Rex, Elara, and Lyra ascended the staircase to the fourth floor of the Tower of the End. The air grew thicker, filled with a pressure that seemed to weigh down on their bodies, pushing against their resolve. Rex moved with cold precision, his mind focused solely on the climb. Elara and Lyra followed, their talents complementing his strength and making the trek smoother than it might have been alone. But Rex kept his secrets close, his expression as frigid as the air around them.
At the top of the stairs, a heavy stone door stood in their way, its surface covered in strange runes that glowed faintly. Rex studied them with a narrowed gaze, using his True Vision to decipher the markings.
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[Floor 4 Challenge: Solve the Riddle of Light to open the door. Enemies will attack every five minutes until the riddle is solved.]
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Elara stepped forward, examining the glowing symbols. "A riddle, huh? Not exactly what I was expecting. But I can handle puzzles." She glanced at Rex, who merely nodded, then shifted his attention to the shadows around them, prepared for the enemies that would inevitably come.
As Elara worked to unravel the riddle, Lyra positioned herself nearby, her aura spreading through the chamber like a protective veil. "I'll cover us if anything shows up. Rex, just focus on keeping them off Elara's back."
Rex gave a short nod, feeling the tension in the air rise. He had no intention of letting his guard down. The riddle might be a distraction, but the real threat lay in the enemies lurking in the darkness.
Five minutes passed, and the silence was broken by a rumbling growl. Shadows coalesced at the edges of the room, forming into twisted figures with glowing red eyes. Spectral Hounds—creatures of darkness with razor-sharp claws that gleamed in the dim light.
Rex's grip tightened on his sword, his Aura flaring up. Without a word, he charged at the nearest hound, his movements a blur. His blade cut through the spectral form, dissipating the creature into a cloud of shadowy mist. But as soon as one fell, another emerged from the darkness, jaws snapping.
Elara's brow furrowed as she worked, her hands tracing the symbols. "Almost there... Just keep them off me a little longer!"
Lyra's aura seeped into the ground, casting a shadowy veil over the hounds that slowed their movements. "Don't let them through, Rex. If they reach Elara, we'll be swarmed."
Rex's response was a sharp slash through another hound, his mind racing with calculations. He moved with mechanical precision, each strike targeting the hounds' weak points. Thanks to True Vision, he could see the fluctuating energy within their forms, allowing him to shatter their cores with ease. The pressure of the fight didn't bother him—his Level Up Recovery kept him from tiring, his stamina and mana replenishing faster than he could expend them.
The tide of enemies seemed endless, but Rex remained relentless. Elara muttered to herself, her voice barely audible over the din. Finally, her eyes lit up. "Got it! The riddle's answer is... Light's Reflection!"
She pressed her hand to the center of the runes, and they glowed brighter before fading away. The heavy door creaked open, revealing the staircase to the next floor. Rex dispatched the last hound with a swift strike, then turned back to the sisters.
"Let's move," he said curtly, his voice cold and unyielding. He led the way up the stairs, not bothering to look back at his allies. He could hear the faint breath of relief from Elara and the soft chuckle from Lyra behind him, but their reactions didn't concern him. He had no interest in forging bonds—only in reaching the top of this cursed tower.
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The fifth floor greeted them with a shifting landscape, the walls warping and twisting as if alive. The air was thick with an oppressive energy that clawed at their minds, trying to break their focus.
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[Floor 5 Challenge: Survive the Illusory Labyrinth. Find the true path before your sanity slips away.]
[Hazard: Mind-Warping Mist]
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Rex's True Vision immediately picked up on the nature of the illusion. He could see the outlines of false walls and hidden passages that would mislead anyone without a similar skill. He said nothing, but his pace was steady as he guided them through the maze-like corridors. Lyra and Elara followed, trusting his silent lead.
Elara's breath was unsteady as she glanced around the ever-shifting maze. "This place... it's messing with my head. Everything looks the same."
Lyra's aura pulsed, providing a thin shield against the mental assault. "Just keep moving. Don't let it get to you. Rex seems to know where he's going, so let's not question it."
Rex could hear their murmured conversation, but he kept his thoughts to himself. His True Vision allowed him to navigate the labyrinth with ease, but he didn't bother to explain how. He simply kept moving forward, his eyes locked on the invisible paths that only he could see.
They encountered twisted, phantom-like figures that lashed out from the mist, but Rex dispatched them with swift, precise strikes. Each time, he ignored the flashes of surprise or gratitude from the sisters. They didn't need to know that he could see through illusions; it was better if they thought he was simply skilled at navigating difficult terrain.
After what felt like hours, they reached the end of the labyrinth. A shimmering doorway appeared, leading to a safe chamber. Rex paused only long enough to ensure the sisters followed before stepping through.
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[Ding! Floor 5 cleared. Proceed to the next floor.]
[Reward: 120 Skill Points, Mental Fortitude Potion, 300 Abyss Coins.]
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Rex picked up the Mental Fortitude Potion without hesitation, feeling the rush of clarity as he drank it. Thanks to Infinite Buff, its effects became permanent, strengthening his mind against future mental assaults. He pocketed the Abyss Coins without a word, already turning toward the next staircase.
Lyra eyed him curiously. "You've been awfully quiet, Rex. You got a plan for the rest of these floors, or are we just going to wing it?"
Rex glanced back at her, his gaze icy. "We'll keep climbing. The rewards are worth the effort, and each floor brings us closer to the top. Focus on that."
Elara smiled faintly, adjusting her grip on her staff. "He's got a point. No use worrying about what's next until we get there."
Rex's lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. He turned away, his thoughts hidden behind his cold expression. He had no intention of revealing his unique skills or his true capabilities, but he knew one thing for certain: with each floor they conquered, he grew stronger. And if they survived this tower, they'd face a different Rex than the one they'd met at the beginning.
With the rewards of the fifth floor enhancing his mind and their combined talents, they continued their ascent, the shadows of the tower stretching ever higher. The climb would be long, and the trials ahead even deadlier—but Rex was ready, his eyes fixed on the summit.
The Tower of the End was just beginning to test them.