Audi's mind raced as he processed Hel's words. The Ten Legendary Heroes are the Ten Pgue Guardians. Corrupted. Twisted. Now, they stood in his way.

  "So, they were once the strongest…" Audi muttered, clenching his fists. "And now they're the biggest obstacles to stopping the Negative Tower from colpsing?"

  Hel nodded. "Exactly. But if you want to stand a chance against them, you'll need to grow stronger. Much stronger."

  Audi crossed his arms. "Yeah, yeah. Leveling up, training, the usual grind. But I get the feeling you're about to tell me there's more to it than just levels."

  A smirk pyed on Hel's lips. "Smart. There are five different ways to reach true strength in this world."

  She raised a single finger. "First—Jobs. Every fighter, adventurer, and warrior has a Job. Your First Job is basic, something anyone can have. But as you grow, you unlock more advanced Jobs—Second Job, Third Job, and the ultimate, Fourth Job."

  Audi scratched his head. "Okay, so what? More Jobs mean more power?"

  Hel rolled her eyes. "More than that. Your Job determines your growth path, skills, and stat multipliers. The higher the Job tier, the stronger you become."

  She lifted a second finger. "Second—Skills. Simple but crucial. A powerful Job is nothing without the right Skills. You can learn Skills from battle experience, relics, or by stealing them from defeated enemies. Mastering Skills separates the weak from the elite."

  Audi raised an eyebrow. "Stealing skills? That's a thing?"

  Hel smirked. "If you're lucky."

  She lifted a third finger. "Third—Half-Bloods. Beings who have inherited two different bloodlines—Half-Vampire, Half-Demon, Half-Angel… you get the idea. Half-Bloods gain a mix of racial abilities, often giving them unique strengths."

  Audi frowned. "Wait… does that mean I could be a Half-Blood?"

  Hel shrugged. "Maybe. But being a Half-Blood is just one step. There's a higher level."

  She raised a fourth finger. "Fourth—Pure Blood. These are creatures who have fully embraced a singur lineage. Pure Vampire, Pure Demon, Pure Angel, Pure Zombie… They have unparalleled power in their domain. The Ten Pgues? They were once Pure Titans and Pure Angels before the Negative Tower corrupted them."

  Audi's eyes widened. "So if they were that powerful before… what are they now?"

  Hel's smirk faded. "Monsters. Beyond anything you've faced."

  Audi swallowed hard. "And the st way?"

  Hel lifted her final finger. "Fifth—Ascending to the King's Level. This is the peak of power. Only those who have mastered their bloodline, conquered multiple Jobs, and unlocked the rarest skills can reach it."

  Audi tilted his head. "King's Level? What does that even mean?"

  Hel's gaze darkened. "Becoming something beyond mortal limits. The strongest beings in history have all touched the King's Level—Gods, Ancient Rulers, and the legendary Zombie King himself. At that stage, normal concepts like levels and stats barely apply. You reshape reality itself."

  Audi let out a slow breath. "So… you're saying if I want to take down the Ten Pgues and survive the Negative Floor, I need to aim for King's Level?"

  Hel nodded. "Exactly. You don't just need to get stronger—you need to evolve. The Ten Pgues are not normal enemies. They are forces of destruction. If you remain as you are now, you won't just lose… you'll be erased."

  A cold shiver ran down Audi's spine. But as terrifying as it sounded, something deep inside him burned with determination.

  A path to power. A way to stand against impossible odds. A way to break free from the shackles of fate.

  He smirked. "Alright then… where do we start?"

  Before Hel could answer, a thought struck Audi. "Wait—before we start, can I go back to my town? I need to check on my beloved maid. And I also want to enter the Greatness Floors to gather some food."

  Hel's smirk faded as her expression hardened. "You want to return to the Greatness Tower? Again?"

  She waved her hand, and a dark message appeared before Audi:

  The moment a Zombie Aura resurfaces on the Greatness Floors (Tree Floors), a shockwave will surge through the Tower. The essence of the Zombie King, thought lost to time, will stir within him.

  The King of Heaven, ruler of Floor 1, who once obliterated the undead, will soon sense the anomaly. The higher floors will begin detecting power shifts. The Angels, Nobles, and Rulers will not stand idly by.

  Audi's expression darkened. "So if I go back, I might trigger something dangerous."

  Hel nodded. "There are warriors still loyal to the Queen. They are preparing for war. But remember—while the Queen gathers her forces, the King of Heaven still holds dominion over the Tower of Greatness. If you return, the angels will know."

  Audi gritted his teeth. "Then what do I do? I still need food."

  Hel sighed. "I know a pce where I gather food. It's safer. But if you insist on going back to your town to see your maid… I won't stop you."

  Audi clenched his fists. The risks were growing. Every move he made seemed to have consequences. But he had to decide—check on his maid and risk exposure, or take Hel's safer route?

  He took a deep breath. One thing was certain.

  No matter his choice… the Tower was already watching.

  Hel then added, "I can't go to the Ground Floor with you because I'm already Undead. But you can go because you're still human. It's up to you."

  Audi shook his head. "No. Show me the food, and let's start the training."

  Hel smirked. "Alright."

  He activated his skill—Digger. The ground beneath them cracked, and they plunged downward, nding on Floor 99.5.

  Hel gestured around them. "This… is the resting pce of the dead from the Ground Floor. A grave purgatory where all the bodies of fallen creatures end up. Humans, goblins, and monsters alike."

  Audi's stomach twisted as he surveyed the endless corpses. "And you eat here?"

  Hel nodded. "Be careful. Anything you take, you must eat completely. If you leave even a scrap behind, it might turn into a zombie."

  Audi cracked his knuckles. "Alright then. Let's dig in… and start the training!"