CHAPTER 73: INTO THE 10TH FLOOR PART III - PK KING’S PLAN

He dodged, countered with a knee to the chest. It barely dented the armor.

And worse—his stamina was dipping fast. His mana well was never meant for prolonged combat.

"Come on, Noel... one more hit..."

The Juggernaut leapt—and Noel didn’t dodge.

He blocked it full force, the ground buckling beneath him.

His barrier cracked. And so did his ribs.

Blood poured from his mouth.

He still stood. But he was fading.

—

Global Broadcast View – Astral Community

@AshenChronos

"Astraia’s slowing down...! Is she gonna make it!?"

@Guildwatcher"Noel’s fighting like hell, but I don’t think he can handle much more—WHERE’S BLANK?!"

@SaberMuse

"He’s done with Wave 2. He’s just standing there... watching."

@ShadowGuildsman

"No he’s not. He’s calculating. That monster’s already thinking ahead to the next wave."

@AstraiaFansClub

"Come on, Astraia! Don’t fall here!"

—

The Juggernaut lunged again, its impact hammer blazing with mana, screaming toward Noel like a meteor.

Noel gritted his teeth—then did something unexpected.

He dropped one of his gauntlets. Let it clang against the stone floor.

And with his newly freed right hand, he reached behind him—gripping the hilt of the sword sheathed across his back. It hadn’t seen use in a long time. It wasn’t part of his usual loadout. But now...

Now he needed more than fists.

With a fluid motion, Noel unsheathed the blade—a single-edged, broad sabre with jagged notches along its spine. The metal shimmered faintly—conductive steel, meant to harmonize with elemental mana.

His mana surged. Electricity crackled down his arm, coiling around the sword like a living serpent.

[Astral Alignment: Lightning Affinity Initiated]

The blade roared to life with electricity—white-hot arcs dancing along its edge.

His eyes sparked with the same energy. His aura expanded.

"Let’s dance, you metal freak," he muttered, stepping forward.

—

The Juggernaut swung.

Noel deflected with his left gauntlet—the clash flared with light—then retaliated instantly with a cross-slash from his right, the charged blade carving an arc of lightning across the enemy’s chest.

CRACK–THOOM!!

The impact staggered the construct.

Sparks danced across its frame—some shorting out its internal mana flow. It wasn’t expecting this. Neither was the crowd.

—

Astral Community Global Thread

@RiftWatch

"YO. Noel just pulled a SWORD. AND IT’S ELECTRIC."

@GuildHunter22

"That’s his Astral Power. He’s dual-styling now—melee tank and elemental striker."

@CrimsonNet

"He was saving it. Smart. Real smart."

—

Back in the arena, Noel pressed the attack—his movements now a hybrid of blunt strikes and slashing arcs, electricity bursting with each blow.

He ducked a retaliating punch, drove his gauntlet into the Juggernaut’s knee—shattering the joint—then followed up with a rising slash that split the construct’s helmet clean open, sparks flying.

The enemy reeled.

And Noel planted both feet.

"STAY DOWN!"

He plunged his lightning blade deep into the Juggernaut’s chest core—then unleashed a burst of mana through the sword.

BOOM.

The core shattered, releasing a final burst of light as the construct slumped over, disabled—then disintegrated.

Noel dropped to one knee, panting.

He had won. But only barely.

—

Scene: Astraia’s Arena

She, too, was close—her movements were sharper now, calculated despite the damage she’d taken. Two Echo-Knights remained.

They flanked her—mirroring her motion. She baited one in—then deliberately dropped her right shoulder, exposing herself.

The Echo lunged.

She spun—disappearing in a burst of radiant magic—and reappeared behind the second one, driving her blade through its back.

CRACK.

It collapsed.

The last one turned, confused. Astraia didn’t hesitate.

She stepped in, swept the leg, and struck downward like a flash of sunlight through stormclouds.

Final enemy down.

She fell to one knee.

Blood on her blade. Hair damp with sweat. Mana nearly gone.

But a fire still burned in her eyes.

—

[Wave 2 Cleared – All Arenas Synchronized]

[Recovery Phase: 5 minutes]

[Wave 3 Approaching...]

Back in my arena, I finally let out a breath.

’They did it.’

I looked up at the crimson sky swirling above the arena dome.

’Now let’s see who survives Wave Three.’

—

I lifted my communicator, the faint hum of its connection steady amidst the battlefield chaos.

"Astraia, Noel, you holding up alright?" My voice crackled through the static but was clear enough.

Astraia’s voice came first, breathless but determined. "I’m battered, but I’m still standing. Those Echo-Knights nearly got me."

Noel’s reply was rough, his exhaustion evident. "Barely made it, but the lightning sword trick turned the tide. Couldn’t have done it without that."

I nodded silently, absorbing their words.

"Astraia, Noel—take a moment. Drink a large healing potion. We need you at full strength for this next wave."

Astraia’s quick reply came, laced with determination but a hint of fatigue. "Got it. Taking one now."

Noel grunted in agreement. "Already downed one. Ready for the next."

I allowed myself a brief nod, eyes scanning the arena as the ominous rumble grew louder. "Good. Regain your stamina and focus. The hardest fight’s just about to begin."

—

Outside the Labyrinth, in the shadows of a sleek black van idling near the Rift Market, the PK King lounged in the dim glow of his control screen. His cold eyes narrowed as he watched the live feed of the unfolding Floor 10 battle.

A slow, cruel smile crept across his lips. "So, Blank and his little crew think they can make it through, huh?"

He tapped a series of commands, and a holographic display sprang to life—maps, intel feeds, and profiles of known Vassals.

"They clear the floor, they come out alive..." He paused, voice dripping with menace, "That’s when we strike."

Behind him, his elite squad—clad in dark armor, faces obscured—readied their weapons: soul-piercing swords humming with deadly energy, and cloaking devices activating in near-silence.

"They won’t see us coming. We’ll tear through them before they even know what hit them."

His fingers drummed impatiently. "Once they’re down, we vanish. No traces. No survivors. The Rift will remember their names... but only as ghosts."

He leaned forward, eyes burning with cold intent. "This is just the beginning."

—

Back inside the Labyrinth, the arena trembled as the ominous rumble intensified—wave three had begun.

From the shadows, monstrous forms emerged, larger and more ferocious than anything before. The air thickened with mana, crackling like a storm about to break.

I tightened my grip, feeling the weight of every second. Astraia and Noel’s voices crackled through the communicator, steady but tense.

’No time to hesitate. This wave would test us like never before.’