Once Jacob confirmed the challenge details, he closed the Cursed Immortality and looked towards the pristine maze.
The atmosphere inside the Solar Reflection maze was thick with tension. Golden light beams crisscrossed the maze in intricate patterns, flickering at sharp angles as the mirrors shifted constantly. The reflective golden glass walls rippled like waves, their movements unpredictable, distorting the maze's layout every few seconds. It was as though the entire structure breathed with the rhythm of the sun's energy.
Jacob quickly realized he had to move fast—this trial wasn't just about solving the puzzle but about surviving the shadows that lurked within. His Eyes of Judge, far more powerful now in the Intermediate Awakening Stage, allowed him to see subtle truths hidden in the chaotic reflections. The shifting lights were more than just illumination—they formed patterns. With his advanced perception, Jacob began to analyze the space. He could see faint, hidden connections between the mirrors, light beams, and the paths they could unlock.
The maze and the mirrors' movements weren't random. Jacob saw a pattern—an almost imperceptible sequence that dictated how the mirrors moved. His mind raced as speculative ideas flashed in his thoughts, piecing together how each reflective surface was aligned with the solar orb's light source. The entire structure seemed designed to confuse anyone without precise knowledge, but to his Eyes of Judge, the truth was beginning to reveal itself.
With newfound understanding, Jacob stepped forward confidently, weaving through the maze. The shifting mirrors did not faze him as he moved with calculated precision, adjusting his position to avoid the beams of light while anticipating their redirection. But just as he gained momentum, his Eyes of Judge detected movement in the darkness.
From the shadows cast by the light beams, ominous figures began to emerge. These shadow creatures were ethereal, fluid forms of pure darkness with glowing red eyes, their bodies rippling like smoke. The light did not reach them, and they seemed to feed off the dimness, growing stronger the longer they remained hidden.
Jacob could see through their nature—these creatures thrived in the absence of light. Their power was tied to the shifting mirrors, which created pockets of darkness every time a beam of light moved. The more shadows created, the more enemies appeared.
He had to act fast.
Focusing his soul force, Jacob extended his control over the mirrors, using his mind and will to begin shifting them manually. His soul force was invisible, intangible, yet with his mastery, it operated like a precise tool, moving the mirrors in specific directions to reflect the beams of solar light toward his target.
With each carefully placed redirection, he aimed the light beams at the doors blocking his path. As the light struck the reflective door mechanisms, pathways began to open in the maze, but so did more opportunities for the shadows to strike.
The shadow enemies moved swiftly, drawn to the dark corners where the light couldn't reach. Jacob could feel their presence growing, their power intensifying. He couldn't let them gain too much ground. Relying on his Eyes of Judge again, he quickly identified weak points in their structure. Though the shadow figures moved unpredictably, he could see their vulnerabilities—certain areas where even the faintest touch of light would be enough to destroy them.
A sharp movement of his soul force, and the mirrors snapped into position. Beams of golden light shot toward the shadows, casting them back as they hissed in fury. Their forms disintegrated when exposed to solar energy, but more appeared in their place, creeping from new angles as the mirrors continued to shift.
Realizing he needed a more efficient method, Jacob infused his soul force with his ethereal violet lightning. This combination of energy became a powerful weapon, allowing him to direct the reflective light with deadly precision. He began crafting lightning-infused soul force bullets, tiny yet lethal projectiles of violet lightning, which he fired toward the mirrors. Each bullet struck with pinpoint accuracy, redirecting the light beams instantly, either opening new paths or disintegrating the shadow enemies.
Violet lightning crackled through the air, illuminating the maze with its ethereal glow. Every time a mirror aligned with the light, a new pathway appeared, or an enemy dissolved in a flash of violet and gold. The light beams refracted through the maze like a controlled storm, leaving no room for the shadows to hide.
Jacob continued to move through the maze with precision, constantly adjusting the mirrors and firing his violet lightning bullets to maintain control over the light beams. His Eyes of Judge allowed him to anticipate every shift, every attack, and every moment of danger. Step by step, he advanced through the maze, unlocking doors and neutralizing threats, all while keeping the shifting mirrors under his control.
With each correct movement, the maze unfolded, and the shadow enemies diminished, unable to survive under Jacob's relentless assault of soul force and lightning.
As the final door of the maze swung open, Jacob paused to take at the moment—his strategy had worked flawlessly, the shadows had been defeated, and it was all thanks to the Eyes of Judge.
Nonetheless, Jacob had used almost 20% of his soul force and 10% of his lightning mana in just two trials. He started to wonder if this Tower of Leo was all about the Soul Force and elemental mastery over one's element.
'Since that woman, Samantha, had undergone the same trials, how powerful is her soul force? I'm pretty certain that this is a Star King difficulty-level trial. Or does she have other methods to use soul force constantly? If that's really the case, I'm looking forward to capturing her more. Maybe I can use this method for myself!'
Jacob's eyes shimmered viciously with clear desire as he looked at the final door. Behind it was the entrance door, the same one that had led him to this level, and without Jacob entering, the second trial, Solar Reflection, was complete!
At this moment, Jacob entered the third trial of the Tower of Leo. As soon as he stepped into the third level, the environment shifted dramatically.
The entire space was enveloped in an almost oppressive brilliance. Everything was washed in a stark, blinding white light, making it impossible to distinguish any specific features of the walls, floor, or surroundings.
Jacob quickly looked at Cursed Immortality.
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