CHAPTER 82: INTO THE 10TH FLOOR PART XII - THE EXCHANGE OF BLOWS

—[Live Global Broadcast Feed | 10th Floor Boss Arena: Active]—

The world watched in breathless silence.

Dozens of feeds from across the globe were locked onto the same scene—satellite projection, military broadcast, Astral Community’s live tracker—all of them streaming the chaos unfolding within the 10th Floor’s merged arena.

But among the chaos... one figure stood apart.

Blurring in and out of reality, fists glowing like miniature suns, carving strikes into the titanic body of Korr’Thal—the Tri-Soul Calamity that no simulation had ever predicted.

Blank.

The name whispered through every tongue. Revered. Feared.

And now... understood

—

In a military command center in Manila

A commander slammed his fist down on the desk. "That’s not a Vassal. That’s a damn natural disaster."

His adjutant nodded slowly, eyes wide. "He’s moving faster than our systems can track. Even with their skills enabled... the other two can’t keep up."

—

In Tokyo, inside Astraia’s abandoned guild tower

Former comrades gathered around the projection wall. One of them turned, stunned. "Is that... her Divine Form active?"

Another nodded.

"...And she’s still falling behind."

They all stared at the one-sided battle above them. One where Blank, the faceless ghost, kept pace with a monster born of three souls... and never faltered.

—

Within the arena — Noel’s Perspective

He was panting, lightning sparking across his bruised shoulders.

He had given everything. Astral Overdrive was still coursing through him, limbs charged and crackling — but it wasn’t enough.

He watched you from across the field, just beyond the monster’s massive leg.

You vanished — only to reappear behind the boss’s head, dealing a devastating blow that forced it to stagger, again.

"He’s... still faster," Noel thought, jaw clenching. "Still cleaner. Still ahead."

His sword trembled in his hand.

"How much more is he hiding...?"

—

Astraia’s Arena – Her Perspective

She knelt in a crater, golden mana still drifting around her from her Divine Skill’s lingering aura.

Sweat rolled down her face.

Her blade was cracked. Her ribs were fractured.

She forced herself up, body sluggish—her eyes burning from exhaustion.

She looked at the central projection—Blank, tearing through the boss like a walking embodiment of war.

"...This is the real gap," she realized.

"Even with Divine Empowerment... even now, I can’t match his pace."

Her heart twisted.

"And he’s still holding back, isn’t he...?"

—

Astral Community Global Thread: Reactions Exploding

@RankWatchdog

The gap is ridiculous. Astraia’s top-tier and she’s barely holding. Noel activated Overdrive and is still a full level behind.Blank... what ARE you?

@Top1_Fan

Ain’t no way Blank’s even trying that hard. LOOK at him. He’s breathing normally.

@KaraTears

... I kinda feel bad for the boss? 😭😭 This is just bullying at this point.

@BlackThornGuild

The gap between Top 1 and the rest is finally visible. Clear as day. There’s Blank.Then there’s humanity.

—

The 10th Floor Arena Trembled.

Korr’Thal’s fused body loomed before me like a walking cataclysm — massive, steaming, and pulsing with unstable soul energy. Three cores spiraled within its chest like a trinity of rage, glowing brighter with every step it took toward me.

Noel charged in from the left.

"I got the joint!" he shouted.

His blade surged with lightning, a perfect strike lined up.

But Korr’Thal reacted without even looking.

WHAM.

A massive claw met him mid-air and sent him flying. He crashed into the far wall with a thunderous crack. I saw the spark flicker from his Astral Crest as he dropped to one knee.

Astraia didn’t wait. She launched herself high, her divine sword howling with light as it came down like retribution.

It should’ve landed.

But the monster turned with inhuman precision — elbow smashing into her midsection. She coughed blood midair before slamming into the stone like a falling comet.

They hit the ground hard.

Both of them.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath.

I stepped forward — fury and fire already coursing through my veins — then I shouted:

"STAY DOWN!"

My voice echoed across the arena like a command from the gods themselves.

Noel tried to push himself up. "I’m not—!"

"That’s an order," I growled.

He froze.

Astraia was already kneeling, hand over her stomach, eyes locked on me with something between fear and respect.

They listened.

Not because I was louder. Not because I was leading.

But because they understood.

They’d seen it too.

This boss was holding back.

Only against me.

—

I stepped forward again. The ground cracked beneath my heel.

Korr’Thal exhaled — if you could call it that — a shuddering gust that melted the stone around its feet. Its claws curled like a living weapon.

Its gaze locked onto me. Fully now.

This time, it wasn’t just looking.

It was afraid. And I knew it.

"Let’s end this."

I clenched my fists. Fire surged. The embers along my arms ignited again, hotter than before — the aura around me no longer flaring wildly.

It was precise. Contained. Ready.

—

All around the world, they watched.

Faces in cafes, on rooftops, in government bunkers and war rooms.

Even the Astral Community was going silent.

Noel, blood dripping down his jaw, whispered weakly behind me:

"He’s... fighting it alone."

Astraia’s fingers clenched around her blade, but she didn’t rise.

She just watched.

—

The moment I lunged, Korr’Thal moved.

We collided mid-air — claw against flame, muscle against momentum — the force rippling through the entire arena like a quake.

BOOM.

My punch cracked across its plated jaw.

Its claw raked across my ribs.

We both staggered back a step — then we rushed again.

I ducked under a sweeping arm and twisted, my elbow driving into its exposed ribs — flames bursting on impact.

[Burn Stack: 2]

[Burn Stack: 3]

[Burn Stack: 4]

Its other hand came crashing down. I threw myself backward, boots skidding on scorched stone.

’Damn it—it’s adapting again.’

It rushed.

I spun low beneath the stampede, igniting my leg with mana and sweeping its ankle.

It stumbled. I took the opening, leaping up, spinning mid-air, and hammered its spine with a flaming kick.

[Burn Stack: 7]

[Burn Stack: 8]

[Penetration Bonus Applied]

It roared — the sound deep, metallic, echoing with soul distortion — and released a shockwave from its chest. A concussive soul pulse.

BOOM.

I flew back, slammed into a crumbling wall — blood in my mouth. Vision flickered.

Chest burning.

Limbs shaking.

I coughed. Grit my teeth.

"I’m not done yet."