The second floor loomed ahead like a silent challenge, its arched doorway lined with glowing runes that pulsated softly, as though taunting them to enter. Rodensky and Emmanuel stepped through without hesitation, their footsteps echoing against the cold stone.
As they emerged into the new arena, the air grew heavier, charged with a foreboding energy. The once-golden sands of the first floor were now a dark, rocky terrain littered with jagged stones and twisted roots. Shadows moved within the cracks of the walls, and faint growls echoed through the space.
"Welcome to the second floor," the system chimed. "Trial Difficulty: Intermediate. Monster count: 10. Time limit: 20 minutes. Survive and conquer to proceed."
Rodensky exchanged a glance with Emmanuel, who tightened his grip on his Dragon Slayer Sword.
"Ten monsters?" Emmanuel scoffed. "Piece of cake."
Rodensky wasn't so sure. The beasts on the first floor had been tough, but this felt different. The air itself seemed alive, buzzing with an energy that made his skin crawl. He adjusted his stance, his instincts screaming that this floor would push them even harder.
---
The Second Trial: Ambush of the Shadow Hounds
The ground rumbled beneath their feet as the monsters appeared. At first, they were just shadows, slinking along the walls, but as they grew closer, their forms became clear. They were Shadow Hounds—sleek, wolf-like creatures with glowing purple eyes and smoky bodies that seemed to flicker in and out of reality.
Rodensky barely had time to react as one lunged at him, its claws extended. He sidestepped quickly, bringing his blade up to parry the attack. The creature's claws scraped against the sword, sending sparks flying.
"Fast!" he muttered, backing away to regain his footing.
Emmanuel, meanwhile, swung his massive sword in a wide arc, forcing three of the hounds to scatter. "Rodensky, don't let them group up! They're trying to surround us!"
Rodensky nodded, focusing on the hound in front of him. It snarled, baring rows of jagged teeth before darting forward again. This time, he was ready. With a quick burst of speed, he sidestepped the attack, his short sword flashing as he slashed through the creature's neck. The hound disintegrated into black smoke with a pained howl.
"Got one!" he called out, his confidence building.
Emmanuel wasn't far behind. His greatsword crashed down onto another hound, splitting it in two. The creature dissolved into smoke, leaving behind a faint shimmer of energy that seemed to seep into Emmanuel's weapon.
---
The Challenge Intensifies
As the minutes ticked by, the hounds became more aggressive. Their movements grew faster, their attacks more coordinated. Rodensky and Emmanuel found themselves constantly on the defensive, dodging and countering as the creatures tried to overwhelm them.
Rodensky's bloodline was proving to be a vital advantage. His increased speed allowed him to stay one step ahead of the hounds, his movements almost a blur as he danced around their attacks. But it wasn't just his speed—he could feel a strange connection to the environment. The twisted roots on the ground seemed to respond to his presence, slowing the hounds' movements just enough for him to land his strikes.
Emmanuel, on the other hand, was a force of nature. His Vampiric bloodline made him relentless, his strikes fueled by a dark energy that seemed to grow stronger with each defeated enemy. As he brought down another hound, he grinned, his fangs flashing. "These guys are nothing. Let's take this floor and move on!"
---
The Final Challenge of the Floor
Just as the last hound dissolved into smoke, the system chimed again.
"Warning: A mini-boss has appeared. Defeat it to clear the second floor."
The ground trembled violently, and from the shadows emerged a massive creature. It was another hound, but this one dwarfed the others in size. Its smoky body pulsed with a dark, purple light, and its eyes burned like twin suns. Around its neck was a jagged collar of glowing runes, and its claws shimmered with energy.
Rodensky took a step back, his grip tightening on his sword. "That... doesn't look like the others."
Emmanuel smirked, his confidence unwavering. "Good. It's about time we got a real challenge."
The beast roared, its voice shaking the arena, and charged toward them with terrifying speed. Rodensky barely had time to react as the creature leapt into the air, aiming straight for him.
He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack, and slashed at the beast's flank. His blade connected, but the creature barely flinched, the wound closing almost instantly.
"Regeneration?" Rodensky muttered, his mind racing. "We need to hit it harder."
Emmanuel was already moving. With a powerful swing of his greatsword, he aimed for the beast's legs, hoping to slow it down. The blade struck true, sending the creature sprawling to the ground, but it recovered quickly, its wounds healing as fast as they appeared.
"This thing's tough!" Emmanuel shouted, dodging a swipe from the creature's claws. "What's the plan?"
Rodensky glanced around, his eyes landing on the glowing runes around the creature's neck. They pulsed in time with its movements, almost as if they were the source of its power.
"The collar!" he shouted. "We need to destroy it!"
---
A Coordinated Attack
Rodensky and Emmanuel moved in unison, their attacks focused on the creature's collar. Emmanuel distracted the beast, his powerful strikes forcing it to stay on the defensive, while Rodensky darted in and out, aiming for the glowing runes.
The fight was brutal. The beast's attacks were relentless, each swipe of its claws leaving deep gouges in the ground. Rodensky's agility kept him just out of reach, but he could feel his stamina waning. Emmanuel, too, was starting to slow, his strikes less precise as the battle dragged on.
Finally, with one last, desperate effort, Rodensky leapt onto the creature's back, his short sword glowing with energy. He drove the blade into the collar, shattering the runes in a burst of light. The creature let out a deafening roar before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into smoke.
---
Victory and Rewards
The system's voice returned, calm and unwavering.
"The second floor has been cleared. Congratulations. Rewards are being distributed."
Two glowing orbs appeared in front of them, their light warm and inviting.
Rodensky grabbed his orb, feeling a surge of energy as it absorbed into his body. He could feel his connection to the natural world deepening, his bond with the beasts yet to come growing stronger.
Emmanuel grinned as his own orb dissolved, the dark energy of his Vampiric bloodline surging within him.
"Two floors down," Emmanuel said, clapping Rodensky on the shoulder. "Let's see what the next one has in store."
Rodensky smiled, his confidence renewed. "Let's keep climbing."