The colossal figure that had suddenly appeared radiated an aura of fear and power, causing the ground to tremble beneath everyone's feet. The Shadow Leader wielded a massive sword that seemed to absorb the surrounding light.
Shadow Leader (in a deep voice): "You have crossed your limits. You shall not advance beyond this floor."
Malik (steadily): "We won't allow ourselves to stop here. We have a purpose, and we won't back down."
Kinta (smirking): "Great, another inspirational speech. Can we start fighting before I die of boredom?"
The leader launched his attack, using his sword to create waves of black energy that cut through everything in their path. The group was forced to scatter quickly to avoid the first strike.
Malik vs. the Shadow Leader:
Malik charged toward the leader, trying to close the distance between them, but he struggled due to the immense energy emanating from the sword.
Malik (angrily): "This entity… It's more than just a guardian. It's intelligent and far more powerful than I expected."
Shadow Leader: "I am your ultimate test. Only those who understand the shadows will survive."
Kinta vs. the White-Haired Fighter:
The white-haired fighter continued her relentless attacks with her double spear, but Kinta skillfully dodged her strikes, blending his movements with his usual banter.
Kinta (laughing): "You're really good, but can you keep up with this speed?"
He darted toward her at a blinding pace, trying to catch her off guard.
Waleed vs. the Fire Manipulator:
Waleed faced off against the fire manipulator, who used flames to limit his movements.
Waleed (calmly): "Fire isn't something I can easily avoid, but lightning is faster than light."
He prepared a powerful arrow, channeling all his energy into the attack.
As the battles raged on, the shadows began to manipulate their minds, forcing them to relive their pasts and confront their fears.
Malik: "No… this can't be real."
A vision of his childhood appeared before him, showing the burning city and the loss of his royal family.
Kinta: "This isn't the time for mind games."
He saw a haunting memory of a moment when he failed to save an old friend.
Waleed: "The tower is playing with our minds. We must focus; we can't let it win."
He was confronted with the moment his noble family lost everything.
Malik (shouting): "Enough! These images won't control us!"
A strange energy began glowing from Malik's sword, responding to his determination.
Kinta (cheering): "Oh, Malik's tapping into his true power! I love these epic moments!"
Waleed: "Don't get too excited, Kinta. We still need a plan, or we're done for."
Shadow Leader (angrily): "You are weak. Your own shadows will consume you."
Suddenly, a new figure appeared—a mysterious individual in a gray cloak, holding an ancient book.
Mysterious Figure: "The tower's trials are not about strength alone; they're about intelligence too. If you want to survive, listen carefully."
Malik: "Who are you? And why are you helping us?"
Mysterious Figure: "I am one of the tower's allies. My role is not to fight but to reveal the truth."
The figure explained:
• The Shadow Leader is not just a guardian but a reflection of the tower's soul.
• The tower holds secrets from various cultures, including Greek, Arabic, and Korean myths.
• Each floor contains keys to understanding the past and linking the secrets together.
Kinta (sarcastically): "Great, more puzzles. Just what we needed."
The group began to regroup.
Malik: "We must use everything we've learned so far. This floor will not defeat us."
Waleed: "Let me unleash my most powerful arrow. Cover me while I prepare."
Kinta: "I love a simple plan. I'll distract them a bit."
As the chapter ended, the team was ready for another round against the Shadow Leader. But just as they thought things were improving, additional shadow monsters emerged.
Malik: "It seems we'll need more than just strength here."
Kinta: "Yeah, maybe a small miracle."
Depths of Shadows
The group began executing their plan, but the shadows gave them no room to breathe. The newly emerged monsters were fiercer, stronger, and faster than anticipated.
Kinta (dodging an attack swiftly): "This isn't fair! Wasn't one monstrous boss already enough?"
Walid (shooting lightning arrows): "Focus, Kinta. Joking won't save us from these creatures."
Malik: "Walid, cover our rear! I'll distract the Shadow Leader."
Malik charged toward the Shadow Leader with all his strength while Kinta fought off the smaller shadow creatures with his agile and unpredictable movements.
The cloaked figure stood at the back, observing the chaos before stepping in carefully.
Mysterious Figure: "Ending this confrontation isn't about brute strength. You need to understand the rules of this floor."
He pointed toward symbols engraved on the walls of the floor.
Mysterious Figure: "These symbols represent the shadows' weaknesses. Each one corresponds to a fundamental element of nature. Use them to your advantage."
Malik (turning quickly): "That's too complicated in the middle of a fight!"
Kinta: "Oh, let me guess, we need to solve these puzzles while dodging death. Simple, right?"
Malik vs. Shadow Leader:
Malik continued trying to destabilize the Shadow Leader while keeping an eye on the symbols. Suddenly, he noticed one of the symbols glowing as he moved closer to it.
Malik (thinking): "Maybe these symbols are linked to our positions during the fight. I need to maneuver better."
He began leveraging the symbols' locations to weaken incoming attacks, gaining a slight advantage.
Kinta vs. Shadow Monsters:
Kinta, with his swift techniques and exceptional agility, battled skillfully but began to tire.
Kinta (shouting): "Malik! Walid! These monsters just keep coming! Tell me you've got a brilliant plan soon!"
Surrounded, Kinta managed to turn the tide by using a small weapon he had picked up on the previous floor.
Kinta (grinning): "There we go. I knew this thing would come in handy."
Walid vs. Flying Creatures:
Walid targeted the flying creatures with his lightning-charged arrows, trying to keep them away from Malik and Kinta.
Walid (with determination): "I won't let them get near us. This battle will end in our favor."
He began employing more precise techniques, shooting arrows at the creatures' weak points, taking them down one by one.
As the battle grew more intense, three new challengers entered the arena, each exuding a distinct aura of strength.
First Competitor (wearing black armor): "You think you're alone here? Time to show you what real combat looks like."
Second Competitor (in a red cloak): "But don't worry, we won't let you die too easily."
Third Competitor (calmly): "Our test is no less important than yours."
Kinta (surprised): "Great, more enemies. Can we get a quick timeout?"
The fight became even more complex as the three challengers attacked the team but also began battling the monsters.
Malik (angrily): "Are you with us or against us?"
First Competitor: "That depends on who survives. We need the same key you're after."
While the chaos raged on, the mysterious figure deciphered the wall symbols using his ancient book. Suddenly, lights emanated from the symbols, spreading across the floor.
Mysterious Figure: "The rules are simple: shadows can't withstand the light. If you control these symbols, victory is yours."
Malik: "Kinta! Walid! We need to drive them toward these points!"
The team began coordinating, luring the monsters and the Shadow Leader toward the glowing symbols, gradually weakening them.
As the chapter neared its end, the true Floor Boss emerged from within the shadows—a colossal being radiating an ominous aura, with glowing violet eyes that struck fear into anyone who looked at them.
Floor Boss: "You've shown strength and determination, but it won't be enough. I'll show you the true meaning of fear."
Malik (with resolve): "We won't let this place defeat us. Get ready for the final round!"
As the chapter concluded, tension reached its peak with the team preparing for a direct confrontation against the newly revealed Floor Boss.
…