Tower of god:Skybender

As the Rankers began their evaluations of Team-A, the conversation centered around Khun's role as a Light-bearer. "His ability to manipulate the situation was impressive," one Ranker commented. "But something feels off," Lero-Ro said, clearly unsettled. "Why would Khun, known for his sharp mind, intentionally make a deal with Quant to help a Ranker beat his own team?"

Yu Hansung stepped in, his calm demeanor masking layers of understanding. "It's simple. Khun was helping the people he truly cares about.He made sure his team lost."

Lero-Ro's eyes widened. "So this was all premeditated? He sacrificed himself and his team for them?"

"Exactly," Yu Hansung confirmed. "He knew winning wasn't the end goal for him—helping Bam and others was."

The Rankers nodded in acknowledgment, but the attention soon shifted to Kael. "That boy," one of them pointed out, "during the chaos, he instinctively used Shinsu reinforcement. His body glowed with raw power. He may not have known how to control it fully, but in the heat of battle, he adapted quickly."

Lero-Ro studied Kael,replaying the battle on the screen. "Shinsu reinforcement? That's not something many Regulars can pull off so early in the tower, especially not with such short notice."

Another Ranker added, "Indeed. He rushed Quant, aiming to intercept the Ranker, and though his attempts weren't enough to stop Quant, the fact that he tapped into that ability at such a moment is worth noting. There's potential in him."

Yu Hansung gave a small smile. "It seems there are more surprises hidden within this group than we initially thought."

—

Hoh died I never really talked to him before but still It shook me to my core why would he do that and lose his life over something so stupid.

And bam who came all this way just found who's he looking for but she's in bad shape

"I don't like this but I guess I'll have to get used this"sighing exhausted from all the turmoil going on

HIDE AND SEEK TEST OVER PLEASE EXIT THE REST ROOM

—-

A couple of days have passed since the hide-and-seek test, and Bam has barely left that girl's side. He's been watching over her constantly, lingering at her bedside as if his presence alone could bring her back to health. I stop by from time to time to check on him. We've had a few talks—mostly me listening as he reflects on everything that's happened. Bam's patient, always has been, but this situation has changed him. Beneath his calm exterior, I can see traces of sadness and fear that he's trying to hide, though he's holding up well.

One thing that stands out to me is his repeated insistence that he's done climbing the Tower. He keeps saying he has no reason to go on, but something about it doesn't ring true. I get the sense that, despite everything, he's drawn more to the journey than the end goal. In some way, he may still be curious about what lies ahead, but for now, he's grounded here, with her.

As I make my way down the hall after my latest visit, I stumble upon a sight that catches me completely off guard—a miniaturized Rak, stomping down the corridor like a tiny thundercloud.

"Oi, winged turtle, what are you staring at?" Rak grumbles, trying to sound fierce but failing to mask the embarrassment in his voice.

I burst into laughter, clutching my stomach as I try to catch my breath. "Pft, hahaha!"

Rak crosses his little arms, grumbling, "Hmph. Laugh while you can, but I'll have you know I'm still capable of kicking your butt!" He turns away with as much dignity as he can muster and marches off, leaving me to wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes.

—-

After Kael comes back from the training room.Bam suddenly approached Kael with a seriousness that immediately caught Kael's attention. Something about his usually soft-spoken friend was different; his eyes held a deep resolve. "Kael," Bam began, his voice steady but laced with an undertone of urgency, "I need your help. It's… it's about Rachel."

Kael raised an eyebrow, sensing the weight behind Bam's words. He straightened up and gave Bam his full attention. "Sure, Bam. What's going on?"

Bam paused, as if choosing his words carefully. "Rachel… she's hurt, and she can't climb the Tower on her own right now. But she has to. She's the reason I left that cave and entered the Tower at all."

Kael's expression softened, his usual cool demeanor replaced with genuine empathy. "So, you feel responsible for her?"

"It's more than that," Bam said quietly, looking down as he gathered his thoughts. "Before she showed up, I didn't even know the world existed outside that cave. It was just me in the dark, day after day… until Rachel saved me."

Kael looked thoughtfully at Bam, recognizing the raw honesty in his voice. He could see how much Rachel's existence meant to him and understood, at least partially, Bam's commitment. "And now you want to repay her by making sure she can climb the Tower too?"

Bam nodded, determination evident in his face. "No one else wants to help her, Kael. They say she'll just slow us down, that she's a liability because of her injury. But… she saved me. I can't abandon her now."

Kael studied Bam carefully, seeing both the strength and vulnerability in his friend. "Bam," he said, his tone firm but kind, "loyalty is one thing, but the Tower isn't a place for weakness. Even if we help her this time, she'll still face more and more difficult challenges as we keep climbing."

Bam looked Kael squarely in the eye, his voice unwavering. "I know. But even if it's hard, I need to help her. She was there for me when I had nothing. I can't ignore that."

Kael sighed, realizing there was no talking Bam out of this. Bam wasn't just loyal—he was determined in a way that even Kael found admirable. "Alright," Kael said finally. "I can't promise it'll be easy, but I'll do what I can to help her pass. Just know that I'm doing this for you, Bam."

Bam's face softened with gratitude, and he seemed almost relieved, as if a great weight had been lifted from him. "Thank you, Kael. I don't know how to repay you."

Kael placed a reassuring hand on Bam's shoulder. "Don't worry about repaying me. Just focus on staying true to your path. But remember, Bam, you're climbing the Tower too. Don't lose sight of your own journey."

Bam nodded, a flicker of doubt crossing his face but quickly replaced by determination. "I understand. I won't let this take me away from my goals."

Kael could sense that Bam's devotion to Rachel was absolute. Despite the grueling trials ahead, Bam's focus remained on the person who had brought him into this world. And yet, Kael couldn't shake a nagging feeling that Rachel's path might lead Bam into dangerous places.

As they continued talking, Kael's mind started working through potential strategies for supporting Rachel. He could feel himself aligning with Bam's intentions. Though Rachel's injury complicated things, Kael could already think of ways to protect her in the test. He wanted to make sure that Bam's trust in him wouldn't be misplaced.

"Bam," Kael began, "if I'm going to help her, I need you to trust me fully, alright? There might be situations where I have to make quick decisions—some that might not be obvious or easy."

Bam nodded without hesitation. "I trust you, Kael. You've never let me down."

Kael allowed himself a small smile, comforted by Bam's unwavering belief in him. "Good. Then we'll get through this together."

Just as they were about to part ways, Bam turned to Kael, his face earnest. "Thank you again, Kael. I… I don't think I could do this alone."

Kael nodded. "You're not alone, Bam. You've got people who care about you here. We'll face whatever comes next—together."

As he walked away, Kael couldn't help but feel a strange sense of responsibility, not just for Rachel but for Bam as well. His friend's loyalty was both inspiring and slightly concerning. The Tower was harsh and unyielding, and Kael knew that not everyone would be as loyal to Bam as he was to them. But for now, he would stand by Bam's side, ready to help in any way he could.

The two of them were climbing for different reasons but somehow found themselves on the same path.