Era of Players: Death God

Bang! Bang!

Another two magic bullets launched from the Black Gun, but this time Noah held back his telekinetic control. A booming explosion rocked the cavern as the earthen pillar once again rose to intercept them. This was the distraction he needed.

Using the debris cloud as his cover, Noah vanished from his position. His Unprecedented Presence guided him, allowing him to navigate the scorching rock platform with an almost preternatural sense of awareness. He reappeared in a flash behind the fiery monster, a predator stalking his prey.

With a feint, he threw his left hand forward, drawing the creature's fiery gaze away from his true target. In that split second, his right hand lunged forward, fingers extended into a makeshift barrel. Ignoring the searing pain that radiated from the molten touch, he channeled the last vestiges of his magical reserves.

A concentrated surge of mana erupted from his palm, a miniature sun erupting within the fiery monster's gaping maw. The explosion was contained within the creature's head, a blinding flash followed by a deafening roar. Molten rock rained down from the sky as the monster's fiery body convulsed violently, its core flickering and dimming with each tremor.

Silence descended upon the cavern once more, broken only by the hiss and crackle of the ever-churning lava lake below. Noah stood there, panting heavily, his hand singed and raw from the forced magic discharge. He stared at the smoldering remnants of the once-formidable creature, a sense of disbelief warring with exhaustion.

There was no movement, no flicker of remaining life force. The guardian of the fifth floor, the fire-wrought monstrosity, lay vanquished before him. He had gambled, pushed himself to the absolute limit, and emerged victorious. A wave of relief washed over him, so potent it almost brought him to his knees.

''Hah! Hah! That was tough.''

Noah murmured ignoring the system's notification. He would check everything once out, he had finally cleared the last floor making him the fastest clearer.

°°°

As the inferno raged above, a world away on the fourth floor, a figure emerged from the shadows. Lilith, her white hair whipping in the frigid breeze, stood before the glistening ice bridge – a stark contrast to the fiery trials Noah endured. Her amber eyes, usually holding a chilling indifference, flickered with a spark of determination as she surveyed the precarious path ahead.

The icy landscape of the fourth floor was more familiar territory, its dangers less unpredictable than the inferno Noah had just conquered. She had faced her share of challenges in this frozen realm, and her stoic demeanor hinted at a strength honed by past victories.

With a confident stride, she stepped onto the bridge. The ice creaked beneath her weight, a sound that echoed through the silent cavern. But Lilith, unfazed, continued her trek, her unwavering gaze fixed on the horizon.

Lilith's confident stride faltered for a moment as two White Eagles, their feathers the color of freshly fallen snow, swooped down from above with a screech. In a flash, her amber eyes narrowed, their coldness morphing into a steely focus. With a flick of her finger, as swift and effortless as a snowflake dancing on the wind, she conjured two Wind Bullets.

These weren't the magic bullets Noah wielded, fueled by raw mana. Lilith's power was a different beast entirely. The Wind Bullets, shimmering spheres of condensed air, hurtled towards the attacking birds with an almost silent whistle. The impact was brutal and precise. The bullets slammed into the eagles' heads with a sickening crunch, sending feathers flying and silencing their screech forever.

Undeterred, Lilith continued her trek across the bridge. The fallen birds, harbingers of trouble, served as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked in this frozen realm. Yet, she didn't break stride. Her movements remained calm and collected, each step echoing with a quiet confidence.

But the respite was short-lived. As if sensing her resolve, a larger flock of five White Eagles materialized from the swirling mist that shrouded the other side of the bridge. Their synchronized dive was a chilling ballet of death, each beak poised to tear into flesh.

Lilith, however, remained unfazed. Her hand rose once more, a conductor leading a silent symphony of destruction. Five more Wind Bullets, shimmering and deadly, materialized at her fingertips. With a flick of her wrist, she sent them whistling towards the attacking birds. The air crackled with unseen energy as the Wind Bullets sliced through the frigid air, finding their mark with deadly accuracy.

One by one, the White Eagles met their demise, their lifeless forms plummeting into the abyss below.

The bridge, now slick with blood and feathers, seemed more ominous than ever. But Lilith stood firm, her expression betraying no hint of fear or doubt. The wind howled around her, a mournful song for the fallen birds. Yet, she pressed on, her amber eyes fixed on the distant horizon, her purpose unwavering.

Lilith's stoic demeanor remained unbroken as she reached the midpoint of the bridge. The frigid wind whipped at her white hair, carrying with it the distant rumble of an approaching challenge. Just like Noah had faced a monstrous snowball on his path, an icy counterpart materialized from the swirling mist ahead.

A colossal snowball, its surface smooth and flawless as a pearl, emerged from the swirling mist. It rolled across the bridge with a momentum that threatened to shatter the icy structure beneath Lilith's feet. This wasn't a playful snowball fight from her childhood; this was a weapon of pure, compressed ice, capable of crushing anything in its path.

Unlike Noah, who relied on brute force and telekinesis, Lilith possessed a different solution. Her eyes flickered with an inner light, hinting at the power she wielded. With a silent murmur, she activated her Space ability. The air shimmered around her for a brief moment, a ripple in the very fabric of reality.

Then, in a blink, she was gone. The spot where she stood moments ago was empty, the only evidence of her presence a faint distortion of the air. She had teleported, not with a burst of explosive movement like Noah, but with an eerie subtlety, as if she had simply stepped out of existence and back in again.

She reappeared behind the colossal snowball, a mere hair's breadth away from the icy behemoth. The sudden change in scenery caused her to gasp for a moment, the exertion of the teleportation draining a small reserve of her mana. But her eyes, ever focused, quickly assessed the situation.

The frigid air bit at Lilith's cheeks as she continued her trek across the treacherous bridge. Each step brought her closer to the other side, and closer to the unknown that awaited her on the fifth floor. Just as with Noah, a final challenge arose from the swirling mist – an Ice Troll, its hulking form a grotesque parody of a human warrior.

The monstrous creature roared, its voice a guttural challenge that echoed through the cavern. Without hesitation, it charged, its icy warhammer aimed to crush Lilith beneath its immense weight. But unlike Noah, who employed raw power and telekinesis, Lilith possessed a different strategy.

She met the Troll's attack head-on, not with a clash of steel, but with a surprising display of finesse. In her hand materialized a slender sword, its blade shimmering with an otherworldly glow. With a practiced ease, she deflected the Troll's blow, using the monster's own momentum against it.

This wasn't a brutal display of strength, but a calculated use of "softness against brutal attacks," a dance of defense as graceful as a snowflake in a winter wind.

The Troll, enraged by her unexpected maneuver, swung its warhammer again and again. But Lilith, a whirlwind of white and steel, became a blur against the icy backdrop. Her movements, enhanced by her Space ability, defied logic. One moment she would be parrying a blow, the next she would vanish into thin air, only to reappear behind the Troll, striking with lightning-fast precision.

The Troll, its every attempt thwarted, bellowed in frustration. Its once formidable form, riddled with the wounds inflicted by Lilith's swift attacks, began to show signs of wear. Even its boasted regenerative abilities couldn't keep up with the relentless storm of blows.

Lilith, her amber eyes gleaming with an icy resolve, saw her opportunity. With a final, perfectly timed maneuver, she exploited a gap in the Troll's defense. Her sword, imbued with a chilling power, flashed in the dim light as it swept through the Troll's neck in a single, decisive stroke. A geyser of frost erupted from the wound, momentarily obscuring the creature.

When the mist cleared, the Ice Troll lay still, a silent testament to Lilith's mastery of both swordsmanship and spatial manipulation. Her victory was complete, the guardian of the bridge defeated. Exhaustion settled upon her, but a flicker of determination still burned in her amber eyes. She had conquered the final challenge, and now, the fifth floor awaited.

Lilith took a brief pause to regain her strength before ascending to the next level, known as the fiery realm. As she surveyed her surroundings, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. Noah was nowhere to be found, indicating that he had already moved on.

"Tch! You got lucky again," Lilith grumbled, a hint of frustration evident in her voice. "I'll settle for second place this time." Although she longed to claim victory, she found solace in the fact that the competition had become more thrilling with Noah in the lead. In their younger days, it was always Noah who trailed behind her, but now the tables had turned.