AK : RISING MYTHIC

The Zenith Base was alive with whispers as sunlight spilled through the crystalline ceiling. After the chaotic first trial of Spiral Prism, everyone had assumed Day 2 would offer something more cooperative. They were wrong.

Kaelen stood calmly at the center of a stone disc floating in midair, his dimensional staff spiraling behind him like a sentinel. Around him, the jagged terrain shifted again — and the battlefield took shape.

Two enormous lanes formed side-by-side like rivers carved through stone. These twin paths curved upward and twisted like the horns of a dragon, each studded with traps, shifting tiles, magical pulses, and summoned creatures that roamed like guardians. Between them hovered a pulsating column of light — a crystal gate — sealed tightly with strange runes.

Behind Kaelen, the other Zeniths watched from floating platforms:

Vira Lysaria, seated on a throne made of vines, arms crossed.

Tyrus Molren, standing tall with arms behind his back.

Elira Saelwyn, calmly analyzing the field with light refracting from her hands.

Norwan and Rohi, the Zenith healers, quietly observing patterns in the terrain.

Kaelen, as ever, remained composed.

He finally spoke.

> "Today's trial is called Convergent Path. Each path can only be completed with two: one Zenith or Apex-level knight and one from lower ranks — Alpha, Omega, or Mythic. The trial requires coordination. Trust. Shared decisions."

Julius added sharply, "Your power alone will not win this. Your bond will."

Pairs began forming as names were announced:

Camero (Omega) with Elira (Zenith)

Vaelith Ren (Mythic) with Vira (Zenith)

Ravik Durn (Mythic) with Norwan (Zenith)

Yuna Solthrae (Mythic) with Rohi (Zenith)

Kyren Daxe (Mythic) with Apex Knight: Xalan Voris

And finally…

> "Arslan, you will pair with… Tyrus Molren."

Silence.

Nirela flinched. Seris Vahla muttered, "No way…"

Ravik hissed, "They'll kill each other before the path ends."

Tyrus walked forward without emotion. Arslan followed, unreadable as always.

They stepped onto the Convergent Path side by side, though separated by a beam of molten light. Their own lanes awaited — filled with traps, monsters, and unstable ground.

---

⚔️ Converging Storms: The First Trial

Each pair moved simultaneously. On their respective lanes, they faced mirrored challenges that could only be completed in sync.

Ravik and Norwan faced shifting rune-tiles that had to be stepped on at the same moment to activate safe platforms. Norwan's calm rhythm kept Ravik steady, even as the tiles threatened to collapse.

Camero and Elira worked their way through light-refracted illusions, slicing through mirror beasts that multiplied. Camero grinned as Elira phased through one illusion and let Camero's punch hit the real one.

Vira and Vaelith were an odd match. Her vines tried to entangle too aggressively, and Vaelith's life energy pulses disrupted their flow. They argued — loudly. Eventually, Vaelith calmed the terrain by syncing his pulse with her root channels. Vira blinked. "Hmph. Not bad."

Meanwhile...

On Arslan and Tyrus' path:

They hit the first obstacle: a double guardian — a fire construct and an energy wraith attacking them from opposing lanes.

Tyrus erupted with Volcanic Compression, sending a shockwave through his lane and shattering stone beneath the guardian's feet.

Arslan dodged, launching a barrage of Shadow Blades, spinning and phasing through the air. He transitioned into a Phantom Rift, reappearing behind the wraith and slashing it with Abyssal Fangs.

"Your timing's slow," Tyrus muttered.

"Your aim was off," Arslan replied.

But they made it through.

---

🔒 Crystal Core Chamber: The Sync Lock

At the end of the path, all pairs faced the real test — a crystal orb suspended between their two lanes, bound in energy seals.

Kaelen's voice echoed once again:

> "To unlock it, you must merge a piece of both your energies — equal, simultaneous, harmonious. This gate cannot be forced. It must be earned."

Yuna and Rohi fused healing light and pulse auras into a radiant spiral — their gate unlocked like a flower blooming.

Camero and Elira used refracted light and density control to crack their seal from the inside.

But for Arslan and Tyrus — it refused to budge.

Tyrus growled. "I'm not syncing my flame with your shadows. It'll collapse."

Arslan said nothing. But Kar'Thael whispered in his mind:

> "They won't sync because you both reject each other. You must create a third force — not yours, not his. A bridge."

Arslan closed his eyes.

He crouched, drawing both his dark energy and fragments of the fire pressure leaking from Tyrus' aura. He compressed them around his hand. Slowly, the energy began to reshape.

Black flames twined with crimson pressure. Obsidian grew around the fusion.

A new weapon began to form — something never before seen.

Tyrus narrowed his eyes. "You're forging now?"

Arslan responded softly, "No. I'm solving the path."

He stood, now wielding a weapon unlike any before:

A jagged, twin-edged glaive that pulsed with both fire and shadow. It shimmered like a tear in space — half flame, half void.

> Name: Crimson Verge

Tyrus placed his hand on the hilt.

Their energies merged.

The crystal unlocked.

Other Knights stared in stunned silence.

Kaelen tilted his head. "That… is new."

---

Just as the gate opened, the last surprise emerged — a colossal draconic construct made of stone and blazing chains descended onto the field.

Each pair now had to fight side by side to stop the beast.

Camero and Elira dashed between laser bursts, Elira phasing Camero through time gaps to land strikes.

Vaelith and Vira fused vines with life aura, forming an explosive entanglement that restrained the creature's wings.

Arslan and Tyrus…

Tyrus said nothing — just charged.

Arslan smiled slightly.

"Let's go."

Tyrus erupted upward, fists flying. Arslan shot into the air behind him, activated First Combination Skill:

> Black Halo ignited,

Lightning Shadow Blades spun in orbit,

Dark Bow fired rift-powered arrows,

And Phantom Rift pulled them closer for a final strike.

Tyrus punched the beast's chest open. Arslan slashed through the exposed core with Crimson Verge — a perfect, synchronized hit.

The beast collapsed.

--

As the field dimmed, Julius clapped. Slowly. So did Kaelen.

Kaelen's voice was calm but surprised. "Tyrus, Arslan. . That was... unexpected."

Tyrus stepped forward. "He made something that wasn't his or mine. It worked."

Arslan gave a slight nod. "Respect is earned. You helped."

Vira folded her arms. "Hmph. That glaive wasn't bad."

Rohi whispered to Norwan, "They might actually be able to teach each other."

Nirela, watching from the sideline, smiled.

Later, as everyone exited the trial, Arslan walked quietly beside Tyrus.

"You're not bad for someone made of lava," he teased.

Tyrus chuckled. "You're not hopeless either, Shadow Boy."

At last, Julius said"We will conduct another Collaboration training after a few days"...

"We have actually build trust

I hope, You all will improved"....