The moment Jian stepped through the portal, a wave of cold washed over him, far colder than anything he'd encountered before. The air itself seemed alive, carrying whispers that teased at his mind, like faint echoes of forgotten voices.
The 46th floor was unlike anything he had seen. It was a vast expanse of black ice, stretching endlessly in every direction. Sharp, jagged spires of crystalline frost jutted out of the ground, reflecting faint, otherworldly lights from a pale, crescent moon that hung impossibly close in the sky. The faint sound of cracking ice and distant growls filled the air, a constant reminder of the danger lurking in the shadows.
Jian's status window appeared, shimmering as the Tower recognized his arrival on the new floor:
[Floor Details: 46th Floor]
Trial Name: Frostbound Abyss Objective: Survive the Frost Warden's gauntlet and claim the Frozen Heart to proceed. Environmental Hazard: Extreme cold reduces stamina and vitality over time. Warning: Presence of Abyssal Corruption detected.
He closed the window, his mind immediately processing the information. The mention of Abyssal Corruption caught his attention. He had encountered it before on lower floors—an insidious force that twisted and strengthened creatures into nightmarish abominations.
"Frost Warden," Jian muttered, his breath visible in the icy air. The name itself carried weight, and he knew this trial would be anything but simple.
The Frozen Abyss
Jian activated Nexus Adaptation, feeling the biting cold ease as the passive ability shielded him from the worst of the environment. Despite this, he remained cautious. The frost wasn't just a physical obstacle—it had a presence, almost sentient, and it felt like it was watching him.
He pressed forward, his boots crunching against the brittle ice. The reflections in the crystalline spires played tricks on his eyes, showing fleeting images of battles, faces, and even himself. Jian paused, narrowing his eyes.
"An illusion?" he wondered aloud. But before he could examine further, the ice around him shattered with a deafening crack.
From the void beneath, a creature emerged—a towering, wolf-like beast made entirely of black ice, its eyes glowing a malevolent blue. Its jagged form radiated the same Abyssal energy Jian had grown familiar with.
The beast growled, its breath misting in the cold air. Without hesitation, it lunged.
Jian sidestepped, his movements fluid as he activated Abyssal Blink, teleporting behind the creature and slashing with his blade. The Abyssal energy left a burning trail on the beast's icy hide, but it didn't slow. It whirled, swiping at him with claws sharp enough to rend steel.
The battle was fierce, and Jian quickly realized this wasn't an ordinary foe. Each strike he landed only seemed to enrage the beast further, its form becoming darker, its attacks more vicious.
"Enough," Jian muttered, sheathing his blade. He activated Nexus Forge, combining Abyssal Blink with Enhanced Reflexes once more, creating a new ability:
[New Ability Created: Shadow Stride]
Description: Instantly teleport through shadows, leaving behind an afterimage that absorbs one attack. Grants increased speed and precision for a short duration.
With Shadow Stride active, Jian moved like a blur. He dodged the beast's attacks with ease, his afterimages absorbing its powerful strikes. As the creature lunged for him one last time, Jian reappeared above it, driving his blade into its back.
The beast howled, its form shattering into a burst of black ice and Abyssal mist. Jian landed gracefully, his breathing steady as the remains of the creature dissolved into nothingness.
The Call of the Frost Warden
The battle left Jian more attuned to the floor's energy. He could feel it now—a faint pulse emanating from deep within the frozen expanse. It was the Frozen Heart, and he knew it would be guarded fiercely.
The landscape grew more treacherous as he advanced. The spires of ice became larger, the ground more uneven. The air itself seemed to thrum with power, and the whispers grew louder, their words incomprehensible but haunting.
Finally, he reached a massive chasm, its depths obscured by swirling frost. On the other side stood a colossal fortress of ice, its towers reaching into the dark sky. The Frozen Heart was there—he could feel its energy radiating even from this distance.
But as Jian prepared to cross, a figure emerged from the shadows.
It was humanoid but barely so, its body wrapped in frost and Abyssal energy. It carried a massive, frost-covered glaive, and its eyes glowed with a piercing blue light. This was the Frost Warden.
"You dare seek the Heart?" the Warden's voice was a deep rumble, filled with ancient power. "Prove your worth, Irregular, or be consumed by the Abyss."
The Warden raised its glaive, and the ground trembled as the chasm began to close, jagged ice forming a narrow bridge between them.
Jian stepped onto the bridge, his blade at the ready. "I've come too far to fail now."
The Warden's Wrath
The Frost Warden attacked with terrifying speed, its glaive sweeping across the bridge in a wide arc. Jian leapt back, the edge of the blade narrowly missing him as it shattered the ice beneath his feet.
Activating Shadow Stride, Jian closed the distance, his blade meeting the Warden's glaive in a clash of sparks and frost. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the air, but Jian held his ground.
The Warden wasn't just powerful—it was intelligent. It adapted to Jian's movements, countering his attacks with precision. But Jian had something it didn't: the Nexus.
He activated Nexus Forge, combining Abyssal Resonance with his swordsmanship to create a devastating technique.
[New Ability Created: Abyssal Cleave]
Description: Channels Abyssal energy into a single, overwhelming strike capable of breaking through the strongest defenses.
With Abyssal Cleave, Jian unleashed a powerful slash, the energy tearing through the Warden's glaive and cutting deep into its icy form. The Warden roared in pain, its body cracking as Abyssal energy seeped into it.
But it wasn't finished. The Warden raised its hand, summoning jagged spears of ice that rained down from above. Jian dodged and countered, his movements precise as he fought through the onslaught.
Finally, with one last strike, Jian drove his blade through the Warden's chest. The creature froze in place, its body shattering into countless shards.
The path to the fortress was clear.
Claiming the Frozen Heart
Inside the fortress, Jian found the Frozen Heart—a massive, crystalline structure glowing with icy blue light. As he approached, the whispers grew louder, their tone shifting from malice to reverence.
Placing his hand on the Heart, Jian felt a surge of power flow through him. The Nexus reacted, absorbing the Heart's energy and integrating it into his system.
[New Ability Acquired: Frost Nexus]
Description: Grants control over frost and ice, enhancing abilities with chilling effects and creating defensive barriers.
As the fortress began to crumble, Jian stepped outside, the Frozen Heart's energy radiating within him. The trial was over, but the Tower's challenges were far from finished.
He looked to the horizon, where the next floor awaited.
End of Chapter 24