Waking up on the thirtieth floor brought with it an invigorating clarity, courtesy of the circulation of pure air that seemed to purify every corner of that alcove structured in polished basalt. We dismantled the camp with our usual speed, checked the flawless condition of the supplies in the magic bag, and reorganized our strict marching formation, with Scarlet leading the vanguard, followed by Liriel's assistant, Rai'kanna, Elara, Vespera, Lyannis, Liriel, and me closing the rear with my sword firmly sheathed. As soon as we set foot in the geometric corridors of that sector, we realized that the architecture displayed monumental portals and frescoes worn down by time, depicting ancient battles between forgotten civilizations and the chaotic hordes of the underworld. The mana density remained stable, emitting a low hum that seemed to tune the rhythm of our steps to the hidden pulse of the dungeon itself.
We advanced for about forty minutes through broad and symmetrical galleries, where the absence of common patrol monsters contrasted intriguingly with the grandeur of the scenery around us. Unlike the previous floors, which relied on natural traps or disorganized hordes of wild creatures, the thirtieth floor breathed an aura of meticulous calculation and strategic restraint. I allowed a serene thought to occupy my mind as we walked: the true wisdom of a leader on campaign does not lie in the incessant search for conflicts, but in the ability to keep one's judgment sharp when the enemy chooses silence and calculated preparation. Each symmetrical corridor we crossed served as a silent reminder that the calmness in the tower always represented the prologue to a test of monumental proportions.
The end of the main gallery suddenly opened into a colossal circular hall, whose vaulted ceilings rose dozens of meters high, supported by thick pillars engraved with luminous runes that flickered in shades of dark blue. At the exact center of this imposing chamber, a formidable figure awaited, causing the entire vanguard to stop instantly. It was an elite demon more than two and a half meters tall, equipped with black armor integrated into its own scaly skin, curved horns protruding from its forehead, and a double-bladed halberd glowing with a suffocating crimson energy. The creature radiated an intimidating authority and an ancestral thirst for blood that seemed to freeze the air around it.
"Tactical encirclement formation!" I ordered in a firm voice, drawing my sword in a fluid movement that cut through the silence of the hall with a crystalline metallic clang. "They placed a true general to guard this sector!"
The guardian demon emitted a seismic guttural roar that shook the dust from the ancient frescoes on the walls and advanced with frightening speed, delivering a devastating horizontal strike with its halberd toward Scarlet's chest. With feline reflexes, Scarlet narrowly dodged, sliding across the polished floor and driving her dagger into the sole of the opponent's armored boot to throw it off balance, while Liriel's assistant conjured a burst of cutting wind that pushed the creature's armed arm upward.
Taking advantage of the momentary opening, Rai'kanna and Elara fired a coordinated barrage of energized spears and pure lightning spells that struck the demon's left shoulder head-on, shattering part of its dark armor with shrill sparks. Vespera and Lyannis kept defensive barriers active around the core of the group, absorbing the shockwaves that radiated from the impact of the blows. However, the elite demon demonstrated formidable resistance; roaring in fury, it spun its body in a furious arc, delivering a brutal elbow strike that hit me squarely in the chest, throwing me against one of the basalt pillars with enough force to crack the massive rock.
"Takumi!" Liriel exclaimed, a burst of concern in her voice, raising her staff to cast an immediate restraining spell.
"I'm perfectly fine!" I replied promptly, getting up from the floor in a fraction of a second and shaking the dust from my tunic with a confident smile on my lips. "Just some necessary warm-up for the real battle!"
I instantly channeled my temporary invulnerability blessing against demons, allowing a golden and radiant aura to envelop my entire body like armor made of pure divine light. I advanced like a bolt of lightning against the monster, which was preparing another devastating blow with its halberd. I spun the blade of my sword in a perfect circle, merging my internal energy with the steel, and delivered an unstoppable vertical strike that cut directly through the creature's defense, slicing the double-shafted weapon in half and opening a deep groove in its body armor.
The demon became completely paralyzed, its eyes widening in pure astonishment at the overwhelming force it had just suffered. A second later, a golden flash erupted from its chest, disintegrating the colossus into thousands of luminous particles that gently dissipated into the air of the vast hall. With a dull thud, the ornate key and a shining object fell onto the basalt slabs, marking yet another overwhelming victory for our squad in the depths of the tower.