I CLIMB (A Progression/Evolution Sci-Fi Novel)

The ground rumbled as the three MRVs made their way across the barren lands of the Ajnal region, the reinforced suspensions keeping the vehicles relatively stable over the uneven terrain while the soft hum of the magnetised motors echoed beneath them.

"So these Xayen ruins," Chiara asked, her gaze fixed ahead. "You think they hold the key to passing this stage?"

"I'm not sure," Lukas replied. "Based on what Alonso just told us—and what we already know—it's clear there are several of them scattered across this world. The Xayen seem to be the common thread linking all major groups in this stage—the origin of the Ajnal, Azcoyatl, beastmen, and even the Xok'al. If they're not the key, they're at least the map to the exit."

Alonso reclined in his leather chair, arms folded. "The one you mentioned in the Azcoyatl capital… what's it about?"

"It's more of a sacred site," Lukas said. "I wasn't allowed in, but Chiara gained access to it after rising to the High Priest position. It contained fragments of their history, several Meca construction blueprints, and the Sun Pulse technique. It's no coincidence the entire Azcoyatl civilization is built atop the knowledge preserved in that underground Xayen facility."

A pulse came through from another MRV—Imani's. "So there should be one in the Ajnal capital too?"

"If The Tower likes symmetry, then yes," Lukas said. "Alonso and Ayu just confirmed the beastmen have one, so the Ajnal likely do as well. That leaves the one Alonso stumbled upon as an anomaly. Was your fall intended by The Tower? Did it want you to see it? Or was it just coincidence?"

Alonso exhaled, eyes on the shifting landscape beyond the thick glass. "I don't know. But… the beastmen ruin had fragments that could translate into coordinates. Hard to interpret, but when cross-referenced with the data from the one I fell into… it starts to line up. Which means—"

"The more we find, the more of them we can locate," Lukas finished, eyes narrowing. "So, we now know of three of them. Two seem to become accessible only after earning high status among the beastmen and Azcoyatl. The third? A fluke—maybe. Now let's consider Chiara's theory: that this stage is partially scripted by a higher power: The Tower.

He leaned forward.

"Three major groups. Each with their own social ladder. Once you reach high enough in each, you're granted access to these Xayen ruins. You piece together history. Gain knowledge—skills, technology, power. And if these ruins are fragments of a bigger structure, or data set…"

Chiara nodded, catching on. "Then cross-referencing multiple ruins would give you the coordinates of the others—and guide you to the stage's objective?"

"Well… let's find out, shall we?" Lukas grinned. "In any case, these ruins provide knowledge that's easily convertible into power. And that's what we need in this place more than anything."

Alonso remained silent for a moment before speaking. "There's one thing, Lukas, I still haven't figured out about the Xayen. From what I know, they're clearly the origin of all four groups, but the timelines just don't add up. Supposedly, the Xayen fell hundreds of years ago, since the Ajnal have existed for at least 245 years based on their calendar. And yet… the Xok'al Origin War is traced to just 40 or 50 years in the past. So how did the Xok'al only emerge a few decades ago if the Xayen created them centuries earlier?

Also… none of the records explain why the Xayen fell. The obvious guess is that it's tied to their last creation: the Xok'al. But how? Did they end up exterminating each other? Did the Xayen survivors scatter into the Ajnal and Azcoyatl? And what about the Xok'al—did they really remain dormant for more than two centuries?"

Lukas shrugged. "Those are fascinating questions, Alonso, but I know as much as you do. Perhaps the rest of the ruins will fill that gap?"

"Well, there's nothing I can say regarding the Xayen," Imani pulsed back. "I apologise—my standing in the Ajnal isn't high enough to grant me a position in the capital. However, there's an old verse I heard from a fellow Sun Bearer while we were travelling toward the Soaken Eagle fort."

He sent the pulse, then followed it with another after a brief pause.

"It was something like an old revelation, passed down by an Ajnal priest. And it went:

'When five tails rise, blood will flood the stone.

The sixth shall feast on kings and crush the sky.

But should the seventh stir from bone—

Then all shall burn.

Then all shall die.'"

All remained quiet after they heard it, Lukas' gaze shifting slightly. "Interesting."

"So does this mean there are, like, six-tail and seven-tail Xok'al out there?" Ayu asked, her curiosity finally stirred by what had, until now, been an overly long lore dump in her opinion.

"I suppose," Lukas said. "But I can't even imagine how powerful a seven-tail Xok'al could be. I mean, you all saw the Warden. If something like that showed up with two extra tails, well… the poem doesn't leave much to the imagination," he added with a dry chuckle.

"So it'd be stronger than Makoh?" Ayu asked.

"Absolutely," Alonso smiled.

"Hey, don't go disrespecting my master," Ayu pouted, elbowing him lightly in the ribs.

"Makoh? Oh, the Beastmen Grandmaster… yes, he's a truly powerful existence," Lukas said, "but as Alonso just mentioned, even if every major power in this stage joined forces, extrapolations based on the 2- to 5-tail variants suggest that a seven-tail Xok'al would be virtually invincible—a god-tier entity in this stage."

"So you're saying The Tower might not want us to fight it?" Chiara tilted her head.

"I hope so," Lukas grinned. "But according to the poem, it does say if it comes to be… so maybe we have to prevent its birth or something, instead of actually fighting it."

"But six tails—there will be for sure, right?" Ayu asked.

"Yes, those we'll probably have to beat in some way or another," Lukas sighed. "Again, according to the verse, it says 'feast on kings', which could probably refer to the Emperors… meaning—"

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"They're stronger than the Emperors?" Chiara's gaze widened slightly. She knew well how strong the Azcoyatl Emperor was.

"Guys, you're looking at me like I'm the DM in a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, come on. What do I know? I'm just reading between the lines," Lukas chuckled. "Let's take it one step at a time. No rush. No point talking about six tails when a Warden can still wipe us all out if we get caught off guar—"

"Lukas, Xok'al squad up ahead. Singular Commander-variant detected."

Lukas' gaze shifted as he received the transmission from Mei's squad high above in the floating platform.

"Arjun, shoot it down."

"Mei, eliminate the rest."

"Jun, send a Meca to collect the four-tail's corpse—ignore the rest."

After receiving confirmation, Lukas leaned back in his seat.

A moment later, a shot rang out, followed by a heavy boom that made the ground tremble slightly.

"Anyway, as I was saying—let's take it easy, shall we?"

"Good… how long until we arrive? And why does Arjun get to have all the fun? I want to get on that floating platform too," Ayu leaned forward, clearly bored.

"Well, it's… not easy keeping that platform afloat. It's made of lightweight conductive alloys, and everyone up there—mainly the Azcoyatl Priests under Chiara—are in the Second Pillar State with zero Body State, except for Mei and Arjun, who are at one. Most of their EM force is needed just to keep it hovering under this stage's strong gravity. If we add you…"

"Fuck, are you calling me heavy?"

"Well, I mean… in a good way, right? Like just 300–400 kilos or something, right?" Lukas chuckled as a fist stopped less than a millimetre from his nose.

"Well, it's not my fault you guys don't train the body," Ayu huffed, then turned to Alonso with a mischievous glint. "You also think I'm overweight?"

Alonso stared daggers at Lukas, who blinked, amused.

"They are just jealous you are nearing the Third Body State and they haven't hit the first."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"You're perfect, Ayu," Alonso smiled. "I mean, what's 400 kilos on a 1.53 young lady?"

"Yeah, right?" Ayu said and plopped onto Alonso's lap, intentionally pressing down.

But Alonso just wrapped an arm around her comfortably.

Truth be told, even if Ayu weighed a ton—which, at this rate, might actually happen soon—he'd just have to keep up with his Body State. No big deal. He was already nearing 500 kilos himself.

The larger the SP and the higher the Body State, the more absurd things got anyway.

Several minutes passed, with Lukas joking and Ayu hitting back with some pointy remarks that seemed to hint at a blooming relationship between Chiara and Lukas—one that, in Alonso's opinion, was about damn time.

Eventually, the banter faded as the terrain began to shift.

The ground below turned jagged and fractured, carved through by a series of deep gashes scorched into the stone.

No trees. No grass. Just blackened earth and clawed-out ridges that led toward a wide depression carved into the valley floor like a scar.

The MRVs rolled to a halt at the edge of the ridge. Dust settled in the silence as the EM engines powered down. Ayu was the first to hop out.

"Finally," she groaned, stretching her arms behind her back. "I swear I'm running next time. Faster and comfier than being crammed in that tin box."

Lukas stepped out behind her, scanning the ruined terrain ahead. "So these are the rough coordinates? Two hundred metres underground?"

"Yep," Alonso nodded. "Brings back memories—dark, claustrophobic, and near-death unforgettable moments. Anyway, there should be a Xok'al nest nearby. We can enter from there."

"Can you give us an approximate entry point?" Lukas asked.

Alonso narrowed his eyes. "Houston?"

"Got it."

3D visuals flashed in Alonso's mind. He forwarded it instantly to Lukas via pulse. "Here you go. Margin of error's under ten metres."

"Good enough." Lukas linked the team with a wideband mental channel. "Alright, here's the layout. Chiara and I will find a good position for overwatch and data relay—Imani, you'll hold with us in case we run into problems. Ayu, Wang, Alonso—you're the entry team. Proceed with caution and move low."

He paused a beat, checking confirmations.

"Arjun, Mei—stealth recon perimeter from the platform. Keep over 600 meters from ground level. Scan for patrols or dormant signals. If the nest goes hot, neutralise priority threats with precision shots and don't break cover unless absolutely necessary."

A soft click of mental acknowledgment passed through the group.

"Jun, use the Meca units to set up a 300-meter EPM net. Once it's deployed, keep them prepped and anchored near the ridge. Do not advance unless ordered—we don't want to kick the hornet's nest early."

A final beat of silence.

"Alright. Move out."

"Wait, Lukas," Arjun sent a signal. "Shortly after Imani left, we withdrew from the nearby outpost due to the appearance of several High Nests in the area. So… we may be looking at more than one nest."

"Well, High Nests just mean they have 4-tails. Nothing bad. Alonso has precise coordinates, so even if it's a maze down there, we won't get lost. The priority is securing that Xayen ruin."

Lukas locked eyes with Chiara as she stepped forward, her feet landing on one of her discs floating horizontally, effortlessly supporting her weight just inches above the ground.

"You found a spot?"

Chiara nodded and sent him a pulse with the coordinates.

"Good. Let's move the gear there—I'll get my rifle ready too. Imani, think you can help us carry some of the boxes?"

"Sure," he nodded.

"Alright, we'll set up quickly," Lukas said, then turned toward Alonso. "You three can head out anytime. Alonso, in case we lose connection for any reason, you're in command—but prioritize regrouping over pushing forward, no matter how confident you feel."

Alonso gave an amused military salute. "Yes, commander."

Ayu whistled while twirling her kukri daggers, and Wang checked that his mech armor was functioning properly.

"By the way, before I forget—what's the plan with the Warden's metal?" Alonso asked.

"Oh… interested?"

"Absolutely," Alonso turned to Imani. "Heard you're a Master Smith now. Think you can make some good blades similar to these?"

He tossed Imani the Miaodao-model sword. Imani caught it, inspected it briefly, then handed it back.

"Sure. I will also need to know about your capacitor node locations. We can talk more once this mission's done."

"Nice. So…" Alonso looked at Lukas. "That means I can get some of it?"

"Be my guest. Consider it a welcome-back present."

"Perfect."

Alonso smiled as he turned back, eyes fixed on the ridge ahead. Old memories came flooding in—dark, raw, and vivid.

Yet… he looked at Ayu, and then the others.

It was different now.