Tower of god:Skybender

Kael stood at the edge of the arena, quietly observing the chaos unfold around him. The rules of the Crown Game had been explained—teams would compete for control of the throne, but Kael had no interest in allying with others. He preferred to rely on his own skills, knowing that his instincts had never failed him before. Alone, he kept his distance from the main action, his silver-gray eyes taking in every movement on the battlefield with a calculating gaze.

In the center of the arena, a girl with a striking green weapon dominated the match. She sat confidently on the throne, a crown perched atop her head, while two others—a swordsman and a man in a tracksuit who appeared more tactician than warrior—stood near her, forming an imposing team. Kael couldn't hear what they were saying from where he stood, but their body language suggested frustration. The swordsman's hand rested on his blade, ready for action at any moment, while the tactician clenched his fists, likely frustrated by their lack of progress in securing total control.

As the first round unfolded, a trio of competitors charged toward the throne with a determined yet reckless energy. Kael, leaning casually against a nearby pillar, scrutinized their approach with cold indifference. Their strategy was clear—two of them flanked the throne, while the larger, more imposing man made a direct rush toward the girl. Kael smirked slightly. "They're fast," he muttered to himself, "but not fast enough."

Without even leaving the throne, the girl flicked her wrist with barely a thought. Her long, green hook-like weapon shot forward like a snake, smashing into the charging man with a resounding crack and sending him flying back across the arena. The other two attackers hesitated for a fraction of a second, but their indecision cost them dearly. With a single, graceful swing, the hook extended again, striking them both with precise force, knocking them off their feet and ending their assault before it even began.

Kael's eyes narrowed as he analyzed the scene. The girl's confidence was palpable, and her strength undeniable. Yet, something about the weapon in her hands caught his eye—it seemed to pulse with a strange, almost sentient energy, reacting to its wielder in a way that made him uneasy. There was more to it than met the eye, and that only fueled his growing curiosity.

The round ended with the girl's team completely untouched, their dominance on full display for all to see. The other competitors had been no match for her. Still, Kael stayed on the sidelines, watching and waiting. He wasn't in a rush to make his move—patience was his greatest ally in these situations, and he knew it would pay off soon enough.

As the second round commenced, two new teams entered the arena. Kael hadn't paid much attention to the other participants earlier, but he couldn't help but notice one team was already at a disadvantage—one of their members, a disheveled man with unruly hair, appeared to be… sleeping? In the middle of a fight? Kael raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the odd behavior. Was it an act, or was this man truly so careless?

The remaining two members of the team, however, seemed more competent. The dark-haired one moved with surprising speed, rushing toward the throne with a swift, practiced grace. Kael watched, his attention flickering between the attackers and the defenders. The swordsman from the girl's team met the attack head-on, deflecting the dark-haired man's strikes with ease. Their blades clashed, sparks flying with each precise, calculated movement.

Kael's gaze drifted back to the sleeping figure, who was still unmoving as his allies struggled to hold their own. Suddenly, without warning, the disheveled man stirred. His eyes, barely open, flickered with the faintest hint of awareness as he raised one hand lazily. Kael felt a shift in the atmosphere—shinsu, the mystical energy that powered so much of the Tower, began to swirl around the man. With a simple wave of his hand, a blast of shinsu shot toward the throne.

The girl's eyes widened in surprise, forced for the first time to defend herself. Her green weapon ignited with a fierce, almost living flame, extending out to block the shinsu blast. The sheer force of the collision sent shockwaves across the arena, and Kael felt the air grow heavy with power. "Interesting…" he muttered under his breath. The sleeping man had barely moved, yet his attack had been powerful enough to force a reaction from the seemingly unbeatable girl.

The battle continued to unfold with increasing intensity. Kael considered joining the fight—it would be easy to step in and take advantage of the chaos. But something held him back. There was a bigger play happening, one he hadn't fully grasped yet. For now, he remained content to watch, observing every detail, every nuance.

As Kael continued to watch from the shadows, something unexpected happened. The girl on the throne, still defending her position with ruthless efficiency, glanced in his direction. Her gaze lingered for a moment, her eyes narrowing as if she had sensed his presence. Kael stiffened slightly. Had she noticed him? Was she aware of how closely he had been watching her? He couldn't be sure, but the intensity of her gaze suggested that she wasn't one to miss details.

Meanwhile, another strange occurrence drew Kael's attention. Off to the side, standing with two companions, was a boy holding a peculiar, black weapon. The weapon seemed to resonate with the girl's green one, reacting to the energy in the air in a way that sent shivers down Kael's spine. There was a connection between the two, something unseen but powerful.

As the round drew to a close, the girl dismounted the throne, her steps deliberate and filled with purpose. Her teammates protested, calling out for her to stay in her position, but she ignored them, her focus entirely on the boy with the black weapon. Kael watched her with growing interest, sensing that things were about to escalate.

She made her way directly toward the boy, her green weapon pulsing with energy as she approached him. Her voice, sharp and commanding, echoed across the arena, loud enough for Kael to catch a few words.

"That weapon… give it to me."

The boy, wide-eyed but defiant, stepped back, clutching the weapon tightly. "No. I need it."

The girl's expression darkened. "You don't understand what you're holding. Hand it over now, or you'll regret it."

Tension crackled in the air as the two stood face-to-face, both of their weapons humming with an eerie energy that seemed to respond to their emotions. Kael could feel the weight of the confrontation building, as if the very arena was holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable clash.

Kael's hand twitched at his side, his instincts telling him that this was the moment. Whatever was happening between the girl and the boy, it was about to boil over. The question was, should he intervene? His mind raced through the possibilities. Joining now could give him a strategic advantage—but what was the nature of these strange weapons? Why were they resonating with each other in such a powerful way?