Chapter 139: The Staircase

Lin Wei followed Noritz to the front of the "Tower."

This was the first time Lin Wei had stood this close to the most mysterious structure in the Forest of Shadows. Seen from a distance, the tower tilted toward the southeast; up close, it was revealed to be constructed of pitch-black stone. However, due to the passage of time, some of the stones had become mottled and faded, while others were pitted and scarred.

Several massive stone pillars stood at the entrance, carved with a variety of patterns—beasts, exotic treasures, and inscrutable script.

"Let's go in..."

As they stepped onto the stairs of the tower, Noritz flicked his wrist, extinguishing the thin, noodle-like candle he held.

He arrived at the tower's door.

The door was remarkably narrow and low—disproportionately so compared to the tower’s hundreds of meters of height. Even an average person would have to stoop to enter. Noritz reached the door and produced a key covered in copper rust. He inserted it into the lock, turned it gently, and pushed the door open.

He glanced back at Lin Wei. "Come in."

Lin Wei nodded and followed. Noritz went in first, hunched over. Lin Wei followed close behind, bowing his head and bending his back to step into the tower.

Thump!

The moment Lin Wei’s rear foot crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut.

Instantly, an intense sense of being summoned flooded Lin Wei’s mind. There was no sound, no language—only a deep, primal yearning.

*It’s the Holy Orb...* Lin Wei sensed it vaguely and slowed his pace.

"What is it?" Noritz noticed Lin Wei slowing down. "Why have you stopped?"

Lin Wei looked around and replied, "It’s a bit dark in here. I can't see clearly."

Noritz nodded faintly and clapped his hands.

Whoosh!

Several bright flames emerged from his palms, dancing before them like living sprites.

"Is that better?" Noritz asked, looking back.

"Yes," Lin Wei replied.

Noritz led Lin Wei forward, while Lin Wei turned his attention to the environment inside the tower.

Beyond the entrance lay a narrow corridor, barely over a meter wide—it hardly felt like being inside a colossal tower. The stone walls on both sides resembled those of a mortal castle, built of masonry, and gave off no peculiar aura.

Suddenly, Noritz stopped.

Lin Wei took a step forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him. Before them was a spiral staircase with a wooden banister that had long since lost its luster. It spiraled through the center, leading both upward and downward.

"There’s space beneath the tower?" This was something Lin Wei had not anticipated.

He first looked up the stairs; it was pitch black, and he could see nothing. Not a sliver of sunlight penetrated the gloom, regardless of the height. He then cast his gaze down the stairs, but again, he could discern nothing.

"Go down," Noritz commanded.

"Hmm?" Lin Wei looked at Noritz, confused. "I should go first?"

"Yes," Noritz replied with a stern face.

Logically, Noritz should be the one leading the way, but the roles had been reversed. Though puzzled, Lin Wei chose to follow the suggestion.

Noritz snapped his fingers, and the small flames guiding them were instantly extinguished.

With Lin Wei’s current eyesight, he could achieve night vision in ordinary dark environments, even if not with perfect clarity. But here, the darkness within the tower was impenetrable. He could only carefully test the steps beneath his feet, shuffling downward slowly.

*Roar!*

Suddenly, a sound resembling the roar of a beast erupted from behind him!

"Do not look back!"

Lin Wei was about to turn around instinctively when Noritz’s warning rang in his ears.

"Keep walking! No matter what sound you hear, do not look back!" There was a hint of tension in Noritz’s voice.

"Yes, my lord." Lin Wei nodded and continued downward.

*Swish, swish, swish...*

Another strange sound echoed from behind, like a snake slithering across desert sand. Lin Wei remained unmoved, obeying the command to press forward.

A few steps later, the laughter of men and women echoed in his ears. Cold beads of sweat broke out on Lin Wei's forehead, and an inexplicable sense of panic gripped him.

The further down he went, the more chaotic the voices became—crying, laughing, roaring in anger... Lin Wei felt a buzzing in his ears, and his consciousness began to blur.

*Core, regulate my hormonal secretions!*

Suppressing his nausea, Lin Wei commanded the intelligent core. The core’s physiological regulation function kicked in. Although it did not fully eliminate the dizziness, Lin Wei gradually regained some clarity.

*Core, scan!*

"Unknown magnetic field interference; scan failed," the core replied. Ever since Lin Wei had mastered wizard power, the core had begun to experience such phenomena.

*Tap!*

Lin Wei’s foot landed at the bottom of the stairs. Behind him, Noritz stepped down as well.

Noritz took a deep breath in the darkness, then reached out and pressed a raised button on the wall.

Instantly, the pitch-black surroundings flooded with light. Lin Wei and Noritz were standing in a hallway lined with rows of tightly packed doors.

"Hmm?" Lin Wei glanced back at the stairs, a look of astonishment on his face. "How can this be?!"

Everything around them was bright, but the staircase they had just descended remained shrouded in absolute darkness! At the junction between the stairs and the hallway, there seemed to be an invisible barrier that blocked the light, as if the space itself had been severed.

Noritz patted Lin Wei on the shoulder. "Don't stare. Let's go."

Only then did Lin Wei notice that Noritz was just as drenched in sweat as he was, his eyes reflecting a lingering fear.

"My lord, what was that just now..." Lin Wei asked.

Noritz waved his hand, cutting him off. "Don't ask too many questions. Follow me."

Noritz walked ahead again, his footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. After a dozen steps, he stopped in front of a door. Lin Wei stood behind him. Noritz raised his right hand and knocked on the door three times with his knuckles.

*There are people here?* Lin Wei frowned slightly.

*Creak...*

The door opened slowly. The room inside was as bright as the hallway. Lin Wei followed Noritz inside.

"No one?!"

Lin Wei hissed, his eyes filled with caution. He scanned the room, only to realize that it was completely empty!