Chapter 149: The Hollow Crown [2]

Because Evelyne had already completed the pre-registration, they bypassed most of the longer lines.

An Association staff member checked her identification, confirmed the reservation, and then turned to Klein.

After verifying his credentials and registration, the staff member produced a thin, matte-black rectangular pass and a small metallic chip no larger than a coin.

"This is your entry pass for the Hollow Crown Tower," the staff member explained, sliding the pass across the counter.

"It grants access for a single continuous dive. Once you exit, the pass expires."

He then held up the chip between two fingers.

"This tracking chip will be bound to your mana signature. It records the highest floor you successfully reach and transmits the data to the main leaderboard upon exit or confirmed death. Do not attempt to remove or interfere with it once it is attached."

Klein gave a short nod.

The staff member pressed the chip against the inside of Klein’s wrist.

A faint pulse of light flared as it bonded, sinking slightly into the skin until only a thin invisible seam remained.

A soft confirmation tone sounded from the registration terminal.

[Tracking Chip Bound - Klein Faress]

[Current Record: Floor 0]

The staff member handed him a small printed slip with the binding confirmation and gestured toward the reinforced pathway leading to the Tower’s main entrance.

"You’re cleared for entry. Proceed when ready. Once you step through the threshold, the dive is considered active."

Evelyne took the entry pass from the counter and passed it to Klein.

They stepped away from the registration booth.

The massive leaderboard still displayed Shun Ming’s name at the top with 32nd Floor, while the crowd of Arbiters and media continued to gather near the base of the Tower.

Then the board suddenly flickered.

A wave of golden light ran across the rankings.

The name at the very top shifted, and a new entry locked into place.

1st — Austin — 33rd Floor

For a second the entire area went quiet.

Then the media erupted.

Cameras flashed one after another.

Reporters raised their equipment and began speaking quickly into their microphones, as they confirmed the update.

"Austin just broke the record- thirty-three floors!"

"He surpassed Shun Ming’s long-standing record in his third dive!"

The crowd near the Tower entrance thickened as more people pushed forward to get a better look at the updated leaderboard.

A 22 year old Mythic-grade second-year had just pushed the highest verified clear to the 33rd floor in real time.

Beside Klein, Evelyne’s eyes condensed "...Oh. It’s him."

Klein glanced at her "You know him?"

Evelyne gave a small nod, "Austin. Second-year at Grayhaven. Same as the rumors said, Mythic-grade class."

"He is one of the six Mythic Grade Awakeners in the second year of Grayhaven. As for first-year, there are ten, including you."

A soft breath escaped Klein’s lips ’Finally... I am meeting some good people.’

’I was wondering why I am not meeting any powerful students in the Academy.’

Evelyne reached over and gently took his hand.

"Don’t let this distract you," she muttered.

"Austin breaking the record doesn’t change what you need to do inside. Focus on your own dive."

She gave his hand a small squeeze, "Good luck, Klein."

Turning to her, he gave a soft nod. "Mhm."

---

As he approached the massive black archway that served as the entrance, the noise of the crowd, the media, and the leaderboard updates gradually faded.

He presented the entry pass. A thin beam of light scanned it, confirmed the binding of the tracking chip on his wrist, and the pass dissolved into particles of light.

Klein stepped through.

One moment his foot left the solid ground of the entry zone, and the next moment, he was in a different place.

He stood on the first floor of the Hollow Crown Tower.

A wide, circular chamber stretched outward in every direction, and the ceiling was so high it disappeared into darkness.

Faint motes of light drifted through the air like dying embers.

*swoosh*

Five goblins materialized near one of the cracked pillars, their green skin mottled and they raised their crude weapons.

The moment they spotted Klein, they let out sharp, guttural cries and charged.

"GRAARGHH!"

Klein didn’t even slow his pace.

"Gale."

Green wind coiled into existence beside him.

The Gale Jaguar took form in a rush of compressed air, with its sleek body lowered to the ground as green energy swirled around its limbs.

The moment its paws touched the black stone, it shot forward.

*swoosh*

The first goblin barely had time to raise its rusted blade before Gale’s claws ripped through its throat.

*thoom* The second goblin was slammed into a pillar, cracking its bones.

The remaining three tried to scatter, but the jaguar moved too quickly and closed its distance in a second.

One was torn open from shoulder to hip. Another had its skull crushed under a heavy paw.

"Gree-" The last goblin managed to scream before Gale’s jaws closed around its neck and shook once.

The entire fight lasted less than ten seconds.

Klein continued walking towards the door to enter the second floor.

Gale trotted up beside him and fell into step without needing further command.

Looking at the spirit, a smile appeared on Klein’s lips ’This reminds me so much of the curses I had...’

---

Klein did not linger on any of the lower floors.

After the first floor, the pattern of the Hollow Crown Tower was easy to read.

Each subsequent floor opened into a new environment and new monsters.

On the third floor, a pack of shadow hounds tried to flank him. Gale tore through two of them while Klein’s spear ended the rest in clean thrusts.

On the fifth floor, a group of armored lizardmen formed a defensive line near the exit gate.

Klein simply accelerated his steps and cut a path straight through them without wasting a single unnecessary movement.

The tracking chip on his wrist pulsed quietly with each floor he cleared.

Floor 6...

Floor 7...

Floor 8...

[Hollow Crown Tower - Floor 10]

The tenth floor was different.

Instead of a single chamber, Klein found himself standing at the edge of a vast underground ruin.

Collapsed stone bridges spanned deep chasms, and in the distance, the exit gate glowed faintly atop a raised platform, but the path leading to it was broken and heavily guarded.

Seeing the humanoid construct figures made of stone, Gale’s ears flattened slightly.

The jaguar lowered its stance as green energy gathered around its claws.

Looking at Gale, Klein muttered "Alright Gale, time for you to evolve. Destroy them."

Eh? Gale turned to look at him as if asking ’What? Me?’ (╯•ᗣ•╰)

Klein continued forward with a smile "You heard me."

The jaguar remained still for a second longer, as if hoping he would take it back.

He didn’t.

A faint huff left Gale which is more of a resigned exhale than anything, and the green energy around its body tightened as it turned ahead.

Between them and that gate, there are humanoid stone constructs.

Their movements were slow, and each step they took caused the broken stone beneath them to crack further.

They had already noticed him.

One of them turned its head with a grinding sound and looked at Klein as the others also moved, stepping forward to block the nearest bridge.

"Go."

Gale didn’t hesitate this time.

The moment the command settled, the green energy around its body flared, compressing tightly along its limbs before releasing all at once.

*swoosh*

It vanished from beside him in a burst of speed and its body became a streak of green wind as it shot forward across the fractured bridge.

The nearest construct reacted immediately, raising one massive arm to intercept it.

But Gale didn’t meet it head-on.

It twisted mid-air, its body slipping past the strike by a second, and its claws glowed as they carved across the construct’s leg.

SHHK

The construct staggered slightly and its balance was disrupted as cracks spread from the point of impact.

Gale landed lightly, and its paws barely made a sound before it pushed off again.

The other constructs moved.

Two stepped forward together, blocking its path, while another raised both arms high, bringing them down in a crushing blow meant to pin the spirit in place.

The ground shattered where the strike landed...

But Gale was already gone.

It reappeared to the side, faster now as the wind around it grew denser with each motion.

Klein watched from the edge of the bridge with a thoughtful look on his face.

Each strike Gale landed chipped away at them, but none had fallen yet.

"Too cautious..." Klein murmured under his breath.

As if hearing him, Gale’s movements shifted, and the next time it dashed forward, it committed to its strike.

The green energy around its body flared brighter, compressing tighter along its claws and shoulders as it lunged directly at the nearest construct.

The stone figure raised its arm again, and this time, Gale met it.

CRACK

The impact echoed through the ruin, and the compressed wind exploded outward as Gale’s claws collided with the descending arm.

Fractures spread rapidly through the construct’s arm, and the entire limb shattered at the point of impact before collapsing into broken fragments.

Gale didn’t stop.

It pushed through, and its body twisted upward as it climbed along the construct’s torso in a blur of motion, surging toward the head.

The second construct moved to intercept, but it was too late.

Gale’s jaws opened, and green energy condensed along its fangs as it clamped down at the base of the first construct’s neck.

BOOM

The head separated cleanly.

The remaining constructs shifted, and their movements became more aggressive now as they closed in together.

Gale landed lightly on the broken stone, its chest rising slightly as it exhaled.

For a brief moment, it looked back at Klein again as if proud of its achievement.

This time, there was no hesitation in its gaze.

Klein met its eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Good. Now finish it."

The wind around Gale sharpened.