The black glass platform rose through the absolute darkness of the Spire. The mechanical grinding echoed endlessly, vibrating through the thick soles of Albrecht’s iron boots.
He looked down at his left hand. The red digital crown he had ripped from the Warden’s head pulsed with a heavy, rhythmic heartbeat. It wasn't just a piece of code. It felt like holding a living, bleeding organ.
"How long have we been ascending?" Emmeline asked. She stood back-to-back with him, her emerald eyes scanning the pitch-black void. Her silver daggers were drawn and ready.
"Three minutes," Albrecht said.
"The Spire didn't look this tall from the outside," Emmeline muttered. "Are we teleporting?"
"We are crossing servers," Albrecht replied, his crimson left eye tracking the glowing red data streams wrapp
