The 31st floor greeted them with an oppressive stillness, the kind that seemed to weigh down the very air they breathed. The atmosphere was darker, more sinister than any of the previous floors. Unlike the cavernous expanses they had grown used to, this floor was narrow, with stone walls creeping close on either side. The path ahead seemed to stretch endlessly, illuminated only by flickering braziers that cast eerie, elongated shadows.
Michael adjusted the coilgun on his shoulder, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead. His mind was still racing from the battle on the 30th floor. The piercing projectiles had worked, but the mana cost had been significant. He could feel the constant pull of his new powers, their addictive nature gnawing at the edges of his sanity.
Valencia walked beside him, her wings tucked neatly behind her. The crimson veins pulsed faintly, the only sign of the immense power she wielded. She had been quieter since the battle, her red eyes flicking toward him more often than usual, a mix of concern and possessiveness etched into her expression.
They had barely spoken since descending to this floor. There was a tension between them—an unspoken understanding that something had shifted. Michael could feel it in the way her gaze lingered on him, in the way her aura flared subtly whenever they neared danger. He knew she was watching him closely, her protective instincts growing more intense with each passing moment.
"Another floor, another challenge," Michael muttered, breaking the silence.
Valencia's lips curved into a small, dark smile. "As long as we're together, nothing can stand in our way." Her voice was soft, but there was an edge to it, a possessiveness that had only grown stronger since her transformation.
They continued down the narrow passage, their footsteps echoing softly against the cold stone. Every few minutes, they would pass a side chamber or a dead-end tunnel, but they pressed forward, knowing that the real challenge awaited them further ahead.
The tension between them remained unspoken, but it was palpable in the air. Michael couldn't deny the changes he felt in himself. The dungeon was twisting him, pushing him to darker places. His cracked gray halo buzzed faintly with the defensive magic he had absorbed, and his wings itched with the desire for flight, though he hadn't yet fully tested their limits.
A sudden tremor ran through the ground beneath them, a low rumble that echoed through the narrow passageway.
"Something's coming," Valencia said, her wings flaring slightly, the red veins pulsing with energy. Her voice carried a note of excitement.
Michael nodded, tightening his grip on the coilgun. "Be ready."
From the shadows ahead, a group of creatures emerged, their forms twisted and grotesque. They were unlike anything Michael had seen so far—humanoid but deformed, their bodies hunched and disfigured. Their eyes glowed with a sickly green light, and their limbs twitched unnaturally as they moved.
Without hesitation, Valencia sprang into action. Her wings propelled her forward, her dark magic forming in her hands as she launched a volley of devastating attacks. The creatures recoiled, their bodies convulsing as they were torn apart by her spells.
Michael followed, keeping his distance as he loaded a Bone Chill-infused round into the coilgun. He aimed carefully, watching as Valencia's magic slowed the creatures' movements. When he fired, the projectile shattered on impact, releasing a wave of dark energy that wrapped around the nearest enemy.
The effect was immediate. The creature froze, its glowing eyes wide with terror as the tendrils of Bone Chill tightened around it. Its limbs twitched as if trying to move, but its body was locked in place, its mind too clouded with fear to react.
Michael fired again, the coilgun humming with dark energy. Each shot drained more of his mana, but the results were worth it. The creatures fell one by one, unable to withstand the combined force of his projectiles and Valencia's relentless magic.
When the last of the enemies crumpled to the ground, Michael exhaled, lowering the coilgun. His body was drenched in sweat, his mana reserves dangerously low, but the rush of victory still surged through him.
Valencia landed gracefully beside him, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "You're getting stronger," she said, her voice carrying an unmistakable hint of pride.
"So are you," Michael replied, though he couldn't shake the feeling that something inside him was shifting. The coilgun's influence was growing, its dark magic feeding off his emotions. But it wasn't just the weapon—it was the dungeon itself. Every floor seemed to pull them deeper into its grasp, twisting their powers, their minds.
Valencia's wings flared slightly as she stepped closer, her red eyes locking onto his. "Just don't forget," she whispered, her voice soft but laced with an intense possessiveness. "No matter how strong you get, you're mine, Michael. Always."
He met her gaze, feeling the weight of her words. Their bond had grown stronger, but so had her obsession. And while part of him welcomed it, another part couldn't help but wonder where it would lead them.
Shaking off the thought, Michael turned his attention back to the path ahead. They still had a long way to go, and the dungeon wasn't going to get any easier. But for now, they were together, and that was enough.
"Let's keep moving," he said, his voice steady.
Valencia smiled, her wings folding behind her as she followed him deeper into the darkness, her crimson eyes never leaving his back.