The wind was different here.
Colder. Heavier. Like it had soaked in the screams of thousands.
Ankit stood on a jagged black stone cliff, his gaze locked onto the massive gate floating before him. This wasn't a gate of carved symbols or elegant mana etchings like before. This was raw stone and bone—engraved by violence, smothered in red. The air shimmered with killing intent.
Behind him, the full force of Blackhunt stood assembled for the first time.
Nine powerful climbers. One unified will.
Toni, his second-in-command, adjusting the silver vambrace on his bow arm.
Raunak cracking his axe over his shoulder with a grunt.
Riya and Raghav standing side by side, cold and composed.
Sana quietly checking her blade and medical satchels.
Kaido mumbling something to his mana grenade launcher.
Vikram vanished into shadows, only his eyes visible.
Asha polishing the edge of her mirror chain with gentle strokes.
Eshan... silent and brooding, gripping his cursed glaive.
Each of them had survived their trials, bled in training, and answered the call of this climb.
Floor 4 wasn't just another trial.
It was a warzone.
The system voice echoed through their minds.
📢 [Tower Announcement – Floor 4 Entry Confirmed]
You have entered: The Warbound Arena
⚔️ Type: Survival / Territory / Raid
🏰 Objective: Conquer enemy factions, control strategic points
🌕 Time Limit: 7 days real-time
☠️ Warning: Friendly fire enabled. Soul weapons can be permanently damaged.
💀 Mercy is not rewarded here.
Ankit's eyes narrowed.
This floor wasn't about slaying beasts. It was about clashing with other climber factions—just like them.
And unlike before, where survival depended on individual prowess, here it would depend on command, formation, loyalty.
Toni stepped forward, his voice cool. "We'll need to scout quickly. We don't know how many factions have been dropped in yet."
"And who the hell dropped us on a cliff?" Kaido muttered.
Sana rolled her eyes. "Be glad we didn't get lava pits."
"Raghav, shields," Toni ordered.
Raghav raised his gauntlets, forming a shimmering wall in front of the group as they began descending the cliffside.
They reached a vast canyon riddled with destroyed outposts, rusted weapons sticking out of the ground, and mana corpses—long drained—fused to the rock.
📜 [Tower Message: First stronghold lies east – 3.2 kilometers]
🧭 Holding a stronghold for 24 hours increases your soul weapon evolution rate.
Asha squinted into the distance. "That… doesn't look unguarded."
Ankit saw it too—at least ten climbers holding position in black armor with serpent insignias. Their soul weapons gleamed. A rival guild.
Toni stepped beside him.
"They've seen us. Options?"
"Direct clash," Raunak said, gripping his axe. "Let me hit something."
"No," Ankit said. "We do this smart."
He turned to Vikram. "Get inside. Find their commander. If they're reckless, we hit their head first."
Vikram melted into the shadows.
Ankit's hand hovered over his Talwars.
"For now, we don't show our hand. Let them underestimate us."
🌑 Elsewhere… Within the Stronghold
The rival guild's leader smirked, watching Blackhunt's group from afar.
He wore a crimson mantle, and his weapon—a bladed scythe pulsing with black light—rested against his shoulder.
"So that's the infamous Blackhunt," he murmured. "Let's see what all the hype is about."
His name was Shiven Dral.
And he would become one of Ankit's most dangerous enemies.