Tower of god:Skybender

The air shifted the moment Kael and Ami stepped through the shimmering portal onto the 17th floor. What greeted them wasn't the oppressive mist of ancient ruins or the tension of combat, but a world that seemed straight out of a dream—or a nightmare.

Candy-colored hills stretched into the horizon, their surfaces glossy like they were coated in sugar. Rivers of syrup snaked lazily between gumdrop-shaped boulders, and massive lollipops jutted from the ground like trees. The sky above was a swirl of pastel pinks and blues, with fluffy clouds shaped like cotton candy drifting aimlessly.

"What the…" Kael muttered, his wings fluttering in discomfort.

Ami, standing beside him, tilted her head and smirked. "Well, isn't this… sweet? I feel like I just stepped into a candy store. Or maybe a fever dream."

Before Kael could reply, a shrill, high-pitched giggle echoed through the air. It was cheerful, but there was something unsettling about it—like laughter bubbling just on the edge of madness.

"Welcome, little ones!"

Kael and Ami turned sharply toward the voice. On a raised platform in the middle of the candy-coated landscape stood a stuffed bear, about four feet tall, with patchwork fur stitched together in clashing pastel colors. Its button eyes glinted unnaturally, and its mouth—sewn into a perpetual smile—moved as it spoke. It waved one stubby paw, holding a striped candy cane like a scepter.

"I am Mr. Cuddles, your host and test administrator for the 17th floor!" the bear announced, its voice saccharine and grating.

Ami blinked, clearly unimpressed. "A talking toy bear. Great. What's next? A singing cupcake?"

Kael ignored her comment, his eyes narrowing as he studied Mr. Cuddles. There was something about the way its button eyes moved—like it was watching them a little too closely.

"Your test is simple!" Mr. Cuddles continued, hopping in place with an unnerving energy. "This is Candy Land, and your goal is to collect the candies scattered across the floor. Each of you must gather five candies and bring them back to me. Only then will you pass!"

Kael frowned. "That doesn't sound too bad—"

"Ah, ah, ah!" Mr. Cuddles interrupted, wagging its stubby paw. "Did you think it would be that easy? Of course not! This isn't just a game about sweets. It's a game about trust, greed… and survival."

The cheerful tone of its voice dropped slightly on the last word, sending a chill through the otherwise sugary air.

"The candies are scattered all around," Mr. Cuddles explained, hopping off the platform. "Some are sweet and harmless. But others… well, let's just say they might have a little bite to them. And here's the fun part: you won't know what kind of candy you've picked up until you eat it!"

Ami raised an eyebrow. "What happens if it's one of the bad ones?"

The bear's perpetual smile somehow seemed more sinister. "Oh, you'll find out. Maybe you'll get a little woozy. Maybe you'll lose something… important. Or maybe—just maybe—you won't get to play anymore."

Kael's stomach turned at the implications, but he kept his expression calm. "And what about the people we're playing against?"

Mr. Cuddles clapped its stubby paws together. "Oh, I'm so glad you asked! There are 15 of you here today, but only 10 will pass. If someone gets all five of their candies, they're safe. But if someone… disappears, well, that's one less competitor for you to worry about."

Kael's wings rustled uneasily. "So it's a free-for-all."

"Exactly!" Mr. Cuddles cheered, spinning in a circle. "You can take candies from others, trick them into eating the bad ones, or work together. But remember, little ones, there are no guarantees in Candy Land. Be sweet, or be sour—it's up to you!"

The bear's voice rose to a manic pitch as it finished. "Now, let the game begin!"

With that, the ground trembled slightly, and candies of all shapes and sizes began appearing throughout the landscape. They shimmered like gemstones, nestled among the gumdrop hills and syrupy rivers.

Kael turned to Ami, his voice low. "This isn't just a game. It's a trap."

"Obviously," Ami replied, her tone dry. "But hey, at least it's a colorful trap. So, what's the plan, oh fearless leader?"

Kael scanned the area, watching as the other participants fanned out in search of candies. Some moved cautiously, while others sprinted toward the nearest shiny objects, their greed overtaking their sense of caution.

"We don't split up," Kael said firmly. "We stick together and pick up candies carefully. If they're dangerous, I'd rather figure it out before we're surrounded by enemies."

Ami smirked. "Look at you, being all protective. How sweet."

Kael shot her a look. "Just focus, Ami."

They moved cautiously through the candy-coated terrain, keeping a wide berth from the other participants. Kael's eyes darted constantly, scanning for threats. The cheerful atmosphere of Candy Land felt like a cruel joke, masking the underlying tension.

The first candy they found was a small, bright red orb nestled in the hollow of a giant licorice vine. Kael hesitated before reaching for it, his instincts warning him to be careful.

"Let me," Ami said, stepping forward. She plucked the candy with two fingers and held it up to the light. "Looks harmless enough."

Kael studied it for a moment before nodding. "We'll test it later. For now, we keep moving."

As they continued, they saw the results of the test's hidden dangers. A scream echoed from the distance, followed by the sound of something heavy collapsing. Kael and Ami exchanged a glance but didn't stop to investigate.

Their second candy was harder to reach—a blue, cube-shaped sweet perched on the edge of a bubbling syrup river. Kael used his wings to hover just above the surface, carefully plucking it from its precarious spot.

"That's two," he said as he landed beside Ami.

"Three more to go," she replied. "And no one's tried to kill us yet. This might be a record."

They continued collecting, their pace deliberate. Kael's focus never wavered, his mind working to piece together the true nature of the test. The candies were a distraction, he realized—bait to force the participants into dangerous situations. But there had to be more to it than that.

When they reached their fourth candy—a golden sphere hidden beneath a pile of sugar-dusted marshmallows—Kael finally spoke. "This test isn't about candies or survival. It's about what people are willing to do to pass."

Ami arched an eyebrow. "And what are you willing to do, Kael?"

He didn't answer immediately, his eyes fixed on the horizon where the other participants moved like shadows against the colorful landscape.

"Enough to make sure we both pass," he said finally.

Ami grinned, but there was a glint of something sharper in her eyes. "Good answer."

As they approached their fifth candy, they encountered another group—a trio of participants blocking their path. The largest of them, a towering man with a mace slung over his shoulder, stepped forward with a grin.

"Hand over your candies," he said, his voice low and threatening.

Kael's wings flared slightly, and his chains pulsed faintly at his wrists. "Not happening."

The man chuckled, but his companions shifted uneasily. Ami stepped up beside Kael, her tails flicking lazily.

"Are we doing this the easy way or the fun way?" she asked, her voice light but dangerous.

The man hesitated, his bravado faltering as he sized up the two of them. After a tense moment, he stepped aside with a growl. "Fine. But don't think this is over."

Kael and Ami moved past them without another word, securing their fifth candy shortly after.

When they returned to Mr. Cuddles, the bear clapped its stubby paws in delight. "Oh, well done, well done! You've survived Candy Land. Such a shame..."

Kael didn't let his guard down, even as the shimmering portal to the next floor appeared. He glanced at Ami, who looked as relaxed as ever.

"Ready for whatever's next?" she asked, tilting her head.

Kael nodded. "Let's go."

As they stepped through the portal, the eerie laughter of Mr. Cuddles echoed behind them.