Chapter 22: floor 15 ending
The arena was a labyrinth of chaos, illuminated by the faint, pulsing glow of shinsu energy that rippled through the air like an electric storm. Platforms hovered at varying heights, constantly shifting and tilting as if the battlefield itself was alive. Broken columns jutted out of the ground like jagged teeth, and debris floated weightlessly in the void surrounding them. The tension crackled in every corner, the echoes of clashing weapons and desperate cries blending into a cacophony of war.
"Keep moving!" Kael's voice boomed over the din, cutting through the relentless storm of chaos. His black chains, etched like living veins into his arm, pulsed faintly as he swung his hand in a sharp arc. A cascade of Laminar Veil shards exploded outward, shimmering with violet and silver light, spiraling like a protective hurricane. The green team's arrows shattered mid-air, their momentum dissipated into harmless sparks that rained down around him.
"Ronin, Elle! Cover our flanks!" Sera's sharp command rang out, her voice firm despite the strain of the crown weighing on her. The energy coursing through her flickered visibly, her body struggling to contain its overwhelming force.
Ronin surged forward, planting himself on an unstable platform that groaned beneath his weight. His spear, shinsu-coated and glowing with an ethereal silver hue, whipped through the air. The arc of his strike was precise, cleaving through the red team's flanker with enough force to send them spiraling into the churning abyss below. "Got it!" he barked, his voice carrying over the roar of battle.
Behind a jagged slab of debris, Elle crouched low, her crossbow already primed. Her piercing gaze tracked the green team's snipers perched on distant platforms. "On it! Just don't die before I do!" she quipped, her voice laced with humor despite the tension. Her bolt flew true, striking one of the snipers square in the shoulder. He staggered, his scream echoing briefly before he tumbled out of sight.
Kael's sharp eyes flicked across the battlefield, cataloging every threat, every opportunity. The shifting platforms bucked and groaned beneath his feet, forcing him to keep his wings flared for balance. The chains on his arm felt heavier now, their weight a constant reminder of the dark power he wielded. His gaze lingered momentarily on the strange black door he had opened earlier, a sinister crack in reality that pulsed faintly at the edges of his vision.
The red team's brute roared, charging once more with his massive frame barreling toward Kael. His cleaver had been replaced by a monstrous spiked gauntlet that gleamed menacingly under the arena's fractured light.
Kael's lips curled into a determined snarl. "Let's see how far this can go." The chains pulsed brighter, responding to his will with an almost predatory eagerness. He raised his arm, shaping the Laminar Veil into a crescent blade. The weapon shimmered with a crystalline edge, sharp enough to slice through the very air.
The brute's gauntlet came down in a devastating arc, aiming to crush Kael where he stood. Kael didn't flinch. He swung upward, the crescent blade meeting the gauntlet with an earth-shaking collision. Sparks exploded outward, the shockwave rippling across the platform and throwing debris into the void.
Kael gritted his teeth, pushing against the brute's immense strength. The crescent blade fractured, breaking apart into dozens of smaller shards that hovered like a deadly swarm around him. With a flick of his wrist, the shards spiraled outward, their razor edges biting into the brute's armor and flesh with precision. Blood sprayed in thin arcs as the brute stumbled back, his roars of pain echoing across the battlefield.
"Kael!" Sera's voice snapped him back. "Focus! We need to hold them off for another three minutes!"
But even as the green team's snipers adjusted their aim, their arrows now raining down on the battered red team, a new threat emerged. From the shadows of a crumbling column, the yellow team stepped forward.
Their Crown Bearer strode with quiet confidence, his serpent-like chains coiled around his arms, glowing faintly with a golden hue. Flanking him were two fighters: a towering brawler armed with twin spiked gauntlets and a lithe, acrobatic figure wielding twin curved blades that shimmered with shinsu. They had been waiting, biding their time, and now they struck like vultures circling wounded prey.
"Yellow team," Kael spat, his eyes narrowing. His muscles coiled instinctively, the chains on his arm writhing in response to the imminent threat.
Ronin spun his spear in a defensive arc, positioning himself between the yellow team and Sera. "Stay together! Don't let them split us up!" he barked.
The yellow Crown Bearer raised his arms, the serpent-like chains unraveling with a metallic hiss. They snapped forward like striking vipers, their tips glowing with volatile energy. Kael surged forward, planting himself in front of Sera. His own chains flared, colliding with the attack in an explosion of light and sound.
The impact cracked the platform beneath Kael's feet, forcing him to brace himself. Sparks flew as the two sets of chains tangled and writhed, their strikes reverberating like the tolling of a bell. The yellow Crown Bearer sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You've stolen power you can't control. Let me show you how it's done."
Kael didn't answer. His focus was absolute, his chains moving with increasing precision as they parried and countered the relentless assault.
"Go!" he shouted over his shoulder, his voice raw with urgency. "Get to higher ground! I'll hold them off!"
Sera hesitated, her gaze darting between Kael and the advancing yellow team, but she relented. "Ronin, Elle—move!" she commanded, her tone steeling.
As Sera led the retreat to the rising platforms, Kael remained behind, his chains a blur of motion. Sparks lit the air like fireflies as he intercepted the yellow Crown Bearer's relentless strikes. Every clash sent tremors up his arm, but Kael's control was growing. The chains moved as if they were an extension of his will, fluid and deadly.
"You're slowing," the yellow Crown Bearer taunted. "This power will consume you before the clock runs out."
Kael's grin was sharp, his voice low. "Then I'll make sure you don't last that long."
Summoning a surge of energy, Kael whipped his chains in a wide arc. The strike hit the platform's edge with enough force to shatter it, sending chunks of debris spiraling into the void. The yellow fighter stumbled, his balance disrupted, and Kael seized the opening. His chains lashed out, coiling around the yellow Crown Bearer's arms and yanking him forward.
"You talk too much," Kael growled before slamming his opponent into the ground with bone-rattling force.
Above, Sera reached the top platform, her breaths ragged as she raised a shimmering barrier. It caught the green team's arrows in a cascade of sparks, but her trembling form showed the toll it was taking.
"I can't hold this much longer!" she cried.
Kael landed beside her, his chains retreating momentarily. "Drop the crown," he ordered.
Sera's eyes widened in shock. "You'll die!"
Kael's gaze didn't waver. "We don't have a choice. This power… it can handle it."
When the crown settled on his head, the chains surged violently, wrapping around the artifact like living vines. The battlefield fell silent, every combatant frozen as Kael's power erupted like a storm.
"Let's finish this." Kael's voice was a challenge, cold and final.
The remaining teams charged desperately, but it was futile. Kael's chains moved like lightning, shredding weapons, breaking defenses, and scattering the attackers with ruthless precision. When the timer hit zero, Kael stood alone, the crown glowing ominously as his wings cast a massive shadow over the battlefield.
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Hey everyone, I'm back! I hope you've been enjoying these chapters so far. I've been working hard to improve my writing, and I really hope it's starting to show. Thank you for sticking with me-it means a lot