Lero Ro's hands suddenly gathered the surrounding Shinsu. Gradually, a sphere made from pure Shinsu appeared in his hands then suddenly, a strong gush of water made from Shinsu swept through everybody.
Everyone was swept by the Shinsu and they were thrown backward.
As they gazed in front, everyone could see a thin wall made of Shinsu appear, preventing incapable Regulars from entering.
"Shinsu is the tower's source of power. We're able to breathe thanks to this water. Everyone within the Tower uses this water to fight. Any team that passes through this wall without succumbing to the Shinsu's strength passes and everyone else fails." Lero Ro explained.
"What? What if one of us can't get through?" A man wearing a green cape with a sniper barrel visible on his back said.
"You fail." Lero Ro simply replied.
"That's messed up!" Many of them complained since they are not sure about their teammates passing. If their teammate fails then they would be dragged down together and that's something they wouldn't accept.
"What you need most to climb this Tower is Luck."
After the commotion, Bam suddenly raised his hand and attracted Lero Ro's attention. He said that the Shinsu didn't push him back and he suggested going back outside. Lero Ro stopped him since he knew that this occurrence was definitely not a mistake. Everyone was affected by the Shinsu and was pushed back, so how could Bam, a powerless kid, pass through so easily?
This meant that Bam's Shinsu Resistance was very high.
After that, Bam and Lero Ro sat in the front stage and stared at everyone going in.
"Why don't we make a bet to pass time?" Lero Ro said to Bam whose seated beside him.
"We'll guess who will pass through the wall of Shinsu first. If you're right, I'll answer whatever questions you ask." He added.
"Really?"
"Yes. And if I win, you'll answer mine." Lero Ro stated.
"Okay." Bam replied as he stared at everyone intently, finding his candidate.
"Who should I choose?"
A few seconds later, Bam's eyes widened and he pointed at the back. "That man wearing a cape." He pointed at Hazuki.
At the same time, Lero Ro pointed at the girl in front. "That bob-cut girl."
Lero Ro looked at where Bam was pointing and gazed at Hazuki. Suddenly, Lero Ro's eyes widened and his face immediately turned grim. 'Who's that man? If I didn't see him then I wouldn't even be able to sense him! As if he's one with the Shinsu and his presence was naturally covered by it! I thought this kid beside me is a monster... Who would've thought that someone like that exists...'
Lero Ro looked at Bam and said. "Is there a reason why you chose him?"
Bam looked at Lero Ro and replied. "I saw him controlling that 'Shinsu' on the previous floor... and he's powerful, more powerful than anyone in this exam." Bam said as he remembered Hazuki's pinky flick at Yuri Jahad.
Compared to Hazuki, every Regular in the test seems so lackluster.
Anaak passed through the Shinsu wall first and Lero Ro said. "I won. You need to answer a question of mine, is that okay with you?"
"Uhm." Bam nodded and waited for Lero Ro's question.
"How many times have you met Headon, the caretaker of the Tower?" Lero Ro asked. Based on Bam's answer, Lero Ro could find clues about his origin. Whether his assumption is true or not...
"Eh? I have met him only once, on the previous floor that is." Bam replied innocently.
"!!!" Lero Ro finally couldn't hold his shock. 'I knew it he's an Irregular!' That's because Headon travels the Whole Tower in search of Regulars, if you caught his eye then you will be allowed to climb the Tower. Bam, who has only seen Headon once, means he didn't receive Headon's invitation!
'This is a piece of big news... I wonder if I should report this to Yu Hansung...?'
A few minutes later, Hazuki stood up and came to the wall of Shinsu.
Both he and Ying Yueru easily phased through it without even the slightest bit of Resistance. Of course, his clone also passed easily but Hazuki had the clone take some distance with them.
Most of the Regulars have already passed the test and they followed Lero Ro towards the next room located inside the door atop of the stage.
"The third test will take place here."
Hazuki and Ying Yueru took a seat in one of the benches. He made Ying Yueru seat first then he laid on her lap and closed his eyes.
Ying Yueru was just observing him quietly when suddenly, a voice called out to them.
"Oh, aren't you Hazuki-san and Ying Yueru-san?" Bam asked excitedly. He was very cheerful and he wanted to talk to people he knew in order to broaden his knowledge.
Ying Yueru smiled at them while Hazuki also opened his eyes.
"What do you need, Bam?" Hazuki asked.
Ying Yueru beside him couldn't help but pinch his nose. "Can't you be more respectful when talking to the kid?!" In her eyes, Bam is an innocent soul and worldly affairs haven't tainted him yet. That's why Ying Yueru was quite caring for the Kid named Bam.
Hazuki turned around and lightly bit the skin near her thigh causing her to exclaim in surprise.
"Ah?!" Ying Yueru blushed. Her face heated up and she stared at Hazuki with a reproachful glare.
Hazuki slowly got up and received Ying Yueru's gaze with a daring smile.
Ying Yueru was irritated by his attitude and she infused her fist with Heavenly Energy and swung it at Hazuki's chest.
*Boom!* Her fist struck Hazuki's chest head-on but it didn't even make Hazuki flinch. Although
Hazuki was unaffected, though the same couldn't be said to the surroundings.
The power behind her fist created a shockwave that swept through everybody. The strength was quite decent and it made unguarded people tumble down.
Khun Aguero Agnis was shocked as he saw the interaction between Hazuki and Ying Yueru. 'This woman is very powerful! Her power easily surpasses that of any candidate here and this man... He's even more unfathomable! He took on that strike head-on but it didn't even make him flinch! If Rak were to receive that strike, then he would definitely be wounded, worst case Rak could die!'
He knew that the force behind Ying Yueru's fist couldn't be underestimated. The strength behind her strike was already absorbed by Hazuki's body, but the rebound of it still caused a shockwave enough to make some of the Regulars tumble down.
They looked around and located the origin of the collision. They saw Ying Yueru's fist still on
Hazuki's chest but they couldn't see anything that could create that gust of wind.
Eventually, they ignored it and attributed it to the location of the mothership, they are flying high in the skies after all.
Rak looked at Ying Yueru then suddenly pointed his spear at her. "Red turtle, fight me!"
Rak could see that Ying Yueru was strong and she is worthy of getting 'hunted'. Well, good thing he was spared from his predicament by...
"Next team, enter." The woman supervising the Test stated.
Hazuki stood up and walked away with Ying Yueru. His clone was also walking towards the entrance of the Test and all three of them went inside.
As soon as they entered, Hazuki and Ying Yueru were greeted by the sight of red doors. The surroundings were very dark and only the doors together with the folding screen were inside the room.
A man wearing a Gofuku seated in front of the folding screen introduced himself. "I am Yu Hansung. I'm the director of the Test you are taking. The condition of passing this test is by opening the correct door. That's it. You only have one chance to open a door, and if you take longer than 10 minutes, the Test will be forcefully terminated."
Hazuki looked at Ying Yueru and said. "Ying'er, can you try to use your [Heaven's Divination]? And use Shinsu instead of Heavenly Energy, that way your lifespan wouldn't decrease." Though he already knew that each of these doors is correct, Hazuki thought that this is the best chance to witness her [Heaven's Divination] using Shinsu.
Ying Yueru nodded and closed her eyes. Suddenly, strands of Shinsu gathered on her head.
*Shine* Ying Yueru opened her eyes and golden light shone from them. A few seconds later, the light from Ying Yueru's eyes dimmed and she stared at Hazuki.
"Hmm... According to my calculation, every door is the correct door." Ying Yueru said. Even though she was a newbie in using Shinsu, Ying Yueru's [Heaven's Divination] was already something like her hands and feet. She can use it as she pleases and that is also due to her own talents in Divinating.
"Then let's go." Hazuki grabbed her hand and led her towards the nearest door. As soon as he opened it, Yu Hansung's voice and clappings sounded. "Congratulations, you passed."
Hazuki suddenly appeared beside Yu Hansung and said. "Hey, Yu Hansung, where the hell is Evankhell?"
Yu Hansung already noticed that Hazuki was very powerful, but he didn't expect him to be 'this' powerful. Moreover, he talks as if Evankhell is below him. Even High Rankers doesn't dare underestimate Evankhell so how could he talk as if Evankhell is his subordinate.
"I don't know, Mister Hazuki. However, why are you looking for Master Evankhell?" Yu Hansung probed, though he was sure that he would receive no response since the people climbing the Tower are very secretive.
"Ah, I was planning on having him carry us to the 135th floor so I could get over these tests immediately." Hazuki doesn't want to spend years climbing the tower that's why he wants to find Evankhell so she could bring him to the top of the Tower immediately. If he couldn't ignore the tests, then he could just order Evankhell to travel towards the 135th floor and teleport there.
The highest floor in the Tower should have the highest Shinsu Density among all the floors. If he could concentrate on training there, then he wouldn't need to spend years just to pass these annoying tests.
Yu Hansung suddenly chuckled and replied. "Even if Master Evankhell is here, she wouldn't take you on the top of the Tower. Firstly, both of you haven't passed the tests until the 134th floor yet. Second, even if you can ignore the first reason, the Shinsu density gets higher as you climb the tower; you might die because of overexerting yourself. Lastly, I doubt Master Evankhell would even entertain you. It would already be a miracle if she didn't incinerate you the moment you requested that thing from her."
Hazuki also chuckled and said. "Haha, Yu Hansung you jest. Maybe I should destroy this 'Evankhell's Mothership' just to make her come?"
The dangerous glint in Hazuki's eyes looked serious and Yu Hansung couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine. In front of Hazuki's pressure, he felt that he's feeble that can be crushed anytime.
It's a completely different feeling than Evankhell. When he faced Evankhell in the past, he was still able to strike a deal with him but this time, he felt as if his throat was gripped tightly and no words could escape it.
Hazuki suddenly smiled and patter Yu Hansung's shoulders. "Just kidding. If Evankhell returns, say that an Irregular named 'Hazuki' is looking for her."
Then Hazuki walked towards Ying Yueru then both of them walked inside the opened door.
"Ha ha..." Yu Hansung panted when Hazuki left. Sweat filled his forehead and he sat in order to calm himself. 'Monster...! A monster similar to that monster, Urek Mazino, entered the Tower...!'
Hazuki and Ying Yueru were walking through the hallway and they could already see the waiting area in front of them. It's an empty space with a few vending machines installed in around. The benches were limited so quite a few people were either laying on the ground or were sitting while chatting with their teammates.
Hazuki and Ying Yueru laid went to the place where there are fewer people then he brought out his bed. Hazuki laid there and Ying Yueru was seated at the bedside.
Quite a few regulars were looking in their direction, surprised by the appearance of the bed.
"Hey, that should a High-grade pocket right...?"
"Yeah, that bed is too big to be installed inside a low-grade one..."
Discussions broke out and some of them turned disinterestedly at the sight but there were still some arrogant pricks that got envious and decided to make trouble.
"Hey, Kid. Get the h*ll off and let me rest." A large man with a well-built physique said. There were two lackeys behind him, staring at Hazuki and Ying Yueru with a sneer.
Hazuki looked at him disinterestedly and said to Ying Yueru. "Ying'er, can you deal with them? I'm too lazy to deal with some arrogant pricks that don't know their places..." Then he closed his eyes and laid his head on the pillow.
Ying Yueru looked at him with a wry smile. 'Hey, you should be protecting me at this moment! Why are you sleeping?!'
She stood up and faced the leader of the trouble makers.
"Oh, what is this? Did he send you to please me? Hehehe, good decision brat. B*tch come here..." The Large-statured man said. His face was twisted into a disgusting grin and lust could be clearly seen on his face. Even the two lackeys behind him were staring at Ying Yueru with an ill-natured gaze.
Ying Yueru was angered and decided to 'teach' them a lesson. At first, she thought that a simple injury would suffice but she was angered by the group's words and intent.
Ying Yueru walked towards the man and her fist was already coated with Heavenly Energy. Golden Colored Shinsu was also rotating around her, making her look as if she was a fairy that descended from the skies.
Even though everyone was dazzled by Ying Yueru's appearance, the group in front of her wasn't.
Since they are taking the full brunt of the pressure, they were terrified and their legs were shaking in fear. Even though they are decently strong, they still haven't had the chance to make a contract with the Guardian thus they are unable to control the surrounding Shinsu.
They could only stare helplessly as Ying Yueru approached them.
*Boom!* Ying Yueru's fist didn't even strike the man but only the air in front of him. But even so, the trio was still blown back and their figures soon struck the wall on the opposite side.
Three figures were embedded on the wall and soon, they plummeted down with blood leaking out of their bodies.
Ying Yueru returned to the bed and decided to lay on it too. The bed was quite big and even if they add two more people, they would still have enough space.
Quite a few people around the waiting area witnessed her display of strength and looked at her and Hazuki grimly.
'A strong competitor...' Was all they could think of.
Suddenly, Lero Ro's voice was heard throughout the room. "I have good news for everyone."
"Good news?"
"Yes. You've been granted the opportunity to participate in a bonus test." Lero Ro declared.
"Uh, taking more tests isn't wonderful at all for us..." Shibisu commented.
Everyone has the same thoughts since they want to climb the Tower faster. More test means more trouble and they would have to spend more time than needed on the said floor.
"It's no ordinary test. First, participation is voluntary so declining to participate doesn't put you at any disadvantage. Second, a team that wins this test will be considered to have passed all the tests." Lero Ro said calmly.
"Seriously?" "What? You mean...?" Everyone was immediately lured into the offer. The allure of passing through the test after winning a single test was definitely powerful.
"You'll be granted permission to climb the Tower."
"That's great." "We have to take this chance." "Yeah." "Let's do it."
"So you all will be participating?" Lero Ro particularly looked on the bed where Hazuki was laying.
"Hey, Young Miss over there. Is your team also going to participate?"
Hazuki got up from his bed and said. "Of course. Winning this bonus test will save me quite some trouble."
Then he stored the bed and walked together with Ying Yueru, following Lero Ro's lead.
They arrived in a fairly huge room with many waiting rooms around. A single golden throne stood on the middle and a crown was quietly lying on it.
A few minutes later, Lero Ro finished explaining the rules of the game.
"The first round will now begin. If you'd like to participate, you can press the buzzer inside your waiting room by the time I count to five." Lero Ro announced. "One... Two... Three... Four... Five..."
Hazuki immediately pressed the buzzer and he walked towards the golden throne. Two other teams were participating in the first round, and Anaak was included in them.
A few seconds later, the teams participating were already facing against each other.
"Let the first round of the Crown Game... Begin!"
The other team was all fishermen and they immediately unsheathed their swords.
Anaak slowly went forwards and declared. "I'll handle them, you can deal with those weaklings."
Then she slowly walked towards Hazuki and Ying Yueru.
Hazuki yawned and said. "Are you sure about this, Kid?"
Anaak was slightly angered at the disregard shown by Hazuki. She then slashed her weapon, Green April, on Hazuki's face.
*Lash* The Green April elongated and reached Hazuki from mid-range. The Green April continued on its path before it was grasped by Hazuki's hand.
Anaak was stunned and she immediately swung the Green April, attempting to pry the weapon away from Hazuki's grasp but the weapon wouldn't budge. She already exerted all of her strength but she still couldn't take the Green April away.
"Let go...!" Anaak gritted her teeth and snarled.
Hazuki swung his arm lightly and threw the Green April away. But even though he just lightly threw it, the force behind it was powerful enough to blow Anaak away until her body smashed onto the wall.
Anaak was embedded on the wall deeply and she had to be personally extricated in order to be freed. Blood was flowing out from Anaak's body and she lay on the wall motionlessly.
Hatz and Shibisu were shocked to find that Hazuki defeated Anaak without any effort exerted. Shibisu was already frozen and he didn't move even after Hazuki placed the Crown on his head.
The other team was already defeated and the only people standing on the stage were Hazuki, Ying Yueru, Hatz, and Shibisu.
Hatz gave up because he knew that he was no match against Hazuki. Even though he doesn't want to give up, he has to since he might get disqualified if he couldn't attend the test due to being injured.
"Since the challengers are unable to continue fighting, the next round will begin." Lero Ro announced.
Hazuki was currently sitting on the throne together with Ying Yueru. He was laying on the throne nonchalantly as if it's only natural that he's sitting on it.
The next round, Lauroe's team, and another unknown team participated. Hazuki didn't even move from his spot and he easily defeated them all using Yomotsu Hirasaka.
Once they attacked him, Hazuki would redirect the attack back to them. Even Lauroe decided to participate but all of his Shinsu attacks were sent back to him or the other participants. In just a few minutes, they stopped attacking and gave up on their own.
Everyone around could feel their skin tingling as they stared at the 'fight'. It wasn't a fight anymore but a one-sided beatdown.
'What kind of power is that?! Isn't that just unfair?! How are we even supposed to fight back?!' Most of them thought. Most of the teams decided to back down and even Bam was able to convince Khun Aguero Agnis to forfeit the match.
The only team that was courageous enough to challenge them was Endorsi's team.
She immediately charged to Hazuki with a slash of her needle. But the trajectory of her slash was actually aiming for Ying Yueru's face. "Even if I can't beat you, I'll destroy your girlfriend's face!"
Endorsi became envious of Ying Yueru's beauty at first sight. She felt that her position in the people's hearts in the tower would be stolen and she decided to deal with it early on in the game.
After all, she doesn't want her position as the #1 girl I'd want to date before I die.
Her image used for product placement on the 20th Floor and she features on the front cover of a magazine for promising Regulars might also get stolen once her beauty was revealed to the Tower.
Hazuki's eyes turned chilling and he blocked her attack and used Banshō Ten'in to grasp her neck.
"Old hag, aren't you getting quite vicious in this little game?" Hazuki tauted since he knew that Endorsi was almost 300 years old. People inside the Tower life for a long time because of the Shinsu enhancing their lifespan.
Endorsi could feel the strength contained behind the vice grip on her neck. It was something that the current her could never match and she could feel that she might really die here.
"H-he-he, you won't kill me, I am a Jahad's Princess after all. O-once the news about you killing a Jahad's Princess was spread, you would be hunted by King Jahad's forces until the ends of the Tower..." Endorsi taunted with difficulty. She was sure that no one dares to ignore Jahad's authority and that Hazuki would eventually let her go.
Hazuki chuckled as he said. "You think I am afraid of Jahad? You are sorely mistaken, Hag. Even if you called Jahad here, he wouldn't be able to do anything to me. You should be able to understand that these words have a basis because I am an I-rre-gu-lar." Hazuki emphasized the latter parts of his words.
Endorsi's expression immediately changed and her face paled. 'He's someone like Urek Mazino?! T-this is seriously bad! Irregulars are monsters that are already insanely strong once they entered the Tower!'
Endorsi's face finally turned into a begging expression. "P-please... let me go... I-I'm sorry..."
Ying Yueru couldn't take it anymore and sighed. "Hazuki, just let her go. Even if you didn't defend me, I could defend against it myself."
Hazuki looked at Endorsi on his grasp and said. "Where can I find Urek Mazino?" Urek has some foreign techniques that he'd like to learn. Of course, he 'might' also take Urek with him since the latter was also insanely strong.
Endorsi was stunned but she immediately replied, her survival relies on this after all. "S-sir might find him on the 77th floor. The Stronghold of his organization, Wolhaiksong, can be found there but
I am not sure if he's there since he's notorious to be a free spirit..."
Hazuki then pushed her away using Shinra Tensei causing her to smash on the wall atop of the waiting room in front of them.
Rachel and the Spear-bearer didn't try to fight either and went back to their Waiting room while carrying the unconscious Endorsi.