Rodensky and Emmanuel rested near the shimmering portal leading to the Fifth Floor. The toll of the Gatekeeper battle had left them both battered and exhausted, but the victory brought with it an air of cautious optimism.
Rodensky leaned against the stone wall, sipping from a healing potion. "I didn't think we'd make it out of that alive."
Emmanuel, sitting cross-legged, focused on sharpening his blade. "We didn't just survive—we won. But something tells me the Fifth Floor is going to make the Gatekeeper look like a warm-up."
The system chimed, its voice calm and detached:
"Synchronisation of Version 2.0 completed. The system has detected that the hosts already had accounts prior to synchronization. Due to alignment with your previous paths, 25% of your prior equipment will be transferred to the host. Furthermore, the first tamed beast of each host will return to its master."
Rodensky and Emmanuel exchanged surprised looks.
"Previous accounts? I don't remember anything like that," Rodensky said, furrowing his brow.
Emmanuel muttered: "I'm not sure but I think it's talking about our account on astralis. Let's see what we get."
---
The Return of Their Beasts
A radiant light enveloped Rodensky as a low, commanding roar echoed through the hall. Emerging from the light was a lion unlike any creature of the mortal world. Its wings stretched wide, shimmering with crystal facets that refracted light into a kaleidoscope of colors. Its body was a blend of feline grace and raw power, its starlit scales glinting like celestial armor.
Rodensky's breath caught in his throat. "Rokura…"
The lion's crystalline eyes met Rodensky's, and a wave of familiarity surged between them. Rokura padded forward, nuzzling its master affectionately.
Emmanuel wasn't far behind in his reunion. The ground beneath him trembled as a fiery glow erupted nearby. From the blaze stepped Abaddon, the juvenile fire dragon, its scales a deep crimson that pulsed with an internal heat. Despite its relatively small size, the sheer presence of the dragon was overwhelming.
"Welcome back, Abaddon," Emmanuel said with a grin, extending a hand. The dragon growled softly, nudging him in acknowledgment.
The system's voice rang out again:
"Equipment transfer completed. Beast companions restored. Hosts' connection to their beasts has been reinforced. Additional skill: 'Summon' unlocked."
"The host can now access the world chat and the system shop"
Rodensky and Emmanuel both opened their Status Windows:
New Skill: Summon: Allows the summoning of tamed beasts to aid in combat or exploration.
New Equipment Transferred: Fragments of enhanced armor and weapons suited to their current level.
Rodensky and Emmanuel both opened their System shop to buy some equipment but the equipment where to expansive, they could only buy some potions and food for now. After opening the world chat they realize there were only 100 challengers and none of them knew how many floors are in the training hall. Thanks to the system translator they could understand each other in the chat.
---
Strategizing for the Fifth Floor
With their beasts now at their side and new gear equipped, the duo set to work planning for the next challenge.
Rodensky laid out their approach. "The Gatekeeper taught us that brute strength isn't enough. We need to strategize—use our beasts to complement our abilities."
"Agreed," Emmanuel said. "Abaddon's fire attacks can act as crowd control, and Rokura's agility can give us an edge against fast-moving enemies. We just need to time our moves right."
"And we can't forget the new skills," Rodensky added. "Summoning them mid-battle could turn the tide if things get rough."
Their preparations were interrupted by the system's voice once more:
"Fifth Floor Challenge: A trial of loyalty, wisdom, and power. The challengers will face adversaries designed to test their bond with their beasts and their tactical thinking. Rewards: Evolution materials for tamed beasts and the key to the Sixth Floor."
The portal before them shimmered, its surface rippling like water.
"No turning back now," Rodensky said, standing and gripping his sword.
Emmanuel nodded, mounting Abaddon. "Let's show them what we've got."
---
The Fifth Floor: A New Trial
As they stepped through the portal, the world shifted around them. They found themselves on an expansive battlefield dotted with floating platforms suspended in a starry void. Each platform was connected by narrow bridges, and some floated freely, forcing jumps or flight to navigate.
The system chimed again:
"Welcome to the Fifth Floor. Objective: Overcome three trials to advance. First Trial: Trust. Collaborate with your beasts to retrieve the Orb of Unity from the central platform."
The orb hovered in the distance, surrounded by an invisible barrier. A series of intricate puzzles and traps littered the platforms leading to it.
Rodensky looked at Rokura. "Think you're ready for this?"
The lion gave a low growl in response, its wings spreading wide.
Emmanuel smirked. "Looks like we're up for a test. Let's move."
As they began their journey across the platforms, a series of obstacles emerged: collapsing bridges, magical barriers, and shadowy creatures lurking in the void below. Each step demanded precise coordination between them and their beasts.
---
The First Trial: Trust
Rodensky and Rokura tackled the first challenge—a collapsing bridge. Rokura spread its wings and soared, carrying Rodensky over gaps while he cut down shadow creatures attempting to drag them down.
Emmanuel and Abaddon faced an enchanted barrier. With Emmanuel's direction, the dragon unleashed a fiery breath that dissipated the magic long enough for them to pass through.
Finally, they reached the central platform where the Orb of Unity awaited. The system's voice echoed once more:
"To claim the Orb, both challengers must act as one. Synchronize your moves and demonstrate unity."
A series of pressure plates appeared, requiring precise timing and coordination between Rodensky, Emmanuel, and their beasts.
After several tense moments of trial and error, they finally activated all the plates in perfect unison. The barrier surrounding the orb shattered, and it floated gently toward them.
"First Trial complete. Proceed to the next trial."
Rodensky wiped sweat from his brow. "One down, two to go."
"And it's only going to get harder," Emmanuel said, a determined glint in his eye.