After Flux vanished from the first floor, he slowly regained consciousness
in a vast, blank world of pure pitch-blue light.
The space stretched endlessly, with no sound, no horizon, nothing but a haunting stillness.
Flux: Where… am I?
His voice echoed into emptiness, but no one answered.
Then suddenly
A floating ruby crystal appeared before him, glowing with a soft crimson radiance.
Crystal: Hmm… you're Flux, right?
Flux (confused): What the? A talking crystal now? Who are you?
Crystal: I asked first, you know.
Flux: …Yeah, yeah. Fine. I'm Flux. Now your turn who are you?
Crystal: Alright. I suppose I should explain.
Well… I'm actually you.
Flux: Huh?!
---
Outside the Tower
White: Hm… We can't see him for now. Let's rest a bit.
Everyone: Okay.
As the group disperses, Silvana glances toward Ixia.
Silvana: Hey, Ixi?
Ixia (calmly, kindly): Yeah?
Silvana: When you cleared your floor… what happened?
I mean, even Lord White and everyone else gave up trying to figure out where Flux goes after each stage.
Ixia: Hmm… How should I put this…? Oh, right come with me.
Her marble-like purple hair shimmered as she suddenly broke into a run.
Silvana: Hey wait!
Silvana (thinking): Whoa, she's actually really cute when she runs
Silvana (snapping, flustered): OI, AUTHOR! I'M NOT LIKE THAT! SHE'S JUST MY BESTIE, OKAY?!
Author: Alright, alright, calm down. Stop breaking the 4th wall, please.
Silvana: Hmph, fine.
They enter an empty room, shutting the door.
Silvana: Now spill it. What's really going on?
Ixia: Okay. So, in the Craptle Tower, when someone completes a floor…
you don't go straight to the next one.
Silvana: Huh? Then where do you go?
Ixia: To a blank realm. A place where the colors you see aren't real they're the opposite of your nature.
Silvana: The opposite? What kind of colors?
Ixia: For me, it was dark red and raw black.
Silvana: So… murder and darkness?
Ixia: Exactly.
Silvana: What about others?
Ixia: There are tons of variations:
Pure White: Represents someone so evil their darkness overwhelms purity.
Pitch Black: The opposite a soul so pure that purity overflows.
Red Shades: A kind heart who fears violence; even seeing blood makes them sick.
Plain Blue: A person who finds pleasure in killing, who enjoys brutality.
Varied Blue: Someone deeply caring, willing to die for their loved ones pure devotion.
There are many more, honestly. I forgot some of them.
Silvana: Whoa… that's wild. But what's that place for?
Ixia: It's where you receive… information.
Something too brutal, too depressing or something too important to be shared with anyone else.
The info helps you grow, but the cost can be painful.
Silvana: Hmm… I like that kind of dangerous concept.
Ixia: Heh, but here's the thing
you never know whether what you learn is good or bad.
Silvana: Oh… that's brutal, actually.
Ixia: Yeah.
Silvana: So what about you? What did you get?
Ixia: Me? My info was 55% brutal, 45% good.
Fruxiya's was 65% good and 35% brutal.
Silvana: And Hidori?
Ixia: His results were locked by the tower itself.
Silvana: Locked?
Ixia: Yeah. If he even tries to tell someone, his mind and the listener's mind will break.
It strikes a part of the brain that even gods can't defend.
Even Lord White would die if he tried to access that knowledge.
Silvana: That's insane…
Ixia: I know.
---
Back to Flux
The crystal was now explaining the same thing to him.
Crystal: So that's the purpose of this realm. Now… it's your turn to receive your information.
Flux: Oh, interesting. Alright then, hit me.
Crystal: Brace yourself.
Before Flux could respond, his thoughts went blank
a tidal wave of memories, sensations, and voices crushed his mind.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself watching a scene from above
his body half-transparent, like a ghost observing time itself.
Below him, a person knelt crying, trembling, and shouting not in sorrow, but in rage.
Person (shaking, sobbing): I-I thought you'd give me what I wanted! But why… why even you… one of the strongest… died?!
Please, come back! You you brought me out of that darkness! Now you're gone! Why… why did you leave me alone?!
Please… just use your ice orb! Just come back!
Flux (thinking): What the…? Who is that? And wait _ice orb?
Why does that sound… familiar?
Person (sniffling, angry): Fine… if you can't come back, I'll make sure your legacy lives.
I'll train using your power only your power!
And whoever isn't worthy of it,,, I'll destroy them!
Flux noticed his own body starting to fade.
Flux: Bruh! Seriously? Just when it's getting good?!
Person (voice echoing): I'll finish what you started, Master Az__
Before the name could be heard, Flux completely vanished.
Darkness swallowed his vision.
Flux: …Again? Guess that means I'm on the next floor now.
---
Meanwhile, with Mike
Mike: Ugh… Where am I now?
---
End of Chapter 65.
Wait for the next one_let me cook the next course 👨🍳🔥