Tower of god:Skybender

The battlefield was quiet now. Only four of us remained. The group I had clashed with—those three silent figures cloaked in mystery—stood a short distance away, observing me with the same unnerving calm they had displayed throughout the chaos of the first test. The hulking red giant, the nimble fighter in heels, and the calculating one stood like statues, their eyes watching every move I made.

I was still trying to catch my breath, feeling the ache in my wings from the last encounter. My body was adjusting to the oppressive air of the Tower, and the weight of the shinsu was beginning to feel familiar, like a second skin. But there was no time to dwell on the confusion or the growing tension. The next test was about to begin.

Above us, a man floated effortlessly, his body surrounded by a shimmering aura of energy—shinsu, I realized. He was different from the others we had encountered. He carried himself with a sense of calm authority, his golden hair and piercing eyes surveying us like we were nothing more than insects beneath his feet. His presence alone was enough to command respect.

"I am Lero-Ro," he said, his voice carrying easily through the stillness. "Welcome to the Second Floor of the Tower. The fact that you've made it this far means you're more capable than most, but don't get too comfortable. The tests will only get harder from here."

He floated closer, and I could feel the pressure of his gaze even from a distance. His eyes swept over the three figures before landing on me. There was something in his look, a momentary flicker of curiosity. I straightened, trying to push aside the fatigue that was settling into my bones.

"The next test is simple," Lero-Ro continued, raising his hand. A surge of shinsu gathered around him, swirling like a miniature storm before solidifying into a translucent barrier that stretched across the width of the room. "This is a test of your resistance to shinsu. I will release this barrier toward you. If you can pass through it, you will move on. If you cannot... well, then this is where your journey ends."

The tension in the room grew thick. I glanced at the three figures, but they remained still, their expressions unreadable beneath their cloaks. My wings twitched involuntarily, my instincts telling me to be ready.

"Begin," Lero-Ro said simply, and with a flick of his wrist, the barrier began to move.

It wasn't fast, but the closer it came, the more oppressive the air around it became. I could feel the weight of the shinsu pressing down on me, like the gravity of the world had increased tenfold. My wings bristled, and I fought the instinct to flap them. There was no wind to catch here, no currents to ride. This was a test of endurance, of strength, not agility.

The first of the three figures moved. The massive one, his cloak fluttering slightly as he stepped forward. He planted his feet firmly on the ground and walked toward the barrier with slow, deliberate steps. The shinsu pressed against him, but he didn't waver. His body seemed to absorb the pressure, and within moments, he had passed through the barrier without so much as a tremble.

The second figure followed, the nimble one. She approached the barrier with a lightness that seemed to defy the weight of the shinsu. Her movements were fluid, graceful, and within seconds, she too had passed through, barely acknowledging the resistance.

That left me.

I swallowed hard, feeling the shinsu creeping toward me. It was like standing in the eye of a storm, the air thick with energy, ready to crush me if I wasn't careful. I took a deep breath, remembering the lessons my father had drilled into me: control the air, feel its flow, make it an extension of yourself.

But there was no air here—only shinsu. I needed to treat it the same way.

With a deep breath, I extended my wings slightly, not enough to fly, but enough to give me balance. I stepped forward, the shinsu pushing against me immediately. It was heavier than I expected, each step feeling like I was moving through thick, suffocating mud. My wings strained against the pressure, but I kept going.

The barrier pushed harder, the weight pressing down on my shoulders and chest. My breath came in short gasps, but I kept my eyes forward, focusing on the space beyond the barrier. I had to get through. There was no turning back.

With one final push, I broke through the barrier, stumbling slightly as the pressure suddenly lifted. My wings sagged, and I took a moment to catch my breath. Lero-Ro's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, a small, approving nod the only acknowledgment of my effort.

The last of the three figures stepped forward, the calculating one. She moved with an eerie calm, barely reacting to the shinsu at all. It was as if the pressure didn't exist for her. She passed through the barrier with ease, joining the others on the other side.

Lero-Ro lowered his hand, and the barrier dissolved. "Congratulations," he said, his voice neutral. "You have passed the first test."

I barely had time to feel any sense of relief before he spoke again.

"However, there is another test waiting for you."

We were led down a long corridor, the oppressive air of the Tower still pressing down on us. The three cloaked figures remained silent, moving as a unit, while I trailed a few steps behind, my mind racing with questions. What was this place? Why had I been brought here? And why did I feel like there was something... watching us?

The corridor opened up into a large room, and standing in the center was another figure—a man with sharp features, dressed in long, flowing robes. He smiled as we entered, though it was a smile that held no warmth.

"I am Yu Han Sung, and I will be administering your next test," he said smoothly. "This is the Door Test."

The room was lined with twelve identical doors, each one tall and imposing. Yu Han Sung gestured toward them, his smile never faltering.

"The rules are simple," he said. "Each of you will choose a door. Behind one of these doors lies the correct path forward. You have ten minutes to decide which door to choose. However, if you do not choose within five minutes, you will fail."

I glanced at the three cloaked figures. They seemed unfazed, as if this was just another obstacle in their way. But there was something about the way they moved, the way they positioned themselves—it was as if they already knew what to do.

Yu Han Sung's voice cut through my thoughts. "Of course, there's one last thing. You will not be able to work together. Each of you must make your decision alone."

My heart sank. Alone? I had barely made it through the last test, and now I had to trust my instincts with something as random as choosing a door?

The clock was ticking. I had to move.

The three figures each approached a door, their movements precise and purposeful. They didn't hesitate, didn't second-guess themselves. I could feel the weight of their certainty pressing down on me, making my own indecision feel even heavier.

I stepped forward, my eyes darting between the doors. There were no clues, no markings—just twelve identical doors, each one as likely as the next to lead to success or failure.

The seconds ticked by.

What was the right choice? There had to be some trick, some clue hidden in plain sight. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, and tried to clear my mind. My wings twitched, and I felt a faint breeze—no, not a breeze, a current. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was there, flowing toward one of the doors.

Without thinking, I followed it.

I approached the door that seemed to call to me, placing my hand on the handle. There was no time for hesitation. I turned the handle and stepped through.

The room beyond was dark, the air still and quiet. For a moment, I wondered if I had made the wrong choice, if I had doomed myself by trusting in something as unreliable as instinct. But then the darkness began to lift, and I found myself standing in a vast, open space.

Lero-Ro was waiting for me.

"You made it," he said, his voice calm as always. "But there's one final test for you, Kael."

I blinked in surprise. A special test? Why me?

Lero-Ro smiled, though there was something sharp about it. "You've shown potential, but potential is meaningless without resolve. This final test will determine if you're truly worthy of climbing the Tower."

The ground beneath me shifted, and suddenly, I was no longer standing on solid ground. I was falling, the air rushing past me as the Tower seemed to swallow me whole. My wings flared out instinctively, but the air here felt different—unstable, wild.

This was a test of flight.

I had to regain control, but the winds here were unpredictable, swirling in chaotic patterns that threw me off balance. My wings fought against the turbulence, trying to find a rhythm, a current I could ride.

In the distance, I saw it—a glowing platform suspended in mid-air. It was my goal, the end of the test. But the path to it was treacherous, filled with sharp winds and violent currents that could send me plummeting into the abyss below.

I gritted my teeth, focusing on the air around me. I had spent my whole life flying, but this was different. This wasn't the open sky—this was the Tower, a place where chaos reigns for the most part.

The platform grew closer, but so did the danger. A gust of wind slammed into me, sending me spiraling out of control. My wings flapped frantically, trying to regain balance, but the air was too wild, too chaotic.

But I couldn't give up. Not now.

I took a deep breath, letting go of my fear, and trusted in the wind. It was wild, yes, but it was also familiar. I had spent my whole life mastering the skies, and this was just another challenge to overcome.

With a powerful flap of my wings, I surged forward, cutting through the turbulent air. The platform was just within reach now, and I could feel the shinsu swirling around me, reacting to my presence.

I landed on the platform, my wings folding behind me as I took a moment to catch my breath. Lero-Ro appeared beside me, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Congratulations, Kael," he said. "You've passed the test."

I stood there, panting, my mind racing with what had just happened. The Tower was more than just a place—it was alive, constantly testing, constantly pushing those who dared to enter. And I had survived.

I glanced back at the three cloaked figures, who had also passed their tests, and felt a strange sense of foreboding. They were my rivals, my enemies—and something told me that our paths would cross again soon.

For now, though, I had earned my place in the Tower. But the journey was far from over.

…

In the shadows of a vast, dimly lit room, a tall figure leaned against a wall, his arms crossed, crimson blood eyes glowing faintly beneath a hood. His aura was undeniable, a quiet storm of power barely contained. Around him, murmurs of those gathered echoed, though none dared to approach.

"So, it's true," he mused, his deep voice carrying through the silence. "A Skybringer has entered the Tower once again. After all these years..."

The others shifted uneasily, but he simply smiled, his gaze distant.

"Things are about to get interesting."