The staircase to the next floor felt colder, the air heavy with the weight of the system's growing frustration. Dominic and Sincerity ascended cautiously, their senses sharpened for whatever new trial awaited them.
The doorway to the fourteenth floor glowed faintly, its runes flickering erratically. Dominic paused, his hand brushing against the hilt of his sword.
"It's breaking," he said, his voice low. "The system's losing control."
Sincerity nodded, her gaze sharp. "And that makes it dangerous. Stay alert."
He smirked faintly. "Always."
With a shared glance, they stepped through the door and into the trial.
The room beyond was unlike anything they had encountered before. The walls were lined with neon lights, pulsating in erratic patterns, and the floor beneath them was a smooth, reflective surface. At the centre of the room stood a massive slot machine, its metallic surface gleaming ominously. The lever was taller than Dominic, its handle wrapped in black and gold thread.
The system's voice echoed, cold and calculating.
"Floor 14: The Trial of Chance. Wager your souls to claim your reward. Or lose them and face annihilation. The choice is yours."
Dominic scowled, his hand instinctively moving to his sword. "It's a gamble. It wants us to risk everything."
Sincerity approached the machine cautiously, her eyes scanning the glowing symbols on its reels. "Look at these," she said, pointing. The symbols depicted various rewards: weapons, armour, glowing wings, and fragments of a crown. But between them were symbols of destruction—crumbling platforms, black voids, and jagged cracks.
"This isn't just about winning," she said. "It's about survival."
Dominic stepped up to the machine, his jaw tight. "We don't have a choice. We need to keep moving, and this is the only way forward."
He placed his hand on the lever, but Sincerity stopped him. "Wait," she said. "Let's think about this. How many souls do we wager?"
He hesitated, glancing at his interface. "We have over 135,000 souls. We'll start small—1,000."
Sincerity nodded, stepping back as he pulled the lever. The machine came to life, the reels spinning with blinding speed. The room filled with an eerie hum, the sound rising in intensity as the symbols blurred together.
Finally, the reels stopped. Three glowing symbols of wings aligned, and the machine emitted a triumphant chime.
The room pulsed with energy as a wave of light enveloped Sincerity. She gasped, her body trembling as radiant, ethereal wings unfurled from her back. Their glow was breath-taking, their light casting soft, dancing patterns across the room.
Dominic staggered as a surge of warmth erupted from his own back. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw shimmering, translucent wings made of pure light sprouting from him. They pulsed in harmony with Sincerity's, their glow intertwining like threads of fate.
"Dominic," Sincerity said, her voice filled with awe. "They're beautiful."
He grinned, his hand brushing hers. "So are yours."
The system's voice returned, colder and sharper than before.
"You tempt fate. Do you believe it will always favour you?"
Dominic narrowed his eyes, his grip on the lever tightening. "We don't stop here. Let's push our luck."
This time, they wagered 5,000 souls. The machine roared to life again, its reels spinning faster than before.
But when they stopped, the symbols aligned in a jagged crack. The room trembled violently, the reflective floor beneath them splintering.
The system's laughter echoed, filled with malice.
"You cannot win every game. Your recklessness will be your undoing."
Chunks of the floor began to crumble, falling away into a black void that seemed to stretch infinitely. Sincerity grabbed Dominic's arm, her wings flaring as the room shook. "We need to move!"
Dominic pulled the lever again, his heart pounding. The machine spun wildly, the reels blurring as the floor continued to collapse around them.
"We're running out of time!" Sincerity shouted, her voice strained.
Dominic was about to pull the lever a third time when Sincerity shoved him aside and grabbed it herself. "It's my turn," she said fiercely, yanking the lever down with all her strength.
The machine screamed, its lights flickering erratically as the reels spun faster than ever. The sound was deafening, the room shaking violently as the void crept closer.
Then, with a flash of blinding light, the machine stopped.
When the light faded, Dominic and Sincerity found themselves standing at the base of a massive staircase. The oppressive energy of the slot machine was gone, replaced by a quiet stillness.
Dominic glanced at his interface, his jaw dropping.
Souls Remaining: 123,217
Current Floor: 60
Sincerity staggered, her wings dimming slightly as she caught her breath. "What... just happened?"
"The machine," Dominic said, his voice filled with disbelief. "It sent us to floor sixty."
She blinked, her sharp eyes scanning the staircase. "We skipped almost fifty floors?"
Dominic nodded, his grip on her hand tightening. "Looks like it."
The disembodied voice of the system returned, its tone filled with rage and desperation.
"You defy the rules. You twist the game. You cannot win. You must not win."
Dominic smirked, his wings flaring behind him. "You should've known better than to gamble against us."
Sincerity chuckled, though her expression was wary. "Let's not push our luck any further. We're in uncharted territory now."
"Agreed," Dominic said, his resolve hardening. "But no matter what it throws at us, we'll keep going. Together."
"Always," Sincerity replied, her wings glowing faintly as they ascended the staircase to face the next trial.
The staircase spiralled endlessly, each step taking Dominic and Sincerity further from the chaos of the fourteenth floor. The silence between them was heavy, their shared bond buzzing faintly in the background. The wings on their backs, luminous and ethereal, pulsed softly with the same rhythm as their hearts.
But the exhilaration of their unexpected leap to floor sixty was quickly overshadowed by the gravity of what had just happened.
Dominic glanced at Sincerity, her expression set in a thoughtful frown. "You okay?" he asked, his voice tentative.
She didn't answer right away, her gaze fixed on the steps ahead. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "That was... reckless. We could've lost everything."
Dominic nodded, the memory of the crumbling floor still vivid in his mind. "I know. But we didn't. We're here, and we're alive."
"Barely," she muttered, her wings flickering faintly as though mirroring her emotions. "Dominic, if that last pull had gone wrong, we would've been ejected—or worse. I can't help but think... what if I hadn't pulled the lever in time? What if I'd made it worse?"
Dominic stopped, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You didn't, though. You saved us."
She looked at him, her sharp eyes searching his. "But what if next time, I don't?"
The weight of their shared bond made her doubt hit him harder than it might have before. He could feel her uncertainty, her self-recrimination, as if they were his own.
"We can't think like that," Dominic said, his voice steady. "This bond—it's not just about sharing strength. It's about trust. I trust you, Sincerity. Completely."
Her gaze softened, though the tension in her shoulders didn't fully ease. "It's not just about trust, Dominic. It's about the risks we're taking. Every move we make feels like we're walking a razor's edge. And now that our lives are tied together, every mistake feels that much more dangerous."
"I know," he said quietly. "I feel it too. But we've made it this far because we trust each other, because we're stronger together. The system wants us to doubt that—it's counting on it. But we can't let it win."
She exhaled slowly, her wings pulsing faintly with the rhythm of her heartbeat. "You're right. I just... I hate feeling like I can't control what happens next."
"Neither of us can," Dominic said with a faint smile. "But we'll face it together. Always."
Her lips twitched into a small smile. "Always."
As they reached the top of the staircase, the entrance to floor sixty came into view—a massive, iron-bound door carved with intricate symbols. The air around it was thick with tension, a faint hum of energy vibrating through the walls.
Dominic pushed the door open cautiously, revealing a sprawling labyrinth of floating platforms suspended over an endless void. Each platform glowed faintly, connected by narrow, crumbling bridges.
Across the expanse, shadowy creatures skittered and prowled, their glowing eyes fixed on Dominic and Sincerity.
"Well," Sincerity said, her smirk returning, "at least it's not another slot machine."
Dominic chuckled, though his grip on his sword tightened. "Let's just focus on getting across. Together."
"Always," she echoed, her daggers glinting as she stepped onto the first platform.
The platforms were unstable, crumbling beneath their feet as they moved. Dominic's wings flared instinctively, allowing him to hover briefly when a section of bridge collapsed. Sincerity's movements were just as graceful, her newfound wings glowing brightly as she leapt from one platform to the next.
But the shadowy creatures weren't idle. They swarmed toward them, their shrill cries echoing across the labyrinth.
Dominic raised his sword, slashing through the first wave of attackers as they lunged toward him. "Stay close!" he called.
"I'm not going anywhere!" Sincerity replied, her daggers flashing as she took down another creature.
The bond between them pulsed with every movement, their actions perfectly synchronised. When one faltered, the other was there to steady them.
As they fought their way through the labyrinth, the weight of their earlier gamble lingered in their minds. The bond allowed them to sense each other's exhaustion, the strain of the trial pressing down on them both.
At one point, Sincerity stumbled, a shadowy claw grazing her side. Dominic felt the pain as if it were his own, the sharp sting causing him to falter.
"Sincerity!" he shouted, rushing to her side.
"I'm fine," she said quickly, though her breathing was laboured. "Just keep moving."
"No," Dominic said firmly. "We're in this together. I'm not leaving you behind."
She looked at him, her expression softening despite the pain. "Dominic..."
He offered his hand, pulling her to her feet. "Come on. We've got this."
After what felt like hours, they reached the final platform. A glowing doorway appeared before them, its light a stark contrast to the darkness of the labyrinth.
Dominic and Sincerity collapsed onto the platform, their wings dimming as they caught their breath.
"We made it," Sincerity said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dominic nodded, his chest heaving. "Barely. But we made it."
As they sat there, the hum of the system returned, its voice colder and more desperate than ever.
"You cannot defy the Tower forever. Your bond is a weakness. It will break. You will fall."
Dominic smirked, his resolve unshaken. "Keep telling yourself that."
Sincerity chuckled softly, leaning against him. "Let's see how long it takes to prove it wrong."
With renewed determination, they stood and stepped through the doorway, ready to face whatever came next.
The staircase to floor seventy was narrower than the others, the air growing colder and heavier with each step. Dominic and Sincerity reached the top, the entrance to the floor yawning before them like the maw of some great beast. The doorway was hewn from rough stone, its edges jagged and uneven. Faint sounds drifted through the opening—deep, guttural growls and the sound of heavy footsteps echoing in the distance.
Dominic glanced at Sincerity, his wings glowing faintly in the dim light. "This one feels... different."
Sincerity nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the entrance. "I don't like it. Stay close."
"Always," Dominic said with a faint smile, though the tension in his voice betrayed his unease.
Together, they stepped through the doorway and into the maze.
The air inside was thick and oppressive, carrying the stench of damp earth and decay. The walls of the maze were made of rough stone, slick with moisture and streaked with dark stains that might have been blood. The passages were narrow, the ceiling low enough that Dominic had to duck slightly as they moved.
The walls seemed alive, faintly pulsating as if the maze itself was breathing. A low rumble echoed through the corridors, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.
"Something's coming," Sincerity said, her voice a tense whisper.
Dominic nodded, his grip tightening on his sword. "Stay ready."
The first one appeared at the end of a passageway, its hulking form illuminated by the faint glow of their wings. It was a grotesque amalgamation of man and beast, its humanoid torso covered in coarse, matted fur that reeked of filth and rot. Its bull-like head was massive, its curved horns chipped and stained with dried blood.
The creature's face was a nightmare: empty eye sockets wept black ichor, and its mouth was filled with jagged teeth, far too many for its maw. Thick saliva dripped from its jaws, sizzling as it hit the ground. Its muscular arms ended in clawed hands, each finger long and gnarled like twisted roots.
It sniffed the air, its massive chest heaving as it let out a low, guttural growl that reverberated through the maze.
"What in the hell is that?" Dominic muttered, his sword raised.
"A nightmare," Sincerity replied, her voice tight. "And they're hungry."
The Minotaur charged, its heavy hooves pounding against the ground as it barrelled toward them with unnatural speed.
Dominic and Sincerity moved as one, their bond guiding their actions. Dominic slashed at the creature's legs, his sword igniting with searing energy, while Sincerity darted around it, her daggers finding vulnerable spots in its thick hide.
The Minotaur bellowed in pain, its claws swiping wildly as it staggered. Black ichor sprayed from its wounds, hissing and steaming as it hit the stone walls.
"Keep moving!" Dominic shouted, dodging a clawed hand that narrowly missed his head.
Sincerity leapt onto the creature's back, driving her daggers into its neck. It howled, rearing back and throwing her to the ground.
Dominic lunged, his blade slicing through the creature's throat. It collapsed with a wet thud, its body convulsing before falling still.
Before they could catch their breath, the walls around them trembled violently. The ground beneath their feet shifted, and the passageway behind them sealed off with a deafening crack.
"Dominic!" Sincerity shouted, her voice filled with alarm as the wall between them rose, separating them.
"Sincerity!" Dominic yelled, pounding on the stone. But it was no use—the maze had shifted, cutting them off from each other.
Dominic gritted his teeth, his wings flaring as he pressed forward alone. The maze seemed to pulse with malicious intent, the shifting walls forcing him into tighter, darker corridors.
The growls of the Minotaurs echoed around him, growing louder with each step.
One emerged from the shadows, its grotesque form more twisted than the last. Its horns were jagged and asymmetrical, its flesh riddled with open sores that oozed black ichor. One arm was grotesquely elongated, ending in a hand that dragged along the ground, its claws scraping against the stone.
It charged, its empty eye sockets locked onto Dominic as if it could see him through some unnatural sense. Dominic swung his sword, the blade carving through its thick hide, but the creature barely faltered.
It lashed out with its claws, catching Dominic's side. He grunted in pain, the bond pulsing as he felt Sincerity's faint echo of the wound.
"Not today," Dominic growled, activating Judgement Strike. His sword flared with energy, the force of the blow severing the creature's arm. It bellowed, collapsing to the ground as Dominic finished it with a precise strike to its head.
Sincerity moved through the maze with grim determination, her daggers ready. The walls shifted around her, forcing her into a dimly lit chamber.
Two Minotaurs stood waiting, their forms hulking and grotesque. One was missing its lower jaw, its tongue lolling grotesquely as it gurgled and snarled. The other had a second, malformed head growing from its shoulder, its milky eyes rolling wildly.
Sincerity's wings flared as she darted between them, her movements quick and precise. She drove her daggers into the jawless creature's abdomen, twisting as it bellowed and lashed out.
The second Minotaur roared, swiping at her with its massive hand. She dodged, leaping onto its back and slicing through the tendons in its neck.
Black ichor sprayed across the chamber as both creatures collapsed, their bodies convulsing before falling still.
After what felt like hours, the maze shifted again, the walls trembling and groaning as they opened into a central chamber. Dominic and Sincerity stumbled into the space from opposite directions, their eyes locking immediately.
"Sincerity," Dominic said, relief flooding his voice.
"Dominic," she replied, her sharp eyes scanning him for injuries.
They moved toward each other, their bond pulsing with shared exhaustion and determination.
"We made it," Dominic said, his wings dimming slightly.
"Barely," Sincerity replied, though her smirk was faint. "Let's not do that again."
As they approached the glowing exit, the system's voice returned, cold and filled with frustration.
"You cannot endure much longer. The Tower will break you."
Dominic exchanged a glance with Sincerity, his resolve unshaken. "We'll see about that."
"Together," Sincerity said, stepping through the exit with him.
"Always," Dominic echoed.