Chapter 27: The Phantom’s Trial

The air on the 36th floor was suffocating, laced with a foreboding pressure that even seasoned adventurers would hesitate to face. Maki gripped her spear tightly, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. The vast, cavernous floor was illuminated by an unnatural crimson glow, its source a massive crystal pulsating at its center.

The oppressive atmosphere felt more dangerous than anything she'd encountered before. Beside her, Scathach stood poised, her twin spears faintly shimmering. Archer flanked them, his bow ready, his gaze equally wary.

"This floor feels... alive," Archer muttered, his voice low. "The Dungeon isn't just throwing monsters at us; it's watching."

Scathach stepped forward, her presence commanding. "The Dungeon is responding to a foreign presence—a distortion. This isn't just a new floor; it's a challenge, a trial."

Maki frowned. "A trial for what?"

Scathach's violet eyes flicked toward the crystal. "For those strong enough to face the gods."

Their conversation was cut short as the ground trembled beneath them. From the shadows of the cavern, creatures emerged—phantoms wrapped in spectral flames, their forms flickering as though unstable. Each one emitted a haunting wail that sent chills down Maki's spine.

Without hesitation, Maki dashed forward, her spear cutting through the first phantom with ease. But as soon as it dissolved into smoke, two more took its place.

"They regenerate!" Archer shouted, loosing an arrow that pierced one phantom's core, only for it to reform moments later. "We can't keep this up indefinitely!"

Scathach smirked. "Then we don't. We aim for the source."

The Queen of Shadows thrust her spear into the ground, and a pulse of dark energy radiated outward, forcing the phantoms back momentarily. She turned to Maki, her voice steady. "Focus on the crystal. That's the anchor for this distortion."

Maki nodded, her confidence in Scathach unwavering. "Got it. Cover me."

Maki sprinted toward the pulsating crystal, her spear glowing faintly with a power she was still learning to control. The phantoms surged toward her, but Scathach and Archer held the line. Scathach moved with deadly precision, her spears slicing through the spectral forms with ease, while Archer rained down magical arrows that temporarily dissipated the creatures.

As Maki approached the crystal, the air grew heavier, and a deafening hum filled her ears. She gritted her teeth, forcing her body to move despite the resistance. Each step felt like wading through a thick swamp of energy.

When she reached the base of the crystal, a voice echoed in her mind.

"Do you seek power, child of shadows?"

Maki froze, her grip tightening on her spear. "Who's there?"

The voice chuckled, deep and resonant. "I am the guardian of this trial. Prove your worth, and I will grant you the strength to walk the path you desire."

Before Maki could respond, the crystal shattered, and the fragments coalesced into a massive form—a towering phantom clad in jagged armor, its burning eyes locked onto her.

The creature roared, shaking the cavern as it swung a massive, ethereal blade toward Maki. She rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike as the ground split open where the blade landed.

"Of course it has a giant sword," Maki muttered, her irritation masking her rising adrenaline.

She countered with a swift thrust of her spear, aiming for the creature's core. The spear connected, but the impact sent a shockwave through her arms, forcing her back.

Scathach's voice rang out from behind. "Its core is protected by a barrier. You'll need to overwhelm it with concentrated power!"

Maki gritted her teeth. Concentrated power wasn't her forte—raw strength and precise strikes were her specialties. But she had no choice.

Awakening the Shadow

As the Warlord prepared another strike, Maki closed her eyes, focusing inward. She could feel the shadowy energy within her, the power she had barely begun to understand. It was wild, untamed, but it resonated with her in a way that felt natural.

"If you want me to prove my worth," she whispered, gripping her spear tightly, "then watch me."

The energy surged through her, enveloping her spear in a dark, swirling aura. When she opened her eyes, they glowed faintly with the same light.

The Warlord swung its blade down, but this time, Maki didn't dodge. Instead, she met the attack head-on, her spear colliding with the blade in an explosion of energy. The force of the clash sent shockwaves through the cavern, and the Warlord staggered back, its barrier flickering.

Scathach, seeing the opening, darted forward. Her spears glowed with a deadly crimson light as she unleashed a flurry of attacks, each one targeting the weakened barrier. Archer joined in, his arrows striking with pinpoint accuracy.

Maki took a deep breath, channeling every ounce of her energy into a final strike. She leaped into the air, her spear aimed directly at the Warlord's core.

"Let's end this!" she shouted, driving her weapon forward.

The spear pierced through the barrier and into the Warlord's core. The creature let out a deafening roar as it dissolved into shards of light, the cavern falling silent once more.

As the light faded, the voice returned.

"You have proven yourself, child of shadows. Take this gift and continue your journey."

A small fragment of the crystal floated toward Maki, glowing faintly. She reached out, and the fragment merged with her spear, enhancing it with a new, otherworldly power.

Scathach approached, a rare smile on her face. "Well done, Maki. You're beginning to understand your potential."

Maki smirked, her exhaustion hidden behind her pride. "Thanks, but I couldn't have done it without you two."

Archer chuckled. "You were the one who delivered the final blow. Just try not to make it a habit of diving headfirst into death, okay?"

Maki laughed, the tension easing. "No promises."