The air inside the Azure Tower grew colder as Caelum and Alric ascended through the lower floors, each one more treacherous than the last. After the fight with the mechs on the second floor, the next few levels proved to be just as dangerous, though the enemies were no longer machines. Now, they were human mercenaries—hunters hired by Echo-33, or perhaps just unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Caelum's focus was absolute. The Eclipsed Spear hummed with dark energy, and his summons—his two light and shadow soldiers, along with the pair of manticores—moved with lethal precision, cutting down enemies before they even had the chance to react. He had grown accustomed to this rhythm by now: strike first, and ask questions later.
Alric, ever the fiery warrior, took on the brunt of the physical combat. His blade cleaved through enemies with ease, flames lashing out and incinerating anyone who dared get too close. The duo worked in unison, a well-oiled machine of destruction. The enemy didn't stand a chance.
As they reached the 10th floor, the environment began to change. The walls, once metallic and cold, became adorned with strange, alien designs—intricate symbols that seemed to pulse with an energy of their own. A low hum reverberated in the air, sending shivers down Caelum's spine. Something was very different here.
"Do you feel that?" Caelum asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Alric's brow furrowed. "Yeah. This place... it feels wrong. Like someone's messing with the rules of reality."
"Echo-33…" Caelum muttered, his eyes narrowing. "She's trying to warp this place. Trying to use the tower itself to her advantage."
They moved cautiously, their weapons at the ready, knowing that each step could bring them closer to danger. As they approached the elevator that would take them to the next floor, the ground trembled beneath their feet. The elevator doors slid open with a sharp hiss, revealing a darkened hallway.
Without warning, a figure emerged from the shadows—tall, clad in black tactical armor, and with glowing red eyes that seemed to pierce through the dim lighting. This was no ordinary mercenary; Caelum could feel the weight of their presence, the strange power radiating off them like a physical force.
The figure raised a hand, and the shadows around them seemed to shift and grow, bending to their will. "You've made it this far, but you'll go no further," the figure said, their voice a low growl.
Alric stepped forward, his fiery blade igniting with a roar. "We'll see about that."
Caelum didn't need to say a word. He could feel the power stirring within him, the urge to unleash the darkness he had been holding back since entering the tower. With a swift motion, he activated his Abyssal Convergence, his body enveloped in a swirl of light and shadow. His Eclipsed Spear seemed to vibrate with newfound power as it transformed, its dark energy pulsating like a living thing.
The figure in front of them let out a guttural laugh, summoning a dark blade of their own. The two warriors charged at the same time, the room erupting into chaos. Caelum moved like a blur, the Eclipsed Spear crackling with energy as he slashed through the air, each strike faster than the last. His light soldiers flanked him, their ethereal forms flickering as they attacked from the shadows.
Alric was a whirlwind of flame, his sword cutting through the darkness with brutal efficiency. His flames clashed against the figure's shadowy barrier, lighting up the room with an intense blaze. But the figure didn't seem fazed. Instead, they stepped back, vanishing into the shadows, and reappearing behind them in a flash.
Caelum's instincts kicked in just in time. He spun, his spear cutting through the air, but the figure was too quick, dodging with unnatural agility. The figure's blade swept toward Caelum, but before it could make contact, his Shadow Manticore leapt forward, its claws raking across the enemy's armor.
"Gotcha," Caelum muttered, pressing his advantage.
The figure staggered back, their dark blade glinting as they summoned more shadows to their side—creating an army of phantom soldiers that swarmed around the two warriors. Caelum's Light Manticore took flight, roaring as it unleashed a burst of pure celestial energy, scattering the shadow soldiers with a single, powerful strike.
Caelum and Alric fought in perfect sync, their every movement calculated and deliberate. But just when it seemed like the fight would end, the figure's eyes flared brighter, their power surging to new heights. They raised their hands, and the shadows seemed to grow in size, warping reality around them. The ground cracked beneath Caelum's feet, the very air thick with tension.
With a shout, Caelum called upon his summons to create an opening. The Light Manticore tore into the enemy's defenses, its claws leaving deep gashes in the figure's armor. Caelum darted forward, his Eclipsed Spear flashing like lightning. The figure tried to react, but they were too slow. With one final strike, Caelum drove the spear deep into their chest, releasing a wave of dark energy that obliterated the figure's body in an explosion of light and shadow.
The room fell silent.
Caelum panted, his body still crackling with energy from the battle. He felt the familiar ache in his muscles from the exertion, but there was no time to rest. They had to keep moving.
Alric clapped him on the back, his grin wide. "Not bad for a guy with a spear."
Caelum gave him a weary smile, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Let's just hope the next floor isn't worse than this."
They stepped forward, the doors of the elevator opening once more. This time, however, as they ascended to the next level, the weight of the tower felt even heavier. Each floor was more dangerous, more twisted than the last. But Caelum had come this far. He wasn't going to stop now.
He couldn't