ReadNovel Chapter 437: First Floor of Ascension Tower—6
Chapter 437: First Floor of Ascension Tower—6
This trial orc had two affinities minimum. Maybe even more than I didn’t observe since I didn’t give it enough time to demonstrate them.
Its lifeless body was falling rapidly from the high altitude where it had been floating and looking down on him so arrogantly moments ago.
Leon knew things would genuinely start getting tricky and challenging as he progressed higher.
But that’s exactly what I want. I’m excited.
He understood clearly that this tower system contained real danger alongside substantial rewards. So he wondered with genuine anticipation what rewards he would receive by the end of it all, and where exactly his current limits truly lay.
Even in Ira’s world, those fearsome archon-ranked beasts are simply no match for me anymore. Creatures that were once mighty and feared... but not anymore. Not in a while.
Even my clone alone can handle archon-ranked threats now. It’s not quite as easy as killing chickens, but victory is absolutely certain.
Leon chose to continue the challenge immediately. Seeing the tower notification message appear, he confirmed his decision.
He wasn’t spent at all physically or mentally—no reason to waste time resting.
The system provided a warning at the start of the next round:
[WARNING: You may withdraw from the trial at any time]
[However, if there is a significant disparity in strength, you may be killed without having any chance to retaliate or surrender]
[Proceed with extreme caution]
Leon understood the implication. For a normal Ascendant rank human cultivator, all these layers starting from the third were essentially death sentences—stepping foot in the arena at all would be suicidal.
But I’m not normal by any standard.
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
The fifth layer materialized ten similar-looking orcs—nearly identical to the fourth layer opponent but deployed simultaneously.
They were each at peak Sage rank power level based on Leon’s assessment.
Ten peak Sages at once. Coordinated attack potential.
However, Leon dealt with them with efficient brutality, leveraging his overwhelming natural physical strength advantage and systematically applying his high-level combat skills.
SLASH! FREEZE! CRUSH!
Within less than two minutes, all ten lay defeated.
[Fifth Layer Cleared Successfully]
Leon immediately continued to the sixth level without even considering the rest option, completely ignoring the system warning that appeared once again.
I’ve only spent minimal mana. My monstrous recovery rate has already regenerated most of what I used.
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
The sixth layer began with a truly intimidating display.
One hundred peak Sage rank orcs materialized simultaneously across the arena in military formation—each one comparable to the fifth layer opponents in individual power.
And at the very forefront stood a leader who was distinctly different.
This one wore magnificent golden armor that seemed to be crafted from actual condensed elemental energy rather than mere metal. It was a red orc—completely different coloring from the green-skinned standard ones Leon had been fighting.
Leon could immediately feel that this creature was just one small step away from reaching Archon rank.
Around its powerful body, fire and thunder elements were actively forming some kind of protective armor layer—two elements combining and reinforcing each other.
It wielded a massive battle axe that buzzed with multiple overlapping auras.
Along with those two clearly visible auras at Level 3—fire and thunder—there was one additional aura barely manifesting on the weapon.
Not even Level 1 yet in development, but Leon recognized it instantly.
Dark Element. That’s a dark element aura forming.
In this enhanced state, with three elemental affinities being utilized simultaneously, this red orc leader could genuinely rival an early-stage Archon cultivator easily.
Dangerous. Finally, something that requires actual attention.
Leon moved.
VOID STEP!
His figure appeared directly in front of the red orc leader before it could even blink.
His blade carried a concentrated spatial aura, aiming for an immediate lethal strike.
SLASH!
However, to his genuine surprise—
CLANG!
The orc actually blocked it successfully, bringing its battle axe up with remarkable speed to intercept.
But the force still drove it backward violently.
CRASH!
The creature flew back, blood appearing at the corner of its mouth, but it didn’t fall. Didn’t collapse. Maintained combat readiness despite traveling hundreds of meters from the impact force alone.
Tough. And skilled.
Leon didn’t give it time to recover. He teleported again using Void Step, appearing at its new position before it finished stabilizing.
He moved not just because he wanted to finish quickly, but because—
BOOM!
A massive concentrated thunderbolt struck exactly where Leon had been standing just milliseconds ago—launched by one of the hundred elite orc soldiers supporting their leader.
They’re coordinating. Good tactical awareness.
As Leon appeared behind the red orc who had just barely stabilized its stance—
SURGE!
A dark aura erupted from within the creature. Black markings spread rapidly across its red skin like living tattoos. Its eyes turned completely black—no whites, no pupils, just absolute darkness.
At the same time, a fire spear materialized from thin air barely a meter away from Leon, launched by another supporting orc soldier with perfect timing.
Coordination is excellent. But predictable.
Leon wouldn’t let it hit him. Even if he didn’t block, it would only cause light injury—but why take unnecessary damage?
He formed a dense ice wall at the side from which the spear approached.
FORM! BLOCK!
The ice absorbed the fire spear completely, steam hissing violently.
Meanwhile, Leon had already prepared his counterattack against the empowered red orc leader.
This time, his attack carried significantly more power.
Multiple auras buzzed intensely around his sword—space, wind, lightning, ice—all four elements combining and reinforcing each other in perfect harmony.
But that wasn’t all.
It wasn’t just a normal enhanced slash. Leon executed Transcendent Rank Sky Breaker Draw—one of his absolute best sword techniques.
Combined with Gravity Press, a skill requiring both space and earth elements to learn and utilize. He’d acquired it a while ago. Though classified as only Uncommon rank, Leon had found it was effectively Rare in actual combat value due to its versatility and power.
And it had reached Level 100 maximum mastery, making it even more terrifying in application.
CRUSH!
The air itself seemed to compress and bear down with overwhelming weight.
It created humongous pressure specifically targeting the red orc, which had somehow become even stronger through its dark element transformation technique.
The creature would have barely been able to bring its battle axe forward to bear even a small portion of the devastating blow—the weapon was high quality, capable of withstanding significant force.
However—