A substance very similar to water covered the cage made of grids to the edge. If Uriel hadn't read the Tower of God webtoon, he would no doubt have thought that this substance was just ordinary water, however, that substance was one of the most important elements in the whole tower — shinsu.
Shinsu was something extremely important and essential in the tower, after all, since in the tower there was no "air" it is with shinsu that they can breathe.
In its densest form, shinsu becomes a water-like substance. Whereas, in its less dense form, it becomes gaseous. However, despite serving as a substitute for air and water, shinsu was much more than just that. Among those who climbed the tower, and even the Rankers who had already reached the top — the shinsu was their main means of combat, and could be used both in defense, offense and for a variety of functions.
So much so that if someone wished to climb the tower, being able to control and manipulate the shinsu was one of the main requirements.
'Considering my situation where I appeared on the 1st Floor, that should mean that I am an Irregular. So wouldn't my talent for controlling shinsu be huge?!'
Uriel was excited at the idea of controlling the shinsu.
In Tower of God, Irregulars were constantly portrayed as extremely talented people with an absurd and unbelievable talent for shinsu. Of course, there were exceptions like a blonde girl who entered the tower without opening the door herself. However, Uriel was sure that it had not entered the tower through someone else's opening, after all, Headon would have noticed immediately.
'Pfft. If this isn't a dream, doesn't that mean I have the opportunity to climb the tower, and not as an ordinary Regular, but as an Irregular?'
While it would be fun to read the pages on the cell phone, wouldn't it be a thousand times more fun to experience this wonderful world called the Tower of God for yourself?
'Ah, shit. I should calm down a bit and not let my joy show so much...'
Realizing he was being too impulsive, Uriel controlled his breathing.
Looking at Headon who lowered the staff again, about to explain the test, Uriel once again was reminded of the risks of climbing the tower. He still didn't have the minimum necessary even to pass a Floor Test, let alone one conducted by a Floor Guardian and not a Test Administrator.
Remembering the test given by Headon to Baam — the protagonist of Tower of God — Uriel's allergy was swept away, leaving room for disappointment and fear.
He didn't even need to remember Baam's test, for Headon was already announcing it to him and Urek.
"The ball test is very simple. All you need to do is to enter that cage and destroy that black ball in the center. Of course, you will need to watch out for the little eel in the middle of the way."
"Eel?" Urek asked as he found no eel inside the cage.
Headon nodded, and said as he smiled, "Yes. Eel."
Swaamp—!
A noise of something crawling came from inside the cage. There lay the main cause of Uriel's fear of taking the ball test.
An eel appeared swimming in the blue shinsu, skirting the black ball in the center of the cage. Its size was colossal, with two human-like limbs sticking out of the sides of its belly, along with a long black tail and red eye with a vertical pupil in the center of its razor-sharp face. It seemed to swim without any problem on the extremely dense shinsu.
'What?!'
Although he had expected an eel to appear, Uriel was surprised as soon as he saw it.
'That's not right! That's not a White Steel Eel, it actually looks much stronger than one...'
He completely remembered the appearance of a White Steel Eel — the eel that appeared in the Ball Test assigned to Baam. However, this eel was completely different.
That was because it was not a White Steel Eel.
"That is a Red-Eyed Eel and it will be the Ball Guardian in your test, Mister Urek," Headon explained with a smile.
"Huhu looks like this test will be a bit of fun," Urek muttered with an excited smile as he snapped the fingers of his hand, in complete contrast to Uriel who turned pale upon hearing Headon's words.
'Shit. So, what I will face won't be a White Steel Eel, too?'
Uriel didn't even have the confidence to face a White Steel Eel, but an eel that seemed to be stronger suddenly appeared.
'The monster I'm going to face is weaker than Urek's... right...?'
Although he thought about it, looking at the smile on Headon's face, he knew there was no way his test would be easy.
'Fuck!'
"Hahaha. So, I'll be right there. Hey baby, watch my fight. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch me fight," Urek said as he walked with his head held high toward the cage.
'Shit, fuck the opportunity to watch you fight. If all this isn't a dream, I'm one real step away from dying...' Uriel had the urge to say that to Urek, but he just nodded as he smiled nervously.
He had just survived an earthquake that buried him underground, but he was going to die here to a shitty eel?
'Damn, all I can do is try to work a miracle with shinsu...'
Looking at the back of Urek who was entering inside the cage, Uriel began to wiggle the fingers of his hand trying to feel the so-called "Flow of Shinsu". His action did not escape the gaze of Headon, who looked at him smiling.
"Hohoho, it seems that you have realized the presence of the shinsu. Not only that, but you are already trying to control it."
"Oh? Uh, y-yes..."
"Hmm. Let me give you a hint then, use your 'instincts'."
"Instincts?"
Uriel was confused. How could he use his instincts to control the shinsu? However, Headon did not answer him and just smiled as he turned his gaze to Urek who had already entered the shinsu-covered cage.
"You will find your answer. Let's watch his test, who knows, maybe you can get some hints through that."
"...Right," Uriel nodded and turned his gaze back to Urek.
***
Urek frowned as soon as he stepped inside the cage. The reason was the water-like substance. It was strange, but it seemed that this substance increased the gravity or weight around him considerably — although, it did not affect his movements at all and was almost imperceptible.
Now that he was standing on this substance, Urek could vaguely feel its flow.
'This is not water'.
He had already realized this as soon as the cage appeared and confirmed his suspicions at that moment. Not only that, he realized that this same substance was present right outside the cage, however — at an extremely lower density. Urek also noticed that it entered his body through his nostrils and circulated through his lungs, similar to air.
Urek focused on the flow of this substance coursing through his surroundings and thought he could control it if he concentrated more.
However.
"Sieeeeeeeek—!"
Before he could continue, a shrill roar rang through his ears.
The Red-Eyed Eel that had observed his entry into the cage, swam toward him waving its tail through the shinsu. The front of its head, which followed a razor-sharp silhouette, opened, showing three straight rows of sharp white teeth.
Urek frowned, irritated at the eel's interruption.
"Interrupting me at an important moment, you have plenty of courage, little eel."
Smiling, Urek stepped forward undaunted by the gigantic size difference between himself and the eel.
The eel was also not intimidated by his fierce gaze and continued swimming with its mouth open toward him.
"However, let's see if your strength is proportional to your courage!"
Thud—!
Urek kicked the ground with enormous force, throwing himself diagonally forward. In the blink of an eye, Urek appeared above the eel's head.
The eel, which couldn't keep up with Urek's speed, was surprised as soon as he suddenly appeared in front of it. Because it was surprised, the eel didn't have enough time to react to Urek's first that was thrown in its direction.
Bang—!
Urek's fist smashed into the eel's upper body, seeming to pierce its thick skin.
Thud—!
With Urek's force pressing it down, the eel's head fell and collided against the ground causing a curtain of smoke to form at the collision site.
"Siiiieeeeeeeeeeeekk—!"
"Haha! Can you still scream so energetically?"
Urek laughed as the furious roar of the eel shook his ears. He once again kicked the ground and was about to punch the eel one more time, however, he was interrupted by a red glow appearing in the eel's eye.
Before Urek could react, the eel let out a roar again and pointed the red glow in his direction.
"Sieeeeeeek—!"
Kuooooooooooooh—!!!
Urek's pupils narrowed as soon as he saw a red beam emerge from the eel's eye and move toward him with absurd speed. Since he was so close to the eel and in the air, Urek couldn't dodge it and didn't even have time to defend himself.
Kuwaaaaah—!
The tenebrous red-ray swallowed Urek's body like a huge snake. It was a tremendous power.
It looked like Urek was going to be completely pulverized, however—
"Wow, hahaha! That was really a bit of a surprise."
Whoosh—
—a strong wind blew like a small tornado dispersing the red ray, and from it, Urek came out completely unharmed with a wide smile on his face.
The eel seemed to have been surprised, however, it quickly regained its composure and swung its huge tail like a whip in Urek's direction. However, this time Urek had time to react. Still, in the air, he easily avoided the eel's tail and fell with a clenched fist.
Peeeng—!!!
"Kieeeeeeeek—!"
His fist hit the center of the eel's eye. This time, the effect was not minimal, as the eel's eye was pierced and purple blood splashed out of it.
Urek stepped onto the ground, and without hesitation, punched the eel's face once more.
BANG—!
The eel couldn't even scream. Like a balloon, its entire head burst, splattering blood and bits of flesh and skin everywhere.
"That was a bit of fun. But it's time to finish this test," Urek muttered as he made his way to the black ball in the center of the cage.
The black ball was made to be extremely sturdy, being difficult to break. However — for someone who could blow the head off a gigantic eel with one punch, it wasn't difficult to break that black ball.
Bang—!
With one punch from Urek, the black ball cracked and opened easily.
"Now, I should—"
Flash—!
Before Urek could turn around and walk back to where Headon and Uriel were standing, a white light suddenly enveloped his body.
And when he opened his eyes again, in front of him were the two he was about to meet — Headon, watching him with a smile, and Uriel who had a depressed but cheerful expression at the same time.
"My congratulations, Mister Urek Mazino. You have successfully passed the test on the 1st Floor of the Tower," Headon congratulated him. Before Urek could answer him, Headon turned to Uriel and said to him, "It's your turn now, boy. You may enter the cage."
'Gulp...'
Uriel swallowed dryly. However, he did not let his nervousness show, as he nodded and said with a smile on his face, "Yes."
"So, it's your turn now? Good luck, baby!"
"...T-thank you. I'm going to kill that eel by throwing it away with a kick, or maybe I'll turn it into an ice sculpture, haha..."
"Hahaha! Sounds like you're confident, so go ahead and kill it, baby!" oblivious to Uriel's wry tone, Urek responded energetically.
'Ugh, I'm not a damn monster like you...'
Although Urek was cheering him up, Uriel was a little irritated by it. After all, he had just entered the tower and did not have absurd strength like Urek. However, there was no turning back now.
He started to walk towards the cage.
His look seemed different from before when he found out he was on the 1st Floor of the tower and was going to need to take the floor test — he was more confident.
'If I can improve while I am inside the cage—'
Uriel closed his eyes and drew an image of numerous lines flowing around him. He controlled one of those lines and focused it on his palm.
When he opened his eyes again, a small white ball could be seen in his hand.
'—maybe I really can pass this test.'
He looked forward again and found himself in front of the bars of the cage. Then—
—he stepped forward.
"Sieeeeeeeeeeeeeek—!!!"