Sunset bled across the sky behind the Eastern Tower.
The capital below continued its endless motion, unaware—or pretending to be unaware—of the slaughter unfolding inside the ancient structure.
Seven remained.
One had already fallen in Stage One.
No one spoke about it.
No one asked.
Because we all understood.
The Ascension Trials were not ceremonial.
They were selective extinction.
We stood in a circular chamber inside the tower.
The walls were lined with shifting runes. The air hummed with unstable energy. The white-haired man stood before us once more.
His presence pressed down like an invisible ocean.
"Stage One tested your internal stability," he said calmly.
"Stage Two will test your external dominance."
The floor beneath us began to glow.
"This stage," he continued, "is not isolation."
The runes brightened.
"It is convergence."
The system panel flickered sharply.
[DING!]
Ascension Trial – Stage Two.
Event Type: Convergence Domain.
Objective:
Eliminate or force surrender of other candidates.
Survival probability: 22%.
Reward:
Major realm stabilization.
Ascension Path recognition.
My lips curved slightly.
Finally.
Something simple.
The chamber shattered.
Light swallowed everything.
When it cleared—
We stood inside a ruined floating city.
Broken towers drifted in the sky. Stone bridges connected fragmented platforms. Below, endless void.
Wind howled across shattered rooftops.
All seven of us stood on separate floating structures.
And this time—
There was no illusion.
No mirrors.
Just predators.
The system chimed.
[DING!]
Convergence Domain active.
Suppression effect: Moderate.
Dominance scoring active.
Final two survivors will advance.
Only two.
Out of seven.
Chen Varek was already moving.
He leapt across a broken bridge toward a nearby opponent.
No hesitation.
No negotiation.
The glowing-eyed woman vanished into the upper platforms.
Yan Kuro stepped backward into shadow.
Everyone understood the rules.
Devour.
Or be devoured.
I didn't rush.
Not yet.
The system panel updated rapidly.
[DING!]
Combat initiated – Chen Varek vs Unknown Candidate.
Projected elimination: 73%.
Two other candidates converging.
Opportunity: High.
A scream echoed from the eastern tower fragment.
One aura vanished instantly.
Six remained.
The floating platform beneath me trembled.
A presence approached.
I turned.
The glowing-eyed woman landed across from me.
Her aura flared, sharper than before.
"Two survivors," she said calmly.
"We both know you're the biggest threat."
I didn't respond.
"You'll grow stronger the longer this continues," she continued.
"So I'll end you first."
She vanished.
The system pulsed.
[DING!]
High-speed assault detected.
Dominion Field activation recommended.
Her attack descended from above—energy condensed around her palm like a falling star.
I stepped forward.
Not back.
Forward.
Our attacks collided midair.
Shockwaves shattered nearby ruins.
Stone fragments fell into the void.
She retreated quickly.
Faster than before.
Her eyes burned brighter.
"You broke through cleanly," she said.
"Good."
She attacked again.
This time, not directly.
Energy beams shot from surrounding pillars.
A containment formation.
The system flashed.
[DING!]
Environmental trap detected.
Energy suppression increasing.
Mobility restricted.
She hovered above.
"You rely on movement," she said.
"Let's see how you fight without it."
The void below rumbled.
I exhaled slowly.
Good.
Pressure.
That was what I needed.
Dominion Field activated.
The air around me thickened.
The glowing-eyed woman faltered slightly.
Her formation flickered.
"Impossible," she whispered.
"You can't suppress me here."
"I don't suppress you," I replied calmly.
"I dominate the space."
The system pulsed violently.
[DING!]
Extreme Domination event triggered.
Power +37.
I stepped forward.
The formation shattered.
Her energy beams collapsed.
I appeared before her midair.
My fist drove into her abdomen.
Crack.
Her eyes widened.
I followed with a downward kick.
She slammed into a floating platform below.
Stone exploded.
She tried to rise.
Her aura flickered.
"I yield," she gasped.
The system chimed.
[DING!]
Candidate eliminated.
Remaining participants: 5.
A massive explosion rocked the sky.
Chen Varek stood atop a collapsed tower.
One opponent lay unconscious at his feet.
Four remained.
Yan Kuro emerged from shadow, blade dripping with blood.
Another elimination.
Three remained.
Me.
Chen Varek.
Yan Kuro.
And one final candidate I hadn't yet faced.
The sky darkened further.
Energy storms intensified.
The Convergence Domain began shrinking.
Platforms drifted closer.
Forced confrontation.
The system pulsed.
[DING!]
Final convergence phase.
Remaining participants: 4.
Domain compression: Increasing.
The final unknown candidate appeared first.
A tall, armored man wielding twin spears.
His aura surged violently.
Near-breakthrough.
He roared and charged toward Chen Varek.
Their clash split a tower in half.
Yan Kuro moved in silence.
Blade flashing.
He cut through the armored man's defenses with surgical precision.
I stepped in last.
One strike.
The armored candidate collapsed.
He did not rise.
The system chimed.
[DING!]
Candidate eliminated.
Remaining participants: 3.
Only three remained.
Me.
Chen Varek.
Yan Kuro.
The floating ruins drifted closer until we stood on the same fractured platform.
No more distance.
No more delay.
Yan Kuro spoke first.
"No alliances," he said calmly.
Chen Varek nodded once.
Agreed.
Good.
The system pulsed violently.
[DING!]
Final three convergence.
Survival probability: 16%.
Dominance scoring at peak sensitivity.
Chen Varek attacked first.
Fist like a mountain.
I blocked.
Shockwave shattered the platform edge.
Yan Kuro struck from behind.
Blade flashing.
I dodged.
Shadow Step chained.
Three High Commanders clashed at once.
Shockwaves tore the floating city apart.
The void below roared hungrily.
The system chimed rapidly.
[DING!]
Extreme multi-opponent engagement.
Growth acceleration at maximum.
Power +42
Power +51
Heat exploded through my body.
My aura surged.
Chen Varek struck Yan Kuro across the jaw.
Yan Kuro retaliated, cutting across Varek's arm.
I stepped between them.
My palm struck Varek's chest.
My elbow drove into Yan Kuro's ribs.
Both staggered.
The domain trembled violently.
Only two could advance.
Chen Varek roared and lunged at me with everything he had.
Yan Kuro followed from the side.
I didn't retreat.
I advanced.
Dominion Field surged outward.
The platform beneath us cracked.
Their movements slowed—
Just slightly.
Enough.
My fist drove into Chen Varek's core.
He froze.
Then collapsed.
Yan Kuro's blade grazed my shoulder.
I grabbed his wrist.
Locked eyes with him.
"…You've surpassed us," he said quietly.
I drove my knee into his chest.
He fell backward.
Silence.
The void swallowed the floating city.
Light consumed everything.
When it faded—
I stood alone in the Eastern Tower chamber.
Breathing steady.
Unbroken.
The white-haired man stood before me.
And behind him—
One more survivor.
Yan Kuro.
Barely standing.
Only two remained.
The system pulsed.
[DING!]
Ascension Trial – Stage Two: Completed.
Final Stage unlocked.
Next: Judgment of Ascension.
I exhaled slowly.
One stage left.
And this one—
Would decide everything.