Chereads / Arcane Rift: Balancing the Multiversal Realms / Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: The Unrelenting Dead & Secrets of the Fourth Floor

Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: The Unrelenting Dead & Secrets of the Fourth Floor

As the group stepped onto the staircase leading to the dungeon's fourth floor, an eerie stillness enveloped them. Each step echoed faintly, as though the dungeon itself was holding its breath. Seraphina took the lead, her presence a guiding light for her companions. Her eyes glimmered faintly as she activated her omni-clairvoyance, a divine ability that allowed her to glimpse into the mysteries awaiting them.

The moment her vision extended beyond their current plane, the fourth floor's secrets unraveled before her mind's eye. It was barren, devoid of life, stretching endlessly beneath an ashen sky. The terrain pulsed with the energy of the undead, an unsettling amalgamation of necrotic power and twisted magic. Skeletal warriors, shadowy wraiths, and hulking abominations roamed the desolate expanse. The air itself seemed infused with death, suffocating and relentless.

Seraphina's focus deepened as she transitioned from clairvoyance to omni-precognition, allowing her to calculate the best course of action. Her mind became a web of possibilities, each thread representing a different choice, a different outcome. She sifted through the countless futures, her divine abilities guiding her toward the most favorable path.

Light magic would be their strongest ally here, capable of purging the necrotic forces and unraveling the undead's essence. Earth magic would provide defensive fortifications to protect her team, while lightning magic, though effective, required precision to avoid collateral damage in the unpredictable terrain.

Prismatic mirror magic shone brightly in her mind—a radiant force akin to light itself, capable of reflecting and amplifying attacks while disorienting enemies. Its versatility would be a game-changer.

Seraphina stepped aside and approached Aria, whose exhaustion from the darkhold was evident in her pale complexion and unsteady breathing. From her storage artifact, Seraphina retrieved two shimmering stamina potions.

Take these, she instructed firmly, placing the vials in Aria's hands. These will limit the strain from your spells, allowing you to keep the darkhold active longer.

Aria hesitated for a moment before drinking one of the potions. A soft golden glow enveloped her briefly, her expression easing as strength returned to her limbs. The second potion was tucked into her belt for later use, her confidence visibly renewed.

The group descended onto the fourth floor, and the shift in atmosphere was immediate. The barren landscape stretched infinitely in every direction, bathed in a pale, unnatural light. A chill seeped into their bones, accompanied by an oppressive silence that was soon broken by the hollow clatter of skeletal warriors marching toward them.

Seraphina raised her hand, summoning her prismatic mirror magic. A shimmering barrier of multicolored light surrounded the group, refracting the faint glow of the barren land. The mirrors expanded outward, creating a dazzling display that distorted the movements of the approaching undead. When the first wave of skeletal warriors struck the barrier, the mirrors reflected their force back at them, shattering their brittle forms instantly.

Kaelion took his position, his sword glowing faintly as he slashed through the undead with swift, precise movements. The skeletal warriors crumbled before him, but his strikes were calculated to conserve energy for what they knew would be an unending onslaught.

Aria, revitalized by the potion, stood at the rear of the group with the darkhold hovering near her. Her gravity magic pulsed outward, creating zones of crushing force that immobilized the undead. The darkhold's chaotic energy pulsed in harmony with her efforts, no longer draining her stamina at the same alarming rate.

The spear-wielder unleashed powerful thrusts, his newfound mastery allowing him to pierce through multiple enemies in a single motion. His movements were fluid, his focus sharp as he worked to hold the line.

Seraphina, however, was the star of the battlefield. Her prismatic mirrors rotated around her, deflecting necrotic spells hurled by wraiths and turning their own dark energy against them. With a single gesture, she summoned pillars of light to obliterate the shadowy abominations that emerged from the ground.

When a particularly massive skeletal knight charged at the group, its corrupted blade poised to strike, Seraphina acted with practiced precision. She manipulated her prismatic magic to reflect the knight's power back at it, the radiant force shattering its armor. With a flash of lightning, she struck the exposed core, reducing it to nothing but ash.

The instructors, observing from their chambers, could barely hide their astonishment. Not only was Seraphina wielding an array of elemental magics with unparalleled skill, but her prismatic mirror magic demonstrated a mastery of light that they had rarely seen.

Eldara leaned forward, her normally composed expression betraying hints of awe. Seraphina's versatility and sheer power defied logic, raising questions about the limits of her abilities.

The battle raged on for what felt like hours, the group holding their ground against the unrelenting waves of undead. Despite the overwhelming odds, Seraphina's omni-precognition ensured that each move was executed with precision. Every spell, every attack, was calculated to maximize their efficiency and conserve their energy.

When the final abomination fell, its massive form dissolving into a cloud of ash, the group stood amidst the desolate battlefield, their breaths heavy but victorious. The barren land seemed to shudder, as if acknowledging their triumph.

The path forward revealed itself, a staircase leading further into the unknown depths of the dungeon. Seraphina stepped forward, her prismatic mirrors fading into faint motes of light.

This is only the beginning, she thought to herself, her gaze fixed on the darkness ahead.