The quiet reprieve Caelum had gotten on the 55th floor felt like a distant memory as they made their way up the winding halls of the Azure Tower. The pace had quickened since their rest, but the enemy forces had also become increasingly relentless. The higher they climbed, the more difficult the challenges became.
By the time they reached the 65th floor, it was clear to Caelum that they were no longer facing the same type of mercenaries or rogue mechs from the lower levels. The enemies were more organized, more tactical. They fought with precision, anticipating their movements and countering every attack. Each floor had felt like a test, a puzzle meant to wear them down. Caelum could already feel the strain in his body, but he refused to show any sign of weakness.
Alric, too, was starting to show the strain. His fiery blade cut through enemies with blistering speed, but even he was beginning to look weary. However, both of them had learned to pace themselves. They fought together, each taking turns to rest while the other pressed forward. Alric's fiery sword and Caelum's Eclipsed Spear of Dawnshadow had become a deadly duo, cutting down enemies and weaving through the labyrinthine hallways with deadly precision.
As they approached the 75th floor, the intensity of the fights began to shift. The previous floors had been populated with mechs, mercenaries, and various other threats, but now something felt different. The hallways were darker, the air heavier. Caelum felt a strange pull, an ominous energy that he couldn't quite place.
"This floor feels different," Alric muttered, his voice low as he scanned their surroundings. "Like we're being herded."
Caelum's eyes narrowed. "Stay on guard. We can't let our guard down here."
They pushed forward cautiously, stepping into the 75th floor's main area. It was larger than the previous floors, almost like a coliseum. The central area was wide open, with tall columns reaching up to the ceiling. But as they walked deeper into the space, the floor seemed to shudder with a sudden weight.
The lights flickered, and a low hum vibrated through the walls. A mechanical voice boomed across the arena.
"Intruders detected. Preparing for elimination."
With a grinding sound, large iron doors slid open on either side of the coliseum, and out of the darkness emerged a massive armored figure. It was humanoid in shape, standing nearly three stories tall, with a jagged sword in one hand and a mechanical shield in the other. The figure was encased in blackened armor, its eyes glowing with a crimson hue.
A Mini-Boss.
The hum of its movement sent a chill down Caelum's spine. It was unlike any of the enemies they had faced so far. This wasn't a mere mercenary or rogue mech; this was something more.
[Mini-Boss: The Iron Warden]
The Iron Warden's heavy steps echoed as it advanced toward them. Alric gripped his fiery blade, ready to engage, but Caelum held up a hand to stop him.
"I'll take the lead on this one," Caelum said, his voice steady but sharp. "Stay back and watch for an opening."
Alric gave him a nod of understanding. "Don't die on me."
Caelum summoned his Light Soldiers to flank him from the right, their ethereal forms darting in and out of sight. His Shadow Soldiers took their positions on the left, their dark forms merging with the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
The Iron Warden raised its sword high, letting out a deafening roar. Caelum darted forward, using the power of his Abyssal Convergence form to enhance his speed. He was a blur, his Eclipsed Spear flashing as he aimed for the Warden's weak points—its joints, underarms, and exposed areas where the armor plates didn't quite meet.
But the Warden was fast. Its sword swung down with an explosive force, the sheer weight of the strike shaking the floor beneath them. Caelum rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade, and responded with a flurry of thrusts, each aimed to pierce through the Warden's heavy armor.
"Light Manticore, hit it with Celestial Fire!" Caelum shouted.
The Light Manticore soared through the air, its wings leaving a trail of radiant light. It opened its mouth and unleashed a burst of Celestial Fire, aiming directly at the Warden's head. The flames melted the top layer of its armor, revealing a glowing core beneath, but it wasn't enough to stop the beast.
The Warden roared in defiance and swung its massive sword again, this time targeting the Light Manticore. The creature was forced to dive out of the way, but the sword's momentum caused the entire coliseum to tremble.
"Shadow Manticore, now!" Caelum commanded.
The Shadow Manticore slinked through the shadows and lunged at the Warden's exposed flank. Its claws raked across the Warden's armor, leaving deep gashes, but still the armor held firm.
Caelum didn't relent. His Eclipsed Spear glowed brighter as he pressed the attack. "This ends now!" With a roar of his own, he lunged, piercing the Warden's glowing core with the spear.
The Warden staggered back, its form beginning to flicker and glitch. The light and shadow energy from Caelum's spear surged through the Warden's systems, destabilizing it. With a final, desperate scream, the Iron Warden collapsed, its massive frame crashing to the floor in a cloud of sparks and smoke.
[Mini-Boss Defeated: The Iron Warden]
XP Gained: 4,500
Loot: Warden's Core (Unique Item)
Caelum stood panting for a moment, his spear still crackling with residual energy. "That was… something else."
Alric stepped forward, his blade still alight. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Caelum replied, wiping the sweat from his brow. "But we can't let our guard down. This floor was only the beginning."
As the Warden's body dissipated into a pile of scrap, Caelum picked up the Warden's Core. It pulsed with a strange energy, unlike anything he had encountered before. His instincts told him it would be useful, though he wasn't quite sure how.
"Let's keep moving," Caelum said, stuffing the core into his bag. "Floor 76 awaits."
They continued deeper into the tower, unaware of the greater challenges yet to come, but knowing they were one step closer to Echo-33.
Additional Loot from the Iron Warden:Warden's Helm
A sleek, mechanical helmet with reinforced plating and an energy shielding system. The helm is etched with intricate patterns of arcane symbols and technological runes.
Effect:Passive: Grants a 10% resistance to energy-based attacks and provides immunity to mind-altering effects such as fear, confusion, and illusions.Active: Overcharge - Once per day, the helmet can deploy a protective energy dome that shields Caelum from incoming ranged attacks for 10 seconds.Aetherium Shard
A small, crystalline fragment that hums with a strange energy. This shard was once part of the Warden's core and is infused with a blend of magic and technology.
Effect:Passive: Regenerative Aura - Restores 5% of health per hour while in combat.Active: Caelum can channel the shard's energy to replenish his stamina or mana once per day, restoring 20% of his reserves.Warden's Gauntlets
Heavy-duty gauntlets made of reinforced metal and enhanced with internal actuators, capable of amplifying Caelum's physical strength.
Effect:Passive: Grants +5 Strength.Active: Impact Slam - When activated, Caelum can deliver a charged ground slam that deals extra physical damage in an area of effect, stunning enemies within range for 3 seconds.Iron Warden's Cloak
A cloak woven from a blend of light-diffusing fibers and reinforced with metallic plating. It gives off a faint, mechanical hum when moved.
Effect:Passive: Stealth Mode - When Caelum is standing still, he becomes harder to detect, granting him a 20% increase in stealth and a chance to avoid detection by enemies.Active: Adaptive Camouflage - Once per day, the cloak can blend Caelum with his surroundings, granting him invisibility for 10 seconds or until he attacks.Warden's Gear Set Bonus (Iron Warden's Legacy)
If Caelum equips multiple pieces of the Warden's loot, he unlocks the Warden's Legacy Set Bonus:
Set Bonus: Activating any of the Warden's abilities (such as Impact Slam or Overcharge) grants him a temporary shield equal to 10% of his maximum health for 30 seconds.