Kael and Aveline stepped into the tower's new floor, the ninth, which was shrouded in thick fog. There was no trace of other life, only the faint sound of their footsteps echoing off the dark walls. Prisma scanned the surroundings, but the fog seemed to be interfering with its signal.
"Strange," Kael said, gripping his sword tightly. "Prisma usually gives a map or at least directions. Now we're completely blind."
Aveline "Be careful. This place feels… wrong."
Threat
They continued walking, the fog seeming alive, whispering strange sounds in their ears. Shadows in the fog seemed to move, even though there was nothing there.
Suddenly, Prisma projected a short message:
"Warning: High-level creature detected."
Kael stopped in his tracks. "What creature? Where?"
Before Prisma could answer, a large figure emerged from the fog. A creature like a wolf, but much larger and more sinister, with a black body that seemed to be made of shadow and glowing red eyes.
Aveline fell silent. and Kael shouted "It's… the Hound Despair."
Sudden Attack
The Hound Despair leapt without warning, its movement almost too fast to see. Kael raised his sword just in time to block the creature's giant claws, but the force of it knocked him back several meters.
"This thing is unlike any we've faced before!" he shouted.
Aveline tried to attack with her prism, but it only passed through the Hound Despair's misty body without harming him.
"Normal physical and magical attacks won't work!" Aveline said. "We need a strategy!"
Survival Strategy
The two of them began to think quickly. Kael baited the creature with direct attacks, while Aveline searched for its weaknesses using her Prism.
"Kael, it's sensitive to bright light!" Aveline shouted.
Kael glanced at Aveline. "Can you create light?"
Aveline nodded, raising her Prism. She began to gather light energy, creating a small explosion that lit up the area around them. The Hound Despair winced and backed away, looking disturbed.
"Now!" Kael shouted, leaping forward and slashing at the creature with a powerful strike.
However, the Hound Despair quickly recovered, using the mist to hide itself again.
Kael and Aveline began to work together better, using each other's strengths to survive.
"You keep creating light, I'll bait its attacks," Kael said.
"Make sure you don't get killed first!" Aveline replied, though there was a hint of worry in her voice.
Kael smiled faintly, despite the dire situation. "I won't make you worry, don't be afraid."
Together, they eventually figured out the creature's attack pattern. Every time the Hound Despair tried to attack from the shadows, Aveline created a flash of light, causing the creature to retreat and giving Kael a chance to strike.
Kael and Aveline managed to corner the Hound Despair with their strategy. Aveline created a large burst of light, while Kael charged with his sword drawn. However, just as the attack was about to hit the creature's shadow core, the Hound Despair launched a counterattack.
Its shadow claws slashed Kael's face quickly, leaving a deep gash under his right eye. Blood flowed freely, but Kael did not stop. With a determined shout, he slashed at the creature's core.
The Hound Despair howled loudly before its body dissolved into tiny, fading fragments. A small black crystal appeared where its body had disappeared.
Aveline ran over. "Kael! You're hurt!"
Kael touched his face, blood still flowing. "I'm fine. Just a scratch."
"It's not a scratch!" Aveline focused her healing magic. Although the bleeding had stopped, the scar remained, leaving a clear diagonal line under her right eye.
"The scar didn't go away…" Aveline whispered, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry I couldn't heal it completely."
Kael smiled weakly. "It's okay. It's a sign that I'm still alive."
Discovery of Items and Dark Energy
The prism projected information about the crystal left behind:
"New Item: Core Despair. Uses: Shadow manipulation, illusion creation, and presence concealment. Warning: Dark energy can affect the user's mentality."
Kael picked up the crystal carefully, feeling a strange vibration from its surface. "That thing almost killed us, but this might be useful."
Aveline eyed the crystal skeptically. "I'm not sure. Its energy feels dangerous."
Kael nodded. "We'll use it only if we're in dire straits."
However, as Kael stowed the crystal on his belt, a faint shadow seemed to circle around it before fading away. The prism emitted a barely audible warning signal.
Mysterious Room
After defeating the Hound Despair, the mist began to fade, revealing a large room with strange carvings on the walls. In the center of the room was an ancient altar with glowing writing.
Aveline approached the altar, reading the symbols. "It's like a clue… but in an ancient language."
Kael stepped closer, looking at the carvings closely. Prisma translated the writing:
"Only those who dare to embrace the darkness in their hearts will go further."
"What does it mean?" Kael asked.
Aveline bit her lip. "Perhaps it's a warning. This tower is testing us more and more, both physically and mentally."
Burning scars
As they walked toward the door to the next floor, Aveline noticed the scars on Kael's face.
"They make you look tougher," she said, trying to lighten the mood.
Kael chuckled. "Then I'll take them as a sign of courage."
"Or your stupidity in fighting that thing alone," Aveline replied with a smile.
But behind the joke, Aveline felt something had changed in Kael. His eyes looked sharper, more determined. The scar was not only a physical mark but also a symbol of his sacrifice.
Closeness
As they rested at the edge of the room, Aveline checked Kael's wound again.
"You have to be more careful," she said softly. "I don't want to lose you."
Kael looked at her, surprised by the seriousness in her voice. "I will always protect you, Aveline. That's my promise."
Aveline blushed, but said nothing. There was only a warm feeling flowing between them a bond that grew stronger in the midst of danger.