[Floor 5] -
The moment they stepped into the fifth floor, the atmosphere shifted.
Noah's steps echoed across the vast marble corridor, where walls bled with shadowy handprints and the ceiling pulsed like a living heart. The floor was bathed in dim violet light, sourced from floating orbs that drifted aimlessly, moaning with a chorus of forgotten voices.
Scarlett flinched as one brushed her shoulder. "They whisper... regrets," she murmured.
"This place reeks of sorrow," Lyra muttered, frost gathering at her boots. "It wants us to feel it."
Layla chuckled lowly. "Perfect. Let's return the favor."
Time Passed: 20 minutes since entering the fifth floor.
First Encounter: Wailing Shades
The silence shattered—SHHHHRIEEEEEK!
A scream echoed, and from the walls emerged spectral figures, twisted and eyeless. Wailing Shades. They howled as they drifted forward, pulling emotion like parasites.
"Glacial Strike!" Lyra thrust her lance. Ice lanced forward, impaling three shades and freezing them mid-scream.
"Hex of Misfortune!" Layla hissed, swinging her scythe in a glowing arc. The cursed sigil formed above a cluster of shades, instantly destabilizing their forms.
"Phantom Edge!" Noah blurred through the shadows, his sword slicing a path of pure void. Screams echoed louder, then fell silent as the shades dissipated into nothing.
Condition: Light mana fatigue from continuous casting. The air grows heavier.
Second Encounter: Ghoul Puppeteers
A sudden cracking sound—POP-POP-POP—as corpses were jerked upright by invisible strings.
Ghoul Puppeteers emerged from alcoves, their stitched faces smiling. Corpses of former adventurers began twitching and rushing forward like broken dolls.
"Shadow Dance!" Scarlett vanished, reappearing behind a puppet and slitting its throat.
"Cursed Touch." Layla placed her hand on a corpse's face. It melted into black ash.
"Deep Freeze!" Lyra spun, slamming her lance down. A wave of arctic energy burst forth, freezing puppeteers and their minions solid.
Noah leapt into the air. "Fire Barrage!" A storm of flaming bolts descended,
BOOM! CRACKLE!, shattering the frozen enemies into glass-like fragments.
Condition: Layla and Lyra showing mana drain symptoms. Scarlett bleeding lightly from a dagger wound.
Mid-Boss Encounter: The Weeping Matron
A great wail tore through the chamber—WAAAAAAHHHH!
Chains clanged. From the darkness emerged the Weeping Matron, a towering spirit in rusted ceremonial armor, dragging chains of glowing skulls. Her veil fluttered with unseen winds, and from her mouth spilled the sorrow of a thousand souls.
Everyone froze.
"Shadow Bind!" Layla attempted to immobilize her, but the chains shattered it instantly.
"Your guilt will be your undoing," the Matron moaned.
"Frozen Shroud!" Lyra cast a defensive spell, shielding the group from psychic waves.
"Wind Storm!" Scarlett flung her daggers into the air, each spinning with elemental wind, cutting through the Matron's veil and forcing her back.
Noah gritted his teeth. "Radiant Nova!" Light burst from his body, pushing back the darkness and stunning the boss.
"Cursed Reflection!" Layla activated the spell just as the Matron sent a mental attack. The pain bounced back, causing her to wail in agony.
"Blizzard's Wrath!" Lyra summoned a fierce storm. The air howled as the Matron was frozen from the waist down.
Scarlett rushed forward, "Assassin's Mark!" glowing on her hand. Her body blurred into motion—"Eclipse Spin!" she spun like a shadowy whirlwind, cutting the chains.
"Azure Blue Flame." Noah charged, sword igniting in divine blue fire. He cut through her chest with a roar.
SHRIEEEEEK! The Matron exploded in a vortex of wails and white-blue mist.
As the battle end everyone conditions were not good , Lyra her Mana at 30%, frostbite on fingers.
Layla has a Bleeding arm, mental fatigue.
Scarlett has Multiple cuts, wind aura unstable.
Noah his Mana at 50%, slight burn on left shoulder.
They stumbled into the Rest Altar, breathless. The whispers dimmed.
Noah touched the altar. Warmth. Light. Calm.
"We made it," Scarlett whispered.
Layla leaned on her scythe. "And there's more to come."
Lyra looked down the looming spiral staircase. "The last floor waits."
Noah nodded. "Let's heal up. Boss Room... we're coming."
To be continued...