The floating island drifted silently through the endless sky.
Below it, rivers of light twisted through the abyss like glowing veins. Countless islands moved slowly within the currents, some small enough to hold a single tree, others massive enough to resemble kingdoms suspended in the heavens.
And somewhere among them—
Other candidates were already fighting.
Souro stood near the island's edge, staring into the distance. Faint flashes of power erupted across the far sky every few minutes.
The war had already begun.
"We need information first," Yuna said calmly.
She knelt near the center of the island, pressing her hand lightly against the stone surface. Thin lines of pale energy spread outward like roots searching through the ground.
"This territory has a core."
Nova blinked. "A core?"
"Every island should have one," Haru explained quietly. "If territory determines ascension, then the cores are probably what stabilize ownership."
Helia crossed her arms.
"And what happens if someone destroys it?"
Albert answered before anyone else could.
"Then the territory changes owners."
Silence followed.
Simple.
Brutal.
Exactly like the tower.
A low vibration suddenly pulsed beneath their feet.
The glowing veins across the island brightened.
Then, slowly, a structure began rising from the center of the floating land.
Stone pillars emerged first.
Ancient.
Covered in faded symbols.
Between them floated a crystal suspended in midair, radiating pale blue light.
The island core.
Nova stared upward.
"Okay… that's actually cool."
But Souro's expression darkened slightly.
The moment the crystal appeared, his crescent mark began burning again.
Not painfully.
Warningly.
Something was coming.
Haru looked toward the western sky.
"We're being watched."
At first, Souro saw nothing.
Then—
Movement.
Three floating islands were approaching.
Fast.
Too fast.
None of them drifted naturally like the others.
They were being controlled.
Helia's smile faded.
"Well. That didn't take long."
The approaching islands locked into position around them, forming a loose triangle.
Figures stood at the edges.
Candidates.
One jumped first.
A massive man crashed onto the island hard enough to crack the stone beneath him. Dark armor covered his body, and a giant axe rested across one shoulder.
Behind him landed a girl wrapped in crimson cloth, twin daggers spinning effortlessly between her fingers.
The third arrived silently.
A tall figure wearing a white mask.
No aura leaked from him at all.
That alone felt wrong.
The system activated immediately.
Territory Conflict Detected
Claim Status: Unresolved
Combat Permission: Granted
Nova groaned.
"There it is."
The armored man laughed loudly, his voice echoing across the floating island.
"So these are the irregulars everyone's talking about?"
His eyes moved across the group before settling on Albert and Souro.
Golden aura.
Silver shadow.
Recognition flashed immediately.
The crimson-cloaked girl smirked.
"You can feel it too, Darius?"
So that was his name.
Darius rested the axe against his shoulder again.
"They're dangerous."
The masked figure remained silent.
Watching.
Always watching.
Yuna stepped forward calmly.
"We don't want unnecessary conflict."
The crimson girl laughed.
"Then you picked the wrong floor."
Without warning, she vanished.
Fast.
Too fast for normal movement.
Nova barely reacted in time, blocking a dagger strike aimed directly at her throat.
Metal clashed.
Sparks exploded outward.
The battlefield ignited instantly.
Darius roared and swung his axe downward.
Albert raised one hand.
Golden light erupted between them.
The collision shook the entire island.
Shockwaves blasted outward into the sky.
Souro's eyes narrowed.
The masked figure still hadn't moved.
That bothered him more than the others.
Haru noticed too.
"Careful," he warned quietly. "He's the dangerous one."
The masked candidate tilted his head slightly.
Then—
The stars disappeared.
Everyone froze.
The sky above the floating islands darkened unnaturally, as though space itself had been swallowed.
Even Haru's starlight flickered uncertainly.
The masked figure finally spoke.
"One authority…"
His voice sounded distorted.
"…does not belong."
The moment he finished speaking, Souro's crescent mark exploded with pain.
He dropped to one knee.
The crack spread slightly further.
15%.
Selene immediately rushed toward him.
"Souro!"
Silver light gathered around her instinctively.
The masked figure turned toward her slowly.
For the first time—
He reacted.
"…Moon vessel," he whispered.
The atmosphere changed.
Danger flooded the battlefield.
Albert's golden aura flared violently.
Haru's starlight ignited.
Even Yuna's calm expression hardened.
The masked figure raised one hand toward Selene.
And the floating islands around them began collapsing.