The 30th floor loomed ahead like a dark promise, its ominous staircase stretching below them as they stood at the edge of the 29th floor's arena. Each floor they'd conquered had pushed them closer to their limits, yet both Michael and Valencia had grown exponentially in power. The trials, the monsters, the endless cycle of battle and reward—it had all sharpened them into fearsome beings, more attuned to their respective powers than ever before.
Michael glanced over at Valencia. Her vampiric aura had intensified, especially after her latest transformation. On the 27th floor, she had gained something unexpected—wings. Not angelic like his, but massive, pitch-black wings with crimson veins running through them like blood pulsing just under the surface. They arched menacingly behind her, giving her an appearance as dark and regal as the night itself.
Valencia had been ecstatic about her new wings, testing them out during combat, propelling herself with unmatched speed. Yet Michael noticed something else—she wasn't just stronger. Her yandere nature had only deepened with each victory, her possessiveness over him surfacing more frequently. Each time they were in danger, her concern for his well-being bordered on obsession, but there was also a ferocity to it, an intensity that only seemed to grow the deeper they ventured.
"You ready?" Michael asked, his voice a low rumble as he adjusted the coilgun resting on his shoulder.
She nodded, her red eyes gleaming. "As long as you're by my side, I'm always ready."
They descended the staircase to the 30th floor, their boots echoing softly in the tight, spiraling tunnel. This floor felt different. The air was thicker, darker, and even the very walls seemed to hum with a malevolent energy. Michael knew they were approaching something significant. The dungeon had been ramping up its difficulty, forcing them to adapt faster with every battle.
After several long minutes, they finally emerged into the new floor—a vast, open cavern lit by dim, flickering torches. The walls were lined with jagged stone, and pools of blackened water collected in deep recesses scattered across the floor. In the center of the cavern, a massive, beast-like creature prowled, its eyes glowing with malevolence. The boss for this floor.
Michael's grip on the coilgun tightened. "This one looks different," he muttered, scanning the creature's movements. It was a hulking figure, easily twice the size of anything they'd faced so far, with thick, armored skin that looked impervious to standard attacks.
Valencia stretched her wings, the red veins pulsing faintly in the dim light. "Let's take it down quickly, Michael."
Without hesitation, she took off, her wings beating powerfully as she soared toward the creature, magic forming in her hands. Michael followed, keeping pace on the ground, his eyes locked on the target. His mind raced with a new idea—a concept he'd been toying with for the past few floors but hadn't yet seem completed.
Could he incorporate his spells into the projectiles from the coilgun?
The answer was yes, he could, but it didn't feel complete for him yet. While he could incorporate simple spells like Bone Chill into the metal disks, he felt he could push more into them, further increasing his expansive repertoire.
He had been channeling his dark mana through the weapon for a while now, but what he wanted was something different. When a projectile with a spell attached to it hit its target it exploded upon impact, similar to a high explosive round. What he wanted was for a high penetration round, something that would pierce through an enemy then continue through them.
As Valencia engaged the beast, casting defensive barriers to block its heavy swipes, Michael steadied his aim and focused. His mana surged into the coilgun, but this time, instead of using magic to make a metal projectile, he channeled his mana into a solid compacted disk. A dark, energetical pulse resonated through the weapon, and he pulled the trigger.
The projectile launched toward the monster with a high-pitched whine, streaking through the air like a bullet. When it made contact, the metal disk dissapeared on impact, the monster staggering backwards. For a split second, Michael feared it hadn't worked—but then, as the familiar tendrils of dark energy wrapped around the beast to trap it, something new happened.
The monster's movements slowed, its glowing eyes dimming as a small cylindrical hole in the middle of his chest bled out as the stagnant air passed through it.
The creature let out a guttural roar, staggering backward as its limbs trembled. Michael grinned, satisfaction welling up inside him. "It worked."
Valencia noticed the change too. "Whatever you did, keep doing it!" she shouted, hurling a barrage of dark magic toward the beast, her spells hitting harder and faster now that its movements were sluggish.
Michael fired again, however he decided against the piercing projectile and used a Bone Chill-infused projectile. It embedded itself into the creature's thick hide. It shattered unlike the first, and the monster recoiled, the tendrils wrapping tighter, as if feeding off the fear the Bone Chill made it exude.
Each shot drained more mana from him, but the effect was undeniable. The combination of spells and physical projectiles was devastating, turning the tide of battle in their favor. Valencia's wings propelled her around the creature, landing spell after spell, her dark mana slicing through its defenses with surgical precision.
The beast tried to retaliate, but its attempts were clumsy, its body moving as though underwater, blood seeped out of its wounds as its mind was too slow to react in time.
Within minutes, the battle was over. The monster crumpled to the ground, its massive form limp and defeated. As its body disintegrated, two familiar chests appeared where it had fallen, one glowing faintly with the familiar energy of a divine crystal.
Michael and Valencia approached the chests, breathing heavily from the exertion.
"Two more," Michael muttered, already reaching for the first chest. As expected, inside was another divine crystal, its glow illuminating their tired faces. He tucked it away, adding to their growing collection.
Valencia opened the second chest. This one contained a small, ordinary-looking item—an old, frayed piece of fabric. She frowned. "Another useless trinket."
Michael shrugged, tossing it into his inventory without much thought. They had collected plenty of junk along the way, though some of it had proven useful in unexpected ways. It was better to be cautious.
Valencia folded her wings, her gaze turning to Michael, her crimson eyes softening for just a moment. "You're pushing yourself too hard."
"I'm fine," he replied, though he could feel the strain in his body. The more powerful he became, the more it seemed to take from him. But the power was addictive. The coilgun's dark influence was growing, and he couldn't deny that it was changing him—just like the dungeon was changing Valencia.
"Still," she said, stepping closer. "You need to rest." Her possessive nature surfaced once again as she placed a hand on his arm, her grip firm. "I don't like it when you push yourself."
Michael met her gaze, sensing the intensity behind her words. She had always been protective, but lately, her concern had become more suffocating, though he didn't entirely mind it. The bond between them had only grown stronger with each floor they descended, and he knew that, for better or worse, they were tied to each other's fate.
"We'll rest soon," he promised. "But first, we keep moving."
Together, they stood at the entrance to the next staircase, their eyes locking in silent understanding. They had made it through 30 floors—each one a trial that had brought them closer to their ultimate goal. But the dungeon still had more in store for them, and they could feel it in the air.
They descended the staircase, ready for whatever awaited them on the next floor, their bond unbreakable, their powers ever-growing.