The Abyssal Tower's twelfth floor grew darker the deeper Kael and his team advanced. Shadows pooled unnaturally around jagged platforms, and the whispers of Outer God corruption had grown into intelligible voices—mocking, coaxing, and threatening all at once. Even the air felt heavy, like it resisted their every movement.
Kael's undead legion spread strategically, while Malina's beasts advanced in tandem, sniffing for the next corruption node. Pallas hovered ahead, scanning with Ultra Sense.
"This node… it's stronger," Kael muttered. "The corruption adapts faster as we suppress previous nodes. I can feel the influence of the Outer God at full strength here."
SYSTEM ALERT
Corruption Node Detected – Level 12
Outer God Influence: Extreme
Environmental Hazards: Reality Warping, Gravity Distortion, Mana Overload Zones
Primary Threats: Shadow Leviathan, Void Spire Construct, Corruption Infused Wraiths
Recommended Action: Full Multi-System Coordination, Hazard Suppression, Predictive Combat, Anti-Corruption Techniques
Amara's eyes narrowed. "We can't afford mistakes. Each corrupted entity here can destabilize the entire floor. One slip and we're consumed."
Kael nodded. "Malina, Phantom Beasts and Titan Bond for hazard suppression. Ember, Thorne, hold the front against Shadow Leviathan. Luminor, barriers dynamic—adjust for gravity flux. Brown, perimeter control. Everyone else, adapt and suppress hazards as they appear. Copy and predict entity behavior—timing is everything."
As they approached, the second corruption node pulsed violently. Shadows formed monstrous, semi-intelligent shapes. Gravity distorted, throwing team members into unpredictable trajectories. Mana overload zones flickered in deadly patterns, absorbing or amplifying attacks indiscriminately.
Kael activated Domain Domination and Integrated Hazard Mastery, immediately analyzing patterns. The corruption was no longer reactive—it preempted repetitive movements, forcing the team to innovate on the fly.
Umbra Wraiths emerged from shadows, more numerous and aggressive than before. Shadow Leviathan towered over the platforms, its tendrils lashing in synchronized arcs. Void Spire Constructs erupted from mana overload zones, altering terrain and destabilizing movement.
Kael's pulse surged. "Everyone, split tasks. Suppress hazard nodes, neutralize corruption entities, and strike the core simultaneously. Timing is everything!"
Amara's clones spread out using Astral Projection Burst to suppress Umbra Wraiths. Mana Singularity absorbed residual energy, releasing it back in concentrated beams toward exposed nodes.
Ember's Radiant Cleave and Thorne's Shockwave Fist struck Shadow Leviathan, while Luminor adjusted barriers dynamically, reflecting mana pulses and stabilizing platforms.
Malina unleashed Titan Bond, combining her beasts into a single devastating strike aimed at Void Spire Constructs. Phantom Beasts intercepted hazards and redirected acid-mana flows.
Vex deployed Explosive Catalyst Potions at key convergence points, destabilizing corrupted terrain and creating openings. Pallas mapped platform shifts in real-time using Mapping Vision and Rapid Escape Shift, guiding the team around unpredictable gravity distortions.
Kael activated Copy, integrating Corruption Adaptation Analysis and Apex Hazard Mastery – Phase 3 Enhanced, predicting entity behavior and synchronizing attacks in real-time.
The corruption pulsed violently, forming humanoid, jagged constructs pulsing with Outer God energy. Shadows writhed around them, attacking indiscriminately. Kael's undead legion advanced strategically, intercepting tendrils while maintaining formation. Forty Shadow Mages struck in unison, draining minor corruption energy, while forty Death Knights engaged Void Spire Constructs directly. Skeleton Warriors stabilized unstable platforms.
SYSTEM ALERT
Corruption Node Weakness Detected – Phase 3
EXP Reward Potential: +45,000
Skill Copy: Corruption Resistance Phase 3 Initiated
Kael's blade flared. "Now! Focus all attacks on the node core!"
The team struck in perfect coordination: Kael's Dual Mana Burst pierced the core, Amara's void energy surged into the node, Ember and Thorne shattered protective constructs, and Malina's Titan Bond pulverized surrounding corruption energy. Brown's undead contained residual threats, preventing regeneration.
The node trembled, releasing a pulse of black mana that threatened to consume the floor—but the team held formation. Platforms stabilized, shadows recoiled, and mana flows normalized.
SYSTEM ALERT
Corruption Node Suppressed – Phase 3 Complete
EXP Reward: 60,000 × Team Allocation
Skill Copy: Corruption Resistance Phase 3 Enhanced
Environmental Hazards Neutralized: 80%
Kael exhaled, scanning the battlefield. "Phase 3 suppression successful. But this floor isn't finished. I can feel multiple secondary nodes—smaller, but faster, feeding the central corruption core."
Amara's expression was serious. "Outer God influence is constant. Every node we suppress strengthens us, but the floor regenerates rapidly. Coordination and speed are key."
Kael nodded, undead legion standing ready. "Exactly. We've weakened this node, but total neutralization requires multi-layered assaults. Vex, prepare additional alchemy nodes. Malina, beasts alert for rapid deployment. Pallas, scout hidden nodes immediately. If we move as one, we can suppress the entire floor before it fully adapts."
The floor pulsed with black energy, shadows twisting violently. The Outer God's whispers were louder now, urging them to fail, to succumb.
Kael clenched his fists. "We won't fail. Every skill, every summon, every ounce of coordination counts. Let's move forward. Second node neutralized, but the fight is just beginning."
The team advanced deeper into the floor, fully aware that multiple corruption nodes remained. Shadows writhed, gravity shifted, and mana surged—but Kael, his undead legion, and his team pressed on, prepared for the escalating battle against the Abyssal Tower's corrupted heart.