บท 3: Roommate
The room was loud.
A boy with mismatched eyes and hair streaked in blue and pink was sprawled across a couch, talking so quickly it was hard to tell where one sentence ended and the next began. His voice carried everywhere, filling the small dorm like a swarm of buzzing bees.
"Did you see me throw that card? It was perfect! Perfect! Straight to her face—well, almost her face. And you!" He pointed at Z, grinning wide. "Blind boy catches it mid-air like it's nothing. That was cool. Real cool. What's your name again? Oh, wait, I remember—Z, right? Short for something? No? Z is fine. Z's a good name. Easy to say. Z!"
"Shut up, Hao," came a sharp voice from the corner.
The albino boy sitting there hadn't moved an inch since Z walked in. He sat with one leg crossed over the other, arms folded, his expression one of absolute boredom. His blonde hair shimmered faintly under the flickering light, and his golden eyes barely lifted from the book in his lap.
Hao rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Kai. Loosen up! We've got a new roommate. Let's celebrate. I'm thinking… ladder rankings party! Or, wait, we're at the bottom, so maybe a 'we suck' party instead. Thoughts? T-Jan? What do you think?"
The third boy, sitting by the window, didn't look up. His face was partially hidden in the shadows, but the scar running across his cheek was unmistakable. His dark braids hung loosely around his shoulders as he stared out into the day. When he finally spoke, his voice was deep, slow, and thoughtful.
"No party," he said simply.
"Ugh, you're no fun either." Hao groaned, flopping dramatically onto the couch. His piercings jingled with the motion, and the smeared lipstick from his mouth to his eyes made him look like some chaotic street performer.
Z leaned on his walking stick, tilting his head slightly as he listened. He turned toward the quiet one by the window. "You must be T-Jan."
The boy nodded, a soft hum of acknowledgment.
"And the noisy one is Hao. Obvious." Z grinned faintly, then pointed his stick toward the corner. "Which makes you Kai. The card thrower, the book reader, and the ego in the room."
Kai's golden eyes flicked up for the first time, narrowing slightly. "You're blind," he said bluntly. "You shouldn't know that."
Z shrugged. "I'm good at guessing."
Hao burst out laughing, slapping the arm of the couch. "Oh, I like him already. Welcome to the bottom, Z! We're the rejects, the losers, the scum of the ladder rankings. And it's great! No pressure. No expectations. Just vibes."
"Speak for yourself," Kai muttered, snapping his book shut. "Some of us aren't planning to stay at the bottom."
Hao smirked. "Sure, King. Whatever you say."
Z's head tilted again, the faint smile still on his lips. "King?"
"It's his class," Hao said, rolling his eyes. "You'd think it means something cool, right? Like, 'bow down before me, I'm the King!' But no. It's useless. Like, completely. You'll see."
Kai's jaw tightened, but he said nothing, his golden eyes burning holes into Hao.
"And you?" Z asked, turning toward Hao.
"Clown," Hao said proudly, gesturing to himself. "Fits, doesn't it?"
"And T-Jan?"
"Executioner," came the soft reply from the window.
Z let out a low whistle. "Quite the group we've got here."
Hao grinned. "Damn right. The Blood Brothers. That's what they call us. Not officially, of course. Just… well, I call us that. Sounds cool, doesn't it? Like we're in some secret gang or something."
Z chuckled. "Blood Brothers. I like it."
Kai stood abruptly, tossing his book onto his bed. "I don't care what you call it. Just don't drag me into your nonsense."
As he walked past, he paused briefly in front of Z. "And you—don't expect a warm welcome. If you're weak, you're dead. That's how it works here."
Z smiled faintly, tilting his head toward Kai. "Thanks for the advice, Your Majesty."
Hao snorted, and even T-Jan's lips quirked into a faint smile. Kai's golden eyes narrowed, but he didn't reply. Instead, he walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Hao laughed again. "Oh, he's mad. You'll fit right in, Z. Welcome to the bottom."
A booming voice echoed through the academy halls.
"All climbers in Group 17, prepare for ascension. Report to the Gate immediately."
The announcement broke the silence, resonating like a divine decree. Kai had already left the dorm moments earlier, his footsteps sharp and purposeful. Hao, lounging across his bed with one leg draped over the side, groaned theatrically.
"Time already? They don't even give us a minute to relax!"
T-Jan was leaning against the wall, arms crossed. His sharp eyes darted toward Z, who was still sitting on his bed, fingers brushing idly against the thread that bound his closed eyelids.
"We have to move," T-Jan said. "You're climbing too?"
"Of course." Z tapped his walking stick against the floor, rising smoothly. His smile was faint but unreadable. "I'm already registered."
T-Jan's gaze lingered, calculating. Hao raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"Let me guess," Hao said as he stretched lazily. "You bribed the administrator. That's how you got in, isn't it? I mean, look at you. Blind, fragile-looking… no offense, but this academy's not known for its charity."
Z chuckled. "None taken. Divine intervention, actually."
Hao laughed loudly, slapping Z on the back as he moved past him. "Oh, I like you, Blind Wonder. Alright, Divine Intervention, let's see how long you last."
As they left the dorm and made their way down the long, echoing corridors, Z listened carefully. The academy was immense, its towering walls carved with intricate symbols of gods and entities. It wasn't just a place for learning—it was a fortress of divine allegiance. Students here weren't ordinary. They were chosen.
"The academy is divided into factions," Hao began, his voice animated as they walked. "Followers of the different paths: Order, Chaos, Humanity, and the rest. Faith plays a big part here. Some students grow stronger just by sheer devotion to their gods. Divine Guidance, they call it."
"Blind faith," T-Jan corrected, his voice low but firm.
"Whatever," Hao said, waving a hand dismissively. "Point is, if you've got a god backing you, you've got a shot. No god? No hope."
Z tilted his head. "And what about the Ladder? How does that fit?"
Hao grinned. "Ah, the Ladder. Now that's the real game. You don't climb, you're nothing. It's simple. Every week, climbers enter a Ladder scenario. Feels like a virtual reality game, but trust me—it's real. Real pain, real deaths. The higher you climb, the more power you gain. Don't climb? Well… you might as well give up on life in this world."
"And the scenarios?" Z prompted.
"They're wild," Hao said, his grin widening. "Some say they're ruins of old worlds, shattered by the divine. Others think they're echoes of alternate timelines. Every scenario's ruled by a deity. Their path shapes the rules. The higher you go, the stronger the deity. Rumor has it, there are scenarios ruled by entities instead of gods. But, uh… no one survives long enough to confirm that."
"Not just rumors," T-Jan said quietly. "Some students don't return. Some come back… broken."
Z's walking stick clicked against the stone floor as they approached the Gate. The white-walled chamber ahead shimmered faintly, a room that didn't feel entirely of this world.
As they stepped in, Hao gestured around. "Welcome to the Gate. From here, we ascend. Oh, and see that guy?" He motioned toward a tall, armored figure standing apart from the crowd. "That's Kieran, Rank 1. Follower of, [God] of the [battlefield]. He's basically untouchable. And her?" He pointed toward a girl with blue flames dancing across her fingertips. "Lyneth, Rank 2. Follower of Ignara, [Goddess] of [Spoils and Ruins]. Don't mess with them."
Z's attention shifted to another figure, standing silently in the shadows.
"And him?" Z asked, his voice calm.
Hao's grin faded slightly. "Asher. No one knows his deal. Rumor is, he doesn't follow a god. They say his sponsor's an entity. Dangerous guy, but no proof."
Kai, already by the Gate, turned to them with a look of impatience. "Stop wasting time."
As the announcement echoed again, Hao nudged Z. "So, Blind Wonder, what's your class? Who's your deity?"
Z opened his mouth to answer, but the room suddenly darkened.
A crimson hue engulfed the space, swallowing their senses.
"What the…" Hao's voice trailed off as the red light intensified.
Z's lips moved, but no sound came out. They could only watch as the world dissolved into blood-red light, pulling them into the Ladder.
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