Tower of god:Skybender

The jungle feels alive—every step makes me feel like it's watching us. It's been a couple of days now, and honestly, I'm still not used to it. The way the trees sway even when there's no wind, the occasional rustle in the bushes that isn't caused by us, and the weird smell of damp leaves mixed with something metallic—it's all pretty unsettling.

Ami walks a little ahead of me, her boots crunching the dirt in a steady rhythm. "Hey, Kael," she says without looking back. "What's our plan when we run into the next group? Are we sneaking past, or are we taking them out?"

Her tone is casual, but I can tell she's serious. I shrug, adjusting the straps of my pack. "Depends. If they look tough, we'll play it smart. If they're distracted, we'll—"

A sharp screech cuts me off. Up ahead, we see another team—a group of five regulars—getting swarmed by these huge, disgusting insect-like creatures. The bugs are nasty, with shiny black bodies and these gnarly, snapping mandibles. They're relentless, attacking anything that moves.

"We should help them," Ami says, already pulling out her twin daggers.

"Help them? Or take advantage of the chaos?" I counter, my hand tightening around the chain coiled at my side.

She gives me a look over her shoulder, one that says, Don't be that guy.

Fine.

Before I can say anything, Ami's already charging into the fray, her blades glinting in the dim jungle light. I have no choice but to follow, my wings unfurling slightly to give me balance as I sprint after her.

The first insect lunges at her, its mandibles wide open. Ami ducks low, sliding under its body and slicing upward as she passes. Black fluid sprays everywhere, and the creature collapses in a heap.

Another one comes at me from the side, and I whip my chain around its legs, yanking hard. It stumbles, giving me just enough time to send a feather lance straight through its torso. The lance pierces cleanly, and when it explodes into smaller feathers, the bug is shredded into a mess of twitching limbs.

"Watch your back!" Ami calls out.

I spin around just in time to see a third insect closing in. I summon Seraphic Feather Wrath, my wings extending into massive arcs of razor-sharp feathers. With a single sweep, I send a storm of blades flying in every direction. The bug doesn't even get close before it's torn apart, and the rest of the swarm hesitates for a moment.

The other team finally notices us. One of their fighters—a guy with spiky red hair—gives me a quick nod before slamming his spear into the ground. Shinsu ripples outward, creating a barrier that pushes the insects back.

"Nice timing!" he shouts, his voice rough but appreciative.

"Don't mention it!" Ami replies, flashing him a quick grin before flipping over another insect and driving both daggers into its back.

We fight like that for a few more minutes, the air filled with the sounds of screeching insects and clashing weapons. It's exhausting, but eventually, the swarm starts to thin out. When the last bug falls, its legs curling inward as it dies, there's a brief, tense silence.

The spiky-haired guy steps forward, his team regrouping behind him. "Thanks for the assist," he says, though his tone suggests he's not sure whether to trust us.

"No problem," I say, keeping my voice neutral. "But let's be real—we both know this doesn't mean we're allies."

He smirks. "Fair enough."

We part ways after that, Ami and I heading deeper into the jungle. The encounter leaves me on edge. Helping them was the right thing to do, sure, but now they know we're here. And if we cross paths again, it probably won't be so friendly.

By the end of the first week, the jungle has already started to take its toll. My muscles ache from constant fighting and climbing, and my clothes are torn in more places than I'd like to admit. Ami's usually high energy has dipped, though she tries to hide it.

On the eighth day, we stumble across the Swamp of Shadows. The air here is thicker, harder to breathe, and the ground squelches unpleasantly underfoot. Huge trees with twisted roots loom over us, their branches covered in moss that drips like it's crying.

"This place sucks," Ami mutters, poking at a patch of mud with the tip of her dagger.

"Yeah, no kidding," I reply, scanning the area.

We're not alone for long. The swamp beast guarding the flag is massive, its skin a slimy green-gray that blends perfectly with its surroundings. It doesn't charge immediately, just stares at us with these beady black eyes, like it's sizing us up.

"You got a plan?" Ami asks, her voice low.

"Sort of."

I step forward, extending my wings just enough to get its attention. The beast roars, shaking the ground, and charges straight at me. Perfect.

As it lunges, I unleash Cataclysmic Symphony, sending invisible shockwaves through the air. The beast stumbles, its movements suddenly sluggish, and I dart to the side, throwing a feather lance at its flank.

The lance pierces deep, but the beast doesn't go down. It whips around, swinging a massive claw that forces me to backpedal.

"Could use some help here!" I shout.

Ami is already moving, her daggers flashing as she leaps onto the beast's back. She slashes at its neck, but its thick hide makes it tough to land a killing blow. The beast thrashes wildly, nearly throwing her off.

"Hold it still!" she yells.

Easier said than done. I wrap my chain around one of its legs, pulling with everything I've got. The beast stumbles, and Ami takes the opportunity to drive both daggers into its skull. It lets out one final, ear-piercing screech before collapsing into the mud.

We grab the flag from the hollow tree it was guarding and get the hell out of there before anything else shows up.

The second week is more of the same—grueling, constant battles against the jungle and its inhabitants. By the time we reach the Crystal Cavern, my nerves are shot.

The cavern is beautiful in a creepy way. The glowing crystals cast eerie light across the walls, and the air feels colder, sharper. It's like stepping into another world.

Of course, it doesn't take long for the reflective monsters to show up. They're freaky—humanoid shapes made of mirrored surfaces that distort everything around them.

"Great," Ami says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Now we get to fight funhouse versions of ourselves."

The first one lunges at me, moving faster than I expect. I barely manage to block with my chain, but its reflective surface throws me off. It's like fighting a living mirror, every move I make getting distorted and turned against me.

Ami, on the other hand, seems to be having the time of her life. She uses the crystals to her advantage, bouncing off them to attack from unexpected angles.

"Come on, Kael! Keep up!" she calls, flipping over one of the monsters and landing a clean strike.

I grit my teeth and focus. Using Seraphic Feather Wrath, I create a whirlwind of razor-sharp feathers, cutting through the monsters' defenses. It takes everything we've got, but eventually, we clear the cavern and claim another flag.

By the start of the third week, I'm running on pure adrenaline. The final flag is at the Waterfall's Edge, and it's the most dangerous yet. The rocks are slippery, the water pounding so hard it's like being hit by a wall every time we move closer.

The aquatic predators don't make things any easier. They're massive, eel-like creatures with glowing eyes and rows of sharp teeth. One of them lunges at me, and I barely manage to dodge, the water splashing into my face.

"Got your back!" Ami shouts, hurling one of her daggers at the creature. It hits its mark, and the eel writhes before sinking back into the depths.

We finally reach the flag, and I grab it, holding it high above my head as the waterfall crashes around us. It's a small victory, but it feels huge after everything we've been through.

Now all that's left is getting out of here alive.