The atmosphere on the 21st Floor was electric, thick with tension and excitement. This wasn't just another day—this was the day Yeon Ilarde, known to many as the 'Godmother,' would choose a man to sleep with her. It was a rare event that happened only once every five years, and the chosen men would reside in the palace for that time. If a child was born, they earned the honor of being accepted into the Family.
Floating Carriers from all over the Tower filled the sky, converging on a single destination. The sprawling garden below was divided into three distinct sections. One massive area was for docking ships, while the other two were for interviews and ranking assessments.
"You've heard about Yeon Ilarde's taste, right? They say it's as cold as ice. Most of us don't stand a chance," a young Ranker muttered, hope still glimmering in his eyes.
His companion, an older and more experienced participant, let out a knowing chuckle. "Aye, lad. Don't let ambition blind you. Only the best make it past the initial interview. It's not just about spending five years in the palace; it's about being accepted into the Family if a child's born."
"Sounds like you've got some experience, Senior Brother. Enlighten this junior," the younger Ranker asked eagerly.
Nearby, a group of female Rankers watched the proceedings, performing the final tests. "This is the last batch. We only selected four out of 690 Rankers," one of them remarked, her sharp eyes never leaving the action.
"Well, these men aren't even fit to clean the Godmother's bed, let alone warm it," one Yeon Ranker muttered. "This one's obsessed with cats. Is that a problem?"
"What about the guy who can summon an army of rubber ducks? Should we even bother?"
Pit-a-Pat Pit-a-Pat
The murmurs died down as a High Ranker from the Yeon Family stumbled into the garden, sweating and trembling. Everyone fell silent.
…
Above the garden, a fleet of Floating Ships, Warships, and even a Floating Castle hovered ominously. The Yeon Family's army had surrounded the garden, ready to wipe everything out if things went south.
Inside the largest Warship, Azalea, Yeon Adara, the Field Commander, stood at the helm, watching the scene below.
"Is this why the Family Head wanted me here?" The red-haired woman with bright pink eyes glanced down at the garden, where her Corps Commander was walking in, looking panicked.
"Do you want me to bring his head, Field Commander?" the Field Army Vice-Commander asked, bowing low.
"Let's see what he's up to, Uruini… Plus, the Godmother's watching," Yeon Adara responded, her gaze never leaving the Floating Castle in the center.
…
TAP TAP TAP
The sudden sound of footsteps echoed through the garden, cutting through the heavy silence.
"Shit! Why is he here, Brother? I'm outta here!" The junior Ranker earlier froze at the sight of the new arrival.
"I don't know, but don't worry, Junior. Family Head Yeon's here on the 21st Floor." His older companion reassured him, wiping sweat off his brow.
Indrah stepped into the grand Recruiting Event and stopped in his tracks. The sheer scale of it all was overwhelming, but what caught his attention even more was how most of the Rankers seemed to flee the moment he stepped into the garden.
"Why are they running?" he asked, genuinely confused.
A nearby High Ranker from Yeon gave him a wry smile. "Do you really not know your reputation? Massacring an entire Branch Family of Lo Po Bia because the Branch Leader wanted to enslave you, knocking on the doors of the Rulers of each Floor just because you didn't want to take their tests, making the dead your summon… Oh, and don't forget, you're an 'Irregular.'"
'And you're asking me why they're running? Bastard, do you take me for a fool?' the High Ranker thought to herself.
"H-haha… don't worry, beautiful lady. I'm just here to participate in this event." Indrah awkwardly laughed, but in his head, he was already thinking, 'This is madness, Urek!'
From the Red Cloud earring on his ear, Urek's voice rang out. "Hahaha… don't worry, baby~ You just need to reject her once you're picked."
Indrah whispered into his earring, "What's the deal with all this? Why is everyone making a fuss? You still didn't tell me why."
"She rejected me once, in front of everyone," Urek replied with a tone dripping with vengeance.
Indrah couldn't hold back a laugh. "Rejected you? Urek Mazino? Why?"
"I don't know, baby~ Maybe I'm too good for her," Urek answered, his voice unusually serious.
Indrah chuckled, easily picturing the scene. He passed the Yeon tests without breaking a sweat, despite the bizarre scrutiny from the Rankers. Soon, the other non-selected Rankers trickled out of the testing area, leaving only five candidates behind—Indrah among them.
"The four of you can leave." A motherly voice echoed through the garden as Yeon Ilarde descended from the Floating Castle.
The other four didn't hesitate, walking away without a word. Indrah's gaze locked with Ilarde's. She assessed him for a moment before speaking.
"Come with me to the Floating Castle."
Indrah swallowed hard, his mind racing as he looked at her ascending. Just as he was about to turn down her offer, Urek's voice cut through the silence in his ear, freezing him in place.
"Hm? Aren't you coming?" Ilarde asked, her voice soft but commanding.
The onlookers felt the shift in the air, their breath collectively held.
Indrah took a deep breath and turned toward her, his voice carrying a chill that rang through the crowd.
"I'm sorry, but I'd rather not sleep with someone who spreads her legs every five years and swaps bed partners as often as I change socks."
_
Urek's laughter erupted in his mind. "HAHAHA! He really said it!! He really said it!! That's my little bro!"
Yeon Yirang, watching from her throne, couldn't help but shake her head. "You've gone too far with that prank, Pig. Even if you're trying to get back at her for rejecting you."
Urek, grinning like a maniac, leaned back casually. "Well, don't you also want this to happen? I know you want Illarde to stop this charade every five years, because you feel guilty."
Yirang's eyes narrowed. "And why are you using my Family as training dummies for your little brother?"
Urek's grin widened. "Haha, Don't worry, beauty. I asked him not to kill anyone if things escalate."
After a beat of silence, Urek continued, his tone shifting. "Jahad Family… they seem to be really concerned about his arrival. Do you think a Branch Family of Lo Po Bia is foolish enough to provoke an Irregular?"
"The current him is strong… strong enough to make me use 30% of my power. But at this level… he wouldn't be able to cross the 100th Floor."
"Arie Han?" Yirang asked, clearly puzzled. "That still doesn't explain why you're helping him."
Urek chuckled darkly. "Don't tell me you still dream of leaving this place?"
Yirang scoffed. "What a foolish dream you have, Pig."
Urek's smile faded. He understood something these fools didn't.
'When he reaches the top, you'll witness the birth of someone who surpasses everything you've seen. No matter how strong we are, it won't matter in front of him—an Axis.'
…
"Well, I didn't expect someone like him to be suicidal." Yeon Adara smiled condescendingly as she exited the Warship, floating up into the sky. Crimson flames wrapped around her, shaping into a giant red form above.
A voice echoed throughout the 21st Floor.
"PREPARE FOR WAR!"