The desert sun had begun its slow descent toward the horizon, painting the sky with molten shades of orange and red, yet the sands beneath Evren Calden's boots seemed to shimmer unnaturally, like liquid gold. Every step carried a weight, every gust of wind whispered deceit. The Tower's trials were relentless, each more insidious than the last.
"This place… it feels alive," Lira murmured, scanning the shifting dunes with an uneasy edge. Her daggers were drawn, fingers trembling ever so slightly, betraying the tension she rarely allowed herself to show. "I've heard tales of this floor… the Mirage Serpent. Climbers who see it often vanish, their minds consumed by its illusions."
Evren's grip tightened on his sword. The Abyssal Flame pulsed with anticipation, like a heartbeat syncing with his own. "I don't care what it is," he said firmly. "I've survived the desert storms, the Scorpion's Nest… I can face this too. I have to. Mother…" The thought of her fragile life, hanging by a thread, ignited a fire inside him stronger than any fear.
As they advanced, the sand began to ripple unnaturally, twisting into coils that glimmered with heat and illusion. Then, the serpent emerged—not entirely real, yet not merely a mirage. Scales flickered with liquid fire, eyes glowing like molten amber, fangs dripping a venom that burned the air itself. The creature's form shifted with every movement, appearing longer, taller, more menacing with each blink.
Evren tightened his stance, the Abyssal Flame flaring along his sword. Lira moved to his side, blades poised. "Remember," she whispered, "the Mirage Serpent is a test of perception. It will attack your mind before your body. Trust your instincts, Evren. Trust your will."
The serpent struck. Its body coiled and lunged, disappearing into the heat only to reappear inches from Evren's face. Every strike carried the weight of illusion, forcing him to question reality. Shadows of himself, distorted and broken, mirrored his movements, attempting to force hesitation, doubt. The Tower had perfected this trial to feed on fear and indecision.
Evren blocked a strike, the flames along his blade singing as they met the serpent's heat-charged scales. Pain seared through his forearms as the shockwave of its strike rattled his bones, but he pressed forward, slicing a deep groove along its shifting body. The Abyssal Flame responded, surging brighter as if drawn to his determination, illuminating the desert with streaks of molten light.
Hours passed, though time itself seemed to bend. The serpent's attacks became faster, more unpredictable, its form splitting into multiple illusions, each as lethal as the original. Lira moved fluidly, her daggers finding gaps in the illusions, striking where reality and falsehood blurred. Together, they moved as a unit, anticipating the attacks, reading the rhythm of the Tower, using each misstep of the serpent to their advantage.
Evren's mind raced, memories of the Mirage of Memories and the Scorpion's Nest intertwining. I cannot falter. I cannot be deceived. Mother… I will survive. Each thought strengthened his resolve, sharpened his reflexes, and ignited the Abyssal Flame into a torrent of searing energy.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Evren saw the truth: the Mirage Serpent was not merely a beast, but a reflection of his own doubt and fear, given form by the Tower. Its attacks were fueled by hesitation, its illusions by the gaps in his will. Understanding this, he let go of fear, embracing the certainty of his purpose.
With a roar, he surged forward, flames blazing along his blade. Every strike was precise, every movement deliberate. Lira followed, her daggers slicing through the illusions, guiding the real creature toward vulnerability. With a final, combined assault, they shattered the Mirage Serpent, the sand erupting in a wave of heat and light as the Tower's construct disintegrated.
Evren collapsed to his knees, chest heaving, sweat mixing with sand and blood. The desert had tested him again—not just physically, but mentally, emotionally. He had faced illusion, doubt, and fear, and emerged unbroken. Lira placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, eyes reflecting both relief and pride.
"You've done it, Evren," she said quietly. "You've mastered the trial. Most climbers would have lost themselves here. But you… you endured, because you trust yourself, because you trust what matters most."
The desert settled once more, silence wrapping around them. The Tower whispered in the dying winds, a voice that resonated in both fear and approval:
> "The Mirage Serpent is broken. The Desert of Souls has tested your body, mind, and heart. Few endure, Evren Calden… and yet, you rise. Proceed. The climb continues."
Evren rose slowly, eyes scanning the endless horizon. Exhaustion gnawed at his body, but the Abyssal Flame burned brightly, a reflection of the fire within him. The Mirage Serpent had been a trial of perception, a test of mind and will, and he had passed.
The desert still stretched endlessly before him, but Evren Calden moved forward—unyielding, unbroken, and more determined than ever.