After the 50th floor of the Star Tower, over half a million participants had already been eliminated from the competition. At first, it was manageable, especially from the 46th floor onward, where nearly every level saw the loss of over one hundred thousand contestants.
By the time they reached the 51st floor, only a little over 400,000 participants remained inside the Star Tower. Each one was unique: some had constructed only a single race from start to finish; most had two types, and a rare few had three. Some races held the advantage of sheer numbers, while others relied on their agility or special abilities.
There was no doubt, this battle was a true test of strength. Luck played no role here, as every team faced the same formidable opponents.
"On the 51st floor, the survivors must be of a super higher species," a Level 6 Planetary Lord remarked.
The others nodded, their spirits lifted as they studied the remaining contestants. Based on the situation on the 50th floor, this level's difficulty was expected to spike significantly, with at least 100,000 more eliminated.
Inside the Star Tower, alertness was at an all-time high. The Astra Militarum was no different. As soon as they stepped onto the 51st floor, their drones detected a new, massive creature not far away, a half-human, half-beast monstrosity.
"Half-Human Mammoth?" Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
This beast towered over ten meters, its body appearing incredibly tough. It was one of the largest species they had encountered so far, a giant, intimidating presence. It was also well-known, infamous for its sheer brutality.
Upon spotting the Astra Militarum, the Half-Human Mammoth ceased its feeding, glancing once at the team before the tallest among them roared, issuing a command.
On the plain, all the Half-Human Mammoths charged toward the Astra Militarum. Despite their enormous size, they moved surprisingly quickly, over 100,000 of them rushing forward in unison.
"Follow the tactics used against the Goblin Chief and execute the plan," Lando ordered.
Lando rarely took command himself; most strategies were handled by Cyrus, so this was a rare opportunity for him to assume a leadership role. Handling melee creatures was a core focus for the Astra Militarum, after all.
In previous floors, the scientists had played an active role, analyzing the enemies' characteristics to develop effective tactics. They quickly identified the Half-Human Mammoth as akin to the Goblin Chief, a tough, melee-focused race with strong bodies but limited agility and no explosive power or special abilities. Essentially, they were meat shields.
Experience had shown the Astra Militarum that the best approach against such foes was the "decapitation tactic": targeting the strongest individual first to weaken the group. This tactic had proven effective against the Goblin Chief.
The Typhoon fighters in the sky were primed. As soon as they spotted the largest beast roaring forward, an AGM-62 Walleye missile was launched. Over the years, their missile technology had improved, and armor-breaking capabilities and power had increased. The missile struck the Half-Human Mammoth, obliterating its massive body.
The leader was dead, and the rest of the herd hesitated. Some instinctively sought revenge, but they were quickly shot down. The Astra Militarum focused their fire on the front lines, bringing the charge to a swift end.
Panic ensued among the remaining creatures. Without their leader, chaos erupted. They scattered in all directions, and many fled, allowing the Astra Militarum to secure the floor with ease.
Meanwhile, other participants weren't so fortunate. To the Astra Militarum, large creatures were just big, moving targets. But for most teams, these beasts posed a formidable challenge.
The Half-Human Mammoth was tough, not because its attack was devastating, but because it was difficult to kill. Its resilience often left opponents in a jam, favoring enemies with greater physical strength.
Take Hess, for example. Tootie from the Giant Island was among the strongest members, ranked in the top thirty of his region. He built the Golden Flame Giant, stronger even than the Black Flame Giant. But facing so many enemies, their damage output was limited; they couldn't inflict heavy harm quickly. One misstep could prove fatal.
When the Half-Human Mammoth forced its way into the position of a participant, it turned into a nightmare.
At this point, the 51st floor had eliminated over 100,000 contestants. Many top-ranked fighters from various star areas had fallen beneath its massive feet, including dozens from the Elves' Empire.
Even worse was the Svananóg Area, where fewer than twenty participants remained after this ordeal.
"Svananóg, don't get too nervous. There might be an accident later on, maybe…" Bru tried to reassure him. "In the next round, all the contestants from your region will be eliminated."
"Get lost," Svananóg snapped.
Though Bru was joking, he couldn't help but tighten his grip as what Bru said wasn't impossible. If an extremely powerful species appeared on the 52nd floor, the remaining dozen players could be wiped out in an instant.
The 52nd floor didn't disappoint. A new creature emerged, unlike anything before. It towered over 20 meters, making it the tallest species encountered so far. Its entire body seemed cloaked in shadows, flickering with ghostly layers of phantom shadows as it moved.
"Ultimate Demonized Human!?" the viewer exclaimed in surprise.
This was a heavily enhanced version of the Demonized Human. Unlike the standard, this one was nearly impossible to detect. Only within the Star Tower could such a violent, incarnate species be seen.
"The range of the Ultimate Demonized Human is greatly extended compared to the base version, and its damage output is even higher," Sebastian said, familiar with the creature. "In raw power, it's arguably the deadliest attacker among the higher-tier enemies. Essentially, it's artillery."
To the Astra Militarum, they scrutinized it but did not panic. Its threat level was lower than that of the Arrow Turtle. Though the transformation was swift, they were five kilometers away, meaning the transformed creature would need to close two kilometers before attacking. How could they allow that? One thing remained consistent: the defense of the Ultimate Demonized Human was still relatively weak. So, instead of missiles, the fighters deployed cluster munitions, the CBU-24.
While these weren't particularly effective against heavily armored species like the Half-Human Mammoth, they packed a punch against the Ultimate Demonized Human. Debris, shockwaves, and explosive fragments inflicted fatal damage.
The scientists watched as one such enemy fell. They attributed its demise to a new type, one that the Astra Militarum knew they could handle. Long-range enemies, generally more fragile physically, were easier to damage, reducing the need for costly missile strikes.
However, other melee combatants fared much worse. They were beaten back mercilessly, almost a one-sided slaughter.
"Hahaha," Bru chuckled as he watched the scene. "Melee fighters encountering the Ultimate Demonized Human are doomed. They get beaten, and they can't get close."
"Yeah," Svananóg agreed. "Its armor-penetrating attack means even the toughest melee units can't defend against it!"
Svananóg was in high spirits; his team had performed well on this floor. Aside from Sebastian, others had advanced smoothly. Most other regions, however, faced dire results. Another 100,000+ had fallen. Fewer than 300,000 contestants made it to the 53rd floor.
On the 53rd floor, a new species appeared, an elusive shadow creature capable of backstabbing. Commonly called "assassins" outside, they were among the most agile and swift species the contestants had seen.
The Astra Militarum had learned to stay cautious. Without clear intel, their entire team remained in their vehicles, waiting for drones to capture images of these elusive enemies, and only then would the next step be taken. Therefore, the "backstab" ability of the shadow creature wouldn't work at all.
The attack on the Scarab Walker produced only a dull sound. It was indestructible. Yet, the cannon mounted on the Walker could still knock opponents down. Although the Shadow Creature's defenses far surpassed those of the Ultimate Demonized Human, they weren't invulnerable. Both remained surprisingly fragile.
"Melee-Agility type," the team of scientists concluded after analyzing the Shadow Creature. They had developed a new classification based on its characteristics.
For some participants, this floor was a shock; for others, it was an outright disaster. Many powerful long-range fighters feared this kind of creature that could close the distance instantly and strike at close quarters.
For instance, the Shadow Creature was a natural nemesis for the Ultimate Demonized Human. But for most melee units with formidable physical strength, the threat posed by the Shadow Creature was not enough to inspire fear; they could withstand its assaults.
The Elves of the Elves Empire were somewhat wary of these foes. On this floor, over two hundred contestants were eliminated, causing Bru, who had kept a calm smile, to stiffen slightly.
Svananóg, however, burst into loud laughter.
"Don't get complacent," Bru warned, his tone unamused. "Next level, I estimate that not even ten of your number will survive in your area."
"It doesn't matter, as long as one or two make it into the top ten thousand," Svananóg replied with a faint smile.
At the 54th Floor, a new species emerged, a melee attacker unit. Their attack power was slightly weaker than that of the Ultimate Demonized Human; however, their speed, agility, and physical resilience were several times greater.
Yet, to the Astra Militarum, these units posed an even lesser threat than the Ultimate Demonized Human, since the latter could attack from a distance. These new foes needed to close in before they could strike, making them more dangerous to close-combat specialists.
This floor became a slaughterhouse. The enemy units didn't even reach the three-kilometer mark before falling, like wheat being cut down one after another.
Most participants relied on long-range attacks, but they were few, while the majority engaged in melee combat. Consequently, many fought bitterly to survive.
Svananóg's team was no exception. Several more contestants fell on this floor. Only fewer than ten remained, precisely, eight: Sebastian, Patton Shura, Huo Kong, the Crown Prince, and a few others.
On the 55th Floor, the enemy strength increased, but it was still no match for the Astra Militarum. However, three members of Svananóg's team were eliminated, leaving only five survivors.
The 56th Floor saw everyone holding their ground, including other contestants, giving their all.
The 57th, 58th, and 59th Floors followed, each more challenging than the last.
Unexpectedly, the number of eliminations on these floors began to decline gradually. Over 80,000 participants remained, an astonishing number, even to Svananóg himself.
Until now, Sebastian, Patton, Huo Kong, Shia, and the Crown Prince were still in the game. The elves of the Elves Empire also performed remarkably well, with nearly two thousand still standing.
"I didn't expect this," a Level 6 Planetary Lord muttered. "They're all so powerful, I think they can reach the 60th floor."
"It shouldn't be a problem," another nodded. "Then, it'll be the 61st floor to decide the top ten thousand."
Bru agreed. The challenge would only grow tougher, selecting the very best among the contenders. Few could create a super-peak species based solely on their quality, but first, they had to survive the 60th floor.
Apart from a handful of eliminated contestants, everyone who reached the 61st floor did so without issue. The number remaining was about 50,000, matching the previous competition's tally after clearing the 60th floor.
"Go! Go! You're the best," shouted cheers from the crowd.
"Use all your abilities, you can do this," others encouraged.
"Show your courage, defend your honor!"
"As long as you defeat the enemy on this floor, I'll accept all your conditions!" someone proclaimed.
Many cheered for their favored fighters. Clearing the 61st floor meant they were nearly guaranteed a spot in the top ten thousand.
"Everyone, stay alert. The next floor will likely feature a creature as powerful as the Phenoix. Don't be reckless," Sebastian advised, offering an extra warning.
They had learned from their encounter with Huo Kong and the Phenoix firsthand, carelessness would be fatal.
On the 61st floor, a peak-level super creature appeared. On the drone screen, it looked unremarkable, ordinary, even. Yet, beneath that plain facade lurked a terrifying beast, turning the faces of many contestants pale with dread.