The air grows thicker as I move through the next corridor, the cold metal walls narrowing in on me as if they're trying to crush me from both sides. My footsteps echo faintly, the sound bouncing off the steel plates beneath my feet. The silence here is different—too quiet. Every sound, every creak of metal feels ominous, like the calm before a storm.
I'm getting closer.
The map showed this floor was important—no traps, no exits, no escape routes. Only a single room at the end of a long, twisting passage. Something about it feels final, as if this place was designed for a showdown.
My grip tightens around the knife I took from the guard. It's light, almost too light for my hand, but sharp enough. The blade glints under the flickering lights overhead, and I imagine what it will feel like sinking into flesh. I'll need to be precise, and fast—whoever, or *whatever*, waits for me at the end of this corridor won't go down easily.
My senses are sharper now, keener after each fight, each kill. Every flicker of movement at the edge of my vision, every shift in the air feels like a warning. My muscles are coiled, ready for the ambush I know is coming.
And then, I reach the door.
It's massive—taller than any other door I've seen in this place, made of thick, reinforced steel. There's no control panel, no sign of how it opens, just the faint hiss of air escaping through the seams. A symbol is etched into the metal, something I don't recognize—a hybrid of a lion and something mechanical, its jaws open wide as if preparing to devour.
My hand trembles slightly as I place it on the door, the cool metal biting into my skin. With a low rumble, it slides open, revealing a cavernous room bathed in dim red light. The space is enormous, far larger than the narrow corridors I've been navigating.
And then I see it.
The floor boss waits at the center of the room, half-shrouded in shadow. At first glance, it looks like a statue—its massive form hunched low, its muscles taut, as if frozen in time. But then it moves, its body shifting with a grinding noise, metal scraping against bone.
The creature is a grotesque fusion of a human and a lion, its body twisted and distorted into something monstrous. Its face is barely recognizable as human anymore, covered in thick patches of fur and metal plates. Where a lion's mane would have been, there's a crown of mechanical cables and wires snaking down its back, sparking faintly. Its limbs are mismatched—one arm ending in a massive metal claw, the other in a grotesque fusion of muscle and machinery.
Its eyes are the worst—glowing with an unnatural light, filled with malice and rage. The creature's jaw hangs open, sharp metallic teeth glinting in the dim light. Its breath comes in deep, labored growls, each one sending a ripple of tension through the room.
It knows I'm here.
Without warning, it lets out a deafening roar, the sound echoing through the room like an explosion. My muscles tense, my body screaming at me to move, but I force myself to stay still. I can't rush this. Not like before.
The beast moves swiftly, far faster than something its size should. It charges toward me, its massive claws scraping against the floor, sparks flying in its wake. I dive to the side just as it swipes at me, its claws tearing through the air where I stood moments ago.
It's fast—too fast.
I scramble to my feet, dodging another blow as the creature lunges at me again, its metallic arm crashing into the wall beside me. The impact sends a shower of debris raining down, and I can feel the heat of its breath on my skin.
I'm not going to win this fight with brute force.
I roll across the floor, barely avoiding another strike, and land in a crouch. My heart pounds in my chest, adrenaline flooding my veins as I try to assess the situation. The creature's movements are erratic, almost animalistic, but there's a pattern. It's leading with its mechanical arm, using its massive weight to corner me.
I can use that.
The creature lunges again, and this time I don't dodge. Instead, I run straight toward it, sliding beneath its body just as it swings its arm downward. The metallic claw slams into the ground with a deafening crash, but I'm already behind it, the knife clutched tightly in my hand.
I drive the blade into the back of its knee, the sharp edge slicing through the exposed flesh between the metal plates. The creature roars in pain, its body convulsing as it stumbles forward, blood and oil spraying from the wound.
But it's not enough.
The creature spins around, its glowing eyes locking onto mine. It's furious now, its movements even more erratic, but I can see the pain in its eyes. The weakness. It's vulnerable.
I dart to the side as it charges again, this time slower, its injured leg dragging slightly behind it. The room shakes with the force of its steps, but I'm faster, moving in and out of its reach, my eyes scanning for another opening.
I need to disable the mechanical arm. It's too dangerous. Too strong.
The creature swipes at me again, but this time I'm ready. I duck beneath its arm, feeling the rush of air as it passes over my head, and slash at the joint where the metal meets flesh. Sparks fly as the knife scrapes against the metal, and the creature howls in rage, its arm jerking back violently.
But I've done some damage. The metal plates are looser now, the wiring exposed.
I press the attack, slashing at the arm again and again, each strike sending more sparks into the air. The creature roars, swinging wildly, but its movements are slower now, less precise. It's losing control.
With a final, desperate lunge, I leap onto the creature's back, driving the knife into the exposed wiring at the base of its neck. The blade sinks deep, severing the cables, and the creature lets out a deafening scream, its body convulsing violently.
The mechanical arm goes limp, the lights in its eyes flickering as the creature staggers forward. It's still alive, but it's weaker now. Vulnerable.
I leap off its back just as it crashes to the ground, its body heaving with effort. Its mechanical arm hangs useless at its side, but its other arm, the one made of flesh and muscle, still moves. The creature struggles to rise, its claws scraping against the floor, but I don't give it the chance.
I circle around it, staying just out of reach as it thrashes, and then I see my opening. Its neck—exposed and vulnerable.
I rush forward, dodging a final, desperate swipe from the creature's remaining arm, and drive the knife into its throat. The blade sinks deep, slicing through muscle and bone, and with a sickening gurgle, the creature collapses, its body going still.
The room falls silent.
For a moment, I stand there, my chest heaving, the knife still embedded in the creature's throat. My body trembles with exhaustion, my muscles burning from the effort, but I don't care. I've won.
I step back, pulling the knife free from the creature's neck, and watch as its lifeblood pools on the floor. The glow fades from its eyes, and its body convulses one last time before going completely still.
The scent of blood and oil fills the room, and I can feel the hunger rising inside me again. It's been growing with each kill, each fight, gnawing at the edges of my mind, demanding to be fed.
I crouch down beside the creature's body, my hands trembling as I tear into its flesh. The taste is bitter, metallic, but I don't care. I devour the creature piece by piece, feeling its power flood into my veins, my wounds slowly healing as I consume its strength.
With each bite, I feel stronger. My muscles repair themselves, the bruises and cuts fading into nothing. The fatigue that weighed me down moments ago is gone, replaced by a surge of energy that courses through me like fire.
But it's more than just physical. I can feel the creature's essence—its raw, primal rage—becoming a part of me. I can see its memories, its pain, its hatred for this place. And I understand now. This isn't just about survival. It's about domination. I'm not just killing these creatures. I'm becoming them.
And with each kill, I'm getting closer to something. Something powerful. Something dangerous.
I wipe the blood from my mouth, the hunger momentarily satisfied. The creature's body lies in pieces around me, its mechanical arm still sparking faintly. I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the knife in my hand, the power in my body.
I glance at the map, the next floor waiting for me.
I'm ready.
Without another word, I step over the remains of the floor boss and begin my ascent once more.