Jian barely had a moment to react.
The Spire trembled.
Ancient runes across the stone floor flared to life, golden light coursing through the cracks like veins of molten power. A pulse rippled outward, and Jian felt it—an unnatural force surging beneath his feet.
Something was changing.
The mage smirked, silver robes billowing as she raised her staff. "You didn't think we'd fight on neutral ground, did you?"
Jian's instincts screamed.
Move. Now.
He flickered backward just as the earth cracked open where he had stood. From the fissures, black chains of energy erupted, lashing out like serpents.
Jian's blade slashed—three strikes, precise, calculated. The first chain shattered. The second whiplashed away. The third, he barely avoided, twisting mid-air as it grazed his shoulder.
Pain flared. His skin burned where the chain had touched. Not just physical damage—something deeper.
His eyes narrowed. Soul-wounding magic.
The warrior laughed, warhammer resting on his shoulder. "Welcome to the Trial of the Spire, Irregular."
Jian landed smoothly, scanning the battlefield.
The terrain was shifting.
The Spire wasn't just activating—it was becoming a weapon. The stone ground rose and fell, creating uneven platforms. Walls of force appeared and vanished, cutting off movement unpredictably.
And the chains.
Dozens now, writhing like living things, attacking at random.
The mage stepped forward, her staff pulsing with the same golden light. "The Spire is a relic of the old Tower. It was built to test those who seek the unknown."
Her silver eyes gleamed. "You should feel honored."
Jian exhaled. Adaptation time.
---
New Battlefield. New Strategy.
Jian's mind worked fast.
1. The Spire's chains weren't just attacking randomly—they were reacting to movement. That meant they were semi-sentient, targeting challengers based on speed and proximity.
2. The terrain shifts created momentary dead zones—safe spaces where the chains wouldn't reach.
3. The mage was controlling the Spire's power, but not fully. If he could disrupt her, the battlefield would become unstable for everyone—including his opponents.
Conclusion: He had to take her out first.
---
The assassin moved.
Jian felt her coming before he saw her. A whisper of air. The briefest shift in killing intent.
He **turned—**just as her dagger sliced toward his ribs.
He blocked, twisting his sword to deflect. The impact sent a shockwave between them, both forced a step back.
She clicked her tongue. "Fast."
Jian smirked. "Not fast enough."
He dashed forward—then vanished.
Shadow Step.
He reappeared behind the mage, blade already swinging. End it before she casts again.
But—
The chains reacted.
As if sensing his intent, they lashed out, creating a web between him and the mage. No escape.
Jian's blade moved—too late.
A chain wrapped around his wrist.
A shock of pain shot through him.
For the first time, his vision blurred.
What—
His body felt heavier. Slower.
The mage turned, smiling. "The Spire doesn't just wound, Irregular." She tapped her staff. "It drains."
Jian's breath came sharp.
Draining magic.
The chains weren't just attacking—they were feeding off him. Every second he stayed bound, his strength and speed were being sapped.
Not good.
The warrior grinned. "Looks like the fight's turning."
The assassin lunged again.
Jian had seconds to react.
---
A Gamble.
Jian forced his mind to focus.
He had one option. Risky, but necessary.
He let go of his sword.
The assassin's eyes flickered with surprise as his free hand shot out—not for a weapon, but for the chain itself.
The moment he touched it—pain.
The energy burned through his skin, through his soul. His vision darkened at the edges.
But—
He didn't need long.
Infinite Creation: Overwrite.
The chain froze.
Then, it shattered.
A shockwave rippled outward. The entire battlefield shifted. The chains recoiled. The Spire's energy staggered.
And Jian—moved.
His sword was already in his other hand.
The assassin barely had time to dodge—not completely. His blade sliced across her arm, drawing blood.
The mage's spell wavered.
The warrior roared, charging—but Jian was already moving again.
Momentum shift.
---
Turning the Tide.
Jian exploited the opening.
The assassin backed off, her dagger flickering with hesitation. The mage stumbled, gripping her staff tightly. The warrior, still confident, moved in—but now, without the Spire's advantage.
Jian exhaled.
Time to finish this.
The battlefield belonged to him now.
The Trial of the Spire was about to end.
His way.
---
End of Chapter 42.