I calmed myself, trying to sense the power I had just absorbed, but it didn't seem to bring any noticeable changes.
Glancing around, I gripped the iron pipe in my hand tightly, stepped out of the square, and directed my gaze back toward the distant black bronze tower. Without hesitation, I resumed my journey toward it.
As I walked, my mind replayed the earlier encounter with the shadowy figure.
"What on earth was that thing?" I muttered to myself. "Good thing this isn't the real world; otherwise, I'd be dead already."
The memory of the battle sent a shiver down my spine, a lingering fear that I couldn't shake off. "That was terrifying. Thank goodness my reflexes were fast enough. I just hope I don't run into anything like that again."
But as I neared the tower, a familiar shadow emerged in the distance. It flowed out of the darkness like liquid, gradually taking form not far ahead.
This time, I was prepared. I recalled its incredible speed, the way its arms could morph into deadly blades. However, I also remembered its weakness: it lacked defense, relying entirely on agility. As long as I stayed alert to its movements, I believed I stood a chance.
The shadow being rushed at me again, its arm transforming into a sharp blade that sliced through the air with a high-pitched whistle.
I raised my iron pipe to block it. "Clang!" The clash reverberated through my arms, the force making my hands go numb. Before I could recover, its other blade swung toward me from the side.
I jumped back just in time, narrowly avoiding the strike. With all my strength, I swung the pipe and struck it on the head.
The blow forced it to stagger a few steps back. Not giving it a chance to recover, I charged forward and delivered another powerful strike, sending it flying into a wrecked car nearby.
Its body began to disintegrate, breaking apart into tiny particles before vanishing entirely.
Breathing heavily, I absorbed the scattered particles once more. I clenched my fists, feeling a faint increase in my strength.
Without wasting time, I continued toward the black bronze tower.
After walking for some time, I finally arrived at the towering structure's massive entrance.
Looking up at the enormous doors, I wondered, "How am I supposed to open this?"
I scanned the surroundings and soon noticed the intricate patterns carved into the door.
The designs were impossibly complex, their twisted lines weaving into an indecipherable order, almost like an ancient and forgotten language. Wisps of black smoke occasionally rose from the gaps, as if the door itself were alive and breathing. Upon closer inspection, faint traces of dark red glimmered within the carvings, resembling dried, congealed blood.
Staring at the patterns, an inexplicable chill ran through me. This cold didn't touch my skin but pierced straight into my soul, as if something unseen was watching me intently. The feeling was so strong that I instinctively stepped back, yet no matter how far I retreated, the oppressive sensation of being watched remained.
The door seemed almost sentient, perhaps a guardian of sorts—or perhaps it was silently warning me that the path ahead was not to be taken lightly.
I tried speaking to the door, hoping to establish some form of connection that might let me pass. But no matter what I whispered or thought, there was no response.
Refusing to give up, I knocked on the door, then tried pushing, pulling, even kicking it. My efforts echoed through the quiet surroundings, but the door remained still.
"What now?" I muttered under my breath, frustration mingling with anxiety. Sweat began to bead on my forehead as I stared at the unyielding barrier.
Just as I was about to give in, an unexpected sound broke the silence.
"Clack… clack… clack…"
I looked up sharply. The intricate carvings on the door faintly glowed before the massive structure began to move.
It opened.
The black bronze door slowly parted, releasing a cold, ancient air that seeped out like a tangible presence. I held my breath, watching as the gap widened to reveal an unfathomable darkness within.
The blackness wasn't simply the absence of light—it seemed alive, a substance that devoured everything around it. I squinted, trying to peer deeper, but the void offered no clues. A growing unease tightened in my chest.
"Is this really the entrance?" I whispered, gripping the iron pipe tighter as sweat slicked my palms.
There was no other choice. I steeled myself and stepped into the black abyss.
I hadn't walked far when the door behind me began to close.
Hearing the grinding of the hinges, I spun around and ran toward it, shouting, "Wait! Don't close!"
But it was too late.
"Boom!"
The heavy doors shut completely, sealing off the outside world.
I stood there, breathing heavily, the iron pipe trembling in my grasp. The sound of the closing echoed briefly before fading into silence. The oppressive quiet wrapped around me, broken only by the faint sound of my unsteady breathing.
I had no choice but to continue forward.
Inside, the darkness was so thick it felt like wading through ink. Each step I took seemed to vanish into a bottomless void, the echoes swallowed by the suffocating black.
Then, a voice shattered the silence.
"Welcome… to my tower."
The voice was cold and strange, echoing from every direction.
It was neither male nor female, carrying a peculiar cadence that sent chills through me. It felt as though the tower itself was observing me, its tone laced with subtle malice.
I gripped the iron pipe tightly, trying to locate the source of the sound, but the darkness revealed nothing. The voice, however, lingered, enveloping me like a mocking embrace.