Ch. 7 — Passage Through the Threshold

The Journey Before the Trial

Morning light filtered softly through the high, sterile glass of the Tower's transport hub as Caidyn stepped onto the telepad. Today was the start of Floor 4—the escort mission.

This floor was unlike the previous challenges, trading puzzles and combat gauntlets for a test of vigilance and protection. The goal was straightforward: escort an NPC to a designated location deep within the floor's labyrinthine corridors.

Though technically an NPC, these entities behaved with unnerving realism—reacting to danger, engaging in cautious conversation, and expressing relief or fear as the situation demanded. It was as close to a real person as the Tower's technology could simulate.

Caidyn's task was simple on paper, but the challenge lay in the unexpected. Floor 4 was designed to test patience and awareness rather than brute force, and while the path was mostly clear, she remained alert.

Few hostile creatures appeared—minor nuisances more than real threats—and the moments of combat were brief and easily handled by her precise control and well-honed reflexes.

More often than not, her focus was on shielding the NPC from harm, guiding him through the shifting corridors with quiet determination.

The mission was relatively easy, but its importance could not be overstated. Successfully delivering her charge unlocked the gateway to Floor 5—a sprawling city hub that doubled as a gateway to the next trial.

As she reached the mission's end, the NPC—an older man with sharp eyes and a steady gait—offered a simple nod of thanks. No grand speeches, no dramatic flourishes. Just a shared understanding.

The escort complete, the way forward opened.

Caidyn allowed herself a brief moment to exhale before the next phase.

Kairos hovered nearby, his form shimmering faintly. "Next stop: Floor 5. The real test begins there."

She nodded, steeling herself for what was to come. The climb was far from over.

The soft hum of the telepad faded as Caidyn stepped off, the familiar glow of the Tower's reward interface flickering to life before her eyes. The system's voice was calm, clinical—yet the satisfaction it carried was unmistakable.

[System]

Reward Allocation Complete.

Experience Points Awarded: 50 XP

Current XP: 60 / 120 (Level 3 Progress)

Currency Awarded: 500 Gold

Current Balance: 1,250 Gold

Caidyn watched the numbers settle, the incremental progress marking her growth within the Tower's unforgiving ranks. The steady accumulation of experience and gold wasn't flashy, but it was the foundation—each point a step closer to mastery.

She tucked her hands into the pockets of her matte-black tactical jacket, eyes scanning the new surroundings.

Floor 5 didn't resemble the sterile, mechanical halls she'd grown accustomed to. Instead, she found herself in a sprawling cityscape, a vibrant blend of archaic architecture and cutting-edge tech. Neon signs pulsed gently overhead, mingling with carved stone facades and cobbled streets. The air was thick with a mix of scents—spices, oil, and a faint trace of ozone.

The bustle of other candidates and denizens—some human, some distinctly nonhuman—filled the streets. Merchants hawked their wares, while others lounged in cafés or gathered in whispered conversation near flickering holographic maps.

Her gaze was drawn to a sturdy, rune-carved building nestled between sleek storefronts—a dwarven shop, its sign etched in bold, angular script. Inside, she could glimpse rows of gleaming weapon components, intricate and well-crafted. The shopkeeper, a stocky dwarf with a braided beard and keen eyes, seemed to take pride in offering rare and reliable gear.

Caidyn's fingers twitched with the familiar itch of a craftsman's curiosity.

Components like these could make all the difference on the climb ahead.

She made a mental note to return after her initial exploration—currency in hand, and perhaps with new insights from the trial yet to come.

Kairos's voice broke through the ambient noise. "A good place to start. The right gear can turn the tide."

Caidyn nodded, a slow smile curling at the edges of her mouth.

"The climb's just beginning."

The heavy wooden door creaked softly as Caidyn stepped into the dwarven shop, the warm scent of oiled metal and ancient wood greeting her senses. Lanterns etched with faint runes cast a mellow amber glow over rows of meticulously arranged weapon components and rare curiosities.

The shopkeeper, a stocky dwarf with a braided beard flecked with silver and eyes sharp as freshly forged steel, glanced up from his bench. His gaze met hers briefly, nodding with quiet respect before returning to his work.

Caidyn's eyes scanned the displays until she found the section marked Rifle Components, focusing on parts that might complement her new anti-armor assault rifle body.

Her fingers brushed over a sleek barrel etched with delicate runes—marked the Kinetic Surge Barrel. The description touted enhanced projectile velocity and increased knockback, ideal for disrupting heavily armored foes. The price tag caught her eye: 100 gold.

Nearby, nestled among various ammunition types, were the Tungsten Core Rounds. Promising superior penetration and stabilized trajectory, they were designed to pierce tough plating with consistent damage. Their price was modest: 50 gold.

Then, her gaze shifted to two elemental cores displayed side by side as if in opposition. The first, the Radiant Core, glowed softly with golden light, humming warmly with latent power. The second, the Void Core, was a swirling orb of shadow, absorbing light and pulsing with eerie stillness.

She approached the counter where the dwarf was polishing a small mechanical piece and asked, "How much for these parts?" She pointed to the Kinetic Surge Barrel, Tungsten Core Rounds, Radiant Core, and Void Core.

The dwarf pondered a moment before listing the prices clearly:

"Kinetic Surge Barrel—100 gold."

"Tungsten Core Rounds—50 gold."

"Radiant Core—500 gold."

"Void Core—600 gold."

Caidyn's eyes flicked down to her datapad, tallying quietly. With only 1,250 gold to spend, she realized the total would just barely stretch to cover all four components.

Meeting the dwarf's knowing gaze, she asked, "If I only take these four, will they work well together for my anti-armor rifle body?"

The dwarf's face broke into a smile. "Aye. The barrel and rounds give you solid punch and reliable penetration. The Radiant and Void cores offer two different paths—burn and shield disruption with Radiant, or draining and weakening foes with Void."

Kairos's voice flickered softly in her ear. "Radiance or shadow. Both potent. Your choice shapes your rhythm."

Caidyn nodded, carefully calculating her spending. "I'll take all four. They're exactly what I need."

The dwarf packed the parts with practiced efficiency, ringing up the total: exactly 1,250 gold.

As she left the shop, new components in hand, Caidyn felt the weight of possibility settle comfortably on her shoulders. Every new piece was a step forward in mastering the Tower's challenges.

Caidyn found a quiet corner in one of the open plazas just past the main square, a tucked-away nook framed by moss-covered stone and a soft mana lantern glow that kept the space warmly lit. A smooth bench of old stone made for a stable work surface, and more importantly, no foot traffic distracted her here.

She sat down, exhaling slowly as she set the small satchel of newly purchased components beside her. Pulling them out one by one, she laid each piece across the bench with precision and focus.

First, the Kinetic Surge Barrel—sleek and reinforced, with etchings that hinted at subtle force amplification mechanisms. It was built for power, no doubt. Next, the Tungsten Core Rounds, each shell weighty and dark, the dense payload promising deep impact and clean penetration through layered defense.

Then came the cores.

The Radiant Core shimmered faintly as she touched it, warmth blooming from the surface like distant sunlight breaking through clouds. Beside it, the Void Core pulsed in quiet rhythm, cool and still, drawing in the ambient light like it was drinking the world dry.

She set the anti-armor rifle body down last, rotating it in her hands. The frame was heavier than her modular sets, the grip tighter, the trigger assembly slightly recessed—tuned for bursts, not sprays. She slid the new barrel into place with a muted click, then opened the core housing latch—

—and blinked.

There were two distinct core sockets.

Not a dual-mode switch. Not a latent secondary. Two active, separate chambers, parallel and slightly staggered within the housing. A rare configuration.

Her brows lifted slightly. "Double cores? No wonder the frame was listed as rare."

Kairos flickered into ambient visibility beside her, serpentine form idling as thin coils of code drifted through the air. "I'd say you're holding a prototype. Or at the very least, something purpose-built for layering effects. If we're lucky, it won't just combine them—it might amplify their contrast."

Caidyn considered that, fingers tapping thoughtfully against the rifle body.

Radiance and Void… both extremes of effect, one augmenting presence, the other stripping it away.

"Contrast," she echoed. "Or balance."

She didn't assemble the rest of the weapon—not yet. Instead, she traced the edges of each core again, turning over the possibilities. Two cores meant not just increased potential, but increased complexity. But it also meant options. Flexibility. A weapon that could burn through the righteous or rip through the corrupt—depending on how she loaded it.

For now, she just smiled slightly, tucking the cores back into her kit.

She would name this one later. It had earned the right to grow a little before claiming an identity.

She stared at the dual-core housing a moment longer, the realization heavy in her hands. This weapon wasn't meant to be clever or delicate—it was designed to break things.

Alright then. Let's get to work.

First, she inserted the Radiant Core into the upper chamber. A surge of warm, golden light pulsed through the weapon's spine, humming with calibrated precision. Without hesitation, she called on Kairos.

"Access the loadout interface."

Kairos flickered into view. "On it."

From her hip, the Twin Vipers shuddered slightly as the Corrosive Core disengaged. It floated cleanly toward her, caught between two fingers midair. She slotted it into the lower chamber of the anti-armor frame with a sharp, satisfying click.

The rifle flexed once—system adapting, parts settling into place. A brief hum of recognition echoed through her HUD.

[System]

New weapon recognized:

Purifier Coil — Anti-Armor Assault Rifle

Classification: Dual-Core Modular Rifle (Rare)

Attack: 75

Rate of Fire: 360 BPM / 6 BPS

Clip Size: 24

Range: 1,000 ft (305 m)

Reload Speed: 3.2 seconds

Defense Bonus: +5

Durability: 140

Equipped Cores:

• Radiant Core — Solar Lance: Radiant damage bypasses magical shielding and reduces enemy regeneration for 5 seconds.

• Corrosive Core — Caustic Shred: Melts through armor over time, reducing defense by 15% and applying stacking acid damage.

Ammunition:

• Tungsten Core Rounds — +30% Armor Penetration; impact forces cause stagger in light-class enemies.

Barrel:

• Kinetic Surge Barrel — Converts movement momentum into bonus shot velocity, increasing damage the longer the wielder remains in motion.

Body-Type Effect:

• Anti-Armor Design — Automatically increases all armor penetration effects by an additional 10%. Armor-based resistances are 25% less effective against this weapon.

Loadout Tag Assigned: Purifier Coil

She gave the weapon a satisfied once-over, then slotted it across her back with a click as the magnetic clamps locked into place. It was heavier than her other weapons—but the weight was earned.

Now, time to reconfigure the Twin Vipers.

With a few deliberate taps on her interface and a nod of confirmation to Kairos, she withdrew two fresh cores—one a swirl of dark, whispering shadow, the other a deeper thing entirely: null-black, rippling faintly with quiet entropy.

[System]

Weapon core modification detected: Twin Vipers

• Right Weapon Core: Shadow — Weakening Veil: Reduces enemy outgoing damage by 10% for 3 seconds on hit.

• Left Weapon Core: Void — Null Break: Briefly lowers target's resistances to elemental effects and disables minor shields for 1 second on impact.

She holstered the reconfigured pistols, now humming with twin auras—one trailing whispering tendrils of shadow, the other seething with subtle spatial distortion.

Kairos' voice rolled in smoothly. "That's quite the aesthetic. Shadows and singularities. You do love your drama."

She allowed herself a dry smirk. "And you love commenting on it."

Weapons slotted, cores primed, and the weight of her expanding arsenal settled into place, she stood and swept her gaze across the Tower city's distant edge.

She was ready.