At their blank expressions, the God reared his head back and laughed.

“I jest.  Your world is yours and these towers are merely intruders.”  He agreed, wiping tears from his eyes while the fox barked in agreement, hopping into his lap.

Ryu didn’t relax but did bow his head slightly.  “We’re relieved to hear that.  In that case, would you be willing to answer some of our questions?”

Set tapped his chin as he petted the fox.  “But there are so many things I am curious about.”

Ryu could feel his cold gaze on him.

“Such as why you have a Star’s essence and why do you wear the armor of Anubis?”

Kai stepped forward, partially covering Ryu.  “We all carry some portion of a star’s essence.  And my own sword was gifted to us, as was Ryu’s armor.”

Set raised an eyebrow, watching Kai carefully before nodding dismissively.  “That damn Sphinx thinks to grant boons to whoever is foolish enough to enter its tower, I see.”

Ryu tensed again, watching and wondering if he can somehow use that power again if needed against a God. He felt the well of mana inside of him nearly depleted but there was just enough for an attack.  Maybe.

Set sighed and waved a clawed hand, as the fox hopped neatly off his lap.  “Very well.  If the Sphinx is carrying out Anubis’ will then I will not interfere.”

It was too early to relax as Set stood up from his throne and began to roll his shoulders. He held out his hand and a long sceptre with a slim carving of a jackal on the top appeared.

“That’s not to say you are leaving this place without challenging me.” His steps thundered as he descended the stairs.  He grinned wide, revealing even more sharp canines.  He swung the sceptre into a wide arc and taking a slight step back.  “Otherwise, how else can you determine if those weapons will withstand the battles to come ahead?”

Kai and Ryu immediately readied themselves even as Ryu’s mind was repeating the words in his head.

“What do you mean by battles?  Are they the rest of the towers?”  Ryu asked, already channeling his power as Kai drew his sword.

Set chuckled, his voice booming in the large chamber.  “It is no fun if I must tell you everything.  I’m sure the Sphinx has rattled enough of the prophecy to you.”

Before Ryu could respond Set narrowed his eyes and his grin disappeared. 

“For saving the little one, I will turn an eye on you obliterating my army.  After all, we return to dust and ashes.  My army is as immortal as the sands.  However,”  He eyed Ryu’s armor again.  “I am quite put out that the armor went to you when it was already promised years ago.” He pointed the sceptre at Ryu.  “Should you fail this test, I will be relieving you of that armor.”

Kai immediately moved to block the sceptre as the God of Chaos moved lightning quick towards them.  Ryu ran ahead and stepped in between Kai’s attack so that the two could relentlessly attack Set without allowing him any openings and rest.  Every time the sceptre caught his armor, he could feel it absorb the shock but Set was otherwise unharmed.  It didn’t seem like the armor could attack a God, only defend against one.

Tucking away that information, Ryu continued to fight alongside Kai.  

Each time the sceptre glanced him, he could feel the clear difference in power and strength of a God.

Ryu grit his teeth as he renewed his attacks. Set easily blocked them and wound around to try and strike from above.

“Ryu!”  Kai shouted, already moving away and aiming with a hunting knife that looked similar to what Zion carried.

Ryu instinctively moved the opposite way and swerved his head just in time to feel the sceptre swing by.  The sharp edge of the other end managed to slice a fine line against his cheek but otherwise he was unharmed.  

Using the momentum, Ryu used the nearest wall to push himself against and jumped up to where Set was still hovering and now attacking Kai with bolts of thunder.

“Kai, duck!”  Ryu hoped that Kai understood him as he let out a burst of power similar to earlier, the blue light narrowed down to a single laser and aimed at the God.  Feeling his mana burning dangerously low, he landed on the stone floor on one knee and kept his gaze on Set.

The blue light made contact with the God and hungrily devoured him in an iridescent blue flame.  Ryu could still see Set holding on to the sceptre as the flames continued to ripple across his body and engulf him.  Another moment and the flame brightened until he and Kai looked away.  

Ryu heard a thud on the floor a few feet away and he refocused his eyes, trying to see past the blur. Kai gripped his arm and he blinked again and saw that what fell was a figure blackened by the flames that kept its shape long enough for them to see before crumbling into dark sand.

There was clapping and Ryu looked to the throne at the source of the sound and there sat Set as if nothing happened, the small fox asleep in his lap.

“You may just save your world.”  He mused, glancing at both of them.  

Before either of them could get a word out, Set waved a dismissive hand again and this time, the door behind them re-opened.  Both turned to see that the army they had defeated were lined up neatly in the other hallway, the dark sand beneath them moving like a sandstorm. 

The lieutenant general walked through the doors and bowed deeply to his God before turning towards Kai and Ryu.

“Follow me.”  It spoke with a gruff voice, not waiting for them to respond as it headed towards the back of the hall where another door suddenly appeared.

Kai and Ryu glanced at each other and back at Set, who was already setting the little fox down on the ground.

“Go.  Before I change my mind.”  He ordered mildly, a thread of arrogance in his voice as he watched the little fox approach them.

Ryu cautiously followed Kai and the little fox towards the exist, never leaving his gaze on the God.  The corner of the God’s lip curled in amusement.

“I change my mind.”  He stood up and before Ryu could pass through the door, it shut behind Kai.  He could hear Kai shouting after him on the other side but he calmly stood in his spot and waited for Set to approach him.  Once he was close enough to tower over him, Set reached out with his sceptre and tapped it against Ryu’s chest. He saw a deep red power transfer from the sceptre to his armor, absorbing it.  He clenched his jaw, feeling the spot burn through and spread throughout his body.

And then it suddenly disappeared and he glanced up at Set, who had been observing him with a keen look in his eye.

“Interesting.” 

Before Ryu could say anything else, the door suddenly re-opened behind him and he was pulled back.  The last thing he saw was Set’s watchful gaze before the door closed.

—

A few moments later, they were back in front of the Jojoji temple and the tower had all but disappeared as if it was never there.  Ryu glanced up at the sky to see it was already evening.  It felt like he was in there for only a few hours and felt a sense of relief that he had survived that encounter.  

He had no choice but to be stronger and hope that the next tower would be the one Rika was in.

“Did you want to talk about what happened back there or wait until we get back?”  Kai asked, dusting the dirt off his pants as they were thrown out of the tower just a few minutes ago.

“I wouldn’t mind catching up with the others to see how it went for them.  Compare notes.”  Ryu half joked, still sitting on the ground as he felt something furry touch his hand.  He glanced down and saw that it was the same little red and golden fox from the tower.

“Um, why are you out here little guy?”

Kai shook his head and groaned, seeing the fox who happily barked and ran around the both of them.  “Pretty sure that God would have a fit if he knew you escaped.”  

“Well it’s not like we can return him.”  Ryu gestured to the space where the tower used to be.  “We can keep an eye on him for now until it pops back up maybe?”

Kai sighed.  “We have no choice.  If we leave him here, I bet that God would just burn down our world for the fun of it.”

They both stood up and the fox seemed content to hang over Kai’s shoulder as they prepared to leave the grounds.