The first wave of enemies surged forward, mercenaries clad in mismatched armor, their weapons raised and eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger. The Azure Tower's lobby stretched out before Caelum, a vast, echoing chamber with cracked marble floors and jagged, steel columns. The sheer size of the room made it feel like the walls were closing in, the ceiling impossibly high, and every shadow seemed to have a life of its own.
The battle had already begun, but Caelum stood still for a moment, absorbing the chaos. His Eclipsed Spear of the Dawnshadow gleamed faintly with an ethereal radiance, shadows flickering across the dark steel surface like a predatory whisper. Alric, beside him, grinned.
"This is it," Alric said, clapping him on the back. "Time to show them what we're made of."
With a nod, Caelum's fingers tightened around the spear. The Eclipsed Spear felt familiar now, like an extension of his own arm, ready to carve through the opposition. He glanced up at the others—Cypher and the crew were making their way toward the elevators, splitting off to deal with Echo-33's forces, leaving him and Alric to act as the front line.
He shifted his weight and flared his Eclipsed Wings, the dark feathers unfurling with a soft hiss, as though a shroud of darkness itself had taken form behind him. "Let's make an entrance."
With that, Caelum and Alric charged forward. The mercenaries ahead hesitated for only a split second before unleashing a barrage of gunfire, the sharp reports echoing through the tower's empty halls. Caelum moved first, his Eclipsed Spear cutting through the air in a fluid arc. His shadow soldiers materialized alongside him, taking their places and joining the fray. The Light Manticore, now a sleek bracelet on his wrist, shimmered in the darkness before unfurling in a burst of light, joining the Shadow Manticore that had already formed at his side.
With a powerful swipe of his spear, Caelum sliced through the first wave of attackers, the dark energy flowing from his weapon obliterating the mercenaries in an instant. The manticore charged forward, its claws raking through the ground as it swiped at the remaining enemies, sending them sprawling across the floor.
Alric's sword cut through the chaos like a flame, a blur of steel. "Not bad," he shouted, his voice cutting through the crackling tension of the fight. "But let's see how you handle the next group!"
The ground trembled as more enemies poured from hidden alcoves and elevators, some armored, others not. The floor was already starting to feel like a warzone, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder and the sharp crackle of energy weapons.
Caelum barely had time to react as a mech unit, large and hulking, burst from the shadowed corner of the lobby. It stood nearly twice as tall as a man, its massive cannon arms aimed directly at them. Without hesitation, Caelum twisted the spear in his grip, his eyes narrowing.
"Time to play."
A flash of light erupted as his Light Manticore leapt into the fray, its wings spreading wide, glowing bright like a star. It unleashed a blast of Celestial Roar, the shockwave reverberating throughout the lobby and knocking several mercenaries off their feet. Caelum darted toward the mech, the Eclipsed Spear raised high, and with a fluid motion, plunged it deep into the mech's exposed circuitry. The weapon flared with dark energy, sending a pulse of shadow through the metal body, causing it to convulse and explode in a burst of fiery debris.
"Nice," Alric remarked as he cleaved through a group of advancing enemies, his weapon glowing with flame.
But before they could catch their breath, the next wave arrived. They weren't just mercenaries now; they were elite, heavily armored foes, and they didn't hesitate. Some had shields, others wielded energy rifles that crackled with potent energy.
Caelum gritted his teeth. This wasn't just a simple fight anymore. These were serious opponents—this would be a battle of endurance and strategy. But they had no choice. The only way to reach the top of the tower was to carve through each floor, one by one.
In the midst of the chaos, Caelum's Eclipsed Spear hummed, as if eager for the next strike. His Light and Shadow Soldiers surged forward, cleaving through the enemies with a coordinated precision that reflected the growing synergy between him and his summons.
"Focus!" Caelum shouted as he swiped through another mercenary. "We don't stop until we hit the next floor!"
But just as the last of the elite mercenaries fell, a voice echoed through the lobby, cutting through the noise of battle.
"Well, well. You made it this far, but can you handle the real challenge?"
The voice belonged to Echo-33. Even though they hadn't seen the figure yet, the chilling presence of the AI hung over the tower, its cold, calculating voice slipping into the air like a fog.
Caelum's grip on his spear tightened. "I'm not done yet."
Before he could react, Alric gave him a smirk, tapping his wrist communicator. "We've cleared the way. Time for you to do what you do best."
Caelum nodded, his eyes narrowing as he stepped forward, his shadow soldiers reforming around him. "Let's make a crater."
With a single command, Caelum's Abyssal Convergence took hold, dark shadows swirling around him as his power surged to new heights. The Light Manticore and Shadow Manticore took their positions, roaring in tandem as the ground began to crack beneath their feet.
"Alric," Caelum said, his voice steady and calm despite the rising tension, "get ready. We're going in."
Alric's fiery blade ignited, and he nodded. "Let's make this a show they won't forget."
With a synchronized movement, both Caelum and Alric shot toward the sky with an explosion of energy, breaking through the ceiling, leaving behind a crater large enough to shake the entire building.
As they landed in the center of the tower's main floor, enemies scrambled in panic, realizing too late that they'd underestimated the duo. Caelum's spear cut through them effortlessly, the shadows swirling around him like an unstoppable storm.
But the battle was far from over. This was just the beginning. The Azure Tower would test them in ways they hadn't even imagined yet. And it was a challenge they had no choice but to face head-on.
The fight for each floor would be long, but with each victory, Caelum knew one thing: he was ready for whatever came next.