Chapter 62: Sisters of fate

Jessica and Liana walked toward the Tower of Eternity, their nervous energy evident despite their lighthearted banter. Liana nudged Jessica playfully. "Do you think the monsters will be as terrifying as the stories say? Or are we just overthinking it?"

Jessica smirked, trying to mask her own unease. "I bet they're nothing compared to Xavier's training sessions. If we can survive those, we can survive this."

As they approached the entrance, Jessica's demeanor shifted to a more serious tone. She turned to Liana, gripping her shoulder. "Listen, Liana. Just in case something goes wrong and we run into a doppelgänger, there's something you should know."

Liana tilted her head, confused. "What is it?"

Jessica leaned in and whispered, "My middle name is Diana. If anything feels off, call me that. Only you and Xavier know it. It'll help us tell who's real."

Liana nodded, her expression sharpening. "Got it. Let's do this."

As the two entered the tower, the crowd back at the arena watched the screen intently. The sisters-in-arms moved in perfect sync, tearing through hordes of monsters floor by floor. Their teamwork and mastery of their abilities left even the most skeptical elders in awe.

The lower floors posed little challenge, but as they ascended, the difficulty increased exponentially. Despite this, Jessica and Liana pushed forward, their bond and resolve unshakable. When they reached the 14th floor, the crowd erupted in cheers, astonished by their progress.

The 15th floor loomed ahead, and the screen showed the two warriors catching their breath before the final test. The eerie glow of the tower's summit cast a pale light on their faces as they rested against the wall.

Jessica turned to Liana, her usually composed demeanor softening for a moment. "You know, I never thought I'd make it this far," she admitted, a small smile on her face.

Liana chuckled. "You? The future wife of Xavier York, doubting yourself? Impossible."

Jessica blushed slightly, then laughed. "Speaking of that… when Xavier marries me, we're going to have the strongest children this world has ever seen. They'll inherit his strength, my cunning, and—"

She trailed off, realizing the screen outside was still broadcasting their conversation. Her face turned bright red. "Oh no… they heard that, didn't they?"

Liana burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the tense silence of the 15th floor. "Oh, they definitely heard that. You're never living this down."

Jessica groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Let's just get through this floor so I can crawl under a rock later."

The two warriors shared a moment of levity, their nerves momentarily eased as they prepared for the ultimate test awaiting them. The crowd outside, meanwhile, buzzed with excitement, eagerly awaiting the climax of their incredible ascent.

As Jessica and Liana stepped onto the 15th floor, they were immediately met with an overwhelming presence. A massive dragon, its scales glistening like obsidian, stood before them. Its eyes locked onto the two warriors, glowing with the intensity of a Mystic-level 3 warrior. The air thickened, and the temperature seemed to drop as the dragon roared, sending a shockwave through the floor.

Without hesitation, the dragon lunged forward, its mouth opening wide to unleash a torrent of flame. The force of the attack sent shockwaves across the platform, and Jessica and Liana were forced to dodge, barely avoiding the inferno. The dragon's movements were swift and calculated, each strike aimed at overwhelming them with raw power and ferocity.

Jessica gritted her teeth, struggling to keep up with the dragon's relentless assault. Liana, too, was panting, her energy reserves rapidly depleting. They were both on the brink of exhaustion, their bodies aching from the constant strain.

"We can't keep this up much longer," Liana gasped, her eyes wide as she narrowly avoided another swipe of the dragon's claws.

Jessica's mind raced as she scanned the dragon's movements, trying to find a weakness. "Liana," she called, her voice urgent. "I have an idea. When it attacks again, I need you to push me into its mouth."

Liana's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?! Are you crazy?"

"Just trust me!" Jessica said, determination filling her voice. "Push me with everything you have."

Liana hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Okay. I'm doing it. Hold on!"

As the dragon reared back to unleash another fiery blast, Jessica and Liana went into action. Liana summoned her wind hurricane, the gusts of air swirling around her as she focused all her energy into propelling Jessica forward. In an instant, Jessica was hurled toward the dragon, her body moving at an incredible speed.

The dragon opened its massive mouth, preparing to release another blast of flames, but Jessica was already there. With a mighty roar of her own, she unleashed her Ice Blizzard technique, the freezing winds and razor-sharp ice shards tearing through the air. In one fluid motion, the ice sliced into the dragon's open mouth, shattering its fangs and piercing its throat.

The dragon let out a pained screech, its fiery breath faltering as the blizzard continued to tear through its insides. With a final, desperate thrash, the dragon collapsed to the ground, dead.

The two warriors stood panting, their bodies covered in sweat and bruises, as the beast's massive form crumpled in front of them. The arena was silent for a moment, the crowd in awe of their victory. Jessica and Liana exchanged a tired but victorious glance, both of them feeling the weight of the battle they had just fought.

"That… was too close," Liana said, her voice shaky.

Jessica chuckled weakly, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Yeah, but we did it. We won."

The crowd erupted into cheers, and the voice of Void God Malakar echoed through the tower. "Congratulations to Jessica and Liana of the Soul Clan! You have passed the final floor and are now officially victorious in the second round!"

As the announcement rang out, Jessica and Liana shared a quiet moment of relief, knowing they had completed the impossible task that had seemed so daunting just moments before. Their victory was not only a testament to their strength but to their bond as sisters-in-arms.

As Jessica and Liana returned to their clan, a wave of relief washed over the group. However, the atmosphere shifted drastically when Void God Malakar materialized beside them, his presence exuding an aura of power so overwhelming that it left everyone momentarily paralyzed. Whispers rippled through the crowd as they speculated why the Void God would appear while the tournament was still ongoing.

Jessica and Liana instinctively straightened, their gazes meeting Malakar's piercing eyes. His low, almost reverent tone broke the silence. "Where is your clan master?" he asked, his words tinged with curiosity and admiration.

Jessica glanced toward Xavier, who was seated calmly, observing the Void God with steady eyes. Malakar's gaze scanned the group, seemingly searching for an old face, but his focus landed on the young, confident figure who stood from his seat and walked toward him with purpose.

Xavier, only seventeen but carrying himself with the poise of a seasoned warrior, bowed respectfully. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, his voice firm yet respectful. "I am Xavier York, the leader of the Soul Clan."

The announcement sent shockwaves through the crowd, gasps and murmurs of disbelief echoing across the arena. A youth as young as him, leading a clan, was unheard of—let alone one competing on this level.

Void God Malakar's gaze sharpened as he turned his attention fully to Xavier. For the first time, he scanned the boy's aura, his ethereal senses delving into Xavier's essence. His eyes widened in visible surprise, though his expression remained composed. In a voice so low that only the Soul Clan could hear, he murmured, "First rank… Sky-ranked warrior? At your age?"

Malakar's eyes lingered on Xavier, as if trying to piece together the enigma standing before him. For the Void God, this revelation was profound—Xavier's level of power at such a young age was not just rare; it was unprecedented. He straightened slightly, his tone now laced with intrigue. "I will speak with you after this tournament."

Before anyone could react, Malakar vanished as swiftly as he had appeared, leaving the Soul Clan in stunned silence. Xavier turned back to his group, his expression calm but his mind racing. Jessica and Liana exchanged a look, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten in the wake of what had just transpired.

The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, the mystery of the Soul Clan deepening with each revelation. Whispers of Xavier's rank, his youth, and Malakar's interest swirled through the audience like wildfire. Yet Xavier stood unfazed, his confidence unshaken.

"Well," he said with a small smirk, addressing his clan, "it seems we've drawn some attention. Let's make sure we live up to it."