The arch spat them out onto a plateau of black stone.
No cavern walls. No ceiling. Just open sky if it could even be called that. The sky above wasn't blue but a shifting canvas of gray clouds, constantly torn apart by streaks of silver lightning. The air smelled sharp, metallic, charged.
Ravi groaned as he collapsed on his back, pipe clattering beside him. "If the system's trying to kill me with new scenery every time, mission accomplished. I'm one twisted floor away from early retirement."
One of the survivors actually chuckled, though it came out ragged, like he'd forgotten how to laugh.
Arjun didn't smile. He never did. He scanned the horizon with the same unreadable calm. His bow was already in his hand, string taut, as if enemies might crawl straight out of the storm.
Ravi eyed him, then muttered loud enough for nearby survivors to hear: "Man's got two moods silent statue or deadly statue."
That earned him another chuckle, though Arjun didn't flinch.
Before Ravi could push the joke further, the wind picked up. Not a breeze something alive. It circled the survivors in a spiral, tugging at hair and clothes.
The system chimed:
[New Phase Activated.]The Wind Chooses Sides.]Objective: Earn the favor of the wind. Or be cast aside.]
Ravi groaned. "Great. More talking weather. Just what I needed."
The wind wasn't whispering this time. It howled in voices hundreds of them, overlapping, weaving together into a single demand:
"Prove yourselves."
The survivors huddled together, murmuring, afraid. One man raised his voice, trembling. "How do we… how do we prove anything to air?"
The wind answered with force. It struck him like a hammer, lifting him off his feet, slamming him into the ground. His scream was cut short as blood pooled beneath him.
The survivors recoiled in horror. Ravi clenched his pipe tighter. "Okay. Lesson learned. Don't sass the weather."
The wind swirled again, forming spirals of dust and sparks. It split into two currents—one circling Arjun, the other Ravi.
The system text flickered:
[Trial of Allegiance Initiated.]Choose whom the wind favors.]
Ravi blinked. "Wait. Me? Him? What is this, a popularity contest? I didn't sign up to be homecoming king."
Arjun said nothing. He only raised his bow slightly, not at Ravi, but toward the circling current. His calm made it worse—like he'd expected this all along.
The survivors shifted uneasily. Their eyes darted between Ravi and Arjun. The choice wasn't just theirs. The system was forcing everyone to choose.
One woman stepped forward. She raised a trembling hand toward Arjun. "Him. The archer. He… he always knows where to go."
The wind swirled tighter around Arjun, glowing faintly blue.
Another survivor, voice shaking, pointed at Ravi. "No. Him. He jokes even when he's dying. Makes it easier to… to keep going."
The wind stirred warmer around Ravi, glowing faintly gold.
Ravi blinked at the glow, then smirked. "Look at that. I'm officially charming. Write that down, bowman."
Arjun didn't answer, but his gaze flicked sideways, sharp as an arrow.
The voting split. Survivor after survivor chose. Some whispered Arjun's name with reverence, trusting his calm. Others picked Ravi, clinging to his rough humor as a last shred of normalcy.
The winds shifted with each choice, their glow deepening.
Finally, the system voice declared:
[Allegiance Complete.]The Wind Favors Two.]
The currents merged, spiraling into a towering column that split down the middle half gold, half blue. It descended, wrapping around both Ravi and Arjun like a mantle.
Ravi blinked, pipe half-raised. "Wait… we both win? That's a first. Usually it's all death and despair."
The wind's voice hissed like a thousand breaths: "Together… or fall."
The survivors sagged in relief, but Ravi's skin prickled. The air was different now. The gold wind whispered faint encouragement, brushing his hair, steadying his legs. The blue wind was colder, sharper, coiling tight around Arjun like armor.
They had been marked. Chosen.
But chosen for what?
The plateau rumbled. Cracks split the stone as something vast stirred beneath. A shadow crawled across the surface, growing larger, larger still.
The survivors stiffened, clutching weapons, eyes wide. Ravi's throat went dry. "Oh, fantastic. New pet monster incoming. Let me guess flies on wind, breathes fire, hates jokes?"
Arjun's bowstring thrummed. His voice was low. "Not fire. Lightning."
As if summoned by his words, the cracks burst open.
A beast of storm rose from the earth horned, scaled, its body wrapped in arcs of silver lightning. Its roar shook the plateau, scattering loose stones like hail.
System text burned into their vision:
[Sub-Boss Encounter: The Stormborn Beast.]Objective: Use the wind's favor to survive.]
Ravi cursed under his breath. "Of course. Every time we get a break, it comes with a monster attached. Someone remind me why I didn't just let the debt voices drag me under?"
But even as fear crawled into his gut, the golden wind swirled tighter, lifting his stance, steadying his grip on the pipe.
And when he glanced sideways he saw Arjun, blue wind coiling around him like a blade drawn from its sheath.
The storm was here. And the wind had chosen its champions.