SSS Ranked Awakening: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 428: First Hurdle in the Tower

In the very next moment, an all-encompassing, blinding darkness enveloped both Leon and Seraphine—an absolute void devoid of any light or sound.

Despite confirming her entry just seconds before, Leon could no longer sense Seraphine's presence. His typically precise spatial awareness registered nothing but an endless expanse of black emptiness in every direction.

Strange. Where did she go? We came in together.

Before his concern could deepen regarding their separation, golden text materialized before him within the darkness:

[Select Your Tower Designation Name]

[This name will serve as your identity throughout all tower challenges]

[Choose with care—this cannot be altered]

A nickname? For the tower challenges?

Leon contemplated for just a moment before reaching his decision.

"Paragon."

He chose the name directly inspired by his Class, Elemental Paragon, but intentionally omitted the full title. Such complete information could potentially be used against him or prove a significant disadvantage if the wrong individuals discovered his exact class designation.

Better to be cautious. There's no need to reveal everything about myself to potential adversaries.

The system readily accepted his choice without any objections:

[Tower Designation Confirmed: Paragon]

[This name will be reflected on all tower records and leaderboards]

Elsewhere, within the same dark void and completely separated from Leon, Seraphine was undergoing an identical procedure.

She opted for her standard name without overthinking the selection. Seraphine was who she was, and she saw no reason to conceal her identity for the tower challenges.

I have nothing to be ashamed of. My name is my dear disciple, call me so lovingly.

She, too, was unable to sense Leon's presence in this peculiar, isolated space, which caused her considerable worry. The separation felt incorrect, unnatural.

I truly hope we aren't separated when we actually emerge onto the first floor. We should face these trials together.

She wasn't the sole individual harboring this exact same thought.

Leon's mind had arrived at the identical conclusion, concerned about their potential separation during the actual trials.

However, just as that worried thought fully and distinctly formed in his mind—

[Administrator Privilege Detected]

[Special Ability Unlocked: Party Formation System]

[This privilege permits party formation prior to the standard required threshold of Floor 10]

[You are enabled to invite other challengers to join your party for cooperative trials]

Leon, still suspended in the dark void, couldn't suppress a genuine smile of relief upon seeing that notification.

Perfect! So we can remain together after all. This administrator status does come with real benefits.

He immediately attempted to form a party with Seraphine, channeling the mental command through the system interface with focused intent.

Nevertheless, his attempt was instantly and abruptly rejected with a system message that flashed red:

[Party Formation Request DENIED]

[Reason: The nature of the First Floor Trial prohibits party formation under any circumstances]

[All challengers must complete Floor 1 individually, irrespective of privileges or status.]

[This restriction cannot be bypassed]

A wave of disappointment and renewed anxiety washed over Leon, akin to cold water.

Damn it. We will be separated after all. No exceptions.

Yet, he could only accept the circumstances and abandon the party formation idea for the time being. He possessed genuine trust and unwavering faith in Seraphine's considerable capabilities—she would undoubtedly overcome the first floor without significant trouble.

She's already at Sage rank in terms of cultivation level. That's truly impressive by any standard.

Furthermore, she is a dual elemental user with an exceptionally high affinity for both lightning and light elements. Even in higher-tier worlds boasting more advanced cultivation standards and fiercer competition, she would undoubtedly be recognized as an exceptional talent.

He had gleaned that much from perusing the detailed biography of that man of culture, Lin Fan, which contained comprehensive information regarding various power hierarchies and the defining characteristics of true talent across different worlds.

Following the completion of the naming process for both of them—

SHIMMER! VANISH!

They both vanished from the dark void simultaneously, transported elsewhere altogether through means Leon couldn't perceive.

Upon reopening his eyes, Leon found himself standing within a colossal arena structure.

The space formed a perfect circle, approximately two hundred meters in diameter, with smooth, polished stone floors that mirrored light like glass. Towering walls appeared to ascend impossibly high into complete darkness overhead—no discernible ceiling was visible.

Before him, hovering casually in the air about fifty meters distant, was a solitary figure.

Leon found himself utterly incapable of gauging the strength of the individual standing before him. His incredibly sharp instincts, typically a reliable gauge of danger, offered him no useful information whatsoever.

The figure was a man clad in a pristine white suit, seemingly fashioned from a fabric that shimmered and shifted with every subtle movement. His hair, a striking shade of purple, cascaded elegantly to his shoulders in flawless waves. Purple, fur-covered ears twitched intermittently atop his head, and a long, purple tail swayed with a languid, predatory grace behind him.

Definitely not human. Based on my knowledge of various species, he's clearly a beastfolk.

A single, yet critical, question echoed in Leon’s enhanced mind: was this individual so incredibly weak as to be entirely undetectable by his senses, or was he so overwhelmingly powerful that his true Level was beyond the reach of Leon's perception?

Leon's golden Divinordial heart provided an immediate answer – it thudded with an instinctual alarm, beating at an accelerated pace.

The latter. It has to be the latter. This person is monstrously, incomprehensibly strong.

The beastfolk man regarded Leon with half-closed eyes, his expression initially unreadable. Yet, those purple irises held a clear, unmistakable glint of disdain, the look of someone viewing an insignificant insect beneath their notice.

Leon did not appreciate this condescending gaze in the slightest, but he refrained from acting impulsively or betraying his anger.

Instead, he calmly activated his cosmic system's identification function, aiming to ascertain the man's status and capabilities – information that should have been readily available.

However, the sole piece of data he could retrieve was the name displayed prominently at the top:

[Velrith Moonscar]

All other details – Age, Level, Class, stats, skills, abilities, affinities – were obscured by question marks:

[Age: ???] [Level: ???] [Class: ???] [Cultivation Rank: ???] [Stats: ???] [Abilities: ???]

The very instant Leon completed this attempted scan—

FLASH!

A peculiar ripple of energy flashed through the beastfolk’s purple eyes, lasting but a millisecond before they returned to their preceding calm, impassive state.

The overt disdain vanished completely from his features, replaced by an expression far more calculating and intrigued.

A knowing smirk slowly creased his face.

Shit!

Leon instantly recognized that he had committed a critical tactical error. The man had clearly detected his probing attempt, despite the cosmic system's supposedly absolute stealth capabilities.

How is this possible? The system is supposed to be undetectable!

He tensed his entire body, elevating his mental and physical defenses to their highest alert, poised to respond to any impending threat.

Then, a smooth, refined voice broke the silence, carrying an undeniable tone of superiority and arrogance.

"I had initially assumed that some low-world trash had somehow infiltrated this sacred tower, driven by pathetic ambition or meager greed, utterly unaware of the true immensity of the heavens and the genuine perils awaiting the unworthy."

The beastfolk paused deliberately, his smirk widening with apparent satisfaction.

"However, it appears my assumptions regarding certain... aspects of your circumstances were quite mistaken."

It was evident he had arrived at a private conclusion based on whatever he had detected or sensed from Leon’s probing attempt, yet he elected not to articulate these specific thoughts.

Instead, he introduced himself with meticulous formality.

"I am Velrith Moonscar, a mid-level administrator of this Ascension Tower, and the one who will personally be overseeing your trial evaluation today... Mister Paragon."