Understood! Let's dive into the next chapter. The staircase loomed above Zami, another pathway to uncertainty. His katana rested in its sheath, the blade as weary as its master. Each step he climbed resonated faintly, an echo swallowed by the vast emptiness of the Withering Spire. The air grew heavier, pressing on him like an unseen force, as if the tower itself opposed his progress.
Finally, he reached the next platform. The white flames of the torches flickered to life, casting elongated shadows across the walls. Zami surveyed the area.
"This again..." he muttered, his voice barely a whisper.
Unlike the platforms before, this one bore no immediate signs of threat. Instead, six chains dangled from the ceiling, swaying gently as if stirred by a phantom breeze. The chains were adorned with blue crystals—eerily similar to those embedded in Wailing Dread's shoulders.
Zami clenched his fists, his body tense. His scars itched, memories clawing their way back into his mind.
"Karesh," he said under his breath, "what is this?"
Karesh remained silent for a moment. Then, his voice broke through the stillness.
"This is the lingering essence of Wailing Dread, bound to the shard you carry. The Spire tests you with echoes of what you've faced before."
Zami's silver eyes narrowed. "So, I have to deal with *him* again?"
"Not him... but his torment," Karesh replied.
Suddenly, the chains snapped to life, whipping toward Zami like serpents. He unsheathed his katana in a fluid motion, narrowly dodging the first strike. The sharp *clang* of metal meeting metal rang out as he deflected another.
The crystals on the chains began to glow, emitting a high-pitched sound that pierced his ears. Zami winced, his vision blurring. He staggered back, struggling to maintain focus as the sound intensified.
"High-pitched frequency..." he muttered, blood trickling from his ears. "Just like before."
He steadied his breathing, activating *Adrenaline Surge* to counter the overwhelming sensation. His movements sharpened as he entered a controlled flow state, his katana slicing through the air with precision.
The chains moved erratically, their patterns unpredictable. One wrapped around his leg, dragging him toward the center of the platform. Another lunged for his torso, but Zami tightened his muscles using *Muscle Tension Break*, absorbing the impact and resisting the pull.
With a roar, he slashed downward, severing the chain around his leg. *Stone Slash* followed, cleaving through another.
As the final chain lunged at him, Zami pivoted into *Hawk Drop*, bringing his blade down in a crushing arc that shattered the crystal embedded in the chain.
The high-pitched sound ceased. Silence enveloped the platform.
Zami fell to one knee, his breaths ragged. Blood dripped from his ears, staining the platform beneath him. Yet, he forced himself to rise, gripping his katana tightly.
The chains dissolved into mist, leaving only the blue crystals behind. They hovered for a moment before converging into a single point, forming a small shard.
Zami picked it up, studying it closely. It pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat.
Karesh's voice returned, softer this time.
"You've passed another test. But the Spire grows more relentless the higher you climb."
Zami nodded, sliding the shard into his pouch. His body ached, but he ignored the pain. The staircase appeared once more, spiraling upward into the unknown.
He placed one foot on the first step, pausing briefly to glance back at the now-empty platform.
"I'll deal with whatever comes next," he said to himself, his voice unwavering.
And with that, he ascended once more.