Mike: Ughh… where… am… I?
His voice echoed softly in the darkness—so dark that it almost felt alive, crawling around him like a fog of silence.
Then suddenly
???: Hmm~ so I was waiting for you… huh?
The voice wasn't loud, yet it pierced through the void and directly into Mike's ears. It was soft, almost playful, but with something ancient hiding beneath it.
Mike: W-who are you? And where am I?
The unknown voice chuckled a giggle that trembled like air through glass.
???: Ho~ho… did you forget what you chose outside the Tower?
Mike: Outside? Tower? Chose?
He blinked, confused. His head throbbed like a foggy machine starting to run again.
Then suddenly like a click his memories lined up.
Mike: Wait… I remember! I came from Lord White's castle—with Flux!
His heart tightened.
Mike: But wait where is Flux?!
???: Huh? Did Lord White not tell you?
Mike: Tell me what?
???: That it isn't a team-level stage. This Tower works differently. It's a solo progress creation.
Mike: So… Flux is?
???: In another floor, of course. Each floor divides into five CreationCamps for five individual progress achievers.
Mike: CreationCamp?
???: Yes. Every person who enters the Tower by rule is called a Progress Achiever their own fate molded by the Tower itself. But… there are others.
Mike: Others?
???: Those who defy it. We call them Mischievers beings who cannot be bound by the Tower, no matter how powerful it is. I've met one… once. And she
The voice suddenly trembled with awe.
???: She was… unlike anyone. She listened like a student, but when she released her power, her charm, her love entire floors shattered from sheer overflow, not destruction. She was… the true goddess among all goddesses.
Mike's mind clicked again.
Mike (thinking): Wait… is that… Aunty Alicia? That sounds exactly like her!
Mike: So… what do I do now? It's just pitch darkness!
???: Ah, right~ I forgot to let you see. Here…
???: Azura Letriont!
The void pulsed and then exploded into light.
The darkness faded, revealing an enormous battlefield fresh, untouched, yet eerily similar to the one Flux had faced earlier.
Mike: Wait… I get this whole battlefield to myself?
Voice from above: Yep~ good luck, progress achiever.
---
Scene Shift
The void shimmered elsewhere across the Tower's upper rings.
A faint violet ripple spread along its wall. Wrong. Unnatural.
Ixia froze mid-step, her palm brushing the mirror-crystal. That color she hadn't seen it since the First Collapse.
The reflection flared alive.
A boy. Silver hair, ruby eyes, drenched in sweat. The orb glowing in his hands like a sun about to break.
Her heart clenched.
That resonance no. It couldn't be his.
Ixia (whispering): "Impossible…"
The vision shattered, leaving only still glass and the echo of the boy's scream.
Her hand trembled as she pulled away. She knew what this meant.
Ixia (thinking): The Tower has chosen another link… And he bears the same echo as them.
White would feel it. Alicia would notice. Even Vantres if that speed-obsessed fool cared enough would sense it.
And Flux…
Flux had no idea whose eyes were now watching.
---
Scene: The Castle of Legends
Hidori: Hmm… Lord, why is everyone so shocked? Did that brat do something new?
White leaned forward, grin stretching, eyes gleaming.
White: Hoho~ So he even scratched the essence of Azu
Vantres & Zygord (together): Oi! Bastard! Don't say that name of the Forgotten Forgiveness! Do you get it?!
White: You think I'd say it like an idiot?!
Vantres & Zygord: You don't have to think you already are one.
White: Ughhh… you two bitches
Alicia: Hey! Stop it! Not the time to fight, alright?!
The three legends cooled off, grumbling under their breath.
White: Fine… Now what?
---
Scene: Inside the Castle (Silvanna & Xixi)
Xixi: Hmm~ Silvanna, I didn't know Miss Ixia can actually see the Tower. Did you know?
Silvanna: Well, I did but not everything. You're a bit wrong.
Xixi: Eh? What do you mean?
Silvanna: Ixia can only see the first five floors and the last five floors but only when someone hasn't cleared the first five, or when someone is about to leave on the last.
Xixi: Ohhh, okay. That's actually cool. She really is something.
Silvanna: She deserves it. After what she's been through… let her have a peaceful life for once.
Xixi: Hmm… yeah, true.
---
Scene: Endless Maze
Piko: Ughhh bruh! Did we just lose again?!
Hiko: Wait, bastard. Just wait.
Piko: Wait? We've been roaming around this cursed maze for eleven days! We still can't find this Hanuro bitch?!
Hiko: Not my fault! This area's built like a damn paradox!
The view zooms out an endless, looping maze where the walls shift with every step.
Piko: Ughhhhhhh! Just get me that BITCH already!!! 🤬🤬🤬
Suddenly, a calm but dangerous voice echoed behind them.
???: Bruh~ who are you calling a bitch? Did you even get to Kuro yet?
Both turned and froze.
A shadow stood there, half-smiling, half-drenched in killing intent.