As Nerva lunged toward Rhino, Kai and the rest of the group surged forward.

  “Scry, move inside. I don’t know what else might show up,” Kai ordered.

  Scry nodded and entered his inner world, maintaining his connection to the outside through Kai.

  Liliya opened her mouth to ask what was happening, but quickly realized now wasn’t the time.

  Lucius and Eira ran behind them, both visibly distressed.

  “He made so many new, stronger Higher Ones. How is this possible? You killed all of them recently,” Eira said aloud, struggling to understand.

  “The madman probably had a stockpile of parts and cores. He probably hasn’t slept since then,” Kai muttered, realizing he couldn’t afford to underestimate this lunatic.

  “Go left. His laboratory is on the third floor; there should be stairs at the end of that hallway,” Eira instructed as they ran.

  “Everyone, down! Now!” Kai shouted as a deep rumble echoed through the corridor.

  They all dove to the ground just as thick, black mist-like energy sliced through the air where they had stood moments before.

  The mist slammed into the wall behind them, corroding the dark stone and carving out another hole that let sunlight stream in, illuminating a figure at the end of the hall.

  A female-shaped creature, a grotesque patchwork of mismatched parts, stood in the light.

  Her black scales shimmered ominously, and a serpentine tail slashed across the floor behind her.

  The group scrambled to their feet; eyes locked on the monstrous figure.

  “She looks like you, Eira, just... black,” Liliya observed.

  “He used another snake on a girl... that bastard,” Eira growled, fury rising in her chest.

  “She’s still at Spirit Beast level, but her ability is dangerous. We should take her down together,” Kai suggested.

  “No. We can’t waste any more time. Who knows what else he’s creating right now? Leave this to me. On the third floor, go straight, and his chambers are at the end of the hall.” Eira instructed.

  “I’ll stay. This is the first monster that isn’t at the Master level. Let me help,” Lucius added.

  “They’re right, Kai,” Scry whispered.

  Kai sighed and nodded. “Goddamnit... fine. Be careful, both of you.”

  Turning to Liliya, he said coldly, “You’re with me. Let’s go.”

  She nodded and followed close behind.

  Eira charged forward towards the Mamba, who was already charging another attack, her body cloaked in icy mana. With a fierce cry, she drove her fist into the creature’s gut, sending it crashing through a wall and into one of the chambers beyond.

  Lucius followed, casting a radiant light barrier around them both.

  Meanwhile, Kai and Liliya turned left and ascended the stairs.

  ***

  While Liliya and Kai made their way toward the third floor, Florian worked feverishly to complete what was likely his final creation, for now.

  The body of the late Chief, now repaired and reinforced, lay motionless on the table, ready to be merged with a core. Florian dragged the corpse into another chamber, where a towering machine stood, its purpose singular and sinister: core insertion.

  He bound the body tightly and loaded the core into a massive mechanical syringe. The machine hummed to life, and the needle shimmered with ethereal energy as it pierced the chest of the corpse, embedding the core deep within. The soul began to fuse with the vessel.

  Unfortunately, the Chief’s soul had long since departed. But Florian didn’t care; the body was strong, strong enough to serve his purpose.

  The moment the core connected with the internal systems, the creature’s eyes snapped open. It let out a guttural, primal roar that shook the chamber.

  “There, there, you beast,” Florian cooed, a twisted grin spreading across his scaly face. “Let’s see how a Spirit Beast handles a Master-level body. But first, here’s a treat.”

  He plunged another syringe into the creature’s neck, injecting a glowing green liquid mixed with his own blood.

  The concoction slithered through the creature’s veins, warping and mutating its form. Muscles bulged, bones cracked and reformed, and the transformation completed.

  What stood before him now was a monstrous humanoid tiger, its fur streaked with glowing green stripes. Arcane runes pulsed beneath its skin, a final echo of the Chief’s once-mighty power.

  “Unexpected,” Florian mused, eyes gleaming. “A berserker skill still etched into the flesh... and you’ve awakened it. Looks like I picked a good match. I’ll call you... Tiger.”

  Simple names pleased him.

  Tiger roared again, straining against its restraints. The bindings groaned under the pressure.

  But before the beast could break free, the chamber doors exploded inward.

  Kai burst through, eyes blazing. He had sensed the presence of two powerful entities deeper within the chamber, and he had come to end it.

  What Kai saw shook him to his core.

  Standing before him was a winged monstrosity, its body cloaked in crimson scales, a spiked tail slithering across the floor behind it. One eye flickered with an unnatural green glow, while the other was cold and reptilian. Two black horns curled from its head, completing the demonic visage.

  The creature grinned, its voice a twisted mockery of humanity.? “Welcome to my home, dragon boy,” Florian screeched.

  “Florian?! What have you done?” Kai gasped. He experimented on himself... I can’t even sense his power level.

  “Kai, this isn’t good,” Liliya whispered, her voice tight with fear. “The monster behind him is early Master level, but Florian... I can’t read him at all. His mana is twisted beyond recognition. He looks like a demon from the West.”

  “Don’t you think I look amazing?” Florian laughed, spreading his wings. “Just like your father. Hahaha!”

  With a flick of his clawed hand, he released the Tiger.

  The beast roared and leaped from the table, its clawed fists clenched. Glowing green stripes lit up across its fur, the runes beneath pulsing with raw energy.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Liliya, take the tiger. I’ll handle Florian. Once you’re done, join me,” Kai commanded.

  “Okay. But be careful, he’s stronger than before,” she warned.

  Kai nodded once, then launched himself at Florian. Noxblade shimmered into existence in his hand, its edge glowing with a royal purple aura.

  Florian cackled and surged forward, his claws wreathed in a sickly grey light.

  Behind him, the Tiger lunged toward Kai, but Liliya intercepted, blasting it with a powerful wind spell that slammed it into the wall.

  She followed up with a silent chant, her lips barely moving.

  “Frost Arrows.”

  A ring of glowing magic circles formed around her, each one launching a barrage of icy arrows. They rained down on the Tiger and the surrounding area, exploding into shards of frost.

  The temperature plummeted as Liliya poured more mana into the spell, summoning another wave of arrows that whistled through the air like a blizzard of blades.

  The Tiger roared in pain, green mana flaring around its body as it rapidly regenerated. With a deafening crack, it shattered the frozen wall pinning it down and lunged at Liliya, claws gleaming.

  Meanwhile, Kai and Florian had already clashed dozens of times. Noxblade and razor-sharp claws danced through the air; each strike a blur.

  “Nice sword. That’s new, I see,” Florian chuckled, slashing again. Kai deflected the blow with precision.

  “But you seem weaker now. Or maybe I’m just stronger. Hahaha! I am a perfect being, after all.”

  Kai didn’t respond. His focus was absolute, every muscle honed, every movement calculated.

  “Flowing Currents!” he chanted.

  A surge of high-pressure water mana enveloped his blade, amplifying its edge. He followed up with Thunder Tree, his strikes accelerating into a storm of slashes. Florian parried each one, his claws a blur of grey light.

  Then, with a sudden twist, Florian’s spiked tail slammed into Kai’s chest, launching him across the room and into a wall with a thunderous crash.

  Kai groaned, rising to his feet. He summoned his Shadow Armor, freshly repaired in his inner world. Any defense helps now.

  His Blood Moon flared, and he cast Water Barrier, encasing himself in a shimmering shield.

  With a thunderclap, he dashed forward, blade poised.

  Florian moved to block, but Kai feinted, ducked low, and drove Noxblade into his ribs. He forced his aura and poison-laced water deep into Florian’s body.

  Florian screamed, kicking Kai away with his wolf-like legs. Grey mana surged around his wound, sealing it shut. He spat a mouthful of black blood and laughed.

  “Poison, huh? Sneaky little dragon. Too bad this body has excellent regenerative abilities,” he sneered, eyes glowing with malice.

  This isn’t good, Kai thought, panting. His body’s on another level.

  A thunderous explosion echoed from the other side of the chamber.

  There, the Tiger was locked in a brutal clash with Liliya. She countered each of its savage strikes with a burning whip of pure fire mana, the flames crackling with intensity.

  Frustrated, the Tiger’s mind snapped further. With a guttural roar, it activated Ancestor’s Wrath, a forbidden ability of the late Chief.

  Its stripes and runes turned crimson, and red whirlwinds spiraled around its claws. With explosive speed, it charged and struck.

  Liliya’s Diamond Barrier flared to life just in time, absorbing the impact, but the force sent her crashing to the ground. A thin line of blood trickled from her lips.

  Before she could recover, the Tiger struck again, slamming its massive leg down on her barrier. Over and over, it stomped, the ground cracking beneath her until it gave way.

  She plummeted into the lower floors.

  The Tiger roared and dove after her, unleashing a barrage of blood-grey mana blasts mid-air.

  Kai’s heart dropped. “Liliyaaa!” he screamed.

  This was spiraling out of control.

  “Not bad,” Florian mused, watching the chaos. “He managed to push an Eight-Circle Magus that far. Divine.” But he wasn’t smiling anymore. He knew Kai still had more to give, and he wasn’t about to take chances.

  His scales ignited with fiery red light as seven magic circles spun into existence behind him.

  He restored his Seventh Circle... How many souls did he consume to do that? Kai thought, horrified.

  Kai’s mana surged. He summoned his Soul Sword, a radiant white blade that merged with Noxblade, giving it a divine glow.

  “Moonlit Dance – Dual Thread!” he roared.

  His core blazed with moonlight mana. Two condensed threads of pure lunar energy spiraled around his blade. With a mighty swing, he unleashed them, twin streaks of light tearing through the air toward Florian.

  For the first time, Florian felt a flicker of fear.

  “Breath of the Salamander King!” he bellowed, unleashing a torrent of fire that engulfed the room.

  The flames clashed with the moonlight threads, weakening them, but they pressed on.

  Snarling, Florian cast another spell. “Winds of Purgatory!”

  Grey ripples surged behind the fire, colliding with the threads and decaying the moonlight within. The attack dissipated, but not without cost.

  Florian was left in a vulnerable position.

  Kai didn’t hesitate. He dashed forward, Soul Sword gleaming. He slashed twice, sending a crescent wave of white and purple energy that struck Florian’s forearms, which were raised in defense.

  The red scales held barley, but the force of the blow razed the chamber, obliterating the left wall and flooding the room with sunlight and fresh air.

  Florian roared and summoned a massive grey skull, swirling with countless tormented souls. The skull screamed, unleashing a barrage of soul-laced beams.

  “Poison Jet!” Kai cast, as dozens of water jets shot out, neutralizing a few, but several beams pierced his defenses, tearing through his body.

  He collapsed to one knee, clutching his sword. His draconic heart pumped furiously, flooding his body with mana. His first magic circle spun wildly, channeling healing water mana. Some wounds closed, but others bled freely.

  “Haha! Look at you now,” Florian sneered, claws dripping with blood and glowing with grey light as he stalked forward. “Kneeling before me. That last attack of yours... It’s strange. You can hurt me. But you lack the strength to finish the job.”

  He raised his claws, ready to strike.

  ***

  Meanwhile, far from the chaos unfolding in Florian’s lair, Kran had been tracking Eira’s mana trail for hours. The path had led him deep into the desolate expanse known as the Dead Lands to the southern tribes, a cursed region under Florian’s dominion. But now, standing at the edge of a jagged canyon that split the land like a scar, he saw nothing, no signs of life, no trace of Eira.

  The closer he moved, the more uneasy he became. The air was unnaturally still, the silence oppressive. The mana trail, once strong and clear, had abruptly vanished near the canyon’s edge.

  She was here. Her mana ends somewhere around this point... but where did she go?

  Kran narrowed his eyes, scanning the terrain. The canyon stretched wide and deep, its walls jagged and dark. No visible path led down, and yet something about the place felt... wrong. Like the land itself was hiding something.

  He wasn’t going to give up.

  There’s something here. I can feel it...?

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