Eren stood on the edge of the frozen battlefield, breathing heavily, his body still humming with energy from his recent escape. The world around him was quiet now, the chaotic distortions that had once threatened to overwhelm him slowly subsiding. He could feel the aftershocks of the Trial, the remnants of the Tower's violent tests still crackling through the air. But he had made it through.
For now.
The massive figure—the Trial's warden—loomed in front of him, its eyes narrowed with an almost tangible disdain. But it no longer exuded the same oppressive aura. It was as though it had recognized something in him, something different.
"You've survived the initial phase," it spoke, its voice now less resonant, more mechanical. "But you've only begun to scratch the surface of what is to come."
Eren straightened, taking a slow step forward. He didn't know if the warden's words were a threat or just the truth, but either way, he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
"What is this place?" he demanded, keeping his voice steady. "Why are you here? And why am I being tested?"
The figure's form flickered, its outline distorting, and for a moment, it almost appeared as if the warden was piecing itself together, like a puzzle being reconstructed. Its voice came again, distant yet close.
"You are part of a much larger experiment," it intoned. "Anomaly detected. Flux identified. Adjusting parameters. You are a variable, one that must evolve to fit the Tower's ultimate design."
The words struck Eren with an unsettling weight. Ultimate design? He felt the growing pressure of the Tower's intentions on his shoulders. The more he learned, the more he realized how little he truly understood.
"What do you mean by 'flux'?" he asked, his voice more insistent now.
The warden's eyes burned brighter as it responded.
"Flux is an anomaly within an anomaly. A variable in a system meant to remain fixed. The Tower is a construct of order, yet you… you are an entity of change. You represent instability, evolution, growth beyond the Tower's original purpose."
Eren's mind raced, trying to process the implications of the warden's words. The Tower had already been a place of manipulation and control, but now it seemed it was evolving into something even darker. And somehow, he was at the center of it all.
The warden raised its hand again, and the ground shifted. This time, however, there was no attack—just a strange, pulsating hum that seemed to come from deep within the earth itself.
A familiar blue glow flickered to life, and a new message appeared in the air before him.
System Alert: Flux Energy Detected: 12%
New Trial Objective: Adapt to the Flux Energy. Synthesize with the environment.
Eren's heart skipped a beat. Adapt to the Flux Energy? How was he supposed to do that?
The warden's voice echoed again, this time without malice, almost like a guide.
"To succeed in the Tower, you must learn to become one with the very forces that shape it. Adaptation is key. Embrace the Flux. Understand it. And you will move forward."
The ground beneath Eren's feet began to vibrate, and the air around him thickened with a strange pressure. The Flux Energy was not just a concept—it was tangible now, filling the air with a crackling charge. It felt like the energy of the Tower itself had come alive.
Eren closed his eyes for a moment, focusing inward. The Insight Fragment pulsed softly in his pocket, a steady rhythm that seemed to match the pulse of the energy around him. He could feel the energy's presence now—not just around him, but within him, as though it were seeking a connection. His Flux nature wasn't just a title—it was something tangible, something that could be harnessed.
He extended his senses, reaching for the Flux, letting the energy flow through him. The pulse of the environment grew louder, the hum of the energy surrounding him intensifying. It was both overwhelming and exhilarating at the same time.
With a deep breath, he focused all his energy on connecting with the Flux. Slowly, the pressure around him began to subside, the hum fading into a rhythmic pulse. He felt a strange shift within his body, like a door had been unlocked deep inside of him.
The Flux Energy was no longer an external force—it was a part of him.
He opened his eyes, feeling the world around him differently. He could see the ripples in the air, the faint distortions in reality caused by the Flux. The Tower had always been a place of puzzles and trials, but now, it felt like a living entity, its energy intertwining with his own.
"Good," the warden's voice boomed, its tone approving but still distant. "You've taken the first step. But this is only the beginning."
Eren stood tall, his mind clearer than it had been in days. The weight of the Insight Fragment, now glowing more brightly than before, pulsed in time with his heartbeat. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, and though the path ahead was still shrouded in uncertainty, Eren could feel a sense of purpose beginning to emerge.
"Is this what you wanted?" Eren muttered, more to himself than to the warden. "For me to evolve, to embrace the instability?"
The warden's silhouette flickered again, as though it was smiling—or perhaps mocking him.
"That is for you to decide," it said cryptically. "But remember, Flux does not simply allow growth. It requires sacrifice. And what you gain, you must also give."
Before Eren could respond, the warden vanished, leaving him standing alone in the pulsating, unstable environment. The air had settled, but the hum of the Flux energy lingered in his mind, urging him forward.
Eren exhaled sharply, the weight of the trial settling on his shoulders. There was much to learn, and the Tower had only just begun to reveal its true nature. But he was ready.
The path ahead was unclear, but one thing was certain: the Tower was changing, and so was he.
End of Chapter 18