For a moment, my mind simply stopped working.

Hearing that Cho-Yeon wanted me to meet Kalain as soon as I stepped out of the tower was something I could only react to with disbelief. It wasn’t that the idea had never crossed my mind, but it had been nothing more than a passing thought. I had dismissed it immediately as an impossibility.

Since Thunder Axe was my greatest protection against Kalain, my earliest concern had been that Kalain had somehow restrained Thunder Axe. The tower freezing the flow of time outside had made that scenario unlikely, however. Of course, I had also assumed that I would assist Thunder Axe in his confrontation with Kalain after training.

If Kalain is really putting Thunder Axe on the defensive, and no amount of time can resolve the situation, then that changes everything.

Even so, that didn’t align with what Cho-Yeon had said only moments earlier.

Didn’t she mention that both Earth and I would be protected for one hundred years after leaving the tower?

In that case, meeting Kalain immediately felt contradictory, but it did remind me of a question I had from months ago.

Kalain’s reward from the one hundredth floor.

Cho-Yeon hadn’t shared what it was, but perhaps he had used it to reach out to me. My thoughts grew tangled. Even after growing so powerful, I was only somewhat above average by divine standards.

Thinking back to my encounter with Thunder Axe, it was obvious that the current me had no chance of defeating him. Expecting me to surpass Kalain was even less realistic.

Unless it will be nothing more than a conversation.

That was extremely unlikely, though.

Given our circumstances, a meeting between two challengers—past and future—would be anything but friendly. Cho-Yeon wouldn’t have looked tense and insisted that I adapt to my power first, either, only reinforcing that theory.

Cho-Yeon spotted my expression and added, “I understand this is sudden, but—”

I interjected, “This is related to Kalain’s hundredth-floor reward, right?”

“Something like that,” she replied calmly.

My suspicion had been correct, but I couldn’t understand how she was staying so composed. I would lose in a direct confrontation—that wasn’t a matter of confidence but an objective fact.

Perhaps Kalain truly intended to just talk and wanted to persuade me to side with him. That was unlikely, however.

“Sky of the Nine Heavens couldn’t become God, but he did climb the tower as a challenger. He received a separate reward for that achievement.”

“So something like a wish. Something that lets him meet me.”

“Yes. Which is why I couldn’t speak of it beforehand. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to be sorry.”

She simply wasn’t permitted to tell me, although the hint she had offered earlier had been more than enough. Because of it, I had adapted to my new strength.

Even so, I still had questions.

“You really do seem okay with this. As I am sure you know, at my current level, I can’t win against Kalain.”

She had likely completed some internal calculations, but her calm expression still bothered me. A person didn’t look that at ease unless they were confident.

“I do not know exactly how the meeting will unfold, but Sky of the Nine Heavens will be entering under specific restrictions. It should be manageable.”

“Restrictions?”

“In this encounter, Sky of the Nine Heavens may only use strength equivalent to yours.”

I frowned slightly, and Cho-Yeon continued, “That includes physical ability, divinity, and mana. He may use only what you, The Coming Dawn, can currently wield.”

“What about causality?”

“That differs, of course. You possess more causality than he does. Sky of the Nine Heavens may only use what he personally possesses.”

That was a slight relief.

Suddenly, I understood why the tower had so strongly urged me to stabilize my new power. I needed to face a version of Kalain that matched me—almost. If I had left before adapting, I would have lost instantly. At first glance, the situation didn’t seem terrible. Yet in reality, I remained at a disadvantage.

Kalain was far stronger than I was and had accumulated thousands of years of experience as a god. Even if we were put on a level playing field, the mastery of his techniques would be far superior.

Also, I didn’t know him or his abilities that well.

All I have to go off of are the illusions from previous floors.

That version of Kalain was more than four thousand years old, unfortunately.

He wouldn’t have been able to watch the end of my climb, but unlike me, he at least had a rough idea of his opponent’s abilities. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, though. This was undoubtedly better than facing Kalain’s true power. It was simply that even this restricted confrontation felt daunting.

Can I do this?

I swallowed the question since asking it wouldn’t change anything. Throughout the entire climb, I had kept that mindset. The issue wasn’t whether I could; I simply had to. If Kalain opposed me, then I had no choice but to defeat him. Even if he had only come to talk, I didn’t intend to side with him. Conflict between us was inevitable.

“Will I receive a bonus because of this? It is nullifying my one-hundred-year protection without my consent.”

“Unfortunately, no. This meeting is being carried out through Sky of the Nine Heavens’s own authority.” Cho-Yeon noticed a trace of dissatisfaction in my expression and quickly added, “I understand it may feel unfair, but I have done everything within my power.”

She wasn’t wrong. Even though it was his wish, I technically had an advantage when it came to raw power.

“If you win, you will become a true God. In that sense, it isn’t an unfavorable exchange.”

I nodded quietly.

The tower had likely considered Kalain’s request and run its calculations. From the previous year to now, Cho-Yeon had observed every moment of my life and every shift in my heart. If she judged the situation as acceptable, then perhaps there was a path to victory. Well, even if there wasn’t, I didn’t have an alternative.

“So I won’t be able to train after that, I guess.”

“No. Once you choose to exit, that decision can’t be reversed.”

That was to be expected. She would have mentioned it earlier had that been the case. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that additional training would only make things more comfortable for Kalain. Under equalized conditions, meeting him as I was now was the better option.

My sole advantage was causality, so I needed to minimize everything else and rely on that. The tower urging me to leave now was likely because of this.

“Then, after meeting Kalain, can I see Hee Jeong?”

“Yes.”

Even though she had already explained everything, it took me some time to accept. Facing Kalain the moment I conquered the tower had never seemed like a serious possibility. I had worried about it, sure, but I had always assumed that Thunder Axe would keep Kalain away for decades or even centuries.

From Kalain’s perspective, this was one of the best outcomes. Even if he held the upper hand against Thunder Axe and other factions, my presence would shift everything. Given my growth rate, it was inevitable that Kalain would become disadvantaged.

I exhaled slowly and steadied my breathing. Avoiding him was impossible. I had to face the situation and overcome it. Tightening my grip around Soulbound, I found solace in the souls that pulsed faintly within it.

“I understand. I am ready to leave.”

“Very well. As for your other rewards, such as the ownership and shares of the worlds saved by The Coming Dawn, those will be formally settled after everything is concluded.”

“There was something like that?”

“One of the Primordial God’s worlds has already come under your care, and there are other worlds in which you have gained partial ownership.”

“And none of that will help me right now?”

Cho-Yeon nodded gently. “No. Your divinity is already being transmitted.”

It was rather unfortunate, but considering how plainly she had stated it, that was how the system worked. Gaining more authority at this moment wouldn’t provide me with an immediate benefit. Complicated matters such as these were better handled after the confrontation with Kalain. It felt as if she had mentioned it only because the procedures required her to do so. I didn’t feel like she had been trying to actively hide the information from me. Rather, it was probably part of her way of ensuring that I didn’t divide my attention while training.

“Alright. We will handle it that way.”

“Confirmed.”

A slight smile formed on Cho-Yeon’s lips, and in the same moment, the notification window refreshed.

[Congratulations. The Coming Dawn has conquered the Tower of Ordeal as a Challenger.]

[The Tower of Ordeal installed in Sector C-66432 will now shut down.]

[We offer unending praise for overcoming a trial of such magnitude. We wish you good fortune in the journey that awaits.]

Unlike the usual artificial tone, the voice narrating the message flowed directly from Cho-Yeon’s mouth. Her warm, steady voice brought me back to the moment I had first stepped into the tower, briefly returning the memory as they seemingly overlapped. The phrasing of the message was reminiscent of that very moment.

Even though I was about to confront Kalain, a quiet sense of closure welled up inside me. No matter what lay ahead, this marked the official end of my climb.

Then the tower’s voice shifted once more.

[The Coming Dawn has conquered the Tower of Ordeal, and...

The voice resonated with a force that felt almost supernatural. It vibrated not only in my ears but deep within my heart, as if touching something fundamental within my soul.

... the Tower of Ordeal shall now announce this to the world.]

With that final line, a flash of light enveloped my vision. It felt as if the radiance was embracing me, and it was followed by a familiar floating sensation.

I briefly traveled through space.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself standing on my personal battlefield, the same world I had placed the other half of the Star Devourer. I hadn’t expected the tower to send me here. However, since Kalain had chosen the meeting point, perhaps this place was considered neutral ground.

I slowly extended my senses.

Kalain was nowhere to be seen, and I was just beginning to wonder where he was when a pillar of black light descended across the field. When the column of darkness reaching into the sky dissipated, Kalain appeared.

This was my third time encountering a version of Kalain, but my first time actually meeting him face to face. A strand of tension coiled in my stomach, and I swallowed.

He regarded me wordlessly.

A long, dark cape swayed behind him, brushing against the armor that looked both light and lethal. The dusky longsword in his hand seemed sharp enough to cut the air itself. His reptilian eyes from his dragonkin heritage were devoid of emotion, just like when I had faced my future self. There was no telling what he was thinking.

Regardless of his silence, an overwhelming presence flowed from him. There was a sense of transcendence radiating from him. It made me wonder if he had truly been restricted.

Even Thunder Axe’s pressure wasn’t as immense. Of course, Thunder Axe had been friendly, so he had undoubtedly hidden his true power. Yet even with that in mind, I immediately understood.

Kalain was stronger.

My thoughts began racing.

Can I use the Star Devourer here?

Without Poong-Lyeong, it appeared unlikely. This battlefield felt as if it belonged solely to the two of us. Even if the Spirit of Storms had been present, Kalain would have likely noticed the Star Devourer’s influence instantly.

My brief contemplation ended when Kalain said, “It is good to see you. It has been a long time, my friend.”

Only one corner of his mouth lifted slightly into a faint smile.