The Trial of the Gravity Tower

The evening had deepened into night, and the grand hall of the inner palace had emptied out. The guests had all taken their leave, leaving behind only a select few: King Varunas, Queen Ananya, the great elder, the queen's sisters Talia and Rhea, Rudhra, and four other young prodigies from the clan, including Rajan. The atmosphere was relaxed yet charged with an undercurrent of anticipation.

Rudhra and Miko were still indulging in the feast, oblivious to the focused gazes of those around them. Miko, clutching his feeding bottle, was alternating between sips of alcohol and bites of fruit, while Rudhra, with his characteristic nonchalance, enjoyed the luxurious spread in front of him.

Noticing the silence and the attentive stares, Rudhra finally looked up and asked, "What? Why's everyone staring?"

The great elder, smiling awkwardly, broke the tension with a chuckle. "Rudhra, you're a sight to behold, as always," he began, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and admiration. "But tonight, we're not just here to enjoy the food. We have something more... challenging in mind."

The room's attention shifted as the great elder continued, his tone growing more serious. "One of the greatest advantages of our Asura Clan is our physical prowess. Our bodies are our weapons, our shields, and our pride. To further hone these attributes, I suggest we open the Heaven's Crucible."

At the mention of Heaven's Crucible, everyone's expressions turned grave. The legendary Gravity Tower, known as Heaven's Crucible, was one of the most revered artifacts within the Asura Clan. It was said to have been forged by the gods themselves and had remained a formidable challenge for even the strongest among them.

The great elder elaborated, "Heaven's Crucible has eight regions, each more demanding than the last. Even our king, Varunas, has only ever managed to reach the seventh region. Despite being a demi-god, he could not conquer the seventh floor. For you young ones, even the first region will be an immense challenge. A peak Tempered Realm genius might manage to clear the first floor if they are exceptionally gifted in the body path."

Varunas, who had been listening quietly, added, "I myself cleared the first floor in a month when I was at the peak of the Tempered Realm. However, I couldn't advance past the first floor of the second region. The gravity in Heaven's Crucible affects not only the body but also the spirit. It's nearly impossible for a mortal child to surpass the first region."

Rudhra's eyes gleamed with interest. The thought of a grueling physical challenge excited him. His young mind relished the idea of pushing his body to its limits, believing that the pain and struggle would only make him stronger.

Seeing the excitement in Rudhra's eyes, Rhea, one of the queen's sisters, smiled slyly. "Well, why don't we make this more interesting? I brought two prodigies from the Dheva Tribe, extraordinary talents with unparalleled bloodlines and veins. How about a friendly competition?"

Talia, who stood beside Rhea, introduced the two prodigies. "This is Aryan," she said, gesturing to a tall, serious-looking boy with piercing eyes. "And this is Ira," she added, indicating a girl with an ethereal presence and an air of quiet confidence. Both of them were known within the Dheva Tribe as geniuses destined for greatness.

The elders exchanged glances, some amused, others puzzled. They knew that Rudhra, despite lacking any special bloodlines or veins, had always been invincible when it came to physical strength. They hadn't seen him use his qi yet, but his raw physical power was undeniable.

Queen Ananya, sensing the tension, looked at her son with a mix of pride and concern. "Rudhra, do you really want to do this?"

Rudhra grinned, his confidence unwavering. "Of course, Mother. I've been waiting for something like this."

With that, the group quickly made their way to Heaven's Crucible. The towering structure loomed before them, its ancient stone surface glowing faintly under the moonlight. The entrance was an imposing archway, carved with runes and symbols that spoke of its divine origins.

The great elder began to explain as they stood before the entrance. "Every region within Heaven's Crucible has eight floors. The gravity intensifies as you ascend. Even the first floor of the first region is a monumental challenge. Aryan and Ira, your goal is to reach as high as you can. For you, Rudhra, I imagine you're more interested in pushing your limits rather than competing."

Rudhra nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "I'm here to see how far I can go. The harder it gets, the better."

The group of seven children, including Rudhra, Aryan, Ira, Rajan, and the others, stepped into the entrance of Heaven's Crucible. As they crossed the threshold, they could feel the weight of the gravity pressing down on them.

Rudhra, with Miko still perched on his shoulders, barely felt the pressure on the first floor. The sensation was almost negligible to him. He glanced around, observing the reactions of the others. Rajan was gritting his teeth, focusing on maintaining his posture, while Aryan and Ira seemed to handle the pressure with ease, their extraordinary bloodlines giving them an edge.

King Varunas, observing from the outside through the tower's monitoring screen, raised an eyebrow. "This boy... he doesn't seem affected at all."

As Rudhra continued, he walked through the first floor with little effort. He could tell that this level wouldn't offer the challenge he craved. His interest piqued only when he considered what awaited him on the next floors.

When Rudhra reached the second floor of the first region, the pressure increased significantly. He paused for a moment, feeling the gravity pulling at every fiber of his being. But instead of struggling, a smile tugged at his lips. This was more like it.

The other kids, especially Aryan and Ira, were progressing steadily, but the increase in gravity was beginning to show on their faces. Aryan's confident expression wavered slightly as he exerted more effort, while Ira's ethereal calm was disrupted by the strain.

As Rudhra continued to ascend, clearing each floor with relative ease, the onlookers grew more astonished. By the time he reached the fourth floor, whispers of disbelief spread among the elders.

"He's a monster," someone muttered.

Rhea, who had initially suggested the competition, found herself at a loss for words. She had expected Rudhra to struggle, perhaps to falter before Aryan and Ira, but instead, he was marching through the tower as if the challenge was beneath him.

The great elder, who had seen many prodigies come and go, could only smile knowingly. "This is Rudhra we're talking about. There's no telling what he's capable of."

Rudhra, now on the seventh floor of the first region, felt the gravity increasing exponentially. Yet, to him, it was just the beginning. His body, honed through countless battles and training, welcomed the strain. He reveled in the pain, knowing that every muscle tear would heal stronger than before.

As he approached the final floor of the first region, Varunas couldn't tear his eyes away from the screen. His instincts, honed over millennia, told him that Rudhra wasn't done yet.

"He's going to do it," Varunas whispered, almost to himself. "He's going to enter the second region."

As everyone else watched in stunned silence, Rudhra took a deep breath and, with Miko still clinging to him, stepped forward—into the second region.