The ground trembled.

  Like a sigh rising from the depths.

  The walls of the entrance chamber began to vibrate, gray lights flaring across arches carved with forgotten runes. One by one, the side passages sealed themselves until only a single opening remained — the 1st floor.

  The gate was active.

  And only some would be accepted.

  — It’s begun... — murmured Luiz, locking his armor and drawing his short Copas blade.

  Leli glanced at Lukas. Her hands trembled faintly, but her eyes stayed firm.

  Valquíria calmly adjusted her pauldrons. Then cracked her knuckles, like warming up for a dance.

  — Let’s see if this Tower is really all that.

  Búdica said nothing. She was already at the front. Spear in hand. Body lowered like a beast ready to pounce.

  A warrior from the House of Shadows tried to enter as well.

  The Tower rejected him.

  He was hurled back violently, blood running from his nose, armor fractured.

  — The Tower chooses, — Adriele murmured, astonished.

  A chill ran up Lukas’s spine, heel to nape.

  And then… one of the runes lit beneath his feet.

  He had been accepted.

  The same with Leli, Valquíria, Búdica… and Luiz.

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  The three Summer Trevos were chosen too, along with four members of the House of Shadows, two from the Path of Ice, and a strange green-haired archer no one had ever seen before.

  The rest… remained outside.

  And there was no arguing with it.

  ?? Inside the First Floor

  The sensation was immediate:

  Damp.

  Dark.

  Stinking of old bones and stagnant blood.

  The air was heavy, sounds muffled as if they were beneath a lake.

  — Watch the walls, — Valquíria warned. — They… move.

  Leli held a faint sphere of light. Her hair seemed to float even without wind.

  Búdica took the lead. Lukas followed close behind.

  — We go together, he said.

  She gave no answer. Only shifted her stride so they walked side by side.

  Luiz led the center group. The Copas were tense, but focused.

  Then came the first sound.

  — Shhhh...

  Something slithering.

  From cracks in the stone, small creatures crawled out — white eyes, skin drained of color, each clutching a blade carved from bone.

  — Vaz?es! — one of the Trevos shouted.

  Leli pulled back, preparing a spell.

  Valquíria surged forward.

  But Búdica struck first.

  Her spears spun like a living spiral, and in less than a second, four creatures had fallen.

  Lukas moved into shield guard, covering her back.

  Their synchronization was absurd… and unintentional.

  Luiz roared from behind:

  — Divide up! Pairs in defense, advance, and support!

  The Trevos fought with circling sword techniques.

  The Copas with straight strikes and breaking shields.

  Valquíria moved like war was her dance.

  And Leli…

  — WILD LIGHT MAGIC!

  A blaze fell into the chamber’s center, burning the creatures that tried to surround her.

  Lukas looked sideways.

  His sister… wasn’t the same.

  More fierce. More magical.

  More dangerous.

  Búdica spoke for the first time since entering:

  — They were only testing the weak. The next group… will try to kill.

  Lukas clenched his fists.

  — Then we’ll show them what a true Legionary is.

  ?? Closing:

  The Tower had accepted them.

  The 1st floor was cleared…

  But it wouldn’t end there.

  Lukas felt something calling him, deeper, beneath the Tower.

  And César…

  still silent within the shield.

  But not for long.

  End of Chapter 13.