SWNOVELXO Chapter 19: The Arena of Silence
The Arena of Silence
The Tower of Chaos seemed to be watching Danilo Chicana.
Not like an inert structure, but like an awakened being, aware of his presence. It was a colossal monolith, with black lines glowing in violet hues. Every inch of it radiated authority and an oppressive magnetism, as if it were pulling in the souls of the unwary who ventured too close.
The ground was made of smooth stone, stained with ancient blood—dry, dark, and crystallized. The tower wasn't built of metal or stone; it was forged from something living and ancestral, a material that pulsed with the heartbeat of the universe.
Upon crossing the initial gate, Danilo found himself in a circular hall with no visible ceiling. It felt like entering the core of a planet—air heavy, saturated with primordial energy.
In front of him stood two doors.
One gleamed gold: Career Change.
The other shone scarlet: Ascension Challenges.
Instinctively, Danilo walked to the career change door and tried the handle—nothing. The system responded:
❖ You may only evolve your profession upon reaching Level 10.
He stepped back, breathing deeply. This wasn't like a game. Everything here felt… more real. Colder. More demanding.
— Career change… What does that even mean in this world?
The system answered with its calm, neutral voice:
❖ Career change is the evolution of your base class. There are hundreds of thousands of professions across the universes. Some are rare. Others are unique.
Danilo raised an eyebrow.
— And how do you get a powerful one?
❖ It depends on your performance in the ascension trials, your bloodline compatibility, and evaluations from higher systems.
— So there's a chance to get something unique?
❖ Yes. But that depends on extraordinary factors: supernatural bodies, special bloodlines, divine inheritances, or hidden talents.
That answer made his throat tighten. He didn't know what he carried inside him—he only felt something pulsing beneath his skin. An ancient echo sleeping in his flesh.
— Could I… have one of those traits?
He turned to the challenge door. The letters lit up at his touch, and multiple options appeared before him:
⚔️ Challenge Modes:
Easy: 10 common monsters
Normal: 25 common monsters
Hard: 50 common monsters
Hell: 10 Baron-class monsters
Purgatory: 24 Barons + 1 Count
ABYSS: 20 Barons, 9 Counts, 1 Marquis of Silence
Danilo looked at the last line, the darkest one—as if it had been written in blood.
— "Abyss Mode…"
His fingers trembled. He wasn't a hero. He never was. But he had something no one else had: the Monarch of Shadows.
— If I'm going to make history… then let it be with blood and chaos. — he whispered.
❖ Abyss Mode selected.
The stone gate groaned as it opened, revealing a gigantic coliseum shrouded in crimson mist. The sky was pitch-black, as if light itself had been banished. Distant screams echoed, and the energy around was alive—dense, suffocating.
Danilo Chicana stepped forward. The moment he crossed into Abyss Mode, an immense weight fell on his shoulders.
❖ Abyss Debuff Activated: -90% to all physical and mental stats due to dimensional incompatibility.
He nearly collapsed.
"Holy shit… This is another level…," he muttered, gritting his teeth. "I'm just a meat bag here."
But then, beside him, a shadow rose like a living wall. The Monarch of Shadows—his ally. His trump card. Danilo looked up and smiled, exhausted.
"Good thing you're here."
As his eyes adjusted to the arena's darkness, he saw the enemies waiting for him:
20 Shadow Barons
9 Chaotic Counts
1 Guardian: Marquis of Silence
They were already expecting him—as if the arena itself knew the challenger had arrived.
Before the fight began, Danilo whispered:
— Leave one Baron for me at the end. I want to test something.
The Monarch gave a slight nod.
👑 Monarch of Shadows' Panel (Awakened Form – Chaotic Grade)
Estimated Level: ???
Strength: 12,400
Agility: 12,000
Endurance: 12,300
Intelligence: 12,600
Perception: 12,200
Active Abilities:
Blade of Primordial Ruin – Deals direct soul damage.
Chains of the Abyss – Binds and seals opponent abilities.
Steps of the Void – Short-range teleportation.
Passive Abilities:
Monarch Presence – Enemies below Duke-rank enter a state of absolute fear.
Immortal Will – Immune to mind control or illusions.
Chaotic Regeneration – Regenerates 5% HP per second in combat.
Without hesitation, the Monarch of Shadows advanced.
⚔️ Battle Begins
His first strike decapitated two barons. The system updated:
❖ Baron slain: +10 souls absorbed by the Sealing Sword.
He activated Chains, and black tendrils burst from the ground, spreading and imprisoning every creature.
He walked toward them slowly, like a predator—and struck.
Each blow launched bodies. Darkness shredded flesh and bone. The ground soaked in blood, and Danilo's sword—still sheathed—vibrated with the souls torn from the other side of the arena.
20 Barons fell—19 by the Monarch. Each provided 10 souls: 190 souls.
Next came the Counts. Towering beings with multiple arms and obsidian hooves. The Monarch used Blade of Primordial Ruin, piercing their very souls.
❖ Count slain: +100 souls absorbed by the Sealing Sword.
In mere seconds, all 9 counts were dead. 900 more souls.
The Marquis came last—a cruel warrior clad in living armor. It used Silent Wail, briefly disabling the Monarch's abilities. But it didn't matter. The Monarch blinked behind it with Steps of the Void, grabbed its head, and crushed it with raw force.
❖ Marquis of Silence slain: +1000 souls absorbed by the Sealing Sword.
Total: 2,090 souls.
Only one Baron remained—the one for Danilo.
Danilo took a deep breath and approached. The Baron, confused, stared at him with fear. Danilo opened his Status Panel.
🧍♂️ Status Panel – Danilo Chicana
Race: Human (Bearer of Chaotic Bloodline – Blood of Judgment)
Class: Novice Shadow Warrior
Level: 1
Strength: 14
Agility: 12
Endurance: 13
Intellect: 15
Luck: 300%
🎯 Titles:
Patriarch of the Chicana Clan
Heir to the Flame of Judgment
He Who Did the Impossible
First Challenger of the Abyss
🔥 Flame of Judgment Abilities:
Eye of Judgment (Passive) – Sees loyalty and sin.
Flames of Sin – Burns sin and grows stronger.
Burning Torment – Causes madness proportional to the sin.
Sin Absorption (Passive) – Absorbing sin increases power.
🩸 Bloodline Abilities:
Touch of Shadows – Revives slain enemies as servants (2x per class).
Shadow Teleport – Teleports between shadows.
Dark Conversion – All abilities become shadow-type.
🗡️ Sealing Sword (Sealed – Common)
Passive: Absorbs souls of enemies slain by the user.
Evolution:
Seal 1: 1000 common souls / 100 barons / 10 counts / 1 marquis
Seal 2: 10x the previous requirements
Danilo charged and struck the Baron. Damage dealt: 140 HP.
❖ Damage boosted by the title "He Who Did the Impossible": +1000%
He smiled. "So that's it."
The Baron roared and countered. Danilo tried to dodge—but shut his eyes in panic.
Nothing came.
❖ Enemy eliminated.
Danilo opened his eyes. The Baron was dead.
The Monarch of Shadows had crushed it in one hand.
"Bastard… I wanted to fight."
❖ You completed Floor One – Abyss Mode.
❖ You challenged the Abyss on Day One.
❖ You did the impossible—again.
❖ Calculating rewards…
📣 GLOBAL NOTIFICATION 📣
On the first day of the Chaos Era, Danilo Chicana conquered the Abyss.
His name will be eternally etched in the Book of Chaos.
Danilo swallowed hard. "Shit… the whole world heard that?"
❖ Yes.
He sighed. "I was trying to stay hidden…"
Then he smirked.
"Screw it. I've got the sword. I've got the Monarch. I've got everything."
He laughed.
Then he remembered when he first killed the Monarch and received nothing.
— Hey, system… why didn't I get anything when I killed the Monarch?
❖ He was sealed and nearly dead. At full power, he would've destroyed your universe with a glance.
— And I killed him.
❖ Coincidence and luck. You're just a lucky microbe.
— Then I'm a microbe that killed a chaotic god.
❖ A slightly bigger microbe.
Danilo scoffed.
Before him appeared two chests:
One black, radiating Abyssal energy.
The other radiant with seven colors, divine in nature.
❖ The first is the Abyss reward. The second, for doing the impossible.
Danilo grinned. "At least it was worth it."
Before opening them, he walked among the corpses, collecting crystals—30 in total—and all dropped items: high-tech weapons, schematics, armor, energy cores, and rare materials.
Then, smiling, he reached out for the first chest.