After Karamous vanished, the heroes and rivals caught their breath in the now quieter chamber. The faint light emitted by the gem lying on the floor added a mysterious atmosphere to the moment.
Malik (tiredly): "Is it over?"
The Mysterious Man: "With Karamous? Yes. But don't be fooled; this is only the beginning."
Waleed (jokingly, looking at Kinta): "I didn't know you had such talent for being annoying. We could have used you as a jester instead of a fighter."
Kinta (sarcastically): "If I were a jester, I wouldn't have survived Karamous. Maybe you could use some lessons from me, oh master of arrows!"
Cedric (interjecting): "Enough. If we want to survive, we need to learn how to work together."
As Malik inspected the gem, its light grew brighter, and strange words in an ancient language appeared on the floor.
Malik: "What is this? It looks like a message."
The Mysterious Man (examining the writing): "This is the language of the tower. It says: 'For every gem, there is a door, and for every door, a secret. The key lies not in what you see, but in what you believe.'"
Ivana (calmly): "What does that mean? Are there hidden doors?"
Raoul (sarcastically): "Oh, great! More riddles. As if our lives weren't complicated enough."
Kinta: "Maybe we should try using the gem on that wall over there."
Indeed, as the gem approached the wall, a hidden door illuminated by a brilliant light appeared.
Beyond the door, the group found themselves in a vast chamber where an old man sat on a stone throne. He wore a black robe adorned with golden engravings, and his eyes gleamed with wisdom and mystery.
The Guide: "Welcome to the fourth floor. You showed strength against Karamous, but what awaits you here will be even more challenging."
Malik (cautiously): "Who are you?"
The Guide: "I am the guide of this floor. My role is not only to direct you but to test you. Each floor has its own rules, and here… cooperation alone will not suffice."
Waleed: "And what does that mean?"
The Guide (smiling): "On this floor, you will face monsters and puzzles, but the most dangerous challenges will be the decisions you make. A wrong choice could cost you your lives."
Before the group could respond, three new individuals appeared at the chamber entrance.
The Guide: "Ah, new competitors. It seems the game just got more interesting."
• First Rival: A tall young man with cold features, wielding a silver sword. His name is Zeyron, known for his combat cunning.
• Second Rival: A young woman with long white hair, carrying a bow and arrows. Her name is Elyara, famed for her precise marksmanship.
• Third Rival: A massive man with cracked skin, as if his body were made of stone. His name is Galirth, renowned for his immense physical strength.
Zeyron (calmly): "It seems we have quite a bit of competition here."
Elyara (smiling faintly): "I hope you're ready because we won't hold back."
Galirth (in a deep voice): "The fight is what makes things
The challenges on the fourth floor began with a series of puzzles the team and their rivals had to solve to progress.
Malik (directing his team): "We need to move quickly. We can't let them get ahead of us."
Kinta: "Maybe we can trick them. Let me handle that."
Waleed (mockingly): "Of course, because you're such a genius."
Meanwhile, the rivals began moving swiftly, using their unique skills to solve the puzzles.
Zeyron: "Let them think they're ahead of us. We'll take our chance when the time is right."
Elyara: "But we must be careful. Something feels strange about this floor."
The team stood before the mentor, who cast a deep gaze upon them before raising his hand to gesture at the wall behind him. A map of the fourth floor appeared, covered with intricate symbols and winding paths.
Mentor (in a calm, commanding tone): "Before you proceed, you must understand something. This floor is not merely a test of strength. It is a test of the mind and the soul. You will need more than courage to survive here."
Malik (cautiously): "What exactly do you mean?"
Mentor: "The rules here are ever-changing. The monsters are not your only enemies. Some paths will lead to treasures; others, to traps. But the worst part is this: some doors will demand sacrifice… from you or your allies."
Walid (sarcastically): "Great, as if things weren't already hard enough."
Kinta (chuckling): "Can we negotiate with the doors, perhaps?"
Mentor (smirking): "You can try, but I doubt the doors will reply."
The mentor led the group into a new room, filled with intertwined carvings and ancient symbols. At its center stood a massive statue holding a scale in one hand and a sword in the other.
Mentor: "This is your first test: balance. You must place items of value on the scale to gain the first key."
Malik: "Items of value? What does that mean?"
Mentor: "Something that reflects your truth. Something you are willing to part with."
The group pondered what to sacrifice. Malik took off a necklace belonging to his late mother, which he had carried for years. Kinta placed a small golden ring, while Walid offered one of his lightning arrows.
As the scale steadied, the statue opened its mouth, emitting a deep voice: "The value is accepted. The first key is yours."
After solving the puzzle, the mentor guided them further, revealing more about himself.
Mentor (in a contemplative tone): "I cannot guide you all the way, but I will be here when you need direction."
Walid: "Why are you helping us anyway? What's in it for you?"
Mentor (enigmatically): "Everyone has their role. Mine is to ensure the tower tests only the strong."
Kinta: "So you don't care if we live or die, do you?"
Mentor: "It's not that simple. Your success means more than you realize. The tower itself watches you, and I am part of its will."
As the team advanced, they found themselves face-to-face with the three rivals.
Zyron (calmly): "You were faster than I expected. But your journey ends here."
Eliara: "We're not looking for a fight, but if necessary, we won't hold back."
Galirth (addressing Malik): "You seem confident. Confidence can be deadly."
Malik: "And you? Are you here to win, or to run?"
Kinta (mockingly): "At least we're better off than this walking boulder."
Galirth (growling): "Do you wish to test my strength now?"
Before tensions could escalate, the ground suddenly split open, revealing a massive, spiked serpent-like creature.
Mentor (from a distance): "See? The challenges here do not wait. Cooperate, or perish."
Chaos ensued as the monster attacked everyone indiscriminately. Both the team and the rivals had to work together temporarily to survive the serpent's traps.
Malik (to his team): "Walid, aim for its eyes! Kinta, lure it toward the wall!"
Zyron (to his group): "Eliara, Galirth, stay back and cover the area. I'll distract it."
After a grueling battle, the serpent was finally defeated, and a wall crumbled to reveal a long passage leading to a dark chamber.
Mentor (in a low tone): "You have done well, but you have yet to face the true danger. The floor's boss awaits you inside."
Eliara: "The boss? What could be worse than that serpent?"
Malik: "We'll find out soon. We won't give up now."
…