Tower of god:Skybender

Ren's container—some sort of wool thing that seemed to be holding him together—was destroyed by the attack. I could see it fraying around him as he struggled to move. Yet, somehow, despite the utter devastation of that mace strike, Ren accepted his defeat. He looked resigned, like he knew he couldn't get out of this alive. But there was something strange in his eyes. It wasn't just defeat. There was calculation.

He coughed, struggling to lift his head from the ground, and his voice, though weak, still held that smugness. "You think you've won, Princess. Your allies may have bested me, but you won't be able to stop what's coming."

Yuri didn't even flinch. She stood there, her face unreadable. Evan, who had been silent for most of this, stepped up beside her, giving Ren a hard look. "You won't get a chance to inform King Jahad about any of this."

Ren laughed, though it was cut short by a grimace of pain. "You're right. I can't." His eyes flicked to Yuri. "But before I go, let me make a little guess, Princess. You didn't come to the 2nd Floor just for the 13 Month Series, did you? No… you came here for that Irregular, Bam."

The mention of Bam sent a jolt through me.

Yuri's expression didn't change, but I could feel the shift in the air. She stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about?"

Ren grinned, blood trickling from his lips. "You won't stop what's already in motion. I've already sent the Bull to kill him. You're too late."

My stomach dropped. The Bull?Now that I realized the bull just disappeared,I was too focused on the battle I just completely disregarded the bull.

Ren's smirk remained, even as his body started to disintegrate. "Oh, and just so you know… this isn't my real body. I'm just a clone. My true self is elsewhere, watching, waiting. But this will do for now."

With that, Ren's body crumbled into dust, leaving nothing behind but the damage he had caused.

For a moment, silence hung in the air, thick and oppressive. Yuri remained standing where she was, her eyes distant as if considering Ren's final words. Evan sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's a problem. If the Bull is already on its way…"

"We have to move fast," Yuri said, her voice low but filled with determination.

Before we could act, I noticed movement from the edge of the arena. Endorsi and Anaak appeared, completely unscathed. I couldn't believe it. They were supposed to be in bad shape after the fight with Ren. How were they fine?

Endorsi's eyes fell on me, and she offered a rare, genuine smile. "Looks like you're still alive after all, Kael. I guess I owe you."

I stared at her, still processing everything. "What do you mean?"

Endorsi walked over, her posture relaxed as if this whole thing had been nothing but a minor inconvenience. "You saved us, remember? You held Ren off long enough for Anaak and me to escape. You're the reason we made it out. We were supposed to be dead, but you bought us the time we needed."

Yuri's attention snapped to me, and I could feel her gaze weighing on me. There was something intense about it, something I hadn't expected. "You fought Ren? Held your own against him?"

I swallowed, not sure how to respond. "I… I tried. But I didn't do much."

Yuri's lips curled into a faint smile, one that sent a chill down my spine. "You're braver than most. Ren could've killed you in the blink of an eye, and you still held him off. Impressive."

I wasn't sure what to say to that. Was she impressed, or just amused? I wasn't sure, but the fact that she even took an interest in me was enough to send my nerves into overdrive.

Evan stepped forward then, pulling a small vial from his pouch. He handed it to me, his expression more serious than usual. "Here, drink this. It'll heal your back injuries and stop the internal bleeding. You took more hits than you realize."

I took the vial, my hands shaking slightly as I uncorked it. The moment I downed the liquid, a cool sensation spread

Out of nowhere, she made a bold declaration. "This test wasn't done properly." Her voice echoed with authority. "I'm destroying the 2nd Floor Guardian's exam myself."

I blinked, feeling the tension rise around us. What did she mean? Was she serious? Destroy the test?

Just then, Yuri's pocket buzzed, and I heard a voice crackle through. It was Yu Hansung. "Princess, if you destroy the test, Bam will fail."

Yuri didn't seem phased, but she didn't move either. There was a pause, then Evan chimed in, his tone softer but filled with reason. "Yuri, listen. Everything that's happened so far—the RED assassin, Wolhaiksong's intervention—it's all part of the Guardian's test. Believe in Bam. He can finish it himself."

Yuri looked conflicted for the first time since I'd seen her. Her hand hovered over the Black March at her side, but she didn't act on her earlier impulse to destroy the test. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Endorsi, her expression unreadable.

"What do you think?" Yuri asked. "Will he finish it?"

Endorsi crossed her arms, giving a slight smirk. "Of course he will. I promised to go on a date with him after the Guardian's test is completed. No way is Bam failing."

Her confidence in Bam stirred something in me. Bam was an Irregular, sure, but it was clear to me now that he had people believing in him. Powerful people. I didn't know how much strength he had hidden, but if someone like Endorsi, who fought like a whirlwind, had faith in him, maybe Bam had more potential than I thought.

Before things could settle, Shibisu walked in, looking a bit flustered but determined. He seemed to catch the tail end of the conversation. Yuri glanced at him briefly, then reached into her pocket and pulled out something small. A white Wingtree symbol. She handed it over to Shibisu with a calm authority, like this was just another part of her plan.

"Take this to Bam," Yuri ordered. "Give it to him after the test is complete. This symbol will let him meet Urek Mazino on the 77th Floor after he becomes a Ranker."

Shibisu's eyes widened at the mention of Urek Mazino. "Urek Mazino?! You want Bam to meet him?"

Yuri's lips curled into a slight smile. "He'll need it. Just do what I said."

Shibisu gave a quick nod, tucking the symbol away carefully.

Yuri turned her eyes to me, her gaze sharp and appraising. "Urek said he'll meet you soon when you become a Ranker."

I blinked, confused. "Urek Mazino? Meet me?" I don't even know who that is

She shrugged, but her smirk didn't fade. "That's what he said. He's got an interest in you."

I laughed, but it was more out of disbelief than anything else. "Me? I barely survived this fight. Why would this urek guy be interested in me?"

Yuri stepped closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Because you've got potential. Don't question it. Just be ready."

I swallowed, feeling the weight of her words settle in.

Just when I thought the moment had passed, Yuri turned her attention back to Anaak, who had been silent this whole time. She walked over, picking up the Green April from where it lay discarded on the ground. Anaak's eyes narrowed as she watched Yuri.

"You're still too young to use this," Yuri said, holding the Green April up. "But when you're ready, I'll give it back to you."

Anaak's face twisted with frustration, but she didn't argue. I could feel her anger simmering under the surface, though. She wanted that weapon, but Yuri's authority was absolute.

Yuri gave Anaak one last look before turning toward the exit, the Black March in hand, her posture as confident as ever. Before she left, she glanced at me. I wasn't sure if it was curiosity, recognition, or something else entirely.

"Get stronger," she said simply, her eyes narrowing just slightly. "Next time you face someone like Ren, don't let them walk all over you."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I nodded. I'd seen the difference between us, between me and fighters like her, Ren, and Endorsi. If I wanted to survive here, I had to get stronger. A lot stronger.

Evan gave me a small nod, then ran after Yuri. They left, leaving me standing there with Shibisu, Endorsi, Anaak, and the echoes of Ren's defeat still hanging in the air.