Aryan felt the ground beneath him vanish, replaced by a cool, metallic surface. When the light faded, he found himself in a narrow corridor, dimly lit and lined with ancient, moss-covered stones. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something more sinister—blood.
A voice echoed in his mind, sharp and commanding: "Survive the traps, defeat the monsters, and reach the end of the corridor. Only then will you ascend."
Aryan drew his sword, his senses on high alert. The corridor ahead seemed endless, but he knew this was only the beginning.
In another part of the Tower, Priya Nair found herself standing in a dense forest, the canopy above blocking out the sky. The voice whispered to her as well: "Navigate the forest, avoid the traps, and defeat the creatures lurking within."
Priya gripped her twin daggers, her eyes scanning the shadows. She could hear the rustling of leaves and the faint growl of beasts. "This will be a test of my agility and instincts," she thought, moving cautiously forward.
Rahul Patel was transported to a rocky terrain, with towering cliffs and treacherous paths. The challenge echoed around him: "Climb the cliffs, avoid the falling rocks, and defeat the flying beasts that guard the heights."
Rahul adjusted his stance, his hammer slung over his shoulder. "A test of endurance and strength," he muttered, beginning his ascent.
Meanwhile, across the Tower, warriors from different nations faced their own unique trials:
Liu Wei, a monk from China, found himself in a labyrinth filled with shifting walls and illusions. His trial tested his mental fortitude and the strength of his meditation.
Elena Garcia, a Spanish archer, was dropped into a barren wasteland, where she had to hunt elusive prey while avoiding quicksand and deadly mirages.
Kofi Mensah, a Ghanaian spear-wielder, stood in a vast desert, with only his weapon and wits to guide him through deadly sandstorms and hidden scorpions.
Each warrior's trial was tailored to their strengths and weaknesses, ensuring that only the most adaptable and skilled would survive.
Back in his corridor, Aryan encountered his first obstacle: a series of pressure plates that triggered deadly spikes from the walls. He took a deep breath, analyzing the pattern of the spikes. "Timing is everything," he thought, stepping carefully, his agility serving him well.
In the forest, Priya leaped from branch to branch, avoiding traps that were cleverly hidden beneath leaves and vines. Her daggers gleamed as she took down the first beast—a snarling wolf with glowing red eyes.
On the cliffs, Rahul smashed through the falling rocks, using his hammer to deflect the smaller ones and his strength to withstand the impact of the larger ones. He could see the winged beasts circling above, waiting to strike.
As the warriors fought their way through their trials, the 0th Floor began to separate the strong from the weak. The Eternal Tower's message was clear: Only the worthy would ascend.