Tower of god:Skybender

Yuga sat in Yu Han Sung's office, the atmosphere heavy with the weight of what he was about to report. The soft, ambient glow of shinsu flickered around the room, casting subtle shadows on the stone walls. Yu Han Sung sat calmly at his desk, sipping tea with his usual detached air of authority, but there was a sharpness in his gaze that told Yuga he was always calculating, always several steps ahead.

"I've been observing the Wave Controller trainees, particularly two of them—Bam and Kael," Yuga began, his voice carrying a note of unease. "Their progress is… unnatural."

Yu Han Sung raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Unnatural? Elaborate."

Yuga sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Let's start with Bam. He's only been training for two weeks, yet he's already managed to create a Bang. Not just that, but he controls it with a level of precision that far exceeds what any of the other trainees have shown. He struggles with producing more than one Bang, but his raw talent—no, his instinct for controlling shinsu—is unlike anything I've seen."

Yu Han Sung nodded thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing. "Bam is an irregular, after all. His potential is limitless, though he's not aware of it yet. His rapid advancement is to be expected, even if it does raise a few eyebrows."

Yuga shifted slightly, his tone lowering. "That's what I thought too. But Kael… Kael is something else entirely."

This caught Yu Han Sung's full attention. He set his teacup down and leaned forward slightly. "Go on."

"Kael's progress is… unsettling," Yuga continued. "It's not just raw talent or instinct. It's like his mind is attuned to something deeper. When I demonstrated the shinsu Bang today, Kael watched closely, and each time I showed him, he improved exponentially. His Bang wasn't perfect, but it got sharper, more controlled with every attempt. It's as if he's breaking down the technique in his mind, reconstructing it layer by layer."

Yu Han Sung's eyes flickered with interest. "So, he's able to replicate techniques just by observing them?"

Yuga nodded. "That's exactly it. I'm not sure he fully understands what he's doing, but there's something in him—some kind of natural ability that lets him replicate and refine anything he sees. He's not just learning at an accelerated rate; he's adapting in ways that are hard to explain."

Yu Han Sung leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the table as he processed the information. "Kael is an irregular as well. It's no surprise that he'd have abilities beyond the norm, but this... this is something different. It sounds like he has the potential to master anything he witnesses."

Yuga nodded, the tension in his voice unmistakable. "Exactly. It's almost like he's unlocking his potential one step at a time, but at a rate that feels unnatural, even for an irregular."

Yu Han Sung smirked, his eyes gleaming with interest. "Keep a close eye on him. If Kael can truly replicate techniques just by witnessing them, he may become a far more dangerous irregular than Bam. His ability could be the key to something much larger."

Yuga swallowed, still uneasy about what he had seen, but he nodded in agreement. "I'll watch him closely."

Yu Han Sung returned to his coffee, his expression calm, but his mind clearly racing. "Good. We'll need both of them when the time comes. Irregulars are the key to shaking the Tower's foundation, Bam and Kael may be the catalyst for something far more significant than we realize."

As Yuga left the room, Yu Han Sung relaxed back on his futon, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. He reached for his cup of coffee resting beside him, the steam swirling lazily upward.

"Maybe I can get both of them," Yu Han Sung mused quietly to himself, taking a slow sip. The warmth of the coffee settled in as his mind raced with possibilities.

As I sat in the Team A locker room, the air was thick with tension. Khun and Shibisu were huddled together, whispering about a plan. From the corner, I couldn't help but notice Khun's calm demeanor, like he had everything under control. I knew that look. He was always ten steps ahead. But today felt different. This test wasn't just about strategy; it was about survival.

"Kael," Khun suddenly called, turning his sharp blue eyes toward me. "What do you think?"

It took me a second to realize he was talking to me. I leaned forward, my grayish-blue wings shifting slightly behind me. "Honestly, going after Quant directly sounds like suicide. But if anyone can pull it off, it's you," I said, glancing at Shibisu, who had a nervous grin on his face.

Shibisu shook his head, obviously uncomfortable with being labeled the "bait." "Yeah, sure. Make me the decoy," he muttered under his breath.

"You're the one Quant will underestimate," Khun pointed out. "That's the key. Quant's used to overpowering his opponents, but if we throw him off balance, even for a second, we might have a chance. That's where you come in, Shibisu."

Shibisu groaned. "Why do I feel like I'm gonna regret this?"

I could see the logic behind Khun's plan, but something about it gnawed at me. "Even if we distract Quant," I spoke up, "how are we supposed to make sure the 'Tag' reaches the exit in time? Quant isn't exactly the type to let his guard down for long."

Khun smirked. "That's where you come in, Kael. Your job will be to cover Shibisu while he's being bait. Quant won't expect you to adapt to his movements so quickly."Khun was right—if I could witness Quant's moves and get the timing down, I might be able to anticipate his actions.

"Alright," I nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. "I'll do my best."

Khun stood up, addressing the rest of the team. "We don't have to beat Quant by strength. This test is about outsmarting him. Stick to the plan, and we have a chance."

A few minutes later, we were in the arena. The environment was massive, circular, with multiple walls and levels, the exits located at the far end, one low and one across a high bridge. The center was a safety area where Quant couldn't enter. But safety was a fleeting concept when facing a Ranker.

As the timer started, I took my position next to Shibisu, who was nervously twiddling his fingers. "You know, this plan of yours better work, Kael," he whispered.

"Trust me," I said, my voice low but steady. "I've got your back."

The silence of the arena was eerie. Quant would be moving fast, faster than any of us could see, but I strained my senses, watching for any flicker of movement in the shadows. Shibisu walked out ahead, his Lighthouse glowing faintly to light his path, while I hung back, wings half-extended in case I needed to move quickly.

Then, it happened. Quant appeared, his speed unreal, and Shibisu froze. But I had been watching, waiting for this. My instincts kicked in, and I dashed forward, placing myself between Shibisu and the Ranker. A Bang of shinsu formed in my hand, but it wobbled, unstable.

Quant smirked, eyes locked onto me. "You think you can stop me?"

"I don't have to stop you," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Just slow you down."

I threw the unstable Bang at him. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough to force Quant to dodge. I could feel the Echo Weave kicking in as I observed his movements, the way he used shinsu to propel himself. Each step was a piece of the puzzle falling into place.

"Go!" I shouted to Shibisu, and he sprinted toward the exit while I stayed behind, facing Quant.

Quant's eyes narrowed. "Not bad. But you're still too slow."

He vanished, appearing behind me, but this time, I was ready. Echo Weave had given me a glimpse of his next move, and I twisted just in time to avoid his attack. My Bang, though shaky, was improving with every exchange.

Khun's plan was working. We were chipping away at Quant's defenses, bit by bit. I just hoped it would be enough to give Shibisu the time he needed.

As I stood there, I could see that Quant had picked up on Shibisu's role as bait. The smirk on his face said it all; he was about to teach a lesson. "The first thing a Scout should do," he called out, "is charge at the opponent!"

"Shibisu!" I shouted as I saw Quant bolt forward. "Get ready!"

"Help!" Shibisu yelled, panic creeping into his voice. Aleksai hurled his spear, but Quant dodged it effortlessly, knocking out the Lighthouse Shibisu relied on for light.

"Do you see?" Quant taunted. "It's a Scout's duty to remove the enemy's light source when outnumbered!"

Just as he charged again, I felt the tension spike. "Checkmate," Khun and Shibisu said in unison, their voices steady despite the chaos.

A nearby Lighthouse flickered to life, illuminating Quant's position. Anaak, Team A's Tag, stood with her Green April, extending it toward Quant's Seeker tag. The look of shock on Quant's face was palpable; we weren't just running—we were fighting back.

Anger flashed in Quant's eyes as he activated his Black Fish ability, becoming quicker and disappearing into the shadows. "This is getting ridiculous," Shibisu muttered, confusion evident on his face.