Chapter 112: The Feathered Foe

Li Yang stood at the precipice of the 800th floor, feeling a rush of anticipation. While he was elated about overcoming the previous challenges, he couldn't shake off the feeling that his father had made it past the 700th floor. Such thoughts only pushed him to venture deeper into the tower.

As he advanced, the ambiance of the 800th floor was distinctly different. The surroundings echoed with soft whispers, like the rustling of feathers. At the heart of this floor stood the guardian beast - a human form transformed from a rock sparrow. Her name was Taliyah. Known for her deceptive feathered projectiles, her style of combat heavily relied on ambush tactics. 

Almost immediately, Taliyah released a barrage of razor-sharp feathers, each one shimmering and aiming directly for Li Yang. They moved with swift precision, resembling a blizzard of gleaming blades. Li Yang was taken aback by the sheer speed and volume. But, thanks to the dragon-turtle armor, each feather clinked against him, falling harmlessly to the ground.

Seizing the opportunity, Ares lunged at Taliyah. Without the worry of defending Li Yang, Ares could fully concentrate on the offensive. Taliyah, however, was no pushover. She gracefully dodged the initial strikes, her lithe form moving like the wind, leaving a trail of feathery after-images in her wake. 

The battle raged on with neither side willing to relent. Ares, harnessing the power of lightning, summoned a storm of thunder above. With a majestic roar, bolts of lightning descended from above, aiming for Taliyah. She tried to dodge, but the sheer volume of lightning strikes was overwhelming. With a final resonating crash, Taliyah was subdued, her form disintegrating into a cloud of feathers.

As the echoes of battle faded, a reward formation emerged in front of Li Yang. It was a set of the rock sparrow's feathered projectiles. With a thought, Li Yang transformed the deadly feathered darts into a card, ready to be summoned whenever needed. The ability to release the feathered projectiles with a mere thought was an invaluable asset.

With the 800th floor conquered, Li Yang felt a burgeoning sense of accomplishment. However, the journey was far from over. The 900th floor awaited, and beyond that, the mysterious 1000th floor, the ultimate goal of his quest. A blend of excitement, curiosity, and determination fueled his steps as he moved forward.