Tower of god:Skybender

The golden light from the Core Gate washed over the room, yet my relief was short-lived. The labyrinth's oppressive weight lifted, but the air didn't grow any less tense. Varo's voice echoed through the chamber, slow and deliberate, each word sharpening the growing unease.

"Impressive," he said, his tone devoid of praise, as though he'd been expecting this result all along. "But passing phase two simply grants you the privilege of continuing. The Strategic Gate Test is not won by survival alone. Prepare yourselves—phase three will test the limits of your cohesion, intellect, and resolve."

I exchanged a glance with Ami. Her golden eyes burned with curiosity rather than fear, but there was a wary edge to her smirk now. She tugged at her scarf absently, her tails twitching as the implications of Varo's words hung heavy in the silence.

The massive stone platform we were standing on began to sink. Slowly, the glowing Core Gate disappeared from view, swallowed by the descending floor. Around us, the faint remnants of the labyrinth flickered and dissolved, leaving behind an expanse of pure, blank shinsu energy.

"Where is this going?" the scout muttered under his breath, his voice tight with exhaustion.

No one answered him because none of us knew.

The descent came to a halt. The blank expanse of shinsu crystallized into a new environment—a massive, circular arena. It was even larger than the previous chamber. At the center was an elevated platform, like the pedestal of a throne, but it was empty.

Varo's form materialized on a balcony high above us, his robes flowing in the faint currents of shinsu. He tapped his staff against the floor, and the arena shimmered in response, like water rippling from a drop.

"This," Varo began, "is where the Strategic Gate Test separates the worthy from the rest. Phase three: The King's Gambit."

Ami let out a low whistle. "He's really leaning into the chess metaphors."

Varo ignored her quip, raising his staff. Six glowing pieces appeared in the air above us, their forms reminiscent of chess pieces but with an eerie, lifelike quality. A King, a Rook, a Knight, a Bishop, an Archer, and a Spy. Each piece radiated a different kind of energy, their shinsu signatures unique and potent.

"You are now participants in a live game," Varo explained. "Each of you will choose a role. The King is already decided," he said, nodding toward me. "The rest of you must decide among yourselves who will assume the remaining positions."

The roles hovered over us, their glowing forms rotating lazily as if waiting for their new masters.

"What's the catch?" I asked, already knowing there had to be one.

Varo smiled faintly, a flash of teeth that sent a chill down my spine. "Good question, Kael. The King will not leave this arena alive if their team falters. And this time, the stakes are not theoretical."

I clenched my fists, my chains humming faintly in response. The others shifted uncomfortably. Even the Knight, who had been a wall of confidence earlier, looked pale now.

Ami, as usual, seemed unaffected. "We pick roles, we win, you let us walk away. Simple enough."

Varo chuckled, the sound deep and resonant. "If only it were that simple, little fox. The King may give orders, but the team must carry them out with precision and trust. Any deviation will result in… penalties."

The air grew heavy again, thick with the weight of his words.

Varo continued, "Your objective is to defeat the opposing team. But this time, the pieces have powers that correspond to their roles. Use them wisely, and you may yet survive."

With a wave of his staff, a second team materialized across the arena. Six figures cloaked in shadow stepped forward, their faces obscured, their energy radiating an eerie, unearthly chill. Their King was at the center, his shinsu signature sharp and commanding.

My team was already on edge, tension crackling between us like static.

"Roles," I said quickly, my voice cutting through the rising murmurs. "I'll remain the King. Ami, you're the Rook again. Scout, you're fast—take the Spy. Knight, stick to what you know and take the Knight piece. That leaves the Archer and the Bishop."

The burly Knight grunted in approval, stepping toward his glowing piece. The Scout hesitated but nodded, reaching for the Spy. The Archer role went to a wiry swordsman who hadn't spoken much since we'd teamed up, while the Bishop—a piece whose purpose I still wasn't entirely sure of—was claimed by a quiet girl with pale hair.

As soon as they touched their respective pieces, each role's power surged into their bodies. Ami's already sharp movements seemed to quicken, her scarf snapping like a coiled whip. The Scout's outline flickered faintly, as though he were blending with the air. The Knight's fists crackled with a new layer of energy, his movements more deliberate now.

"You're running the show, Kael," Ami said, her voice light but her gaze serious. "Don't screw this up."

The opposing team took their positions on the far side of the arena, their pieces glowing faintly as they synchronized. The tension in the air reached a fever pitch.

Varo raised his staff, his voice booming. "The game begins… now."

The arena roared to life. The elevated platform in the center lit up with shinsu barriers, marking it as the King's position. My first instinct was to protect that space, but I knew better than to rush blindly.

"Stay spread out," I ordered, my voice sharp and steady. "Ami, hold the left flank. Knight, pressure their Rook. Spy, find their weak link. Archer and Bishop, maintain mid-range—don't overcommit."

Ami moved immediately, her figure a blur as she darted toward the left flank. The Knight followed close behind, his heavy footfalls shaking the ground as he charged.

The opposing team responded just as quickly. Their Rook—a towering figure wreathed in flame—met the Knight head-on, their clash sending shockwaves through the arena. The enemy Spy flickered in and out of sight, clearly looking for an opening.

The Scout—our Spy—called out, "Their Archer is exposed on the right! Should I engage?"

"Negative," I snapped. "Draw him out instead. Force him into the Bishop's range."

The Scout hesitated for only a moment before complying. He darted toward the enemy Archer, his movements unpredictable as he baited his target.

Meanwhile, Ami was facing off against their Knight—a lithe figure whose movements were almost serpentine. Her scarf lashed out, but the enemy Knight dodged with uncanny precision, closing the distance between them.

"Ami, fall back," I called.

"Not yet," she replied, her tone calm despite the danger.

She wasn't reckless. I trusted her judgment. Still, I couldn't help but keep my eyes on her as she fought, her movements calculated and deliberate, every strike forcing the enemy Knight to give ground.

The enemy King hadn't moved. He stood at the center of their formation, his glowing piece pulsing faintly as though he were waiting for something.

That's when it hit me. He's not waiting—he's calculating.

I turned to our Bishop. "Cut the enemy Rook off from their King. Use your abilities to block his escape."

The pale-haired girl nodded, stepping forward. Her piece glowed brighter, and a lattice of light spread across the battlefield, isolating the enemy Rook from his team.

"Nice move," Ami called, a rare note of approval in her voice.

But the enemy King wasn't idle. He raised his hand, and the battlefield shifted again. The enemy Spy appeared behind our Archer, his blade flashing.

"Archer, move!" I shouted, but it was too late.

The Archer went down, his piece shattering into shards of light.

"Damn it," I muttered. "Regroup! Don't let them isolate you."

The enemy team pressed their advantage, their Bishop firing a volley of energy blasts that forced us onto the defensive.

Ami's voice cut through the chaos. "Kael, we can't keep reacting to them. Make a move."

She was right. I took a deep breath, my chains humming with energy as I surveyed the battlefield.

"Spy," I said, my voice calm but firm, "engage their Bishop. Force him to overextend. Knight, rotate back to cover the center. Ami, push their flank and pin their King in place. I'll handle the rest."

The team moved as one, their coordination sharper now. The Scout disappeared from view, reappearing behind the enemy Bishop with deadly precision. The Knight smashed through the enemy Rook's defenses, while Ami forced the enemy King back toward the elevated platform.

The enemy team began to falter. Their cohesion unraveled as we pressed harder, exploiting every gap in their formation.

Finally, with one last coordinated push, Ami's scarf wrapped around the enemy King's piece, pulling him off the platform.

The arena fell silent as his piece shattered into light.

Varo's voice echoed once more, this time tinged with genuine approval. "Well played."

The arena dissolved, leaving us standing in the original ruins. The remaining members of my team slumped in exhaustion, but Ami turned to me with a satisfied grin.

"Looks like you earned that crown, King."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. The test was over, but the climb would only get harder from here.

As the ruins returned to their eerie, mist-shrouded silence, Kael stood in the center of his scattered team, catching his breath. The faint hum of shinsu energy was still present, but it no longer carried the oppressive weight it had during the test. The survivors exchanged glances, murmuring quietly, their shared relief tempered by exhaustion.

Ami leaned against one of the carved stone walls, her golden eyes glinting as she observed Kael. Her scarf swayed lazily, as if it too were basking in the afterglow of their victory.

Kael turned to her, his wings rustling softly as he approached. His mind raced, trying to find the right words to make his pitch sound confident and composed. This was a rare opportunity—Ami wasn't just strong, she was sharp, and he knew having someone like her on his side would be invaluable.

She noticed him coming and tilted her head, her expression teasingly neutral. "Something on your mind, King?"

Kael hesitated for half a second, but Ami caught it. Of course, she did.

"I…" Kael started, but his voice faltered, and he cleared his throat. "I wanted to ask if you'd consider joining my team."

The corners of Ami's lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smirk appearing. She straightened up, placing her hands on her hips as her tails flicked behind her. "Joining your team, huh? Bold move, Kael. And here I thought you just wanted me around to save your feathers every time things got tough."

Kael winced. "That's not—"

"I'm kidding," she interrupted, waving a hand. "Relax, would you? You looked so serious for a second there. But you know," she added, her tone dripping with mock contemplation, "for someone who just commanded a victory, you're kind of awkward when it comes to asking people for help. You stammered a little. Did you notice that?"

"I didn't stammer," Kael said quickly, his wings twitching slightly.

"Oh, you did," Ami said, stepping closer with a grin. "You started with 'I…' and then trailed off like a kid trying to ask someone to dance at a festival."

Kael sighed, feeling his face heat slightly. "Look, I'm serious about this. You're strong, and you're smart. I could use someone like you on my team."

Ami raised an eyebrow, pretending to consider his words carefully. "Hmm. Strong and smart, huh? Keep going. I like where this is headed."

"I mean it," Kael said, trying not to get derailed by her teasing. "I wouldn't have made it through the test without you. And I think we could go even further together. Besides, you're the only person I've met so far who knows how to think on their feet."

Ami's smirk softened slightly, her golden eyes studying him for a moment. "Well, when you put it that way, how can I say no?"

Kael let out a small breath of relief, but Ami wasn't done.

"But," she added, holding up a finger, "if I'm going to join your team, we need to set some ground rules."

"Rules?" Kael asked, wary.

"Rule one," Ami said, ticking it off on her fingers, "no boring lectures. If you're going to explain a plan, make it quick and interesting. I have a short attention span."

"Fine," Kael agreed, though he wasn't sure how to make strategy 'interesting.'

"Rule two," Ami continued, "if we're ever surrounded by traps again, you're doing the heavy lifting. I don't care if you're the King, I'm not playing the hero every time."

Kael nodded. "Fair enough."

"And rule three," she said, stepping closer and poking him lightly in the chest, "you have to stop being so stiff. Loosen up, Kael. The whole 'serious leader' thing is great and all, but if you keep acting like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, you're going to burn out before we hit the 20th floor."

Kael blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "I'm not stiff," he said defensively.

"You're absolutely stiff," Ami shot back, crossing her arms. "But don't worry, I'll whip you into shape. By the time I'm done, you might even know how to smile without looking like it hurts."

Kael shook his head, but despite himself, he felt the tension in his shoulders ease slightly. "Alright, fine. Are those all your conditions?"

"For now," Ami said with a wink. "But don't worry, I'll think of more later."

Kael extended a hand, his wings rustling slightly as he met her gaze. "Welcome to the team, Ami."

Ami looked at his hand, then back at him, and burst out laughing. "Wow. You're really doing the formal handshake thing? You're hopeless, Kael."

"Just shake my hand," Kael said, exasperated.

She rolled her eyes but clasped his hand anyway, her grip firm and warm. "Alright, alright. Team Kael it is."

As they let go, Ami stepped past him, her tails flicking lightly against his leg as she walked toward the mist-shrouded exit. "This might actually be fun. Try to keep up, King."

Kael watched her go, shaking his head with a small, reluctant smile. Despite her constant teasing, he couldn't help but feel that bringing Ami on board was the best decision he'd made since entering the Tower.

He adjusted his hoodie, his wings folding neatly behind him as he followed her out of the ruins. They still had a long climb ahead of them, but for the first time in a while, Kael felt like he wasn't facing it alone.