Chapter 45: Tower Ascension

The next event was announced as soon as the Mind Lock test ended, with the tension in the air so thick it could be cut with a blade. Everyone who survived the mental gauntlet was now preparing for the next trial.

"Event Three: TOWER ASCENSION. Reach the top of the tower before the others. The first 100 will move to the final round. But be warned: the tower has its own defenses."

The tower loomed ahead, a monolithic structure of steel and glass that reached far above, disappearing into the clouds. As the competitors lined up, Kael took a deep breath. He could feel the weight of the competition on his shoulders. The top 100, huh?

The sound of rushing air filled the arena as a booming voice echoed across the grounds:

"Climbing the tower will test your endurance, speed, and ability to handle unforeseen threats. As you ascend, obstacles will appear. If you fail to overcome them, you'll be sent back to the ground floor. Fail three times, and you're out. Let the Ascension begin!"

A countdown began.

"Three... Two... One..."

BANG!

The ground beneath them cracked open, and competitors began to run.

Inside the Tower

The interior was nothing like Kael expected. Bright neon lights lined the walls, but the path ahead twisted in ways that made it impossible to predict what was coming. The first floor was simple enough—climbing walls and slick platforms, but the floor wasn't as steady as it seemed. As soon as Kael stepped onto one of the platforms, it began to shift, the floor sinking beneath his feet.

"Damn!" Kael cursed, leaping to the next platform.

Tetsu was ahead of him, easily jumping from one floating piece of debris to another, his smile plastered on his face. "Catch me if you can, Kael!"

But Kael was already focused. He didn't need to chase anyone. He only had to keep moving forward.

A loud mechanical whirring cut through the air as the first true challenge appeared.

A massive wall of spikes shot from the floor beneath them.

Tetsu laughed, diving into a roll, avoiding the spikes with ease. Ryuu, ever calm, darted sideways, using the terrain to his advantage. Hana followed closely behind, her movements more calculated, every leap precise.

But Kael's heart raced. The sound of the wall shooting up sent a shiver down his spine, but he gritted his teeth and powered forward, jumping just in time. The spikes scraped his foot, but he made it across.

"Close call," he muttered.

Kael's Thoughts

Focus. Control. I've got to push myself harder, faster. But I can't let the past weigh me down.

His thoughts were interrupted by a loud, metallic grinding noise. The path before them shattered, and a swarm of mechanical drones shot out from hidden compartments in the walls. They buzzed in the air like hornets, each armed with laser projectiles.

Kael's eyes narrowed. His Will flared as the first drone launched an energy beam at him. He raised his hand instinctively, unleashing a blast of raw energy to counter the attack. It shattered the drone in an instant, but more came. More and more.

Tetsu jumped into action, spinning his body to avoid the lasers. His laughter rang out, almost carefree as he dispatched a few of the drones with ease.

"This is gonna be fun!" he yelled.

Kael, focused now more than ever, unleashed a burst of power, slicing through several drones. Ryuu remained eerily calm, his hand outstretched, manipulating the environment to his will, creating shields of solid energy to block the incoming lasers.

Above Them

Veyren Kurai was already climbing past them, moving swiftly and with a terrifying precision. His eyes locked onto Kael for a brief moment, and a smirk stretched across his face.

"You're too slow," Veyren taunted, his words cutting through the air like a blade.

Kael gritted his teeth. He couldn't let Veyren get ahead of him. Not after everything that had happened.

"We're not done yet," Kael muttered to himself.

The Final Challenge

Halfway up, the walls began to close in, the space becoming more confined, and the obstacles more brutal. The next test was unlike anything they had faced so far.

A massive forcefield appeared, blocking their path to the next level. The forcefield pulsed with a dark energy, and an unfamiliar voice echoed through the speakers:

"Only the strongest will pass through. To do so, you must give up your greatest weakness."

Kael's heart skipped a beat. Give up my weakness? He wasn't sure what this meant, but it didn't matter. He needed to push forward.

Ryuu stepped forward first, closing his eyes in concentration. The forcefield flickered and vanished. The competitors were left speechless.

"You just… gave up your weaknesses?" Kael asked.

Ryuu gave a single nod. "Strength comes from knowing your weaknesses and overcoming them. Let's go."

The Final Floor

Kael, Tetsu, and Hana made it to the top floor, just behind Ryuu and Veyren. There, they were met by a gate leading into the final room.

A voice boomed:

"The final challenge: The battle royale. One-on-one duels, until the last standing participant remains."

Kael's muscles tensed. "It's time," he whispered.

They were ready. The tournament was about to get even darker. And the truth about the Kurojin Tsukiro elites was still out there, just waiting to unfold.