God's Tower System

The remaining nine Floor Guardians all stared at Elissa in shock; something like this had never happened in the eons they'd served their roles.

"Have you located the Climber?" One of the Guardians asked, slamming their heavy fist against the table, to which Elissa shook her head.

"I know the general location but cannot get to him. There's this impassable aura that's preventing me from getting closer." She explained, flicking her wrist.

Another screen appeared in front of the footage, a topographical map of La Sexta Isla with a large red circle in the northeastern part of the island.

"What about admin commands?" Another inquired, leaning against the table and holding their palm to the ceiling.

"Ineffective." Elissa shook her head again, "The commands are being received, but when they start to execute, they're suspended in the queue indefinitely."

The Floor Guardians exclaimed in shock; one stood in disbelief, turning to the Guardian helming the conference table, "Almunaas, she is only the weakest among us; you, as the strongest, should intervene and attempt to eradicate this bug once and for all!"

Almunaas leaned forward in his chair, stroking his chin as he thought. He appeared as a young man in his early twenties with deep cerulean eyes and golden hair that cascaded down his shoulders.

He wore a long white draped robe with a golden cord around his waist and black tights with gold thread sandals, with a crimson red toga wrapped around his left shoulder and right arm.

"Don't listen to Zuk!" Elissa said, throwing her arm out, "We all know none of us are any stronger than each other! He just has a superiority complex because I'm the only one in charge of any floors below him!"

The green-skinned, long-nosed Zuk began laughing, flashing his yellow teeth and long tongue. He had long, pointed ears with a dozen gold earring hoops that bounced as he laughed.

"Silence, you two!" A secretarial-looking woman hissed between her teeth toward the two before returning her affectionate gaze to Almunaas, adjusting her glasses and smoothing her bob-cut hair.

Elissa and Zuk flinched as they stopped their glaring match and stared at the woman with wry smiles.

"Meeting adjourned." Almunaas replied, clapping his hands as the remaining eight Guardians were teleported off the 99th floor.

Elissa instantly was confused, looking around the empty room as she was the only one remaining, "Um... Is there something else I can help you with... sir..?"

"We're going to investigate this anomaly, together." He replied with a smile, clapping his hands together as the world around the two collapsed, revealing the large beach close to Jackson's campsite and turning toward it, pointing as he asked, "That's the Climber's shelter, correct?"

"Yes, sir." Elissa nodded as the pair walked toward it. Almunaas walked around, curiously touching, poking, and picking anything he could up, inspecting everything and placing it perfectly where he found it.

"Are you looking for anything, sir?" She asked as he shook his head and continued to investigate the campsite.

"No, I've already located the affected area the second we arrived." He said, staring at something and pointing behind him toward the mountains to the Northeast.

"I see..." Elissa muttered in awe before asking, "Are you ready to investigate over there..?"

"You can go on if you want; I'll catch up soon!" He said, waving his hand dismissively as he continued to search the camp. Elissa's jaw dropped in disbelief at him, her eyes wide in shock at his eccentric personality.

"Um... Sir? Are you sure this is the time to snoop through someone's personal belongings?" Elissa asked, raising one of her fingers as she hunched her shoulders.

***

Jackson huffed in anger, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he glared at the mysterious woman, "What gives you the right to judge me?"

"Well, for one, I don't go around forcing Spirit Beasts into giving their souls to me!" She scoffed, turning around and crossing her arms across her chest.

"I didn't force anything on either of them!" Jackson shouted, throwing his arm out and stepping forward, "The hell is wrong with you?"

"You didn't? Then what did you give them in exchange for selling you their souls?" The woman shouted, gritting her teeth as she balled her fists together, staring at the ground with her back to Jackson.

"That's none of your business! They felt my spirit and knew instantly who I was! Expanding my group and increasing not only my survival, but also that of Khione and Umbra. Khione may not immediately understand that, but one day, she will!"

"They do not need your help, human." The woman coldly replied, turning around and glaring into his eyes, stepping forward as she angrily jabbed her finger into his chest, "It is you who stunts their growth! They would be better off without you!"

"What do you mean?" Jackson asked, "How can I help them grow stronger?"

"You ask too many questions... Goodbye." She said, turning around and storming off, huffing in frustration.

"No, wait! Where are you going to go? The portal to the next floor is still closed!" Jackson ran after her and asked.

"I'm going to be alone." She replied, not looking back, and continued to walk. Jackson stopped in his tracks, stunned, and watched her walk out of sight. He stood in silence, dumbfounded.

He shook his head, sprinting again in order to catch up, and walked beside her, "What's your name?"

"Is it not customary to state your own name before asking someone for theirs..?" She countered, shaking her head as she rolled her eyes, ignoring his question.

He frowned, nodding, "Sorry, you're right! How about we start over? I'm Jackson. What's your name?"

She sighed loudly and groaned before she stopped, turned to him, and glanced up, "My name is Sera; now, can you leave me alone?"

"Nice to meet you, Sera. How did you get here?" Jackson asked, ignoring her request as he reached his hand out.

"What do you mean? I've always been here."