The tablet with the four difficulty options—Easy, Hard, Hell, and Nightmare—stood before them, the letters etched deeply into the stone, almost daring them to choose. Kael felt a thrill ripple through him as he scanned the choices. Easy was out of the question, and even Hard seemed beneath what they could accomplish together. His gaze settled on the word Nightmare. It promised greater rewards and faster advancement, exactly what he wanted.
The others had gathered around him, their eyes also locked on the tablet. He could sense that they, too, were drawn to the promise of more, the chance to push their limits from the start.
Nyra grinned, nodding toward Nightmare. "I say we go all in. We took down that sentinel, didn't we? If this tower's giving us options, let's aim high."
Thorne crossed his arms, looking thoughtful but not objecting. "Higher risks mean greater rewards. I'd prefer we not regret underestimating it, though."
Aria hesitated, her eyes flicking between the options. "It sounds… intense. But I didn't come here to hold back."
Kael felt a surge of respect for each of them. They might have different reasons for climbing, but their ambition was undeniable.
"Then it's settled," he said, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Nightmare it is."
Together, they pressed their hands against the tablet, choosing the highest challenge. The stone pulsed beneath their palms, as if acknowledging their choice. In that moment, Kael felt something shift—a commitment, both thrilling and heavy, like a pact they'd silently made to rise to whatever awaited them.
---
The air around them shimmered, and in an instant, the dim hall of the first floor vanished, replaced by a vast, dense forest under the muted light of a twilight sky. Thick, ancient trees rose up around them, their twisted branches entwining overhead, blocking out any trace of the sky. The underbrush was thick, damp, and shadowed, every leaf and branch casting an eerie silhouette.
Kael took in the new setting, noting how different it felt from the maze they'd left behind. The quiet was dense, broken only by the faint rustle of unseen creatures moving through the undergrowth.
"So… Nightmare difficulty in a forest," Selene murmured, her eyes scanning their surroundings. "I'd say we're being set up for something far more unpredictable than a single sentinel."
Thorne nodded, his stance shifting to one of alertness. "Keep your guard up. Anything could be hiding out here, waiting."
Nyra punched her fists together, clearly eager for whatever challenge the forest would throw at them. "Good. I was starting to get bored with stone walls."
Kael couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and tension. The forest felt alive, as though every leaf, every shadow, was a silent witness to their presence. But he also knew that this would be a different kind of trial—one that would test them not only physically but mentally as well.
---
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the silence took on an unsettling quality, the kind that made it difficult to tell if something was watching them or if it was just their nerves. The path narrowed, with thick undergrowth on either side, forcing them to move in single file.
Kael took the lead, his eyes scanning every branch and shadow for signs of movement. Behind him, the others stayed close, their footsteps barely audible against the soft ground.
A faint rustling to his right made him pause. He held up a hand, signaling for silence, and listened. The sound grew louder, the rustling becoming a low, guttural growl. He caught a glimpse of movement—eyes, yellow and gleaming, watching them from the darkness.
"We're not alone," he said, keeping his voice low. "There's something watching us."
Aria drew in a sharp breath, her eyes darting toward the shadows. "What… what is it?"
"Nothing friendly," Nyra muttered, cracking her knuckles. "And it's probably going to test us before we move any further."
The creature stepped forward, revealing itself in full. It was low to the ground, its fur black and matted, with a pair of luminous yellow eyes fixed on them. Sharp claws dug into the earth as it prowled closer, each step slow and calculated.
---
Kael sized up the creature, noting the way it moved, the intelligence in its eyes. This wasn't an ordinary animal—it was a predator, adapted to hunt under these conditions, likely aware of every advantage it held.
"We'll handle this carefully," he said, lowering his voice. "Nyra and Thorne, keep its attention. Aria and Selene, watch for any others and stay close. We don't know if it's alone."
Nyra grinned, clearly pleased with the plan. "About time something came at us."
Thorne's expression remained serious as he stepped forward, shield raised. "Let's keep this efficient."
As Nyra moved to one side, the creature's gaze flicked toward her, its body tensing. Thorne took the opportunity to close in from the other side, his shield ready to deflect any sudden strike. Kael kept an eye on their surroundings, knowing that if one of these creatures had found them, others might not be far behind.
---
The creature let out a guttural snarl and lunged, claws extended. Thorne reacted immediately, raising his shield to deflect the blow while Nyra landed a solid punch to its side. The creature stumbled but recovered quickly, turning to face Nyra with a low growl.
"Not bad," she taunted, flashing a grin. "But you'll have to do better than that."
It snarled again and swiped, faster this time. Nyra dodged, while Thorne stepped in with a well-placed strike to its exposed side, his movements precise and controlled. Kael watched, assessing the creature's reaction to each hit. It was agile, clearly used to evading larger prey, and it seemed to have a high tolerance for pain.
"Aria, Selene, be ready to flank it if it turns on us," Kael called, positioning himself for support. "We need to overwhelm it."
As the creature turned its attention back to Nyra, Aria darted forward, landing a quick blow from the side. The creature staggered, its balance disrupted just enough for Thorne to press forward, his shield driving it back.
Kael seized the moment, launching a swift strike that found a weak point near its neck. The creature let out a final snarl, then crumpled, its form fading into a dark mist that dissolved into the ground.
---
The forest fell silent again, the only sound their breathing as they regrouped. Kael surveyed his team, pleased with how they'd worked together. They'd handled the creature without taking any serious injuries—a good sign of their ability to adapt under pressure.
"That… wasn't as easy as the sentinel," Aria said, her voice low. "If everything in Nightmare difficulty is like this…"
"It means we'll have to be sharper," Kael replied, meeting her gaze. "We knew the risks when we chose Nightmare. We just need to keep working as a team."
Nyra punched her palm, the adrenaline still fresh in her veins. "I say bring it on. The harder the challenge, the more we'll get out of it."
Selene nodded thoughtfully, her gaze drifting to the shadows where the creature had vanished. "But we should also stay cautious. This forest could be hiding far more than just that creature."
Kael agreed, appreciating her insight. "Right. From now on, we keep a close watch on every movement, every sound. If we stay alert, we'll be ready for whatever's next."
---
They continued along the path, each of them on edge yet energized by their first real encounter in Nightmare difficulty. As they walked, the atmosphere softened slightly, the tension easing just enough for conversation.
Selene spoke first, her voice low but calm. "This climb—it's not just about power for me. It's about proving that strength isn't bound by titles or expectations."
Nyra raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "You say that like you've had your share of expectations to fight against."
Selene offered a faint smile. "Something like that."
Aria chimed in, her tone more serious. "For me… it's about protecting the people I couldn't help before. I couldn't save my brother, but maybe if I become stronger, I can protect others."
Kael absorbed their words, a quiet respect growing for each of them. They each carried a purpose that ran deeper than ambition, something that resonated with him. For a moment, he felt compelled to share his own reason, but he held back, keeping his gaze on the path ahead.
"We each have something driving us," he said instead. "That's what will keep us moving forward. And if we keep pushing like this… we'll make it."
The group fell into a comfortable silence, each of them bolstered by the quiet acknowledgment of shared goals.
---
Just as they began to feel a sense of rhythm in their steps, a faint rustling sounded from deeper within the forest, far off but growing louder. Kael stopped, holding up a hand to signal the others. The sound grew sharper, more distinct, like claws scraping across stone.
"Another creature?" Aria whispered, instinctively moving closer to the center of their group.
Selene shook her head, her eyes narrowed as she peered into the shadows. "No. This is… different."
The ground beneath them gave a slight tremor, subtle at first, then stronger. Leaves began to shake from the trees above, scattering around them as if in warning. The distant, scraping sound transformed into a steady, rhythmic thud, like heavy footsteps approaching.
Kael's pulse quickened. Whatever was coming wasn't small, and it was getting closer by the second.
"Positions!" he called out, his voice firm. "Stay sharp and prepare for anything."
The forest seemed to tighten around them, shadows deepening as the thudding grew louder. The air grew thick, heavy with an almost predatory energy that seemed to close in, making each of them acutely aware of their surroundings.
Then, emerging from the dense fog, a massive figure stepped into view—a hulking creature, twice the size of the sentinel they'd faced on the first floor. Its body was covered in a mottled, stone-like hide, and its eyes burned with an unnatural, crimson glow. Razor-sharp claws extended from each limb, digging deep furrows into the ground as it lumbered forward, its gaze locked onto them with an eerie intelligence.
Nyra whistled softly, though her expression remained fierce. "Looks like Nightmare difficulty wasn't kidding."
Thorne took a defensive stance beside her, his grip tightening on his shield. "This one… is going to take all we have."
The creature let out a low, rumbling growl that vibrated through the forest, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Kael glanced at each of his teammates, their faces a mix of focus and determination.
"This is our chance to prove that we're ready for Nightmare," Kael said, his voice steady. "We work together, just like before. But this time, no holding back."
Aria nodded, her fear replaced by a spark of courage. Selene took her place by Kael, her gaze resolute. Nyra and Thorne stood ready, their eyes locked on the creature as it closed in.
As the creature lunged, its massive form casting a dark shadow over them, Kael raised his blade, his voice ringing out in a command that unified them.
"Now—attack!"
They moved as one, diving into the fight against the beast that seemed to embody everything Nightmare difficulty had promised. The forest echoed with the sounds of their struggle, each clash and strike a testament to their resolve.
End of Chapter 5
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