The footsteps were faint but unmistakable, echoing through the stillness of the corridor. Shadows played along the walls as Kael and his team moved cautiously, weapons drawn, toward the source of the sound. The tower's eerie glow seemed to thicken around them, making every step feel heavier, more charged.
A figure stood ahead, half-shrouded in darkness. He was tall and lean, his posture calm and unmoving, as if he'd been waiting for them. Kael tightened his grip on his blade, signaling his team to stay alert. The stranger showed no sign of hostility, but his presence alone was enough to raise suspicion.
"I didn't expect to find anyone else this deep in," Kael said, his tone even.
The stranger inclined his head slightly, his face mostly hidden beneath a hood. "Elian," he said, his voice smooth and steady. "I've been navigating the floors alone. Didn't expect to see a group in Nightmare difficulty."
Nyra smirked, her eyes sharp as she sized up the newcomer. "Nightmare's no big deal with the right team. Why go solo?"
Elian's mouth curved slightly. "By choice, mostly." He gave them a once-over, his gaze assessing each of them in turn. "You all look like you've been through hell and back. Impressive, but… it only gets worse from here."
Kael felt his instincts prickling. The man's demeanor was calm, but something about his casual confidence was unsettling. He seemed to know more than he let on, as though he understood things about the tower they had yet to discover.
---
Kael studied Elian closely, watching for any subtle cues. This wasn't the first time they'd encountered another climber, but it was rare to see one as composed, especially in Nightmare difficulty. Elian held himself with a certainty that implied experience, perhaps even mastery over the challenges he'd faced.
Thorne stepped forward slightly, his shield raised. "And why would you tell us this? Most who climb solo don't go around warning others."
Elian shrugged. "Consider it a courtesy. A strong group like yours might survive floors I couldn't manage alone. Maybe it's in my best interest that you do."
Kael didn't lower his guard. The stranger's presence posed a choice: they could risk trusting him or keep their distance. After a moment's hesitation, Kael spoke.
"If you're alone, it's because you choose to be, Elian. But you're welcome to accompany us on one condition."
Elian raised a brow. "And what's that?"
"Prove yourself," Kael replied. "Show us we can trust you when things get dangerous."
The stranger's expression shifted to one of mild amusement, but he nodded. "Fair enough. But if I'm joining, maybe I can offer a few warnings along the way."
---
Elian fell into step beside them, his movements fluid and unhurried. As they walked, he began to share pieces of information, dropping hints about what lay ahead.
"The next few floors aren't like what you've faced so far," he said, his voice low. "The tower doesn't just test physical strength—it's designed to cultivate… a specific kind of resilience."
Aria shot him a wary look. "And what does that mean?"
Elian glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "It means that from here on, the challenges won't be straightforward. Sacrifices, split-second decisions… it's meant to force you to confront the parts of yourself that you don't want to face."
Kael felt the weight of Elian's words, his mind racing. The tower had always tested them, but the stranger's cryptic warnings suggested something deeper. He couldn't shake the feeling that Elian knew much more about the tower's true purpose than he was letting on.
Nyra tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "You talk like you've been through it all. How far have you climbed?"
Elian paused, a shadow passing over his face. "Far enough to know that not everyone who enters the tower is meant to reach the top. And that those who do… aren't the same when they leave."
---
The corridor narrowed as they continued forward, forcing them into a tighter formation. Kael kept a close watch on Elian, noting how he moved, how he responded to each subtle sound or shift in the shadows around them. Despite the stranger's apparent knowledge, Kael was wary of his motives.
"So what's in it for you?" Thorne asked, his tone blunt. "Why warn us if you're used to climbing solo?"
Elian shrugged again, his gaze steady. "Maybe I see potential. A group strong enough to make it through Nightmare might stand a chance where others would fail. Besides…" He cast a sidelong glance at Kael. "I have a feeling your ambitions go beyond just surviving."
Kael met his gaze, neither confirming nor denying the implication. "Ambition is nothing without strategy. And strategy means knowing who's on your side."
Elian smirked. "Then consider this an alliance of convenience."
---
As they moved deeper, the corridor opened into another chamber, its walls marked with strange symbols and faint scratches. The air was thick with a foreboding silence, a tangible sense of anticipation hanging over them.
Elian stopped, his gaze sweeping the room. "This is it. A trial that doesn't just test strength. It's meant to force you to confront your deepest flaws."
Kael looked at his team, feeling the weight of responsibility settle over him. He knew they were strong, but he also knew that this was no ordinary challenge. The tower had tested their unity and resilience already, but now it seemed intent on probing even deeper, into the very heart of who they were.
He turned back to Elian. "Then you lead the way. Let's see if you're as capable as you claim."
Elian's eyes gleamed with something like respect. "Gladly. Just remember—surviving this isn't just about who you are now. It's about who you're willing to become."
The team exchanged glances, the tension thickening as they prepared to enter the next chamber. Their uneasy alliance with Elian added a layer of uncertainty, each member wondering if the stranger could truly be trusted.
---
As they stepped forward, Elian held up a hand, pausing just before the threshold. "One last piece of advice," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "In the tower, the greatest danger isn't what you see. It's what you bring with you—the things you can't let go of, the fears you refuse to face. Those are the things that will bring you down."
Kael met his gaze, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. He could feel the truth in Elian's words, the sense that this trial would demand more from them than any they had faced before.
With a final nod, they crossed the threshold together, each of them bracing for the unknown.
End of Chapter 10
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