NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10: Chapter 10: The Final Judgment
Chapter 10: The Final Judgment
The battlefield was drenched in chaos. Blood, sweat, and magic filled the air as the war between players, factions, and the Tower's Executioners raged on.
> [Trial Time Remaining: 3 Hours]
[Surviving Players: 932,814]
Another 140,000 players had been wiped out in mere minutes.
Jin dodged a blazing sword strike from the Executioner of Blades, his body flickering as he activated Phantom Stride.
Aerin moved beside him, her daggers flashing as she struck weak points in the Executioner's armor. It was the first time an Executioner had shown even the slightest hint of slowing down.
We're getting somewhere.
But before Jin could capitalize on the opening—
> [ALERT: FINAL PHASE OF THE TRIAL INITIATED]
[All players will now be drawn to the Tower's Core. The final judgment begins.]
The ground shook violently.
The golden barrier around the battlefield disintegrated, and a blinding pillar of light shot into the sky.
Then—everything changed.
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The Tower's Core: The Last Battleground
Jin barely had time to process the shift before he felt his body being pulled forward by an unknown force.
In a flash of golden light, he was no longer in the forest.
Instead, he stood in a massive, floating arena high above the tower's foundation. Thousands of players appeared alongside him, looking around in confusion.
A colossal gate stood at the center, its surface engraved with ancient runes. The air hummed with energy, a feeling of divine judgment settling over the arena.
Aerin materialized beside Jin, her eyes wide. "Where the hell are we?"
Jin clenched his fists. "The final battlefield."
Then, the system's voice boomed across the arena.
> [FINAL JUDGMENT BEGINS.]
Only those deemed worthy shall proceed beyond this point.
And then—the Tower's Guardian appeared.
---
The Arrival of the Tower's Guardian
A massive figure descended from the sky, landing with a force that shook the arena.
It wasn't like the Executioners.
This was something far, far worse.
> [Celestial Guardian of the First Gate – Arbiter of Judgment]
[Rank: ???]
The Guardian's golden wings stretched wide, its armor gleaming with celestial light. A massive sword of pure energy hovered in its grasp.
Its eyes glowed with unreadable power as it scanned the battlefield.
> [The weak shall be erased. The strong shall proceed.]
Then—it swung its sword.
---
The First Massacre
A wave of golden energy exploded outward, consuming hundreds of players instantly. Those who were too weak or injured were eliminated on the spot.
> [Surviving Players: 712,003]
More than 200,000 were wiped out in an instant.
Jin gritted his teeth. This isn't just a trial anymore. This is an execution.
The remaining Executioners took their positions behind the Guardian, forming an impenetrable defense.
The message was clear—only those who could defeat them would be allowed to advance.
Darius Bloodfang let out a furious roar, raising his battle axe. "We fight or we die!"
Vincent Albrecht, the leader of Radiant Dawn, nodded grimly. "Then we stand together."
Raven from Silent Fang merely smirked, vanishing into the shadows.
And Jin?
He cracked his knuckles. "Time to see how far I can push this system."
---
The Final Battle Begins
The moment players launched forward, the Guardian raised its sword again.
> [Celestial Judgment Activated]
Blades of pure energy rained down, striking players left and right. Some managed to dodge—most didn't.
Jin activated Titan's Endurance, his body hardening as he tanked a glancing hit. The pain was unreal.
But he wasn't stopping.
> [Skill Copied: Divine Blade]
A sword technique infused with celestial energy, capable of bypassing normal defenses.
Jin's fists burned with golden light.
For the first time, he felt like he could truly damage the Guardian.
Then—he charged.
---
Jin vs. The Celestial Guardian
The Guardian swung its energy blade, and Jin dodged by a hair's breadth. He countered with a Crimson Overdrive-enhanced punch, aiming directly for its chest plate.
BOOM!
The impact sent a shockwave through the arena. The Guardian actually staggered.
It was the first time it had been pushed back.
The system reacted immediately.
> [WARNING: A Challenger Has Overcome the Limits!]
Adjusting difficulty…
Jin's instincts flared.
The Guardian's wings flared open, and its power surged.
The battle had only just begun.
> [Trial Time Remaining: 2 Hours]
The final test was here.
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End of Chapter 10