The Battlefield Shifts
The ring dissolved, and Zero stepped onto the cracked crimson soil, his gray eyes scanning the remnants of Trial One. Charred marks and scorched bodies littered the ground—silent reminders of the Tower's brutality. Kalen groaned, still unconscious nearby, and Arven adjusted his stance, glaring at Zero.
The voice returned, colder and sharper than before:
"Trial Two: Survival in Chaos. Only those who remain when the floor awakens may advance. Adapt… or perish."
Suddenly, the ground trembled. Massive fissures opened, sending jagged red shards shooting upward like spears. Dozens of monstrous forms—shapes of twisted muscle and sharpened bone—emerged from the soil. These were not climbers, not reflections—they were manifestations of the Tower itself, bred from the memories of previous failures.
Zero's hand went to his sword. "The floor isn't just testing strength… it's testing awareness."
Arven gritted his teeth. "Then we fight. No hiding this time."
Tactical Advantage
Zero surveyed the monsters, noting patterns in their movements. They attacked in swarms, but each creature had predictable openings after striking. Instead of charging recklessly, Zero moved with precision, striking only where it mattered.
He feinted, drew a creature toward a fissure, and as it lunged, he slashed its flank—sending it tumbling into the ground, impaled by jagged crimson shards.
Arven followed more recklessly, forcing creatures to attack him first, letting Zero strike from the shadows.
Kalen stirred, eyes wide and terrified. "Z-Zero… we can't… handle them all!"
Zero's gaze swept over him, cold but sharp. "Then don't try to handle them all. Survive. Watch. Learn. Strike where the opportunity arises."
The Price of Emotion
Amid the chaos, a white-haired girl appeared again, drawn to the fight. Her energy flared uncontrollably, lightning arcing wildly from her palms. "I… I can help!" she cried.
Zero's eyes flicked to her, analyzing the risk. Her attacks were powerful—but unrefined. One stray bolt could kill an ally or herself.
"Control it!" Zero barked, moving in to intercept a stray attack. He deflected a bolt with his sword, sparks flying, and in the same motion, struck a creature in the throat.
The girl's eyes widened, fear overtaking her. Energy surged wildly again. Zero made the split-second decision: a precise slash of his blade severed her connection to her own energy, ending her uncontrolled surge. She crumpled—dead before she even touched the ground.
Arven's jaw dropped. "You… killed her?"
Zero's gray eyes didn't waver. "She killed herself. The Tower doesn't forgive mistakes."
The Climb of Survival
The battlefield became a blur of blood, flame, and steel. Zero moved fluidly, using the terrain to his advantage, dodging attacks, and predicting each creature's strike. Arven adapted beside him, their teamwork imperfect but effective, and Kalen struggled to follow—barely keeping himself alive.
After what felt like hours compressed into minutes, the monsters began to dissipate, leaving scorched earth and broken bodies. Only three climbers remained standing: Zero, Arven, and Kalen, though Kalen's injuries left him barely conscious.
The voice returned, echoing across the floor:
"Three remain. You have survived… but only those who learn from this floor may ascend. The Blood-Touched Floor does not forgive hesitation, fear, or mercy."
Zero looked down at his hands, blood-streaked but steady. "Clarity," he muttered. "Not mercy. Not hesitation. Clarity."
The Tower Watches
From the shadows, a faint pulse ran across the cracked ground, energy flickering like veins beneath the soil. The Tower itself seemed to acknowledge Zero's performance, measuring every strike, every decision.
Arven, bloodied but alive, muttered, "You… you're not like the others. How do you stay… so calm?"
Zero's gaze remained fixed on the horizon, where scarlet clouds bled endlessly. "Because panic is death. Fear is death. Only the one who sees clearly… survives."
A staircase of jagged crimson stone appeared before them, spiraling upward into a sky darker than before. The next stage of the Blood-Touched Floor awaited—and Zero already calculated every possible threat that lay ahead.
"Move," he said quietly to Arven. "The floor doesn't wait."
With that, they ascended, each step bringing them deeper into the Tower's relentless trial—where only clarity, not compassion, ensured survival.