Armin didn't know that he was already being insulted by the Spirit Queen.

He just climbed the next staircase that had opened up, as he also wanted to become an owner of the Arcane Tower…

This way, once he returned to the Academy to support it or help the students, he would become more reliable!

Armin's breathing calmed for a bit, but as he walked towards the next challenge, his body suddenly started trembling from the strain of the previous trials.

It seemed that even with the help of the Spirits, his body was giving up…

Indeed, the sixth floor had nearly broken him, but the spirits had carried him through. Now, as he stepped onto the seventh floor, he immediately sensed that this was different.

The chamber was vast, circular, and filled with Arcane Energy closer to Chaos Arts!

"What is it this time?"

The door behind him suddenly closed, as if to ensure that he wouldn't escape. Then, at the center of the chamber, he noticed a colossal figure. It was neither man nor beast, but he realized that it was definitely the manifestation of the Tower itself.

Its form was not complete as if it could disappear at any moment…

Then, as Armin looked closer, he realized that the figure would sometimes appear as a robed sage, sometimes as a winged guardian, sometimes as a faceless shadow.

It was quite interesting…

Soon, the voice of the Tower Guardian echoed… It sounded a bit more mechanical as well.

"You have endured reflection, paradox, and essence. But the Tower does not accept those who merely survive. To ascend, you must prove that fate itself bends to your will."

Armin swallowed hard. "What do you mean?"

The Guardian raised its hand, and the chamber transformed.

Suddenly, Armin was surrounded by visions… There were countless paths of his life branching outward like rivers. In one, he was a tyrant consumed by Dark Arts. In another, he was forgotten, broken, and still living in the orphanage… It was definitely his fate if he didn't get the chance for the Elixir or for the blessing of the Pocketwatch that he suddenly inherited before.

Nonetheless, in yet another path, he was triumphant, standing as Tower Master.

The Guardian spoke…

"What is your fate? You can choose it… But every choice carries consequences. To be accepted, you must confront the destiny you fear most… live them."

Armin's chest tightened. He didn't understand it at first, but it seemed that he must experience all of his possible fates!

Indeed, the mirrors had already shown him these possibilities, but now he had to live them.

Soon, the chamber suddenly changed… and Armin suddenly stood in a world of Darkness.

At this time, he realized that his Dark Arts had consumed him, and perhaps, he had entered the madness caused by Dark Arts.

Still, he saw himself ruling over shadows. However, behind him were his dead companions, and even Vale, his master, was included!

The corrupted version of himself stepped forward. It looked like an insane or dirty version of him.

"This is who you truly are. Power without restraint. Fate without loyalty. Submit, and the Tower will grant you everything."

It continued to trick him, and Armin finally understood the test.

The temptation was certainly overwhelming. It was endless power, immortality, and dominion… he just had to abandon everything else, including his master!

'But… They should be making their move now, before I make a bad decision.' Armin thought.

And as expected, the spirits stirred within his shadow, whispering softly.

They showed him visions of Vale's teachings, of his companions who had fought beside him, of the loyalty that had carried him this far.

Armin clenched his fists.

Now, his mind was clear again…

"Thanks for this cheat… I'd really fail without you guys."

With a roar, he unleashed his Mystic Energy, binding the corrupted version of himself!

Soon, the figure screamed, and just like that, it began dissolving into mist.

"Easy…" Armin felt proud as he felt that he had made the right decision in this matter.

However, that wasn't the end…

The chamber shifted again. This time, Armin saw himself broken, forgotten in the orphanage he previously belonged to… No one remembered his name, no one honored his deeds. He was nothing in this path…

Thankfully, before he could get sucked into the loneliness and pity, the Spirits pulled him back once again…

He heard someone speak, "This is inevitability. You will be forgotten. Why struggle? Why fight? Accept your fate."

Perhaps, if he were still in a stupor, he would definitely just accept whatever it was. However, it had changed now!

"Almost…"

Armin's knees buckled as he felt weakened… The Spirits seemed to be using his energy as well, but since it was helping him, he knew that he had to endure.

As expected, the spirits didn't stop as the trial continued… Armin heard them speak in his mind to remind him!

'Even if forgotten, loyalty is eternal.'

Armin raised his head. "That's right… I don't care if I'm forgotten…"

Just like that, the broken version of himself faded, leaving only silence.

***

Finally, the chamber shifted one last time. Armin stood before the Guardian once more.

"You have faced the challenges head-on… Now, face the truth. Who are you?"

Armin closed his eyes.

This was not a simple question…

He felt the spirits within him and sensed their intention. He remembered every trial, every failure, and every moment he had been saved by the Spirits.

After a deep breath, he spoke.

"I am Armin... I am Immortal Vale's disciple. I am not perfect, but I accept help. I accept fate... and I accept myself."

Soon, the Guardian's form stabilized, becoming a towering figure of light. It raised its hand, and the Formation Arrays of the chamber flared.

"You have embraced choice and inevitability. You are now accepted…"

Suddenly, the chamber trembled.

Even without telling them, many Arcanists inside the Tower knew what was about to happen as they heard the changes in the Dark Arts Tower already.

It seemed that the Mystic Arts Tower would now close!

Perhaps, it had already found the Tower's true master!

Just like that, across the lower floors, countless Arcanists who had been training or attempting their own trials were suddenly expelled… Their bodies were carried outside by waves of energy.

"What the heck?! Did someone manage to take it?!"

"Oh no! How long will it last?!"

"I'm almost done with my Spell Model! Why did it happen now!"

"Ugh! Whoever did this must give us compensation."

Many Arcanists couldn't help but express their dissatisfaction.

However, there was nothing they could do!

***

In the meantime, inside the Tower, as the Guardian's voice faded, the chamber began to collapse into mist.

Armin felt his knees and soon, his vision blurred.

A heavy weight pressed down on his chest, and before he could even speak, his body gave way.

He fell unconscious!

The process had begun.

Just like Lisa before in the Dark Arts Tower, Armin's body was also entering the inheritance phase. It was a transformation that would last several days. His physique would most likely change, and his essence would be reforged by the Tower's power.

But while his body lay motionless, his shadow moved… It was subtle, but soon, the intensity increased.

Suddenly, the ten spirits hidden within him moved slowly…

At this point, they no longer needed the Spirit Queen's assistance. They could finally move on their own!

"This is the moment… while he sleeps, while his defenses are gone."

"If we act now, we can claim more than his shadow… We can take control."

Slowly, threads of spirit energy began to coil around Armin's unconscious soul, probing for weaknesses. They sought to anchor themselves deeper, to seize partial control over his body while the Tower's inheritance reshaped him.

And far away, deep within Vale's Immortal Tower, the Spirit Queen felt it.

She felt a little worried for her Spirits, but she knew that she couldn't interfere since this process was too difficult to control from a distance…

"You can't fail now…" The Spirit Queen muttered as she could only watch now…

Thankfully, the spirits were cunning, hiding their intent beneath the flow of inheritance. For a moment, it seemed they might succeed.

Then, suddenly…

Armin's golden pocketwatch, the relic he always carried, flared with light!

"What?" The Spirit Queen was shocked. She checked it before, but it didn't seem like a powerful Artifact before!

However, what she was seeing now was a pulse of golden radiance, cutting through the shadows.

The spirits recoiled, hissing in pain as the watch's glow burned away their threads of control!

They had failed!

"That watch… it's protecting him?!"

The golden light stabilized Armin's essence, sealing his soul from intrusion.

The spirits were forced back into silence, unable to interfere any more!

All of this happened while Armin remained unconscious!

The Spirit Queen clenched her fists as she felt frustrated.

"So that's why Vale trusted him… that pocketwatch is no ordinary trinket."

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