With unspeakable silence both climbed the stairs. As if they had silently agreed not to talk about anything. But McElroy decided to break this unfortunate silence.
McElroy :
So that was the past Raizon. Now I feel like I know you more.
Jay :
Even me too. I feel like I know myself better now. After all what I feared happened. But now I am alive it means I managed to defeat the blood demon and survive some or the other way after all.
McElroy :
I followed after you were frantically jumping across time and space. All those were the battles that you've fought.
We've really come far haven't we.
They arrived at the ninth floor and as they entered the floor as always a light flooded the room as their eyes adjusted to the light of the floor.
Where there was Jasper. Standing idly as if he was waiting for someone.
Jasper :
Welcome challengers to the ninth floor.
Jay :
Jasper what the hell was the floor.
Jasper :
Since you've come this far. I might spill a few things.
As I said that for every person the tower can be different.
There is a reason because the towers resonate with the challengers the more they climb. The more higher they climb the tower the more the Tower resonates with it's challengers.
Jay :
Hey I didn't want to end in lava land.
Jasper :
But you did had to did with the sentinel didnt you.
Jasper :
So every floor is made with YOU on mind.
Jay :
So what is this floor. There's nothing here as well.
Jasper :
Actually I am once again supposed to actuate the test as well. Just like the fifth floor.
McElroy :
So what is the Trial this time.
Jasper :
Don't worry this one won't be abstract like last time. It is straight forward. Just like the past.
Thou must face against thine past once again.
Defeat it then the door will open to the final floor.
Jay :
Havent we done this enough.
Jasper :.
The Tower doesn't seem to think so. Don't worry it might be only a few enemies or one singular strong enemy at most.
The tower walls changed colour to a completely black texture and the only things that were visible were the challengers and the manager himself.
And as the light came up there was a man which was detested by Jay the most, X.
X a man in a stylish white suit with silver hair and white boots with blue eyes had arrived on the scene.
Jay :
X, you're finally here.
McElroy :
Is this the Lord of Abyss?
Suddenly there were sirens blaring all over the tower. Their entire room flashed red. The entire tower began to quake and the entire system began to panic to fix the issue.
The tower was on the brink of collapse. If he had been on the scene for longer the entire Tower had been destroyed.
Warning the tower had become unstable. Warning the enemy is causing the tower u stability.
X gave Jay an evil smile before he disappeared onto thin air.
A existence had appeared in the tower which caused the entire tower to quake in fear.
Jasper finally breathed
Jasper :
What was the terrifying existence. It caused the entire tower to almost collapse.
System notice Resuming the test.
Before Jay appeared the bandit leader who kidnapped him first. Jay still bears a grudge against him. But now he was here as an enemy he wasn't going to be spared.
The bandit leader carried two machetes in both of his hands.
And with malicious eyes he saw both of them as merchandise that needed to be handled well.
He scraped the machete against his arm such that there was no blood but there was the still the sensation that there was something running against his skin.
Jay :
Metal spear x5
McElroy :
Icebolt x3
The bandit rushed with his dual machetes and immediately got pinned to the borders of the arena. By the metal spears stuck in his arms and legs and finally without too much pain the Icebolt made quick work of him.
Jay :
That was easy.
System : Enemy 1 defeated.
Initiating wave 2
In wave two there were two enemies both were of the similar nature.
It was the skeleton general from the skeleton war and skeleton cerberus.
The skeleton general sat in a skeleton horse whilst the skeleton cerberus with his three heads howled even though he had nothing, nor organ to produce the sound
Jay :
I'll take care of the cerberus. Go after the horseman.
Jay rushed at Cerberus.
Jay :
Firanga x 4
Jay tried once again got swallowed by cerberus just like before. And just like before the cerberus got obliterated as the Firanga exploded inside his body scattering his bones into every direction.
While the horseman was made quick work of by McElroy.
System : Second wave completed
Initiating third wave.
The enemies for the third wave wad just a singular man.
He had become bald. He held a katana which allowed him to channel his magic more efficiently. Of course he was someone who was deeply connected to their past.
Someone who swore revenge against them.
That was right how could they ever forget him. Roy Williams.
Roy :
I would've wanted to take revenge face to face. I'm not going to take revenge this way. Jay Garrick just wait one day I will be coming for you but not today. And that's when you will know what is true agony.
System : Third wave completed?
Initiating final wave.
Boss level. Azuma Tobi.
Azuma Tobi manifested himself on the battlefield fully covered from head to toe in armor. He was like a shogun as his kaubto also came with a face armor.
Azuma looked at them with dedicated eyes as he asked a few questions.
Azuma :.
Before we begin what happened to the war?
Jay :
We won, the demons are no more.
Azuma :
And what remains of my clan.
Jay :
Everyone was given an honerable death. The Azuma clan can finally rest peacefully.
Azuma :
I see so my clan is no more. It breaks my heart. But I have completed my life's long mission. The death of demons.
I have no regrets now.
Azuma drew his blade. It was an uchigatana which was a katana with a long size than a normal katana.
McElroy :
Be careful this is a boss after all.
Jay :
As we engage him try to set up the knife.
Space knife :
It can be fixed to one space coordinated and it becomes invisible and unmovable until something collides with it or gets pierced with it.
Spear of Time :
It will fire itself after a set amount of time. Till then like the space knife it remains adhered to a certain space coordinate.
Azuma had taken a firm stance neither too high nor too low.
As if he was waiting for both of them to approach.
The power of the clan head. Enough to take down hordes of demons and asura.
Jay scanned top to bottom for any openings. There were openings that he found but those open g points would be easily covered if Azuma moved even a little.
Azuma to create an opening used mana slash.
And a wave of mana was targeted towards Jay and Jay was ready to absorb the mana but McElroy pushed him aside or else he would have been cut in half as the logic was blocked by the tower.
Azuma exploited the opening as he tried to stab the katana inside Jay. But Jay was able to deflect it to the side. While McElroy used icebolts which was immediately blocked by the incoming flowing slashes of katana after which McElroy found himself targeted and at the mercy of Azuma.
Azuma :
Never underestimate someone who understands swords more than you.
Azuma Sword art : Torrent slash
That's right Azuma's sword is made out of a mana conductive material which is commonly found in nature.
Iron.
Thus he could easily channel mana into his own sword. Through his hilt and change its form in anyway he likes.
But even channeling mana into the sword and changing its form makes a dent onto its durability and might even cause the sword to deform or lose its sharpness or shatter into pieces.
That's why to be safe mostly stones are used for their consistency of mana release and depending on the type of stone the changes can be made to the material for it to take be durable.
But Azuma who used pure Iron to ensure conduction changed his mana form to a water saber which caused currents and ripples around the blades at a very violent rage which causes the flesh to be torn apart at contact.
Also it gnaws away as due to the turbulence it hits the water multiple times and even breaks the edge based weapons or even
But McElroy smiled as he took our his thundering thunderous sword which emits lighting and it runs through the blade only.
It came in contact with the torrent Sword. And both of them clashed with each other. McElroy knew that as it was water it would definitely pass current through the iron blade. Because Jay had taught him that. But when he looked at Azuma there was nothing happening. He was not even fazed .
Azuma :
Poor McElroy, didn't anyone teach you that this kind of techniques are too outdated for the current standards.
And you should look at your blade right now.
Mcelroy's attention shifted towards the thunder blade and he saw that it was on the verge of breaking. Due to the heavy torrent strikes.
Jay struck from behind like an Assasin.
Azuma :
I thought you were better than striking someone in the back.
You've disappointed me.
Jay locked swords with him but his sword broke and as Mcelroy went in for another slash. Azuma changed his position which made him miss and Tobi slashed horizontally.
Jay :
Metal wall.
Jay was temporarily saved.
Azuma withdrew the water. And took a deep breath to charge himself for the next attack.
Jay :
Firagna x 4
Firagna the next stage of firanga. Nothing much to say except it is more explosive than before.
Azuma :
Azuma Sword Art : Wrath of the Sun.
The blade was endowed with flames which were ofcourse below the blades melting point.
Jay an expert in fire magic took the stance this time as he once again locked swords with Azuma and with Azuma's expert swordplay he was able to throw off Jay's sword to the side.
And went for another stab. That's why Jay fired off a Firagna which exploded on the ground and thew off both of them.
McElroy silently signaled Jay. And Jay understood what the signal actually meant he took the long route where he was firing off weak fire falls which Azuma cut down one by one and retsilaited with mana slashes. While McElroy wasn't letting him move by aiming Icebolts at his feet.
And that's when the spear of time launched from the back.
Azuma deflected the spear which had set off away.
Azuma :
This is child's play you cant defeat me with this.
And as Azuma took a step forward he couldn't seem to move forward even an inch. And he even felt pain in his abdomen. But he couldn't figure out what was causing the pain.
He tried to kill him ve but the pain only increased. And when he looked at his stomach. There was a huge gaping hole in his stomach and when he tried to touch the protrusion he somehow cut his own finger. His finger was stained with his own blood.
The knife which was invisible became visible and Azuma found himself protruded with a knife. But he still kept the knife in his abdomen because he knew that if he were to remove it he would die from. Blood loss. Thus he continued fighting while bearing the pain of the knife.
But even bearing the pain made his sloppier than before.
This it would be a matter of time where his sloppy moves would be the cause of his downfall.
But even then he wouldn't go down that easily as he had his honor to uphold.
Azuma :
I will bet everything on this last attack.
Azuma Sword arts : Raging Thunder.
The sword this time was covered in lightning. While Azuma's footwear were enhances with Fire magic. Which he copied from Jay due to which Azuma's speed increased.
Azuma flew with a sword of lightning for the final slash .
He took the stance of his sword above his head.
And went on for a final attack.
And that's when a spear came flying through from being McElroy as he shifted to the side while concealing the spear of time which came in at just the right moment.
Azuma had to waste his slash and deflect the spear itself and thus missing the target entirely. Falling victim to a ice wall after which McElroy took the opportunity to make the final blow thus pinning Azuma to the ice wall.
Azuma :
I did die a warrior's death before. But now when we fought on equal strength I felt at ease.
System : Floor 9 boss defeated.
Floor 9 cleared.
Rewards :
Remnant memory x1
Please proceed to the final challenge.