God's Tower System

Luca and Valentin were shocked when they received the order to drop their current target and keep eyes on a nobody who had recently become a Climber a few months ago.

Both were recruited directly by The Dingo on Ilasa Port and quickly rose through the ranks in The Syndicate, becoming the duo known as The Shadow Brothers.

After traveling across Terra to reach Duskgate and locating Jackson, they soon started gathering information on him. After watching the carriage disappear from the Northern Gate, they infiltrated Overgeared and investigated their offices.

Unable to find anything substantial to send to The Dingo, they reported his direction and quickly caught up to him in Ashbourne, locating him as he left The Wicked Candle.

"They're splitting up!" Luca hissed, dropping behind the building's parapet as he pressed his back against the sandstone barrier next to Valentin, who poked his head and watched as the group separated.

Abigail, Bella, and Julia walked away toward the campus of The Gilded Forge, Alijah went toward The Climber's Association, and Jackson and Megan left toward the black market.

"Ignore the triplets. I'll follow the girl; you, the lovebirds." Valentin ordered as Luca nodded, and the two quickly leaped across the rooftops, following their targets.

Despite Jackson noticing his presence since leaving The Wicked Candle, Luca saw nothing more than a young man out on a date with his girlfriend.

"What did you do to piss off The Syndicate..?" He questioned as he watched the couple shopping. The longer it went on, the more annoyed he became, and when they quickly started running away, he was shocked beyond belief.

"I don't like this..." He muttered, sprinting after them as he jumped from rooftop to rooftop, exclaiming, slowly losing ground, "Fuck, he's fast!"

When Jackson disappeared behind the wall, Luca caught up on the rooftops nearby, panting heavily and straining his eyes as he looked frantically around.

"Fuck!" He shouted, stomping his foot as his breathing stabilized, and he dropped his guard and turned around, "I better report back to Valentin..."

He quickly ran off, jumping across rooftops and rushing toward The Syndicate's safehouse in Ashbourne when he stumbled and fell to his knees on top of a rooftop.

His eyes widened in shock as he grabbed his throat, his hands instantly dyed red as he groaned, struggling to stop the blood from gushing from his neck and rushing down his body before falling on his face.

Hours passed before Valentin located his cold corpse, a massive dark pool of coagulated blood surrounding the body as he flipped him onto his back.

"You motherfuckers are going to pay..." He muttered, choking back the tears as he closed Luca's eyes, seething in rage, crouching next to his best friend's body for an extended period before standing and returning to the safe house.

***

The Dingo was sitting in The Jackal's office in one of the many warehouses in Ilasa Port, both smoking cigars as they discussed their plans.

"What's the latest word from The Shadow Brothers?" The Jackal asked, ashing his cigar in the glass ashtray.

"It's been two weeks on Terra since they departed Duskgate, so they should have made it to Ashbourne by now. We should be receiving an update soon." The Dingo replied, smoke slowly exiting his mouth as he spoke.

"Ashbourne..." The Jackal growled, recalling the fall of the wildlings and reclamation by the Climber's Association, "If we do not hear word soon, send another team."

"Yes, sir!"

***

The next day after observing the group party all night and returning to the inn, he watched as Jackson departed the inn they had stayed at and followed him to the Scragakord Bazaar.

When the strange man bumped into his target, he held his breath and narrowed his eyes, "That was no accident..."

When Jackson did not move, and the strange man quickly disappeared, Valentin quickly tailed the man before watching him disappear into the sewers, "Luca... How did a bunch of rats get the jump on you..?"

He returned to the Bazaar, watching Jackson leaving, and smiled, thinking he had missed nothing as he quickly returned to following him. Valentin watched him enter and exit dozens of Martial Training Halls, a baker's dozen Mystic Shops, roughly ten Skillbook Emporiums, and finally, The Climber's Association.

"What the hell is he doing..?" He muttered, peeking from an alley next to a busy café. He quickly ducked behind a large wooden crate, grabbing his chest and panting heavily as he felt someone's gaze on him.

He peeked up and looked around, glimpsing Jackson walking down the street away from him, "It couldn't have been him... could it..?"

He quickly merged with a passing group and followed him through the city. After a while passed, he felt relieved, convinced that it wasn't Jackson who saw him for a moment, but on edge, "Maybe I shouldn't underestimate the rats in this city..."

He quickly blended in with the shoppers as he feigned shopping at a stall and maintained his visual on Jackson, "More shopping..? This boy... I swear!"

"Kids and their MDs..." He shook his head and continued and watched him sit on a fountain; Valentin clicked his tongue in annoyance, "Tch!"

"Finally!" He exclaimed, watching as Jackson stood from the fountain and walked down a path leading from the plaza. He quickly darted toward the corner of the building, peeking his eyes past the edge.

"Huh!?" Valentin exclaimed, rushing into the alleyway, looking around the sandstone walls, only a garbage bin stuffed with trash. He looked up at the ten-foot walls, pondering if his target climbed them.

"Hello, Valentin..." A cold voice sounded behind him as he spun around, drawing his wicked knives as the sound of bags fell to the ground.

Jackson had already rushed toward Valentin, a sword in his hand, its tip glowing brightly as the blade melted, plunging it into the man's chest, twisting it as he tried to raise his daggers to stab him.

Valentin's muscles constricted as he gasped softly, his body falling backward, dropping his weapons as he hit the ground. Jackson turned around, lightning arcing around his feet as he leaned forward, picking up the bags and vanishing as he returned to the inn.