Chapter 136 - Deep Floor Training

(PS: I'll pause the casino side story for now and focus on the main storyline.)

The next day.

Dungeon — Deep Floors.

White Palace, 37th Floor.

Inside an enormous chamber, shaped like a circular arena.

Faint phosphorescence lit the dark surroundings with a dim glow.

The roars and howls of furious monsters echoed constantly within the space.

This was a realm of danger—a slaughter zone where monsters spawned endlessly.

Its defining trait: no matter how many are slain, they keep coming.

Kill one monster, and a new one immediately takes its place.

This arena was a trap specifically designed by the dungeon to massacre invaders.

Even the Loki Familia wouldn't dare approach it.

But Raven Eltharion—

Was training here.

In the center of the arena stood Little Jugger, the Level 9 [Destroyer].

Its massive body radiated a terrifying pressure that deterred every monster around.

Even though the surrounding monsters had potential around Level 4,

None dared take a single step closer to the blood-red Juggernaut.

If one did venture too near—

The creature's crimson claws, harbingers of doom, would tear them to pieces.

To Raven, wherever Little Jugger stood was the absolute safe zone.

Whenever he needed a break, he'd rest beside it.

At the moment—

The [Berserker Empress] Lagunares was giving Meteria one-on-one combat lessons.

The [Silent Witch] Alfia was helping Raven hone his magic.

The [Gluttony] Zald was instructing Raven in sword techniques.

Alise, Kaguya, Lyra, Ryuu, Neze, Aude, Letsha, Lanti…

Including the twins Dina and Veena—

All sixteen of them were fighting in perfect rhythm against the endless horde.

"Technique, movement, quick thinking, intuition, strategy, inspiration…"

"Are all these considered internal developments?"

Raven asked uncertainly.

"Yes," Alfia replied.

In truth, ability and technique were two very different things.

Take Zald, for example—

He had technique that matched his immense power.

He wasn't ruled by his ability scores—he mastered them.

Even if he lost his stats, he would still retain superb skill and strength.

But Raven was different.

If he lost his God's Blessing, he'd be no different than a regular human.

Sure, he still had his System, but he didn't want that day to ever come.

Which meant—

He had to grow stronger now.

"ROOOOOOOOOOAAAARRR!!"

A Terraknight wielding a massive shield came charging in, slashing violently.

Raven responded by closing his eyes.

He focused solely on his sensory skills, detecting the trajectory of the incoming strike.

"A vertical slash, huh?"

Sensing the incoming intent to kill, he lightly leapt backward.

He successfully dodged the white-bone warrior's powerful strike.

Immediately after—

"ROOOOOOOOOOAAAARRR!!"

Skeletal goats, savage warriors, obsidian soldiers, Peludas, shadow wolves—

Dozens of monsters surged toward him.

Yet Raven, already cloaked in his strongest magic barrier, showed no fear.

His eyes remained shut.

Purely through sensory perception, he avoided every attack with ease.

In the face of Observation Haki—

The speed of every incoming strike seemed to slow by several times.

Raven could see through every move—every opening.

"HAHAHAHA!"

"Nice work, Raven."

"Didn't expect you to be this agile."

Watching nearby, Zald gave a hearty laugh while holding his massive dark sword.

Just then—

Dozens of Terraknight warriors came swarming toward him like bees.

Zald didn't even glance at them.

With a light swing of his obsidian blade toward their direction—

A deep-black arc tore through the arena with a thunderous boom.

All the shield-bearing monsters in its path were obliterated instantly.

Shattered white bones scattered across the floor like falling snow.

Zald had no interest in consuming broken bones.

"—Gospel."

With an ear-splitting shockwave, Alfia blasted apart a horde of shadow wolves.

"—Shinra Tensei."

A powerful repulsion from Raven's magic barrier sent all incoming enemies flying.

"Alright, let's move on to the next lesson!"

Raven opened his eyes and looked toward the two sovereigns.

The term "Sovereign" referred to one who walked the path of domination—

Those who held absolute power.

One step could shatter all.

One blow could destroy everything.

One sword could cleave through the world.

Turning one into two, forming a path that rejected all obstacles.

A path forged by "no second"—this was 霸道 (the Path of the Sovereign).

One who walks such a path—

Was called a Sovereign.

This was a truth decided since a thousand years ago.

[Silence] Alfia wielded Overlight (霸光).

[Gluttony] Zald wielded Overstrike (霸击).

[Empress] Lagunares wielded Overlord (霸王).

And as for Raven Eltharion—

He wielded:

Overwill (霸气改)

It was his destiny—

To become the strongest Sovereign in history.

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