The mist swirled thicker as Qin Mo led the team deeper into the tower, the ice walls narrowing into a steep ascent that spiraled upward like the throat of some ancient beast. The bells' chime from his pouch pulsed in time with the runes etched into the stone, their glow casting jagged shadows that danced with every step. The air grew colder, biting at his skin despite the Frostflame Core's steady heat, and the FFD System hummed a cautious note in his mind.
[FFD System: Frostflame Balance: Heat 32% / Cold 68%.]
The climb grew treacherous, the ice slick underfoot, forcing the team to move with care. Lian's breath fogged as she trailed behind, her fingers brushing the relic at her side—a carved bowstring fragment passed down from her ancestors. Her eyes narrowed, sensing something familiar in the runes ahead. "This spire feels different," she murmured, her voice low but firm. "My family's lore spoke of a trial here."
Before Qin Mo could respond, the ascent opened into a wide chamber, its center dominated by a frostborn guardian, its form bulkier than the last, its spear wreathed in a swirling mist. The creature's eyes glowed a deep indigo, and the air around it crackled with an ancient power. The team halted, weapons ready, as the guardian let out a low growl, the sound reverberating off the ice.
"Spread out!" Qin Mo barked, charging forward with the Frostflame Blade igniting in a flash of ice and fire. The guardian swung its spear, the mist parting to reveal a razor-sharp edge, and Qin Mo parried, the clash sending a shockwave that cracked the floor. The cold surged, sapping his heat, but the Frostflow passive held, keeping his movements fluid.
Yi's frost threads lashed out, coiling around the guardian's legs, but the mist softened their grip, the creature breaking free with a snarl. Ren darted in, his daggers flashing as he struck at its side, carving shallow wounds that steamed in the frigid air. The guardian retaliated, its spear slashing in a wide arc, forcing Ren to leap back, the ice splintering where he'd stood.
Lian stepped up, her relic glowing faintly as she notched an arrow. "This is my family's test," she said, her voice steady with resolve. She loosed the shot, the arrow humming with an ancestral energy that pierced the guardian's shoulder, drawing a roar. The wound glowed, the mist thinning, and Qin Mo seized the chance, driving the Frostflame Surge into its chest. The wave of ice and fire erupted, shattering the guardian's core, and the shard drank the essence in a rush that left him dizzy.
[Devour progress: 20%. New passive: Ancestral Echo — Boosts allied coordination by 10%. Balance: Heat 30% / Cold 70%.]
The guardian collapsed, its mist dissolving into the air, and the chamber fell silent. Qin Mo steadied himself, the new passive tingling through him, a subtle link forming with the team. Yi retracted her threads, her face flushed with exertion. "That was tougher than the last," she said, glancing at Lian. Ren sheathed his daggers, his eyes flicking to Wei, still propped against the wall below, his condition unchanged.
Lian approached the guardian's remains, her fingers tracing the runes that lingered in the ice. "My ancestors sealed something here," she said, her voice soft but certain. "This spire holds their secret." She pulled a fragment from the ice—a small, rune-carved stone that pulsed with the same energy as her relic. Her eyes widened, a mix of pride and dread crossing her face.
Ling Shou stepped forward, his robes stained and his gaze heavy. "The towers guard more than beasts," he said. "Each spire hides a piece of the past—and a piece of the Tax's power." Qin Mo nodded, the pouch at his side growing warmer, the bells' chime rising. The chamber's runes flared, revealing a hidden passage upward, its entrance framed by ancient carvings.
The team gathered, their breaths visible, the fight's adrenaline fading into a wary alertness. Lian clutched the stone, her resolve hardening, while the passage loomed, promising answers—and danger. The ascent was far from over, and the third spire's secrets pulsed in the air, a challenge they couldn't ignore.