Chapter 16: Blood on the Stone Steps
Kai hit the stone floor first.
Not because Shade pushed him—because the arena itself shifted. The circular platform split into four jagged layers, rising and falling like moving gears. Kai rolled, caught the edge of a higher platform, and used the momentum to swing himself up. He landed hard, breath sharp, ribs whining.
Shade landed beside him without a sound.
His crimson eyes scanned the shifting arena."Movement pattern's different this time. They're forcing you to adapt mid-fight."
Kai wiped blood from his lip."Good. I needed the challenge."
Shade gave him a look—one part approval, one part warning."You say that like you aren't two levels from bleeding out."
A new system message flashed above the battlefield:
Tower Trial: Stage 2 — Predator's WaltzObjective: Survive 10 minutesBonus Objective: Kill at least 3 Phase StalkersFailure: Death
A timer appeared:9:59
Then the air distorted.
Dozens of thin, shimmering slits appeared mid-air between the platforms—like someone slicing through reality with invisible blades. Kai tensed.
Shade's fur stood up."Phase Stalkers. Stay sharp."
One slit widened.
A creature stepped out—if it could even be called that. Translucent, stretched, its limbs too long, its body bent at wrong angles like broken glass forced into a human shape. Its face was a smear of melting features.
Kai inhaled deeply."Fast?"
Shade shook his head."Worse. They skip frames."
The Stalker vanished.
Kai ducked.
The creature reappeared behind him, claws slicing where his throat had been a second before. He stabbed backward using [Steel Fang Dagger], but the blade cut only mist as the Stalker slipped into another space-fold.
Shade lunged, intercepting a second Stalker that materialized near Kai's flank. His jaws clamped onto its midsection, tearing through the unstable form with raw force. The creature shrieked—a sound like glass cracking underwater—and disintegrated.
1/3 kills
The platform trembled as more slits opened.
Kai tightened his grip."They're materializing faster."
Shade pivoted."You focus on survival. Leave the heavy lifting to me."
Kai shook his head."No. If I don't kill enough, the trial fails."
Shade's eyes burned brighter."Then don't miss your chances."
Another Phase Stalker tore out of a vertical slit, leaping directly at Kai. He reacted instinctively, using [Swift Pulse]—a low-level burst movement skill he obtained in Gate 3. The move wasn't flashy, but it shifted him half a meter left in a flicker.
The creature's claws grazed his shoulder instead of piercing his heart.
Kai grit his teeth, ignoring the sting, spun, and slashed upward. His dagger connected cleanly this time. The Stalker convulsed, flickering violently before collapsing into shards of light.
2/3 killsTimer: 6:41
Kai exhaled shakily."Two."
Shade's voice echoed low behind him."Don't celebrate. They adapt."
Kai didn't have time to ask how. Three slits ripped open at once—horizontal, vertical, diagonal. The Stalkers came out overlapping, their shapes merging for a split second before splitting into three separate kill attempts.
Kai felt time slow.
One straight ahead.One above.One behind.
He thrust forward, Shade leapt for the upper one, but the one behind—Kai couldn't reach…
Shade twisted mid-air.
He kicked off the Stalker he pounced on and slammed bodily into the one behind Kai, knocking it off course. They hit the stone with a harsh crack.
Kai struck forward with everything he had—driving the dagger through the third Stalker's core. It dissolved into shimmering fragments.
3/3 kills — Bonus Objective CompleteTimer: 5:11
But the trial didn't end.
More slits appeared.
Shade rolled to his feet, blood dripping from his mouth."I told you—they adapt. Now they hunt in groups."
Kai stepped back, chest heaving."Fine. Let them come."
A cluster of five Stalkers emerged simultaneously. Their bodies were more solid now, less glitch-like, eyes sharper—learning him. Kai raised his dagger, shifting his stance to minimize blind spots.
Shade took position at his side."I'll keep their attention split."
"No," Kai said quietly."Fight with me. Not for me."
Shade paused.
A rare, thin smile formed on his muzzle."As you wish."
The Stalkers launched forward.
Kai rolled under the closest one, dragging his blade across its legs. Shade intercepted two more, slamming them into the stone. The remaining pair circled, flickering in and out of the air—
Kai dropped low, kicked upward, forcing one off its unstable footing. Shade finished it with a bone-crushing bite.
The last one was fast. Smarter. Its movements flowed like water—no more jerky flickers. It phased only to dodge, not to strike recklessly.
Kai's pulse raced."Shade. The big one's mine."
Shade didn't argue.
Kai dashed in. The Stalker shifted aside—predictable. Kai twisted the dagger mid-swing—unnatural, uncomfortable—and stabbed through the creature's re-materializing neck.
The monster froze, trembling, then shattered into dust.
Timer: 1:12Enemies Remaining: ???
Kai's arms trembled. Sweat mixed with blood. His breaths came uneven. Shade pressed his shoulder to Kai's leg silently, supporting him.
Kai glanced at the timer."Just over a minute."
Shade positioned himself with a low growl."They'll send everything."
They did.
Slits tore open in every direction—sky, walls, floor. Thirty, maybe forty Phase Stalkers rushed them from every angle. A wave of death.
Kai lifted his weapon with trembling fingers."I'm not dying here."
Shade lowered his body, muscles coiled."Stay behind me. Strike only when you see a clean line."
Kai nodded.
The swarm descended—
—and the world went white.
A booming crack echoed through the arena. All the Stalkers flickered erratically, their forms destabilizing. Shade recognized the phenomenon instantly.
"Kai. Look!"
A system message appeared overhead:
Skill Evolution Triggered[Swift Pulse] → [Phase Step]Temporary Borrowed Skill Granted for Trial Completion
Kai blinked."Borrowed…?"
Shade's voice dropped."You just got a Phase Stalker's movement."
The timer hit:
0:030:020:01
Kai exhaled, heart tight.
Trial CompleteReward PendingTransporting…
Everything dissolved.
The stone beneath their feet crumbled into dust. The arena collapsed into a spiral of shimmering light. Shade pressed closer to Kai as gravity vanished.
Kai clenched his fist.He survived.He adapted.And he earned power meant for monsters.
The Tower wasn't done with him.And he wasn't done with it.