Preparing for the Encounter
Standing before the gate leading to the third floor, the air was thick with tension. Malik and Walid gazed at the intricately carved door bearing the symbol of a Japanese dragon, known as "Ryujin," glowing a bright blue.
"Are we ready for this?" Walid asked, nocking a fresh arrow onto his bow.
"We don't have another choice. This tower won't be conquered with hesitation," Malik replied confidently, though he felt the weight of the challenge ahead.
As they passed through the gate, a cold wind enveloped them, as if it had emerged from the depths of an ocean. The scene before them was breathtaking—a vast, endless lake stretched out, and at its center appeared the azure dragon, its massive body and radiant wings shimmering with light.
Without warning, the dragon roared, shaking the watery ground, and unleashed a wave of blue fire in their direction. Malik and Walid leapt in opposite directions, narrowly avoiding the attack.
"This isn't just a dragon—it's a force of nature!" Walid shouted as he loosed an arrow at the dragon's eyes.
The dragon dodged with unexpected agility, lunging toward Walid with terrifying speed.
"Watch out!" Malik yelled, rushing toward the dragon and attempting to draw its attention with his sword.
The battle was brutal. The dragon used its enormous wings to create waves that disrupted their movements. Every strike from Malik and Walid seemed futile against the dragon's impenetrable scales.
A New Strategy
After an hour of relentless fighting, Malik and Walid retreated to a safe corner to catch their breath.
"This dragon can't be defeated with brute strength alone. We need to think," Malik said, surveying their surroundings.
"There are strange reflections on the water's surface… Maybe its weakness lies in the lake's depths," Walid suggested, pointing to a glowing spot underwater.
"Then we'll need to lure it away from the lake's center," Malik said with determination.
They returned to the battle with a different approach. Walid began firing a barrage of lightning-infused arrows, creating a luminous arc in the sky.
"Hey! Can you catch me?" Walid shouted, trying to draw the dragon's attention.
Meanwhile, Malik seized the opportunity to dive into the lake, aiming for the glowing spot beneath the surface.
But the dragon wasn't oblivious. Noticing Malik's movements, it unleashed a torrent of blue fire, flooding the area with suffocating heat.
"Malik! Hurry!" Walid shouted, attempting to distract the dragon again.
When Malik reached the glowing spot, he found a crystalline orb surrounded by an energy shield. He tried to break it with his sword, but the dragon's sudden attack sent him flying to the surface.
"This isn't good… It knows we're trying to target its weakness," Malik muttered as he struggled to his feet.
At that moment, Kenta, the samurai they had met on the second floor, appeared, wielding his long katana.
"Looks like you could use some help," he said with a confident smile.
The three joined forces to face the dragon. Kenta engaged it in close combat, displaying remarkable swordsmanship, while Walid continued firing his lightning arrows to weaken its defenses. Meanwhile, Malik focused on finding a way to destroy the crystalline orb.
"This won't end quickly, but we have a chance now," Kenta said as he evaded the dragon's attacks.
As the chapter ended, the dragon revealed its extraordinary power, but the trio began uncovering patterns in its movements and identifying its weaknesses.
…