The silence of the second floor was oppressive—too still, too perfect.
Kael took a cautious step forward, the soles of his boots brushing against the dust-covered stone. The eerie blue glow from the floating torches lit the path ahead in flickering pulses, shadows dancing along the narrow corridor like they had lives of their own.
[System Notice]Warning: Unknown presence detected. Proceed with caution.
He clenched his fists. "Yeah… figured."
Unlike the first floor, where the Trial was straightforward and the path clear, this one twisted into multiple archways and crumbling staircases, half-swallowed by the dark. Cracks lined the walls like veins, and every few steps, he heard… something.
A scrape.
A shuffle.
Sometimes, a whisper. Not words, just… sound. The kind that made your skin crawl and your breath hitch.
Kael passed by a rusted suit of armor leaning against the wall. Its helmet faced downward. But as he stepped past, he could've sworn—
Clink.
He turned. The helmet was now slightly tilted upward.
"Don't imagine things," he muttered, continuing forward. But his grip on the blade tightened.
The air was getting heavier. With each turn, the hall narrowed, and a faint echo trailed behind his steps—even when he stopped. There was no sign of any monster yet… but something was watching. Waiting.
Suddenly, he found himself in a circular chamber.
The torches around the room lit up by themselves, one after the other—fwoom… fwoom… fwoom—until the whole chamber was aglow. At its center stood a stone pedestal, and above it floated a cracked mask suspended in air, spinning slowly.
Kael took a step closer.
That's when the temperature dropped.
From the walls… they emerged.
Not through doors.
Not through cracks.
But out of the stone itself—melting from shadow into form.
Six figures. All humanoid. All wearing different broken masks.
And none of them breathing.
Kael's heart pounded. He stepped back, blade raised. But they didn't rush him.
Not yet.
[System Update]Enemy Identified: Forgotten Shades (x6)Danger Level: MediumWarning: These enemies do not follow predictable patterns. Remain alert.
One of the Shades tilted its head. Then took a step forward, tilting its rusted blade downward as if… inviting him.
A duel?
Another stepped forward to its left, mimicking the same posture.
Kael's breath was slow and measured now. "Alright… you want to test me? Let's dance."
And then, they moved.
Not all at once—but like a rhythm. A deadly, coordinated movement. One surged forward, blade whistling through the air—Kael barely parried. Another came from the side.
Kael dropped low, rolled across the stone, and came up with a slash that sliced through mist.
Literally—because one of the Shades evaporated into shadow as his blade connected.
But he felt no relief.
Because behind him, it was reforming.
These weren't enemies he could just cut down. They played with fear, with mind games—and if he wasn't careful, they'd wear him down before he could even reach the next stair.
Still, Kael's eyes burned with resolve.
"I don't care if you're ghosts or memories... I'm not dying in this tomb."
The chamber roared with shadows as the real battle began.