What does it take to become a Monarch?
Was it as simple as reaching the ninth tier, or was there something deeper—something darker?
To the common folk, it might seem like a matter of raw talent or providence, as though destiny merely selected its rulers. But those who wore the crown of true Monarchs knew the unspoken truth: their thrones were built not of glory, but of sacrifice.
To stand at the summit of the world, blood had to be spilled. Choices had to be made, choices that clawed at the soul and left marks that no power could erase. For every title, for every accolade, there was a debt—a cost paid not in gold but in pain and anguish. Some his own, some in others...
Ivan knew this better than anyone.
The horrors he had endured—and inflicted—on his path to the top were memories he dared not recall.
Alcohol was a great means to forget.
