A full moon illuminated in the midnight hour. A cold breeze howled across the forest seas and mist shrouded the twisted trees. Outlined by a hazy fog, white brume buried the trails. Animosity flooded the murky vale with Death's grip across the veil. Shadows twisted and danced as dense mist blanketed the ground, obscuring the trails beneath a shroud of white brume. Thick with tension, the air heralded death's icy grip.

Through the charcoal grove, silhouettes darted with swift movement. The faint chime of bells echoed across the ghastly forest, as heels stabbed the earth with precise movement.

I can't see a damn thing past these trees. And to make matters worse, the air's closing in.

Up from a bird's eye view, the forest revealed a structure piercing through the canopy—a colossal fortress flanked by twin towers. The hooded traveler approached the cliff's edge. Her gaze fixed on the high silhouette. With a sharp breath, she stepped back and extended an arm of melanin, tracing cryptic symbols with her fingers. At her command, a faint sphere manifested.

"Omíchli Víma (Mist Step)," she chanted.

The orb dissolved into misty particles and spiraled around her. In one fluid motion, she leapt forward, and the enchantment carried her effortlessly. Twisting mid-flight, her black high boots—adorned with black ruby anklets—landed amongst the haze. The sorceress stood momentarily as mist coiled her feet before dispersing. Adrenaline shot through her veins in defiance of gravity.

Reaching the foot of the eastbound mountain, the arcane damsel jumped at great velocity.

Enhancement of the rocky pillar bestowed a close-up, amplifying stone towers between corrosive ridges. One entrance, through bare windows, was guarded by brutes of shadow. They stood unmoving, cladded in metal that gleamed with a sinister crimson. Markings pulsed across their armor with horns silhouetted against faint moonlight. Oblivious to the intruder, she vaulted to the middle passage, where a sentinel positioned close to the entrance.

The sorceress pivoted her leg forward. 

"Psỳchous! (Cold Snap!)"

Sleet discharged, transfiguring into ice chains and petrified her opponents in frozen states. She grasped the stone beam and hurled over the gravel entry. Upon landing, the cloaked conjurer swept the liquid from her left leg and transmuted it into ice spikes between clenched fists. 

"Stiléto (Dagger!)!"

She tossed the conduits. Crystals scattered, multiplied by the dozen, and shards impaled three more guards within the area. The only adversary was left. A lone guard. It turned with its eyes glowed beneath its helm and unsheathed a flaming bronze sword.

"You think that'll work in your favor?" she taunted.

The dark knight growled in retaliation.

Underneath a whisper, she snapped her fingers.

"Káfsi (Combustion)."

Flames erupted around and consumed the opponent in a fiery explosion. The trail made its way to frozen statues, creating meltdown and conflagration. The sorceress watched as the inferno consumed them expeditiously and fade into embers. Without hesitation, she peeped the grand entrance, if only for a moment. Heels clacked the stone floor, and she extended a hand once more.

"Skiá Vélos (Shadow Arrow)."

A linear beam pelleted from her palm, striking the sealed entrance. The impact ricocheted through the fortress but left the barrier unscathed. A faint shimmer revealed the aftereffects of a protective crescent enchantment.

"Always a last resort." She said with a click of annoyance.

Extending her hand again, an obsidian staff manifested before her. Drawing back, she placed her left arm above the garnet jewel, withdrawing a jade javelin. The sorceress launched the halcyon weapon, and the lance connected through barricades, tipping ripple effects of pierced glass. Striking true, it shattered the enchantment into glowing fragments. She approached the accessible gate and uttered another dusk ray. The gate crumbled as it collapsed, revealing a cavern illuminated by flickering lanterns.

She stepped inside the hollow grotto and the air grew colder. Her eyes scanned the earthen walls with a sense of unease that pricked against her mental.

Something's not right about this tower.

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Premonition was intercepted by heavy footsteps. A platoon of soldiers emerged onto the battlefield. Bloodlust in their eyes with vendetta in their hearts.

Elevating her staff, the ornament of steel feathers unleashed cold drafts. Her mantle pushed back against the manifested wind, revealing golden trim that outlined black boots and a parallel loincloth complemented by the winged ruby jewels.

"Vrochí (Rain)," she intoned steadily.

Dark stars cascaded from the cavern ceiling with a swift descent. The soldiers shattered beneath the barrage. Victory came, but the sorceress proceeded with caution. Moments later, she unveiled her vision. The sight revealed the workings of a bright image. Standing on solid glass, the area was enveloped by a clear interior.

Another Dimension.

The space transformed into a blanket of open air. Paying no mind, she continued her stride. Her path led to a spiraling staircase, ascending heights among the clouds. The climb was whirling. Diamonds glittered in the night sky, which calmed her mind in euphoria. Higher the ascent, the further the descent to no man's land, if she suffered a misstep. Once she reached the top, she found herself face-to-face with a figure cloaked in white.

She initiates the challenge. "My instincts were correct. My arrival was preemptive. So, you know exactly why I'm here. Where is he?"

The veiled guardian chuckled in arrogance. "It is quite unfortunate. For you, that is. You won't pass beyond this point. Your death is a necessity."

She laughed at the confession, mocking its subtlety with sass. "Necessity? How flattering. Then, you should also know that I won't die so easily. You've taken such a high road. Then, perhaps you can appeal to my generosity. If we're going to be fast friends, that is. There's got to be stakes to this endeavor. Now, how should we wager this gamble?"

"Fool. Your insolence will cost you," the figure rebuttal.

"And I'll bet your arrogance will lead to your downfall."

Her arms rose with palms aglow. "Mavro Ntous! (Black Shower)"

Black pellets discharged in rapid succession, homing in on their prospective target. In response, the adversary dodged with effortless precision. Each miniscule bullet barely scraped the surface.

"Pathetic," he sneered upon landing. "Are you done?"

Undeterred, she chanted in harmony, "Diávolos Pagída! (Devil's Trap)"

Empty shells drifted the floor in an expeditious manner, morphed into an immense claw, and bound its captive. The massive limb swept its prisoner into its clutches, discarding any form of circulation. The white mantle struggled against the binding, cursing the opponent under their breath.

"Is that all?" The victor asked, unamused while advancing in measured steps. "I was expecting more of a real challenge." Encircling a sigil on the ground with a cool expression, she faced her captive and shook her head assuredly. "How disappointing. You should've never underestimated me. Mavro Velóna! (Black Needle)"

In an instant, the claw morphed into a tangle of thorns inflicting trauma and damage. From sharp impalement, blood flowed from the bounty. Drooped in defeat, it lay lifeless. The sorceress walked past her monument without a second glance.

Another platform revealed itself leading skyward.

Ascending the floating stairwell, she reached a sterling scaffold leading to a door. Pushing through, she entered a small stone chamber lit only by a trapezium window. Beyond it, she approached the frame and noticed a blue moon to her vantage point.

"This isn't right," she muttered. "What the hell happened to the tower?"

She proceeded to exit but the timber gate vanished.

The air grew heavy with a promise of destruction.

Wheeling back to the miniature frame, she gasped from a scrape of heat. 

"I warned you before," came a voice laced with malice. "You wouldn't pass beyond this border. Even if you tried to kill me, you still failed, you insolent witch."

Reacting to attack, the defendant jumped back and faced the initiator—a man with pale skin, silver eyes, jet-black hair, and spectral presence exuding power.

The sorceress smirked with undaunted confidence.

"Well, well. You're full of surprises. That skirmish was effortless."

Malevolent laughter resonated. "Effortless? Ignorance will truly be your downfall. I allowed you to proceed forward, so that I may conclude our charade." The man stood before the sealed entrance. "A ruse trick to believe I'd die so easily."

The ghastly warlock extended his arm forming sigils of cryptic nature. Several bomb-like creatures emerged, a few inches behind the sorceress. Caught by surprise, she had little time to react. Enchantments detonated explosions, destroying the wall frame in the process.

A slight pause in the moment caused smog to travel. Once the smoke cleared, the answer was revealed. A captivating beauty attributed bundles of cascading indigo, alluring sapphire pupils, and flawless melanin complimenting the black and yellow trim top, matching her silver brooch. 

"Now, I see," he observed. "You survived by discarding the one thing that protected your identity. I've heard of your kind, but I was informed none of you survived. It'd be a shame to kill you and waste such effortless beauty." A crooked smile formed a distorted visage. "Serve me, and you might find it... rewarding. I promise the experience will be most—exhilarating."

"You sure are talkative," the indigo replied in disgust.  If you were serious, we wouldn't be having this frivolous discussion." She shrugged with cockiness. "I'm quite certain you don't know a thing about a woman's satisfaction."

He snapped to the rejection. "Insolent witch! Burn in hellfire with the rest!"

Reprising, the ghost conjured more shells and discharged them.

Sorceress extended her staff and manifested a scarlet barrier. 

A sea of black flames erupted from the devil's hand and morphed into an iron trident. Hurling the spear upon contact, the prongs detonated and dispelled the barrier. Explosive force thrusted the blue-eyed siren over the edge, drowning in a sea of mist.

"Foolish woman," the guardian sneered. "The guilty cannot escape retribution." 

Regenerated, the enchanted bombs hovered over the creator as he faced his familiars.

"Make sure she's annihilated. There's no room for setbacks."

The white wizard vanished, and seven bombs descended by word of their master. 

All that remained in the grim was silence from the mist.