This...
This had nothing to do with building a friendly neighborhood relationship, right?
Meimei and Crow exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions filled with doubt and confusion.
Yet, compared to them, the residents now gathered in the room looked even more bewildered.
It didn't make sense.
The Black Tower had existed for a long time, appearing in past Trials of Gods and Demons.
It had seen many outsiders enter its depths—so why was this one so... different?
The man before them clearly fell within the Black Tower's level restrictions.
And yet—
His overwhelming power.
The chaotic aura of a true demon.
Everything about him screamed an anomaly.
Had the Cosmic Will malfunctioned?
Had the Black Tower's restrictions failed?
Otherwise, how the hell did a freak like him get in!?
In the suffocating darkness, the first-floor residents exchanged glances.
Though their faces were obscured, their mutual bewilderment was unmistakable.
What should they do?
If they simply let him pass, the Building Chief would never let them off.
Yet—
The abyss flames still flickering in the air reminded them of another undeniable fact—
The man in front of them had no patience.
And he definitely didn't seem like someone who would take 'no' for an answer.
"Outsider," a voice finally broke the silence, cautious yet firm.
"The Black Tower has rules. You can only ascend if you pass our tests. We don't have the authority to change them."
Novak uncrossed his legs and slowly stood up.
His crimson gaze locked onto the first tenant, completely ignoring the one who had just spoken.
"There are four residents per floor, correct?"
The first tenant of Room 101 hesitated before nodding.
"Yes, but... the tenant of 104 is a bit special. He doesn't want to come here..."
Novak simply nodded.
Then, in a voice devoid of patience, he said:
"The rules of the Black Tower? I know them well. But you also have autonomy. So hurry up and clear the test. My time is limited."
"Outsider," the same cautious voice from earlier spoke again, "you must first—"
Novak raised a hand.
The figure immediately fell silent.
For the first time, Novak's smile faded.
"I know exactly what you're doing," he said, his voice calm yet chilling.
"You're stalling for time."
"You think you understand the Black Tower's rules better than I do?"
"Fine. But let me make this very clear."
"If I hear one more excuse... you won't live long enough to say another."
The black and red flames of hell surged outward without warning.
Their burning speed was instantaneous—so fast that no one had time to react.
The first-floor residents didn't even see it coming.
They didn't expect Novak to strike immediately.
But with mental strength nearing 2000 points, even if they had anticipated it—
They still wouldn't have been able to stop him.
"ARRHHHGGGG!!!!"
A piercing scream tore through the room.
The hellfire raged, its glow finally illuminating the darkness.
And in that faint light—
Novak finally saw clearly.
The one who had spoken to him...
Not a human.
Not a ghost.
A lizardman.
As the flames licked his scales, the scent of burning flesh filled the air.
But before the smell could fully spread—
Before the agonized screams could continue—
The fire consumed him completely.
Leaving nothing but ashes.
From beginning to end, it had taken less than three seconds.
Almost immediately after the lizard man's death, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in the hearts of the three:
[Tenant of Room 102 has passed the test. Please proceed with the tests for the remaining three tenants.]
Silence.
A suffocating silence.
At that moment, the remaining residents of Room 101 and Room 103 felt an indescribable chill crawl down their spines.
The man standing before them still looked human.
Even his transformation—this demonic manifestation—seemed to be merely a bloodline ability.
But his actions...
His ruthlessness...
They were far more terrifying than a real demon!
Wasn't he afraid of losing his memories?!
The rules of the Black Tower were absolute.
Yet, despite that...
Novak could feel it too.
A slight hollowing sensation in his mind.
A fragment of his memory—gone.
But whatever it was, he couldn't perceive what was missing.
And more importantly—
He didn't care.
His blood-red eyes slowly swept across the two remaining tenants.
The moment his gaze settled on them, two more system notifications rang out in the minds of Meimei and Crow:
[Tenant of Room 101 has passed the test. Please proceed with the test for the remaining two tenants.]
[Tenant of Room 103 has passed the test. Please proceed with the test for the final tenant.]
A slow, satisfied smile curled on Novak's lips.
"Very good."
"I'm glad to see that all of you are so enthusiastic about being good neighbors."
Without another word, he turned around and walked out of Room 101—Crow and Meimei following closely behind.
Inside the now dark and empty Room 101, the two remaining tenants sat in stunned silence.
Finally, one of them broke the quiet.
"Why… why did such a terrifying human enter the Black Tower? Is this some kind of evolution in this year's Trial of Gods and Demons?"
The other let out a dry, bitter laugh.
"Who the hell knows? Hmph. But one thing's for sure… he'll pay the price for underestimating the Black Tower."
The first tenant nodded grimly.
"You're right. Recklessly abusing extraordinary power like that? He'll realize soon enough—the higher the floor, the greater the pain."
A pause.
Then, a sudden realization.
"Speaking of which… what about the tenant in Room 104? He actually refused to show up. Won't those two end up fighting?"
A cold chuckle.
"Good. Let them fight. Let that outsider burn through his energy. The faster he exhausts himself, the sooner he dies in this cursed place."
A low, sinister snicker followed.
But just as that voice faded—
A piercing, bone-chilling scream suddenly ripped through the corridor.
Sharp.
Unnatural.
Like a night owl shrieking in the dead of night.
The sound was so intense it sent shivers through the walls of the Black Tower.
Yet—
It lasted exactly 35.0 seconds.
Then—
Silence.
The eerie stillness returned.
But inside Room 101, the two remaining tenants sat frozen in place.
They turned to each other—
And in that moment—
They saw it.
The same terrified expression reflected in each other's eyes.
Because that scream just now—
That was from the tenant of Room 104.
The strongest resident on the entire first floor!
Yet—
Even he had failed to stop that outsider's advance.
How was that even possible?!
It defied all logic.
And yet, beyond the door, footsteps echoed.
Casual. Unhurried.
Fading into the distance.
Along with quiet voices, indifferent and unconcerned with the rules of the Black Tower.
The two remaining tenants dared not speak further.
Because they both had the same chilling thought—
"What kind of monster has entered the Black Tower this time?"