The land didn't resist them.
It hunted them.
As Eryndor and the team advanced toward the tower, the ground itself seemed to breathe. The air thickened, pressure rolling in slow waves as world-class monsters emerged from forests, sand, and shadow alike.
A beast with six jointed legs and a body plated in obsidian bone burst from the dunes—Kaelus moved first.
Wind snapped.
A spiral of compressed gales carved straight through the creature's torso, lifting it off the ground before tearing it apart midair. The remains scattered like ash.
Darius didn't even look.
A shadow beneath another monster's feet stretched unnaturally—then rose. Hands formed from darkness dragged the creature downward, silencing it before its body dissolved into nothing, its soul pulled screaming into the Black Sun's Domain.
Stellar walked calmly through falling frost, every step leaving crystalline flowers behind. Ice spears bloomed around her like a crown, impaling a charging pack of scaled hounds before they could even howl.
Rein laughed, cracking his knuckles as a hulking giant lunged for him. "Too slow."
One punch.
The shockwave flattened the monster into the ground, the earth spider-webbing outward.
They didn't slow down.
They didn't need to.
Then the sky darkened.
A shadow swept over the land as wings the size of city walls unfolded above them. Heat surged. The air screamed.
A dragon descended.
Its scales shimmered crimson and black, eyes burning with ancient malice. When it roared, the sound bent the trees backward and cracked the desert stone.
Kaelus grimaced. "That thing's definitely world-class."
Rein stepped forward instead—grinning.
"Oh hell yeah."
He rolled his shoulders, divine pressure flaring. "You guys go ahead. I want this dragon's head."
Eryndor glanced back, amused. "You sure?"
Rein's smile widened. "We'll be sliding on Atlas anyway. I'll catch up quick."
Stellar snorted as she passed him. "Don't die, muscle brain."
Kaelus gave a quick salute. "Good luck."
Rein waved them off casually as golden dominion energy flared around him. "Try not to wreck the tower before I get there."
The others didn't hesitate.
They sprinted forward, the dragon's roar swallowed by thunder as Rein launched himself skyward.
The tower loomed.
Up close, it was worse.
The black and white stone didn't just rise—it pressed down, like gravity itself bent toward it. The surface was etched with runes that pulsed faintly, ancient and hostile.
At the foot of the tower, five figures waited.
They stood in a loose formation, calm and confident.
Arcane Masters.
Ether Masters.
Their auras were sharp, refined—dangerous. Not Asmodeus level… but far beyond normal elites.
One of them smirked. "Looks like the academy sent children."
Stellar stepped forward, eyes glinting with cold delight.
"I got them," she said lightly. "You guys go on."
Eryndor paused for half a second, reading her expression.
Then he nodded. "Don't take too long."
Kaelus and Darius moved past her without a word.
One of the men lunged suddenly, blade of condensed ether slashing toward Kaelus' spine—
Snap.
Stellar flicked her fingers.
The man froze mid-step.
Ice crept over his body instantly, locking his expression in terror. Frost spread outward, crawling up his arm, across his face, into his open mouth.
Stellar smiled.
Not kindly.
The others shouted and moved—but she was already gone, ice blooming violently as she entered the fight.
Eryndor, Kaelus, and Darius reached the tower's entrance.
There was no door.
Just smooth stone.
Eryndor stepped closer.
The tower reacted.
A deep rumble echoed as lines of light traced themselves across the surface. The stone split, sliding apart silently, revealing darkness within.
An invitation.
Or a trap.
Eryndor didn't hesitate.
"Let's go."
They crossed the threshold—
—and the door slid shut behind them.