The first window, closest to them, showed Aetheron.

  He stood in the midst of a landscape of light and crystalline structures—an endless expanse of shifting, translucent planes that folded and unfolded like the pages of a book. His form, pale and glass-like, shimmered with iridescence, and he moved with deliberate grace, stepping carefully as though to avoid shattering the fragile structures that surrounded him.

  Ebonheim blinked. "Is that...?"

  "Aetheron," Ariastra answered, her eyes focused on the scene before them. "It seems like the others are still working through their own realities. The filters there haven't been neutralized yet."

  In the ethereal landscape beyond the window, Aetheron continued his cautious walk. His reflective gaze darted between the glassy folds surrounding him. A radiant mist hung in the air around him, each particle of light glinting with his movements.

  A slow grin spread across Ebonheim's face. "So, we get to watch the show?"

  Ariastra responded with a glint in her eye. "So it seems."

  As they watched, Aetheron found himself at a juncture where several crystalline planes intersected, forming a space of fragile geometry. He hovered in the center, his head tilted back to observe the delicately balanced structures above him. With a graceful wave of his hand, a tendril of light extended from his fingertip, reaching out to touch one of the glassy planes.

  The instant his light made contact with the structure, a cascade of sound washed over him—the dissonant clamor of a thousand cracked bells. The plane above him began to fracture, spiderweb cracks spreading out from the point of contact. Alarmed, Aetheron drew back his hand, his iridescent eyes widening.

  "A delicate operation," Ariastra mused softly.

  "That looks... confusing," Ebonheim muttered, tilting her head to try and analyze the shattered geometry in the crystal world.

  Aetheron circled the structure and observed the shifting cracks. He stood with his arm extended again and strands of light weaved out from his fingers. They began to wrap around the plane, joining the cracks.

  "...Do you have any idea how this is supposed to work?"

  "I...do not," Ariastra admitted after a pause. "But a good view in nonetheless."

  He focused on one large crack on the plane before him. He appeared to test different ways of interacting with the crystal and struggled to find one that worked.

  Meanwhile, Ebonheim leaned closer to the window—so close that her breath fogged against the fragile surface, blending with the mist that lingered in Aetheron's realm.

  "Hmmm..." Ebonheim murmured to herself. "He doesn't seem to know how to solve this puzzle."

  Ariastra gave a soft, amused hum. "Ah, but Aetheron's mind is uniquely suited to this challenge. He thinks in angles and lines. This should intrigue him."

  As she said that, they saw Aetheron pause before the largest fracturing area.

  He took a small step forward and slowly and methodically connected each end of the fractured crystal. When he was finished, a structure existed on the crystal similar to a spiderweb. The light connected every crack-end on the large surface plane. All these lines coalesced into a singular point towards the center. The crystalline structure balanced at a fulcrum there.

  Aetheron moved again but was cautious not to interrupt the support he had provided. He avoided every delicate strand of light, walking close to the edge of the pane. After navigating around the structures, he crouched into a ready stance in front of the nexus of all intersecting points.

  He lifted his right arm.

  His index finger glowed slightly. From the fingertip, he extended a shimmering, thin, silver beam. He aimed at the center.

  Ebonheim perched with anticipation.

  "..."

  "I need to know...what happens there!" Ebonheim blurted out. "Wait—why? Why's he stopped? What's he waiting for?"

  Her immediate outburst drew a curious glance from Ariastra.

  "You grow invested in this spectacle," Ariastra commented.

  "How could I not?" Ebonheim exclaimed. "Just look at this. Why pause in the middle of something so tense?"

  "Aetheron plans his movements carefully. I wonder what thoughts weave through his mind, dictating his precise motions."

  Aetheron sat there for a long moment.

  "He's delaying too long!" Ebonheim spoke with impatience.

  Ariastra tilted her head at her. "It's a high-pressure situation for him."

  "I know! That's what worries me." She clenched her teeth. "Get on with it!"

  Then, he finally moved.

  His beam made contact with the center of the fulcrum.

  In that instant, a rippling energy surged outward across the crystal, illuminating every strand that supported it. For a moment, the structure seemed to hang in mid-air. But when the light faded, the webwork dissolved along with all the fracturing across the surface, leaving an unmarred crystal plane. Everything balanced and reset to normal. The area once more looked untouched and pristine.

  Aetheron gracefully rotated his body around to the unscathed plane behind him. The tension in his posture eased, his relief palpable as a small shudder ran through his translucent form.

  Ebonheim exhaled—relief flowing over her face. "Finally."

  "He succeeded in his task. Of course. But we have another spectacle."

  Ariastra directed Ebonheim's attention to another window with a subtle motion. There, the sight of Nephri came into view.

  Unlike Aetheron's realm of light, Nephri's domain was fluid, constantly shifting like the surface of an endless ocean. Her serpentine form glided through the water-like reality, her iridescent scales glittering amidst the waves. Here, there were no discernible structures—only layers upon layers of flowing water, each carrying its own distorted reflection of Nephri as she moved through them.

  "Woooow." Ebonheim couldn't tear her gaze away. "Is she underwater? What a space."

  "Intriguing, isn't it? A liquid world where layers are as plentiful as the waves. How will she navigate such fluidity?"

  Ariastra floated alongside Ebonheim near the pane. While the pair's divine bodies levitated weightlessly within this space, the world of water had ensnared their attention.

  Tendrils of liquid energy swirled around Nephri, responding to the movements of her body as she twisted and coiled through the space. The water seemed to part before her, bending to her will as though she were the very embodiment of the currents.

  "She's a bit too comfortable in there," Ebonheim commented. "Will she try to get through this as quickly as possible? Or relax?"

  "She'll want to continue as soon as possible," Ariastra replied.

  Nephri's tail swished behind her, stirring eddies in the water-like energies surrounding her. Her movements left brief trails of light and her shimmering scales shifted hue with each subtle change in the currents. She slowed, seeming to pause to evaluate her surroundings.

  Then she turned towards the left—a sharp swerve that should've propelled her onward through the liquid mass.

  Instead, her body abruptly halted mid-thrust. Some invisible restraint thwarted her advance. She coiled back on herself in confusion.

  "I wonder what's going through her head," Ebonheim murmured.

  "Mm. Perplexity. Fascination. Intrigue," Ariastra hypothesized, her words slipping through the air. "My guess? A liquid world where each layer affects her in distinct ways. Some must be malleable while others impede progress."

  "Too tricky for me..."

  With a flex of her serpentine body, Nephri dove beneath the currents only to appear several layers lower. As she surfaced, her body morphed slightly. Fins emerged from her long neck and sides, shimmering with faint iridescence against the surrounding water.

  Ebonheim's eyes widened. "Adaptation. A transformation suited to the medium she treads?"

  Nephri shot through the layers and explored every one she could. Her body moved about each space with new flexibility. While she navigated one layer, her tail would sharpen. The next layer, her scales would close up or extend from her body. Each one altered her shape somehow. And when she moved again, she took advantage of whatever form would give her the upper hand.

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  "A distinct trait to her arsenal," Ariastra mused.

  On the water's surface, a soft glow danced from beneath. Nephri plunged downward and spiraled through layers of liquid energy until she reached the light source.

  She swam there, circling the object: a crystalline shape hidden beneath the waters. As she coiled around it, the world froze—layers locked in place—and in her presence, the structure shuddered before bursting outward into droplets of light.

  For an instant, all layers rose as the space wove itself back together in unison. They realigned from her actions, restoring continuity to her realm.

  "Now I wonder," Ariastra said as she watched the realm before them meld together. "Nephri's journey must be the easiest by comparison. If someone tried to complete this one, how would they fair without the flexibility of her divine form? My question to you, Ebonheim: Do you believe you could adapt to the task? How?"

  "Hmm..." Ebonheim shrugged. "I would like to think I could have but I don't think so. Definitely not. She's used to water. She can take on so many different forms. Water goddess. What's more perfect? Probably nothing."

  Ariastra gazed back at Ebonheim, amusement twinkling in her eyes. "Even we gods have our preferred playgrounds."

  Ebonheim chuckled. "Agree."

  "Now we observe Syntris."

  "Oh boy," Ebonheim said with a heavy dose of sarcasm. "Not the best way to end this sequence. I hope he didn't land on one of the trickier dimensions. That wouldn't bode well for him."

  Syntris's window differed drastically from the others.

  Within an expanse of obsidian blackness, craggy pillars of stone jutted out. Deep fissures cut through the stony landscape, emitting a faint, ember-like glow akin to magma veins. Overhead, nebulous clouds churned in dark shades of crimson.

  In the center of this stark and severe environment, Syntris—tall and armored—stood as a monolith against the bleak backdrop. His presence offered a gleam amidst the shadowy stillness of his fractured dimension. A dark fortress-like structure loomed large behind him. Silhouetted against the hazy red sky, it rose with stark contours. Jagged parapets framed its roofline, while towers spiraled skyward like granite pillars.

  His steely demeanor contrasted starkly with his environment.

  "Can't tell what he'll have to do there," Ebonheim said. "Too...plain? What could he face? So simple here..."

  "Mm. Simplicity needn't equate to ease. Some realities show strength in their starkness," Ariastra responded quietly.

  As they watched through the shimmering pane, Syntris walked towards a crevice. A magma-red glow burst forth. He seemed unfazed by the surge. He instead inspected the glowing core, where pulsating energies flowed in erratic patterns, seemingly connected to the destabilized state of the dimension. Cautiously, he peered into the crevice before signaling with a nod and gripping a pair of protruding rocks with his hand.

  With a powerful jerk, he ripped a slab of stone from the earth.

  "What on earth is he..." Ebonheim tilted her head. "Making an opening?"

  "A...possibility," Ariastra replied.

  Another glow built. Red mists bled out from the cracks before erupting forth in a flare. Waves of crimson energy buffeted Syntris, battering his form. But his grip remained unyielding.

  Yet this blast would be only the first of many to follow. Each surge grew in intensity. Syntris pressed the slab hard against the fissure while each blow drove against his structure. He used the slab to withstand the battering blows. Smoke began to pour from behind him. The edges of his armor had started to glow orange at his joints. Sparks escaped from within.

  "So. We witness a manifestation of his warrior's might. Enduring the very essence of this reality's disarray," Ariastra commented.

  "Urgh! I want to punch something so badly just by watching him..." Ebonheim took a small swing to help fulfill her need to make her own hits against nothing. "Come on, Syntris!"

  Syntris persisted despite the relentless onslaught. But as more fiery energy beat at him, he began to buckle. He dropped to one knee.

  Ebonheim winced as the metallic squeal of straining plates and the hiss of rupturing joints emanated from him. Syntris's golden glow was starting to dim with a faint touch of rust at its corners. He struggled to rise to his feet again. As the onslaught intensified, he hunched deeper under the slab, bracing for each hit.

  Smoke now wafted from various parts of Syntris. His metal panels looked partially scorched and seared from the ongoing impacts.

  Ebonheim covered her face with a palm.

  Syntris re-gripped his slab-shield and wrenched his knee upward. A muffled grinding sound could barely be heard in the background. As he finally managed to get back up to his feet, an inner glow resumed within him. His metal plating looked like it had recouped its robust shine from before.

  Ebonheim's eyes widened. "He's fixed himself? Ah! ...He can do that? Just like that?"

  "An...intriguing revelation indeed. Though not entirely unexpected. There are a few powerful regenerative powers that the Akashic System can bestow during the Divine Auctions."

  While Syntris continued to press the stone against the fissure's opening, his body absorbed more impacts. The constant bludgeoning cracked his armor further. Sparks shot out from every seam. But even as the glow of his plates waned to a mere glimmer, he kept pushing.

  "Come on! You got this! Piece of cake!" Ebonheim yelled at him.

  "You realize he cannot hear you...correct?" Ariastra reminded her.

  "Yeah, yeah, I know. Still don't want to not say anything when it looks like he needs all the encouragement he can get."

  "Another human habit?"

  "That's the thing." Ebonheim smiled and started to whistle loudly. "Who really needs encouragement here? But someone's gotta."

  "How thoughtful of you."

  "Don't you start." Ebonheim playfully punched the goddess to her right.

  On the other side of the window, Syntris continued to press his arm into the stone cover, fixing its position to the opening in the rock. Steam rose from where he touched the surface as the elements connected. As his plating fused with the cover slab, he drew himself tighter against it, firmly sealing the crevice shut.

  Then, like a tightly wound spring set free, a shudder rippled through the environment, propelling Syntris backwards. He careened wildly over the terrain before tumbling to a stop in a cloud of dust.

  "Ouch!" Ebonheim recoiled at the sight. "Bet that's gonna leave a mark."

  There amidst the dust and debris, Syntris climbed to his feet.

  As the smoke around him dissipated, he faced the looming dark fortress against the hazy sky behind him. With steady strides, he advanced toward the colossal structure. His glow radiated once more—a resolute beacon against the backdrop of the dim landscape. Dust fell off his form.

  Despite his battered state, his demeanor bore an air of satisfaction. "One challenge down" would have been an appropriate inscription to his current situation.

  "Oh—phew! Look at him. Trying to show off and making me think he did any harder than you did!" Ebonheim pointed through the window. "Talk about showboating!"

  "Yes. At least our adventure was far more elegant. Unlike this one."

  "Exactly! So extra. But I'll admit...an admirable display all the same." Ebonheim folded her arms with a subtle smirk on her face.

  As Syntris advanced toward the massive edifice ahead, its gates gradually opened. Behind those colossal doors, a towering construct surged—four glistening metal arms driving rhythmic movements. Its broad base gripped the earth as it maneuvered.

  In response to this new threat, Syntris poised himself and lunged forward, conjuring a maul within his grip and dashing straight for his massive foe.

  Syntris roared, his voice like the clash of steel against steel, and brought his hammer down with tremendous force. The ground beneath him rippled, sending shockwaves through the metal expanse. The guardian staggered but did not fall, its many-faceted eyes gleaming with otherworldly light as it retaliated, sending beams of energy lancing toward him.

  "He's...not one for subtlety, is he?" Ebonheim remarked, her eyes wide as she watched the titanic struggle unfold.

  "The grace of a sledgehammer," Ariastra replied wryly, "and the determination to match."

  Ebonheim chortled.

  "That aside," Ariastra turned to face her. "Syntris is a craftsman and a warrior. He prefers to shape his reality with force and precision. Look closely—each strike is calculated, not just to defeat the guardian, but to shape the battlefield itself."

  Ebonheim squinted, her eyes following the path of Syntris's hammer.

  She noticed, now, how each blow left behind a trace of radiant energy, a shimmering afterimage that lingered in the air. The energy coalesced into geometric patterns, reinforcing the space around him, as if he were weaving a new reality with each strike.

  Ariastra observed her closely. "How many patterns do you count?"

  Ebonheim closed her eyes before snapping them open. Her gaze shot left and right and took in the count of each seal.

  "...Eight? Nine?" She wasn't sure but tried to bluff anyway.

  "Close. Eleven." Ariastra responded.

  As Syntris's onslaught continued, the metal monstrosity responded in kind. It sent forth shockwaves through the ground, shook the earth, and hurled gouts of flame that spiraled across the darkening sky.

  Ebonheim saw now, however, how Syntris's efforts went beyond the clash. With every hit, he directed the energy not just at his foe but also into the surrounding environment. Geometric designs traced through the air in intricate detail as he aimed another hit. The arcs flared brightly, painting luminous lines across reality like the strokes of a calligrapher's brush.

  Some glowed with a cool, calming blue. Others rippled with orange flame.

  "He's...reforging the realm," Ebonheim realized, her voice tinged with awe. "He's using the battle to strengthen the structure."

  "Precisely," Ariastra explained. "Watch the realm coalesce. Order and chaos battle for supremacy in every fracture. Their conflict serves as the core to realigning this damaged dimension back into harmony."

  While they battled, Syntris hurled his sledgehammer upwards—just above the tip of the metal construct's head.

  As if splitting a block of marble, a deep fissure streaked downward across its frame and divided it in two. Syntris followed through with a midair backflip and finished his arc by swinging his hammer with both hands.

  "Right down the middle..." Ariastra mumbled.

  The full momentum of his swing swung out.

  BANG!

  Syntris struck through the entire construct in front of him and took apart the monstrous creation. The fragmented parts hurtled outwards into a shockwave, and the jagged debris rained down like metallic hail.

  With a sharp clatter, the metallic remnants of Syntris's vanquished foe clattered to the ground.

  Ebonheim chuckled. "How showy."

  Then he landed on his feet. The fissures along the dark landscape began to dissipate, along with the smoky gloom that shrouded the sky above. A dimmed amber light began to break through. Syntris absorbed his hammer back into his hand and straightened.

  Ebonheim shook her head, a small grin tugging at her lips. "And here I thought we had it tough."

  Ariastra offered a small laugh. "We did have our hurdles, though."

  "Don't get me wrong," Ebonheim shrugged, holding her hands up in surrender. "We also put in the work."

  Ariastra began to count out on her hand. "Navigating through a landscape rife with fracturing dimensional layers...playing a complex harmony among interlocking structures...we've had our moments."

  Ebonheim snickered. "Who doesn't love a challenge?"

  In the quiet moment that followed, the widows wavered and shifted like disturbed waters. They swirled and wove themselves back into an empty haze.

  Ebonheim stared at their surroundings. "Our cue to depart?"

  "So it seems."

  In front of them, an aperture gradually dilated. A radiant and soothing light seemed to stream from its center, beckoning them onwards.

  Ebonheim arched an eyebrow at Ariastra.

  Ariastra nodded. "Through there."

  A quick blink later, Ebonheim's grin widened. "Then what are we waiting for?"