"Hey, Sir Victor, could you teleport Aiden over here?"
Evan respectfully addressed Sir Victor, seeking his assistance. Despite being Victor's superior, Evan acknowledged Victor's age and strength, choosing to use honorifics as a sign of respect. Evan understood that respect is earned, and he hoped that by showing respect to Victor, he would receive the same in return.
"Absolutely, I can do that," Victor responded with a nod, affirming his ability to fulfill Evan's request.
"In that case, do bring him here."
Although Victor's existence was born from the tower's spirit, his strength was undeniably real. He was a true Soul Grandmaster, someone so strong that he would be respected no matter where he went in the Black Eye Galaxy.
With a casual wave of his hand, he effortlessly tore through the very fabric of reality, creating a portal to another place.
Victor swiftly stepped inside, disappearing from sight.
Moments later, he emerged from the portal, accompanied by Aiden.
Aiden's expression mirrored his confusion and shock as he scanned his unfamiliar surroundings, trying to make sense of his sudden teleportation. He looked like a little lost kitten.
.....
Outside the tower.
"Look at his confused expression, it's rather adorable."
Observing Aiden's confusion, a young lady from the imperial frost clan remarked, finding his expression rather endearing.
"Did he always look this attractive?"
Her friend added in awe, marveling at Aiden's attractiveness.
"He's Annika's brother, so it's in his genes to be charming. You just didn't notice before because, in your eyes, his obvious handsomeness was overshadowed by the fact that he was a control-type soul cultivator,"
In the midst of the gathering, a sigma male boldly revealed an uncomfortable truth about the girls' perception of males, not Aiden in general.
This left both girls feeling embarrassed.
.....
Inside the tower.
"Shocked, aren't we?" Evan chuckled, finding Aiden's bewildered look quite amusing.
Aiden turned to Evan and asked, his voice filled with curiosity, "Where on Earth are we?"
"We're at the peak of the Monster Tower," Evan calmly replied.
"This is the tower's summit? That means I'll receive 100 points, just like you. The third trial of fire will end in a tie between us. You didn't have to do this, my prince. If you hadn't brought me here, you would have gained a significant lead over the others. You would've truly stood out from the crowd. Why did you give me this opportunity and undermine your own standing in the clan?" Aiden's voice was laced with emotion, his happiness and tears evident in his words and eyes.
Evan responded with sincerity, "I always repay my debts, and I know you're not interested in competing for my position. Placing you above others but below myself in the inheritance war didn't feel like a difficult decision."
Evan was the type of guy who repays a drop of water with an entire spring. The members of his clan had only seen his ferocious nature so far, but now they had also witnessed his benevolence. And they had to say; it left them impressed.
"Thank you for placing such immense trust in me, my prince," Aiden expressed his gratitude.
To which Evan replied, "You've earned it."
After that, Evan, along with Aiden and the managers of the first three floors stepped out of the Monster Tower.
The grueling third trial of the inheritance war, engulfed in flames, had finally concluded.
The Bronze Ranking List of the esteemed Imperial Frost Clan became immediately adorned with an abundance of names.
Unsurprisingly, Evan's name claimed the prestigious top spot on the list.
Right below him, Aiden's name gleamed with pride.
Dante, Mathew, and Max secured the third, fourth, and fifth positions, respectively, showcasing their exceptional prowess.
"… hmm?"
Evan's lips curved into a gentle smile as he perused the list, for a familiar name caught his eye.
There it was, Jack's name, nestled in the seventh position.
It seemed like a pleasant surprise for Evan.
'It's good to see that he didn't waste the chance I provided him.'
"I never got the chance to say it earlier, but I truly appreciate you saving my life," Jack expressed with genuine gratitude, leaving the members of the Ice Household in awe of his humility.
Surprised by Jack's unexpected display of gratitude, Evan remarked, "I had assumed you'd be too embarrassed to acknowledge it. It seems I misjudged you. You're not as ungrateful as I initially thought."
Curious about Evan's impression of him, Jack mustered the courage to inquire, "Is my reputation truly that tarnished in your eyes?"
"You were my bully, Jack. We had a heated argument not too long ago. First impressions matter, and yours was a miserable failure."
Evan's response was straightforward, his voice tinged with lingering memories of their tumultuous past.
Jack's face fell, remorse evident in his eyes.
He took a deep breath and spoke sincerely,
"I'm truly sorry for my past behavior, Evan. I've reflected on my actions, and I promise to do better. You won't have to worry about me causing trouble anymore."
With a nod, he turned and quietly left, leaving Evan to contemplate the sincerity of Jack's words.
"Son, everyone here is curious about one thing. The command token, how much control does it grant you over the tower? Would you mind enlightening us, old folks?" Magnus inquired, his eyes filled with genuine intrigue.
"No, not at all," Evan replied confidently. "Having the Command Token in my possession grants me unparalleled authority within the Monster Tower. I can bend its inhabitants to my will, reshape its very structure, and hold dominion over its loyal floor managers."
To demonstrate his assertion, Evan reached out and grasped the towering structure known as the Monster Tower. The colossal edifice, towering above average skyscrapers, began to shrink and shrink until it was no larger than a mere speck, fitting comfortably in the palm of Evan's hand!
"That's possible?!"
"OMG!"
Gasps of astonishment and awestruck murmurs reverberated through the crowd, their voices filled with a mix of amazement and disbelief. Evan's display had left everyone in attendance spellbound, marveling at the unimaginable power he wielded.