( Rocky''s POV )


    A couple days after clearing floor 18, the trio attempted to clear floor 19 and managed to do so without suffering any major problems.


    The quest this time was to help a group of birdmen find appropriate materials for their nesting season, as the group innovatively tackled the problem and helped procure wool, twigs and other materials to construct nests amass.


    It was a quest that required them to use wits more than brawn and was rtively easy toplete as the trio managed to pass on to floor 20 without facing any major setbacks so far.


    Returning back to floor zero, the three celebrated their clearing of floor19 inside the canteen as they excitedly talked about the next promotion test on floor 20 that they were to attempt in two days'' time.


    "Floor 21 is where the real politics and power ys of the tower starts. It''s where you officially be a climber" Erin said, as he excitedly ate his food and talked about how adventurous their future was bound to be.


    "Buhara cannot wait to help save Rocky''s sister… Buhara gonna smash all the bad guys" said Buhara as he ate food using both hands, stuffing a mouthful each time he lifted an arm.


    "Floor 21 is where our journey finally begins…. No longer university students, we will have to face the tower on our own" Rocky said, as he felt a shiver run down his spine thinking about the challenges he was bound to face in the future.


    ording to his knowledge, the Gemini Gods were already on floor 92, which was the only reason why he had an easy life climbing up to floor 20.


    However, once he moved past floor 20, the effects of ''Vorithra Slyithen'' were bound to kick in, as random events would start to be triggered every time he would be on a floor raid.


    From floor 21 onwards, every floor was bound to be a new and challenging adventure for him and his party, with the real threat of life and death hanging in the bnce.


    Not only would he need to face unexpected challenges during his floor raids, but he would also need to face challenges from forces that were hostile to the Gemini Gods.


    While he lived inside a bubble while inside the university, the moment he would cross the floor20 threshold, he was bound toe into contact with big yers like major tower guilds, major religions and anti-god cults who would try exert their influence over him because of his status as the Champion Of Gemini.


    It was surely going to be a challenging yet exciting time where everyday was going to be the start of a new adventure.


    **********


    ( Meanwhile, Sophia )


    After months of a tense standoff with her brother, Sophia finally received a letter from him where he requested her presence at the pce on floor 21, assuring her that she would be safe and no harm woulde to her.


    Unwilling to let this chance go, Sophia epted his request and decided to meet him, as she returned to floor 21 where she was shocked to see the ruined and pitiful state the pce was in.


    As she walked into the throne room, Sophia was surprised to see her brother looking extremely pale and sleep deprived as his usual vibrant and happy lusture seemed to be missingpletely.


    "Brother…." She said softly, trying to see if Perseus was okay, however, Perseus did not seem to register her voice at all as he kept staring at her expressionlessly.


    "I''m about to die… Sophia" Perseus eventually said, breaking the silence between the two as his words somehow moved Sophia to tears.


    "Brother no...." She said, crying a small river of tears as Perseus let out a deep sigh.


    "The reconstruction effort of the fort and the recruitment of new troops is going abysmally bad.


    The family seems to have withdrawn their support for me entirely and are almost rooting for me to fail.


    Sessfully defending my pce is no longer enough for father, who has promised to decapitate me personally if I fail to capture Rocky for him, or lose the custody of Riva to the enemy" Perseus said, sounding extremely exhausted as he projected all his problems on to Sophia to try garner her sympathy.


    " Unfortunately, I wasn''t chosen as the Champion Of Poseidon. Unfortunately, I don''t hold the same position in the family as you do.


    I''m disposable, my achievements are my onlyyer of defense as without them, I''m just one of the thousands of Olympian half-lings running around" Perseus said, as he spoke the grim truth about his existence.


    He wasn''t the son of a true god like his father.


    He was the grandson of a true god, which were innumerable within the Olympian society, making his existence not that special.


    The only thing giving his life meaning was his position as the floor master of floor21, which distinguished him from the rest of the crowd. However, if he failed to redeem himself now, he would be discarded and killed without hesitation.


    "Brother…. Why is our family so cruel?" Sophia said, as she began to sob out loud.


    She knew exactly how ruthless the Olympian society was and detested it deeply.


    All she wanted was love and adoration from her family like any normal child was entitled to, however, she only got love and acknowledgement from her father when she achieved something, which made her personality turn twisted and narcissistic as an adult.


    " I know the rest of our family is incredibly cruel Sophia, which is why I know that I can only trust you…..


    My blood sister who will never abandon me no matter how much we fight internally or talk back to one another.


    Afterall, we can only rely on each other in this crazy world" Perseus said as he gestured for Sophia toe up to him and embrace him, which Sophia did.


    For a while, Perseus pampered her and embraced her, however, soon he revealed his true intentions.


    "If I ask you a favor to save my life, will you or will you not help me sister?" Perseus asked maniptively as his tone took a sudden 180° shift.


    Holding her breath, Sophia tried to pull away from Perseus, however, his brother forcibly held her head in ce as he prevented her from moving an inch.


    "Of Course you won''t betray your beloved older brother right? I''m sure you don''t want him to die…. Do you?" He said, sounding borderline maniacal, as tears escaped Sophia''s eyes once more.


    In the end, she had be a puppet to others'' whims once again.


    —----


    /// Bonus chapter 2 of 3 for the day. Thankyou for all your supportst month ///