meaning of territory

Chapter 26: Secrets of the Tower – The Meaning of Territory

Lee Hwan stepped into the city nestled within the 9th Floor. It was eerily quiet, the tension from Zareth's presence still lingering in the air. The streets were wide and clean, but not many dared to walk openly—not with a Monarch's Vessel ruling this floor.

Lee found a small marketplace where a few brave NPC vendors still worked. He approached an older man, sitting behind a stall of scrolls and books.

"Old man," Lee said. "I need some information."

The NPC looked up, recognizing Lee's presence immediately. He bowed slightly. "You're the new Ranker… what do you want to know?"

"What does territory mean?" Lee asked.

The old man's eyes sharpened. "So you met one, didn't you? A true vessel…"

He pulled out a dusty scroll and opened it, showing a rough sketch of the Tower.

"In the Tower, the moment someone clears a floor—completely—it becomes their Territory."

"The Tower acknowledges them as ruler of that floor. That means: – They control the environment. – They decide the rules. – And they can bend the laws of mana here."

Lee's eyes narrowed. "So Zareth owns this floor because he cleared it first?"

The NPC nodded. "Exactly. He owns the heart of the 9th Floor. You can't fight him on equal footing here. You'd need to challenge him on neutral ground, or claim his floor by beating him in his own territory—which is almost impossible."

Lee clenched his fists.

"Then I'll make my own territory. Starting with the 10th Floor."

The NPC looked up, cautious. "If you plan that, boy… remember: those with territories are no longer just players. They're rulers. And rulers… always draw war."

Lee turned around, already walking away.

"Then I'll become a ruler who never loses."