The towering staircase spiraled upward, revealing yet another platform veiled in silence. Zami's steps echoed faintly as he approached the circular space, his instincts sharper than ever. The torches and lanterns around the room ignited, their white flames casting an eerie glow on the polished floor.
As Zami stepped forward, the platform shuddered. Five bushes burst from the ground in front of him, their vibrant colors stark against the lifeless stone. Each bush bore a different assortment of berries, herbs, and leaves. Their appearance was unnatural, almost pristine, as if untouched by the decay of the colony.
Zami crouched to examine the plants, his sharp eyes narrowing. He recognized them—these were no ordinary plants but mimicries of real ones he had encountered throughout his long, grueling survival in the colony. He had seen berries that cured, leaves that poisoned, and herbs that misled with their harmless appearance.
Karesh's voice resonated faintly in his mind.
"Choose wisely. The wrong choice will invite only suffering."
Zami didn't hesitate. His thousands of years in the colony had taught him the language of survival. He scanned each bush, dismissing the obvious dangers—the faintly glowing berries of one plant, the deceptive shine of another. Finally, his gaze rested on a cluster of dark, gnarled berries hanging from a bush with jagged leaves.
"These," he muttered to himself.
He plucked the berries and held them in his hand. The moment he did, the others ignited with white flames, their ashes scattering into the air. The chosen berries remained intact, their surface unscathed by the fire. The platform trembled, and the sound of grinding stone filled the room as another staircase revealed itself, leading further into the spire.
Zami straightened, slipping the berries into his pouch as he cast a final glance at the bushes. "Every step tests something different," he muttered under his breath.
With his burned hand resting lightly on the hilt of his katana, he ascended the staircase. Each step felt heavier than the last, the oppressive atmosphere of the Withering Spire weighing on him. The Shattered Dominion awaited, and he knew the trials ahead would only grow more dangerous.