The chamber stretched impossibly wide, platforms floating and shifting in every direction. Light bounced off the walls in jagged patterns, throwing their shadows into chaotic shapes. Janae's fingers tingled with raw energy, stronger than ever. She could feel the vibrations of the platforms, the tunnels, the lurking monster—all of it pulsing through her like electricity.
Sezzle's eyes widened. "Girl… these platforms are insane! How are we even supposed to—woahhh!" She yelped as a section tilted, nearly sending her tumbling.
Janae's heart raced, but she didn't panic. She focused inward, and suddenly her feet barely touched the surface as she bounded from one platform to the next, flipping over gaps with effortless grace. Her eyes flickered, glowing a soft amber as energy rippled around her body.
"Janae! Did you just…?" Sezzle stammered, eyes wide with awe.
"Watch!" Janae shouted, leaping onto a platform that was tipping beneath her. She twisted midair, landing perfectly, then snapped her fingers. Shadows from the walls stretched into blades, slicing a section of stone that threatened to collapse.
From the darkness below, the new monster lunged—a grotesque, multi-limbed abomination with glowing purple eyes and jagged claws. It moved faster than their previous predator, hurling itself at them like a predator hunting prey.
"Woahhh! What the f—?!" Sezzle screamed, ducking under a swinging limb.
Janae gritted her teeth, feeling the energy surge inside her. Her aura flared visibly, crackling with power. She vaulted over the creature, twisting in midair, and delivered a solid kick that sent it staggering backward. Sparks of energy sizzled where she made contact.
"Girl… you're insane!" Sezzle shouted, grabbing onto Janae as they jumped to the next platform.
Janae's focus sharpened. She could feel the monster's intentions, predicting its strikes before they came. With a deep breath, she propelled herself upward, launching into a backflip that landed her behind the creature. She grabbed one of its limbs and, with a swift, precise motion, snapped it, hearing a sickening crack echo through the chamber. The monster shrieked and recoiled.
Sezzle's jaw dropped. "Holy hell… did you just—snap its arm?! Are you kidding me?!"
Janae's eyes glowed brighter as she exhaled, energy rippling outward like a shockwave. "It's not just about defense anymore… I can fight, Sezzle. I can fight."
The monster recovered, lunging again with unnatural speed. Janae extended a pulse of energy, slamming into it like a battering ram. Sezzle followed instinctively, swinging debris and hurling shards where Janae marked its weak points. The two of them moved as one, fighting, flipping, dodging, and attacking in perfect sync.
Every strike, every dodge made Janae feel her powers growing stronger. The platforms shifted, the shadows twisted, and the monster's shrieks filled the chamber. And through it all, Sezzle couldn't stop staring, wide-eyed.
"Girl… I don't even—how are you doing that?!"
Janae grinned through the adrenaline. "You're gonna see even more soon. But first… we survive this!"
As the monster finally collapsed into a pile of shadowy remnants, the chamber seemed to pulse with approval—or challenge. Janae's aura dimmed slightly, but her chest still thrummed with power. She looked at Sezzle, who was still catching her breath.
"You ready for the next one?" Janae asked.
Sezzle nodded slowly, a mixture of fear and excitement in her eyes. "Yeah… but… after that, I want powers too. I need to fight with you, girl. Not just watch you go super Saiyan or whatever the hell that was!"
Janae laughed, feeling a spark of hope. "You will. I promise. But first… we keep moving. The tunnels aren't done with us yet."
From the shadows above, faint growls echoed. The hunt continued, and the next test—harder, faster, deadlier—was waiting.