After being eliminated in the third round of the Crown Game, I returned to my room, my pride shattered and frustration burning deep inside. The bitter taste of defeat lingered on my tongue, and it was hard to accept that my sky-bending abilities hadn't been enough. I thought I had it all figured out, soaring high above the ground, staying just out of reach, but Khun's tricks had thrown me off. It was a harsh reminder that the Tower wasn't just about raw power—it was about strategy, alliances, and foresight. Things I had foolishly taken for granted.
I slumped onto the edge of the small bed, replaying the battle in my head. How could I have been so arrogant? I'd relied too heavily on my abilities, thinking my control of the skies would be enough to win. I thought I was untouchable, but now, the bruises from that realization ached more than any physical injury.
The sounds of the Fourth Round echoed through the walls of my room—clashing weapons, bursts of energy, and the roars of battle. Despite myself, I felt the pull to watch, to see how the others were faring. I got up and peered out, my curiosity getting the better of me. Part of me wanted to shut it all out, to sulk in the darkness, but another part—one I couldn't suppress—wanted to learn, to understand what I was missing.
The distant roars and explosions told me that this round was just as chaotic, if not more so. Even though I wasn't on the battlefield, my thoughts raced with each noise. How were they maneuvering? What strategies were they using? My earlier mistake of underestimating the importance of foresight echoed in my mind. I had focused so much on my own power that I'd neglected to see the bigger picture.
I clenched my fists, determination welling up inside me. This wasn't the end. I'd learn from this. I'd figure out how to combine my power with the cunning and strategy needed to climb the Tower. I wouldn't make the same mistake again.
---
The Crown Game's **Fourth Round** kicked off with three teams entering the arena: InoaYoran/Hoshi/Pichuru, Blarouse/KukakuRakukakuka/Grey, and RedHair/Le-Ara/Ucha. All eyes were on Bam's team as the new challengers plotted their strategy. Two of the teams quickly formed an alliance, agreeing to work together to eliminate Bam's team before turning on each other. However, just as the alliance moved to attack, something unexpected happened.
Without warning, the Blarouse team turned on their supposed allies, launching a sudden and brutal assault. Chaos erupted as the arena filled with the sound of clashing weapons and shinsu blasts. Bam and Rak, standing at the ready, were just as confused as the rest. It wasn't until Khun, always several steps ahead, calmly explained what was happening.
"Surprised?" Khun smirked, watching the confusion spread. "I made a deal with them a while back. This is their way of repaying me."
Khun revealed that during the initial survival test on the 2nd Floor, he had recruited three Regulars—Blarouse, KukakuRakukakuka, and Grey. They had been hiding in his Manbarondena bag, concealed through the first couple of tests. It was only when Yu Hansunghad grown suspicious that Khun finally let them out, planning to use them in the Crown Game. The signal had been the blue cloth Khun had put on during the bathroom break. Now, they were returning the favor by eliminating the other teams for Bam's team.
Rak's confusion turned into a laugh as the realization dawned on him. Khun's strategy had been in motion long before the game even began. Khun admitted that while he hadn't wanted to waste such a trick on a bonus game like this, the events that had unfolded made him reconsider. "It's not just about winning anymore," he added, casting a glance at Bam. "I want to climb the Tower with you and Rak."
Kael, still in his room, couldn't help but feel a pang of envy."I should have been there."he thought. He had been too focused on himself, too reliant on his abilities alone. Khun's manipulation of the game, his alliances, and his ability to think three steps ahead had once again proven to be the key to victory. The Fourth Round ended quickly with the Blarouse team easily dispatching the two allied teams, securing the win for Bam's side without Bam or Rak having to do much at all.
---
As the final round of the Crown Game approached, four new teams entered the arena to take on Bam's team. They were formidable, including **Mask/YungChangsoo/Goon**, **Dahdi/RedBull/GreenPhil**, **Baunian/Azadni/BlakStatil**, and the dreaded three-man team that had wreaked havoc during **Quant's survival test**.
The arena was tense, and everyone could feel that this would be the decisive round. To Bam's team's surprise, Mask's team quickly wiped out Dahdi team and Baunian/Azadni/BlakStatil with ease. Mask, wielding a pole-like weapon, displayed incredible strength and speed, overwhelming the weaker teams in mere moments. The remaining teams watched in stunned silence as Mask bypassed both Khun and Rak, heading straight for Bam, who was sitting on the crown chair.
Mask's cold, calculating eyes fixed on Bam, and with a voice full of authority, she ordered, "Drop the crown."
Bam, despite his inexperience, didn't waver. "No. I'll protect it," he said quietly but firmly.
Mask, unimpressed, raised his pole-like weapon and brought it down with immense force, aiming to knock the crown out of Bam's hands. But the strike never landed. In the blink of an eye, the hooded girl who had whispered to Anaak earlier stepped in, using a floating object under her control to block Mask's attack.
Bam, confused but grateful, looked up at the girl. Before he could say anything, another hooded girl stepped forward, her voice calming. She assured Bam that they weren't there to take the crown from him. But something in her voice made Bam pause. "That voice... It's Rachel!"
His heart skipped a beat. Could it really be her? He tried to call out to the hooded girl he believed was Rachel, but she didn't respond. The big red man who had been standing beside her—another member of the dreaded team—kept Bam on edge, preventing him from approaching.
Meanwhile, Khun and Rak realized they were being supported by the mysterious three-man team, though their intentions remained unclear. Shibisu and Anaak, watching from the sidelines, were just as confused. Khun, however, remained convinced they had won. Bam was safe, and their opponents were either eliminated or kept at bay.
But just as the tension seemed to ease, Mask broke free from the hooded girl that had blocked his earlier attack. He lunged toward the girl Bam believed to be Rachel, swinging his weapon with deadly precision. Bam's eyes widened in horror as he saw the blow strike her head, causing her hood to drop.
It was Rachel.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Bam's mind raced. His heart screamed. Rachel, the person he had climbed the Tower for, the person he had sworn to protect, was in danger.
Mask raised her weapon for the final blow, aiming to finish Rachel off. Without thinking, Bam abandoned the crown chair and rushed to her aid. His sudden movement shocked everyone—especially Khun and Rak, who could only watch as Bam gave up the one thing that guaranteed their victory in order to save her.
The rules were clear. Bam's departure from the chair meant one thing: disqualification. The Crown Game was over.
As Bam threw himself in front of Rachel, Mask's weapon came down hard, striking Bam in the head. The blow was powerful, and Bam felt his vision darken. He was about to lose consciousness, but before everything faded, memories of Rachel, of their time together, and of his promise to protect her filled his mind. With a final burst of emotion and energy, Bam unleashed a powerful, unknown attack.
The force of the attack shattered Mask's facial mask, leaving everyone stunned.
Kael, dozing off in his room, unaware of the details, could feel something shift in the air. The cool air breeze by his face.Something big had happened, and though he wasn't there to see it, he knew that the Tower was about to change.