Chapter 25: The Silent Tombs

The deeper Elias ventured into the Cursed Citadel, the more oppressive the air became. The whispers of the lost souls were now constant, echoing off the stone walls and swirling around him like a cyclone of despair. It wasn't just the dead he had to worry about anymore. The citadel itself had begun to change, its cursed nature twisting and warping the very space he walked through.

By now, Elias had encountered a variety of spirits, each more dangerous than the last. They weren't just phantorns of warriors; now, they were manifestations of nightmares. His previous struggles felt like child's play compared to what awaited him in the deeper recesses of the citadel.

Floor 25 The Silent Tombs

The stone doors creaked open with a low groan, revealing the next floor of the citadel. The hall beyond was vast, stretching for miles in all directions. Rows upon rows of ancient tombs lined the walls, each one sealed tight by intricately carved stone doors. The smell of decay and death was thick in the air, and a strange chill seemed to settle over the entire floor.

Elias hesitated for a moment, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. He didn't like the feeling of this place. It felt wrong-like the souls here were not at rest, their presence lingering in the air. There was an unsettling calm, almost like the stillness before a storm.

He took his first step forward, and the ground beneath his feet groaned, as if the entire citadel was reacting to his intrusion. The temperature dropped even further, and Elias could see his breath mist in the air.

As he moved deeper into the tombs, he noticed something odd. The tombs themselves were not empty. At first, he thought the sealed doors were simply ancient resting places, but as he drew closer, he noticed something unsettling: the faint glow of eyes from behind the stone doors. The tombs were alive-cursed to contain the very souls of the damned.

Suddenly, a low, guttural growl echoed through the halls. Elias whirled around, his sword raised, but there was nothing in sight. Then, from one of the tombs, a figure began to emerge-a grotesque, twisted being, its body half-decayed and its eyes glowing with a cold, unnatural light.

The creature let out a terrifying screech as it stepped fully into the hall. Its body was a patchwork of rotting flesh and tattered armor, a once-proud warrior now reduced to a mindless monster, bound to the citadel for all eternity. The creature's massive, skeletal hand reached for Elias, and its gaping maw opened, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

Elias didn't hesitate. He charged forward, his sword slicing through the air. The creature swiped at him, but Elias was faster, ducking under the blow and slashing at its exposed side. The sword cut deep, but the creature's rotting flesh seemed to absorb the damage. It was only weakened, not destroyed.

More creatures began to crawl out of the tombs, their forms distorted and twisted by the cursed magic of the citadel. Elias knew he had to act quickly. He focused, calling upon his growing power-the ability to absorb the energy of those he killed. With each strike, he felt stronger, the essence of the cursed warriors flowing into him.

But just as he thought he might overwhelm the creatures, a sudden pain shot through his head. The whispers grew louder, piercing into his mind. The spirits of the tombs were not content to remain silent. They attacked his thoughts, their voices echoing in his skull.

"Join us... join us..."

Elias gritted his teeth, shaking his head to clear the fog. The spirits wanted him to succumb to the darkness, to become like them-trapped in this citadel forever. But he wouldn't give in. He couldn't.

With a roar, Elias cast the spirits aside, focusing on the battle at hand. His sword flashed in the dim light, cutting down one of the creatures after another. Each soul that fell to his blade seemed to feed the citadel's magic, but Elias refused to stop. He fought on, using his enhanced abilities to dodge and counterattack.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the last of the creatures fell, their bodies crumbling into dust. Elias stood amidst the fallen monsters, breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his brow. His body was covered in gashes, but he was still standing.

"Not today..." Elias muttered to himself, the cold resolve in his voice matching the chilling atmosphere of the tombs.

But as the last echoes of battle faded, the silence returned. Only this time, it was different. A heavy, suffocating silence.

Elias turned his attention to the tombs once again. There was something here-something he hadn't yet uncovered. The eyes of the spirits still watched him, waiting, judging. They were not finished with him. Not yet.

With his senses heightened, Elias pressed forward, determined to uncover the secrets of this floor and continue his journey through the cursed halls.