Ash Ascendant: Chapter 27

Hi all,

Here’s the first chapter for the week. 

Chapter 27

Ash's eyes snapped open, alerted by a noise. He relaxed when he realised where it was coming from. The metal groaned around him, shifting and settling as if the massive vessel were still somehow alive despite being grounded for centuries.

He sat up silently, careful not to disturb Erika and Zinnia. He decided to let them rest some more, since they had a big day ahead of them. It would give him time to explore the ship.

Retrieving his mask from his mind palace, Ash placed it against his face. The familiar tendrils connected instantly, interface materialising in his vision. He summoned all three Giru robots.

"Scout the ship," he said. "Look for anything that might be the bridge or command centre."

The robots zipped away through the doorway, disappearing into the vessel's dark interior. Ash rose and followed them.

The corridors stretched endlessly, branching and intersecting in a labyrinthine maze. Ash navigated by instinct, moving steadily upward whenever possible. Logic suggested the bridge would be near the top of the structure.

He passed countless rooms—crew quarters, storage areas, medical facilities. Some doors hung open, revealing spaces long-abandoned. Any supplies he did find were virtually worthless. Other doors remained sealed, and when he tried to open a few, he found them impossible to open. Each room had a keypad that required a numerical code, but they were no longer functioning.  

An alert flashed across his interface. Giru Three had discovered something. Ash switched to the robot's perspective, his vision shifting to reveal a spacious chamber. A massive window stretched across one wall. Control consoles lined the walls, their surfaces draped with dust and corrosion.

The bridge.

Ash's pulse quickened as he returned to his perspective. 

Following the robot's coordinates, he navigated through the ship's tangled passageways. It brought him to a heavy set of double doors, one hanging askew on damaged hinges. Through the opening, he glimpsed the bridge.

Ash ducked inside, eyes widening as he took in the command centre. Despite centuries of abandonment, the room's purpose remained unmistakable. A semicircular configuration of control stations faced the broken window. Each station featured multiple screens and interface panels, all dark and lifeless. Ceiling panels had collapsed in places, exposing a tangle of wires and conduits above.

At the centre of it all stood a raised platform with what could only be the captain's chair. Unlike the utilitarian seating at other stations, this chair was larger, designed for both comfort and authority.

Ash approached the nearest console, wiping away layers of dust with his sleeve.. He experimented with the controls, but nothing responded. The ship's power had died long ago.

"What secrets did you hold?" he murmured, moving methodically through the bridge.

He examined each station, each storage compartment, finding nothing but broken equipment. After ten minutes of searching, frustration began to set in. If there had been any logs or records, they were either destroyed or stored in computers he couldn't access.

As he circled back to the captain's chair, something caught his eye—a dark shape wedged between the seat cushion and armrest. Ash reached down, fingers closing around what felt like leather. He pulled gently, extracting a small book from its hiding place.

A journal.

The binding cracked as he opened it, decades of decay making the pages brittle. Most entries had faded beyond legibility. Ash turned the pages carefully, searching for anything still readable.

Midway through the journal, he found a legible entry. Ash squinted, deciphering the cramped handwriting.

Day 247 since arrival

I dreamed of Arceus last night. Not as the divine creator our ancestors worshipped, but as judge and executioner. It spoke directly to me, a voice echoing inside my skull. We are to remain here forever, it said. Trapped in this broken fragment of a world, punishment for what we did.

I told no one about this dream. The crew's morale is fragile enough without their captain spouting mystical nonsense. Yet I cannot shake the feeling of truth in it. Perhaps it was merely my own guilt manifesting, but does that make it any less real?

We deserve this hell. I led the assault on their planet. I gave the orders that killed millions. All in the name of survival, of course—always the most effective justification for atrocity.

Tomorrow we abandon ship. Supplies won't last another month, and scouting parties report possible food sources in the northern territories. 

If anyone finds this record, know that we brought this upon ourselves. 

—Captain Harland Voss, First Fleet

Ash closed the journal. He stored it in his mind palace, his thoughts racing with the implications. The captain's words aligned too perfectly with Dr. Malcolm's account from the underground facility—invaders from the Pokemon world, attacking human cities.

But this perspective came from the other side—the invaders themselves, apparently trapped here when Arceus created the Tower. He couldn't fully trust either account without corroboration, but together they painted a disturbing picture.

Was Floor Zero a prison? A place where Arceus had confined those who'd committed unforgivable acts during whatever catastrophe had preceded the Tower's creation?

What about the eyeless creatures? Were they descendants of the ship's crew, adapted over centuries to survive in this harsh environment?

The Giru robots returned to his side, having completed their exploration of the bridge. Ash recalled them to his mind palace and headed back toward their makeshift camp. He needed to share what he'd discovered with the others.

When he returned, Erika and Zinnia were already awake, packing their meagre belongings.

"Where did you disappear to?" Erika asked.

"Exploring the bridge," Ash replied. "Found something interesting."

He described the journal and its contents.

"This is disturbing," Erika said. "Even if you disregard the captain's dream about speaking to Arceus. What planet did they invade?"

"It would explain all the crashed ships," Zinnia added. "They were dumped here as if they were nothing but discarded trash."

"That describes the first floor," Ash said dryly. "Although we didn't get anything as cool as ships."

Zinnia ignored him. "All this time, I thought the map led to a pillar on the first floor, even if the evidence said otherwise. How did my tribe get a map to this place if it's been cut off from the rest of the Tower?"

Ash shrugged. "Maybe the pillar will provide the answers."

They gathered their supplies quickly. Before leaving, Ash made a detour back to where he'd captured Tinkatink. He knelt beside the aircraft wreckage, peering into the darkness beneath.

"Wait here," he told the others, dropping to his stomach and crawling under the twisted metal.

His mask's enhanced vision revealed a surprisingly organised space. The Tinkatink had hollowed out a cosy den, lining it with scraps of fabric and soft materials. Tools of various sizes hung from improvised racks along one wall—hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers, all miniaturised to suit the tiny Pokemon's hands.

In one corner, a pile of familiar objects caught Ash's attention—collars, identical to those used in the prison. He counted at least a dozen, arranged in neat rows. Beside them lay disassembled mechanisms, suggesting the Tinkatink had been studying them.

Ash gathered everything and stored it in his mind palace. The Tinkatink would want them back, and it may help in making the bonding process much easier.

The collars raised troubling questions. Their design seemed too sophisticated for the eyeless creatures to have developed themselves. Had they discovered them somewhere in this forsaken place, perhaps in another crashed ship? And learned how to operate them?

Ash backed out from under the wreckage, dusting himself off as he stood.

"Find anything useful?" Zinnia asked.

"You could say so,” Ash replied.

They studied the map tattooed across Zinnia's back one final time, memorising the landmarks they needed to navigate. Their destination lay to the north—a massive pillar depicted rising from a circular depression in the landscape.

"Let's move," Ash said, summoning Bastion.

The Lairon materialised with a heavy thud, immediately lowering himself for them to climb aboard. With all three settled between Bastion's ridges, they set off, leaving the ship graveyard behind. He summoned Blitz to scout ahead and give the robots a break.  

"How many Pokemon do you have?" Ash asked Zinnia, breaking the silence.

"Six," she replied. "Besides Aster, they're all Dragon-types."

Erika shifted impatiently behind Zinnia. "Why are we walking? Summon your Salamence so we can fly to our destination."

"Yes, that worked out well for me, didn't it?" Zinnia's voice dripped with sarcasm. "When I arrived here, our team was attacked by flying Pokemon and forced to land. I was captured soon after by a hunting party that overwhelmed us."

"We want to keep a low profile," Ash said. "Easier to hide on the ground than in the air."

They travelled for hours. The terrain grew increasingly hostile—pools of molten rock gave way to jagged obsidian plains, then fields of crystalline formations that shattered like glass beneath Bastion's weight.

When possible, they avoided open spaces, keeping to areas with overhead cover. Twice, they had to detour around territorial Pokemon.

As they progressed northward, the air grew thick with toxic fumes. Zinnia taught Ash and Erika a breathing technique, designed to filter harmful substances. Even with this protection, his lungs burned with each breath, the caustic atmosphere penetrating his defences.

Normally, he was highly resistant to poison as a result of his Steel-type affinity. Which just showed how toxic the fumes were.

The fumes grew denser, forming a yellowish fog that limited visibility to mere metres. Bastion ploughed forward resolutely. Through the haze, a colossal shape gradually materialised—an immense stone arch rising at least thirty metres from the ground, its surface carved with intricate symbols.

"The arch," Zinnia said. "We're on the right track."

“Let’s take a short break before continuing,” Ash said. “It’s going to take another three or four days to reach the pillar at our current pace.”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

They rode north over the next few days, following the trail of landmarks. 

They established a routine, setting up camp in defensible positions each night. Taking watches in shifts, they managed a few hours of fitful sleep between bouts of vigilance, though the constant unease of their surroundings made true rest impossible.

They continued to encounter Pokemon, each of them showing aggression at their approach. Despite not having eyesight, their other senses were sharp, which made it hard to avoid them.  

Ash couldn't resist the opportunity. He began capturing the less powerful Pokemon. By the end of the second day, he had depleted nearly all his pokeballs but amassed an impressive collection of almost twenty variant Pokemon. None possessed the Steel typing he preferred, but they would fetch exceptional prices from collectors or researchers.

On the morning of the third day, they discovered the first signs of other explorers—a hastily abandoned camp, discarded wrappers from ration packs, and footprints leading northward. Later, they passed a dead variant Pokemon with a clean, professional cut across its throat—the work of a skilled cultivator rather than another predator.

"Looks like we're not alone," Ash said, examining the clean-edged wound.

Zinnia knelt beside the carcass. "Team Magma isn't the only group with the map."

"I thought it was supposed to be some big secret." 

"It was, until I deliberately spread the information." Zinnia stood, dusting off her hands. "Maxie suspected it was me, which is why he was quick to judge when he found us together."

"You wanted competition?" Erika asked, eyebrows raised.

"I wanted chaos." Zinnia's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "The more groups hunting the Keystone, the harder for any single faction to secure it. Team Magma included."

As they continued riding, Ash investigated Floor Zero’s ambient energy. He had been curious about it since entering the floor. 

He reached out with his cultivation senses, attempting to connect with the energy flowing through this twisted landscape. The difference struck him immediately. Where the Tower's familiar currents moved with predictable patterns—sometimes faster, sometimes slower, but always with underlying order—this energy swirled chaotically. 

Carefully, Ash attempted to draw some of this energy into his meridians, testing whether it could supplement his cultivation. The result was immediate and painful. The energy burned as it entered his channels, fighting his control every step of the way. What should have been a smooth flow became an internal battle, the foreign energy resisting his attempts to direct it.

"This energy's different," Ash said. "Harsher. More volatile.” 

Zinnia snorted. “I could have told you that.”

“Could this be what changed the Pokemon into their current state? And the creatures?"

"Most likely," Zinnia replied. "They were likely forced to adapt to the energy or die. It would explain why the creature's cultivation is so different from ours."

"If the creatures were once human," Erika mused, "their cultivation must have helped them adapt initially."

They fell silent after that, each contemplating the implications. 

Dawn on the fourth day brought their first glimpse of the pillar, visible as a distant spire rising from the hazy landscape. Its silhouette reminded Ash of the Tower itself, though on a far smaller scale—perhaps a hundred metres tall rather than the Tower's impossibly vast height.

"Is that it?" Ash asked, pointing toward the structure.

Zinnia nodded, tension visible in her shoulders. "The Pillar. My family's been searching for generations."

As they drew closer, more details emerged. The Pillar stood in a vast depression resembling a massive impact crater. Multiple tiers wrapped around its exterior, creating a spiralling path toward its peak.

Halfway to the crater's edge, they encountered another group of cultivators—five figures in nondescript clothing, their faces masked against the toxic atmosphere. The group tensed at their approach, hands moving to weapons or pokeballs, but made no aggressive moves.

Ash raised a hand in greeting, receiving only curt nods before the group continued past, clearly uninterested in conversation.

"Friendly bunch," Erika muttered.

"Independent treasure hunters," Zinnia explained once they were out of earshot. "They'll be focused on finding treasure and resources, not the Keystone. Most won't understand its significance."

By late afternoon, they reached the crater's edge. The sight below stole Ash's breath—dozens of tents and makeshift shelters surrounded the Pillar's base, forming a small temporary settlement. Cultivators moved between camps, some trading goods while others cleaned equipment or tended to injuries. The Tower Association's distinctive grey uniforms clustered near the Pillar's entrance.

After careful observation from their vantage point, Ash confirmed Team Magma's absence from the encampment. He returned Bastion to his mind palace, and they descended into the crater on foot, blending with other newcomers.

"Why isn't anyone entering?" Erika asked, nodding toward the Pillar's massive doorway, which stood open yet largely untravelled.

Ash approached a nearby cultivator—an older woman. "Excuse me, what's happening with the Pillar? Why's everyone waiting out here?"

The woman looked up, assessing them with sharp eyes. "The Pillar's a test, like the trial ruins. You have six hours inside before you're kicked out, and you can't re-enter after that.” 

“What's inside?" Zinnia asked.

"The first four floors are loaded with resources but they are guarded by Pokemon." The woman replied. "On each floor, you have to win a battle before you can explore it. The fifth floor and above are where the real prize is, supposedly, but nobody's cracked it yet."

"So, the stronger you are, the easier it is to ascend?" Ash asked.

“No. Every battle matches your Pokemon’s strength, but presents you with different scenarios that make them more challenging. It’s more about using your head.”

“Who’s in there now?”   

"The Tower Association's trying now. Saw Team Magma head in about three hours ago too." She shrugged. "Most folks here already had their turn, just waiting to trade for whatever comes out."

Ash thanked her, leading the others to a quiet spot to discuss their next move.

"Three hours," he murmured. "Team Magma's halfway through their time limit."

"Do you think the Keystone is on the top floor? If they reach it before us..." Zinnia's fists clenched.

"I doubt it would be that easy, but we can’t take the risk," Ash said. "If we wait, Team Magma might secure the Keystone."

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

They approached the pillar's entrance. Its stone archway loomed fifteen meters high, carved with an image depicting a serpentine Pokemon coiling around the entire structure. The same Pokemon that was tattooed on Zinnia’s back.

"Let's go," Zinnia urged.

Before they could enter, a figure in a crisp grey uniform stepped in front of them. The Tower Association Administrator—the same one who had announced the search for the ruins on the second floor.

"Greetings," the administrator said. "I'm Administrator Wei. I must inform you that any significant discoveries made within the Pillar legally belong to the Overseers."

Ash exchanged a quick glance with Zinnia. "And what constitutes 'significant'?"

"Historical artefacts, technology, or information." The administrator's smile didn't reach his eyes. "You'll be compensated fairly, of course."

"Of course," Ash replied. He had no choice but to agree at the moment.  

Wei nodded, satisfied with their apparent acceptance. "You have six hours. Good luck."

Erika tugged Ash's sleeve as the administrator walked away. 

"I'll stay outside," she said. "Gather information and keep watch for Team Magma. They don't know who I am. You two focus on finding what we came for."

"Alright," Ash agreed. "Meet us back here in six hours."

Erika nodded and melted into the crowd of waiting cultivators.

Ash and Zinnia stepped through the entrance. The temperature dropped immediately as they passed into the Pillar's interior, a welcome relief from the heat outside. The corridor opened into a circular chamber with a domed ceiling. Twelve identical doorways lined the perimeter wall, each framed in polished stone.

"Which one do we take?" Zinnia murmured.

"Let's check this first." Ash pointed to a stone plinth standing in the chamber's centre.

They approached it and saw that words were carved into the stone.

Choose your path and face your trials alone. Success will transport you to a random location on this floor. Find the elevator to proceed to the next level and its challenges. Seven floors separate you from the peak. Time waits for no one.

"This matches what the woman outside told us," Ash said. "But we need to split up."

Zinnia's lips thinned. "I don't like it, but we don't have a choice. Seven floors in six hours—we can't waste time."

"Which door will you take?"

"Does it matter?" She shrugged. "They're identical."

Ash nodded. "Good luck. I'll see you up top."

"Don't die," Zinnia replied, a ghost of a smile crossing her face.

They separated, each choosing a doorway. Ash stepped through his selected path, the stone closing behind him with a soft rumble. Another circular chamber awaited, smaller than the first but with the same architectural style. Another plinth stood at its centre.

Ash approached, reading the carved text:

Choose one Pokemon for combat. It will face an opponent with a type advantage, and all its techniques save one will be locked. The trainer cannot participate. Victory opens the way forward.

Ash considered his options, knowing that every second mattered. He concluded that the choice didn’t matter. His Pokemon would be at a disadvantage, regardless.

"Blaze," he decided, summoning the Scizor.

The crimson Pokemon materialised with a flash, mandibles clicking as it surveyed the chamber. The moment Blaze appeared, new text formed on the plinth:

Fury Cutter is your only available technique.

Before Ash could react, a portion of the floor slid open with a rumble. A Braixen emerged from the opening, its fox-like form graceful and alert. The stick clutched in its tail ignited with a soft whoosh, casting eerie shadows across the stone walls.

"Type advantage," Ash muttered. "Steel against Fire."

The Braixen sized up its opponent, intelligent eyes calculating rather than rushing into battle. It circled slowly, stick extended, creating distance between itself and Blaze.

"This isn't good," Ash said. "Blaze, be careful. You can only use Fury Cutter. You need to score consecutive hits to build up its power."

Without warning, the Braixen twirled its stick, launching a Fire Spin that spiraled across the chamber. Blaze darted sideways, but the flames curved unnaturally, following his movement. 

"It's controlling the fire!" Ash shouted. "Don't let it build distance!"

Blaze burst through the flames, pincers glowing with Bug-type energy as he slashed at the Braixen. The fox Pokemon leapt backwards, barely avoiding the strike. Blaze pushed forward, executing another slash that connected with the Braixen's shoulder. The first hit of Fury Cutter didn't seem to do much damage, but the Braixen hissed in pain.

The fox retreated, using its superior mobility to maintain distance. It struck its stick against the ground, creating a circle of fire that spread outward in pulsing waves. Blaze jumped over the first wave, but the second caught him mid-air, sending him crashing down.

"Get up! You can't break the combo!"

The Scizor staggered to his feet. The Braixen was already moving, sliding behind a pillar and emerging with its stick pointed skyward. Embers rained down from above, each one burning like magma where they struck Blaze's metal body.

Blaze charged through the burning rain, pincers raised. The Braixen attempted to sidestep, but Blaze had anticipated this, changing direction mid-stride. His second Fury Cutter—twice as powerful as the first—struck the fox's flank, drawing a pained yelp.

The Braixen retaliated instantly, its stick connecting with Blaze's head. Fire erupted at the point of contact, temporarily blinding the Scizor. Taking advantage, the fox leapt away and launched a massive Flamethrower.

Blaze crossed his pincers, taking the full brunt of the attack. He slid backwards, almost collapsing as steam rose from his joints. He couldn’t take another one of those attacks.

Braixen began charging a Fire Blast, the five-pointed pattern forming at the tip of its stick.

Blaze suddenly launched himself forward, startling both Ash and the Braixen. The fox tried redirecting its attack, but Blaze was moving erratically, his flight path unpredictable despite his injuries. His third Fury Cutter—now four times its base strength—slashed across the Braixen's chest, interrupting the Fire Blast.

The fox staggered backwards, dropping to one knee. Before it could recover, Blaze struck again—his fourth consecutive hit carrying eight times normal power. The impact sent the Braixen sliding across the stone floor, its stick clattering away.

Desperate, the fox scrambled for its weapon, managing to grab it just as Blaze closed in. With one final effort, the Braixen summoned a wall of flame between them.

Blaze didn't hesitate. He charged straight through the fire, his metal body now glowing white-hot. The fifth Fury Cutter—sixteen times its base power—connected with devastating precision, catching the Braixen mid-spell. The blow lifted the fox off its feet, sending it crashing into the far wall where it slumped, unconscious. A moment later, the Pokemon vanished.

Blaze turned to Ash, mandibles clicking in satisfaction despite the damage he'd sustained.

“Good job,” Ash said, feeding him a potion. “This is only the first floor, and it’s already bloody difficult.”

A doorway materialised in the chamber wall. Ash returned Blaze to his mind palace. As soon as Ash stepped through the door, a wave of disorientation hit him. The surroundings blurred.  

Ash staggered as the world stabilised around him. It took a moment to get over his disorientation. He looked around, only to see an endless expanse of undulating dunes. Overhead, a blazing sun beat down from a cloudless sky.

"A desert?" Ash muttered, squinting against the glare. 

He turned in a complete circle, searching for landmarks, but found only more sand. Somehow, the pillar contained environments far larger than its exterior suggested.

Ash retrieved his steel mask from his mind palace and placed it against his face. The familiar tendrils connected instantly, interface materialising in his vision. He summoned all three Giru robots alongside his steel board.

"Keep an eye out for any stairs or structures," he instructed the robots. Each one beeped in acknowledgement.

Stepping onto his board, Ash rose steadily into the air. From this higher vantage point, the desert's vastness became even more apparent—golden sand stretching to the horizon in every direction. He hovered for a moment, deliberating, then picked a direction at random. No point wasting time with a systematic search pattern.

The board accelerated to top speed, cutting through the hot air as Ash crouched low for better balance. The Giru robots followed, staying close enough to report any findings. He wasn't interested in searching for resources; finding the exit was his only priority.

Movement below caught his attention—dark shapes darting between dunes. Ash descended slightly for a better look. A group of Sandshrew burrowed through the sand, while Cacnea clustered around a rocky outcropping. None appeared to be variants like those in Floor Zero, which made sense. If the pillar had existed since the Tower's creation, it would house original Pokemon species rather than those twisted by Floor Zero's environment.

After several minutes of high-speed flight, Ash spotted something distinctly man-made—a strip of black cutting through the desert. He banked toward it, slowing as he approached.

A paved road bisected the desert, its asphalt surface shimmering with heat. Ash frowned at the unexpected sight. He'd anticipated wilderness, not signs of civilisation. Still, the road provided direction in this featureless landscape.

"South it is," he decided, following the road..

Barely a minute later, a structure appeared in the distance. As Ash approached, details emerged—a rectangular building with a flat roof, fronted by strange pillars with cylindrical objects attached to their sides. Behind the building stood a larger covered area. 

Ash landed in front of the structure, recalling his board to his mind palace. The building's façade featured large glass windows. A sign above the entrance revealed it to be a gas station.

"What is this place?" Ash murmured, approaching cautiously.

He pushed open the door, wincing at the loud jingle of bells. Inside, shelves lined the walls and formed aisles in the centre. They held colourful packages, bottles, and cans—foods and beverages, judging by the images on them. Refrigerated units stood along the back wall, their glass doors revealing more drinks inside.

One section contained metal parts, tools, and containers of various liquids. A long counter faced the entrance. The arrangement finally clicked—this was some sort of shop, though unlike any Ash had seen in the Tower.

Ash moved through the aisles, scanning for anything useful. Most items meant nothing to him. At the back, a door led to what appeared to be a repair area, with hydraulic lifts and tool racks.

He spotted a metal chest tucked beneath a workbench. Kneeling, he pried it open to reveal dozens of pokéballs nestled in foam cutouts, alongside several healing potions. Ash scooped everything into his mind palace, grateful for the unexpected windfall.

Before leaving, he returned to the main shop area. He grabbed an armful of packaged snacks and beverages, storing them away. Most were unfamiliar, their packaging featuring strange logos and names, but curiosity won out. Who knew when he'd have another chance to try them?

As he turned to leave, a rack near the door caught his attention—folded paper documents with colourful designs. Ash grabbed one and opened it, revealing a detailed map of the desert region. His eyes widened as he spotted a marked location with text reading "Floor 1 Exit."

"No way," he muttered. "That can't have been this easy."

Ash studied the map carefully. If it was accurate, the exit lay just five minutes south along the road.

Stuffing the map into his pocket, Ash exited the building and summoned his board again. He rose into the air and continued following the road southward, consulting the map frequently to confirm his course.

The map proved accurate. Within minutes, Ash spotted another building. Unlike the shop, this structure was circular with a domed roof, with architectural details matching the pillars' entrance chamber.

Ash circled once, searching for any sign of Zinnia, but the surrounding desert remained empty. He wondered how she was getting on. She couldn’t be any slower than him. 

He landed and approached the building cautiously. Inside, a spiral staircase wound upward through an opening in the ceiling.

Ash checked his watch—half an hour had passed since entering the pillar. If he maintained this pace, reaching the seventh floor within the time limit seemed possible. Though he harboured no illusions about the challenges becoming easier.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ash collapsed at the top of the stairs, his body dropping to the floor with a thud. His Bruises covered his exposed skin, and dried blood caked the corner of his mouth.

Two gruelling hours had passed since he'd found the exit from the first floor. Each subsequent level presented increasingly difficult trials, costing precious time and energy. 

The fourth floor had been the worst by far. Upon arrival, Ash discovered that he was the one participating in the battle. His abilities were restricted to a single technique—Harden. His opponent, a towering Machoke, had battered him relentlessly. The battle deteriorated into a brutal test of endurance, with Ash relying on his Steelium armour and Iron Echo Shell technique to survive each devastating blow. Victory came by the narrowest margin when he managed to reflect the Machamp's Dynamic Punch back at it with doubled force.

Ash fumbled in his pocket for the potion. The liquid tasted foul but provided almost immediate relief, dulling the sharp edges of his pain. He pulled a snack and drink from his mind palace, tearing into the unfamiliar packaging.

The food surprised him—sweeter and more flavourful than anything available in the Tower markets. As he drained the last of the fizzy drink, Ash wished he'd taken everything from that strange shop.

Forcing himself to his feet, Ash surveyed the fifth floor's chamber. Like the previous levels, it contained multiple doorways, each leading to a new trial. Before he could choose his path, movement from the stairwell caught his attention.

A man emerged onto the fifth floor. Tall and muscular with shoulder-length purple hair, he possessed the distinctive aura of a cultivator at the early Essence Realm. His clothes showed signs of recent combat—torn fabric and scorch marks. When he spotted Ash, his eyes narrowed in assessment.

"You beat me here," the man said, approaching cautiously. "I was just behind you entering the pillar. You must be good."

"Who are you?" Ash asked.

"The name's Paul." The man stopped at a respectful distance. "Seems we're both chasing the top prize."

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Ash continues to climb the pillar and faces increasingly dangerous situations.

Thanks for reading.