Nameless King

It took Wain about two hours to reach the ninety-seventh floor. Wain expected that he would meet someone very strong before he reached the very top. As the difficulty increased smoothly from the first floor to the last, this made sense.

'This pagoda is one big challenge made up of small stages. Spirit Knight was a serious opponent. Maybe now I'll meet someone even stronger.' Thought Wain climbing up to the ninety-seventh floor.

Suddenly Wain felt an eerie aura and coldness coming from there. He took a step forward and saw his next opponent. It was an anthropomorphic, large creature. It had bright, red skin and a large head with no eyes but a huge jaw.

The monster was greedily devouring someone at that moment, and it was not a man or another monster. This creature was devouring a large, white soul. It was a soul eater, and this was not its first victim. 

'That's not how I imagined a soul eater. However, this creature doesn't use magical abilities but physical ones to devour a soul. That's impressive, it's definitely mighty, and its attacks will be dangerous.' Thought Wain.

He looked around and saw mountains of bones lying in the corners of the hall. Among them were many human bones. This was where most of those who had ventured into this pagoda had died.

One of the reasons Agnes decided to dissuade Wain was because of this creature. This monster wasn't just killing a person. It was destroying every sign of their existence. It was far more terrifying than death, for not even a particle of a person's soul was left in that case.

But even if she had said that to Wain, it would not have stopped him. On the contrary, he would have seen it as great potential and an opportunity to take possession of a valuable soul.

"Frightening, but I've seen worse pictures. Hmm, I have a slime bomb. Perhaps I should use it now? It will probably be useless against the enemy on top of the pagoda." Mumbled Wain.

He then armed himself with his sword and stood in a battle stance. Then the soul eater stopped absorbing the soul and turned his attention to Wain.

The monster smiled wickedly and, like a wild beast, ran toward Wain on all fours. Wain calmly waited for the monster to reach him. He made no move to retaliate.

He wanted to use Lightning Lizard's Dash and run under the monster. In the meantime, he would cut through the soul eater's belly, and victory would be his.

Wain waited for the right moment and was about to use the skill, but suddenly the soul eater changed its trajectory. The monster jumped onto the wall like a wild beast and attacked Wain from there.

Whooosh.

Wain jumped to the side and swung his arm. The plasma sword flew like black lightning toward the soul eater. But instead of dodging, the monster opened its mouth wide and grabbed the sword with its creepy teeth.

Wain tried to draw the sword back, but he was unsuccessful. Moreover, the Plasma Destruction Sword gradually cracked, more and more with each passing second.

Cracking.

Then the dark sword was destroyed by the pressure of the monster's jaw and shattered into many shards.

'If he can grab me with those jaws, I'm definitely finished. He was able to destroy my sword without much effort. His strength is impressive.' Thought Wain, and a new weapon appeared in his hands the next moment.

Then the soul eater attacked Wain again. The monster jumped around the walls like a madman and didn't let Wain understand which side he would attack from. However, when the soul eater finally decided to attack, Wain could react instantly.

He covered himself with his sword and blocked the monster's attack. The soul eater didn't want it. He didn't like his prey to resist. The monster began to attack back furiously, but Wain didn't even budge.

He instantly blocked each blow and waited for the right moment to attack.

'Now.' Thought Wain, and his body shimmered with lightning. He turned into an electrical discharge and was instantly behind the monster.

Simultaneously, a wide gash appeared on the monster's stomach, and a fountain of blood poured to the ground. But that didn't stop the soul eater. He couldn't die from such a wound. It wasn't enough.

The world-eater turned around and tried to attack Wain, but instead, he saw a green bomb flying toward him. The monster had no time to react, and the bomb exploded. It was completely covered in a viscous fluid that restrained its movements.

Moreover, most of the slime was on the floor, and the soul eater even had difficulty lifting his leg to take even one step. This did not please the monster, and he roared furiously.

Roooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrr!

Wain stared at him calmly and thrust his sword forward. The monster's instincts told it that Wain was up to something dangerous, and the monster tried to get out of the trap. But it was hard to do. The slime was too viscous even for such an agile foe.

Then there was a loud snap, and the monster's body was torn into many pieces. The soul eater was wounded, and it could not withstand another attack this powerful.

Then a blue soul flew out of the remains of the monster's body and headed toward Wain.

[Soul of Soul Eater (Whole)

Chronicle: Primary

Rating: Rare]

Wain squeezed the soul and crushed it. For the first time at the pagoda, he got Whole Soul. Wain hoped that he would gain some powerful skill or useful item. He had not had a single thing other than the Zombie Glove until now.

[You have acquired the Soul Essence of Soul Eater level 14. Strength+2, Agility+6]

"Level 14? This monster was pretty strong. It was almost close to the stage to evolve into the next Chronicle. If it had done so before I got here, I would have died for sure."

[You get Rare Rating Soul Chest]

"Great!" Said Wain looking at the blue chest in his inventory.

Then the blue chest appeared in his hands. Last time the Soul Chest had been huge and contained the hammer Wain had given to Grut. Now the chest was a little bigger than the palm of his hand. So there was not a very large object.

Wain opened the chest, and inside he saw an object very similar to the one he already had.

"A glove? Again...?" Mumbled Wain was looking at the white glove in the chest.

There was one large box on the glove, the purpose of which Wain did not know. The whole glove was white, but black material was on the fingertips and several black threads coming from the cell to the fingers.

Wain took the glove in his hands and looked at the item's description.

[Soul Accumulator (Primary Chronicle, Rare Rating)

This glove can accumulate Soul Essence floating in space and turn it into pure energy. Thus you can create a white beam with enough destructive power to seriously wound any creature in the Primary Chronicle.

It takes three minutes for the charge to accumulate. You can also put any soul into the cell, thus enhancing the next attack. Only one soul can be put into the cell for one charge. Otherwise, the accumulated Soul Essence will disintegrate, and the glove will enter recharge mode]

"I got another glove, but this one is much more useful and looks more stylish. Hmm, judging by the description, this beam will be mighty, and the recharge is not too long. I rarely fight for more than a few minutes, though."

"I can use any soul to make the blast much more powerful. It's similar to how the bomb Sven offered to buy me for one Void Soul works. It's a good opportunity to defeat a very tenacious enemy." Wain concluded.

He was pleased with the item he received. Wain wasn't expecting to get the gauntlet again, but it didn't really matter.

Wain put the glove on and immediately felt small particles of long-destroyed souls heading for it. Wain could not absorb these particles. They were too weak compared to whole souls. But, this glove was special.

"Okay, now I'm definitely ready to fight the monsters upstairs." Mumbled Wain and headed onward.

On the ninety-eighth and ninety-ninth floors, Wain encountered no opponents. Moreover, these floors were filled with clouds, for the top of the pagoda was above the clouds.

Wain walked through the clouds and had a pleasant feeling. Before, he had never been able to touch the clouds with his hands, much less walk through them.

'It's an unusual feeling. I don't even want to leave here. After all, above these clouds, instead of the gate to heaven, a demon will be waiting for me, eager to send me to hell.' Thought Wain and stepped forward.

After a couple of hours, he finally reached the top of the pagoda. During this time, Wain killed over a thousand monsters and gained several valuable items. But, the fun part was left for the end, as usual.

Wain slowly climbed to the top, bypassing a layer of clouds. A cold wind pondered his face, and his black cloak fluttered to the sides.

After a minute, Wain was at the very top, and the first word that came to his mind then was, "Beautiful..."

There was nothing around him but boundless clouds. They were like earth, and Wain felt he might step on them.

This pagoda had no roof, so Wain could see the bright sun illuminating everything around him. But, suddenly, the weather began to change rapidly.. The clouds turned to gray clouds, and Wain could hear the rain and thunder below.