Chapter 265 – Floor 55: Part 1

  Velocity: Tier 3 – Blink

  A burst of supernatural speed allows the user to instantly teleport a short distance, making it ideal for evading attacks, repositioning, or closing the gap between themselves and their target with unparalleled precision.

  Vigor: Tier 3 – Titan’s grasp

  Channeling unparalleled strength, the user’s fists become devastating weapons capable of shattering stone, bending steel, and breaking through the toughest defences with ease, embodying the raw, unstoppable force of a true juggernaut.

  Resilience: Tier 3 – Iron Bastion

  The user’s body becomes a near-impenetrable fortress, their skin hardening to rival the resilience of steel, allowing them to withstand devastating blows, endure extreme conditions, and shrug off injuries that would destroy even the strongest of foes.

  Aura: Tier 2 – Majesty

  The user exudes an awe-inspiring aura of grandeur and authority, captivating everyone in their presence and commanding respect, admiration, or even fear. Those nearby find themselves irresistibly drawn to the user, their willpower faltering in the face of such overwhelming charisma, rendering them hesitant to oppose or harm the one radiating such undeniable dominance.

  Command: Tier 1 – Compel

  With a simple command infused with undeniable authority, the user seizes control of a target’s will, forcing them to obey a specific directive. Whether through a spoken word or an intense gaze, this power overrides resistance and bends the target’s actions to the user’s intent, leaving little room for independent thought or defiance.

  Unique Essence ‘Fleshshaper.’ Tier 1: Nightmare Form

  The user reshapes their body into a grotesque and terrifying form, enhancing their physical capabilities while instilling fear in all who behold them. Twisted limbs, jagged features, and unnatural proportions make them a living nightmare, granting heightened resilience, devastating attacks, and an aura of dread that can break the resolve of even the bravest foes.

  Mathew stood under water from the shower hot enough to leave even his Aether-enhanced skin bright red. It had taken a while to wash away the blood and the gore, but even the hottest shower couldn’t burn away the memories of what had happened in the Power Plant.

  He had avoided Adelaide and anyone else in the Clan building as he returned to the room, and it was only when he was wrapped in a thick, white towel and resting on his bed that he looked at the notifications that had popped up in his vision like a hallucination.

  There were multiple new essences and abilities to be reviewed, along with a congratulations message for completing the previous Floor.

  But the next floor description was of interest.

  Floor 55: Loose Ends

  Eliminate all of the Eclipsed. Leave no survivors. You may remove The Wrathful Blade from your inventory to assist you.

  Reward: Access to your inventory and one-tier enhancement of an Essence of your choice.

  It seemed to Mathew that the Floors had taken a turn, and he was not being forced by Mischievous Depravity to ‘harvest’ the long-awaited crop that the god had grown on this world. It wasn’t a surprise; Mathew knew that he would be required to do so when he arrived here.

  But, at the time, he had thought the people he would be eliminating were going to all be like Mercy or the others under Mischievous Depravity’s control. But the people here were just like those in the Tower. Some were good, a lot were bad, but they were all human.

  Mathew let out a shuddering breath and ran his fingers through his hair. At the end of the day, he didn’t have a choice. He was a slave to the Tower, and, for now, Mischievous Depravity had control of him.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Getting dressed in silence, Mathew left his room and went downstairs to the car he had taken from the Power Plant.

  Page Break

  The warehouse that served as the Eclipsed Headquarters in New York City was perched at the edge of the docks and looked dirty and grimy even in the daylight. The sky was gray and overcast, and the rain had been steadily hitting the tin roof of the warehouse since the night before.

  The air inside was thick with the smell of rust, salt water and mildew. The flickering lights overhead cast an uneven glow on the gritty concrete floor. The warehouse was packed with people in a variety of clothing styles, and there was a nervous energy in the air.

  A low murmur of voices bounced off the cracked walls; each conversation was hushed, and everyone cast furtive glances at the figure sitting on the makeshift throne of old crates and discarded metal parts. Chieftain Vera Kael’s eyes were hard as steel as she surveyed the room.

  The Eclipsed had been excluded from the meeting with the Highborn, but word had carried to them that a disaster was in the making. The Ashen Pact had stolen an item of immense power, and Vera had immediately called all of her people to gather as they waited for the Clan’s response.

  But that wasn’t the only thing she was waiting on. She had sent scouts to the Power Plant to observe the situation there and seek an opportunity to snatch the Sacred Vessel from the cult before the Clans got their hands on it.

  The room hung in tense silence, but that calm was shattered when the door to the warehouse slammed open. A gust of wind carried the smell of the docks inside. A messenger, soaked from the rain and trembling in fear, stumbled in.

  His face was pale, and his eyes were wide as if he had seen something that had left a scar on him. The room fell silent as he staggered forward, and every pair of eyes were fixed on him as he made his way to the space in front of the throne and dropped to his knees.

  “Chieftain, the Power Plant.. It’s a massacre! Everyone there is dead. There were bodies everywhere, Ashen Pact and Clan alike!” The messenger said, his breath coming out in ragged gasps, and his voice quivered as he tried to keep from stammering and messing up his words.

  His statement cut through the tension like a blade, and a collective surge of excitement moved through the room. If the Clans assaulted the Ashen Pact, their losses must have been high. Perhaps it was time for the Eclipse to launch an attack of their own.

  The Eclipsed, who were biding their time in the shadows, had their moment at hand. It was time to strike, to shift the balance of power in their favour.

  But Vera Kael remained still, her gaze unwavering, as the room buzzed with whispers. She had learned long ago that in moments like these, impulse could be deadly. Her mind raced, calculating the risks and considering the consequences.

  When she finally spoke, it was slowly and deliberately. Her voice broke through the whispers of the crowd.

  “We’ll attack the Exaltis and seize their businesses. Those old bastards are still locked in their Clan Building, but the rest is up for grabs. I want…” Vera Kael continued to speak, giving orders at a rapid pace. The crows were ecstatic, and no one noticed that another figure entered the warehouse behind the messenger.

  Mathew entered the warehouse quietly, his presence almost blending with the shadows that draped the room. He was dressed simply in a black coat, a white shirt and well-worn jeans that had several rips in the knees.

  But the item that was most distinctive was the Wrathful Blade that rested lazily over his shoulder. The giant Executioner’s sword, with its broad, single edge and blunt tip, seemed to be even more rusty than it had been in the past. It looked as if it had been fished out of the harbour outside the warehouse only moments before, when it had rested at the bottom of the ocean for a few years.

  Despite his entrance and the weapon he carried, no one in the gathered crowd noticed him at first. Their attention was consumed by the news of the massacre at the Power Plant. But Vera, from her vantage point on top of her throne, sighted Mathew when he stepped out of the shadows and into the light.

  Seeing that he had her attention, Mathew unleashed his Aura.

  Mathew’s presence became suffocating, an overwhelming force that seemed to stretch beyond the confines of his physical form. As he stood there, the air around him seemed to ripple, his very being emanated an aura that made him appear larger than life.

  It was as if the room itself had bent to his will; the shadows warped slightly to frame his figure. The power that surrounded him made him seem more than human, a being of supreme authority and a force that commanded respect and obedience without uttering a word.

  The crowd finally noticed him, and a collective chill spread like a wave. The fear was palpable, a quiet terror that slithered through the room, wrapping around the hearts of everyone who gazed upon him.

  Mathew’s eyes were cold as he scanned the crowd before locking on Vera Kael. He lowered the sword that rested on his shoulder and held it out horizontally before bending his knees slightly. He let the mana inside him rage, enhancing his physical abilities and preparing him for conflict.

  Without saying a word, Mathew leapt forward and attacked.

  The battle erupted suddenly, and the calm was shattered by the deafening roar of chaos. Explosions rang out occasionally, shaking the warehouse walls and sending dust and debris into the air.

  From outside, there were thunderclap-like crashes, the clanging of metal on metal, the shattering of equipment and furniture, and even several of the walls collapsed. Gunfire sounded out, only to be drowned out by more explosions and screams.

  Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, there was a sudden and unnatural stillness. The echoes of the explosions faded, and the screaming stopped.

  When Mathew finally emerged, his clothes were once again ragged, and there was a blue haze of Aether around him, slowly absorbed through his skin. Covered in injuries, he walked with a limp back to his car and drove off.

  Once again, the sound of a ‘ding’ followed him.