[Floor 5: Objective: Defeat Aym]
The moment Ray stepped through the shimmering portal, the world around him shifted violently. Heat unlike anything he had ever felt washed over him in waves, stealing his breath and threatening to set his very skin ablaze. The floor beneath him glowed a dull, volcanic red, cracked and fissured, with streams of molten lava oozing through its crevices. Above him loomed a cavernous dome, its ceiling hidden behind an ever-shifting curtain of smoke and embers.
The massive circular platform he stood on was surrounded by a sea of molten fire, its turbulent surface occasionally erupting into plumes of flame that reached toward the cavern's ceiling. The sheer magnitude of the heat and energy here was suffocating, and for the first time since entering the tower, Ray felt an inkling of doubt.
Then, he saw it.
At the center of the platform, a towering figure of raw power stood, its presence commanding and oppressive.
Aym.
The demon was a monstrosity of flame and fury, a titan of molten rock and infernal energy. Its body was a shifting mass of molten stone and fire, with jagged horns of blackened obsidian curling back from its head. Its eyes burned with an intense, unholy light, and in its massive hands, it wielded a colossal halberd, its blade glowing white-hot.
When Aym spoke, its voice was a deep, guttural roar that reverberated through the cavern like an earthquake.
"Welcome, mortal," it said, its molten lips curling into a mockery of a smile. "You have ascended far. But this is where your journey ends. I am Aym, Guardian of the Infernal Throne, and you shall be consumed by my flames."
Aym moved with terrifying speed, raising its halberd high before slamming it into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave rippling across the platform, fissures widening as molten rock spewed into the air. Flaming meteors rained down from the cavern ceiling, turning the battlefield into a hellish storm of fire and destruction.
Ray darted through the chaos, narrowly avoiding the fiery projectiles. Each explosion sent molten shards flying in all directions, scorching his skin and threatening to overwhelm him. His Hunter Eyes activated, marking weak points on Aym's molten body. The glowing spots pulsed with an inviting glow, but the intense heat radiating from them made any direct assault a perilous gamble.
"Let's see how you handle this," Ray muttered, summoning a sphere of Water Magic in his free hand. He hurled the orb at Aym, the water hissing violently as it struck the demon's molten surface. Steam erupted in a blinding cloud, obscuring Aym's vision and buying Ray a precious moment to reposition.
The demon roared in fury, its fiery mane flaring as it swept its halberd in a wide arc. A wave of fire surged toward Ray, forcing him to leap into the air. He propelled himself further with a burst of Wind Magic, landing with a roll just as the flames consumed the spot where he had stood moments before.
Aym was relentless. It raised its halberd again, driving it into the ground. This time, pillars of fire erupted in a circle around Ray, boxing him in. The heat was suffocating, his vision blurring as sweat poured down his face.
"I need a new strategy," Ray muttered, clutching his sword. "Time to change the game."
Summoning the last reserves of his mana, Ray extended his hands, channeling his magic into a powerful spell. The air around him shimmered, and with a surge of energy, three Water Golems emerged from swirling torrents of liquid. Each golem stood over ten feet tall, their bodies shifting and rippling as water constantly dripped and reformed. Their glowing blue cores pulsed rhythmically, exuding an aura of raw elemental power.
"Go!" Ray commanded, his voice cutting through the roar of the flames.
The first golem surged forward, its massive watery limbs crashing down on Aym with the force of a tidal wave. The impact sent a cascade of water splashing over the demon's molten body, creating an ear-piercing hiss as steam exploded into the air. Aym staggered, its fiery aura flickering under the assault.
The second golem followed up with a swift strike, its arm morphing into a sharp blade of ice that slashed across Aym's obsidian armor. Cracks formed where the blade struck, and molten lava oozed from the wounds, hardening upon contact with the cooling water.
The third golem moved with surprising agility, circling behind Aym and delivering a powerful punch to the demon's back. The impact sent the demon stumbling forward, its halberd dipping dangerously close to the platform's edge.
Aym roared in defiance, swinging its halberd in a fiery arc that cleaved through one of the golems. The water creature exploded in a burst of liquid, drenching the battlefield and creating another blinding cloud of steam. Undeterred, the remaining two golems pressed the attack, their movements coordinated and relentless.
Ray used the distraction to launch his own offensive. Summoning a barrage of Wind Blades, he directed the cutting gales at Aym's exposed weak points. Each strike chipped away at the demon's armor, leaving it vulnerable to the golems' unyielding assault.
The combined onslaught began to overwhelm Aym. Steam and pressure filled the air, and the platform trembled under the strain of the battle.
With a deafening roar, Aym unleashed its full power. Its molten form began to shift and condense, the lava hardening into a sleek, obsidian carapace that radiated an intense, fiery glow. The demon's halberd vanished, replaced by twin swords of pure flame that crackled with destructive energy.
The air around the platform grew even hotter, the lava lake bubbling more violently as the flames intensified. Aym moved with blinding speed, its swords slashing in a relentless flurry of attacks. The remaining golems struggled to keep up, their watery forms evaporating with each strike.
One golem managed to grapple Aym, wrapping its arms around the demon in a crushing embrace. The steam hissed and roared as water and fire clashed, the golem sacrificing itself to buy Ray some time.
However, the demon moved with blinding speed, its swords slashing in a relentless flurry of attacks. Ray parried desperately, but each clash sent shockwaves through his arms. The intense heat of the blades scorched his right hand, forcing him to drop his sword.
"Damn it!" Ray hissed, clutching his burned hand. The pain was unbearable, and he knew he couldn't keep this up much longer.
Desperation set in as Aym continued its assault, forcing Ray into a corner. Summoning the last of his mana, Ray combined Water and Fire Magic, creating a dense fog that enveloped the arena. The sudden drop in visibility gave him a brief respite.
"Think, Ray, think," he muttered, rummaging through his bag as he crouched behind a rock. "I need something—anything."
As his fingers brushed against the Ring of Solomon, the Aurora System chimed.
[Equip Ring of Solomon?]
[Yes/No]
With no other options, Ray selected yes. The moment he did, a surge of energy coursed through his body.
Ring of Solomon equipped. All growth and effects increased by 1
Ray's heart raced as he gathered every ounce of his remaining energy. With a fierce roar, he thrust both hands forward, conjuring a massive torrent of water that exploded from the ground in a powerful, unrelenting surge. The water twisted and spun around Aym, overwhelming the demon with its sheer force. Ray gritted his teeth, focusing all his willpower as he intensified the flow, watching the water crash into Aym's molten form. As the barrage continued, the system chimed in, responding to the rapid acceleration of Ray's abilities.
Water Magic: Strength increased by 1%. Damage dealt increased by 1%.
The water swirled with greater force, each wave crashing harder than the last, as Ray's mastery over the magic grew with every strike. The water intensified, growing more potent with each passing second, as if the very essence of the attack was feeding off Ray's determination. The demon shrieked, its fiery armor faltering under the relentless barrage, and Ray felt the weight of his power grow with every message that flashed across his vision.
Ray's heart raced as he gathered every ounce of his remaining energy. With a fierce roar, he thrust both hands forward, conjuring a massive torrent of water that exploded from the ground in a powerful, unrelenting surge. The water twisted and spun around Aym, overwhelming the demon with its sheer force. Ray gritted his teeth, focusing all his willpower as he intensified the flow, watching the water crash into Aym's molten form. As the barrage continued, the system chimed in, responding to the rapid acceleration of Ray's abilities.
Water Magic: Strength increased by 1%.
Damage dealt increased by 1%.
The water swirled with greater force, each wave crashing harder than the last, as Ray's mastery over the magic grew with every strike. The demon roared in fury, trying to push back the crushing tide. But Ray would not relent. His focus sharpened as the next message flashed across his vision.
Water Magic: Strength increased by 1%.
Damage dealt increased by 1%.
Ray felt his power surge in waves, each one more destructive than the last. The torrent of water twisted into sharp, jagged currents, slicing through the air like blades. The air around Aym shimmered with the rising force of Ray's magic. The demon's molten armor started to crack under the onslaught, and Ray could sense its weakening.
Water Magic: Strength increased by 1%.
Damage dealt increased by 1%.
Each strike sent a ripple of energy through Ray's body, making his blood race with excitement. His control over the water was absolute now, the magic bending to his will. The demon's fiery aura flickered and waned as it struggled against the storm of water that battered it relentlessly.
Water Magic: Strength increased by 1%.
Damage dealt increased by 1%.
With every new surge, Ray's confidence grew. The water crashed into Aym with an almost palpable fury, sending shockwaves through the platform. The system chimed again, its messages becoming a constant rhythm in Ray's mind.
Water Magic: Strength increased by 1%.
Damage dealt increased by 1%.
The air crackled with the tension of power. Ray felt his energy surge as the water continued to pour forth, relentless, unstoppable. Each message fueled his determination, pushing him beyond his limits, and Aym's once-immense power began to falter under the force of the magic. The storm would not cease until the demon was destroyed.
Aym's eyes burned with unholy fury as the relentless torrent of water pummeled its molten body, chipping away at its once-impenetrable armor. The demon's form trembled, its fiery aura flickering with each strike. Roaring in defiance, Aym began to channel the very flames within, its molten core pulsing as if feeding off the pain, growing hotter with each second. The water surged around it, but the demon's rage only grew, turning its suffering into fuel for something far more deadly. The once fluid and swift movements of Aym began to slow, then suddenly, it surged forward with terrifying force, its body enveloped in a wave of searing heat. The flames around its form darkened to a deeper, more intense shade of crimson, crackling with malicious energy. Aym's molten fists clenched, and its dual flaming swords burst to life once more, brighter and fiercer than before.
As the system chimed a warning about the escalating power, Aym's entire body seemed to glow with unearthly fire, gathering its energy for one final, devastating strike. The platform beneath them began to crack and shift, as though reacting to the power that was being summoned. In the face of Ray's attack, the demon's anger transformed into raw, unfiltered destruction. With an earth-shattering roar, Aym raised its twin swords high, the heat radiating from them so intense that the very air distorted around them. It was preparing to unleash an attack that would shatter everything in its path, a final gambit powered by the desperation and fury of a creature on the brink of collapse. Ray's barrage had weakened it, but in its final moments, Aym was determined to burn everything to ash. The ground shook as the demon's final attack began to take form, its flames becoming a raging storm of fury aimed directly at Ray.
"Now or ever" Ray's heart pounded in his chest as the battle reached its breaking point. With the remnants of his energy, he focused on his Aura Magic, the last spark of his power. As his hand clasped his weapon, a pulse of raw energy surged through him, and his sword began to radiate with an intense, shimmering aura. He didn't have time to think, only to act. With an unrelenting drive, he lunged forward through the thick mist that had enveloped the battlefield. Water Magic was nowhere in his mind—just the raw, potent force of Aura swirling around him, guiding his every move.
In the final seconds, as Ray closed in on Aym's exposed form, his body involuntarily called upon his remaining mana. A sudden, uncontrolled surge of Mana coursed through his veins, infusing his sword with far more power than he had intended. The blade, already crackling with the focused energy of Aura, suddenly flared with an explosive burst of magic. The sword collided with Aym's core, and the shockwave was immediate—pulsing outward like a cataclysmic explosion, lighting up the entire platform.
The force sent Ray flying back, his body unable to withstand the violent backlash, but the impact was undeniable.
Aym's molten form staggered, barely holding together after the cataclysmic explosion Ray had unintentionally triggered. The remnants of the demon writhed and twisted in the air, its energy crackling in the dying moments of the battle. But then, the demon's voice—soft, almost reverent—reached Ray's ears.
"Enough," Aym intoned, its tone a stark contrast to the seething chaos of moments before. "You pass. I acknowledge you as worthy of the power of this tower."
Ray staggered back, blinking in disbelief, the echo of the explosion still ringing in his ears. The heat of the battle hadn't even fully faded when Aym's voice, now tinged with an almost solemn respect, continued, "We do not always judge by strength alone. Sometimes, it is creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience that prove one's worth. And you, boy, have all of these in abundance. No wonder Solomon entrusted you with his power."
Before Ray could formulate a response, the familiar, metallic sound of a system notification sliced through the air.
[Aym sees you as worthy to inherit the power of this tower.]
Ray's chest tightened, his heart still racing, as the ground beneath him began to tremble. The tower itself seemed to groan and shift, as if alive, and its energy began to surge, funneling into Ray's body. The air around him buzzed with the raw power, and he felt his body almost vibrate with it. He tried to stand firm, but the force was overwhelming. The arena around him crumbled, the walls shattering into dust as the energy of the tower poured into him, molding his very being.
Aym's form dissolved into a cloud of raw mana, its presence vanishing into the ether. The tower's energy merged with Ray's, and then the notifications began to come in faster than his mind could process.
Fire Magic: Level 2 → Level 3
Fire Magic: Level 3 → Level 4
Fire Magic: Level 5 → Level 6
Fire Magic: Level 9 → Level 10
The notifications flooded his vision, each sound more electrifying than the last, until the final message arrived:
Fire Magic has transformed into EX Skill: Authority of Flame.
Ray's mind reeled. He had reached the pinnacle of his Fire Magic, but it was something more than that. The power of the tower, the full breadth of Solomon's influence, now coursed through his veins. The weight of his achievement hit him like a freight train, yet something inside him stirred—something far greater was on the horizon.
In the blink of an eye, Ray found himself standing in the alleyway, the world around him shifting as he returned to the physical realm. His body trembled from both exhaustion and exhilaration. He stared at his hands, flames flickering gently over his skin, dancing with newfound strength.
"This… is just the beginning," Ray whispered, a wicked grin spreading across his face. The power he had gained, the journey ahead—it was all still unfolding, and he could feel the threads of destiny pulling him onward. He had only just begun to tap into the true scope of his potential, and the flames within him now burned brighter than ever before.