Noah wiped the sweat off his brow as he climbed to what he estimated to be the fortieth floor. His legs ached, and frustration gnawed at his patience.
The endless climb had left him with a sinking feeling that something was terribly wrong. It wasn't just the exhaustion—there was something else.
He recalled how, back on the thirtieth floor, he had noticed a table shoved to the side of the staircase. He had thought little of it at the time, but now, as he ascended higher, he began to see more details that seemed oddly familiar.
A demon corpse lying in the exact same position as one he had encountered earlier. A door with a scratch mark that he could swear he had passed several floors below.
When he finally reached the fiftieth floor, he was confronted with undeniable evidence. The bloodied corpses of the rats he had killed earlier lay scattered across the floor, and the last one—the one he had smashed against the wall—was a grotesque reminder. Its mangled remains still clung to the stone, the dried blood forming a dark, unmistakable stain.
Noah's fists clenched as realization set in. 'This is a loop.' The staircase wasn't taking him anywhere. He had been running in circles, and every climb brought him back to the same floors he thought he had already conquered. His jaw tightened, and frustration surged through him like a fiery wave.
"Damn it!" he spat, slamming his fist into the wall.
Bang!
A web of cracks spread across the stone, but the jarring pain that shot through his knuckles reminded him that the wall wasn't the only thing that had cracked.
He winced and rubbed his bruised hand, muttering curses under his breath.
As he nursed his throbbing hand, something caught his eye. The wooden bat he had been carrying slipped from his fingers and tumbled over the edge of the stairway, falling into the seemingly bottomless center of the spiral. He watched it descend for what felt like an eternity, until it finally disappeared from sight.
A second later, Noah's head jerked upward as a movement above him drew his attention. The bat was falling again, this time from the ceiling as if it had come from nowhere. It fell down toward the spiral again and vanished, repeating the process all over.
"Of course," Noah growled, shaking his head. 'A loop to trap whatever was in here.' Whatever this place was, it was clearly designed to keep him and the deceased others from escaping.
He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger that threatened to cloud his judgment. Slamming his fists into walls or throwing objects into the abyss wouldn't solve anything. He needed to think, to find a way to break out of this endless cycle. His eyes followed the bat as it continued to fall, vanish, appear, and fall again and an idea sparked in his mind. If the loop kept returning him to the same place, then perhaps he could use it to his advantage.
Noah quickly decided on a plan. He would climb up to the point where the bat seemed to emerge from, check all the rooms there, and see if he could find an exit. If that failed, he would descend to the point where the bat vanished and repeat the process. One way or another, he would find a way out.
He ascended the stairs with newfound determination, taking them two at a time. When he reached the top of the loop, he began methodically scanning the rooms, kicking down doors that refused to open.
Each room was filled with more of the same—beautiful furniture, neat marble-covered floors, and the occasional corpse—but none offered a clear way out.
After what felt like hours of fruitless searching, Noah gritted his teeth and made his way to the bottom of the loop. His breath came in ragged gasps as he reached the lower floor and approached the first door. He grabbed the handle and twisted, but before he could step inside, a shimmering portal materialized before him.
The air grew thick with a heavy, intoxicating aura that sent a shiver down his spine. From the swirling light of the portal emerged a figure, her presence commanding and ethereal. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on—surpassed only, perhaps, by Seraphelle, the Succubus General.
She wore a flowing silver gown that clung to her every curve, the fabric shimmering as if woven from starlight. Her hair, a deep shade of purple, cascaded down her back in elegant waves, and her eyes—brilliant amethyst—seemed to glow with an inner light.
Twin obsidian horns curved gracefully to the sides, adding to her otherworldly allure. She was a Succubus, unmistakably, but not just any Succubus.
Noah's breath caught in his throat as memories rushed into his mind, unbidden and vivid. Memories from the previous owner of this body. Before he realized what he was doing, he found himself bowing deeply. "Mistress Elena, welcome," he said, the words slipping from his lips with a strange familiarity.
The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. This was his mistress, the one whom the Incubus had served. Even though Noah's true consciousness was that of a human warrior, the memories embedded within this demonic body recognized her as the authority he had once sworn to obey.
Mistress Elena's gaze swept over him, her expression a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Ah, my little Incubus," she purred, her voice smooth and velvety. "I see you've managed to get yourself into quite a predicament." She took a step closer, her heels clicking softly on the stone floor.
Noah's heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to maintain his composure. There was something in her tone that unnerved him—an edge of knowing, of power. He wasn't entirely sure if he was relieved to see her or more concerned by her sudden appearance.
"Forgive me, Mistress," he said, straightening himself. "I seem to be trapped in this place, caught in some kind of looping stairway. I've tried to find an exit, but…"
Elena's lips curved into a playful smile as she held up a hand to silence him. "Oh, I know all about this little enchantment," she replied. "It was placed here to keep… those within from leaving. I see you've been resourceful enough to recognize it for what it is." Her eyes glinted with a hint of approval. "But you've only just scratched the surface of what you'll need to do to escape."
Noah's brows furrowed. "You know how to get out, don't you?"
"Of course," Mistress Elena said, her voice dripping with confidence. "But whether or not I help you will depend on what you can offer in return." She extended a slender hand toward him, her fingers curling slightly as though beckoning him closer. "Let's see if you're worthy of my guidance."
The challenge in her gaze was unmistakable, and Noah knew that whatever came next, it wouldn't be easy. But if she was the key to escaping this place, he would have to play along… for now.