The early morning at Azuren was quieter than usual.
A cool breeze drifted through the vast open courtyard where the Cratple Tower stood, its colossal form piercing the clouds and casting an endless, unbroken shadow across the land.
Even the birds were silent as if the world itself was holding its breath.
---
White: So, are you all ready?
Ophera, Pipolo, Kaigi, Haori (together): Yes, Lord.
Alicia (smiling softly): Ho~ Ho~ I like the energy. (≡^ˇ^≡)
Ixia (stepping forward): Then… let us begin.
---
Ophera took the lead, stepping toward the front of the courtyard. Her voice rang out like the cry of a divine bell, echoing across the horizon.
Ophera: Imperial Fleet CENJOVAL!
A deep resonance shook the skies. The sigil beneath her feet burst to life, glowing with molten crimson.
Then Pipolo raised both hands, his chant sharp and resonant like a blade slicing through the wind.
Pipolo: Legacy REMARKABLE HIKOTO!
A line of radiant gold shot upward, swirling around Ophera's crimson light.
Kaigi followed, planting his staff into the ground. His words shimmered in the air like falling starlight.
Kaigi: Starduster LEOZARDANION!
Countless fragments of light burst from above, dancing like constellations reborn.
Finally, Haori closed his eyes and lifted his palm, his voice calm yet filled with impossible depth.
Haori: IZBANA SEZ NOI KI!
---
From the four corners of the Cratple Tower, a blinding surge of hyper-luminal energy exploded outward brighter than the sun, purer than creation itself.
The ground trembled.
The air shimmered.
And for a brief, impossible moment everything became white silence.
Then, slowly, the light dimmed…
And the Tower stood reborn its walls now gleaming with a divine, crystalline brilliance, as if every impurity had been washed away from existence itself.
---
White (quietly): It is done.
Now… we wait.
Ophera, Pipolo, Kaigi, Haori, ixia (bowing slightly): Understood.
---
A few hours later…
Footsteps echoed across the marble path.
Flux, Mike, Hidori, Fruxiya, Silvana, Xixi, and Vivi arrived at the courtyard their eyes drawn immediately to the tower's celestial glow.
---
Flux (frowning): Huh?
Hidori: What's wrong?
Flux: The Tower… it looks different today.
Fruxiya: Don't worry. It only appears that way when the entrance has been opened.
Mike: Then… where is the entrance?
White (smiling faintly): There is no door. You will be teleported inside directly.
Flux & Mike (together): Understood.
---
Suddenly, Fruxiya moved forward and pulled Mike into a tight hug.
Fruxiya (softly): Take care of yourself, okay? …And don't die too much.
Mike (smiling warmly): Okay, sis. I won't.
---
Alicia & Ixia (together): Be careful. We don't want you to die either. Just… don't die too much, alright?
Flux (grinning): Okay, okay, I get it! But… Mom.
Ixia: Yes?
Flux: Can I ask you something?
Ixia (kindly): You can ask me anything.
---
Flux's smile faded. His ruby eyes shimmered with something fierce, something unshakable.
Flux (serious): I know you control the Tower's difficulty.
So I want you to set it…
to the hardest level possible.
---
The courtyard froze. Even the wind stopped.
Alicia (shocked): Flux… are you serious?!
Ixia: Flux, you don't understand.
The difficulty can reach levels where even gods tremble.
Flux (steadily): I know.
But when I leave this Tower… I want to walk out as the strongest version of myself.
---
White's expression softened pride flickering in his eyes.
White: Good job, Flux.
I was going to tell Ixia the same thing.
Ixia (staring, startled): Lord… you're serious?
White (smiling faintly): Yes. Make it happen.
Ixia (sighs, resigning): …Haaa… Very well.
If that's what you wish.
---
She raised her hand.
A beam of sapphire light laced with crimson surged toward the Tower's core twisting, rewriting its structure.
But then
A sudden, violent tremor shook the ground.
The pure glow of the Tower flickered turning for a moment into a deep, corrupted shade of black and crimson, before returning to normal.
The air grew heavy.
A deep, ancient hum reverberated through the stone a pulse so old it made even White's eyes narrow.
---
Silvana (coldly): …That wasn't normal.
Xixi (whispering): No… it wasn't.
Alicia (frowning): Something just… responded to him.
White (low voice): Or maybe… recognized him.
---
Flux looked up at the towering monument before him, wind ruffling his silver hair.
His hands clenched tightly his ruby eyes burning brighter than ever.
Flux (to himself):
Whatever that was…
I'll overcome it.
No matter what it takes.
The Tower's shadow stretched toward him vast, endless, and hungry.
But Flux didn't flinch.
He smiled.