The ascent to the 16th floor was eerily quiet, the spiral staircase feeling endless. Each step brought Eren closer to the unknown, the pulse of the Tower thrumming faintly in his ears. The Flux Node in his pack occasionally vibrated, as if reacting to the energy of the higher floors.
When he finally stepped onto the new floor, he was met with an oppressive darkness. The air was cool and damp, carrying the faint scent of moss and stagnant water. As his eyes adjusted, faintly glowing lines began to illuminate the ground, forming an intricate maze.
System Interface Activated
Floor 16: The Labyrinth Below
• Objective: Navigate the maze and reach the Core.
• Hazards: Traps, illusions, and predatory entities.
• Warning: The labyrinth shifts with time. Beware of the Shadows.
Eren exhaled sharply. "A shifting maze with traps and monsters. Perfect."
He activated his visor, the interface overlaying the maze with faint indicators of heat signatures and structural anomalies. The first few steps were cautious, his blade ready in case the darkness concealed more than the maze's shifting paths.
The ground beneath him shifted slightly, a faint hum resonating through the stone. The glowing lines adjusted, pathways closing off while others opened. He paused, taking note of the change.
"This isn't just random," he muttered. "There's a pattern."
The visor highlighted movement ahead—a faint, flickering silhouette. Eren crouched low, his hand steady on his blade. As he moved closer, the figure revealed itself: a towering creature with elongated limbs and a head that seemed to split into four jagged segments. Its body was semi-translucent, glowing faintly in the maze's dim light.
System Interface Update
Entity Identified: Labyrinth Warden
• Threat Level: Moderate
• Weakness: Light-based attacks
The creature let out a guttural growl, its glowing eyes locking onto Eren. It moved swiftly, its limbs stretching unnaturally as it charged. Eren ducked beneath its first swipe, countering with a calculated strike to its torso.
The blade met resistance, the creature's semi-translucent body absorbing the impact. Eren rolled back, activating the energy coil in his blade. A faint blue light crackled along its edge as he swung again, this time severing one of the creature's limbs.
The Warden howled, retreating momentarily before vanishing into the darkness.
"Not so tough," Eren said, though his grip on the blade tightened. He knew it wasn't over.
As he navigated deeper into the labyrinth, the maze continued to shift, its pathways twisting and folding like a living organism. The system map struggled to keep up, forcing Eren to rely on his instincts and observation.
At one point, he encountered a series of pressure plates embedded in the floor, each glowing faintly. He examined them carefully, noting the faint inscriptions that hinted at their functions. With careful precision, he disabled the trap, using a small tool from his pack to jam the mechanism.
The labyrinth's challenges were relentless. He faced more Wardens, each encounter pushing him to adapt and refine his tactics. The shifting pathways forced him to think on his feet, using the maze's changes to his advantage when possible.
After what felt like hours, Eren reached a massive chamber at the labyrinth's center. The Core stood before him—a pulsating orb of energy suspended above a pedestal, its light casting eerie shadows across the room.
As he approached, the ground trembled, and a massive figure emerged from the shadows. This creature dwarfed the Wardens, its body covered in jagged armor-like scales.
System Interface Update
Entity Identified: Labyrinth Guardian
• Threat Level: High
• Weakness: Unknown
Eren braced himself as the Guardian roared, the sound reverberating through the chamber. The battle was brutal, the Guardian's strength and speed far surpassing anything he had faced so far. It lashed out with razor-sharp claws, each strike forcing Eren to react with precision and speed.
He analyzed its movements, noting a slight delay between its attacks when it reared back to roar. Using this brief window, he activated the energy coil in his blade and aimed for the joints in its armor.
The first strike cracked one of its leg plates, causing the Guardian to stumble. Eren pressed the advantage, targeting the exposed area with a series of rapid strikes. The creature howled in pain, its movements growing more erratic.
Finally, with a well-timed lunge, Eren drove his blade into the Core embedded in the Guardian's chest. The creature froze, its body trembling before collapsing in a heap.
The chamber grew silent, the Core's light dimming as the system interface appeared.
Trial Complete. Floor 16 Cleared.
Reward: Enhanced Spatial Mapping Module.
Eren retrieved the module, installing it into his visor. The maze's pathways became clear, their patterns now visible in intricate detail. With this new tool, he exited the labyrinth with ease, stepping onto the staircase leading to the next floor.
The Tower's trials were growing more dangerous, but Eren felt a surge of determination. The Core's energy still lingered in his veins, a reminder of his progress.
As he ascended, he couldn't shake the feeling that the labyrinth's shifting walls were more than just a challenge—they were a reflection of the Tower itself, alive and constantly evolving.