“ It has seen better days”

  “ Perhaps but your fighting style does leave you open to strikes which has led to this situation.”

  “ I’m getting the feeling that you just made a dig at my capabilities…”

  “ I would never say such things. Did I not congratulate you on your victory?”

  Kelford snorted as he found his feet, the corner of the kennels not full of blood or sand relatively comfortable. His wounds had scabbed over, an inhumanly fast process that made him even more glad for his Belt of Fortitude . He took a deep breath. T.U.I’s sass aside he didn’t think the fight went poorly at all. So many tigers had been tricky but with his abilities he’d gotten through. His body was fairly whole, some of the cuts were deep enough to weaken him slightly. Though with the time to rest his essence stores were recharged. The Amulet of Storing was brimming with shadow essence which meant he was combat ready. Many of his relics were not so well off. His sword was now really showing the wear of his fights. Cutting through enforced bone and weapons leaving noticeable dents in the metal. It was beginning to feel off in his hands and the metal didn’t seem as shiny as it had at the start of the run. If he ever had an opportunity to get a weapon relic he’d definitely need to after the next few rooms. Then came to the real bummer cause the less said about Furs of the Warlord the better. The relic had been drenched in blood, cut , stabbed , and thrown around. Kelford really believed relics had to have a self cleaning function since it didn’t stink. Yet, it was losing cohesion. The furs were torn so deeply in areas that Kelford could feel the leather beneath, and in some places the clothes he wore under! The armor was swiftly losing its functionality, and if the fights got harder it would take even more damage.

  Kelford’s sigh was more in acceptance than frustration, he’d have to hope both pieces of equipment survived until the safe room beyond the 5th. There was no way out of it.

  “ T.U.I you think there are ways to repair my equipment in the safe room after the 5th? I really can’t afford to challenge these rooms without my relics,”

  T.U.I floated for a moment as if thinking, “ Yes. Though whether you will be able to will depend on your choices and if your equipment survives. There is only so much one can do. I would replace your sword with an actual relic.”

  “ This sword has been with me through everything this round! Give it some respect,” Kelford said in mock anger. He chuckled before his attention turned towards the next problem. The platform he was on didn’t let him back up to the hall he had been in. Leaving the way forward the tunnels the Sabertooth Younglings had stalked from. His enhanced eyes could see into their gloom, but not deep enough to see their end.

  “ Does it matter which one I take?”

  “ Follow where your gut takes you Kelford, the Tower will test you regardless,” T.U.I floated up by him, “ The challenge will change depending on your choice.”

  “ No pressure.” Kelford gazed at the tunnels. He started walking. There was no point in getting stuck here over a decision when his goal was so close. Something inside him felt fine going in this direction so he went. The tunnel wasn’t particularly big but it was slightly out of the way of the others. It was clearly not meant to be here. Wood broken to expose the sediment beneath. Kelford couldn’t believe this was made by the tigers alone. Something else had been in here with them or this wasn’t originally a part of the fortress. Bitterness stole up Kelford. The Tower used the remains of planets to make its numerous floors for its challenges. Even in ways that didn’t make sense.

  “ Focus!” He could think about the morality of the Tower when he was stronger and on the safe floor. He pushed forward, stepping into the darkness. It slanted downwards away from the blizzard, sediment turning to stone in the pitch black that Kelford’s enhanced eyes pierced without issue. The only light was T.U.I and even hers seemed dim in the face of the darkness beneath the mountain. Kelford’s skin prickled as the deeper he went the more he was certain something had changed. The dark was deeper , more somehow. It was cold but not in the way of winter. It was as if something pulled on all the heat around it. He felt for the Shadow Essence around him only for it to come to him in spades.

  “ That's what's different,” He muttered softly , “ It’s like I’m on the second floor again.”

  The tunnel was filled with Shadow Essence . His fear of running out of essence wouldn’t be a problem here.

  “ Kelford, how are you doing?” At he words the climber turned around.

  “ I’m fine T.U.I”

  “ Are you sure?” T.U.I seemed slightly agitated which began to put Kelford on edge.

  “ What’s going on!”

  “ Nothing just… This does not seem correct”

  Kelford blinked, “ Correct?”

  “ This should not be the next room? This should not be the…” T.U.I disappeared.

  Kelford froze as he waited, heart thumping in his chest. Yet, T.U.I didn’t appear. It was him alone in this tunnel he had chosen. Minutes went by like hours as Kelford waited but T.U.I didn’t appear. Kelford turned to look back but didn’t dare try to leave. Once you left a room there was no way to get back. The Tower seemed to agree as to his enhanced senses there was already a stone wall blocking his exit. It was forward or sit here waiting for his friend.

  “ She’ll be okay ,” the words sounded small in the cramped tunnel but he said them again.

  “ She’ll be okay. Whatever she was trying to tell me I’ll face it down just like everything else.” Kelford jogged forward, giving himself no opportunity to second guess himself. Shadow Essence was all around him and he pulled on it in preparation for whatever came next. The gradual decline began to increase, with a slight bend in the passage leading him down a spiral pattern. Kelford’s confusion only increased as he kept going down , his senses telling him that this was far from the norm. Yet he felt a sense of calm try to wash over him. It made his skin crawl even as his limbs felt light. Shadow Essence only grew in concentration as finally the tunnel opened to the next room. So did Kelford’s horror.

  Bloody corpses were strewn across the ground, torn to ribbons that left Kelford almost sick. The smell of copper clogged his nose , growing stronger with every step. Kelfords eyes roamed around the horrific landscape . Rams, Sabertooths, bears of massive size all laid in pieces in the dark. The black rock that made the floor was covered in fresh blood. It reminded Kelford of obsidian. It was like nothing he had seen in any of the rooms before. That along with T.U.I’s disappearance only made Kelford’s racing heart that much faster. His eyes roamed the rest of the room to see that the walls were the usual bedrock of the mountain mixed with the obsidian like rock of the floor. Like tentacles coming from the deep, the obsidian seemed to climb up the walls and ceiling. Massive double doors , more like gates, dominated the other side. In the gloom Kelford could barely see the words upon it but he could certainly feel the essence leaking from it. His eyes glowed as he saw the veritable river of Shadow Essence leaking from it. There was no doubt of what was behind that door. It was the final room of the 5th floor.

  “ So close,” Kelford said , “ So close”

  He trudged into the muck , sword held close as he made his way through. He kept a sharp eye on the corpses ,ready in case any of them began to move. The stomp of his boots on the viscera and his panicked breath were the only sounds in this lightless place. He’d been walking for a few minutes but the doors seemed just as far away as they had been earlier. Worse, the stench of blood and the corpses were just as endless as before. The bodies of numerous creatures only changed in size and shape but never in quantity. All the while the feeling of panic began to increase. Every step only increased the panic, every breath seemingly sucking it in fear. Kelford finally couldn’t take it and his steps came to a stumbling halt. He couldn’t do this. T.U.I was gone and this wasn’t like anything he’d done before.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  I can’t do this

  The thought came unbidden but it began to propagate like a virus. The thought kept repeating and repeating. Mutating with every second.

  I can’t do this. I’m going to fail. They were right. You can’t handle this . Useless. You’re a Coward. Useless. Useless USELESS USELESS USELESS USELESS USELESS USELESS USELESS USELESS USELESSUSELESSUSELESSS

  “ENOUGH!!!”

  Enhanced Willpower

  Radiance of the Black Sun

  Kelford roared into the dark, flaring his aura as defiance roared from his mind. Something screamed and he whirled just in time to see something straight out of a nightmare . Two violet eyes of pure essence staring with hate into his own, it’s body made of shadow with long twisted limbs. It had no mouth yet it screamed with hate as it leapt for him. Kelford’s mind reeled in shock as liquid fear slammed into his mental defenses in a burst of Shadow Essence . Instinctively he swung at it only for his sword to pass through its body like the wind . His eyes widened before shouted in pain as its claws racked across his chest. Pain and rage pushed back fear as Kelford stumbled back before flaring Radiance of the Black Sun. The creature screamed in panic giving Kelford enough time to reset his feet.

  Empowered Strike

  Shadow erupted from his blade as it slashed out again, finally meeting resistance. The creature screamed as its body was bisected before fading away. Kelford’s mind whirled as he stared at the spot it had died. Just what was that thing? The fear that had been accompanying him in this room eased noticeably.

  Was that thing causing my fear? Kelford shivered as the realization hit him, “ It was just like my aura except it seemed to manipulate the essence around me.”

  Much like a spell. Kelford felt at his chest as blood wept from the wounds it had left behind. Deeper then he had expected. His Enhanced Constitution was already assisting with the healing process but it was disturbing. Whatever that thing was, it had bypassed his armor and seemingly his ring. Much of the defenses he had been relying on to get this far. This room would be harder than he thought. That was when the Tower decided to make itself known as words burnt themselves into the world.

  Banish the Shadow Fiends

  1 out of 4

  The words weren’t in the normal gold but a deep violet. Kelford only spared a thought for the strange difference before he caught movement to his left. Sword pointed he faced the threat to see one of the monster corpses beginning to move. Blood and vicerase clung to its form as a dead bear fixed its gaze on him. Its eyes glowed purple. It roared blood and mucus before lumbering forward. Kelford prepared to charge forward before a burst of terror ripped through his mind. Hateful eyes stared at him in the darkness behind the zombie . Before Kelford could fight off the fear the bear was upon him. Kelford slammed into the bloody ground with a moist crunch as the zombie tore at his body. Rotten meat doused him as he fought tooth and nail to keep its jaws away. Kelford screamed as he slammed his fist into its eye. Putrid viscera and bone exploding every which way as fear infused strikes broke the zombies skull. His mind awash with terror Kelford kept striking even as it fell limp, head destroyed. With a roar he shoved it off him, heaving as he desperately crawled to his feet. Then claws ripped into his back and he was screaming again.

  He stumbled away terror jumbling his thoughts as the Shadow Fiend came for him again. Shadowy claws came down again and again before Kelford had the sense to fight back. Radiance of the Black Sun flared around him as he poured Shadow Essence into its power. The creature screamed as it floated away. Kelford’s mind cleared then filled with rage. His hands filled with essence as he threw himself at the creature.

  Empowered Strike

  Sword lost in the muck Kelford only had his fists to rely on, and they hadn’t failed him yet. Punching the thing was like hitting a living curtain but what was lacking in impact made up with its pained screams.

  “ How do you like that!” Kelford laid into the thing before with a heave of pure rage he grabbed it’s face and ripped it clean off. A silent wail echoed from its body as it faded away to essence. Kelford staggered back before tripping into the muck. Pure terror ebbed from his mind. Kelford shoved the body that he had tripped over away before climbing to his feet. Violet light came from his eyes , Shadow Essence channeling to his aura. Smokey licks of shadow trailed around him as he stalked to his sword. Kelford found it faintly reflecting the light of his eyes. Its familiar weight comforted him even as he tried to ignore the ick covering it. Just like he tried to ignore the state of his own body.

  Stopping feet brought his attention back to his surroundings. More bodies lifted themselves from the bloody field. Rams and sabertooths pulling their rotting bodies towards Kelford. He grit his teeth as all around him more zombies pulled themselves to their feet. He was surrounded. Worse, he didn’t know where the fiend was. Racing to think of a solution Kelford raced towards the edge of the encirclement. Better to be a moving target then a stationary one. The zombies tried to stop him but in death their movements were not a threat as he cut past them. They chased after him even as he made his way towards the doors even as they kept moving further and further away. More kept pulling themselves to their feet in front of him and Kelford killed the few that he could. The rest joined the growing horde behind him.

  The situation was untenable. Kelford couldn’t keep fleeing from the zombies forever and the fiends weren’t making themselves known. He risked a glance back to see the tide of flesh rushing after him. No fiends could be seen and he quickly turned his attention back to running. What could he do? Turning and fighting could work but one good casting of fear at the wrong time would have him ripped apart. Baiting them may or may not work. Perhaps his aura was keeping them away but he didn’t dare lower the essence he poured into it. If only he could see their forms or see if they were casting spells. If he could see the essence they were… Kelford nearly tripped at his own stupidity.

  Boon of the Black Sun

  The world became awash with essence and Kelford skidded to a halt as he stared at the zombie horde. Violet essence ran through all their bodies but most importantly streams of energy lanced from them to something behind and to their right.

  “ Got you,” Kelford snarled as he dashed towards the zombies.

  Empowered Strike

  Kelford’s sword blazed with violet essence as at the last moment he leapt upwards. Zombies roared and reached for him as he sailed in the air but he timed it right. Their slower reflexes were not enough to turn as they crashed into a giant pile of snarling corpses. Kelford’s eyes met the fiend lurking behind them. Its body was a whirlpool of Shadow Essence with its eyes blazing a deeper color in Kelford’s essence sight. He barely cared as with savage triumph he slashed down at it. It wailed as it dodged to the side too late and one of its long arms dissipated into the gloam. Kelford slammed into the ground in a roll before scrambling up. The fiend wailed in pain even as he saw essence build in its remaining hand. In his haste he hadn’t been channeling more essence into Radiance. Just as he realized that the bolt slammed into him. Shadows ripped into his skin and threw him back . The fiend wailed in rage as it threw itself at Kelford, who was on the ground coughing blood. Kelford threw himself to the side as the fiend tore into the corpses all around him. Kelford dimly was aware of the zombies finding their feet but kept skirting the claw trying to disembowel him.

  Radiance of the Black Sun

  Shadows erupted around him sending the malevolent creature away but this time Kelford could see what his skill had done to the thing. Its body had been destabilized, almost as if the aura had torn at its incorporeal being. It fled with a wail as Kelford chased it. Essence began to pour across his sword before Kelford cried out in pain. A dead sabertooth dug its claws into his calf. Kelford killed it with a power chop to its skull but he was already too late. The rest were upon him. Kelford roared as he chopped and slashed at the tide but he was being pushed back. The Shadow Fiend wailed in victory as Kelford began to lose sight of it. Already between the bodies he could see it channeling for another spell. Impotent rage choked Kelford as he held off the horde. He couldn’t reach the fiend and he was too close to escape once its spell was cast. Time seemed to slow as Kelford’s death seemed inevitable. The fiend seemed to cackle as its spell approached completion. Kelford’s mind focused to a point and almost instinctively he reached for the Shadow Fiend . Not with his hands but his mind.

  Boon of the Black Sun

  Within Kelford’s sight strings of essence connected the fiend to the undead assailing him.His mind locked upon them. A strange resistance pushed back on Kelford’s control but he wouldn’t let that stop him. Even as the zombie tore at his flesh Kelford only had eyes for those connections. The fiends eyes widened but it’s focus was already on its spell. With a flex of will Kelford ripped the string apart. The zombies fell apart and the fiend wailed as it suffered some kind of backlash as its other spell exploded in its hand. Kelford didn’t hesitate and with quick steps he closed the distance. The fiend wailed in pain as its other hand was destroyed just as Kelford slashed across its neck!

  Empowered Strike

  Violet light ran up his sword as Kelford cut through its neck. The fiend wailed as its body faded into darkness leaving Kelford alone in the bloody pit. Purple words burnt themselves into the world to notify him of his victory.

  Banish the Shadow Fiends

  3 out of 4

  Kelford heaved a breath, body aching from all the running and fighting. Each fight had granted him a small breather so he had just a moment to get his bearings and…

  Violet blazed along the walls and terror descended upon Kelford.