Reality shifted with a violent, sickening lurch. The stone walls of the cavern dissolved into a vast, nightmare landscape of charred earth and rivers of molten lava. Above them, a sky of bruised purple and charcoal gray was choked by the silhouettes of hundreds—no, thousands—of Black Dragons. Behind the King, a massive throne composed of jagged volcanic rock and eternal flames rose from the earth.
He sat upon it majestically, his wings casting a shadow that seemed to swallow the horizon.
"This," the King declared, his voice echoing with the weight of a god, "is the true pinnacle of the Dragon King."
The fifty-two S-Ranks were paralyzed by a fear that transcended physical pain. It had never been recorded in history that a Dragon King was capable of manifesting a Soul Palace. Worse still, this domain housed an army of Black Dragons, each requiring a Legendary Rank just to be held at bay. This was a catastrophe beyond the capacity of any single hero; they finally understood why the legends spoke of every warrior of the old world uniting just to stop a single King.
One by one, the adventurers collapsed to the ground, their spirits broken. This was the end. There was no victory to be found in a world where the rules were written by the enemy.
Leon, however, stood tall. A thin, eager smile touched his lips. He loved the intricate clash of domains, the way one reality wrestled with another. But as he prepared to manifest his own Soul Palace—the Writer's Domain—the voice of Yudris whispered directly into his consciousness.
"Young Lord, I advise you: do not use your Soul Palace. You asked what true challenge I had prepared for you? This is it. I ensured the humans did not detect this King's evolution solely for the sake of your training. Take this as your lesson: you must defeat the Dragon King without a palace of your own."
Leon's smile deepened. It was a fundamental law of their world that only a Soul Palace could destroy another Soul Palace. Now, he was being asked to rewrite the very nature of combat.
He began to walk slowly toward the volcanic throne. The King stood up, his face a mask of cold indifference. "I believe you are experienced and knowledgeable enough to know the truth," the King said. "You cannot destroy a Soul Palace without one."
"Who decided that?" Leon asked, his voice steady as he stepped over a fissure of flowing lava.
"Do not be cocky, child," the King spat. "You are not so much stronger than I. Do you truly believe you can stand against me and a thousand immortal drakes? In case you are unaware, as long as I draw breath in this realm, these dragons will return no matter how many times you slay them. They will sacrifice their very lives to shield mine. I hope you understand the gravity of your situation."
"It is the perfect strategy of offense and defense," Leon mused, looking up at the swarming sky. "They attack me relentlessly; if I destroy them, they return. I cannot reach you, and because I cannot reach you, I cannot stop the parade. A perfected plan... but..."
Leon smiled as a brilliant white aura enveloped his hand like a form-fitting glove. He looked up at the monarch on the throne and whispered, "You truly have no idea who I am."
The King laughed with a pride that shook the realm. "Then let's find out!"
The Parade began. Thousands of Black Dragons dove toward Leon, each unleashing a torrent of flame that felt like a falling star. The S-Ranks watched in paralyzed horror; they were witnessing a magnitude of disaster that few in history ever lived to remember.
Leon launched himself into the barrage. He moved through the nukes at lightning speed, striking the first dragon, then the next. But to the King's absolute shock, the impossible happened: each dragon was not merely killed—they were erased. Leon wasn't just fighting; he was deleting them from existence. For the first time in centuries, the King felt the cold grip of true terror.
If this is not a God, what the hell is he? the King thought, his composure shattering.
In a desperate bid for survival, the King unleashed everything. He increased the gravity by ten thousand-fold, making only his dragons immune to the crushing weight. Leon responded by casting an impenetrable barrier around the S-Ranks, shielding them from the apocalypse.
The realm became a landscape of pure annihilation. The King summoned city-sized fireballs, black holes, and storms that could wipe out nations. Lava rose in hundred-foot waves as the very land quaked in agony. Yet, it had no effect. Leon moved through the chaos like a ghost, his punches deleting every monster and every spell he touched until the sky was empty.
The King panicked, pouring his soul into a final, frantic assault of lightning and tornadoes. But Leon simply stood in the center of the storm, and the elements avoided him as if repelled by a divine force. He took a deep breath and whispered a single word:
"Stop."
In that instant, the chaos died. The lava receded, the tornadoes vanished, and the black holes ceased to be. The entire realm fell into a haunting silence.
The King's hands began to tremble. He had believed they were on the same level; he had believed he was the one holding back. He was wrong. This is a living anomaly, he realized, falling to his knees. A god among men.
"Forgive my misdeeds, oh Great One," the King pleaded, his head bowed. "If it pleases you, let me serve you."
The S-Ranks were stunned. The power Leon had displayed was far beyond the reach of any Legendary Rank or Primordial Skill user.
I should have known, Azreal thought, shivering in the shadows. The rumors weren't exaggerated. They were true. Lisa watched in disbelief as the most feared monster in history surrendered. Whoever the "White One" was, he was someone the world was not prepared for. Leon himself was actually shocked; he had anticipated every outcome except for the Dragon King's total submission.
"Monsters really are amazing," Leon thought. He looked down at the humanoid figure. "You're too large to carry along. It would be difficult to travel with you."
"My Lord, I can alter my size at will if that is your request," the King replied instantly.
"Tell me," Leon asked, "what proof do I have that you won't turn against me?"
"My Lord, I am nothing compared to your almighty power. Why would I be stupid enough to challenge you?"
"Well then, let me see you transform."
The King shimmered and shrank, shifting into a small, lizard-like creature with tiny wings. Leon picked him up, looking at the miniature beast. "Hmm... you're cute. What should I call you?"
"I have no name, My Lord. Whatever you decide is fine."
"In that case, I'll call you Draken."
The dragon nodded in appreciation for its new name. Suddenly, the Soul Palace shattered, and reality returned to the cold, quiet cavern. Leon turned to face the terrified S-Ranks. His face remained hidden beneath his hood, but a sinister, playful smile tugged at his lips as he walked slowly toward them.
"Now... could you do me a favor?"