As they walked through the thinning crowd, their path eventually led them to a towering monolith at the heart of the floor. It loomed high above them, carved from dark stone that shimmered faintly with a celestial glow. Intricate markings ran down its length like veins of starlight, and all over its surface were names—hundreds of them—each glowing in varying degrees of brightness and hue.
Max paused before the massive structure, tilting his head slightly. "So… what is this monolith? And all these names written across it?"
"This," Lenavira began, stepping to his side, "is one of the defining features of the tenth floor. It's called the Pillar of Divine Appraisal. Every challenger who reaches this floor has the option to pass through it. It doesn't test your strength's rank—it evaluates you. Your potential, your core, your bloodline, your soul… everything that makes you who you are." Her voice lowered slightly, reverent.
