SSS Ranked Awakening: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 434: First Floor of Ascension Tower—3

Leon's eyes widened slightly upon reading this.

An option existed to make it private? This was perfect!

This particular function was a secret known only to those with formidable backgrounds and profound understanding of the Ascension Tower system—privileged intelligence disseminated among influential families and organizations.

For ordinary individuals and those from lesser worlds, however, this was vital information they usually discovered much later, often after enduring unwelcome scrutiny.

Furthermore, those in positions of power deliberately withheld such knowledge. It served effectively as a means to entice promising talents into their ranks and as a method to closely monitor emerging prodigies and geniuses among the populace.

Numerous influential figures maintained direct ties with tower administrators, granting them the authority to access such classified operational data.

However, Leon, at this juncture, remained completely oblivious to these intricate political webs and veiled implications.

The mere presence of this antagonistic overseer—with whom he had forged a life-and-death animosity—prompted a simple, direct intention: to conceal his secrets and abilities from the overseer's gaze. Nothing more complicated than that.

He was unaware that by making this choice, he might be evading unimaginable future hardships... or perhaps unknowingly forfeiting tremendous fortune. Who could truly say?

Unbeknownst to any of these deeper consequences, Leon offered a cold smirk towards the overseer, who had been regarding him with intense, palpable hostility since the conclusion of the second layer.

He then decisively selected to make the trial private without a second thought.

[Private Trial Mode: ACTIVATED]

[All unauthorized observers being removed...]

In the very next instant, the overseer's form, suspended high above, was completely engulfed by a blinding white radiance.

GLOW!

Velrith instantly comprehended the situation the moment the light materialized around him. His fangs bared in unadulterated fury.

The INSECT activated private mode! How?! Such a function should not be accessible to someone at his standing!

His determination to annihilate this human became even more resolutely solidified than diamond.

The very first second the protection period expires, I will personally commence the systematic annihilation of this entire world. Everyone shall perish.

He understood that this act would necessitate a significant sacrifice—direct intervention in lower worlds carried severe repercussions and costs, substantial even by his abundant wealth.

But for the secrets this human possesses, and especially for the profound humiliation of being addressed as a worm... I shall execute this without hesitation when the moment is right.

This score will be settled with blood and screams.

The illumination intensified, and Velrith's form vanished entirely from the arena.

Leon, unaware of the specific murderous intentions escalating within the overseer's mind, simply experienced a wave of relief as the hostile presence departed.

Finally. Now I can engage in combat properly, without restraint.

Yet, intertwined with that relief, a distinct spark of cold determination ignited in his eyes. His aspiration for increased strength surged anew—burning hotter than ever before.

He now possessed a genuine sense of purpose and an impending crisis, unlike anything he had previously encountered.

Even confronting Archon Vyrra's world and the imminent threat looming there does not instill such an intense sense of crisis within me.

That predicament always carried the mental reassurance of being able to retreat into my own dimensional realm if circumstances became dire.

However, he had recently grasped a critical understanding: with his current expertise in spatial principles, he now recognized that retreating into his own world was not nearly as secure as he had once believed—particularly against individuals with advanced mastery over spatial manipulation, or those possessing overwhelming absolute power and diverse specialized infiltration techniques.

Fleeing is not always a viable recourse. Especially when confronting truly formidable entities.

Nevertheless, Leon remained confident that Archon Vyrra, the crimson dragon guardian, and even the enigmatic looming danger that had nearly consumed Archon Vyrra's entire world—including the entity purportedly commanding vast armies—could not breach his Dimensional Hourglass.

My dimensional treasure is no mere common artifact. It is a genuine Mythical-ranked treasure.

Those beings would simply lack the specific capability to forcefully penetrate its defenses once I entered, especially now that the Dimensional Hourglass has evolved far beyond its original state.

Leon distinctly recalled the prior system notifications that indicated his abilities had transcended the standard Mythic rank. They now possessed 'potential beyond Divine Rank'—though the exact magnitude of this in the grand cosmic power structure remained somewhat elusive to him.

For the present, a strong conviction filled him regarding his capacity to escape imminent danger utilizing the Hourglass.

However... a significant doubt lingered whether this artifact would prove effective against entities on the level of the overseer or those superior. The disparity in power might simply be too immense.

Leon shook his head, dismissing the disquieting thoughts, and redirected his focus to the immediate situation.

The paramount objective at this juncture was self-improvement. With unparalleled strength, all other matters would undoubtedly resolve themselves.

Subsequently, Leon resolved to proceed with the challenge without any intervening rest.

The vestiges of the preceding engagement had entirely dissipated, restoring the arena to its original pristine state.

He had expended less than one-thousandth of his total mana reserves during the prior contest. Combined with his Rank 7 affinity for the ice element and exceptionally efficient energy utilization, assaults of that caliber exacted a negligible cost.

Given my astonishing natural recuperation rate, I could sustain such attacks almost perpetually.

In the ensuing moment, a new notification materialized—this time presented in a distinct format:

[ATTENTION: Third Layer Difficulty Greatly Enhanced]

[Brace Yourself]

[Challenge Initiating in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...]

This marked the initial instance where the tower conveyed what felt like a genuine warning, urging profound alertness.

Then—

FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!

An overwhelming multitude of goblins materialized concurrently throughout the arena, arrayed in disciplined military formations.

Yet, these were not the rudimentary creatures encountered previously. Each was clad in complete bronze armor safeguarding their vital points, and they were armed with discernibly superior weaponry—authentic military-grade armaments rather than crude iron implements.

And at the vanguard of this compact legion stood a figure of remarkable prominence.

A goblin adorned in resplendent silver armor, appearing almost ceremonial in its exquisite workmanship. Its stature easily doubled that of the standard goblins, reaching a height comparable to Leon himself.

That is...