In the center of the circular room on the third floor of the tower, the team stood surrounded by a heavy atmosphere of mystery and terror.
In the center of the room, three human bodies lay disconcertingly still: A strong man, an old woman, and a young girl.
Each body was oriented towards a different point, as if pointing to unknown directions within the room.
Maru approached the bodies cautiously, examining the wound marks on their bodies, before saying in a trembling voice: "These wounds...they are the same claw marks we saw on the giant decomposing monster...this is not a coincidence."
The atmosphere intensified as the shadows began to move, revealing the Guardian, who emerged from the shadows larger and more intimidating than ever.
His massive body seemed to pulsate with dark energy, and his dark eyes glowed with unnatural malice.
In a deep and eerie voice, the guard said, "You have arrived here, and that means you will be my dinner." It has been a long time since I have tasted human flesh.
The guard's words echoed through the room, his laughter echoing through the depths of the team.
The guard didn't wait long, attacking with deadly claws and quick, terrifying movements that confused the entire team.
With the first blow, they lost one member of the group, then the attack continued, killing eight of them, leaving the rest in a state of panic.
Lin tried to respond with one of his powerful strikes, but the Guardian seemed completely unaffected, while Maru watched the corpses, trying to understand their role in this disaster.
"The corpses aren't just victims, they seem to be connected to the Guardian's power in some way," said Maru, who began to connect the dots.
As the battle continued, Lin realized that destroying the corpses might be the only way to weaken the Guardian.
Yumi, who was leading the team in an attempt to gather their strength, said in a firm voice: "We have no choice. We have to risk destroying them."
The team began attacking the corpses one by one.
When the first corpse shattered, the guard paused for a brief moment, as if a part of his power had disappeared.
"Don't do that!" The guard shouted angrily, and went back to attacking more violently.
As the second corpse was destroyed, the guard began to show obvious signs of weakness, but the shadows surrounding the room became even more hostile.
When the third corpse was destroyed, the guard let out a furious cry, his body gradually fading away, as if his energy had completely vanished with the destruction of the corpses.
The guard, before disappearing, took one last look at the team and said in a raspy voice: "You will not survive this place." The tower will take you all.
He then disappeared completely into the shadows, leaving the team in a state of exhaustion and grief over their great loss.
As the guard disappeared, a new portal appeared in the room, leading to the final floor.
Despite mental and physical fatigue, the team realized that the final confrontation awaited them, as the secrets of the tower were about to be fully revealed.
The danger wasn't over yet, and the shadows that had retreated were still silently watching, waiting for the right moment to move again.
The road to the last floor was full of uncertainties, but the determination of the others was stronger than the fear that surrounded them.
As the team passed through the radiant portal to the final floor, a vast space with a heavy, mysterious atmosphere unfolded before them.
Huge pillars stretched from floor to ceiling, each engraved with strange symbols that constantly changed as if they were coming to life.
In this atmosphere, nothing seemed familiar or reassuring.
Each member of the team approached one of the pillars, and realized that the symbols were interacting with them personally.
The scenes that appeared on the pillars revealed profound moments from their lives: The mistakes they made, the successes they achieved, and the fears that haunted them deep within themselves.
As some struggled to make sense of these messages, tension was building in the air.
At the end of the room, away from the columns, they noticed a person sitting quietly in a dark chair.
He was young, his appearance an odd mix of innocence and mystery.
When he noticed their progress, he spoke in a calm and confident voice: "Someone new has come here again...aren't they tired of coming?"
The person didn't show any aggression, but the way he spoke alarmed the team.
They approached him cautiously, trying to understand who he was.
He smiled bitterly and said, "The tower is not what you think. It is a test for all of you, a test you cannot avoid, but the price here is not easily paid."
Maru, who had been watching the symbols carefully, asked in a whisper, "What do you mean? What price are you talking about?"
The person looked at them with sad eyes and said, "In order to leave the tower, someone must be left behind. One sacrifice will open the final gate. But that is not all... I know this well, for I have been in your shoes before."
He paused for a moment, then added: "I was part of a team like you, but they decided to sacrifice me to stay in the Tower forever: Watching everyone who comes after me, feeling the betrayal that tore me apart. The Tower doesn't allow leaving without a price."
His words sent shockwaves through the team.
The idea of sacrifice carried psychological burdens that could not be ignored.
Yumi looked at the team and said firmly, "If this is the final test, we must face it, but we will not betray anyone."
The symbols around the room began to vibrate and radiate intensely, as if the tower was pressuring them to make a decision.
The person sitting in the chair looked at them with a bitter smile and said: "Think carefully, because the decision you make will determine your fate. The sacrifice is not easy, but it is the only way to freedom."