Tower of Heaven

It took four days for the runesmith to remove the curse seal. It was a difficult process that involved dissecting each individual rune and finding its counter, so it couldn't be done easily, but the runesmith put his everything into it.

According to him, the seal was made using ancient techniques that had only been somewhat refined, so, while it was difficult to decipher, the actual runes themselves were not complicated.

Instead, they were entirely purpose-built and efficient. It was due to this consideration that Dusk could track him so rapidly and for so long without any deviations in their results. Moreover, since ancient techniques were even more difficult to find in an era presumably 5000 years in the future, it was inherently extremely difficult to destroy such a technique through ordinary means.

Still, Scarlet Fox led him to the right person for the job. The runesmith did his best work over the next four days and tirelessly worked on the project until it was finished.

In the end, not only did Atlas find himself freed from Dusk's watchful eye, but he also learned quite a bit about runes from simply observing the process.

And, as he focused on his personal desires, he didn't forget about the world itself.

Using the knowledge he accumulated through his efforts, he set the empire up for success.

If he thought wishfully to a reality where this world would continue to flow after his departure, he wanted to see it reach the peace it never got to see.

Moves were made to contain the Dark Cult within the Dark Forest, and, as the day of the coronation approached, one could see them approaching on the horizon.

The people from the great sects of the continent, their blades already pointed at the people of the Dark Cult.

In this timeline, the Dark Cult would be eradicated and the Empire would stand tall.

Atlas approached the coronation with light steps because he was assured of this conclusion.

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And, definitely not by coincidence, Cain's execution was scheduled on the same day. Find exclusive content at empire

The citizens all gathered in the square to watch the proceedings. Off to the side, one could see Cain if one wished to, but nobody paid him any attention.

He screamed out, trying to grab anyone's ear, but they didn't look at him even once.

Instead, they watched as Kade Von Ataraxia entered the stage, faced the High Priest, and gave his vows.

The guillotine's blade was dropped on the attendant's neck, cleanly separating his head from his body.

But, nobody paid attention to him. Rather than the criminal who committed a terrible sin, the people preferred to lay their eyes on the person who would lead them to greatness.

"Kade Von Ataraxia, with this, I crown you the Emperor of Ataraxia. May the Empire flourish under your rule."

The crown was placed on Atlas' head, and amidst the cheers of the people, the coronation came to an end.

[Ascender [Atlas Vaun] has completed the 30th Floor Cumulative Trial]

[You have accomplished a feat that will be recorded in the Tower's Legend.]

[You have achieved the [Most Perfect Ending] recorded in the 30th Floor's history.]

[In light of your contributions, you have received the [Sacred Chains] as a reward.]

Atlas' eyes widened. He only had the chance to use them once, but he was really getting the Sacred Chains?

It was unbelievable. They were an artifact too good to belong to even cultivators at Atlas' level. He was more than happy to take them as his reward.

As the messages rang out, his mind was transported out of Kade Von Ataraxia's body. He returned to his own, which looked to be on the Celestial Ladder moving to the 31st Floor. That final scene, where the people came together to celebrate his reign…

It was truly the perfect scene to end such a chaotic trial.

However, it was not quite over.

[As an additional reward, you have been granted the right to witness the world's ruination.]

From safety within the Celestial Ladder, Atlas saw the scene that Cain was supposedly experiencing.

The true history of the world played out how Atlas expected it to after seeing the memories of the Second Prince all the way back when he first entered the trial.

In that world, there wasn't anything like an Ascender who could see through the situation and fix it. There were only mistakes, mistakes, and more mistakes.

As was fated, the First Prince fell ill and the Second Prince went to the Dark Forest. He was slaughtered by the Dark Cult along with the man he met there, Yulian.

The Emperor, Kaladyn Von Ataraxia, was never able to escape imprisonment. When the Soul-Searching Leeches were brought, the location of the Sacred Chains was forcefully pried from his mind at the cost of his own life.

As he died, the Dark Cult seized the treasure they had been eyeing. It refused to acknowledge the Khan as its owner, but using a different artifact, he destroyed their consciousness and forced them to obey.

The Demon God Summoning that took place on the coronation stage could not be blocked by anyone. The thousands of civilians who gathered there were sacrificed in a massive formation that engulfed the city. A massive being was brought into the world, and as it made its descent, it destroyed everything.

From the Empire of Ataraxia, to the Dark Cult, to the rest of the continent, it destroyed everything.

The continent was engulfed in storms of evil energy. The capital became a place where tornadoes of darkness endlessly swirled, slaughtering anyone who stepped foot within a hundred meters.

Forced to experience the ruination of this world through his mind, body, and soul, Cain was directly in the midst of those tornadoes.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

He cackled in the darkness as his body was ripped to shreds. Like he always did, he faced death with a smile on his face, unfazed by its horrific embrace.

Atlas watched it happen. He watched as Cain was torn to pieces from limb to limb. His torso flew up into the sky, swept away by the tornado before it was shredded to pieces by the sharp winds.

His blood was the only thing remaining in the sky to prove that he ever existed, but even it was mixed into the blood of so many different people who'd died alongside him.

This was the end of the one known as Cain.

This was his inevitable end, as it was for any other Ascender who lost on the 30th Floor. Their true bodies were placed in the final disaster rather than the characters they possessed. They were torn to shreds by the Demon God's wrath and left as nothing more wisps in the annals of time.

That was how it was meant to be.

But, for some reason, as Atlas watched that scene, he felt like he could still hear that twisted laugh.

He felt like he could see the face of that person, vowing that he would return at all costs.

'I must be imagining things.'

It simply wasn't possible.

Sitting in the Celestial Ladder, Atlas watched as the continent was brought to ruin.

And just before the scene faded, finally returning him to reality in a whole state, he saw them.

Those people who approached from the horizon.

Those people who looked oddly familiar yet more distant than anyone else.