The metallic air of Floor 9 buzzed with electricity.
Each step Kaito and Ellie took echoed against the steel walls, the sound drowned out only by the distant whir of gears and mechanical growls.
From the shadows, a cybernetic wolf leapt forward, fangs sparking with raw voltage.
"Two o'clock!" Ellie shouted, her daggers flashing. She dove under its bite, slicing through one of its leg servos.
Kaito's cyber-arm flared to life, the blade extension slashing the wolf clean in half. Sparks burst in the air, raining down like fireworks.
They pressed forward, battling through more cyber-beasts—spider-like drones that launched electrified nets, and armored hounds that needed two or three heavy hits to bring down. The deeper they went, the thicker the air felt, heavy with the smell of burning circuits.
By the time they stepped onto Floor 10, the walls had changed—sleek black metal, glowing with blue neon lines pulsing like veins.
"Something's different," Ellie muttered, scanning the open chamber.
The ground shook.
From the far side of the floor, a hulking creature emerged—a cybernetic gorilla with metal plating across its chest and arms, eyes burning red.
Kaito's grip tightened. "Mini-boss?"
"Looks like it."
The gorilla charged, its fists slamming into the floor hard enough to dent the steel. Kaito barely dodged, rolling aside as Ellie dashed around to its flank, cutting into exposed wiring. The beast roared, swinging a massive arm, nearly catching Kaito mid-step.
They fought in perfect sync—Ellie distracting with precise strikes while Kaito landed heavy blows with his cyber-blade. Finally, with a final surge, Kaito drove his weapon deep into its core. The gorilla's chest lit up with red warnings before collapsing in a shower of sparks.
Minutes later, they reached a wide, well-lit room—the Merchant's Hub.
Holographic signs flickered overhead, listing prices for food, potions, ammo, and gear repairs.
A cheerful merchant in a neon jacket leaned over the counter. "Ah, fresh climbers! Let's see what you've got."
Kaito dropped a pile of glowing cores, beast plating, and scrap tech onto the counter. The merchant scanned them, nodding with approval. "Nice haul. You'll get a good price for these."
Ellie smirked, grabbing a pouch of coins. "Dinner's on me."
Kaito chuckled. "Don't spend it all—we've got a lot more tower ahead of us."
The two rested in the hub's lounge, the hum of vending machines and low chatter filling the air. But in Kaito's mind, one thought wouldn't fade—
The higher they climbed, the more dangerous things would get… and the closer he'd come to the truth about the Apex Relic.