The third floor was nothing like the previous levels. Instead of grand chambers or battlefields, Gok and Wu-Ji found themselves standing in a labyrinth of mirrors. Each step echoed ominously, and their reflections seemed to shift unnaturally, moving even when they remained still.
"This place is creepy," Wu-Ji muttered, gripping his weapon tightly. "What kind of guardian are we dealing with here?"
"Something twisted," Gok replied, the Infinite Blade glowing faintly in his hand. "Stay sharp. This floor feels... wrong."
As they moved deeper into the maze, a chilling laugh echoed around them. "Welcome, challengers," a voice hissed, dripping with malice.
Gok spun around, but the source of the voice eluded him. The mirrors distorted their reflections, creating grotesque versions of themselves. In one, Gok saw himself consumed by the Infinite Blade's power, his body twisted into a monstrous form.
"Don't let it get to you," Wu-Ji said, though his voice betrayed his own unease.
The Face Stealer Appears
The mirrors shattered all at once, their shards floating in the air before reforming into a single grotesque figure. The creature was tall and emaciated, its body composed of shifting glass and reflections. Its face was an ever-changing mosaic of features, stealing fragments of identity from those it had encountered.
"I am Hantengu, the Face Stealer," it said, its voice a cacophony of tones. "Your faces... your souls... will be mine!"
Before they could react, Hantengu lunged forward, its long, clawed hands reaching out.
The Battle Begins
Gok swung the Infinite Blade, but Hantengu's form distorted, dodging the attack with inhuman speed. The Face Stealer countered, slashing at Wu-Ji with razor-sharp claws.
Wu-Ji deflected the attack using his Zodiac powers, but the impact sent him skidding back. "It's too fast!"
Hantengu laughed, its face shifting into Wu-Ji's. "Am I, though?" it mocked, mimicking his voice perfectly.
Gok growled, focusing his energy into the Infinite Blade. "Enough games!" He unleashed a powerful swing, the energy tearing through the space between them.
The attack connected, but instead of being destroyed, Hantengu's body shattered into dozens of smaller reflections, each one circling the duo like a swarm.
A Dangerous Power
Each reflection of Hantengu attacked simultaneously, overwhelming Gok and Wu-Ji. The shards slashed at them from all angles, their speed making it nearly impossible to defend.
Wu-Ji gritted his teeth, his mind racing. "We can't fight this thing conventionally. Its power is tied to the mirrors... the reflections!"
Gok nodded, wiping blood from his lip. "Then we destroy the source."
Using his enhanced senses, Gok focused on the room around them, searching for the core of Hantengu's power. In the far corner of the labyrinth, he spotted a mirror that remained untouched by the battle, its surface glowing faintly.
"There!" Gok shouted, pointing to the mirror.
Breaking the Core
Wu-Ji activated his Zodiac abilities, creating a powerful shockwave that pushed the reflections back. "I'll cover you! Go!"
Gok charged toward the mirror, the Infinite Blade glowing brighter with each step. Hantengu reformed in front of him, its face now a perfect copy of Gok's.
"Do you dare face yourself?" it sneered.
Without hesitation, Gok swung the Infinite Blade, shattering Hantengu's form. He didn't stop, plunging the blade into the glowing mirror.
The mirror exploded in a burst of light, and Hantengu let out a deafening scream as its body disintegrated.
The Aftermath
The labyrinth faded away, leaving Gok and Wu-Ji standing in a vast, empty space. In the center of the room, a pedestal rose from the ground, holding a strange artifact—a shard of pure energy, pulsating with power.
Wu-Ji picked up the shard, his expression thoughtful. "Another piece of the puzzle."
Gok sheathed the Infinite Blade, his gaze steely. "Strange feeling.."