The air on Floor 24: The Obsidian Wastes was thick with the scent of sulfur and the hum of tectonic energy. This floor was a brutal testing ground, filled with Magma-Crags and Steam-Lurkers. It was the perfect place to see if Prince Alaric was a true asset or just a royal liability.
The Trial of the Cadet
Alaric was sweating, his face smudged with soot, but he didn't complain. He carried his own pack and kept pace with Seraphina’s grueling lead.
"Movement at twelve o'clock!" Seraphina signaled, her hand gripping the hilt of her claymore.
A pack of Obsidian Hounds—beasts with hides as hard as volcanic glass—burst from the shadows. They were fast, immune to basic physical strikes, and their bites carried a searing heat.
"Alaric, show us that dual-affinity," Seraphina commanded. "But remember: don't just blast. Coordinate!"
The Lightning-Water Synergy
Alaric stepped forward, his eyes glowing with focus. He didn't just throw fire. He waited for Clara’s signal.
"Now!" Clara shouted, spinning her staff to create a massive, swirling Vortex of Mist that engulfed the Hounds. The moisture coated their obsidian hides, seeping into the cracks of their stone armor.
Alaric didn't hesitate. He thrust his hands forward, releasing a surge of White Lightning. The electricity hit the mist and conducted instantly through every Hound in the pack. The water acted as a perfect bridge, delivering the high-voltage shock directly to their internal cores. The Hounds let out a collective, metallic shriek as they were short-circuited from the inside out.
The Steam-Screen Maneuver
As the alpha Hound—a beast the size of a carriage—lunged for Seraphina, Alaric shifted elements. He blasted a concentrated stream of Crimson Fire into the puddles of water Clara had left behind.
The result was an instantaneous, blinding Steam Screen.
The alpha Hound lost its target in the thick white fog. Seraphina, who had been trained to fight by sound and instinct during her recovery, used the cover to slip around the beast's flank. With a silent, powerful strike, she drove her claymore through the Hound's glowing throat.
The Prince's Lesson
As the steam cleared and the last of the Hounds crumbled into piles of inert rock, Alaric stood panting, his hands trembling slightly from the mana output. He looked at Clara and Seraphina, expecting praise.
Instead, Seraphina walked over and inspected his stance. "Your feet were too narrow on the lightning discharge. If that alpha had been faster, you would have tipped over. Fix it."
Alaric didn't sulk. He wiped the sweat from his brow and nodded. "Yes, Commander. Narrower stance. Understood."
Clara walked over and gave him a playful nudge. "Not bad for a Prince, though. That 'Electrified Tide' we just did? That's a Rank A combo. If we keep this up, we might reach Floor 50 before the year is out."
The Road Ahead
For the first time, Alaric understood what the Azure Aegis was truly about. It wasn't about the titles he had left behind or the gold his father had offered. It was about this: the cold sweat, the burning lungs, and the absolute trust in the people standing beside you.
He looked at Seraphina as she led the way deeper into the wastes. He realized that to be a King, he didn't need to be served—he needed to be useful.
The Trinity was forged.
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and then Add to home screen.