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The bodies of the Geminis—Dark Seraph, Mistibeast, Yoka, Rocksborne, Ragumon, Titnice, and Whisperkin—lay strewn across the ground, their inky ichor pooling in the cracks, their once-formidable presence reduced to lifeless husks. Zane stood at the heart of the devastation, his white hair streaked with dust, his piercing eyes cold and unyielding, the platinum ring on his finger glinting as he faced the remaining Primordials. Kenshi lay crumpled, blood seeping from his face, his katana useless beside him. Yuna slumped against a bent streetlight, her black crop top torn, blood matting her hair, her sharp eyes flickering with pain but defiant. Kai gripped his twin swords, the dragon tattoo stark through his half-zipped jacket, his raven-black hair clinging to his sweat-soaked forehead. Valmer staggered forward, his long black coat tattered, rosary beads clinking, sable-rose eyes burning with a mix of resolve and desperation. Celine stood near Ariel's lifeless body, her red hair spilling over her shoulders, her voice trembling but resolute.

Valmer took a step closer, his boots scraping the gravel, each movement a struggle against his battered body. "All the Geminis are dead, Zane Walker," he said, his voice steady despite the blood dripping from his forehead. "Why do we have to die by a fellow human's hand?" He gestured to the fallen Geminis, their corpses a grim testament to Zane's wrath. "Think about it—would this be what Ariel would've wanted?"

Zane's gaze hardened, his jaw tightening, his voice a low, frigid growl. "Shut up. You brought a kid to this battlefield. Would you have done that if she was 'your' sister?" The words cut like a blade, his hand twitching toward the platinum ring, ready to summon Ruinblaze.

Valmer's eyes flickered with pain, memories of his street days flashing—caring for his siblings, scrounging for scraps before the Holy Father took him in. "No, I wouldn't," he admitted, his voice soft but firm, taking another labored step. "But killing us won't bring her back, will it?" He was stalling, buying time, hoping someone—anyone—could find a way to stop Zane's rampage.

Zane's lips curled into a bitter smirk, his eyes devoid of warmth. "No, it won't. But at the very least, it'll make me feel better." He stepped forward, intent clear, his hand hovering over his ring, ready to end Valmer.

But Yuna, despite the agony in her ribs, seized the moment. Her hands trembled as she traced intricate patterns in the air, her sharp eyes narrowing with focus, her voice a strained whisper as she chanted, pushing through the pain.

"A will to move, yet bound you'll remain,

A will to fight, yet you'll struggle in vain.

Gravity slams, your steps are still,

Kneel to earth, obey my will.

Crushed by force, feel the scath,

Force Domain: Gravity's Wrath."

[System Notice]

Yuna Lee has activated the skill [Force Domain: Gravity's Wrath].

MP Used: 12,000

MP Remaining: 30,000

Effect: Multiplies gravity within a 10-meter radius of an enemy by sevenfold

The air grew heavy, the ground trembling as an invisible force slammed down, pressing against everything around Zane. Yuna had poured 12,000 MP into the spell, far more than the usual 5,000, knowing Zane's strength demanded excess. The pavement cracked further under the weight, dust rising as the gravity intensified, forcing even the air to feel like lead.

Kai, his swords raised, glanced at Yuna, hope flickering in his eyes. "How long till it takes effect?" he asked, ready to strike.

"It should already be working," Yuna replied, her voice uncertain, her eyes wide as she watched Zane. "But how is he…?"

Zane walked forward, each step deliberate, the pavement splintering beneath his boots, leaving deep footprints as the sevenfold gravity bore down on him. His white hair whipped in the wind, his expression unchanging, as if the crushing force was a mere inconvenience. "You want me to kneel… in 'this' gravity?" he said, his voice laced with disdain, his eyes locked on Yuna.

Kai lunged to intercept, his twin swords flashing, determined to protect Yuna from another strike. But as he entered the spell's radius, the gravity slammed him to the ground, his knees buckling, swords clattering as he gasped, pinned like an insect. 'What the hell? How's he moving like it's nothing? There's no way we can win even if I use that skill.' Kai thought, his face pressed to the pavement, as he fought to rise.

Zane ignored him, looming over Yuna, who barely stood, her hands trembling, remnants of blood stuck on her temple. "Why can't you all wait your turn?" he said, his voice cold, steadying her with one hand as if to ensure she faced her end clearly. "If you want to die so badly, I'll grant it."

Celine's voice broke through, desperate and raw, as she stepped forward, her hazel eyes glistening. "Zane, please stop!" she shouted. "If you do this, you'll be turning the whole world against you. This isn't what Ariel would've wanted!"

Zane's gaze snapped to her, his eyes narrowing, memories of schoolyard bullying flashing—her standing by, silent, as he suffered. He summoned Ruinblaze, the silver blade materializing with its red runes stark, and pointed it at Yuna's chest, ignoring Celine's plea. The blade's edge glinted, poised to strike, as Yuna stared back, defiant despite her pain, her hands twitching for one last spell.

Valmer staggered closer, his rosary beads clinking, his fists glowing faintly with holy energy, ready to intervene despite his wounds. Kai struggled against the gravity, his swords scraping as he pushed himself up, his jaw clenched. Kenshi, still crumpled, stirred faintly, his amber eyes flickering open, his katana just out of reach. The battlefield was a powder keg, Zane's wrath the spark ready to ignite it.

A sudden chime broke the tension, a holographic screen flickering before each Primordial.

[System Notice]

The Tutorial has ended. Congratulations to all surviving players. Please rest and prepare for the Trial of Rankers (ToR) which shall be taking place in the Tower.

Time remaining until ToR: 2 months

Please check your profile for rewards delivered by the System.

Current Planetary Evaluation: RANK D (Low Risk)

Global Clearance Rate: 39.8%

Awakened Individuals Detected:

(Classified)

Highest Known Combatant: Primordial Rank

World Guardians: [2]

Hero Candidates: [3]

Potential for Apex Evolution: < 0.1%

Hope Index: 47.2%

The Primordials, consumed by their fight for survival, hadn't noticed time's passage, the storm clouds cloaking the battlefield in a timeless haze. As the world beyond rejoiced, they faced a trial of their own. Zane, unmoved by the System's message, tightened his grip on Ruinblaze, his blade poised to pierce Yuna's heart, his intent clear: to make them all pay for Ariel's death, to ease his pain at the very least.

But a voice, soft yet piercing, cut through the silence. "Stop, big brother."

[System Notice]

System has auto-activated the skill [Second Life].

Effect: Revives once upon death. Cooldown: 7 days.

All eyes snapped to Ariel, who stirred against the crumbled wall, her golden hair matted with blood, her tattered dress clinging to her frail frame. Her blue eyes fluttered open, weak but alive, fixed on Zane. His face, once hollow with grief and rage, softened, mirroring the gentle expression he'd worn years ago in their mansion, before the world turned to ash. A memory flashed in Ariel's mind—her spotting a maid slipping something into Zane's food at the dining table, her voice trembling as she warned him.

"Big brother, don't eat your food today," she'd said, her eyes wide with worry.

"Why?" Zane had asked, his tone calm, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"I saw her put something in it," Ariel whispered, glancing at the maid. In their household, poison in food could only be meant for one person—Zane, the outcast heir.

"Oh, that poison?" Zane had chuckled, his voice light. "I gave it to her. Don't worry." He'd ruffled her hair, his smile warm but edged with something darker. "I led her to it, so I'd know what to expect. Know yourself and your enemy, Ariel, and you'll always win."

That same expression—calm, calculated, yet tinged with love—returned now as Ariel gazed at him, her voice weak but steady. Zane's eyes widened, disbelief warring with hope. He dropped Ruinblaze, the blade clattering to the pavement, and scrambled to her side, enveloping her in a tight embrace, his arms trembling as he buried his face in her hair. He didn't ask how she was alive, didn't care about the System's mechanics—only that she was here, breathing, her heartbeat faint but real against his chest.

"Ariel? But how?" Kai stammered, his twin swords lowering, his boots rooted to the gravel. Valmer froze, rosary beads still, his sable-rose eyes wide with shock. Yuna, despite her pain, managed a faint smile, her spell fading as the gravity eased, her hands dropping. Celine's tears spilled over, her hazel eyes bright with relief, her hands clasped tightly as she stepped closer.

Kenshi, stirring from the pavement, blood dripping from his skull tattoo, pushed himself up, his amber eyes narrowing as he watched Zane cradle Ariel. "She's alive?" he muttered, his katana trembling in his grip, his voice hoarse but steady.

Zane's embrace tightened, his voice a whisper against Ariel's ear. "You're okay… you're okay." But his eyes flicked to the Primordials, a flicker of his earlier rage lingering, though softened by Ariel's revival. He rose and turned to face the others, his white hair catching the dim light, his expression unreadable.

Celine took a tentative step forward, her voice trembling but firm. "Zane… she's alive. You don't have to do this."

Kai nodded, his swords still raised but cautious. "Yeah, man, she's back. You don't need to go all executioner on us."

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who's stuck with the story this far! I'd love to hear your thoughts on what you expect from the Tower in the comments. I'm super flexible and always open to your ideas!

SPOILER ALERT:

...

The next chapter unveils the Whisperkin's true identity!