Chapter 23 - Nuturer King

[Congratulations on your breakthrough to the Peak Stage of the Body Refinement Realm]

[You're going to be transported to the fifth floor of the Beginning Tower in 10 seconds]

"Ten seconds huh? That's enough for me to devour the lifeforce of all these monsters," Malik said as he activated the Mark of Devourer. A black fog surged out of his right hand with the head shape of a dragon, devouring the lifeforce of all the dead monsters on the floor.

[You've earned 10,000 SE]

[Vitality has increased by 2%]

"Vitality huh? I think it's related to HP. To think that the monsters on this fourth floor would be so measly easy. I can't wait for the fifth floor."

Malik giggled happily as the timer counted down to zero, and his silhouette flashed, vanishing from the fourth floor which he had cleared within minutes.

[You've discovered the fifth floor of the Beginning Tower.]

[On this fifth floor, all your stats will be reduced according to the stats and level of the monsters]

[Your cultivation base will be reduced to the first stage of Apprentice]

[You are to defeat every monster that comes your way. The more you win, the higher the grade of talent you can choose]

[Your trial starts now]

The system notification rang in Malik's ears when a Level 10 monster spawned before him.

[Level 10 Direwolf - Common Monster]

HP: 100

"Just 100 HP... Although I've been reduced to the first stage of Apprentice, the system can't properly evaluate the amount of spiritual energy in my body, so this will be an easy feat," Malik said as the monster charged at him. He lazily swiped his palm and the monster burst into particles, all of its HP depleted.

[You've passed the first trial. You've achieved an E rank talent]

[Do you want to continue?]

[Y/N]

"Yes," Malik answered as another monster spawned before him.

[Feral Wolf — Level 10 Bronze Monster]

HP — 1,000

It didn't take Malik a minute to finish off the monster. Another monster spawned again, and this time it was a silver rank. It took Malik just 3 minutes to defeat it.

Soon, a Gold-ranked monster appeared. Malik had to use the Eyes of Insight to locate its weak point before depleting all its HP.

[You've achieved a B rank evaluation. You'll receive a B rank talent. Do you still wish to continue?]

[Y/N]

"Yes," Malik replied excitedly as another monster spawned in front of him.

[Dark Panther — Elite Monster]

Level — 20

HP — 60,000

"Oh... An elite monster. I'm already getting tired. I need to end this quickly," Malik said as he activated the Black Lightning Art and perfectly pictured a longsword in his mind.

"Black Lightning Art - First Form..." he chanted as his spiritual energy gushed out, forming into a black longsword.

"Sword of the Abyss..."

POUNCE!

The Dark Panther slashed at him once, but Malik swung his sword, sacrificing 2,000 spiritual energy and 100 health points to kill the Dark Panther with just one strike.

"This Black Lightning Art is a two-edged skill. Every attack permanently decreases my HP. I can't use this attack often. I'll only use it at critical moments—but for now, I've no choice but to use it."

"Yes," Malik told the system as another monster spawned. This time, it was a Special Elite monster that required him to combine Necro Slash with the Black Lightning Art to defeat it.

[You've achieved A++ rank evaluation. Do you want to proceed?]

[HP — 30,000/43,700 | SE — 25,000/55,000]

"I've depleted half of my spiritual energy. I've permanently lost 300 HP. Although it isn't much now, the effect is going to stack up sooner or later. Thank goodness I've got the Mark of Devourer which increases my Vitality. If I play my cards wisely, I could gain tremendously."

"And of course, I can't settle for a measly A rank talent, no matter how many pluses are in front of it. So, it's a Yes..."

Malik clicked yes, and another monster appeared in front of him. His eyes widened—he couldn't see its rank at a glance. He activated the Eyes of Insight instantly.

[Nuturer Tiger King]

Rank — Mythic

Level — 40

HP — 500,000

"A mythic rank monster... and to think that it has been suppressed, and its stats are still this high. I've got to give it my all, or I won't even have a chance to survive," Malik said to himself as he gripped the Sword of Abyss, eyeing the monster that was also watching him.

"You smell like me," the Nuturer Tiger King said, and Malik's eyes widened in shock.

"What are you talking about?" Malik asked, and the Nuturer Tiger King shook his head.

"By the rules of this place, we are supposed to fight to the death and I'm not supposed to tell you anything, but considering that you exude the same aura as me, there's a rule binding me from attacking you."

"So tell me, human... Are you the King of Nuturers that was born in this Lower Realm?"

Malik didn't understand the concept of the Lower Realm, but he could understand the concept of the King of Nuturers.

He pulled back his longsword and flashed the Nuturer Tiger King a smile.

"Naturally," Malik replied as he activated the King of Nuturers, and his aura increased drastically. Even the Nuturer Tiger's eyes widened in shock.

"He isn't even weeks old, and his aura has already climbed to this stage... Is he the chosen king?" the Nuturer Tiger King thought as he stared at Malik.

Only if he knew that Malik was the very person who stopped the birth of the Nuturer King and consumed the egg. But how could the Tiger King know this?

"I forfeit this match... It's your win," the Nuturer Tiger King said as he bowed his head slightly before his silhouette flashed. Malik heaved a sigh of relief.

"To think that the Nuturers aren't just an ordinary species. If they ever find out I consumed the egg of their King... what an impending doom."

"But then, I'll leave that for the future me to worry about. What I need now is to grow stronger."

[You've achieved an S rank Evaluation. Do you wish to proceed?]

[Y/N]

"No... That mythic rank monster's level was too high. I wouldn't have won if it hadn't forfeited."

[Error...]

[This is the God Mode setting. You must complete your final trial.]

Malik heard the system notification when his eyes widened... "What the heck? Is this system...."

Malik couldn't complete his statement when he felt a sense of doom looming upon him. He retreated immediately as a monster spawned right in front of him, causing the temperature to rise drastically.

"That is..... A Legendary rank Dragon..."