The Spiral Staircase
The staircase stretched endlessly into the darkness above, each step carved from obsidian and lined with faintly glowing runes. The air was heavy with magic, thick enough to feel like a physical weight pressing down on the group.
"This isn't just a staircase," Catria murmured, running her hand along the wall. "It's a conduit. The Throne Eternal's power flows through this."
Eren nodded, gripping his dagger tightly. "Then we're walking right into the heart of its domain."
Kieran shifted uneasily, his eyes scanning the shadows. "I don't like this. It's too quiet. No monsters, no traps—just silence."
Lyssandra glanced back at him. "Don't jinx it."
But as they climbed higher, the silence grew oppressive. The runes on the stairs pulsed with an erratic rhythm, as though sensing their presence.
A Step Back in Time
Without warning, the stairs beneath Eren's feet vanished, replaced by soft grass and the warm glow of sunlight. He blinked, disoriented. Around him was a familiar clearing—a place he hadn't seen since his childhood.
"What is this?" he whispered.
From the edge of the clearing, a voice called out. "Eren! Over here!"
He turned to see a younger version of himself, laughing as he chased a wooden ball. Beside him stood a woman with long, silver hair and kind eyes.
"Mother?" Eren's voice cracked, his chest tightening.
The scene played out like a memory, one he had buried deep. The boy tripped and fell, the ball rolling into the bushes. His mother knelt beside him, brushing dirt from his face.
"Always get back up, my little light," she said with a smile. "No matter how hard the fall, you can always rise again."
Eren took a step forward, reaching out, but the vision dissolved into smoke.
[System Alert: Memory Fragment Detected. Resolve +2.]
Confronting the Illusions
The grass faded, and Eren was back on the staircase. Ahead of him, the others were frozen, each staring into their own visions.
Lyssandra stood rigid, her eyes filled with tears as she reached for something unseen. Kieran had fallen to his knees, his face contorted in anguish. Catria clutched her staff, shaking her head as if warding off a phantom.
"Snap out of it!" Eren shouted, his voice echoing.
The others stirred, their eyes clearing as the illusions broke.
"What was that?" Kieran asked, his voice hoarse.
"Memories," Lyssandra said quietly, her gaze distant. "Or something pretending to be them."
"It's trying to break us," Eren said. "We can't let it. Stay close, and don't trust what you see."
The Guardian of the Staircase
As they climbed higher, the air grew colder. The runes on the walls began to shift, forming grotesque faces that leered and whispered. At the top of the next landing, a massive figure loomed—a knight clad in dark armor, its eyes glowing with crimson light.
[System Alert: Obsidian Warden Detected. Threat Level: High.]
The knight drew a massive sword, its blade crackling with energy. It pointed the weapon at Eren, its voice a deep, resonant growl. "None shall ascend without proving their worth."
Eren stepped forward, his dagger blazing with blue flames. "Then let's see if you're worth stopping me."
The Battle Begins
The Obsidian Warden moved with unnatural speed, its blade cleaving through the air with deadly precision. Eren dodged the first swing, rolling to the side and countering with a strike to the knight's armor. Sparks flew, but the blade barely left a scratch.
Lyssandra charged in, her spear glowing with energy. She struck the knight's knee joint, causing it to stagger. Kieran loosed an arrow that found a weak spot in its shoulder, and Catria followed with a burst of light magic.
The knight roared, swinging its sword in a wide arc. The force of the attack sent Lyssandra and Kieran sprawling.
Eren leapt onto the knight's back, driving his dagger into the gap between its helmet and chest plate. The blade pulsed with energy, and the knight howled in pain.
[System Alert: Critical Hit. Strength +4, Agility +3.]
The knight faltered, its movements growing sluggish.
"Now!" Eren shouted.
Catria raised her staff, channeling a powerful spell. A beam of light struck the knight's chest, shattering its armor. With a final, desperate lunge, Eren drove his dagger into the knight's core, and it collapsed into a heap of blackened metal.
The Final Ascent
The staircase trembled, and the runes on the walls dimmed. Ahead, the path opened into a grand archway, its edges glowing with golden light.
"We're close," Eren said, his voice firm. "The Throne Eternal is just beyond that door."
Lyssandra picked herself up, her face set with determination. "Then let's finish this."
The group stepped through the archway, leaving the staircase behind. The final battle awaited.
To Be Continued...