Chapter 2: The Path of Power
The second floor was nothing like the first. Gone were the dim, narrow corridors. Instead, Kayden and Nadia stood in an open, circular arena surrounded by towering walls of gleaming stone. Strange runes shimmered along the floor, casting a pale, otherworldly light across the space.
Kayden adjusted his grip on the halberd, feeling the weight of his new class, Warrior, settling into place. The power he'd gained from the first floor was intoxicating, his body now brimming with energy. His halberd felt lighter, his movements more precise.
---
[Current Status]
Name: Kayden Wilson
Class: Warrior
Rank: [F]
Bloodline: [Locked]
Level: 2
Skills:
[Heavy Strike] (Level 1)
[Iron Defense] (Level 1)
---
Nadia, standing beside him, glanced at her own status screen. Though she had chosen Mage, her sharp gaze remained calm and calculated. Magic surged through her fingertips, a new power she hadn't had before. She could feel the raw potential within her, waiting to be unleashed.
---
[Current Status]
Name: Nadia Parker
Class: Mage
Rank: [F]
Bloodline: [Locked]
Level: 2
Skills:
[Mana Control] (Level 1)
[Fireball] (Level 1)
---
"I've always wanted to try casting a spell," Nadia murmured, holding her hand out. Sparks of energy danced across her palm, forming into a small ball of flame. She grinned, the sight both surprising and exciting.
Kayden chuckled. "Looks like you've got the hang of it."
Before they could bask in their newfound abilities, a voice echoed through the arena.
---
[Trial: Defeat the Guardian of the Second Floor.]
[Objective: Eliminate the Guardian before the time limit.]
[Time Limit: 10 minutes.]
[Failure: Death.]
---
As soon as the message appeared, the ground trembled beneath them. From the far side of the arena, a massive door opened with a loud groan. The creature that emerged was unlike anything they had ever seen before. It was a hulking, six-legged beast, its body covered in thick, obsidian scales. Its eyes burned with fiery malice, and jagged spikes lined its back.
Kayden's instincts screamed at him to move. He spun his halberd, readying for combat, his body tense but focused. "That thing looks like it could flatten a building."
Nadia took a step back, her hand glowing with fiery mana. "We've got ten minutes. Let's not waste it."
The beast roared, its deep, guttural voice shaking the very walls of the arena. Without warning, it charged at them, its six legs moving with shocking speed for something so massive.
Kayden darted forward, meeting the creature head-on. His halberd glinted in the pale light as he swung with full force, using his newly unlocked skill.
---
[Heavy Strike Activated.]
---
The halberd smashed into the creature's side, sending a shockwave through Kayden's arms. But the beast's scales were tougher than expected, and though it staggered, the blow didn't penetrate deeply. The system flashed before Kayden's eyes.
---
[Heavy Strike - Damage Reduced by Guardian's Natural Armor.]
[Recommendation: Target Weak Points.]
---
"Of course, it couldn't be that easy," Kayden muttered.
The beast retaliated, its massive claw swiping toward him. Kayden barely raised his halberd in time to block, activating his secondary skill.
---
[Iron Defense Activated.]
[Damage Reduction: 25%]
---
The force of the impact pushed him back several feet, his feet sliding against the stone floor. His arms throbbed from the impact, but Iron Defense had absorbed a significant portion of the damage. Without it, that blow might have shattered his bones.
"Nadia, it's too armored for normal attacks! We need to find a weak point!"
Nadia nodded, her eyes scanning the creature. She noticed the soft glow of red beneath its scales, specifically around its joints and underbelly.
"There!" she pointed. "The glowing areas. They look like weak spots!"
Kayden didn't hesitate. He circled around the beast, trying to maneuver into position for a precise strike. But the creature wasn't making it easy, thrashing wildly, its spiked tail whipping through the air with deadly speed.
Nadia, in the meantime, held her hand aloft, channeling her mana.
---
[Mana Control Activated.]
[Mana Regeneration Increased by 10%.]
---
With a burst of focus, she released her first offensive spell.
---
[Fireball Activated.]
---
A blazing orb of flame shot from her hand, striking the creature square in the side. The fireball exploded on impact, searing through the thick scales at one of the glowing weak points. The creature let out a roar of pain, stumbling as its movements slowed.
"Nice shot!" Kayden shouted as he dashed in. He activated Heavy Strike again, aiming directly for the vulnerable spot Nadia had exposed. This time, his halberd sunk deep into the beast's flesh, blood spraying from the wound.
The monster howled, thrashing in agony, but Kayden pressed the advantage. With a swift motion, he wrenched his weapon free and slashed again, focusing on keeping the pressure on the weak points.
Nadia wasn't idle either. She unleashed another fireball, then quickly followed up with more precise, smaller bursts of magic, striking the creature's joints and underbelly. Each hit chipped away at the Guardian's strength.
The beast was growing desperate. It slammed its massive body into the ground, sending shockwaves through the arena, trying to crush them under its weight. Kayden rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding being flattened.
"We've got it on the ropes!" he called out, adrenaline pumping through his veins. "One last push!"
Nadia nodded, her mana flaring brighter than before. She unleashed her strongest spell yet, channeling all her remaining energy into a single attack.
---
[Fireball - Overcharged Version Activated.]
[Massive Increase in Damage Output.]
---
The fireball she launched this time was massive, almost the size of the creature itself. It roared through the air, hitting the Guardian's exposed underbelly with devastating force. The resulting explosion shook the entire arena, flames engulfing the monster.
When the fire cleared, the creature lay still, its body smoking and lifeless.
---
[Trial Complete.]
[Experience Points Earned: 500.]
[Skill Points Earned: 2.]
[Item Drop: Guardian's Core.]
---
Kayden and Nadia both panted, drenched in sweat but victorious. The blue system screens filled their vision once more.
---
[Level Up! Kayden Wilson - Level 3]
[Level Up! Nadia Parker - Level 3]
---
They had grown stronger, but the satisfaction was tempered by the knowledge that this was only the second floor of the tower. The journey ahead promised even greater challenges.
Kayden stepped forward, retrieving the glowing core from the beast's remains. The system identified it as a powerful material for crafting or enhancement. He handed it to Nadia, knowing she'd likely figure out its uses better than him.
"We made it through," she said, a glint of pride in her eyes. "And we're only getting stronger."
Kayden grinned, exhaustion giving way to excitement. "This is just the beginning. Let's see what else this tower has in store."
As they moved toward the shimmering portal that would lead them to the third floor, a new notification flashed.
---
[Special Event: Bloodline Awakening Available.]
---
Kayden and Nadia froze, exchanging glances.
"Bloodline… awakening?" Kayden echoed, his pulse quickening. Could this be the key to unlocking even more power?
"Looks like we're about to find out," Nadia said, her voice filled with anticipation.
With a deep breath, they stepped through the portal, ready for whatever came next.
---
To be continued...