The Abyssal Tower's twelfth floor pulsed with dark energy, each heartbeat of the corrupted floor echoing with the Outer God's malevolence. The previous nodes had been weakened, but the third node loomed ahead like a jagged shadow, far more resilient and adaptive than the first two.
Kael's undead legion spread in formation, every unit poised and synchronized. Malina's beasts circled the edges, sniffing for unstable mana patches. Pallas hovered above, scanning constantly with Ultra Sense, while Amara's arcane aura burned brighter than ever, prepared for sustained combat.
"This node… it's different," Kael said, his voice tense but controlled. "Outer God influence is concentrated here. Expect it to manipulate not just the floor, but our minds as well. Stay focused."
SYSTEM ALERT
Corruption Node Detected – Level 12
Outer God Influence: Extreme – Mental & Physical Hazards
Environmental Hazards: Reality Warping, Gravity Fluctuation, Mana Overload, Psychic Distortion
Primary Threats: Shadow Leviathan, Void Spire Constructs, Corruption Infused Wraiths, Abyssal Phantoms
Recommended Action: Full Multi-System Coordination, Hazard Suppression, Mental Resistance, Predictive Combat
Amara's eyes narrowed. "The psychic distortion… it tries to confuse perception, warp reflexes. Everyone, stay alert. Concentration is key."
Kael nodded. "Malina, deploy Phantom Beasts for hazard suppression. Ember, Thorne, frontline. Luminor, dynamic barriers for psychic and gravity hazards. Brown, undead maintain perimeter. Vex, deploy alchemy nodes. Everyone else, adapt, predict, and counter."
As the team approached, the third corruption node pulsed violently. Shadows coalesced into monstrous forms, and Abyssal Phantoms emerged—semi-intangible beings that reached into minds, attempting to disorient and weaken. Gravity fluctuated violently, throwing team members off-balance. Mana surges erupted unpredictably, threatening to overload protective barriers.
Kael's pulse surged. He activated Integrated Hazard Mastery and Domain Domination, instantly analyzing enemy patterns and floor distortions. The corruption now anticipated repetitive strategies, forcing the team to constantly innovate.
Umbra Wraiths darted from shadows, more aggressive than before. Shadow Leviathan stretched across multiple platforms, while Void Spire Constructs erupted from unstable terrain. Abyssal Phantoms hovered, their presence warping perception.
Kael called out, "Split tasks. Suppress hazard nodes, neutralize corruption entities, and strike the node core simultaneously. Timing and adaptability are critical!"
Amara's clones spread using Astral Projection Burst, suppressing Umbra Wraiths while void energy attacked exposed nodes. Mana Singularity absorbed residual energy and released it toward the corruption core.
Ember's Radiant Cleave met Shadow Leviathan's onslaught, while Thorne's Shockwave Fist shattered unstable terrain. Luminor adjusted barriers dynamically, reflecting mana pulses and stabilizing platforms.
Malina activated Titan Bond, combining her beasts into a single, devastating assault against Void Spire Constructs. Phantom Beasts intercepted hazards and redirected mana surges.
Vex hurled Explosive Catalyst Potions at hazard convergence points, creating openings and destabilizing corrupted terrain. Pallas continuously mapped platform shifts using Mapping Vision and Rapid Escape Shift, guiding the team around gravity fluctuations and psychic distortions.
Kael activated Copy, integrating Corruption Adaptation Analysis and Apex Hazard Mastery – Phase 3 Enhanced, predicting entity behavior faster than raw reaction time and synchronizing attacks across all members.
The corruption pulsed violently, forming jagged humanoid constructs infused with Outer God energy. Shadows writhed around them, attacking indiscriminately, while Abyssal Phantoms reached for the minds of anyone near the node.
Kael's undead legion moved strategically. Forty Shadow Mages drained minor corruption energy while forty Death Knights assaulted Void Spire Constructs. Skeleton Warriors stabilized unstable platforms, intercepting hazard waves.
SYSTEM ALERT
Corruption Node Weakness Detected – Phase 4
EXP Reward Potential: +50,000
Skill Copy: Corruption Resistance Phase 4 Initiated
Kael's blade flared. "Now! Everyone, strike the core together!"
The team executed perfect coordination: Kael's Dual Mana Burst pierced the node core, Amara's void energy surged, Ember and Thorne shattered protective constructs, and Malina's Titan Bond pulverized surrounding corruption energy. Brown's undead contained residual threats, preventing regeneration.
The third node pulsed violently one last time, releasing a psychic shockwave, but the team held formation. Platforms stabilized, shadows recoiled, and mana flows normalized.
SYSTEM ALERT
Corruption Node Suppressed – Phase 4 Complete
EXP Reward: 65,000 × Team Allocation
Skill Copy: Corruption Resistance Phase 4 Enhanced
Environmental Hazards Neutralized: 90%
Kael exhaled, scanning the battlefield. "Phase 4 suppression successful, but this floor isn't done. Multiple secondary nodes remain—smaller, but faster and more aggressive, feeding the central corruption core."
Amara's expression was grave. "Outer God influence is relentless. Every node we suppress strengthens us, but the floor regenerates. Coordination and speed are crucial."
Kael nodded, undead legion ready. "Exactly. We've weakened this node, but total neutralization requires multi-layered assaults. Vex, prepare additional alchemy nodes. Malina, keep beasts alert for rapid deployment. Pallas, scout hidden nodes immediately. We move as one, or the corruption regenerates faster than we can fight."
The floor pulsed with black energy, shadows twisting violently. The Outer God's whispers grew louder, urging them to fail, to succumb.
Kael clenched his fists. "We won't fail. Every skill, every summon, every ounce of coordination counts. The third node is suppressed, but the heart of corruption lies ahead. Let's move."
The team advanced deeper, ready for the next layer of Outer God-corrupted hazards. Shadows writhed, gravity shifted, and mana surged—but Kael, his undead legion, and his team pressed on, prepared for the escalating challenge of the Abyssal Tower's corrupted heart.