The staircase to the tenth floor stretched endlessly before Jin-Seok, each step carved from a dark, obsidian-like stone that gleamed faintly in the dim light. A cold, heavy pressure pressed down on him, far greater than what he had felt on any of the previous floors. Even the System seemed eerily silent, withholding its usual notifications.
Jin-Seok paused, gripping his sword tightly as he tried to steady his breathing. He could feel the weight of something ominous waiting above, as though the Tower itself was preparing for his arrival.
"Just another trial," he muttered, trying to shake the unease creeping over him. "I've made it this far. I'll make it further."
With a resolute step, he ascended.
A Gateway of Shadows
At the top of the staircase, Jin-Seok found himself standing before an imposing gateway. Two massive doors, adorned with intricate carvings of entwined serpents and flames, loomed over him. The carvings seemed almost alive, their forms shifting subtly as he watched.
A low growl echoed from the other side of the door, sending a shiver down his spine.
[System Notification: Tenth Floor – Threshold of Peril Initiated.]
Warning: This floor marks a significant escalation in difficulty. Proceed with caution.
Objective: Survive and uncover the trial's secret.
"Well, at least they're being honest about it," Jin-Seok muttered dryly.
As he reached out to push open the doors, they swung inward on their own, revealing a vast chamber bathed in a hellish red glow. The air was thick with the stench of sulfur, and the ground beneath him was rough and uneven, like cooled volcanic rock.
The chamber was silent except for the faint sound of dripping liquid. Jin-Seok stepped inside, his every movement echoing in the oppressive space.
The Arena of Fire
The ground trembled, and the doors slammed shut behind him with a deafening crash. The red glow intensified, and the chamber began to shift. Massive pillars of molten rock erupted from the ground, forming a crude, circular arena.
Jin-Seok's instincts screamed at him to move, and he leaped to the side just as a burst of flames erupted from where he had been standing.
"Welcome, challenger," a deep, guttural voice boomed, reverberating through the chamber.
Jin-Seok spun around, his eyes narrowing as a massive figure emerged from the shadows. It was a beast unlike anything he had encountered before—a hulking, humanoid creature with obsidian skin that glowed with fiery cracks. Its eyes burned like molten lava, and in its hands, it wielded a massive, spiked warhammer.
[System Notification: Guardian of the Tenth Floor – Pyroclasm Titan Detected.]
Threat Level: Extreme.
"Of course it's extreme," Jin-Seok muttered, raising his sword. "Why would it be anything else?"
The Titan roared, the sound shaking the very ground beneath him. It slammed its warhammer into the arena, sending a wave of molten rock hurtling toward Jin-Seok.
A Dance of Survival
Jin-Seok dodged the wave, his heart pounding as the molten rock scorched the air around him. He countered with a quick dash, aiming for the Titan's exposed flank. His blade struck true, slicing into the glowing cracks on its skin.
The Titan roared in pain, swinging its warhammer in a wide arc. Jin-Seok barely managed to duck, the weapon passing inches above his head.
"Okay, so you're tough," Jin-Seok muttered, backing away to assess the situation. "But every beast has a weakness."
He noticed that the Titan's movements, though powerful, were slow and deliberate. Its massive size and heavy weapon made it formidable but not unbeatable.
Using his speed to his advantage, Jin-Seok launched a series of quick strikes, targeting the cracks in the Titan's skin. Each blow sent shards of molten rock flying, but the Titan showed no signs of slowing down.
Unleashing the System's Power
Realizing he needed more firepower, Jin-Seok called upon the System.
[System Notification: Skill Activated – Blade Dance.]
Effect: Increases attack speed and precision for 30 seconds.
Jin-Seok felt a surge of energy course through his body, his movements becoming a blur. He darted around the Titan, his blade striking faster than the eye could follow.
The Titan roared in frustration, its massive warhammer slamming into the ground in an attempt to crush him. But Jin-Seok was too fast, his strikes carving deep into the creature's fiery core.
Finally, with a powerful thrust, Jin-Seok drove his sword into the Titan's chest. The creature let out one final, earth-shaking roar before collapsing in a heap of molten rock and ash.
[System Notification: Pyroclasm Titan Defeated.]
Rewards: +5 Strength, +3 Agility, Unique Item Unlocked – Emberheart Core.
Jin-Seok collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The intense heat of the arena began to dissipate, and the chamber shifted once more, the pillars of molten rock sinking back into the ground.
"Not bad," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "But if this is only the start of the tenth floor, I'm in for a hell of a climb."
The Path Forward
As the arena faded, a new path appeared—a long bridge stretching over a sea of molten lava. At the far end, Jin-Seok could see a massive gate, its surface adorned with glowing runes.
"Another trial," he said with a sigh, rising to his feet. "No rest for the wicked, huh?"
He began to cross the bridge, his steps slow and cautious. The heat rising from the lava below was suffocating, and the faint sound of something moving in the distance put him on edge.
Halfway across, the bridge trembled, and Jin-Seok froze. The lava below began to churn, and a massive serpent-like creature erupted from the depths, its scales shimmering with fiery hues.
[System Notification: Sub-Boss Detected – Infernal Serpent.]
Threat Level: High.
Objective: Eliminate the Infernal Serpent to proceed.
Jin-Seok groaned, his grip tightening on his sword. "Of course. Because one giant monster wasn't enough."
The serpent hissed, its eyes glowing with malevolent light as it coiled around the bridge. Jin-Seok braced himself, ready for yet another fight.