The shimmering doorway before me pulsed faintly, beckoning me forward.

My steps were slow, each one a struggle against the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me.

Blood trickled down my side where the creature’s claws had found their mark, but I couldn’t stop now.

The doorway grew brighter as I approached, and the void seemed to hum with anticipation.

As soon as I stepped through, the world around me shifted again.

This time, the darkness wasn’t silent.

A low, guttural growl reverberated through the air, shaking the ground beneath my feet.

The jagged terrain stretched endlessly in every direction, lit by an eerie, silver glow that came from no discernible source.

I scanned my surroundings, dagger in hand, every muscle in my body tense.

The growl grew louder, and the ground trembled.

Then, it appeared.

A massive creature, easily three times my height, emerged from the shadows.

Its body was a grotesque amalgamation of jagged black armor and writhing tendrils that seemed to move with a life of their own.

Its glowing green eyes locked onto me, filled with a predatory hunger.

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[Stage Three Initiated. Survive.]

The system’s voice was a cruel reminder of the task ahead.

The creature didn’t wait for me to make the first move.

It charged, its massive claws slamming into the ground where I’d been standing moments before.

I rolled to the side, barely avoiding the impact, and unleashed a bolt of lightning.

The energy struck the creature’s armor, crackling and sparking, but it barely flinched.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, my grip tightening on the dagger.

The creature roared, the sound deafening, and lunged again.

This time, I didn’t dodge.

Instead, I channeled my Mana, a surge of electricity crackling through my body as I leaped forward.

The dagger in my hand glowed with energy as I drove it into the creature’s side.

The impact sent a jolt of power coursing through its body, and it let out a guttural screech.

But it wasn’t enough.

The creature swatted me away like a ragdoll, and I hit the ground hard, the air forced from my lungs.

Pain shot through my body, but I forced myself to stand.

“You want to play rough?” I said through gritted teeth, wiping blood from the corner of my mouth. “Fine.”

Energy surged through me, wild and untamed, threatening to consume me if I didn’t control it.

Lightning crackled around me, illuminating the void in blinding flashes.

The creature hesitated, as if sensing the change in me, but it was too late.

I unleashed the full force of my power, a massive bolt of lightning that split the air with a deafening crack.

The energy struck the creature head-on, engulfing it in a storm of electricity.

The ground shook violently, and the air was filled with the creature’s agonized roars.

When the light finally faded, the creature was gone, its body reduced to ash.

I collapsed to my knees, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.

The strain of channeling so much power had left me drained, but I wasn’t done yet.

[Ding!]

[Stage Three Complete. Prepare for the Next Challenge.]

Another doorway appeared in the distance, its surface glowing faintly.

I stared at it, my body trembling with exhaustion and the lingering effects of the fight.

“I’m not done,” I whispered, forcing myself to my feet. “Not yet.”