The man continued his climb and finally reached the fourth floor. As he stepped onto the new level, he felt a shiver run down his spine. This floor was unlike any of the previous ones. It resembled a vast dungeon, with enormous cells lining both sides of a seemingly endless hallway. The cells were larger than the ones he'd encountered before, clearly built to contain creatures much bigger than the devils he had fought on the third floor.
The darkness was oppressive, with no light to guide him, only the sound of deep, heavy breathing emanating from the cells. The light within him spoke, "I sense beasts in every cell. One of them has escaped and is now roaming somewhere nearby. Beware, they are much larger than those devils we fought below."
The man glanced back at the crimson tree, noticing that its roots had stopped at the fourth floor. "Well, maybe another way lies ahead," he muttered. He drew his sword, ready for whatever awaited him in the shadows.
As he walked down the dark hallway, the man's sword ignited with a blue flame, casting an eerie glow around him. The light within him illuminated the path, revealing the outlines of massive iron bars and stone walls. The silence was broken only by the distant sound of growling and the unmistakable thudding of heavy footsteps approaching.
"He's coming this way," the man said, tightening his grip on the sword.
Suddenly, a giant lion emerged from the darkness, its eyes glowing with a feral hunger. Behind it, the other beasts in the cells began to stir, their growls and roars filling the air. The man could see their eyes glinting in the dim light, thirteen in total, each more monstrous than the last.
"Lions! Stay sharp. They are wilder than the natural!" the light within him warned.
The first lion lunged at the man, its massive jaws snapping shut inches from his face. The man sidestepped, bringing his sword down in a swift arc, slicing through the beast's shoulder. Blood sprayed across the stone floor, and the lion roared in pain, but it wasn't finished. It swiped at him with a massive paw, knocking him off balance.
As the man stumbled, another lion charged at him from the side. He regained his footing just in time to dodge the attack, his sword blazing brighter as he swung it in a wide arc, cutting deep into the second lion's flank. The beast howled, its blood mixing with the first lion's on the ground.
The remaining lions, enraged by the sight of their wounded comrades, began to circle the man, their eyes filled with a primal fury. The man stood his ground, his sword held high, ready to face the onslaught.
The third lion attacked, leaping into the air with a ferocious snarl. The man met it head-on, his sword clashing with the beast's claws in a shower of sparks. The force of the blow sent the lion crashing to the ground, its body convulsing as the blue flames of the sword seared its flesh.
But there was no time to rest. The fourth and fifth lions charged simultaneously, their powerful bodies moving with terrifying speed. The man spun on his heel, his sword cutting through the air in a deadly arc. The blade struck one lion in the neck, severing its head in a spray of blood, while the other lion's momentum carried it past him, its claws raking across his side.
The man gritted his teeth against the pain, turning to face the next wave of attackers. The sixth lion lunged at him, its massive paws outstretched. He ducked under the attack, driving his sword up into the beast's belly. The lion roared in agony, its blood pouring out over the man's hands.
The seventh and eighth lions attacked from opposite sides, their jaws snapping and claws slashing. The man twisted and turned, his sword moving with blinding speed as he fought off their relentless assaults. Blood and entrails splattered across the floor as he struck again and again, his blade cleaving through muscle and bone.
The ninth lion, a massive beast with a mane like fire, charged at him with a roar that shook the very walls of the dungeon. The man braced himself, his sword blazing brighter than ever. The two clashed in a brutal, savage fight, their strength and fury matched in equal measure.
The man swung his sword with all his might, the blue flames enveloping the lion as the blade struck its heart. The beast let out one final roar before collapsing, its body twitching as the life drained from it.
Breathing heavily, the man turned to face the remaining lions. The tenth, eleventh, and twelfth lions snarled and growled, their eyes burning with hatred. They attacked together, a blur of claws and teeth. The man fought with all his strength, his sword a blur of blue fire and steel. He moved with a deadly grace, his every strike precise and powerful.
Blood flowed freely as he cut through the lions, their bodies falling around him in a gruesome display of his might. The floor was slick with blood and gore, the air thick with the stench of death.
Finally, the thirteenth lion, the largest of them all, stood before him. It was a towering beast, its fur matted with blood, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light. The man tightened his grip on his sword, his body aching from the relentless battle.
The lion roared and charged, its massive form barreling towards him. The man met it head-on, his sword blazing with a fierce light. The two clashed in a thunderous explosion of force, the ground shaking beneath them.
The man swung his sword with all his might, the blade slicing through the lion's flesh. The beast roared in agony, its blood splattering across the walls. The man struck again and again, his movements a blur of deadly precision. Finally, with a powerful thrust, he drove his sword into the lion's heart. The beast let out a final, blood-curdling roar before collapsing to the ground, its body convulsing in its death throes.
Breathing heavily, the man stood amidst the carnage, his sword still ablaze with blue fire. The light within him spoke, "Well done. But this is not the end. You must continue."
The man nodded, his resolve unwavering. He wiped the blood from his face and began to explore the third floor, his sword still glowing in the darkness. He found several rooms filled with treasures—gold coins, ancient artifacts, and strange, otherworldly objects. Among the treasures, he discovered several tickets, each one marked with strange symbols.
"These symbols," the man mused, "they must show the way."
The light within him agreed, "Indeed. These tickets will be your pass to the next volume."
With the treasures and tickets in hand, the man continued his journey, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The third floor was vast and filled with dangers, but he was determined to reach the top of the temple and confront the devils that awaited him.
The journey was far from over, and the man knew that he would need all his strength and courage to face the trials ahead. But with his sword of thorns and the light within him, he was ready to face whatever horrors awaited in the darkness.
– – –
As the man walked through the dark hallway, he pulled out one of the tickets he'd found. Examining it closely, he noticed a strange symbol etched into the metal. "Do these symbols show the way?" he asked the light within him.
The light responded, "These tickets are your pass to the heavenly castle."
"The heavenly castle?" the man asked, curiosity piqued.
"Yes," the light continued. "It is a dark heavenly castle, the third realm from this earth to the dark heaven above."
"How do we reach this castle?" the man asked, gripping the ticket tightly.
"After you ascend this temple, you will reach the Great Divine Lifter. This enormous lifter is the stairway to heaven," the light explained. "This temple is very high, and the main stairs we climb are the roots of the crimson tree, which have only reached the fourth floor. There are still five floors left. The ninth floor is where the guardian of this temple resides, and it is there you will find the lifter."
The man nodded, understanding the gravity of his journey. He tucked the ticket back into his pocket, noting its metal construction and the intricate embossing of angels and symbols. These symbols, the light had said, were crucial. They were what the archbishop would use to accept him, despite the curse he bore.
Determined, the man continued to explore the third floor. He soon encountered numerous devils, their grotesque forms lurking in the shadows. It seemed as though the number of devils was endless, but he steeled himself for the fight. His sword blazed with blue fire, cutting through the darkness.
"I hope someday, this suffering will end and no more," the man muttered, feeling the weight of exhaustion. But he knew he couldn't rest yet.
As he moved deeper into the third floor, the devils began to swarm him. They were hideous creatures, each one more nightmarish than the last. Some had multiple heads, others had limbs twisted into unnatural shapes. Their eyes glowed with malevolent intent, and their snarls echoed through the dungeon.
The first wave of devils rushed at him, their claws and teeth bared. The man met them head-on, his sword slicing through their flesh with ease. Blood splattered across the walls and floor as he fought, his movements a blur of speed and precision. Despite the ferocity of the devils, he remained unscathed, his blade cutting through them like a hot knife through butter.
One devil, larger than the rest, lunged at him with a guttural roar. The man dodged its attack, bringing his sword down in a powerful arc. The blade cleaved through the devil's torso, splitting it in two. The beast let out a final, pained howl before collapsing to the ground.
The man pressed on, his sword flashing in the dim light. He fought with a savage intensity, each strike more powerful than the last. The devils came at him in waves, but he refused to back down. He spun and slashed, his blade cutting through muscle and bone. Blood flowed freely, pooling around his feet.
As he fought, the man couldn't help but think about the suffering he'd endured. The curse that plagued him, the endless battles he faced. It seemed as though his torment would never end. But he knew he had to keep going. There was no other choice.
Another group of devils appeared, their eyes glowing with hatred. They charged at him, their claws outstretched. The man met them with a fierce battle cry, his sword slicing through their ranks. He moved with a deadly grace, his every movement calculated and precise. The devils fell before him, their bodies littering the floor.
The man continued to push forward, his body aching from the exertion. He fought through the pain, his determination unwavering. He knew he had to reach the stairway to the next floor. There was no room for doubt or hesitation.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the man reached the end of the hallway. Before him stood a massive stairway, leading up to the next floor. He took a moment to catch his breath, his sword still glowing with blue fire.
As he ascended the stairs, the man couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. He had survived the third floor, defeated countless devils, and now he was one step closer to his goal. But he knew the journey was far from over. There were still more floors to climb, more battles to fight.
The light within him spoke, "You have done well, but there are still many challenges ahead. Stay strong and keep moving forward."
The man nodded, his resolve strengthening. He continued up the stairway, ready to face whatever awaited him on the next floor. As he climbed, he couldn't help but wonder what new horrors he would encounter. But he knew he had the strength to overcome them.
The fourth floor awaited, its dark and foreboding presence looming above. The man tightened his grip on his sword, his heart pounding with anticipation. He was ready for whatever lay ahead, determined to see his journey through to the end.
As he reached the top of the stairway, the man took a deep breath and stepped onto the fourth floor. The darkness seemed to close in around him, but he stood tall, his sword blazing with blue fire. He was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that he had the strength and determination to overcome them.
The journey was far from over, but the man was prepared. He would continue to fight, to endure, until he reached the heavenly castle and found the peace he so desperately sought.