The air on the second floor of the tower was suffocating, thick with a strange metallic tang that clung to the back of Qin's throat. The faint hum that had permeated the first floor was now a pounding rhythm, like the heartbeat of some great beast. The runes lining the walls pulsed in sync, casting eerie shadows that seemed to move on their own.
The room stretched endlessly in all directions, its surface an obsidian sheen that reflected the faint glow of their figures. In the distance, faint growls and the clatter of claws on stone echoed, sending shivers down Qin's spine.
"We're not alone," Zhao Yue said, her hand already on her blade.
"No kidding," Feng Lan murmured, her amber eyes scanning the darkness. She flexed her fingers, the runes on her new gloves glowing faintly. "This place is teeming with trouble."
Qin gripped his knife tightly, his heart pounding. The memory of the Shades from the first floor lingered in his mind, but something about this level felt different. More dangerous.
The System's voice resonated in his mind, cold and unfeeling:
"Second Floor Trial initiated.
Objective: Survive and eliminate all hostiles.
New entities detected: Dread Hounds.
Warning: Increased difficulty."
"Dread Hounds?" Qin asked, his voice low.
"Fast, vicious, and deadly," Zhao Yue said. "They hunt in packs, and they don't stop until everything in their path is dead."
"And how many are we talking about?"
Zhao Yue's jaw tightened. "Too many."
The growling grew louder, and then they appeared—sleek, black creatures with glowing red eyes and elongated claws. Their forms shimmered as if they weren't entirely bound to this plane, making their movements erratic and unpredictable.
"Here they come," Feng Lan said, her grin almost feral as she dropped into a fighting stance. "Try to keep up, rookie."
The first Hound lunged at Qin, its claws slicing through the air with a speed that took his breath away. He barely managed to dodge, his knife slashing across its flank. The creature howled, a sound that seemed to vibrate through his very bones.
Before he could recover, two more were upon him. He ducked under one's snapping jaws, driving his knife into its neck with a force that sent a spray of black ichor across his face. The second Hound circled, its movements predatory as it waited for an opening.
"Focus, Qin!" Zhao Yue's voice cut through the chaos as her sword cleaved through a Hound with a single, brutal stroke. "Don't let them outflank you!"
Qin snarled, his frustration boiling over. The System's voice echoed in his mind:
"Adrenaline Surge activated. Combat efficiency increased by 20% for the next 60 seconds."
He felt it immediately—a surge of strength and clarity that turned his fear into cold precision. The circling Hound lunged, but this time he was ready. He sidestepped, driving his knife upward into its jaw. The creature crumpled with a gurgling shriek.
A low laugh drew his attention to Feng Lan, who was weaving through the fray like a dancer, her movements fluid and deadly. She caught his eye and winked. "You're getting the hang of it, but you're still too stiff. Loosen up!"
Qin didn't have time to reply as more Hounds emerged from the shadows, their glowing eyes multiplying like fireflies in the dark.
The battle became a blur of motion and blood. Zhao Yue was a whirlwind of steel, her strikes precise and unrelenting. Every swing of her blade left a trail of carnage, her calm efficiency contrasting with Feng Lan's almost playful ferocity.
Qin fought with a growing sense of purpose, his movements guided by the System's enhancements. He was no longer just reacting—he was hunting. Each kill sent a pulse of satisfaction through him, the System's voice rewarding his ruthlessness with cold praise:
"Entity eliminated.
Experience gained.
Skill proficiency increasing."
A particularly large Hound barreled toward him, its jaws snapping inches from his face. Without thinking, he activated the Shadow Core, the black orb he had looted from the first floor.
The shadows around him seemed to come alive, coiling and twisting like living things. The Hound hesitated, its glowing eyes flickering as if confused. Qin seized the opportunity, driving his knife into its throat with a savage roar.
The shadows obeyed his will, wrapping around another Hound and pinning it in place. He strode forward, his knife flashing as he ended its struggle.
The fight stretched on, the pack relentless in their assault. But as the bodies piled up, Qin began to change. His strikes became more brutal, his movements more aggressive. The fear that had gripped him at the start was gone, replaced by a cold, merciless hunger.
By the time the last Hound fell, the room was silent except for the sound of their ragged breathing. Qin stood amidst the carnage, his knife dripping with black ichor. His clothes were torn, his face splattered with blood, but his eyes burned with an intensity that sent a chill through Zhao Yue.
"You're enjoying this," she said, her voice low.
Qin turned to her, his expression unreadable. "Is that a problem?"
"It is if you lose control," she said. "The System's power is dangerous, Qin. Don't let it consume you."
Feng Lan chuckled, leaning on her knees as she caught her breath. "Oh, let him have his fun, Yue. He's finally learning what it means to survive."
"This isn't survival," Zhao snapped. "It's indulgence."
The tension between them was palpable, but Qin didn't care. The fight had awakened something in him—something dark and insatiable.
The System chimed in his mind:
"Trial completed. Rewards unlocked."
Another chest materialized in the center of the room, its surface etched with glowing runes. Qin opened it without hesitation, his hands trembling with anticipation.
Inside were three items: a sleek black dagger, a vial of crimson liquid, and a scroll bound with a silver ribbon.
"The dagger's an upgrade," Feng Lan said, eyeing it with approval. "Looks sharp enough to cut through steel."
Zhao Yue picked up the vial, her expression thoughtful. "Blood Elixir. It'll heal you, but there's a cost. It burns away part of your humanity."
Qin's gaze lingered on the scroll. He unfurled it, the runes on its surface glowing faintly as the System's voice spoke:
"Skill unlocked: Shadow Veil.
Allows the user to cloak themselves in darkness, becoming nearly invisible for a short duration."
A grin spread across Qin's face. "This just keeps getting better."
Zhao Yue's hand shot out, grabbing his wrist. Her grip was firm, her eyes filled with warning. "Be careful, Qin. Power like this always comes with strings."
Feng Lan laughed, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "Don't listen to her, rookie. She's just scared you'll outshine her."
Qin looked at them both, a strange mix of emotions churning in his chest. For the first time in his life, he felt truly alive. But in the back of his mind, a voice whispered a warning:
The System was changing him. And there was no turning back.