blade passed him, he raised his leg and pressed the sword down with his foot.

  The weapon slammed into the ground.

  Rey applied pressure.

  The Orc Warlord snarled in rage, muscles bulging as it tried to lift its sword—but it couldn’t move it even an inch.

  Enraged, the Orc kicked toward Rey.

  Rey blocked it casually.

  Then—

  One punch.

  The Orc’s leg was pierced clean through.

  The monster screamed and collapsed onto the ground, writhing in pain. Rey calmly picked up the fallen greatsword and walked toward it.

  Just as Rey raised the blade to decapitate the Orc—

  “There are three Orc Warlords in this horde!” shouted the Captain of Division Five.

  Rey’s instincts flared.

  A powerful blow slammed into his side, sending him flying several meters across the battlefield.

  Dust and debris exploded into the air.

  A new presence emerged.

  An Orc Warlord.

  Level 96.

  Its aura was far heavier, far more refined, and overwhelmingly dangerous.

  Without hesitation, the Orc Warlord activated a skill and let out a deafening roar.

  Awakening Roar.

  The Orcs across the battlefield trembled—and then stood up again. Their eyes burned with renewed bloodlust as they charged Clan Origin’s forces once more.

  That alone was troublesome.

  But worse—

  Four Orc Champions were still alive.

  The level 96 Orc Warlord attacked Rey again, forcing him back several meters. The impact only left a shallow cut on Rey’s cheek.

  Rey wiped away the blood and smiled faintly.

  “Oh… so there are three Orc Warlords. Fine. I’ll destroy them one by one.”

  “Alex! Execute the next plan!” Rey shouted.

  Alex immediately reacted to Rey’s voice.

  “Search Divisions, move out! Defense Divisions, hold the enemy back!”

  Alex led the Search Division toward the Orc palace.

  “Lord Alex! Don’t go there! There’s a powerful Orc Warlord guarding that place!” shouted the Captain of Division Five.

  Everyone froze.

  Rey quickly gave new orders. Willson and Drax were instructed to follow Alex. Vincent and Evelyn rushed toward the injured Captains of Divisions Three and Five, escorting them to Luna.

  Using the High Potions Rey had given earlier, Luna attempted to restore their severed limbs—but it wasn’t enough.

  They needed a Grand-Tier Potion.

  They only had one.

  Thanks to Drax.

  Without hesitation, Luna used it on the Captain of Division Three. The healing process took a long time, forcing everyone to guard her closely.

  Meanwhile, Vincent and Evelyn took command of the Mage Division formed earlier by Alex. Massive spells were prepared, mana surging violently as they readied a large-scale bombardment against the Orc Horde.

  Elsewhere—

  Alex, Willson, and Drax arrived at the grand Orc palace.

  As Drax reached for the massive doors—

  A huge sword came crashing down from above.

  Drax dodged instantly.

  Before them stood another Orc Warlord.

  Level 91.

  The monster attacked without warning, sending Drax flying with a single blow. Pain exploded throughout his body.

  A support-class member quickly healed him and applied strength buffs to Alex, Drax, and Willson.

  They attacked together.

  Every clash shook the palace. Every strike carried lethal force.

  Alex quickly divided the team.

  One group assisted them in fighting the Orc Warlord.

  The other collected the valuable equipment they had come for.

  Back outside—

  Rey finally decapitated the level 88 Orc Warlord.

  “One has fallen.”

  He turned toward the level 96 Orc Warlord and assumed a combat stance.

  “Hey, stupid Orc… let’s finish this.”

  Rey charged forward, aiming a punch straight at the Orc’s head.

  A barrier activated.

  The Orc counterattacked, smashing Rey into the ground.

  Rey kicked upward, striking the Orc’s head and regaining balance. Drawing his dagger, he charged again.

  Their weapons clashed.

  Rey shattered the Orc’s greatsword and attempted to slice its neck—

  But failed.

  “What!? My direct attack didn’t work?”

  The System responded.

  “Host… passive ability ‘Absolute Veil’ has activated. Why has Host not utilized it?”

  “I know it activated earlier when he attacked me. But I chose not to use it. I wanted to see how strong I really am—what level of monster I can surpass.”

  “Calculating… loading… result confirmed. Host’s current strength and control are sufficient to defeat monsters above level 100.”

  Rey smiled.

  “I knew I was strong… but I didn’t expect I could defeat monsters above level 100.”

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  The Orc attacked from behind.

  A violent explosion erupted—

  Then the Orc screamed.

  Its right arm was gone.

  Rey struck its chest—but the barrier activated again.

  “That attack worked because he couldn’t predict it. Now he’s in full defense mode, constantly maintaining his barrier. Even if I break it, I’ll need two attacks… giving him time to counter.”

  Rey smiled.

  “Smart. You’re really smart.”

  “In that case… I’ll release my strongest attack. Get ready.”

  The Orc roared and activated Berserker.

  Its strength, speed, and agility surged violently.

  It even cast magic.

  Rey’s eyes widened.

  “Magic…?”

  He absorbed the fireball with his dagger and sent it back—but the Orc dodged and activated a summoning skill.

  “Summoning skill detected. Activated by Orc Warlord level 96. As the leader of the horde, it possesses summoning authority.”

  “Summoning? Who is he calling?”

  All remaining Orc Champions were forcibly summoned.

  The Orc Warlord slaughtered one of them and devoured its core.

  Its arm regenerated instantly.

  Gasps echoed across the battlefield.

  Rey smiled.

  “So… this is the second round. I can’t wait to destroy your arm again.”

  The Orc charged.

  Rey blocked its punch—but his bones cracked.

  Pain surged.

  “This isn’t good…”

  Rey countered fiercely, blasting the Orc into the dungeon wall.

  But—

  It vanished.

  It reappeared behind Rey.

  The blow shattered Rey’s ribs.

  “Argh!”

  Blood spilled from his mouth as the Orc pummeled him relentlessly.

  Rey ordered the System to use a High Potion and retreated.

  “I have to end this now… if not, I don’t know how far it’ll evolve.”

  Rey vanished.

  In an instant, he appeared beside the Orc.

  With everything he had—

  “Justice Punch.”

  The Seventh Floor shook violently.

  The impact obliterated the Orc Warlord—and three Orc Champions aligned behind it.

  Nothing remained.

  Silence.

  Then—

  “Clan Origin!”

  “Clan Origin!”

  “Clan Origin!”

  The echoes of victory rang across the battlefield.

  The roar was so loud that it reached deep into the inner zone of the Orc palace—where another battle was still unfolding.

  At that moment, Alex, Willson, and Drax were facing the last remaining Orc Warlord.

  The only one left.

  Alex was buried beneath the ruins of a collapsed structure, half of his body trapped under shattered stone and broken pillars. Blood streamed down his forehead, blurring his vision, while his right arm bent at an unnatural angle—broken.

  Yet even through the ringing in his ears, he heard it.

  The distant cheers.

  The triumphant cries of Clan Origin.

  Alex let out a weak breath and laughed bitterly.

  “So… Rey won.”

  Not far from him, Drax lay sprawled on the ground. His armor was cracked, his breathing ragged, blood pooling beneath his body. Every breath burned his lungs, but he forced his eyes open.

  Willson was still standing.

  Barely.

  He blocked another devastating strike from the Orc Warlord, but the impact shattered one of his swords instantly. The blade exploded into fragments of steel.

  Only one sword remained.

  Gritting his teeth, Willson shifted his stance and attempted to counterattack—but the Orc Warlord moved faster.

  Its foot slammed into Willson’s abdomen.

  A sharp cracking sound echoed as Willson’s armor fractured. His body was sent flying backward, crashing violently into the palace wall behind him. Stone shattered, and Willson collapsed into the rubble, unmoving.

  “Willson!”

  Drax forced himself upright, blood dripping from his mouth. Seeing Willson’s broken body ignited something fierce inside him.

  He roared in rage.

  “You useless Orc… I’ll destroy you!”

  Ignoring the pain screaming through his body, Drax charged forward and swung his sword with everything he had.

  But the Orc Warlord’s fist moved first.

  The punch landed squarely on Drax’s chest.

  Normally, it would have crushed him instantly.

  But Drax was wearing Warforged Armor.

  For a brief moment, the armor glowed.

  [Warforged Armor Ability Activated]

  The damage was reduced significantly.

  At the same time—

  [Critical Strike Rate Increased by 35% for Next Attack]

  Drax’s eyes widened.

  Without wasting a second, he twisted his body and swung his blade toward the Orc’s neck with full force.

  The sword sliced across the Orc’s throat.

  Blood sprayed.

  But—

  The blade stopped.

  Less than one centimeter deep.

  Drax froze.

  His heart sank.

  “My attack was boosted with 35% critical damage… and this is all I can do? Just a shallow cut? Useless…!”

  Before he could react, a massive blow crashed into his head.

  The helmet of his armor cracked loudly.

  His vision spun violently.

  Drax stumbled backward, barely staying conscious.

  Through his blurred vision, he saw the Orc Warlord pick up its massive greatsword and raise it high above its head.

  The killing blow.

  Drax’s thoughts slowed.

  “Argh… so this is it… this is how I die.”

  Suddenly—

  A sword flew through the air and struck the Orc Warlord directly on the head.

  The impact was powerful—but it didn’t even scratch the monster.

  The Orc turned.

  There, standing amidst the rubble, was Alex.

  Blood covered his face. One arm hung broken at his side. His body trembled from exhaustion—but his eyes burned with defiance.

  “Hey, stupid monster… you think I’m already dead?”

  Alex forced himself upright, gritting his teeth as pain shot through his broken arm. He reached for his sword with his remaining hand.

  Every member of the Search Division who had followed them into this battle now lay defeated across the palace grounds.

  They were out of strength.

  Out of options.

  The Orc Warlord snarled and stepped toward Alex. It seized Alex’s sword—

  And crushed it.

  The blade shattered completely.

  Alex stared at the broken pieces in disbelief.

  Then he laughed.

  “Hahahaha… you damn monster. You really will die… just not yet.”

  The Orc Warlord roared in fury and swung its leg, preparing to kick Alex into the ruins.

  But—

  A blur.

  A single strike.

  BOOM.

  A massive hole exploded through the Orc Warlord’s chest.

  The monster froze mid-motion.

  Its eyes widened.

  Then its body collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.

  Dead.

  Silence fell over the palace.

  A calm voice spoke from behind.

  “Hey… are you all okay?”

  Alex turned his head.

  Standing there, unscathed, was Rey.

  For a moment, Alex just stared.

  Then he burst out laughing.

  “Argh… my arm hurts like hell. Why were you so late? Do you know we almost died?”

  Rey scratched his cheek awkwardly.

  “Yeah, sorry. There was a bit of a problem earlier.”

  He pulled out a potion and tossed it to Alex.

  “Here. Drink this.”

  It was a High-Tier Potion.

  Then Rey handed over two more High-Tier Potions and several Mid-Tier Potions.

  “Give these to Drax, Willson, and the others who went down.”

  Alex nodded, understanding immediately. He drank the potion.

  Warmth flooded his body.

  In seconds, the pain vanished. His broken arm snapped back into place. His wounds closed completely. His stamina returned.

  Alex flexed his fingers, stunned.

  “High-Tier Potion… Rey, how do you even have so many of these? I saw you give Luna three bottles earlier, and now you’re giving me three more.”

  Rey replied casually,

  “Just use them. Do you really think I’m that poor?”

  Alex laughed loudly.

  “Hahahaha… I get it, I get it. So you must’ve earned a lot of gold coins today. Teach me your business tricks later.”

  Rey waved his hand.

  “It’s not business. Anyway, once everything’s settled, collect all the item drops. All the strong Orcs are dead now, so you can take care of this place. Did you manage to retrieve all the equipment that was needed?”

  Before Alex could answer—

  A voice echoed from inside the Orc palace.

  “Lord Alex! We’ve gathered all the required items. Also… we found Lord Willson trapped under the ruins and rescued him. But his condition is severe. The support members can’t heal him.”

  Alex’s expression changed instantly.

  He rushed over to Willson.

  Without hesitation, he poured a High-Tier Potion into Willson’s mouth and ordered the support members to stabilize him. Then Alex distributed the remaining potions in his hands to the exhausted warriors who had fought alongside them.

  Slowly, the battlefield began to recover.

  Drax finally pushed himself to his feet.

  He looked at Rey.

  His voice dropped to a whisper so only the three of them could hear.

  “Hey, Rey… your strength… what level are you now?”

  The question lingered in the air.

  Rey smiled faintly, the curve of his lips carrying a quiet confidence that only deepened Alex’s curiosity. Alex stared at him, eyes gleaming with anticipation, clearly waiting for an explanation.

  After a brief pause, Rey finally spoke.

  “A secret.”

  Alex froze for a second—then scowled.

  That single answer was enough to irritate both Alex and the others standing nearby. The vague response felt like deliberate teasing, and Rey knew it. Yet before anyone could press him further, Rey waved his hand dismissively.

  “Let’s move. Everyone, clear the area. No more lingering.”

  At his words, the group snapped back into motion. Vincent and Evelyn had nearly completed their preparations, and when Alex heard that, his excitement surged uncontrollably. His hands clenched tightly as anticipation filled his chest.

  He couldn’t wait.

  This would be the moment—the proof that the brutal training he had forced upon the Mage divisions would finally came to act.

  Some time later, Rey and the others arrived at their temporary base.

  The scene before them was chaotic.

  Luna and Melvin were working frantically, their movements desperate as they tried to save the captain of Division Five. Blood soaked the ground beneath him, spreading rapidly, staining the earth a deep crimson.

  Earlier, Luna had already used the only Grand Potion available on the captain of Division Three.

  Now, the captain of Division Five was fighting on the brink of death.

  His condition was critical.

  Nearby, Tristan and Eris were still commanding their troops, ruthlessly hunting down the remaining Orc Warriors and Shamans who were attempting to flee. Their leader had already fallen, and without direction, the Orc forces were collapsing.

  “Mage Division, prepare yourselves,” Alex shouted.

  Vincent and Evelyn stepped forward, taking command of the Mage units. Magical energy surged as they began chanting in unison, the air trembling under the sheer volume of mana being drawn.

  “Tristan! Pull your units back—now!” Alex roared.

  Tristan didn’t hesitate.

  He recognized the alarm instantly. This was the final attack Alex had planned from the beginning.

  “Fall back!” Tristan commanded loudly. “All units—retreat immediately!”

  The warriors withdrew swiftly, forming a defensive perimeter at a safe distance.

  Then—

  After several seconds of tense silence, Vincent and Evelyn unleashed their magic.

  Blazing torrents of destruction erupted from the Mage formation, followed immediately by countless spells from the mages under their command. Explosions thundered across the battlefield one after another.

  The entire region was engulfed in violent flashes of light and roaring shockwaves.

  Alex laughed loudly, his voice filled with exhilaration.

  “Hahahaha! It’s like fireworks! Serves you right, you damn monsters!”

  Rey watched quietly as all units returned safely. Most were injured only lightly—exhausted, battered, but alive.

  Only one remained in grave condition.

  The captain of Division Five.

  Eris noticed him immediately. Her expression fell, sorrow clouding her eyes.

  “Luna… please,” she pleaded. “Heal him.”

  The captain had once been one of the high-ranking members of Clan Rose. Because of that, Eris felt personally responsible for his safety.

  Before Luna could respond—

  A notification suddenly appeared before Rey’s eyes.

  He frowned.

  “…Hey. Didn’t I tell you to turn off notifications?”

  “That is correct, Host,” the System replied calmly.

  “However, this notification is extremely important. The Host has received a new mission from the System.”

  “A new mission?” Rey muttered. “What do you mean?”

  “The Host must ensure that all members of Clan Origin return safely. Upon completion, the Host will receive a substantial reward.”

  Rey clenched his jaw.

  “How am I supposed to save the captain of Division Five? Only a Grand Tier Potion can heal injuries this severe.”

  There was a brief pause before the System responded.

  “After the Host defeated the Orc Warlord Level 96, the Host obtained several special rewards. Does the Host wish to open them?”

  Rey’s eyes narrowed slightly.

  “…Might as well. Who knows—maybe there’s a Grand Potion inside.”

  The System complied.

  “Opening reward.”

  Information flooded Rey’s vision.

  “Host has obtained three Grand Tier Potions.”

  Rey’s eyes widened.

  “Three?” he exclaimed. “That doesn’t make sense. After my passive skill upgrade, I should get x2.5 rewards. Why three?”

  “After calculations, the System provided three potions after deducting 5,000 Gold Coins.”

  “…What?”

  Rey was stunned.

  “Wait—what do you mean deducted?!”

  “Host’s Gold Coin amount exceeded the acceptable threshold after defeating three Orc Warlords. Therefore, a deduction was applied.”

  Rey immediately checked his balance.

  28,550 Gold Coins.

  “…This is already after the 5,000 deduction?”

  “Yes, Host. That is correct.”

  Rey froze—then grinned.

  He was rich.

  With this amount of gold, he could finally build something he had long envisioned—a massive private residence inside Clan Origin, reserved solely for himself.

  Without hesitation, Rey pulled out one of the Grand Tier Potions and handed it to Luna.

  Everyone nearby gasped.

  The aura radiating from the potion was overwhelming—far denser and more powerful than the one Drax possessed. Even holding it felt oppressive.

  “How…?” someone whispered.

  Clan Origin was supposed to have only one remaining Grand Potion—and that belonged to Drax.

  Rey spoke firmly, cutting off their questions.

  “We’ll talk later. Saving lives comes first.”

  Luna nodded and carefully administered the potion to the captain of Division Five. As she activated her healing skill, soft light enveloped his body.

  Slowly, painfully slowly, his wounds began to close.

  Color returned to his face.

  Breathing stabilized.

  Rey turned his gaze toward the battlefield once more. The Mage Division had ceased their attack, and the Orc territory lay in complete ruin. Buildings had been reduced to rubble, scorched beyond recognition.

  Rey felt a sense of satisfaction.

  Then—

  A deafening roar echoed through the dungeon.

  The ground shook violently.

  The aura that followed was terrifying—far stronger than the Orc Warlord Level 96 they had faced earlier.

  Those below Class A collapsed instantly, unconscious under the crushing pressure. Luna staggered, nearly fainting.

  Melvin and Eris rushed to support her.

  Alex’s expression darkened.

  “…From that roar,” he said gravely, “the monster is likely a Dragon.”

  He turned to Rey.

  “Rey, we’ve secured all the equipment. Should we retreat and rest… or exit the dungeon?”

  Rey was about to answer—

  When Eris suddenly stiffened.

  She scanned the collected equipment frantically.

  “…It’s not here,” she whispered.

  “What?” Tristan asked sharply.

  “Emily’s equipment,” Eris said, panic rising in her voice. “It’s missing.”

  The group fell silent.

  Tristan rushed over, searching through the loot himself.

  It wasn’t there.

  Alex’s eyes widened.

  “…There’s a possibility,” he said slowly, “that Emily is still alive.”

  Everyone stared at him in shock.

  Rey nodded.

  “I was thinking the same,” he said. “Emily should be safe. From what you told me, she has a unique skill. She might’ve escaped during the Orc Shaman’s attack.”

  “But then why isn’t she at the Orc palace?” Alex questioned. “Or hiding nearby?”

  Rey’s gaze sharpened.

  “Maybe she’s afraid… or maybe,” he paused, “she can’t.”

  Rey and Alex locked eyes.

  Then they spoke in unison.

  "Someone who has been trapped in a crystal."

  Deep within Floor Seven.

  A massive blue crystal glowed brilliantly in the darkness.

  Inside it, a woman clad in scorched support armor was suspended, unconscious.

  Behind her—

  A monstrous silhouette loomed.

  Its presence was overwhelming. Terrifying.

  A voice echoed through the cavern, filled with rage and hatred.

  “HUMAN! AT LAST, YOU HAVE COME! I WILL AVENGE MY CHILD!”