The air remained suffocatingly tense as the small girl stood in the center of the Soulseed Garden, her gaze sweeping over the gathered crowd. Behind her, the Celestial Eyes—those massive, cosmic observers—flickered one last time before vanishing into the void. The destruction that had threatened to shatter Orynx had been reversed, the planet's crust mending itself as if time had been rewound.
The King was the first to break the silence, his voice tight with a mixture of greed and fear. "Nova... why did you take all the energy? That essence was meant for us to feast upon."
Nova stared at him, her eyes ancient and calm. "If you needed spiritual energy," she spoke, her voice echoing with a clarity that made the King flinch, "why didn't you just ask?"
Suddenly, Nova's form began to radiate blinding beams of incandescent light. The pressure in the garden spiked instantly. The King stumbled back, shielding his eyes. "Stop! Too much of it will kill us!"
Nova tilted her head, and the intensity faded. The light softened into a gentle, golden mist that spread out across the garden, feeding the gathered species just enough to satiate them. She stepped forward, moving toward the King with a steady, unnerving pace until she stood directly before his throne.
"So," she said, looking up at him. "Is there a process I must pass through to be officially recognized as an Origin?"
The King stared down at her, his demonic eyes narrowing. He pointed a trembling finger toward the Angel Origin, who stood nearby, leaning on a blade of pure light. "If you can fight him," the King said, a cruel smirk beginning to form. "All you need to do is land a single blow. Harm him, and your title is yours."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"That's a death sentence," one beast whispered.
"Even Xyloria couldn't touch the Angel Origin when she was newly born," a demon added. "The girl is going to die."
Nova didn't flinch. Slowly, her hand began to shimmer, her spiritual energy condensing into physical matter until her small fist looked as solid as stone. She reached out toward the King, her hand open. "Deal."
The King took her hand to seal the pact. As their skin met, his eyes widened. He felt... nothing. No flow of energy, no pulse of power. It was as if he were touching a void.
Nova pulled her hand back and vanished into thin air, leaving only a faint shimmer behind.
The King stared at his empty palm, his mind racing. *Did she just... stop her energy from flowing by sheer will? To hide her power from me?*
***
**[The Rankspire]**
Miles away, Elarion stood in the shadow of the great tower, his heart heavy with a grief he couldn't name. He had witnessed the birth of a new Origin, but all he could feel was the hollow ache where his mother's presence used to be.
Xyne broke the silence, looking up at the sky with a puzzled expression. "Wait, guys... where did all the energy go?"
Elarion looked at her, his voice flat. "What energy?"
"Every time an Origin is born, there's supposed to be a massive fallout of spiritual energy," Xyne explained, her brow furrowed. "It usually floods the entire area for miles. But today... it's like the atmosphere was vacuumed clean."
Rhyzok noticed Elarion's distant gaze and stepped in. "We don't know, Xyne. And honestly, we don't care right now." He turned to Elarion, placing a hand near his shoulder—careful not to touch. "Come on. Let's go find out what you're made of."
The three of them approached the massive obsidian gates of the Rankspire. As they creaked open, they were met with the terrifying beauty of the tower's interior. A grand staircase spiraled upward into infinity, flanked by walls that seemed to breathe with the rhythm of the planet. At a long counter near the base sat an Angel, her wings folded neatly behind her. The space was so vast that their footsteps echoed like drumbeats against the silent stone. High above, the ceiling glowed with reservoirs of trapped spiritual energy, bathing the hall in a steady, ethereal light.
They walked up to the counter. The Angel lady didn't look up from her ledger. "What is your business at the Spire?"
Elarion took a deep breath, trying to steady his vibrating form. "I'm here to check my rank."
"And I'm here to ascend," Xyne added confidently. "I'm moving up to Harbinger."
The Angel finally looked up, her gaze lingering on Xyne. "Race?"
"Born a Beast, evolved into a Demon," Xyne replied.
The Angel's eyebrows shot up. "A rare evolution. Previous rank?"
"Specter," Xyne answered without hesitation.
Elarion and Rhyzok exchanged a shocked look. A Specter was already high enough to lead a small army, and Xyne was just a girl.
"Name?" the Angel asked, her quill scratching against the parchment.
"Xyne."
The Angel then turned her cold gaze toward Elarion. "And you? Do you have a previous rank?"
Elarion blinked, shaking off his surprise. "Uh, no. No, I don't."
"Name?"
"Elarion."
The Angel tapped a small device behind her ear, her voice turning clinical. "Xyne: Beast-Demon hybrid. Rare type. Rank: Specter. Requesting Harbinger ascension. Awaiting confirmation."
After a moment, she nodded. "Both of you, take the stairs. Go to the first door on your right. You will find the Battle Arena inside. Your opponents have already been selected." She paused, looking at Elarion. "Since you are unranked, you will run the gauntlet. You will fight through four ranks: the Wisps, the Phantoms, the Specters, and finally the Harbingers. Your rank will be determined by where you fall."
Xyne frowned. "Wait. You said I'm fighting the 10th Harbinger? But my younger brother is the 10th. I can't fight him."
The Angel offered a thin, mirthless smile. "There are two slots for the 10th Harbinger. You will either fight **Draven** or you will fight **Xyke** to take their place. If you wish to stand alone as the sole 10th Harbinger... you must fight both."
She then looked at Rhyzok. "You. Stay here. Wait for them to return... if they survive." She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper. "A tip for the combatants: if you truly wish to rank up, you must either kill them or make them beg for mercy. There are no rules in the Spire."
Elarion and Xyne looked at each other, the weight of the task settling in. Elarion turned to Rhyzok. "We'll be back. Wait for us."
Rhyzok watched as his friend and the demon girl ascended the stairs, their figures growing smaller until they vanished into the shadows of the upper levels.
***
[The Origin's Realm]
Nova reappeared in the center of the arena, her small form dwarfed by the massive scale of the combat grounds. Opposite her stood the Angel Origin. He was a pillar of golden light, his expression unreadable as he gripped a sword that seemed to be made of captured starlight.
"I am ready," Nova said, her voice small but steady.
The King sat high above in his emperor's seat, his demonic eyes glowing as he leaned forward. He had cleared the arena of all other species; he wanted to see this alone. He wanted to know if he had a new puppet... or a new nightmare.
To be continued...