Chapter 358: The Obsidian Spire
Chapter 356
The moment the first rays of sunlight touched the world, the group was already up and ready.
They had taken turns to wash up with the use of Ray’s bottle, and after a quick meal, the sun could be seen rising completely over the horizon.
It seemed like the intense anxiety of what was to come today wouldn’t let any of them sleep properly, hence they were up and active much faster than they normally would be.
It was the D-Day.
The day they would explore the Obsidian Spire and see what it had in store for them.
Luckily for them, this specific cave had been positioned only ten meters away from the spire’s perimeter, so they didn’t have to walk the whole day just to locate it.
Before they left the cavern, Ray intentionally cut his finger and moved towards a small, blank space close to the final blood-smeared entry on the wall. Using his own blood, he firmly wrote:
{What you failed to complete, we will. We will definitely win. It’s already decided and it’s written. Rest in peace, you all.}
With that final message left behind, they quickly set out.
Ray looked up at the sky, then at the cohort walking ahead of him before giving a silent nod.
They all began briskly walking forward into the open terrain.
Even from the cave where they had nestled, they had been able to see the massive silhouette of the Obsidian Spire clearly, but within minutes of walking, they stood directly before it.
Surprisingly, absolutely nothing had attacked them on the approach.
It stood in stark contrast to what Caster and Felix had previously claimed about strange, aggressive bird creatures hovering around the structure and hundreds of wolves standing guard.
There was basically nothing but silence in this deserted land.
The full view of the Spire was now on display right before them as they all craned their necks upward, trying to gaze at just how tall it truly was.
The structure rose from the earth like a colossal black spear driven into the world by the hand of a god.
Its surface was forged entirely from obsidian-dark stone—smooth in some places and violently jagged in others—creating the appearance of countless sharp blades fused together into a single, impossible monument.
The spire stretched so high that its peak completely disappeared into the heavy clouds above, becoming little more than a dark silhouette against the heavens.
From their position, it absolutely dominated the entire landscape.
Everything around it seemed entirely insignificant in comparison.
The surrounding ground was barren and deeply cracked, as though the land itself had withered beneath the Spire’s heavy presence.
Massive shards of black stone protruded from the earth around its base, resembling the fragmented, ruined remains of a shattered kingdom.
Thin streams of shadow-like mist drifted slowly between the shards, coiling across the ground before vanishing into the darkness.
No windows were visible along the towering structure. No balconies. No signs of life whatsoever.
Just endless black stone rising higher and higher until it vanished into the sky.
Yet, despite its utter stillness, the Spire felt alive.
A strange, heavy pressure lingered around it, subtle but undeniable to their senses.
As they approached, they suddenly found themselves lowering their voices instinctively.
Even the wind seemed reluctant to pass too close, curving smoothly around the structure as though unwilling to disturb whatever slept within.
At its base stood an enormous entrance carved directly into the obsidian rock.
The doorway was large enough for giants to pass through comfortably, framed by intricate engravings worn smooth by time.
Ancient symbols stretched across the stone in endless, winding patterns, their meanings long forgotten to history.
The entrance remained completely open.
Waiting. Like the open mouth of some ancient beast silently inviting travelers inside.
"Well, that surely does look... inviting and enthralling," Caster commented, a slight shudder running through his body.
They all cast nervous, hesitant glances at one another, suddenly unsure if they should actually take the step inside or turn back.
Ray wanted to activate his ’Thermal Vision’ to at least peek and see if anything was laying in wait for them, but unfortunately, he was unable to gleam through the material of the spire before him.
It was like something was actively blocking out his extraordinary ability.
’This—this is bad...’
"Let’s go in," Nebula confidently uttered as she began striding forward without a single trace of hesitation.
Trisha cast a quick glance at Kai in doubt.
But the moment Nebula began walking, Chloe, Caster, Felix, and Van followed right after her without asking any questions whatsoever.
Ray smirked, his calculated composure returning, and soon he followed.
Trisha and Kai steeled themselves as well, matching the pace as they all slowly approached the ajar entrance.
The moment they all took their first steps inside, a succession of loud, echoing snaps reached them, and lanterns hanging along the walls began lighting up automatically with each step the teens took.
Each step sent a cold shiver running down their spines as they slowly made their way deeper into the Spire.
The moment Kai walked in last, a sudden, violent creak reached their ears.
They all collectively spun around to see the massive outer door closing at an astonishing rate.
"NOOO!" Kai wanted to reach out, lunging backward, but then—
THUD—!
The entire entrance shook heavily as the enormous slab of obsidian slammed shut, completely sealing any escape route for the teens.
They were stuck.
With no way to turn back, they turned around to see that the lanterns had fully lit up, displaying their immediate, strange surroundings.
"Ba.... thump."
Their hearts collectively beat in the heavy silence.
The narrow entrance gave way to an immense hall that seemed far larger than the Spire’s exterior dimensions should have allowed.
The chamber stretched outward in every direction, vast enough to swallow entire castles within its walls.
Towering pillars of polished obsidian rose from the floor and disappeared into the distant ceiling high above, their surfaces reflecting faint glimmers of light like frozen black mirrors.
The floor beneath them was smooth and completely flawless.
Every footstep echoed endlessly through the hall, bouncing from wall to wall before fading into the vast distance.
What immediately drew their attention, however, were the statues.
They stood in a great circle around the perimeter of the hall, each one carved from dark stone and towering several times the height of an ordinary man.
Warriors, kings, scholars, and mysterious figures stood immortalized in silent vigilance.
Some gripped enormous swords.
Others held spears, axes, halberds, bows, and weapons whose names had long been forgotten to history.
Yet among them stood eight unique statues entirely unlike the rest. Rather than weapons, these specific figures carried musical instruments.
One held a harp with strings intricately carved from stone.
Another carried a grand flute longer than a man’s body.
A third possessed an enormous drum resting beside it.
The others held lutes, horns, violins, chimes, and instruments so ancient their exact purpose was difficult to guess.
Despite being lifeless carvings, they seemed strangely important, as though they were the designated guardians of a forgotten secret.
The deeper one looked into the hall, the more a single structure commanded the space.
At the far end of the chamber stood a massive spiraling staircase.
Its obsidian steps wound around a central pillar like a coiling serpent, ascending steadily toward the darkness above.
The staircase climbed higher and higher until it disappeared through a circular opening in the ceiling, vanishing into the upper reaches of the Spire.
Whatever lay above could not be seen.
Only the staircase remained visible, completely silent, waiting for those bold enough to climb it.
Comments