The pillar of magma eventually came to a halt above the clouds, leaving the platform Mega Man stood on at the foot of a massive tower that climbed seemingly endlessly into the sky. The tower was perfectly circular and sheer straight up and down, built of square stones set one against the other, the gaps between paper thin. Every so often, stones around the tower would extend outward in platforms, only to retract without warning. Plainly, the stones formed a pattern climbing the tower, and was the path Mega Man would have to take.
"This is going to be rough," Mega Man muttered as he leapt off the platform, hardly surprised to see it crumble as soon as he jumped off of it.
As he climbed, he was relieved to discover that some platforms stayed extended and did not retract. This was quite useful when, every so often, strong wind would blow in one direction or another, running the risk of blowing him completely off the tower. There were a few jumps where the wind proved useful for crossing an extra wide gap between platforms, but timing was made all the more difficult as a result.
When Mega Man had climbed at least a mile straight up, he found a wider platform with a vending machine, a stack of magazines, an easy chair, and a music player. He was rather stunned to see it, given the whole situation. However, there was a note attached to the chair.
Cross my heart
Hope to fly
Stick a cupcake in my eye
This rest stop is in no way a trap.
Vinyl
Mega Man wasn't sure where Vinyl had come across that promise, but she treated it as sacred. If she'd written that there, she meant it. Realizing he could use a recharge, he kicked back and relaxed for a bit, grabbing himself a drink and snack and a magazine to read. He was surprised, even if he knew he shouldn't be, that the vending machine was filled with all his favorite snacks and drinks, and dispensing at cost of the items. He decided to table any curiosity about what that could signify until later.
After he'd gotten most of the stress of the past few trials out of his system and gotten comfortable with how high up he was, he continued to climb, now much more at peace with the platforms and height, even when he glanced down and saw no ground around the tower. It didn't seem as terrifying as it once had been.
He continued to climb up and up and up... How high he was didn't even register anymore. The climb was almost completely all consuming. As he climbed, he got better and better at anticipating the patterns of the jumps he had to make, the pattern of the winds, even the pattern of clouds that obscured his vision. The climb became second nature, to the point he was startled as he came to the top of the tower. "Wait, this place has a-" He quickly cut himself off, realizing the fourth guardian would be waiting for him, and he didn't want to waste any of his three questions.
"You've gotten smarter," a familiar, monotone voice told him.
Turning, Mega Man stared at the figure at the other end of the tower. Though still recognizable to his original design, in many ways he was vastly different. His armor was now much more segmented, and he was overall much bulkier. His air cannon was much bulkier and more defined, humming with power, as was the turbine in his chest. Where he'd only had a bump between his shoulders before, a plainly defined head was covered by an armored helmet. His other arm ended in a much heavier gauntlet, with miniature air shooters in each finger. His entire body also glowed with blue light in a circuitry pattern.
"I am Typhon," he stated firmly. "You have three questions before the trial begins."
"Why is Vinyl doing all this?" Mega Man demanded.
"She will explain herself when you have completed the final trial," Typhon replied. "As that is not a true answer, you still have three questions."
Mega Man rubbed the back of his head. "Alright. How did she do all this?"
"Magic," Typhon explained. "You have two questions."
"How is that any more of an answer than 'she'll explain'?" Mega Man demanded angrily.
"Because the first question I was forbidden from giving a complete answer for. The second answer is just frustrating. One question left."
Mega Man ground his teeth in frustration, but got control of himself. He narrowed his eyes. "...how do I clear this trial?"
"There are four ways to clear my trial," Typhon replied. "The first is if you inflict a certain amount of damage to me. The second is if I inflict a certain amount of damage to you. The third is if you perform some act that - at my discretion - lets you end the trial. The fourth is if you reach the end of my jam. The trial starts now." Reaching up, Typhon pressed a button at the side of his head, and music began to play.
As the music began, the entire top of the tower fell away as blocks started to appear above them. Mega Man quickly started climbing up the disappearing blocks as panels opened on Air Man's back and massive thrusters extended allowing the massive mechanaloid to fly around at will at surprising speeds. He zipped around Mega Man, firing off his Tornado Shooter to change the direction of wind, shot clouds to obscure Mega Man's vision from his finger air shooters, or attempted to dive bomb Mega Man off the blocks.
Mega Man, for his part, continued to jump from block to block, focusing on the pattern, even managing to back flip over Typhon's charge a time or two to land on the next block, only to kick off to another one. All the time he spent climbing the tower began to come to fruition, as he climbed into the air, leaving the bottomless pit below, fear, and even the clouds behind. Before he'd even realized it, he had leapt his way out of the atmosphere. He hadn't even paid attention, merely shifted his jump pattern as gravity's grip on him weakened.
Finally, the song came to an end, and Mega Man landed on the last block as Typhon hovered before him. "Well done, Mega Man," he stated, sending his voice directly to Mega Man's communicator. "But why did you not fight back?"
"Because I didn't have to," Mega Man sent back. "I didn't have to destroy you, just get past you. And...this way was more fun."
Typhon remained where he hovered for a time...and eventually smiled. "Then this will be even more fun." Reaching behind him, he pulled out a plasma rifle and tossed it to Mega Man. "You can't shoot any direction but forward when braced. You'll need this for what comes next. There will be ways to improve its efficacy for the first half of the final trial."
"The final trial?" Mega Man asked, confused.
"You have faced blades...you have faced robots that pushed your limits..." Typhon explained. "You have faced disappearing blocks...and you have faced me. There is only one thing left that you have not yet faced down from your first nightmare." Typhon pointed down to where the top of the tower was just barely visible.
Mega Man nodded. "The...bottomless pit," he concluded.
"Are you prepared, Mega Man?" Typhon asked.
In response, Mega Man tilted forward on the last block, braced the plasma rifle firmly...and dove.
