《剑武独尊》

夜幕降临时，我推开灯。林尘蜷缩在塔内世界最底层的 tiers 4-10，一具残破的铜制躯体笼罩在一层浓灰中。

你……你在那儿待那么久！少年皱眉，目光落在身后的古树上——那是他们见过的唯一活物，枝条斑驳，叶片泛黄，仿佛被岁月刻下了一道伤疤。我伸手抚上去，但他的皮肤早已不复可亲。

我……我不想要再在这里等待了......林尘低声说，声音发抖。

tower above him. I opened the door, but he lay still in tier 4-10, covered in a thick layer of shadow. You are here for something, right? he said, his voice barely audible as I pressed my hand against his chest.

The air was cool, like the night before. The tower above him collapsed into an ancient labyrinth of passageways and twisted staircases. I stepped inside, my steps slow and deliberate. The ground beneath me trembled, but not as much as when the sun came up. There were stones crumbled in pieces around me, their sharp edges clashing with my fingers.

I stepped onto a small, narrow passage that led to a hidden chamber deep within the tower. The walls of the chamber pulsed with an organic feel, like something alive. A large, ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling, its glow flickering slightly. I took a step through it, my eyes darting around the room for any chance to find a clue.

The next passage was narrower; it meandered around a small, ornate table that seemed to pulse with an ethereal energy. A few stones snaked across it, their sharp edges clashing against my back. I stumbled forward and found myself standing there, the world before me in front of me. The room was dimly lit, but its corners were lit by soft light that flickered like something alive.

A figure, tall and imposing, stepped into the center of the table. His form was solid, his hair tied back into a messy braid that had been knotted up for days. His eyes were cold, sharp, as if watching me with intent.

Are you... a monster? I asked, my voice low and desperate.

He looked away, then slowly turned to face me. A long, jet-black blade pierce his chest like a spike. Its edge was sharp but not blood-brained, unlike the blades of other monsters. The blade moved as if it had been waiting for this moment. It cut through my ribs with a deafening impact.

Your... death blow, I said, clutching my stomach, had come here to see you.

He nodded, his gaze wide and unblamed. His eyes gave me a sense of control, but I knew he was no ordinary being. A chakra charged in my chest as the blade pressed down. It was more than just fear; it was an electric surge.

Take me, I said, trying to sound desperate. I'm not going anywhere without you.

The blade continued whirring, its edge moving like a living thing. In my reach lay a small chair that had been used for years as a haven from the elements. The chair was solid, but it felt slightly familiar. I reached down, taking up space next to the blade.

The chair swayed in midair before collapsing into the ground beneath me. A soft clatter echoed through the room as if something had stepped onto it. It knocked over a table, sending a small, unmarked stone flying toward me. The stone hit my foot, and I landed back on tiptoe, my breath coming in thin gasps.

The world around me seemed to shift slightly. The air grew heavier, the floor beneath me trembled again, before finally sinking into the ground. Now, I could feel my chest heaving as if pressed against something. There was a cold pain radiating through my body, and I realized that wasn't just muscle; it was something else entirely.

A sudden, unexpected wave of power surged through me, a feeling like a surge of wind. It made my heart beat faster, and I could feel the world around me changing in ways I hadn't anticipated.