The eleventh floor's staircase was longer and darker than the ones before, the air thick with an unsettling silence. Dominic and Sincerity ascended cautiously, their bond unshaken but the weight of the Tower's trials pressing heavily on their shoulders.
It was Dominic who first noticed the sound.
At first, it was faint—just a murmur on the edge of his consciousness. A distant chattering, like the sound of a hundred voices speaking at once, too far away to make out. He shook his head, trying to clear it, but the sound persisted.
"Dominic?" Sincerity's voice broke through the haze, drawing his attention.
He blinked, his gaze sharpening as he turned to her. "Sorry. I thought I heard something."
Sincerity frowned, her sharp eyes narrowing. "What kind of something?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "Voices, maybe. But they're faint. Probably just the system trying to mess with me again."
Her frown deepened, but she didn't press further. "Keep me updated. If it's the system, we'll deal with it together."
"Always," Dominic said with a faint smile, though the distant voices lingered in the back of his mind.
As they reached the eleventh floor, they found themselves in a grand, circular chamber lined with murals. The artwork depicted scenes of chaos and order, humans kneeling before towering figures crowned in thorns, and rivers of blood cascading down golden thrones.
Sincerity approached one of the murals, her fingers brushing the edge of the stone. "These look... old. older than the Tower itself."
Dominic stood beside her, his gaze scanning the intricate carvings. "They tell a story," he said, his voice thoughtful. "But what story?"
She pointed to one mural, where a lone figure ascended a spiralling staircase, their shadow growing darker with each step. "That one. It looks like someone climbing the Tower."
Dominic followed the mural's progression, his chest tightening as the story unfolded. The figure reached the top, where a glowing crown awaited. But as they placed it on their head, the crown's thorns pierced their skull, and rivers of blood flowed from the throne, consuming the world below.
"It's not just a story," Dominic said quietly. "It's a warning."
Sincerity nodded, her expression grim. "The Tower isn't just testing us. It's choosing something—or someone. But for what?"
As they continued through the chamber, the voices in Dominic's mind grew louder. What had once been faint murmurs were now distinct whispers, their words cutting into his thoughts like shards of glass.
"Only one can claim the throne."
"She's nothing to you. A relic of your weakness."
"What use is she? She can't bear children. She isn't even human."
Dominic staggered, his hand gripping the wall for support as the voices echoed in his mind.
"Dominic?" Sincerity's voice was sharp, filled with concern.
He shook his head, his breathing unsteady. "The voices... they're louder now. Clearer. They're... they're trying to turn me against you."
Sincerity stepped closer, her hands on his shoulders. "Listen to me. Whatever they're saying, it's not real. It's the system trying to break you."
Dominic met her gaze, her steady presence anchoring him. "It's cruel, Sincerity. The things it says... they're horrible."
She nodded, her expression fierce. "Then we use that against it. If it's desperate enough to play dirty, it means we're winning. But you have to stay with me, Dominic. Don't let it in."
"I won't," he said, his voice firm. "Not as long as you're with me."
As they moved deeper into the eleventh floor, the murals became darker, the scenes more twisted. The once-glorious figure who had claimed the throne was now a broken shadow, their crown of thorns glowing with a malevolent light. Below them, the world burned, consumed by chaos.
Sincerity stopped, her gaze fixed on the final mural. "The crown... it's not just a prize. It's a curse."
Dominic frowned, his jaw tightening. "The Tower isn't choosing a saviour. It's choosing a sacrifice."
She looked at him, her expression grave. "And if you claim it, you could become the next one."
The voices surged again, mocking and venomous.
"She holds you back. Cast her aside. Ascend alone."
"She's afraid. She knows you'll outgrow her."
Dominic gritted his teeth, his hands clenched into fists. "No. I'm not listening to you."
"Dominic," Sincerity said softly, placing a hand on his arm. "Ignore them. Remember what we've already faced. They can't break us."
He took a deep breath, her words steadying him. "I remember. And I'm not letting them win."
As they left the chamber and approached the next staircase, Dominic felt the weight of the Tower's purpose pressing down on him. But beside him, Sincerity's presence was a constant, unshakable force.
"This Tower isn't what it seems," he said. "It's not about finding a saviour. It's about control. The system wants someone to take the crown so it can keep the cycle going."
"Then we break the cycle," Sincerity said, her voice firm.
He looked at her, his heart aching with gratitude and something deeper. "Together."
"Always," she replied, her smile soft but filled with determination.
As they ascended the staircase to the twelfth floor, the system's voice returned, filled with malice and frustration.
"You cannot win. You cannot defy me. The Tower demands a ruler. And only one can claim the throne."
Dominic smirked, his resolve unshaken. "We'll see about that."
The voices in his mind faltered, their once-relentless whispers growing weaker. The Tower's grip was breaking—but the fight was far from over.
The staircase ended at a grand archway, the runes etched into its surface glowing with a steady, golden light. Beyond the archway was a chamber unlike any they had encountered before—calm, serene, and radiant. A pedestal stood in the centre, upon which rested a single, shimmering crystal, its light pulsating like a heartbeat.
Dominic and Sincerity stepped inside cautiously, their eyes scanning the chamber for signs of traps or hostility. But the air here was different. It wasn't oppressive or charged with malice like the other trials. Instead, it carried a weight of solemnity, as though the room itself understood the gravity of what it offered.
As they approached the pedestal, the disembodied voice of the system returned, its tone quieter, almost reverent.
"Floor 12: The Trial of Unity. This trial is not required to ascend. To proceed, you may bypass it entirely."
Dominic and Sincerity exchanged a glance, but before they could speak, the system continued.
"If you choose to participate, your souls will be bound together, forged as one. Every triumph will be shared. Every pain, every wound, every death will be shared. If one falls, so too will the other."
The crystal glowed brighter, casting a soft light across the chamber.
"Should you complete this trial, you will no longer ascend alone. You will share the throne. You will share the crown. You will share the burden of the system's will. Decide now."
Dominic stared at the crystal, his jaw tight. "This isn't just another trial. It's asking us to bind our lives together."
Sincerity nodded, her expression thoughtful but calm. "If one of us dies, we both do. It's... the ultimate trust, Dominic."
He turned to her, his eyes searching hers. "Do we even need to do this? We can keep going the way we are now."
"We could," she said quietly. "But if this trial is what allows us to share the throne, to wear the crown together... it might be the only way to break the system. To truly end this."
Dominic hesitated, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. The idea of sharing every triumph and pain with Sincerity didn't frighten him—but the thought of her life being tied so closely to his, of her risking everything for him, sent a chill down his spine.
"Sincerity," he began, his voice soft, "are you sure about this? If we do this, there's no going back. You'll be tied to me in every way. You'll feel every wound I take. And if I..." He trailed off, unable to finish.
She stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm. "I've already been tied to you, Dominic. Since the moment I met you. This just makes it... official."
Dominic met her gaze, her sharp eyes filled with unwavering resolve. Slowly, he nodded. "Then let's do it. Together."
The system's voice returned, softer this time.
"Step forward. Place your hands on the crystal. Speak your truth, and let your souls be forged."
Dominic and Sincerity approached the pedestal, the crystal's light casting their faces in a warm glow. They placed their hands on its surface simultaneously, the crystal's pulse aligning with the beat of their hearts.
"Dominic Ashen-Soul, do you trust Sincerity to share your triumphs, your burdens, your life, and your death?"
He didn't hesitate. "I trust her with everything."
The crystal pulsed brighter, its light wrapping around Dominic like a cocoon.
"Sincerity, do you trust Dominic to share your triumphs, your burdens, your life, and your death?"
Her voice was steady, unshaken. "Always."
The light enveloped her as well, the warmth of it seeping into their very beings.
The light grew brighter, until the entire chamber was consumed by it. Dominic and Sincerity felt the heat of the crystal spreading through them, touching every corner of their minds, their hearts, their very essence.
Memories surfaced unbidden, not their own but each other's.
Dominic saw flashes of Sincerity's past: her fall from grace, the pain of her wings being ripped away, the years she spent hiding in purgatory, her guilt, her resilience, her fierce love.
Sincerity saw Dominic's pain: the dark cupboards, the worm sandwiches, the years of isolation and self-doubt, his fight for survival, his determination to protect those he cared about, his unyielding love for her.
The memories merged, their souls intertwining until there was no longer a distinction between where one ended and the other began.
When the light faded, they were still standing, their hands on the crystal. The chamber had changed—the air felt lighter, the energy calmer.
The system's voice returned, its tone filled with something that almost resembled respect.
"The trial is complete. Your souls are one. You may now ascend the Tower together."
The crystal dissolved into light, and the doorway to the thirteenth floor appeared ahead.
Dominic turned to Sincerity, his chest tightening as he realised he could feel the faint rhythm of her heartbeat within his own. "We did it."
She nodded, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Together."
He stepped closer, brushing a hand against her cheek. "I felt it all. Everything you've been through. Everything you've carried."
"And I felt yours," she said softly. "Dominic, you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. And you don't have to carry it alone anymore."
He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. "Neither do you."
They stood there for a moment, their shared bond a silent promise that no trial—no crown—would ever break them.
As Dominic and Sincerity ascended the staircase to the thirteenth floor, the energy between them was palpably different. The bond forged during the twelfth trial was more than an acknowledgment of their trust—it was a tangible connection, tying their souls together in ways neither of them fully understood yet.
Dominic could feel Sincerity's presence as if it were woven into his very being. Her emotions, faint and fleeting, brushed against his own. Her determination steadied him, her fears prickling faintly at the edges of his thoughts. It was disorienting, but it also filled him with a sense of completeness he hadn't felt before.
Sincerity glanced at him, her sharp eyes softened by curiosity. "You feel it too, don't you?"
He nodded. "Yeah. It's... strange. Like I can sense you, even when you're not saying anything."
"Same here," she said, her lips twitching into a faint smile. "It's like... your emotions are just there, right under the surface. I know you're trying to act calm, but I can feel the storm you're holding back."
Dominic chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Guess I can't hide anything from you anymore."
"Not that you were ever good at it," she teased, though her expression turned thoughtful. "This bond... it's more than just a connection. It's a promise. We're in this together now. Completely."
As they climbed higher, Dominic and Sincerity began to notice subtle changes in their movements and reactions.
When they encountered a swarm of shadow creatures on the stairs, their battle was unlike anything they had experienced before. They moved in perfect synchrony, Dominic's sword and Sincerity's daggers weaving a deadly dance. She ducked instinctively when he swung wide, and he parried blows aimed at her with a precision that felt almost preordained.
"Did you feel that?" Dominic asked after the last creature fell, his chest heaving from exertion.
"Yeah," Sincerity replied, twirling one of her daggers absently. "It's like I knew what you were going to do before you even did it."
Dominic wiped the sweat from his brow, his gaze thoughtful. "Maybe the bond lets us share more than just emotions. It's like we're... connected on a deeper level."
She nodded, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "I'm not complaining. Makes us pretty unstoppable, doesn't it?"
The bond wasn't without its challenges. As they rested on a landing between floors, Dominic winced, his hand going to his shoulder.
"What's wrong?" Sincerity asked, her brows furrowing.
"Nothing," he said quickly, though the pain persisted.
She frowned, then stiffened, her hand going to her own shoulder. "Wait... I feel it too. You're hurt."
Dominic sighed, shaking his head. "It's not that bad."
"Dominic," she said, her voice firm. "If you're hurt, I'm hurt. You can't just brush it off anymore. We have to take care of each other."
He hesitated, then nodded, his expression softening. "You're right. I'm still getting used to this."
"So am I," she admitted. "But we'll figure it out."
The bond also deepened their emotional connection in unexpected ways. While they had always trusted each other, the shared vulnerability brought an intimacy that felt new and profound.
As they prepared to ascend to the next floor, Sincerity hesitated, her expression uncharacteristically hesitant.
"What is it?" Dominic asked, his voice gentle.
She glanced at him, her lips pressing into a thin line. "It's just... you know everything now. All the things I've tried to hide, even from myself. It's... a lot."
Dominic stepped closer, his hand brushing against hers. "I do know. And it doesn't change how I see you. If anything, it makes me trust you more. Love you more."
Her sharp demeanour faltered, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. "You're insufferable, you know that?"
He grinned, squeezing her hand. "And you're stuck with me."
As they neared the next floor, the air around them shifted, growing colder and heavier. The system's voice echoed faintly, its tone filled with frustration.
"You are unnatural. This bond is an aberration. It cannot endure. You cannot endure."
Dominic smirked, his grip on his sword tightening. "Still trying to break us, huh? You'd think it would've learned by now."
Sincerity rolled her eyes. "It's like a bad joke at this point. Come on, system, give us your best shot."
The system's voice faltered, its usual confidence replaced by something darker.
"The throne is for one. Only one. You cannot share it. You will destroy each other."
Sincerity scoffed, glancing at Dominic. "What do you think? Should we prove it wrong?"
Dominic smiled, his resolve unshaken. "Always."
Together, they stepped through the doorway, their bond unyielding as they prepared for whatever trial awaited them next.
The door to the thirteenth floor slid open, revealing an expansive chamber bathed in soft, flickering light. Dominic and Sincerity stepped inside cautiously, their weapons drawn. As their eyes adjusted, the scene before them became clear: a massive chessboard stretched across the chamber floor, its polished black and white tiles gleaming like glass.
Towering pieces stood at attention on either side of the board, their intricate carvings giving them an unsettling lifelike quality. The white pieces were pristine, glowing faintly, while the black pieces exuded an ominous, shadowy aura.
Dominic and Sincerity exchanged a glance before the system's voice echoed around them, its tone as cold and calculated as the chessboard itself.
"Floor 13: The Trial of Strategy. This is a game of kings and queens. Only the king may command the pieces. Only the queen may protect the king. Win, or be ejected from the Tower."
At the far end of the board, two spaces stood conspicuously empty—the places where the white king and queen should have been.
Sincerity pointed toward them. "It's leaving those spots for us."
Dominic frowned, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword. "So I'm the king, and you're the queen."
"Apparently," Sincerity said, stepping onto the board. As soon as her foot touched the white tile, the glowing pieces shifted slightly, as though bowing to acknowledge her presence.
Dominic followed, the oppressive energy of the black pieces pressing against his senses as he took his place in the king's square.
"The rules are simple," the system intoned. "The king commands the pieces. The queen may move freely to protect him. But if the king falls, you both fail."
Dominic glanced at Sincerity, his expression grim. "No pressure."
She smirked, her daggers glinting in the faint light. "Just don't get yourself killed, Your Majesty."
The board came alive as the first move was made, the black pieces shifting forward with an eerie grace. A black pawn moved two spaces, its motion smooth and deliberate.
Dominic felt a faint pull in his mind, an awareness of the white pieces that hadn't been there before. He reached out with his thoughts, willing a pawn to advance in response. The piece moved obediently, sliding forward to counter the black pawn.
"It's like I can feel them," Dominic said, his voice tinged with wonder.
"The system wasn't kidding when it said only the king can command," Sincerity said, her gaze sharp as she scanned the board. "Keep going. I'll handle anything that gets too close."
As the game progressed, the pieces moved in a deadly dance across the board. Dominic focused intently, his commands growing more confident with each move.
But the black pieces were relentless, their movements guided by a cunning intelligence that seemed to anticipate his every strategy.
Sincerity darted across the board, her daggers flashing as she intercepted threats. When a black knight threatened to trap one of Dominic's pawns, she leapt into action, slicing through the piece with a precision strike.
"Nice work," Dominic called, moving his rook to cover her.
"Just doing my job," she replied with a grin.
As the game neared its midpoint, the system's voice returned, its tone laced with mockery.
"Your bond is strong, but strength is not enough. Only strategy wins this game. Only sacrifice secures victory. Are you willing to make the hard choices, King?"
Dominic hesitated, his hand hovering over the board. The black pieces were closing in, forcing him to consider sacrificing one of his bishops to protect his queen.
"You don't have to protect me," Sincerity said, her voice steady. "I can handle myself."
Dominic clenched his jaw. "I'm not sacrificing a piece without a reason. There's always another way."
The system's voice laughed coldly. "And yet, time is running out. Can you afford your stubbornness?"
The game reached its climax as the black king moved into position, flanked by its remaining pieces. Dominic's forces were dwindling, but he had managed to protect his queen and set up a counterattack.
"Sincerity, cover me," he called, his focus sharpening.
"On it," she replied, darting across the board to intercept a black rook.
Dominic moved his bishop, pinning the black king in place. With one final, decisive command, he sent his queen forward, capturing the black king in a stunning checkmate.
The board fell silent, the oppressive energy of the black pieces dissipating as they crumbled into dust.
The system's voice returned, its tone begrudgingly neutral.
"Trial complete. Proceed."
Dominic let out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding, his shoulders sagging with relief.
Sincerity approached him, her smirk faint but triumphant. "Not bad, Your Majesty. You might make a decent king."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Not without you. This wasn't just my win—it was ours."
She nodded, her expression softening. "You commanded, I protected. That's how it's always been. That's how it always will be."
Dominic smiled, his hand brushing hers. "Together."
"Always," she replied, squeezing his hand briefly before stepping toward the staircase.
As they ascended, the system's voice lingered, colder and more calculating than before.
"The king and queen may rule the board, but only one can claim the crown. Remember that, Dominic Ashen-Soul."
Dominic exchanged a glance with Sincerity, his resolve hardening. "We'll see about that."