The announcer, sensing the rising tension and the weight of what had just been said, let the silence linger for a moment longer. Then he offered a practiced smile and turned back toward the camera.

  “Well,” he said, voice smooth but tinged with genuine wonder, “I’d like to thank our guests for their insight tonight—truly an eye-opening discussion. Whether you agree with T.C.'s theory or not, you can’t deny the consistency in what we’re seeing. This has been one of the most thought-provoking exchanges we’ve had in a while.”

  He leaned forward slightly, shifting the conversation to its next stage. “But let me ask something broader—something that’s been on everyone’s mind. What is all this? What is Obsedia? What is that holographic screen doing hovering over our world? Why is any of this happening? What’s the purpose behind Leon’s broadcast, the leveling, the monsters?”

  He barely finished the question before T.C. raised both hands, palms outward, as if trying to stop the train of thought before it picked up too much speed.

  “I don’t know,” T.C. said plainly. “And I won’t pretend I do. Everything I’ve said so far? Just a theory. Based on patterns, behavior, and what little we can observe. But since we’re already well past the threshold of what we used to call ‘realistic,’ I’m willing to entertain a possibility.”

  He turned slightly toward the screen behind them, which was looping footage of the the holographic interface, with one line in particular lingering beneath leon’s broadcast:

  [The impending threat has been halted]

  “That line,” T.C. said, pointing to the prompt, “is where my guess starts. The impending threat has been halted. It reads like an active scenario—like something is on pause. If we follow the tropes that have become all too familiar in games and fiction, then maybe Leon is inside Dungeon End not just to survive… but to win.”

  He looked directly at the camera now, voice calm but serious.

  “My theory? The so-called ‘threat’—it’s the monsters inside the dungeon. Maybe this isn’t just a game. Maybe it’s a test, or some kind of safeguard. If Leon fails—if he dies, or doesn’t reach whatever final level he’s meant to—then the threat resumes. And that could mean the monsters breaking free into our world. An apocalypse triggered by failure. But…”

  He paused, letting the silence hang just long enough for the audience to absorb his words.

  “If he wins—if he conquers whatever final trial lies ahead, then maybe… he stops it. Seals the dungeon. Ends the threat. Saves us.”

  T.C. leaned back, arms folding loosely across his chest.

  “That’s my theory, anyway. Outlandish? Maybe. But with everything we’ve seen so far, it might just be the most reasonable explanation on the table.”

  Seated beside T.C., Codex mumbled something under his breath—just loud enough to catch the microphone but not enough to interrupt. “Absurd…” he muttered, though he had no counter-argument left, no data to pull up, and that silence spoke louder than any critique.

  The broadcaster picked up the mood with a light chuckle and gave a few enthusiastic claps. “Truly fascinating,” he said, turning toward T.C. with genuine admiration. “Whether or not one agrees, it’s a refreshing perspective—and one that certainly gets the mind turning.”

  Then, with the practiced flair of a seasoned host, he shifted in his seat and looked toward the studio’s side entrance. “Now, ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to bring in someone who knows these systems better than almost anyone. He’s consistently ranked number one in nearly every RPG he’s touched, a master of mechanics, and the man behind some of the most optimized builds circulating in competitive communities today. Please give a warm welcome to RexValor, also known simply as Rex.”

  The studio lights followed the new figure as he stepped into the room, waving casually to the audience with an easy grin. He was dressed in sleek streetwear. His black gloves had fingerless tips, and his headset was already slung around his neck like he had just stepped away from gaming.

  Rex strode confidently over to the other guests,shaking hands with the broadcaster and the other two guests.

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  “Thanks for having me,” Rex said, flashing a quick smile to the camera. “I’ve been watching the segment from backstage, and man… this whole situation? It’s wild. Excited to throw my thoughts into the mix.”

  The broadcaster turned to face the new guest, his expression a mix of curiosity and excitement.

  “Now, Rex, you’ve been one of the most vocal experts when it comes to analyzing Leon’s playstyle—especially his approach to buildcrafting and progression. I believe you even said—and please, correct me if I’m misquoting—‘He’s going to be unstoppable by endgame.’ Care to elaborate on that?”

  Rex chuckled lightly, nodding. “That’s right. I’ve been following Leon’s journey closely, frame by frame, and let me tell you—this guy is a professional. He’s no amateur when it comes to buildcrafting—far from it. What we’re seeing is the work of someone who understands synergy, timing, and long-term scalability. If he keeps progressing like this... yeah, by endgame? He’s going to be an absolute monster.”

  Codex, who had remained mostly quiet since Rex entered, finally raised a hand, cutting in with a skeptical look.

  “Hold on,” he said, his voice steady but edged with doubt. “You’re praising Leon as if he’s been dominating the game from the start—but from what I’ve seen, he’s been hiding more than fighting. Letting slimes scavenge for scraps while he avoids confrontation. That doesn’t exactly scream ‘unstoppable build’ to me.”

  Rex didn’t seem the least bit thrown. He smiled, shook his head slowly, and leaned forward in his seat.

  “That’s where you’re mistaken, Codex. See, people who really know builds—I mean really know how they evolve—don’t judge them by early-game. Theorycrafting isn’t about who’s the flashiest at the early level. It’s about potential. It’s about setting a foundation that scales into something lethal by late-game. And that’s exactly what Leon is doing.”

  He gestured toward the hovering footage of Leon surrounded by his slimes. “From the start, he understood the limitations of his kit. The Ooze skill? Practically useless on paper. But then he picks Necromancer, a class with such unique traits. Then what does he do? He evolves Ooze into Summon Slime and begins refining their role. He knew they weren’t going to win him any fights in the beginning, so he didn’t use them for that. He used them for what they could do—sneaking, scavenging, obeying commands down to the letter.”

  Rex leaned back, voice growing more animated now. “And then—boom—he feeds them an Awakened Crystallized Heart, one extremely synergistic with his slimes, another slime’s ability. That item didn’t just boost their stats—it scaled and gave him the option to shift them from passive utility into multi-role extensions. Combat. Scouting. Defense. Numbers. They’re evolving into a full squad, and he’s playing the long game.”

  He pointed to the screen, as if daring Codex to argue. “What Leon’s building is a character that won’t need a party. A solo-runner who covers every role with his summons. If it were me? I’d push my slimes into handling DPS, tanking, crowd control—everything—and I’d build my own character purely for support. Buffs, utility, sustain. That’s what Leon’s doing, whether consciously or not. He’s building a one-man raid team.”

  Then, almost as an afterthought, Rex added, “And let’s not forget Lila. Cleric class. No real combat skills yet, but she’s got Pathfinder, one of the most valuable navigational skills in the game. If I had to guess? Leon’s planning ahead. Lila becomes the healer. He becomes the buffer. The slimes become everything else. It’s not flashy now, sure. But mark my words—by endgame? He’s going to be a walking army.”

  Codex opened his mouth, struggling for a rebuttal, but his words came out fragmented.

  “I… well, n-not necessarily—he could just be—” he stammered, glancing toward the screens, clearly trying to find a foothold in the conversation. But before he could finish, T.C. leaned in, cutting smoothly through the tension.

  “Rex,” he said, directing the focus back, “I have to ask, since we’ve got you here. If you were in Leon’s position… what would you do next? Specifically, what kind of upgrade would you give to the slimes? Let’s say he’s hunting for another Awakened Crystallized Heart, what kind would you be aiming for?”

  Rex’s eyes lit up, the kind of gleam only a true gamer got when asked to build craft live. He didn’t even hesitate, this was the moment he’d been waiting for.

  “With absolute confidence?” he said, grinning. “If Leon’s really who I think he is—a methodical, high-level gamer with long-term vision—then he’s going to look for a Crystallized Heart that scales off numbers. Something that boosts offensive output based on how many slimes are active.”

  He leaned forward, tapping the table with his index finger for emphasis.

  “A skill that transforms quantity into power. A trait that multiplies damage or applies stacking effects per summon on the field, that’s it. That’s the breaking point. That’s what I’d do.”

  He gave a slow, knowing nod. “If Leon’s as smart as he seems—and I believe he is—he’s already looking for that exact kind of evolution. One that lets him flood the battlefield and scale the chaos.”