Chương 352: Chapter 346 - An Unseen Force

"You…" Alonso's voice caught for a moment, and he chuckled under his breath, shaking his head.

"You look—" he hesitated, words almost too small for what he felt, then let them out anyway, softer than he intended, "—beautiful." Ayu tilted her head, her fiery eyes narrowing with a hint of play.

"Beautiful, huh?" Her smile sharpened, more a tiger's grin than anything gentle.

"That's the best you've got? After I come back taller, stronger, and way hotter than before?" Alonso's laugh was low, certain.

"Hotter? You were always hot, Ayu." His gaze lingered, steady, unflinching, and sent her a private transmission: " Hot enough to burn me alive, and I'd still come closer." A flicker passed through her eyes as the message landed, her grin curving sharper, lips parting as though to fire back something to top it. But then— Imani cleared his throat behind them. Both turned.

"…Well," he said, pushing himself to his feet with the ease of a man unhurried.

"I think I've got some smithing to get done." He dusted off his hands, gave them both a small wave that somehow felt knowing.

"I'll leave you two to… enjoy the view." Alonso and Ayu exchanged a glance, laughter slipping out despite themselves. Imani's back slowly disappeared down the ridge and into the cave where the others were.

"So…" Alonso tilted his head slightly toward her, voice softer now.

"How do you feel?"

"Great," she said with a smile.

"It's weird, but it's like… like I was meant to be this way. I don't mean it in an arrogant way, it just feels… natural. Sure, things look smaller now, my stride feels different, my eyes catch the world in another light, and all that—but it's like I was born this way. It doesn't feel awkward… at all."

"Hmm… you reckon that's a Tower thing, or maybe your comprehension of Anokh'tai? Allowing you to adapt to your new body so quickly?" Alonso asked, curiosity threading his words. He knew well what it meant to grasp one's own limits to the extreme. Back then, it had been his deep Understanding of Self that let him wield newfound strength after only a few strikes. So perhaps—"I think it's more than that," she said, her tone thoughtful.

"This form doesn't feel like some predetermined transformation. It feels like… it was shaped by me. Built upon the form of my will."

"The form of… your will?" Alonso repeated, the words dragging out as his brows knit together. He tilted his head slightly, half sceptical, half intrigued, as if trying to decide whether she was joking or dead serious. Was that something tied to the beastmen's ways? She chuckled, her grin carrying that familiar edge.

"You're giving me that look—like, what kind of nonsense is this 'will' thing, right?"

"I… no," he started, but the hesitation in his voice gave him away. Her laugh rang out, sharp and warm.

"You totally are." Alonso smirked, lifting his hands a little in mock defence.

"Alright, maybe a little. But only because you make it sound like you just… wished yourself taller and The Tower said, sure, why not." Ayu tilted her head, eyes gleaming, the smile on her lips turning softer.

"Maybe that's not too far off." She leaned closer, voice dropping with a playful challenge.

"You know what? Maybe it's better if I show you." Alonso's brow arched, intrigue flickering across his face.

"Show me?" Ayu's grin sharpened.

"Mhm. But not here." She flicked a glance toward the cave where the others were, then back at him, fire glinting in her amber eyes.

"Somewhere private. Far from them. Don't want to call too much attention, you know?" Alonso blinked, heat rushing to his chest as his blood kicked alive. Well… he wasn't going to say no to that. Who was he kidding—his blood had been boiling since the moment he laid eyes on her.

"Come on then." With a leap, she was gone, bounding across the cliffs. Alonso followed, his heart racing faster than his steps. Within minutes they stood on another ridge, higher, lonelier, the valley yawning beneath. He smirked, tilting his head at her.

"Isn't this a little too… open to view? Didn't know that was your style." Her eyes caught his, heat simmering there. She stepped close, so close her warmth pressed against him, her breath brushing his cheek, lips hovering a whisper away. For an instant, the world held still. Then—she pulled back with a wicked laugh, sharp and playful.

"Not now, my love." She turned, hair whipping wild in the mountain wind, strands catching the sun like threads of fire. Her eyes blazed with a primal heat that seemed to see through stone and sky alike. In them was the pull of untamed freedom, the roar of something that could never be chained.

"Watch closely…" Her voice carried low, steady, but laced with an edge of fire.

"… this is the form of my will." And the world stirred. The air shivered as if the mountain itself had drawn breath, silence tightening, the wind shifting in deference to the force awakening. Behind her, shadow bled into light, vast and rising. Stripes of fire and night carved themselves across a body coiled with strength. Shoulders rolled like mountains, muscles rippled beneath molten hide, and each breath steamed as though the earth itself exhaled through it.

With every heartbeat, the blur hardened into shape—until it towered, undeniable. An Indochinese Tiger, wrought of will and flame. Its eyes opened—amber, fierce—the same blaze that burned in Ayu's own. Predator and woman, flame and will, they moved in rhythm. The beast's sway matched the pulse of her body, every flicker of its gaze mirrored in her fire. Alonso froze, breath trapped in his chest. His heart thundered, yet his limbs refused to obey.

Astonishment rooted him as his mind clawed for understanding—and found none. He had seen wonders in The Tower that defied reason, but this… this was beyond. No refraction using EM waves, no trick of domain or projection—only presence, raw and unarguable. And it was not just the form. It was the weight. The aura pressed against the world like gravity itself, demanding recognition. Instinct screamed of its danger, yet he felt no threat. It did not crush him.

If anything, it acknowledged him, the way Ayu did—held him close within its circle of protection. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. But he knew—if this presence chose an enemy, its weight would fall like the sky itself collapsing. Even the Overseer at his peak was a kitten beside this primal beast's aura. Mesmerised, he stood caught in the impossible truth of its presence, in the raw power breathing before him. So this tiger…

is a manifestation of her will? Then is the mind more than matter? Is there more beside the Pillar? Could consciousness, soul, and will themselves be true forces The Tower can draw forth? Ayu's lips curved. She stepped forward. The tiger moved with her, each pawfall rumbling the ground, echoing her stride. Its fangs glinted like her daggers, its fire burned as her own. Together, they were one. A smile tugged at her lips.

"Still think it's nonsense now?"

"It's… it's amazing," Alonso said, awe still flickering in his eyes. Then he looked closer at her, steady now.

"And for the record, I never said it was nonsense." Ayu chuckled, but a flicker passed through her gaze as her eyes narrowed. She disappeared. Alonso felt the shift before he even understood it—instinct yanking him aside just as Ayu blurred behind him, the tiger poised like a predator mid-hunt.

"It's been a while since our last spar," she said, Makoh's daggers flashing into her hands, her stance a perfect echo of the tiger's bared fangs. Her eyes dipped to his shoulder pad and wristguard.

"I see you've picked up some new toys. Looks good on you." The smile she gave was sharp, hungry.

"Now… show me, Alonso. Show me the weight you carry." The what? Ok. Better not ask. Alonso sighed inwardly. He already knew there was no way out of this. And yet… wasn't this a terrible matchup for him? His Path of Shards was practically useless against someone who didn't rely on EM waves at all. And her physical stats? They weren't just higher than his—her skills, like Fury, made the gap even wider. And now this domain… wait…

"Is that… is that Tiger formed by Primal Flow?" The words slipped out as the pieces clicked. Ayu's grin widened.

"You always had a good eye. But don't twist it—my domain can't pressure you. It never will. Because—"" You're part of it." Her form blurred before the last word even left her lips, and Alonso's body moved on instinct, his smart-body reacting before his mind caught up. Metal clashed against bone as his dual swords caught the daggers ripping for his flank. The force crashed into him like a mountain. His arms jolted with pain as he spun with the blow, riding the momentum just to stay upright.

His boots skidded across the ridge, scraping stone, until he slammed himself to a halt at the very edge.

"—so don't use that as an excuse," she finished with a wild grin, eyes burning brighter than the Tiger pacing behind her. Alonso felt the weight of her gaze. The way she moved left no doubt—this new body wasn't just for show. The reach of each limb, the balance in her stance, the coiled strength in every muscle. It was a form sharpened for speed and power, honed for the hunt. But what unsettled him most was how she blurred his perception, how perfectly she masked her intent.

His instincts screamed, but they had nothing to grasp. Was that too an extension of will? This power… His path now walked the line of mind and body fused as one. Yet what stood before him resonated with both. If this was possible, then maybe… maybe this'will' was the key to the next step. He exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing as his stance shifted. It was time to take this spar with the seriousness it deserved. The world seemed to bend with him.

Light fractured, distorted in cracks and curves through the air, the EM hum rippling from his microcapacitors into his blades. It might not affect her, but even so, Path of Shards sharpened his every motion, lending weight and rhythm to each step. And then he pushed further. Dual Overdrive surged through his nerves, lightning searing into every fibre of his body. The world slowed. The mountain wind crawled like thick smoke, each strand of Ayu's wild hair suspended mid-sway.

His heartbeat hammered like war drums in his chest, but his eyes stayed locked, fire burning beneath a cold, calculating calm.

"Alright," he said, voice steady.

"Show me what you've got." Mei was seated cross-legged on the floating platform, her eyes closed as she visualized the path ahead. The Extreme Pillar Path was a marvellous concept, and the more she studied it the deeper it struck her. The feeling of self, of clarity returning while undergoing a merging process that had been such a gamble… it all resonated with her very core. After a week she had reached the Second State, but she knew the Third was still far beyond her grasp.

She wondered if— Suddenly, the light of the sun dimmed. It felt as though night had fallen in an instant, and with it came the weight of a vast, colossal presence that had drawn close without her sensing it. Her heart skipped. Muscles tensed. She looked up, ready to send the alarm to the others, and yet—"Thanks for waiting." The voice was one she knew too well. Fear ebbed at once, though astonishment still held her chest tight.

Before her loomed a colossal flying Meca, its form divine, etched in living gold and jade-like patterns. She felt as though the murals of the Ajnal and Azcoyatl temples had stepped into the waking world. The Sky-Bearer. The Lord of Cycles. The Feathered Serpent— Quetzhira. On its head, Lukas stood with his easy smile, and beside him was her respected mentor, Chiara. Yet now she looked… striking. A black dress shimmered faintly, threads catching and breaking the light like liquid obsidian.

A slim circlet crowned her head, its dark metal guiding her hair back in a sleek line that sharpened her presence. But beyond her attire, it was the glow in her cheeks and the curve of her lips that revealed more—that she too had followed the Path, and farther than Mei herself had. And with it… she was back in her truest self. Mei felt glad, deeply glad, that they had all chosen this course.

And when Chiara's gaze found hers, a small nod of approval passed between them, warmth spilling in Mei's chest until she could hardly keep the smile from her face. A moment later the others below noticed—their heads tilting skyward. Wang, Imani, Maurice, and the rest stepped out, eyes wide at the sight.

"I see everyone is here already," Lukas said, his glance flicking across the faces.

"What about—" The ground shook before he could finish. A violent rumble split the air, the force of it rolling like thunder through their bones, as though a meteorite had just slammed into the earth itself. Chiara and Lukas' eyes narrowed in unison, the lightness gone in a breath, replaced by steel.

"Wait here." The Meca roared to life, its colossal body streaking forward at insane speed, tearing the wind apart despite its bulk. In a blink it rose above a sky choked in dust and debris. Below them, a mountain was gone—reduced to flat ruin, shattered as though nature itself had unleashed its fury. Chiara sent her waves out, Lukas threading into her Pillar to boost her output. Even so, she caught only flickers—two blurred forms, veiled and hidden as though behind a mask she couldn't pierce.

Was it—"Wow, you fixed it," a casual voice cut in from behind. Both spun, but too late—Ayu was already there, steam still rolling off her skin, her body scratched and flushed raw from exertion, yet her face wore that same maddeningly easy smile.

"Cool!" Chiara and Lukas froze, minds blanking. The presence was Ayu's, yes— but since when was Ayu this tall!? The Meca buckled beneath her weight, its massive frame groaning until she tilted her head with a grin, lips parting to reveal fangs just a little too long.

"This… Ayu?" Lukas managed.

"Me? Nah," she said, grin widening.

"I'm this stage's final boss." Before they could process, a gust exhaled from below, sweeping dust aside as a figure rose into view. His waves steadied the Meca, holding it firm against the drag of Ayu's weight.

"Now this is a surprise," Alonso said as he landed beside them, his gaze sweeping over the huge construct. Both Chiara and Lukas stared, throats tightening, a cold drop sliding down their spines. Not because Alonso had changed like Ayu. But because… why the hell was he covered in blood and wounds!? What was happening here?