Titan Beasts began advancing toward Chris from every direction.
Beside him, Stripes wore a look of pure terror.
Faced with the overwhelming presence of so many Titan Beasts, Chris broke out in a cold sweat.
He had no idea how many more of these terrifying creatures were hidden within the ruins of Fort Dragon, a place lost to the sands of time.
“Stripes, we need to go!”
Without hesitation, Chris grabbed Stripes, and the two fled.
Dodging the relentless pursuit of the Titan Beasts, they arrived at the center of the city.
There, standing before them, was a colossal palace.
Chris raised his head, staring at the structure in awe.
It was the largest palace he had ever seen, far surpassing even the grandeur of Amerosia’s royal palace.
Though the palace showed signs of decay, it still exuded an imposing and awe-inspiring presence.
Constructed entirely of massive stone blocks, it stood hundreds of meters tall, radiating an aura of majesty and power.
Leading up to the palace was a series of enormous stone steps, hundreds in number.
Chris took one look at the steps and realized this was his only path to survival.
If the Titan Beasts caught up to him, surrounded by their sheer numbers, there would be no escape.
Taking a deep breath, Chris stepped onto the first stone step.
Suddenly, an overwhelming force of gravity pressed down on him.
His steps grew heavier in an instant.
“What… is this?”
Feeling the crushing weight, Chris’s expression changed.
He hadn’t expected the gravity on these steps to be so intense.
Behind him, the roars of Titan Beasts echoed.
“Roar!”
“Roar!”
“Roar!”
The ground seemed to tremble as countless Titan Beasts charged toward them in a frenzy.
Chris had no choice.
His only option was to ascend the steps and reach the palace.
When he placed his foot on the second step, beads of sweat immediately dripped from his forehead.
The gravity increased with each step, doubling in intensity every time.
Chris looked up at the seemingly endless flight of steps and felt a wave of despair.
How immense would the gravity become by the time he reached the top?
He glanced back, considering retreat-but the bottom of the steps was now swarming with countless Titan Beasts, their numbers continually growing.
“Stripes!”
Suddenly, Chris realized Stripes was no longer beside him.
Looking up, his jaw dropped in disbelief.
Stripes was already at the very top of the steps.
“What…?”
Chris was stunned.
How was this possible? Did the steps have no effect on Stripes?
A million thoughts raced through Chris’s mind, but he had no time to dwell on them.
Retreating wasn’t an option.
With gritted teeth, Chris forced himself onward.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
Sweat soaked through his clothes as he climbed.
By the time he reached the hundredth step, Chris felt his strength completely drained.
The crushing gravity had pushed him to his absolute limit.
His blood churned violently, and his veins felt as though they were about to burst.
It had taken him nearly three hours just to climb one hundred steps.
Looking back, he saw countless Titan Beasts at the base of the stairs, snarling but refusing to come closer.
Relief washed over Chris.
If the Titan Beasts had followed, he would have been doomed.
Turning his gaze forward, Chris let out a bitter laugh.
There were still hundreds of steps to go.
At the top, Stripes lounged idly, clearly waiting for him.
Chris took a deep breath and muttered to himself, “These steps are strange. The gravity is terrifying, but it’s pushing my body to its limits, unlocking my potential. These steps aren’t ordinary…”
The immense pressure strengthened his bones and muscles, forcing him to grow.
With that realization, Chris stepped onto the next stone step.
Boom!
A wave of crushing force slammed into him.
Blood began to seep from his nose and mouth.
Still, his powerful physique allowed him to endure.
An ordinary person would have been instantly crushed under such weight.
Chris clenched his teeth and continued forward.
One hundred and ten steps.
One hundred and twenty steps.
One hundred and fifty steps.
Two hundred steps.
By the time Chris reached the two-hundredth step, his entire body was drenched in blood.
The increasing gravity had caused his blood vessels to burst, staining his skin with crimson.
It felt as though a mountain was pressing down on his back, and Chris could barely stand.
Each step forward became a monumental task.
As he climbed further…
Boom!
The pressure within his body intensified.
His internal organs felt as though they were being crushed.
Buzz!
Suddenly, Chris’s mind went completely blank.
For a brief moment, he entered a mysterious state of clarity.
His soul seemed to separate from his body, experiencing an unprecedented sense of freedom.
Meanwhile, inside the palace…
At its heart, atop a magnificent throne, sat a shadowy figure.
The throne, shaped like a dragon, radiated an aura of ancient power.
The figure wore a crown and a golden robe adorned with five-clawed dragons.
His presence exuded unparalleled majesty.
Raising his gaze, his eyes seemed to pierce through the fabric of reality itself.
“How many years has it been? Finally, someone has entered again. This one… an Aragosti, just like I was back then. Where does he come from? Could it be… Earth? After thousands of years, another soul dares to ascend the Dragon Hall…”
His deep, resonant voice echoed throughout the vast hall, carrying the weight of countless ages.
One hundred steps.
Two hundred steps.
Three hundred steps.
Chris finally reached the three-hundredth step, his face pale as a ghost.
Exhaustion consumed him, and the immense gravity felt like a mountain crushing his back.
Despite everything, Chris refused to give up.
His blood burned within him, his body undergoing a profound transformation.
From deep within his flesh, an inexplicable force began to emerge.
After resting briefly, Chris summoned his remaining strength and continued his ascent.