The Fighters' Tower loomed over Metris like a giant of stone and steel. Its black walls seemed to touch the clouds, each floor a world of combat. To most, the Tower was a place of fear and glory. To Shubh, it was the first step toward his destiny.
With his identity card tucked safely in his cloak, he approached the entrance. Dozens of fighters stood waiting—some nervous, some confident, others mocking the newcomers who would surely fall before even reaching the second floor.
As Shubh stepped forward, a voice cut through the noise.
"You there. Gravity boy."
A tall figure emerged from the crowd. He was Shubh's age, maybe a year older, with a lean frame wrapped in light armor and a sharp grin. His eyes carried the kind of confidence that came only from victories.
The crowd whispered. "That's Kael Rennor… they say he cleared the first ten floors in a single month."
Kael crossed his arms, studying Shubh. "Word spreads fast in this city. They say you bent the very air during your test. Gravity, huh? Interesting." He smirked. "But let's see if you're more than a rumor. I'll be climbing today too. Don't slow me down."
Shubh met his gaze without flinching. "I won't slow anyone. I'm here to climb higher than all."
The tension between them sparked like steel on flint. For a moment, the crowd thought they might fight right there. But the Tower guards pushed them toward the entrance. "Save it for the floors. Inside, everything is allowed. Outside, you follow the rules."
Shubh finally entered in the tower . heavy door opened, and Shubh stepped into the Tower. The air changed instantly—thicker, darker, humming with strange energy. The first floor was a wide stone arena, its walls lined with glowing symbols.
From the shadows, enemies appeared. Not humans, but conjured constructs of stone and steel, shaped like armored soldiers. Each new challenger faced them—testing whether they had the strength to even be called a fighter.
Shubh flexed his hands. Around him, other new fighters panicked, striking wildly. Kael Rennor, however, moved like water, his Affinity of Wind Blades carving through the constructs with precise slashes.
Shubh watched for only a moment before stepping forward. He didn't draw upon his full gravity Affinity. Instead, he relied on his fists, his instincts sharpened by battles far from the city. A punch shattered stone. A kick sent a steel warrior crashing into the wall.
The crowd of new fighters gaped. "He's not even using Affinity…!"
Kael noticed too, his smirk fading into something colder.
When the last construct fell, the floor glowed with light, signaling victory. Shubh stood calm, dusting his cloak, while others gasped for air.
As they exited to the rest chamber between floors, Kael approached Shubh again. His grin was gone, replaced by a serious glare.
"You're strong," he admitted. "Stronger than I expected. But strength alone won't get you to the top. The Tower eats boys like you alive."
Shubh looked at him steadily. "Then I'll climb until there's nothing left to eat."
Kael chuckled, though his eyes never left Shubh's. "Good. Then I'll see you at the higher floors. Don't die before we meet again."
With that, Kael walked away, leaving the other fighters buzzing with rumors: Two prodigies had entered the Tower together.
That night, whispers reached the taverns of Metris. A boy who wielded Gravity had cleared the first floor without breaking a sweat. Another boy, Kael Rennor, cut through the constructs with Wind Blades like a storm.
Two names were already rising in the City of Fighters—names destined to clash again.
And somewhere far above, high in the upper floors of the Tower, the Sun of the West sat upon his throne, unaware that two challengers had just stepped onto the path that would one day reach him