Zami stepped onto the next platform, the weight of countless previous trials pressing heavily on him. The air in the Withering Spire felt thicker, more oppressive as he descended further into the unknown. His silver eyes scanned the surroundings, every inch of the floor beneath him, the shadows shifting ominously as if something stirred just beyond his perception.
He was prepared for another battle, another creature to face. But as soon as his foot made contact with the platform, the air grew still.
A figure appeared in front of him.
It was unlike any creature Zami had encountered so far.
At first, it seemed like a blur—an amalgamation of light and shadow—but soon, it took form. A being dressed in flowing white-gray robes that seemed to ripple and shift like the fabric of time itself. The robe was adorned with strange symbols—arcane, ancient, and unfathomable. Its arms were hidden within the folds of the garment, leaving only its hands visible, slender and unnaturally long.
The most unsettling feature was the creature's face—or lack of it. There was no mouth, no nose, no features. Just a smooth, featureless expanse of pale skin, save for the eyes. Countless glowing white eyes dotted its face, the intensity of their light growing brighter with each passing second, casting an eerie glow that illuminated the darkness surrounding them.
Atop its head floated a crown made of pure light—spiky, jagged, almost alive, with a radiance that blinded anyone who tried to look too closely. It hovered just above the figure's head, pulsing with an energy that felt both alien and ancient.
The creature floated, its body hovering just above the floor, a strange sense of stability radiating from its presence. It seemed like it was part of the very air around Zami, as if it had always been there, waiting for him to arrive.
Zami stood still, feeling the weight of its presence. He instinctively reached for his katana, but his hand remained still at his side. This figure—this being—didn't exude the usual aggression that Zami had come to expect from the vessels. There was no immediate threat. It was... stable, unnervingly so. And that in itself made it all the more dangerous.
"Karesh," Zami murmured under his breath, his gaze never leaving the figure. "Who is this?"
Karesh's voice echoed within his mind, calm and composed. "This... is the Shattered Dominion. One of the oldest entities within the Withering Spire. It is not a creature of raw power or destructive intent, but rather one of control. It governs the very fabric of this place—its rules, its trials. Its existence is tied to the very essence of this tower."
Zami's silver eyes narrowed. This was not the typical kind of vessel he had been facing. He could feel the weight of its presence, a pressure that made the air thick, almost suffocating. The creature didn't move, but Zami could sense its power emanating from every part of its being, as if the very ground beneath his feet was attuned to its existence.
The Shattered Dominion floated a bit higher, its glowing eyes narrowing, and then, as if it had always intended to speak, it began to address him. Its voice was unlike any sound Zami had ever heard—there were no vibrations in the air, no rasping tones. It was a pure thought, transmitted directly into his mind.
"You have come far, Zami Agatoru," it intoned, its voice cold and calculating. "But you still do not understand the purpose of your journey. You fight, you struggle, you defeat. But in the end, all that you face... is your own weakness."
Zami didn't flinch, his expression cold and emotionless as ever. "I have no weakness," he replied, his voice steady, echoing in the empty space of the Withering Spire. "Not anymore."
The Shattered Dominion's eyes flickered, as if analyzing Zami, measuring him. "You are a creature of training, of constant evolution. But you are blind to what lies beyond that. Power, strength, skill—these are fleeting. The true test lies not in your body or your mind, but in your very soul."
Zami's grip tightened around the hilt of his katana. He could feel Karesh's presence in his mind, steady as always, guiding him even when Zami didn't need to ask.
"Zami," Karesh's voice was steady. "The Shattered Dominion will not engage in battle as the others have. It does not seek to destroy you physically. It seeks to break you... mentally, emotionally. It will attempt to shatter your resolve, to test your conviction."
Zami's eyes hardened. "I'll break nothing."
The Shattered Dominion's eyes gleamed brighter. "So be it, Zami Agatoru. Show me the strength of your resolve. But remember—resistance is not victory. Yielding to the truth may be the only path forward."
The creature hovered there, watching Zami intently. A silence filled the air, broken only by the faint hum of the light surrounding them. Zami stood his ground, feeling the weight of the challenge ahead of him. This would not be a battle of fists, nor one of physical strength. This was a test of his mind, his spirit.
"I will not yield," Zami said firmly, his voice unwavering. He was not like the others who had come before him. He had no past to dwell on, no doubts to cloud his vision. He was Zami Agatoru—he would face whatever trials the Withering Spire threw at him, no matter how subtle or deceptive they might be.
The Shattered Dominion's voice resonated again, cold and indifferent. "Then, prove it."
With that, the creature raised its hands—though they were still hidden within the folds of its robe—and the light from its crown flared.
Zami's pulse quickened. The true trial was about to begin.