Rivali breathes heavily, clutching his bicep. That... INSUFFERABLE Gladiator had taken his prosthetic, humiliating him once again.

Rivali didn't understand.

He has the tower on his side for goodness sake! He should be unbeatable once again..!!

Speaking of the tower, its singular red eye floated high in the air, watching Rivali. The tower had brought him to a new floor. The wind picks up, causing the magnificent tree in front of Rivali to shed its red and orange leaves, falling down and swirling in the wind and around his fluttering cape. Around him, bushes of the same red and orange leaves surrounded him as well as unfinished brick walls, revealing the brilliant glow of the moon and stars above.

Rivali would admire the view if he weren't seething. Why wasn't the tower doing anything? For the past few minutes, all the monotone voice of the tower had been saying was 'Alignment pending. Please wait'. Rivali could not wait. He needed to have the towers power before the Gladiator got here.

In frustration, Rivali kicks the stump of the tree.

"Gah...Blasted...Thing..."

Rivali growls, not realizing how out of breath he was from running away from the Gladiator. Rivali turns and is greeted by the Gladiator's large stature, staring down at him.

"GAH! Gladiator! Ah..."

Rivali is embarrassed at the small scream he let out. He stands tall, trying to look confidant.

"Ahaha... Gladiator. So you've made it to the top. Of course you have."

Rivali says bitterly.

"Alright. You win! This is what you wanted, is it not? YOU WIN! I LOSE! You won over my crowd. You bested me in combat. You revealed my..."

Rivali pauses for a moment, swallowing harshly as he remembers how the Gladiator had revealed his prosthetic to his kingdom.

"...To my subjects."

Rivali laughs, a hollow, bitter sound.