Jazmel stepped through the gate, eager to be within the labyrinth but also hungry for adventure.

  It had been a month since they had returned from Brackenwater city, the whole merging of the three gates had caused them to remain at the outpost for a few weeks. Jazmel focusing on training and sparring with the faction retainers.

  Other things had moved along, the quest he had created for captains had been completed by a few. Tera Nema, Sadé, Bannerman and Katie had all gained the faction captain title or status. This changed much of how the faction worked.

  Mary still retained her war commander/General status, but now that she had other captains under her ward. She could now provide them with tasks and split the faction retainers beneath them. It was all complicated and business like, but Jazmel liked to leave the others to do the best in there and for their charges.

  Today he had left the outpost with Sadé, Katie, Bannerman, and Tera Nema. Baek had decided to join them this time, something Jazmel realised, currently they were the master tier of the Black Wing Faction were now taking in turns. Since the loss of Patton’s life.

  Katie had returned to full activities since the burial of Patton. But she was quite different, no she was a shadow of herself. She no longer made jokes, her face was stonelike most of the time and she barely spoke to anyone besides Sadé, Timone and Bannerman. She never quite looked Jazmel in the face anymore and he wondered and hoped she hadn't blamed him for the death of Patton.

  Jazmel looked around, suddenly taken aback by the endless beauty. The gate he had stepped through had led them to a small cavern, barely a cave. But once he stepped out of it, he saw that he was standing on a plateau of a platform, and it was literally floating in the air.

  High above, in the sapphire heavens, massive islands floated serenely, their rocky undersides glowing with energy. Lush forests crowned these stones, where waterfalls cascaded down into the misty expanse below. Birds with wings as white as snow soared through the air, navigating the treacherous winds created from the islands. The islands were connected with long wooden bridges, which shook in the wind.

  Jazmel looked around him and as mist cleared out of sight, he found himself seeing more.

  A new cluster of floating lands. These were staggered, tiered like the steps of heaven’s staircase. Each platform brimming with verdant life. more waterfalls fell from island to island and Jazmel wondered who could have crafted such beauty. The scene was almost surreal, as though a slice of paradise had been torn from the earth and set to remain adrift in amongst the clouds.

  It was beautiful, as peaceful as it looked and as surreal as the feeling of paradise felt. Jazmel could tell this was a domain of wily things, wild things that had made their homes of land and air.

  Finally his eyes rested on the most wondrous sight of all. Far in the distance, many islands and bridge walkways away. A colossal island far larger than the rest, which housed a city. The stone structures clung to the edges of the floating landmass. Their walls weathered by time and weather. The city was further than Jazmel’s already keen senses could make out. But just for the way it looked within the rolling clouds and mist, he could tell it was large. Much larger than any city he had been to.

  Each isle or island seemed to beckon to him. To be explored by all. He knew with each island they crossed and overcame. They would be beset by the system and whatever avian nightmare these floating isles were called home by. The floating islands were a place of great beauty and Jazmel wondered about the danger of it all. Where the very air thrummed with Mana and system energy. Yet the wonder filled his eyes with glee, he was curious about all he saw. With a determined breath he stepped out from the cavern and the system buzzed to life.

  DING!

  CONGRATULATIONS!

  YOU HAVE ENTERED THE HEAVEN’S HAVENS!

  REACH THE CITY OF TITANIA!

  …

  …

  CONGRATULATIONS!

  YOU HAVE REACHED THE FIFTIETH FLOOR!

  YOU HAVE GAINED A REWARD!

  …

  TIER II NIMBUS CLOUD GAINED!

  …

  Jazmel hadn't even realised he had already reached his 50th floor. But clearly the system had been keeping tabs. He looked at the small cloud that fit into the palm of his hand. The system flared through his eyes.

  TIER II NIMBUS CLOUD! A cloud able to bear the weight of a man, use it to get around!

  That was excellent, very befitting the climate. He told the others about the reward and his fiftieth floor; he was a little ahead of the others. Due to being in the lost gate and travelling through gates to meet them. But Sadé, Bannerman and Katie were not that far behind.

  “Did we all get the quest to reach Titania then?” Tera Nema asked, pointing at the city so far away from them all.

  Paldane crawled from Jazmel’s collar, stretching like a car along his shoulders. But when he saw the expanse he leapt gracefully off his shoulder, even in his tiny form he jumped off and expanding quickly he took to the skies.

  “Show off.” Jazmel said and Sadé laughed as she stood beside him. The wind was quite strong here, it was blowing her hair up and around her face. To Jazmel she looked like a naiad, but she quickly tied it up, into a small formal bun.

  “Are we moving on then?” she asked and Jazmel bowed, mockingly and gave her the first step. She rolled her eyes with a wry smile and walked towards the bridge. She gingerly placed a foot on the first plank and when she realised he could hold her weight. She began to walk across, clutching the rope banisters to steady herself. She had excellent dexterity; he knew from the title she had told him about. She had ‘feathered grace’ a title she had earned after tempering her body.

  Everyone began to walk across, holding onto each rope as Sadé had done so. Jazmel was the second to last, Baek following closely behind him. after his tempering and his tier tribulation. Jazmel had added substantial mass to both his muscle and bones. It was only due to the system and his stats that he was able to move so gracefully and be lithe. But that had been at the behest of Mary, he had balanced his stats as best as he could. He always did and in truth it had given him untold bonuses.

  They all crossed; the bridge was rickety, shaky under the turmoil of the winds. But it held and they all made it across safely.

  As soon as Jazmel and Baek made it to the first island and crossed over the bridge fell away, a nail of fear struck Jazmel’s heart but then he realised it was the system. As soon as the notification popped up.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  DING!

  YOU HAVE REACHED THE FIRST FLOATING ISLE!

  YOUR PRESENCE HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED!

  DEFEAT THE CREATURES AND ADVANCE FORWARD!!

  …

  “We got incoming!” Jazmel yelled, as soon as the first shrieks tore through the air.

  “Harpies!” Sadé said and without delay, everyone readied themselves. Jazmel watched not for the first time, and still amazed by it. He watched with his evolved eyes as all his friends’ Mana began to coil and ready itself to be available for their user’s needs.

  And without delay, the shrieks grew louder, and he soon found himself and his party besot by flying creatures.

  Jazmel had not seen harpies before, but he knew the name. From history and stories over the time he had been in the labyrinth. From the skies the shrieks rained and raged down. Flying women, birdlike legs with outstretched talons, arms that had been warped into flapping feathered wings. Bodies covered with feathers to allow them to fly as close to birds as possible. The faces were screwed up in anger and Jazmel noticed they all sported teeth, fangs and sharpened canines filled their mouths.

  A group of about ten approached them, soaring from the skies down.

  “Get them!” Sadé yelled.

  Wand warfare!

  Tera Nema raised her wand and from it, her Mana burst free. A blast of magic struck the harpies that rushed at her.

  Foxfire!

  Sadé threw her blue flames into the sky, they floated around. But as soon as a harpy flew close enough. The fires flared and burnt flesh and feathers like kindle. Blackened and burned from her blue flames. He hadn’t seen her use that skill in a while, she had told him before that she was struggling with finding balance between thunder and fire. So it was interesting for him to see her move. In truth he had a new skill he had wanted to use too, but now was not the time for that.

  Chain spike!

  Chains riddled with metallic thorns and sharpened parts, tore harpies from the sky, clipped wings and broken body parts fell from the sky. Katie retracted her chains without a sound, ruthless and impartial, her moves didn’t have the same lithe and grace like a ballerina. She had, used to look like a floating dancer to Jazmel. But now she was as cold as the chains she used.

  The last harpy tried to fly at Jazmel, he hadn't gotten involved in the fight. After all his long-range skills were not as dangerous as the others. But before he could even unsheathe his sword, Paldane crashed into the harpy from behind. A blackened blur of blue flame and black scale. He bit down on the back of the harpy’s neck, crushing its windpipe and he flung the body off of the isle.

  Jazmel simply looked at it and then gazed over at Paldane. He lowered his head to Jazmel and then jumped back into the air, swooping through the wind currents, and flying through the mist.

  DING!

  YOU MAY NOW ADVANCE!

  …

  The mist began to disperse from the first isle and towards the north. Jazmel could make out the beginnings of yet another bridge. He motioned towards it, and everyone began to head over.

  Tera Nema sidled up beside him and they walked across the floating isle together.

  “So faction leader, how are you holding up?” She asked him, she had a cheeky smile across her lips. But her eyes were honest and open.

  Jazmel could tell that of them all, Tera Nema was feeling the loss of Patton the most. She hadn't known him at all, but the fact that Jazmel had come to her rescue and lost one of his own. Sat on her heart heavily.

  “I am as good as I can be.” He said with a smile, trying to show her he didn’t blame her at all.

  “How are you finding the faction?” He asked and her face changed, maybe it was the question or the faction, but she grew upbeat and happy immediately.

  “Where do I start!” – she exclaimed.

  “How you have a forge of that quality is mindboggling to me! The forge master is master tier, so he is making the best quality of items right off the bat.” She was impressed and in truth so was Jazmel, he was sporting more than enough creations by Gorin. All three of his swords had been returned to him, all gone up a tier. The mithril ingots had enhanced them each individually.

  “The astral domain as well! Where on earth did you find something like that!” she asked him and in truth he had no response besides the system.

  “I honestly cannot tell you, it all feels normal to me, to us. This is just what the system rewards have been, we just try to overcome the trials and tribulations the system provides us.” He explained and as he was about to continue, Sadé who was walking besides Bannerman and Katie called out.

  “We overcome the high risks, and we reap the great rewards.” Sadé explained and in truth, she was right.

  They made it to the next bridge, and everyone crossed safely. The wind hadn't let up, but it wasn’t overbearing. The same thing happened as soon as they crossed over and the system chimed to life again.

  DING!

  YOU HAVE REACHED ANOTHER FLOATING ISLE!

  YOUR PRESENCE HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED!

  DEFEAT THE CREATURES AND ADVANCE FORWARD!!

  …

  Jazmel and the others waited, watching the skies and soon the shrieks and cries of harpies filled the air. The amount had tripled this time, completing what looked like a full flock of them all.

  “That is a full flock of angry flying women.” Sadie said and the others smiled grimly.

  “Clear them out!” Jazmel called over the din of the harpies.

  Again skills flashed out, their numbers not meaning anything before the highly skilled rankers. Jazmel, Bannerman and Baek all stood to the side watching. Having not needed to get involved just yet. Paldane swooped down, clawing, and gnawing on harpies from above. They squawked and cried out in fear, a dragon was a threat to all. Even one as young as Paldane.

  DING!

  YOU MAY NOW ADVANCE!

  …

  They made short work of the flock and moved on; this isle was a little bigger. It took them a good ten minutes to reach the next bridge.

  Jazmel had made it to the front of his group, this time he was leading but nothing was new or so he thought.

  DING!

  YOU HAVE REACHED ANOTHER FLOATING ISLE!

  YOUR PRESENCE HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED!

  DEFEAT THE CREATURES AND ADVANCE FORWARD!!

  …

  As the notification flared onto his system screen, the flock was doubled in size. The harpies now numbered close to one hundred. But also there were a few different flying creatures within the flock. He spotted the glint of metal and when he focused, he saw armour and weapons.

  “Something else is there! Be careful guys!” he yelled over his shoulder. His keen senses flared and turning back in time, he quickly drew Furyu Jazmel protected himself from a silver spear tip. The woman wore armour that looked old, ancient even. She had wings, unlike the harpies. Hers were four sky grew wings upon her back. She flew amongst the flock; they seemed to maintain flight formation due to her. It was as if she was a captain.

  Sunder!

  He slashed across the gap between them. She blocked with her spear length and whirled it trying to smash Jazmel with the butt of it. But he was made of sturdy stuff, he didn’t relent. He held his own and though she pushed against him railing against him with her own strength. She back up and with a jerk of her shoulders, she flared her wings. The flared and Jazmel watched them, but then the slammed forward. Sharp feathers flying from her wings. They darted towards him, they flew like knives, and he heard them whistling through the air.

  He dodged them, one skimmed remarkably close to his face but left no mark. She swooped down again, her spear flitting in the wind, trying to pierce and poke him. but he was just as graceful, he danced around her spear point.

  Raven’s cleaving descent!

  He shored through her spear, and she shrieked a cry out. She ascended quickly and when she was above him. Where he had to crane his neck to see her. She dived at him, throwing each piece of the spear at him, like a shortened javelin.

  Flaming Evisceration!

  He called out the new skill, it burst from the tip of his blade and in the form of a jagged flaming fang it crushed and clawed through the broken javelin and hit her. Covering her entire body in grievous wounds. She yelped in pain, but the flames crept down her throat, one of her beautiful wings was shorn off and she crashed to the ground; to her death.

  “Whoa.” He heard and turning he saw Katie retracting her chains. She had been watching his battle and saw his new skill.

  DING!

  TIER III FALLEN FOUR WINGED VALKRYIE KILLED!

  …

  +3 DEX

  +3 WILL

  +2 INT

  Her blackened and slaughtered body lay at his feet, wings unfolded but covering her. Like a feathered veil. He was about to turn away and he noticed Mana spark from within the Valkyrie again and he guarded himself waiting to see what happened.

  Instead a shadow, a ghost passed through the body and her dull grey wings; which were now silvery white. She was also white, but her being flared with light and light her Mana oddly peaceful. She placed a hand across her chest and lowered her head in thanks, before ascending on the wind.

  DING!

  YOU HAVE PURIFIED A TIER III FOUR WINGED VALKRYIE!

  LEVEL UP!

  +4 VIT

  …