After hours of relentless combat, Noah had gone on a frenzy of slaughter across the ninth floor. From A-rank monsters to C-rank creatures, he carved his way through the wilderness, pushing both his abilities and his stamina to their limits.

    Despite slaying dozens of monsters, his level rose by only one, a harsh reminder of how grueling progress was in the Master Realm. However, the true reward wasn''t his level—it was his stats, which had skyrocketed thanks to Soul Ascension. Each powerful enemy had added to his strength, widening the gap between him and his peers.

    [System Notification:]

    Level Up! You are now Level 62.

    ■ Status Window

    Name: Noah Adler

    Rank: Master

    Level: 62

    Class: Angel of Death

    Title: Goblin Slayer

    ☆ Stats ☆@@@@

    Mana: 182 (+7)

    Strength: 188 (+9)

    Intelligence: 149 (+2)

    Dexterity: 183 (+7)

    Luck: 126 (+2)

    Stat Points: 2

    Coins: 37,060 G

    His progress was undeniable. Every fight honed his skills, every kill boosted his stats, and every step brought him closer to dominance.

    Now, he stood before the massive iron doors of the mini-boss room on the ninth floor. The oppressive aura emanating from beyond the doors was enough to make even the strongest adventurers hesitate. But not Noah.

    The battle continued in a relentless dance of attack and evasion. Noah cycled through his arsenal of skills:

    Telekinesis allowed him to hurl loose chunks of molten rock at the Drake, distracting it while he repositioned.

    Flame Art let him manipulate the ambient fire, redirecting some of the Drake''s flames back toward it.

    Unprecedented Sense kept him one step ahead of the Drake''s attacks, allowing him to predict its movements with uncanny precision.

    Despite his efforts, the Fire Drake''s strength and durability were formidable. Its scales seemed impervious to most of his attacks, and its relentless flames left little room for error.

    As the fight dragged on, Noah realized he had to end it quickly. His stamina was draining, and the oppressive heat was beginning to seep through even his Mana''s Armor.

    "Enough holding back," he said, his voice calm but resolute.

    Dodging another fiery swipe, he positioned himself beneath the Drake''s exposed underbelly. Gathering all his remaining strength, he channeled his mana into Splitting Ripple Slash, amplifying it with his full power.

    "This ends now!"

    The slash tore through the air, its sheer force splitting the flames around it. The attack struck the Fire Drake''s vulnerable belly, ripping through scales and flesh with a deafening crack.

    The Drake let out a final, guttural roar, its massive body collapsing to the ground in a heap. Flames flickered and died around it as the light faded from its eyes.

    Noah stood over the fallen beast, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. The room was eerily quiet now, the oppressive heat slowly dissipating.

    [System Notification:]

    Congratulations! You have defeated the Fire Drake, a mid-rank A boss monster.

    Experience gained: Significant.

    Soul Ascension activated: +3 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Mana.

    A faint glow surrounded Noah as the stat boosts took effect. He opened his Status Window, satisfied with the new increments.

    "One more step closer," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

    The Fire Drake''s body disintegrated into mana particles, leaving behind a chest that shimmered with golden light. Noah approached it, anticipation bubbling within him. Whatever lay inside was bound to be worth the effort.

    "Let''s see what this floor has to offer." He opened the chest, ready to claim his reward.