Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

This day.

The reshuffle of the Shaynak Top 100 was about to take place.

During this time, the floor bosses were busy either challenging each other or accepting the challenges of the outsiders.

The Shaynak tower boasted a multitude of floors, each presenting its own unique challenges to those brave enough to venture within. Among these floors, one stood out as particularly enigmatic and awe-inspiring: the Endless Desert.

As contenders ascended through the towering spire of the Shaynak Tower, they would eventually cupon the floor that housed the Endless Desert.

Stepping through the threshold, they would find themselves transported to a vast expanse of sand dunes stretching out as far as the eye could see, with no discernible horizon in sight.

The sky above was a brilliant azure, unblemished by clouds, and bathed in the eternal light of an unseen sun. Despite the absence of any physical source of heat, the air shimmered with a palpable heat, mirages dancing on the horizon like elusive phantoms.

The sands themselves seemed to shift and undulate with a life of their own, their golden grains glinting in the sunlight as they were carried by unseen currents. Every step taken upon the desert floor stirred up clouds of fine dust, obscuring vision and creating an eerie sense of isolation and disorientation.

Despite its seemingly barren appearance, the Endless Desert was teeming with life, albeit of a more elusive nature. Creatures adapted to the harsh conditions of the desert lurked beneath the surface, their presence betrayed only by fleeting glimpses of movement or the faintest of tracks left in the sand.

Navigating the Endless Desert was no easy feat, as the shifting sands and treacherous terrain presented constant obstacles to progress. Those who dared to venture within would need to rely on their wits, their skills, and their determination if they hoped to emerge victorious.

For those who sought to claim mastery over the Endless Desert, the rewards were great indeed. Hidden amidst the shifting sands lay untold treasures and ancient artifacts, waiting to be discovered by those bold enough to seek them out.

This day, the Endless Desert was hosting the two powerhouses of the Shaynak tower. It was going to serve as a battlefield between the two floor bosses.

***

Aria Polak was the floor boss of the 47th floor on this day. After various ups and downs, she had managed to maintain the hold over the 47th floor for quite stime.

With fiery red hair cascading down her back in untamed waves, Aria's striking features were accentuated by piercing sapphire-blue eyes that seemed to gleam with an otherworldly intensity.

High cheekbones lent her face an air of regal authority, while a determined set to her jaw hinted at the unwavering resolve that lay beneath her calm exterior.

Clad in a form-fitting attire designed for mobility and agility, Aria's battle garb was as functional as it was stylish.

Atop her shoulders rested the Autumn Cicada Wings artifact, a flimsy sleeveless jacket adorned with intricate patterns reminiscent of delicate insect wings.

When activated, the artifact's intrinsic Skill caused two ethereal wings to spring forth from Aria's back, their iridescent hues shimmering in the sunlight as they unfurled with majestic grace.

In addition to the Autumn Cicada Wings, Aria wore a tiara-like crown upon her brow, its intricate design adorned with precious gemstones that glinted in the light.

This artifact served to augment her Elemental Attainments, allowing her to enhance the overall effects of her Skills while conserving mana.

Whenever she entered battle, the crown would emit a faint aura of power, imbuing Aria with the strength and resilience needed to endure even the most grueling of conflicts.

Despite the formidable arsenal at her disposal, Aria's demeanor remained calm and composed, her movements fluid and precise as she prepared to face her opponents. With each step, she exuded an aura of quiet confidence, radiating an aura of undeniable authority that commanded respect from allies and adversaries alike.

***

Aria's opponent was none other than Thorn Lofar.

Thorn Lofar was a seasoned Warrior Profession Ranker.

He was a formidable sight on the battlefield, his imposing presence matched only by his prowess in combat. Standing tall and broad-shouldered, Thorn possessed a rugged appearance befitting his warrior status.

His weathered features spoke of countless battles fought and won, with scars crisscrossing his face and arms serving as testament to his resilience and strength. His piercing blue eyes held a steely determination, their gaze unwavering even in the heat of battle.

Adorned in armor forged from the finest materials, Thorn's attire was both practical and imposing. His breastplate bore intricate engravings depicting scenes of battle, while his gauntlets and greaves were adorned with runes of pure power that glowed faintly with inner magic.

That's right. Instead of augmenting his mana or enhancing the effects of his Skills, Thorn had prioritized increasing his body stats to another level. It almost made him a berserker without a berserker profession's side effects weighing him down.

One of Thorn's most prized artifacts was his A-Rank broadsword, a massive weapon forged from enchanted steel that crackled with elemental energy. This broadsword was not only a formidable weapon in its own right but also served as a conduit for Thorn's Skills, amplifying their effects and granting him greater control over their execution.

In addition to his broadsword, Thorn also wielded a set of enchanted gauntlets known as the "Gauntlets of Aquatic Might." These gauntlets allowed Thorn to channel his water-

element Skills with greater precision and power, enhancing their effectiveness in combat.

Furthermore, Thorn wore a pendant around his neck called the "Amulet of Mana Mastery," which augmented his mana control and manipulation abilities. This amulet allowed Thorn to cast his Skills with greater efficiency, minimizing mana wastage and maximizing their impact on the battlefield. This was the only artifact that regulated his mana usage. It didn't affect his Skill casting abilities directly but acted as a perma support.

Combined with his natural talent for combat and years of rigorous training, Thorn's artifacts gave him a significant advantage in battle, allowing him to unleash devastating attacks and overceven the most formidable opponents with ease.

***

"Thorn, why don't you giveyour contribution points willingly? I'll let you keep the floor resources you have accumulated till now if you agree to hand over your floor rights willingly," Aria proposed.

As she activated the intrinsic Skill of the artifact, two ethereal wings sprouted from Aria's back, shimmering with elemental energy.

Atop her head, a tiara-like crown glinted in the harsh sunlight.

"Haah! Fat chance bitch. Let's just get the battle started already. Our viewers are getting bored to death," Thorn said as he looked at Aria with sdisdain.

Thorn, his broadsword hovering motionlessly in the air beside him, exuded an aura of quiet confidence. Wielding his weapon with practiced ease, he prepared to unleash his arsenal of water-element Skills upon his opponent.

"Tch. Worth a shot. Have it your way then," Aria said and smiled.

With a sudden surge of wind, Aria launched herself into the air, her Wind Elemental Clones swirling into existence around her.

Three identical versions of herself materialized, each infused with the power of the elements and ready to do battle. As they soared through the air, they summoned forth swirling gusts of wind to buffet Thorn and obscure his vision.

In response, Thorn raised his broadsword high, calling upon the power of Aqua Rend. Multiple water-element flying weapon slashes burst forth from the blade, hurtling towards Aria and her elemental clones with lethal precision.

As they sliced through the air, the alkali effect of the slashes began to corrode the surrounding sand, leaving behind a trail of desolation in their wake.

"This is all you got?" Thorn taunted.

Undeterred, Aria and her clones deftly dodged the oncoming onslaught, weaving through the air with grace and agility. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned forth a barrage of wind swords and spears, sending them hurtling towards Thorn in a whirlwind of deadly projectiles.

"Elementalists and their clones. So predictable," Thorn laughed out.

Thorn remained steadfast, conjuring a Hydro Barrier to shield himself from the onslaught. The barrier shimmered into existence, deflecting the wind blades and absorbing their impact with ease. With a confident smirk, Thorn countered with a Tidal Surge, summoning a towering wave of water to crash down upon Aria and her clones with bone-crushing force.

As the wave crashed over them, Aria and her clones struggled to maintain their footing, buffeted by the relentless assault of water. With a determined grit, they rallied their strength, channeling the power of the wind to create a protective barrier around themselves.

The battle raged on, each combatant unleashing their most powerful Skills in a desperate bid for victory. Aria's Wind Elemental Clones clashed with Thorn's Aqua Rend, the clash of elements sending shockwaves rippling through the desert sands.

But as the battle wore on, Aria began to realize the true extent of Thorn's resilience. Despite her best efforts, his low mana expenditure allowed him to endure her onslaught with ease, his defenses holding strong against her relentless assault.

There was a live crowd watching the battle between these two floor bosses from a distance. This live crowd was protected by the tower's arrangements. The spectators were able to see the battle as if they were right there, thanks to the perception-

pulling mechanism of the tower.

Unbeknownst to the spectators and the two opponents, there was another floor boss mixed with the crowd of live spectators. This floor boss was none other than Lian North– one of Eren's pseudo-avatars.

At this point, he had a headache to solve. No matter who won in the end, Lian knew that he was going to lose because of losing a passive source of Origin Force Points income.

After all, both Aria and Thorn had been selected as his summoned beings by Lian. If they lose and leave the Shaynak tower, the effect that he had cast on them would disappear and he'd lose a source that was earning him big Origin Force Points.

'I guess I gotta stop them from defeating one another,' Lian scrunched his nose as he thought to himself.

He wasn't sure how he could intervene in the battle with the tower's consciousness acting as the invigilator. However, he needed to act fast before one of them was kicked out of the tower.