CHAPTER 193: CHAPTER 193 – TREADING UPON DELAYED ECHOES

A cold mist greeted Sylvia as she stepped beyond the castle’s main gate. The creak of aged iron echoed as the massive gate slowly closed behind her, its dull reverberations swallowed by the fog. Her cloak fluttered gently in the wind, carrying the scent of damp earth, ancient stone, and the lingering magic that permeated this world. No sunlight pierced the sky, only a pale, ashen glow that made everything seem like a faded painting.

In the distance, the zombie guards bowed silently as she passed. No words were needed. A single glance from their queen was enough for them to understand everything. Sylvia paused briefly, letting the silence serve as her brief farewell.

Her steps were light yet resolute. The path before the castle was still lined with neatly arranged stones from ancient times, though many were now cracked or sunken into the earth. The mist slithered across the ground like a living thing, curling around her feet before retreating as she walked onward.

Her destination was the Tower of Echoes, the ancient spire she had never fully conquered. Once, the gods had intervened, creating disturbances to prevent her from reaching what they had hidden within. But now? They could no longer simply drive her away.

Hours passed in silence as she traversed the desolate plains. She moved through sparse forests of twisted trees, skirted the edge of a still, black lake, and crossed a dead valley where the wind never ceased its mournful wailing.

Finally, beneath the gloom of dusk, at the foot of a steep hill, she saw the Tower of Echoes .

The tower stabbed into the darkened sky like a spear piercing the heavens. Its walls were blackened, veined with withered vines, and exuded a crushing magical pressure that weighed upon all living things. Faint echoes murmured from within not the voices of creatures or machinery, but the reverberations of time itself, of the past, the future, and every possibility in between.

Sylvia paused beneath the arched entrance, gazing up at the tower’s peak, which vanished into the sky-bound mist. Her eyes narrowed, her breath held. How far did I get last time? She couldn’t quite remember not before one of the goddesses intervened, luring her away with promises of returning to her original world.

This time, she would finish it.

With a single motion, she pushed open the massive stone door sealing the tower. A deep rumble shook the ground as the entrance yawned wide, followed by a surge of cold energy that rushed out like the first breath of a long-slumbering beast.

The interior remained unchanged: a circular corridor of dark stone, cracked pillars, and air thick with ancient magic. Along the walls, dimly glowing runes flickered to life, as if recognizing Sylvia’s presence.

"...I’m back," she murmured.

Her foot landed lightly on the first floor of the Tower of Echoes. The air inside was far denser than outside, as if the gravity itself resisted those who dared venture deeper. But to Sylvia, it was merely a minor nuisance.

The circular hallway ahead was faintly illuminated by an eerie blue light emanating from the archaic runes carved into the stone. Ancient pillars stood in solemn silence, the only sound the soft echo of her footsteps against the cold floor.

Sylvia inhaled the frigid air and stepped forward.

Instantly, the ground trembled. The sound of shifting stone filled the chamber as a shadowy figure coalesced from dark smoke, slowly taking the form of a two-meter-tall humanoid with a translucent, ashen body. The creature roared, its voice reverberating off the stone walls.

Sylvia merely smirked. "Quite the welcoming party."

The shadow lunged in a blur, its elongated arms slashing toward her with lethal speed. Sylvia didn’t flinch. With a mere flick of her left hand, the Abyss Chains shot from behind her like starving serpents.

Whiiish! Clank!

The black chains coiled tightly around the shadowy figure, immobilizing it effortlessly. Sylvia gave a gentle tug, and the chains crushed the creature, dispersing it like smoke in the wind. Only a faint echo remained.

She strode forward, stepping through the dissipating darkness. A small smile played on her lips. This floor was nothing more than a light warm-up. Her gaze shifted to the stone staircase at the end of the corridor. Without wasting time, she ascended.

---

Several hours later...

Sylvia knelt on the cracked stone floor, her breath ragged as a thin trail of black blood dripped from the corner of her lips. Her body burned from the relentless magic exertion of the fierce battle. The air in this chamber was suffocating, each breath like tiny knives stabbing her lungs.

She had just defeated the guardian of the 40th floor, a ten-meter-tall crimson crystal golem that radiated an aura of annihilation with every step. Shards of shattered crystal littered the battlefield, glinting dully under the dim rune-light.

Wiping the blood from her mouth, Sylvia slowly rose to her feet, her body already regenerating thanks to her Queen Flesh Still, her magic reserves were nearly depleted, and exhaustion made her legs tremble slightly as she stood.

She surveyed the chamber. The 40th floor was a vast, circular hall with a high ceiling, lined with ancient runes pulsing weakly. The floor was deeply fractured, the walls scarred from the brutal fight. At the far end, a spiral staircase led upward to the next challenge awaiting her.

"Hah... I didn’t expect it to be this difficult," she muttered to herself, taking a deep breath.

She limped to a relatively intact corner of the room, leaning against the cold stone wall to rest. From her storage system, she retrieved a small crystal vial of magic potion, uncorked it, and drank slowly. Warmth spread through her veins, replenishing a fraction of her strength.

As her body recovered, her mind wandered back to the battle. The crimson crystal golem had been monstrously powerful. Every strike from its massive fists sent cracks spiderwebbing through the floor and ceiling, and its magic shockwaves tore through the air. Sylvia had been forced to use everything including Venom Reaper Claw ,Death Aura, even Nether Flame, which drained her magic reserves significantly just to bring it down.

She knew the higher she climbed, the harder the battles would become. But this was the only way to level up quickly. Without a significant power boost, she would never stand a chance against the rotten gods who ruled this world from the shadows.

Sylvia exhaled deeply, then pushed herself upright. Her body felt slightly lighter now, the potion’s effects taking hold.

Her gaze fixed on the spiral staircase leading to the next floor, sensing the next trial awaiting her above. Her eyes burned with determination.

"I won’t stop until I’m truly ready," she vowed.

With steady steps, Sylvia began ascending the stone stairs, her footfalls echoing softly in the now-silent chamber. The ancient tower still held many secrets, many greater challenges but to Sylvia, they were merely stepping stones.

Stones that would lead her closer to her ultimate goal: the power to defy the gods and reshape the rotting world they ruled.

The sound of Sylvia’s footsteps echoed softly as she ascended the spiral staircase to the 41st floor of the Tower of Echoes. Though her body had mostly recovered, the oppressive magical pressure of the tower still weighed heavily on every breath.

After several minutes of climbing through the cold silence, she finally reached the top of the stairs. A massive stone door, intricately carved with ancient runes, stood before her slowly creaking open on its own as it sensed her approach.

Creeeek...

Beyond the door stretched a vast chamber. Unlike the previous floor’s ruined state, the 41st floor was a wide corridor flanked by towering stone pillars on either side. A dim blue glow filled the space, emanating from eternal magical torches that cast long, swaying shadows against the walls.

Sylvia stepped forward cautiously. The air was even colder here, biting into her skin and raising the hairs on the back of her neck.

Then from the dark corners of the room a faint sound, like the rustling of cloth, whispered through the silence.

Sylvia instantly tensed. Her eyes narrowed sharply, her right hand reflexively raising the Abyss Chains.

"Come out," she murmured coldly.

From behind the stone pillars, several figures emerged. Tall, gaunt creatures draped in tattered black robes that concealed their forms entirely. Their faces were hidden only pairs of glowing red eyes piercing through the darkness of their hoods. Six of them, fanning out in a half-circle around Sylvia, blocking her path to the next staircase.

A low growl rumbled from them, their voices a distorted whisper that sent chills through the air.

Sylvia took a deep breath, her lips curling into a faint, confident smirk.

"Six against one? Hm. Not a bad warm-up."

Without hesitation, she stomped her foot blurring forward like a shadow.

Whoosh!

The first creature hissed in fury, its long, clawed arms slashing toward her.

Whaap!

Sylvia sidestepped effortlessly, swinging her Abyss Chains in retaliation.

Claaang!

The icy black chain sliced through the creature’s body with a resounding crack, sending it reeling backward as dark smoke erupted from the wound.

Before she could finish it, two more lunged at her simultaneously, one from the left, one from the right, their claws extended for a deadly cross-strike. Sylvia leapt upward, narrowly avoiding the attack.

Zraaash!

The two creatures collided instead, their claws raking into each other as they screeched in rage.

Still midair, Sylvia raised her palm, murmuring an incantation.

"Nether Flame."

A small orb of deep violet fire ignited in her hand before streaking downward.

Booom!

The explosion engulfed the two entangled creatures in dark flames, their agonized shrieks echoing through the stone corridor before their bodies crumbled into ash.

The remaining three hesitated, shifting into defensive stances. One stepped forward, its jagged black maw gaping wide

Skreeeee!

A piercing sonic wave blasted toward Sylvia, the sheer force making her skull throb. But she gritted her teeth, charging through the pain as she lunged forward.

"Hmph. Old tricks."

With a swift motion, she wrapped her chain around the creature’s neck yanking hard

Craack!

Its head tore free, disintegrating into dust before it hit the ground.

The last two attacked simultaneously one from the front, one from behind attempting to trap her. But Sylvia was ready.

With an elegant spin, she unleashed a whirlwind of chains, slicing through both creatures in a single, flawless motion.

Clang! Craack!

Their bodies shattered instantly, black fragments scattering across the floor before vanishing into the shadows.

Sylvia exhaled, her breathing steadying. She glanced around the now-silent chamber, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. That fight hadn’t even winded her.

She had grown far stronger than before.

"Hopefully, the next floor is more challenging," she mused, stepping toward the next staircase.

Her stride remained unwavering, her mind sharp. Though the battle had been light, she knew this was only the beginning. The higher floors would hold far greater trials.

But she was ready.

Power, Resolve, and Purpose.

They had all honed her into what she was now.

With unwavering confidence, she ascended leaving the 41st floor to return to its eternal silence.