Aboard the floating vessel, gliding gracefully through the Shinsu above the vast golden sea of wheat fields, was an immense, immaculate white room, softly illuminated by a light that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves. At the far end of this chamber, a large, elevated stage dominated the space. A dense crowd of participants, regulars who had brilliantly passed the second test, gathered there. They had just been teleported to this new test center, a place that could almost be considered a tranquil stop before the next test, offering a moment of respite for the competitors on their climb up the Tower.
Amidst this sea of formidable regulars, a trio stood out, one of them silently admiring the crowd of competitors around him. His eyes sparkled with wonder at the diversity and evident strength of those who had made it through the first test. Every face, every figure represented a potential challenge, an obstacle to overcome. Some participants resembled wild beasts, others had humanoid forms but radiated an inhuman strangeness, while others floated in the air like elusive specters. The display of this fantastic variety was both fascinating and intimidating.
For the man in the purple tracksuit, this gathering of competitors was not to be taken lightly. Each one had their own potential, a glimmer of excellence hidden behind their determined faces.
"Wow! They all look fierce!" he exclaimed, an admiring whistle escaping his lips as a smile spread across his face. Excitement bubbled up inside him, palpable in his tone. "Those who passed the first test are really impressive. That means things are finally getting serious. I'm so excited!"
He quickly turned to his right, seeking the attention of his new teammate, a young man with slicked-back black hair, whose appearance and stoic posture evoked that of a samurai. The young man stared into the void in front of him, silent and unperturbed, his eyes piercing through the crowd as if he were gazing at a distant horizon, unfazed by the commotion around him.
The man in the purple tracksuit, still playful, broke the tension with his joyful, almost exuberant tone:
"So, Hatz, what do you think? Don't these tough guys get you pumped? Does your fighting spirit wake up just by seeing them?"
Hatz didn't even bother to turn his head toward his teammate, his eyes still fixed straight ahead, unmoved. His hand rested calmly on the hilt of his katana, and his expression, as impassive as a statue, betrayed no emotion. In a dry, cutting tone, he replied:
"Your constant chatter is more likely to make me want to draw my sword, Shibisu."
"R-Really...?" Shibisu, now clearly named, stammered as he stepped back slightly, shivering at the thought that his new teammate might actually cut him down in cold blood without a second thought. A cold sweat ran down his neck as he told himself that it would probably be wiser to limit conversations with Hatz, thus avoiding making things worse with this unsociable warrior.
Shibisu, still slightly trembling, turned his attention to their other teammate, the lizard-girl who remained indifferent despite the heavy atmosphere. Desperately trying to ease the awkward tension created by Hatz, he attempted to engage her in conversation, hoping it would be less risky.
"S-So... Anaak! How do you feel? You must be a little excited, right? Even just a tiny bit...?"
"Yeah... super thrilled to be teaming up with such a chatterbox," Anaak replied dryly, the irritation clear in her voice. She didn't care about the impact of her words, letting them fall without the slightest bit of tact. Shibisu, on the other hand, felt his shoulders sag under the weight of this harsh response, deflated by her cold remark.
Shibisu couldn't bear the thought of starting this adventure as just a chatterbox in the eyes of his teammates. Being perceived as the weakest member of the group was already tough, but being reduced to nothing more than a talkative fool was unbearable. He wanted to prove to them that he wasn't as useless as they thought.
"You really don't know me..." he began, his enthusiasm rekindled. He straightened his shoulders proudly, and with a confident smile, he added, "To tell you the truth, I've learned deadly martial arts techniques. I'm super strong."
'Keep dreaming,' Hatz and Anaak both thought simultaneously, their faces remaining expressionless, betraying no emotion. They looked away in near-perfect synchronization, manifesting their indifference to Shibisu's boastful claims. Neither seemed to believe for a second in their talkative teammate's supposed prowess.
Before the end of the second test, Hatz and Anaak, after stopping their fight and deciding to team up, were looking for a third member. Their initial intention was to leave out Shibisu, whom they considered too weak to be a useful ally.
However, the lack of candidates in their area forced them to reconsider their decision. There was no one else around, and they had no choice but to accept Shibisu as a teammate, albeit reluctantly...
"You might not know it, but my martial arts techniques are secretly passed down through the Tower!" Shibisu continued, his face glowing with exaggerated pride. He seemed oblivious to the fact that his teammates were growing tired of his words.
Hatz sighed inwardly, while Anaak discreetly rolled her eyes, wondering how far he would go with his baseless bragging.
"Shut up."
__________
In another corner of the vast room, another trio was resting. One of them, visibly irritated, observed the scene with a mixture of exasperation and frustration. She squinted her eyes before snapping, her voice trembling slightly with anger:
"Seriously... why is that idiot still sleeping? Are you sure we can trust him?"
She was an ordinary-looking woman of middle age, with shoulder-length chestnut hair that fell in soft waves. She wore a black strapless dress that hugged her figure without being too revealing, giving her an air of both elegance and practicality. A finely crafted knife was carefully tucked behind her belt, ready to be drawn if needed. Her piercing brown eyes seemed capable of cutting through the man she was talking about.
The man in question was a young man with short, dark green hair that reflected the light in an almost iridescent manner. Dressed in an all-black outfit that looked both comfortable and functional, he exuded a sense of nonchalance and mystery. His face, though marked by distinct features, bore a unique beauty, with high cheekbones and a well-defined jawline that enhanced his charm.
He slept peacefully on the floor of the room, wrapped in a neatly folded blanket, his head resting on a plush pillow that seemed to have been brought just for him. The drool escaping from his lips testified to the deep comfort of his sleep, making his state of unconsciousness all the more striking. However, this nonchalance in sleeping amid a crowd of powerful regulars raised questions. How had he ended up there, so carefree, while so many others struggled to prove their worth?
That was what troubled the woman, who was teammates with this carefree sleeper. The urge to slap him for his nonchalant attitude itched at her, but her other teammate, a bronzed-skinned man with long blonde hair cascading down his back, stopped her with a soothing smile. His head was adorned with a long red horn curving gracefully upwards, adding a touch of mystery to his appearance.
"Haha, don't worry, I can guarantee he's skilled," he replied in a cheerful tone, his smile lighting up his face. His eyes sparkled with disarming confidence, as if he knew something others didn't.
However, his teammate remained skeptical, her gaze fixed on the sleeping young man, her doubts lingering. Despite this, she chose to let it go, deciding to keep an open mind and observe her partner's performance over time, hoping that her trust would prove justified in the upcoming tests.
__________
"H-Hey... aren't those the two monsters who wiped out an entire field during the first test...?" asked a regular, his voice trembling as beads of sweat formed on his brow. He whispered to his lizard-like companion, who was also trembling as they both watched the identical women in the distance.
"Oh crap! I saw them completely massacre everything from a hilltop far away. Luckily, I had the sense to run while I could. I saw them kill and slice through everything in front of them. And I swear, one of them looked like she was enjoying it! Those women are cruel!" he exclaimed in a hushed voice, the horror etched on his face. To say he was horrified by their brutality would be an understatement; his fear compelled him to keep his voice low, as if raising it might attract their attention.
He wasn't sure whether to consider himself lucky for escaping the genocide in time or unlucky for being stuck in the same test with these demons. Uncertainty swirled in his mind, anxiety mixing with a morbid fascination for these nightmare-like women.
Signaling to his team, they decided to leave, unwilling to stay near the twins.
And they weren't the only ones.
Several groups of regulars were fleeing the area, their faces painted with fear. The blood-stained clothes of the two women and the foul, murderous aura they exuded made many participants shudder. No one wanted to engage with these devils, whose reputation for cruelty seemed to precede them.
Whispers spread among the regulars, each wondering how anyone could team up with these two bloodthirsty creatures. The thought of being on the same team as them was a waking nightmare, and the mere idea of such an association heightened the surrounding terror. The fear of even catching their gaze, if only for a moment, was enough to drive them away, leaving behind an atmosphere thick with apprehension.
One of the twins, Candace, watched with amusement as the regulars scattered like flies, a smug smile creeping onto her face. She chuckled and sneered:
"Look at that, they see a bit of blood and scatter like rabbits."
She shook her head, her narcissistic grin still in place. Casually, she wiped the blood from her skin and clothes using Shinsu, a gesture that showed just how comfortable she was in this macabre environment. Although she removed most of the stains, she preferred to keep a faint scent of iron on her—it gave her a sense of satisfaction and put her in a good mood.
It was a feeling she cherished, the sensation of power and dominance, with the dried blood on her as a vivid testament to it.
"A bit of blood, huh?" came a panting voice, laced with sarcasm. "I don't think it was just a bit of blood you spilled to scare them off, you crazy b*tch!"
The remark came from the pink-haired young man, sitting on the ground, out of breath. Exhaustion weighed heavily on him, his body marked with cuts, his clothes torn. Some wounds were superficial, others more severe, but thanks to his mastery of Shinsu, he could quickly heal them, with the life energy enveloping him like a protective bubble.
He had managed to hold out against the elder twin until the first test's end, using long-range attacks and playing it safe. By skillfully dodging Deyha's assaults, he had bought time, fully aware that his close-combat abilities were far inferior to hers. It seemed she had only been toying with him, but that worked in his favor—he had no hope of winning against her.
However, the thought of what awaited him in the next test terrified him even more; being forced to team up with these two bloodthirsty killers.
His anxiety had grown as he realized there was no one else around except for the corpses and these twins. Deyha, the more dangerous of the two, had threatened to kill him, even if it meant breaking the rules, if he dared refuse to join her. Faced with such a threat, he had no choice but to accept this fragile alliance. His mind raced, searching for ways to escape as soon as possible.
He promised himself he would leave the team the first chance he got, but for now, he had to deal with these monsters, hoping his survival wouldn't depend on their whims.
"Oh, you still have the energy to talk?" Candace asked, feigning surprise, her hand covering her mouth as if fascinated by the pitiful state of her new teammate. "I'll admit, your manipulation of Shinsu is impressive. To hold off my sister, even though she was holding back a lot, is worth some praise for a rat like you, isn't it?"
The only response she got was a raised middle finger in her direction as the young man growled, recalling the pain of the battle. Candace burst into laughter at the gesture, her clear, amused voice contrasting with the tense atmosphere surrounding them.
Turning on her heel, her smile still in place, she continued, addressing Deyha, who stood just behind her:
"Isn't that right, sister? This guy could be useful to us. Who knows, he might throw Shinsu lightning, set traps, or even—"
But she stopped mid-sentence, noticing how her sister remained silent, ignoring her completely, her violet eyes scanning the room, as if searching for something that unsettled her.
Candace could have sworn she saw a faint, almost imperceptible trace of anxiety in her older sister's gaze.
She furrowed her brow, perplexed by Deyha's unusual behavior. Normally so confident, so unshakable, Deyha seemed troubled, almost on edge.
The last time she had seen her sister like this was years ago.
"Hey, what's with you? Not feeling well?" Candace asked, a teasing tone in her voice, though a hint of concern slipped through.
Deyha ignored her sister's question once again, her eyes still carefully scanning the environment. She felt something off. The Shinsu was vibrating in an unusual way, as if an immense force was pressing down on it, distorting the atmosphere around her.
And she didn't like it one bit.
Even before the end of the first test, while fighting the one she called the rat, she had sensed a distant tremor, strong enough to make the ground beneath her feet shake. She remembered seeing a massive dust cloud rise into the sky on the horizon.
She had wondered then what regular could possibly be capable of causing such a shockwave. Such a striking force seemed beyond the reach of a regular just starting their climb.
However, she had dismissed the thought, assuming it must have been an examinator.
But now... the persistent sensation in the Shinsu confirmed her fears. A regular with overwhelming power was present here, strong enough to disturb the Shinsu on a worrying level.
'This power...' she thought, her eyes narrowing with concern. 'Who among yhese regulars could have such a presence? Or perhaps...'
"Hello, hello! Is Deyha still with us?" Candace called out, her mischievous smile stretching across her face as she cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone. She leaned toward her sister, trying to pull her out of her thoughts.
Deyha, startled by the interruption, snapped out of her trance, her eyes landing on Candace, slightly irritated.
"What is it, dear sister?" Deyha asked, a hint of weariness in her voice.
"I should be the one asking you that. I've been calling you for a while, but you're completely ignoring me, lost in... I don't even know what," Candace replied, raising an eyebrow, clearly amused by her sister's behavior.
The older sister, less inclined to share Candace's amusement, averted her eyes, her gaze drifting around the room. In a more serious tone, she replied:
"It's not just that I'm lost in something, Candace. It's that… I sense something unsettling, or rather, someone unsettling me."
"You're worrying over nothing," Candace said, shaking her head with a mocking smile.
Deyha, her expression still dark, turned back to her sister. "You don't understand. There's something wrong here. I can feel it."
Candace sighed, clearly irritated by her sister's insistence. "It's just another regular, Deyha. Focus on our goal. This isn't the time to be fretting over insignificant details. And anyway, why worry? If this regular is so powerful, we can always take care of them."
But Deyha didn't share her sister's optimism. Her instincts screamed a warning, and she knew better than anyone never to ignore that feeling.
She had always possessed a sharp sense, able to detect the slightest threat or powerful presence, invisible to others. Unlike most regulars, who seemed indifferent to the subtle shifts in the Shinsu, or her own sister, constantly reckless.
It was this same instinct that had saved her life countless times—and Candace's—in situations that could have gone terribly wrong. Cautious and strategic, Deyha analyzed every situation, always expecting the worst, while her sister rushed headlong, blinded by her own recklessness.
Deyha sighed, shaking her bangs slightly in a gesture of fatigue. Maybe her sister was right, maybe she was overthinking.
But even so, that persistent feeling wouldn't go away. She decided to set it aside, at least for now.
Deyha glanced at their new teammate. He was slowly recovering from his wounds, painfully pulling himself up. She had to admit he had surprised her, even though she could have finished him off multiple times. Still, something about his appearance and his skill with Shinsu made her think he belonged to one of the Ten Great Families, which piqued her curiosity. She had wanted to test how far he could go.
And though she was neither truly impressed nor entirely disappointed, she had enjoyed herself. Her initial plan was to kill him after her little game, but the next test requiring them to form a team had changed things.
That said, she didn't mind. This pink-haired man was better than the other puppets she and her sister had slaughtered. His mastery of Shinsu, especially at this stage of the ascension, might prove useful.
"You…" she began in a measured voice, catching the attention of the pink-haired young man and her sister. "Calling you a rat or anything else might be... inappropriate, given that we're now teammates. So, tell me, what's your name?"
The young man, still out of breath, watched Deyha warily. Even if they were now a team, he couldn't let his guard down. These twins were unpredictable, capable of killing him without reason, simply out of boredom.
After a long silence, he finally sighed. It was better to give them his name rather than continue being treated like an animal.
"Roa…" he finally muttered in a hoarse voice. "My name is Po Bidau Roa."
"Po Bidau, huh?" Deyha murmured, rubbing her chin, looking slightly surprised. "I thought you were an Eurasia, given your features and skill with Shinsu. But I guess being from the Po Bidau family doesn't change much. After all, they're also good with Shinsu manipulation."
"I've been told that before…" Roa sighed, slightly embarrassed.
"Oh, so you're a nerd? But where are your glasses?" Candace exclaimed, genuinely curious. But her comment struck a nerve with Roa, especially with the word nerd.
"I had some, but I lost them in the middle of the first test. Otherwise, I wouldn't have lost so easily against you Arie b*tches!" he spat angrily, indignant at being treated that way by Candace with such casualness. "And don't compare me to those DAMN nerds who do nothing but read and lock themselves up in libraries like rats. I have a LIFE!"
"Aren't you a rat?" Candace retorted, raising her arms as if stating a fact. "And whether you have your glasses or not, you'd still lose, nerd~."
Roa's face turned a bright red, to the point where it looked like smoke was coming out of his ears, which only widened Candace's smug grin.
For Roa, it was now certain that getting along with her would be impossible.
"Come on, come on, let's not start a fight when it's forbidden during the break," Deyha added, trying to calm the tension between those two, who were like a cat playing with a mouse. "Anyway, I think we should introduce ourselves more formally, even though you already know we're Arie."
Roa's face returned to its normal color as he met Deyha's amethyst eyes. He had to admit, without saying it out loud, that they were captivating. He might have even fallen for their charm if it weren't for this woman's true, devilish nature.
"Yes, I know," he replied, rolling his eyes. "Who in this vast Tower could ignore the traits of an Arie? A family that always flaunts what's white and is fanatical about fights and their swords?"
Deyha remained indifferent to Roa's sarcastic remark, simply smiling, an unexpected charm contrasting with her usual impassive expression. She adopted a more solemn stance, placing her hand on her chest as she introduced herself:
"My name is Deyha, Arie Deyha, and I'm a direct descendant of the Arie family."
"Yeah, and I'm the magnificent and beautiful Candace, Arie Candace!" Candace quickly added. "I'm also a direct descendant, and Deyha and I are twins, though I'm the younger one." She introduced herself with a laid-back attitude, sporting a playful, almost childlike smile, in contrast to her sister's seriousness.
"Direct descendants?" Roa said in surprise.
He was already impressed by the presence of two members of the Ten Great Families in this test, but knowing they were direct descendants of the most powerful and influential family in the Tower added a new layer to his astonishment. These members were the direct children of family heads, with purer blood and greater potential than other descendants, which gave them increased strength.
The idea of teaming up with regulars from such a prestigious lineage surprised him. Yet, due to their obvious penchant for violence, especially with Candace, he couldn't help but feel some apprehension. He glanced at his partner, a shiver of distrust running through him.
However, deep down, he felt a certain relief at the idea of working alongside such powerful teammates. For him, it was always better to look on the bright side, right? Even if it was only temporary.
"What, shocked, nerd?" Candace quipped, a proud look lighting up her face as she exaggeratedly swept her hair back. "I know, it's exceptional for someone like you, a mere member of one of the Ten Great Families, to be in the presence of a lineage as pure as ours. It's a real honor for a rat like you."
Roa chuckled, confusing Candace.
He had to admit he was somewhat surprised. Though he wasn't a direct descendant of his family, he didn't envy the two twins. On the contrary, he pitied them, aware of the pressure they must face, especially since killings among direct descendants could be even more frequent.
To put it simply, he didn't care at all, even seeing Candace as a clown.
Thinking back, he seemed to recall a rumor about twins from the Arie family.
A story that ended very badly...
"Honestly, who are you trying to impress, huh?" Roa asked disdainfully, shaking off his thoughts, as he turned his mocking gaze toward Candace. "You're just a child born directly from your Family Head's pants, nothing more. And don't think your attitude will make you any more beautiful to others, especially when you reek of blood. I don't find that very feminine."
This mockery hit Candace hard, her momentary pride crumbling to nothing. She almost spat blood, the truth in the comment stinging her deeply. Deyha, on the other hand, watched the scene with a light laugh, amazed at Roa's audacity in mocking her sister, the very one with the reputation of being the more murderous of the two. It was almost comical to see Candace, usually so arrogant, lose her composure in front of Roa.
Deyha began to appreciate Roa a bit more for putting her sister in her place. A rare smile crossed her lips, finding amusement in the dynamic between the two.
As for Candace, she snapped back to reality, fury blazing in her eyes as she glared at Roa, who stood with his arms crossed, a mocking smile on his face as he looked at her. Furious, she prepared to strike back.
"You dare say I'm not beautiful!? Have you looked in a mirror, maybe? It's best you don't lose your glasses again, because your ugliness is a crime against this Tower! You damn colorful nerd!!" she screamed, pointing her finger at him with an over-the-top indignation that could have made anyone laugh.
Roa, amused by the turn of events, raised an eyebrow, ready to respond to her energetic attack, relishing the moment to get back at her for all the insults he had endured. "Well, at least I'm not a clown in uniform! But tell me, aren't you the most beautiful of the Arie? You know, out of all the Arie... I'm having a hard time picking the least terrifying one, and you'd be the last!"
"Ouch, ouch, ouch, 2-0 for Roa," Deyha chimed in, stirring the pot. Seeing her dear sister get defeated so easily by a few words was a small delight for her. Sure, it wasn't really a challenge to surpass Candace in this area…
The two continued to bicker, drawing the attention of the regulars nearby. They watched with intrigued looks, both tired and puzzled by the spectacle unfolding in front of them.
__________
"Pretty impressive, so many people made it through such a barbaric test," whistled the masked young man, revealed to be Baam, who was comfortably perched on Rak's right shoulder. He casually rested his elbow on the crocodile's head, who cursed Baam with an exasperated look for his careless behavior and for using him as a mount.
Baam was genuinely surprised; he hadn't expected so many people to pass a test with such a high mortality rate.
Maybe he had underestimated these regulars, their resilience, and their determination in the face of adversity.
"Bah, I'd say more than a hundred," suddenly chimed a honeyed voice—Aguera, perched on Rak's other shoulder, her legs elegantly crossed. "They are regulars, after all, so it's not surprising they made it."
"Hmph!! I don't see anything special about these turtles; they're not even worth entering into my hunting schedule!" Rak scoffed. Whether they had passed this test or not, none of them posed a threat or held any interest for him, to the point where it wasn't even worth wasting time devouring them.
Simply because he had already encountered one truly special turtle, and that turtle was currently sitting on his shoulder.
That turtle was his ultimate goal; to become stronger and track it down.
"My, My, don't be so reckless, crocodile. Didn't you learn your lesson after your encounter with Baam?" the young woman retorted, adjusting her blue hair while locking eyes with Rak's cold, scarlet gaze.
Rak didn't appreciate this blue turtle reminding him of that defeat, an affront he wouldn't forget anytime soon. Just thinking about it, he still felt a dull ache where Baam had flicked him.
The memory made him stiffen slightly, recalling that blow so powerful yet so light to Baam.
However, Rak wasn't completely stupid, or at least he told himself that. He certainly wouldn't make the same mistake twice. But when he claimed that this crowd of turtles wasn't worthy of him, he truly believed it.
For Aguera, although she teased Rak, she couldn't help but notice how troubled he was by the mere mention of his defeat to Baam. This thought made her smile as she recalled once again how absurd the situation had been.
A flick—just a single flick—had been enough to take down a massive and imposing crocodile like Rak. And she had to admit, she wasn't sure if she could easily defeat the crocodile herself. But Baam had managed to do it with something as light as a flick. Aguera wondered if what she had witnessed was an illusion.
She also questioned how cautious she should be toward her future opponents. After all, she had a powerful teammate like Baam, and she was convinced that he was the strongest regular among the crowd. Who could really pose a threat with him by her side?
Did having the most powerful allies really matter when she had Baam with her? Were backup plans, no matter how elaborate, even necessary if she could rely on him? Aguera pondered this question, feeling a growing sense of confidence within her.
Baam had proven that he could shift the balance of power in an instant, and that thought gave her peace of mind. In a world dominated by strength, she finally had a major advantage. Perhaps, in the end, making other allies wasn't necessary. If Baam was capable of the impossible, then she could focus on the present and face whatever came her way.
Shaking off her thoughts, Aguera continued her explanation, though she wondered if it was even worth it. Still, it was important to knock some sense into this dumb crocodile.
"Crocodile, be careful. Some of them have extraordinary abilities. There are even a few who don't always play fair," she explained, jumping off Rak's shoulder to land on her white sneakers, her back slightly turned. She slowly tilted her head, one of her blue eyes fixed on the crocodile, a mischievous smile on her lips. "Regulars from the residential quarters must have at least one exceptional talent."
"So don't underestimate anyone and consider all the regulars here as formidable enemies."
Aguera knew her warning might seem exaggerated, but she wanted Rak to understand the seriousness of the situation. In this environment, even a seemingly ordinary opponent could hide an unsuspected power.
However, seeing how Rak stubbornly remained reckless in his decision, even ignoring her warnings by turning his gaze away, Aguera felt a wave of anger rising within her. She was on the verge of yelling at the crocodile, exasperated by his lack of common sense.
She wondered why she had even wasted her time trying to reason with an animal.
Baam watched with amusement as Aguera and Rak bickered, while the young woman's words echoed in his mind.
'It's true, I can't underestimate thes guys just yet,' he thought as he mentally scanned each participant, all of whom were unique in their own way.
Most of them seemed to have nothing particularly special; their aura wasn't bright or particularly strong. However, some stood out from the crowd, emitting a glow more intense than that of the average regular. And finally, there were those whose aura truly radiated, clearly favored by the Shinsu.
Yet even they didn't stand a chance against Baam. He realized this with a sigh, resting his head on his hand.
He had hoped for a bit more of a challenge, but it was obvious Yuri hadn't exaggerated when she said Irregulars possessed power so immense that they were lightyears ahead of the Tower's natives.
Though he wasn't one to discriminate, this realization left him slightly disappointed. Even though he didn't particularly enjoy fighting, a bit of exercise every now and then wouldn't hurt, after all.
Maybe the regulars from the higher floors were stronger? Perhaps he'd have the chance to meet those famous rankers? Or even other Irregulars, those like him?
The thought filled him with growing anticipation.
"But well, I don't think there's a team stronger than ours!" Aguera suddenly exclaimed, gesturing toward Baam with both arms, her smile widening as she spoke. Her tone turned almost fanatical, adding a touch of irony, "Because our leader is none other than the mighty and incredible Mr. Mask!"
Her declaration surprised her two teammates. Baam chuckled softly behind his mask, amused by Aguera's irony. Yet the trust she placed in him warmed his heart, and he felt happy knowing she relied on him like that.
On the other side, Rak didn't share the same feeling. Furious, he felt deeply offended that this blue turtle dared to call Baam the leader when they had all agreed that he, Rak, was the leader of their group!
"Who is what?! You cheating, filthy turtle!! I AM THE LEADER, AND NO ONE ELSE!!" he roared, his snout inches away from Aguera's face, which wore a mocking smile.
"By my logic, the strongest is the leader, right?" she replied, rolling her eyes, her tone deliberately annoying to the crocodile, who felt his head about to explode from anger. But Rak, despite all his frustration, couldn't refute her words, because to his great misfortune, she was right.
"So what? I'm a hunter! And a hunter can't have a turtle as a leader!!"
"Yes, but you're still weaker than that turtle," Aguera shot back, her smile widening as she innocently placed her hands behind her. Rak could only boil with rage, his fists clenched, unable to respond to that undeniable truth.
This argument amused Baam so much that he couldn't help but laugh as he calmly climbed down from Rak's shoulder, his hands in his pockets, watching his two companions continue to bicker.
"Haha, honestly, I don't mind if Rak is the leader or not," Baam added casually. Aguera clicked her tongue in annoyance, while Rak puffed up with pride. However, Rak's smile quickly vanished when Baam turned a piercing gaze toward him. The crocodile felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
"But if you mess up your role as leader, you know what's coming, right, crocodile?" Baam continued, a mischievous glint in his eyes behind the slits of his mask. He raised his hand, pressing his thumb against his middle finger and mimicked a flick in the air, which made Rak tremble even more.
The crocodile gulped. He definitely didn't want to experience that flick again—not until he was strong enough to withstand it.
"Ha-Hahaha! Don't worry, demon turtle! With me as leader, this team will shine," Rak exclaimed enthusiastically, puffing out his chest with pride. Yet, despite his bravado, a flicker of nervousness lingered in his eyes, Baam's threat still fresh in his mind.
"Pfft, we're bound to hit rock bottom with him…" Aguera muttered to herself, her voice barely audible. Yet Baam, with his sharp hearing, caught her words perfectly. He slowly walked up to her, standing right next to her, surprising Aguera slightly, who hadn't noticed him get so close.
"Don't worry," he began softly, his tone calming. "With me, I can guarantee that not only will we pass this test, but all the ones to come, Aguera."
Faced with this statement, Aguera turned away, twirling a strand of her blue hair around her finger. She suddenly felt a bit shy at Baam's proximity, realizing just how much taller he was than her. A light blush crept onto her cheeks, accompanied by a spontaneous smile.
She certainly hadn't made the wrong choice by teaming up with him.
But this moment was shattered by a sudden shout that rang out in the middle of the crowd. Everyone, including the trio, turned their attention toward the commotion, discovering that the source of the uproar was a regular with tanned skin and messy red hair. What stood out most about him was his missing right arm, the stump carefully wrapped in a white bandage.
He was yelling at a boy with black hair, dressed in a simple t-shirt and shorts, holding a red needle in his hand. Despite the redhead's firm grip on his collar, the young man showed no trace of fear; he simply looked away with an expression of visible boredom.
"Finally, I've got you, YOU B*STARD!!" screamed the redhead, overwhelmed with rage. "Look what you did to my arm! How are you going to make up for it, huh?!"
His face twisted with anger, his bloodshot eyes locked on the boy, while the crowd began to murmur around them, some intrigued by the scene, others irritated by the disturbance during their break. The black-haired boy didn't immediately respond, just sighing as if he found the whole altercation incredibly tiresome.
"I don't know, maybe you could buy a new arm and stick it back on," the boy finally replied with disarming nonchalance, casually looking away from the furious regular in front of him.
The insolence of his response only further fueled the redhead's rage, his face turning crimson. His fingers tightened even more around the boy's collar, trembling with anger. "You dare mock me?!"
"Calm down, my friend. I'm sorry to see your arm in that state, but…" interjected a tall man with very short blond hair, dressed in a long gray robe. A soothing smile adorned his face as he tried to defuse the tension. "It's forbidden to fight during the break, and you were injured during the exam, so it's justified."
"Justified?! How is it justified?!" The redhead, even angrier, released the boy's collar to turn toward the blond man, his gaze ablaze. "I wouldn't have been hurt if he hadn't ambushed me!" His voice resonated with barely contained fury, making the atmosphere even more tense.
The blond man was about to rephrase his words to calm the situation, but the black-haired boy spoke up before him, his tone firm and laced with contempt. He shot a blank look at the redhead, a cold glint in his eyes:
"Even without an ambush, I would've beaten you. You're just trash."
The black-haired boy's words were the last straw. The redhead's face contorted with rage as he pulled out a spear from his back, anger surging through him.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?! Fine, let's settle this right now!!" he shouted, advancing dangerously toward his opponent, his eyes burning with hatred. The black-haired boy, for his part, still didn't seem threatened, calmly waiting for his assailant's approach, his face impassive.
The blond man, his teammate, quickly stepped between them, extending his arms to calm the situation. "Come on, fight me!! I don't care about this damn test anymore!!" the redhead continued, consumed by his fury.
"Ugh, does that guy really have nothing better to do with his time?" Baam sighed, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold from the other side with his team. The weariness in his voice was evident as he cast a disinterested look at the redhead who continued to yell. "Can't he just accept his defeat and shut up?"
Not only was the noise grating on his ears, but Baam found the entire scene utterly ridiculous. In his eyes, it was a true clown show. He watched with a mix of annoyance and indifference, wondering how much longer this farce would drag on.
Aguera, sitting next to him, smirked. "Some people really can't swallow their humiliation," she murmured, sharing Baam's weariness, before glancing over at Rak, who seemed completely unconcerned by the commotion. "Even that swamp crocodile managed to grasp that concept."
Clang!
She received a blow from the shaft of Rak's spear, irritated by her remark. With a swift movement, she blocked the attack with her briefcase, a mocking smile on her lips. With a mischievous look, she added:
"Hey~ how can you treat your teammate like that, alligator?"
"I've got to hit my turtles so they understand I'm the leader, and not a crocodile!" Rak retorted, his crimson spear planted firmly in the ground.
Baam, paying no attention to their usual bickering, was growing more and more tired of hearing the redheaded regular's incessant shouting. Normally, he wasn't one to get involved in other people's business, but if this was going to ruin his rare moment of rest—something he hadn't had since entering the Tower—he wouldn't hesitate to step in.
He was just going to teach that regular a little lesson.
He took a step forward, his silhouette darkening, determined to put an end to this tiresome spectacle. His teammates noticed the change and stopped what they were doing, watching as Baam walked away from them, heading toward the heart of the commotion.
"Where are you going, Baam?" asked the young woman, her deep blue eyes reflecting confusion at her teammate's sudden departure.
"I'm just going to have a few words with that messy-haired regular…" he replied, without turning back or stopping his stride. "Maybe I should even give him the Mr. Flick treatment if he doesn't realize how annoying he is for everyone."
Aguera and Rak, realizing what he meant, felt their faces pale at the thought of what he was about to do.
They didn't really care if that regular got reduced to ashes by Baam, but they were more worried about the damage it could cause if the guy—stubborn as he seemed—refused to back down and ended up testing Baam's patience.
The last thing they wanted was for Baam to destroy the entire test center, inadvertently killing half the regulars present and potentially risking disqualification.
At least, that's what Aguera was mostly worried about, while the crocodile seemed more concerned about how this whole mess was going to end.
However, they both had the same thought; that flick was simply too devastating.
Understanding the gravity of what could happen, Aguera dashed forward at full speed, so quickly that the regulars nearby only saw a blue blur as she closed the distance between her and Baam. She planted herself directly in front of him, arms wide open, as if to block his path.
"You idiot! We could get disqualified if you accidentally kill that moron!" she scolded, her gaze filled with worry as she tried to dissuade Baam from continuing.
Baam, slightly offended by her accusation, as if he couldn't control himself, retorted, "I know what I'm doing, girl. I'm just going to shut him up once and for all. You talk as if I'm going to commit murder."
'Murder? You're about to commit an entire genocide!' Aguera thought, unable to believe that her teammate would simply talk.
"You were clearly warned that fighting during the break is forbidden."
A cheerful yet firm voice suddenly echoed throughout the room, instantly calming all the panic. The redheaded regular, the black-haired boy, and the other regulars immediately turned their attention to the source of the voice. Standing on an elevated platform was a tall man, his arms resting on his hips, wearing a calm smile.
He had blond hair, neither too long nor too short, bright yellow eyes, and two moles under each of his eyes. Dressed in a white lab coat with a badge pinned to the left side of his chest, he also wore black pants and matching gloves, adding a touch of authority to his relaxed demeanor.
"Finally, he's here." Aguera let out a sigh of relief, having narrowly avoided the worst.
Baam raised an eyebrow, observing the strange man who had just interrupted the dispute with a surprising ease. With just a few words, he had managed to not only stop the argument but also silence the murmurs and conversations stirring through the crowd. All the regulars in the large room had ceased their activities, instantly recognizing the presence of this individual who, while seemingly laid-back to Baam, exerted an undeniable authority over the others.
However, Baam knew he couldn't rely solely on the appearance of this man. And he was right. The aura radiating from this individual, who had appeared out of nowhere, far surpassed that of all the gathered regulars. The difference in power between them was palpable, overwhelming.
This piqued Baam's interest a little. He deduced that this man was certainly not a mere regular given his strength and commanding presence,but likely the examinator in charge of this test.
Now, Baam was all ears for what would happen next, knowing that this examinator would take care of this small issue himself since it was his role.
The man, assumed to be the examiner, cleared his throat, his smile still present, before speaking in a more serious tone:
"Aren't you taking my words seriously, ladies and gentlemen, regulars?"
"Who the hell are you, b*stard?!" spat the red-haired regular, gripping his spear tightly. It didn't matter who this blond man in front of him was. His intrusion into his personal business only fueled his rage to its peak. "Do you want to die too?!"
He was about to move toward the examiner but was abruptly stopped by his teammate, a humanoid with the appearance of a yellow bird with four eyes, whose feathers were drenched in sweat. Unlike his enraged comrade, he had recognized the identity of the man standing on the stage. In a trembling voice, he stammered, "S-Stop! This man… I think he's…"
But the bird-man didn't have time to finish his sentence because the blond man spoke again:
"I am your examinator for this test… Lero-Ro."
At these words, the red-haired regular, who had been consumed by destructive anger moments before, underwent a radical transformation. His fury gave way to intense fear, an emotion clearly visible on his face.
He swallowed hard, his muscles trembling with anxiety, as he tried to confirm his worst fears in a shaky voice:
"E-Examinator… so you're… you're a r-rank—"
"Yes. I'm a ranker of the Tower," Lero-Ro declared nonchalantly, while several regulars around him held their breath in awe. For many of them, this was their first time encountering a ranker, a figure both powerful and rare, someone who didn't appear in the ordinary layers of the Tower.
However, for the red-haired regular, this meeting inspired no admiration. On the contrary, he fought against an overwhelming sensation, as if the weight of the world pressed down on him after this revelation.
He had just insulted and disrespected an examinator—a position reserved for rankers or even highers—without thinking.
Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, betraying his anxiety. The situation was far from favorable for him. To find oneself in the crosshairs of a ranker, and even worse, an examinator, could not only end his climb up the Tower but also threaten his life itself.
Gripped by panic, the regular decided to abandon the matter for now and retreated with his team. Before leaving, he pointed his spear toward the black-haired boy, threatening to kill him with his own hands one day. However, the boy didn't take the threat seriously.
"Oh my, regulars today are so full of spirit," Lero-ro hummed as he watched the quarreling regulars separate and return to their respective corners.
'So, he's also a ranker,' thought Baam, observing how effortlessly Lero-ro had diffused the conflict without resorting to violence.
Baam had heard the term ranker from Evan, knowing that both he and Yuri were part of that elite group, but he didn't fully understand what it meant.
He sighed, resting a hand on the front of his mask. Perhaps he should have asked them what the title entailed.
But what's done is done, and he deserved this ignorance for being so lenient with himself.
In any case, although Lero-ro was a ranker, Baam could sense a vast difference in power between him and Yuri, and likely with Evan too. As for Baam himself, without any arrogance, he felt confident enough that he could defeat him. But who knows, maybe Lero-Ro had some hidden tricks up his sleeve?
Well, it wasn't as if Baam needed to concern himself with that. He had great confidence in his own abilities and certainly didn't fear the thought of a direct confrontation.
He rolled his eyes at what seemed like absurdity, at least to others. He was contemplating as if he were about to face someone who organized and oversaw the tests.
Even though he wasn't inclined to, if the opportunity arose...
Pushing that thought aside, he turned his gaze toward Aguera, who now stood by his side, her eyes lost in the void, looking pensive. He began to speak, his curiosity growing as he wanted to know more about these famous rankers:
"By the way, Aguera, do you know what a ranker is?"
The question pulled her out of her thoughts as Aguera sharply turned her head toward Baam. Her blue eyes met the slits of Baam's mask, and for a moment, she thought she saw a madman, narrowing her eyes slightly.
This reaction didn't escape Baam's notice, making him wonder if he had made a mistake by asking about something that seemed to be common knowledge in the Tower.
However, he wasn't really worried about his identity as an Irregular being discovered, having anticipated this possibility long before.
"…What? You're in the Tower without knowing what a ranker is?" she finally said, her tone slightly troubled.
"I come from a very, very faraway place…" Baam declared, waving his arm theatrically. "So far that I doubt anyone has heard of it."
Aguera frowned, a brief flicker of suspicion crossing her eyes. However, seeing that Baam didn't wish to provide more details and not wanting to dwell on the subject, she let it go with a sigh, ready to answer his earlier question.
"Rankers are those who have reached the top of the Tower," she began. "They are evaluated each season to receive a rank within the Tower, which is why they're called rankers."
"To the top of the Tower?" Baam repeated, a bit surprised by this revelation.
"Yeah, they're really incredible." Aguera laughed at his surprise before continuing, "Out of millions of regulars, only one or two become rankers. Honestly, they're monsters with unimaginable power," she concluded, her gaze drifting off again.
Just from that explanation, the motivation to become a ranker and gain those privileges surged within her, a desire shining in her eyes.
Who wouldn't want to become one?
Nevertheless, she knew, like everyone else in this room, that becoming a ranker was an almost insurmountable task for ordinary regulars. Even she, a member of one of the ten great families, would face immense challenges when confronting the obstacles and trials awaiting her in this vast Tower.
She glanced at Baam, who was deep in thought over this new information.
'But with him, my climb to the top is practically guaranteed.'
A smile crept onto her lips at the thought. She firmly believed that with him—an anomaly she hadn't anticipated—reaching the top of the Tower, a dream cherished by every resident, wouldn't be so difficult. The prospect of climbing the Tower with Baam, whose presence seemed to disrupt expectations, filled Aguera with renewed determination.
She saw in him… à key, a key to heights otherwise unreachable, and that idea fueled her ambition with a new spark.
'They've reached the top of the Tower...'
That was the thought lingering in Baam's mind, as he pondered deeply on this new revelation. The idea occupied his thoughts, pushing him to consider the implications of such an achievement and what it might mean for his own journey in the Tower.
Baam had initially thought rankers were regulars who had reached a certain level on a floor of the Tower, individuals who had gained strength and reputation. This notion might have been reinforced by Aguera's explanation, which mentioned that rankers were ranked based on their power and influence.
However, Baam was half wrong. He hadn't considered that rankers were actually those who had reached the top of the Tower, the very top that Headon had spoken of, where all his wishes could be fulfilled.
Though he remained skeptical about the truth of those promises, he still desired to reach that summit. After all, this journey was for him a quest for meaning and new objectives in his life.
He recalled Yuri and Evan, brushing aside his previous thoughts.
'That princess and that little dwarf are really more than just prodigies.' He figured they must be rankers far higher than Lero-ro, given their power and roles. A test examinator surely didn't have as much influence as a princess of an entire kingdom and her personal guide.
Baam sighed, uncertain about the exact criteria for ranking the rankers. Perhaps only power was taken into account?
Coming out of his trance, Baam looked toward the examinator, still smiling as the regulars gathered around the stage to hear his instructions.
The previous thought of facing the ranker resurfaced in his mind, a rather bold idea…
He shifted his gaze toward Aguera, who was eating a chocolate bar she had taken from her briefcase. Rak, on the other hand, was devouring several of them like a glutton, as Aguera had given them to him to keep him calm. It worked well, judging by his happy expression and appreciation of the chocolate.
Without caring about the origin of all that chocolate, Baam declared in a neutral tone, "There's no problem if I fight that ranker, right?"
Upon hearing this proposal, one she never expected to hear from a regular, Aguera spat out the chocolate she was chewing, stunned by the absurdity of Baam's words. She turned her head so fast she thought it might snap off her neck, her eyes wide, a look of disbelief on her face.
"Excuse me?!" she exclaimed, thinking she had misheard. "Are you really serious about what you just said?"
Baam quickly responded, his tone remaining neutral but laced with irony, "What, does it say I'm joking on my mask?" He shrugged slightly, a smirk forming under his mask.
This irony certainly didn't amuse Aguera. She stood up abruptly, shooting to her feet, her hands clenched into tight fists, and her eyes flashing with frustration.
"ARE YOU INSANE!!!" she yelled, her high-pitched voice echoing throughout the testing center. The participants turned toward them, intrigued by this new commotion. All eyes converged on the trio, where a blue-haired woman was shouting at a masked man who remained sitting on the floor, arms crossed, looking like a child being scolded. Rak, next to them, continued chewing his chocolate, watching the scene with a mix of amusement and curiosity.
Baam replied confidently, "Hey, easy on the words. I'm clearly clear-minded."
"Clear?! I don't think anyone in their right mind would consider fighting a ranker!" she exclaimed, ignoring the curious stares of the regulars around them. "You must know that even the weakest of them could take out all the regulars here without breaking a sweat. And while you're certainly the strongest regular I've seen, a ranker is still a ranker!"
"Bah! That's just your opinion. You can't confirm it until you've seen what I'm truly capable of," Baam declared with a smug air, his tone more serious. He stood up and lowered his head to meet Aguera's gaze. "And I'm not like that crocodile who fights an opponent out of his league without properly assessing him. If I'm saying it, it's because I'm fully confident I can hold my own against this examinator." Baam's sharp remark angered Rak, who threw a chocolate bar at him in frustration. Baam caught it easily and tossed it back into Rak's open mouth, which he devoured immediately.
Aguera raised her finger, ready to retort, but the words got stuck in her throat. She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, resigning herself to say no more, exasperated by Baam's indescribable recklessness.
Aguera had initially seen Baam as a reasonable and rational person, especially during their first encounter when he had avoided turning the first test into a complete bloodbath. This impression was one of the main reasons why she had wanted him as her ally.
But now, faced with his sudden and insane desire to fight a ranker, she realized she had been wrong. She could never have predicted he'd be so reckless. Wanting to challenge a ranker was pure suicide for a regular. Even Rak, with his impulsive nature, seemed more reasonable in comparison.
This idea seemed completely audacious to her! She would never have imagined that this man, who had initially seemed so composed, could be capable of such nonchalance. To Aguera, it was pure arrogance. She couldn't believe Baam was so confident in his abilities. Even if he was undeniably powerful, no regular could hope to defeat a ranker head-on.
She bit the inside of her cheek, frustrated by this confidence. She began to doubt everything she had thought about Baam so far, fearing that this key might actually be her own downfall.
Shaking her head, she spoke again, "And why exactly do you want to fight a ranker? What could you possibly gain from it? It won't help you move up to the next floor, even if, by some miracle, you managed to defeat the examinator." Though frustrated, her curiosity was piqued, eager to understand why Baam had made such a decision.
"I just want to know how strong these famous rankers really are," Baam replied, making the young woman before him roll her eyes. "And also, though I'm not a combat maniac, I'd at least like a bit of a challenge, because honestly, our competitors won't give me anything but boredom."
Aguera's eyes narrowed into a deep frown. She understood that the regulars taking the same test as them would be nothing but small fry to Baam. But did he really need to face a ranker just because his opponents didn't seem worthy?
To her, it was unreasonable. If she were in his shoes, she'd take advantage of the fact that her competitors were weaker to pass the test easily.
Before, it was Rak who wanted to fight someone stronger than him to grow. Now, it was this masked man in front of her who wanted to face stronger opponents just because he was bored—an even more absurd reason than the crocodile's.
'Why did I end up in a team full of madmen?' she thought, placing her hand on her forehead as she sighed once again.
__________
A bit before Baam and Aguera's discussion, the trio from the Arie and Po Bidau families remained quietly in the same spot. Candace, one hand on her hip, observed from afar the reactions of the regulars. She noticed how they were fascinated and slightly intimidated by the presence of a ranker, a figure they were seeing for the first time with their own eyes.
She chuckled softly, amused by their astonishment, "Haha, look at these country bumpkins, a mere ranker makes their heads spin." Her words carried a mix of mockery and condescension, highlighting the gap between those who were used to being around rankers and those for whom it was an extraordinary sight.
She had already met and been taught by rankers far more powerful than Lero-Ro, which led her to disdain him. She couldn't be intimidated by a ranker who was merely an examinator of the lower floor tests.
"Well, I can understand their amazement," Roa chimed in from behind, adjusting his new glasses he had just pulled out from his satchel. "Most of the regulars here are just simple residents of the Outer Tower. Many of them don't belong to prestigious families, let alone one of the ten Great Families like us."
For Roa as well, this wasn't the first time he had seen a ranker. Although he could understand that rankers were extremely rare to ordinary people, he also knew they represented an extreme minority compared to the overall population of the Tower.
"I'm well aware of that, Mr. Know-It-All. No need to remind me like I'm stupid," Candace snapped, irritation lacing her voice. She then noticed the glasses perched on Roa's nose, and a mocking smile curled the corners of her lips. "Oh? Didn't you say you lost your glasses? And you really do look like a nerd with those," she added, laughing.
A vein throbbed on Roa's forehead as he practically shouted, "How many times do I have to tell you? I'm NOT a nerd! I just forgot I had spare glasses. And to answer your first question, yes, you are stupid, you hag!"
This time, it was Candace's turn to get angry. She couldn't stand being called stupid, especially by this pink-haired guy who had run for his life during the first test while she coldly watched.
"You... I'm really going to—"
"Enough!" A sharp, authoritative voice cut through their argument. It was Deyha, her violet eyes reflecting her boredom with their constant bickering. "This is not the time for you two to argue like children. The test will start soon, so hold back! Especially you, Candace." She shot her younger sister a stern look, who huffed with disdain and turned her back on her.
Roa allowed himself a quiet chuckle, a broad smile lighting up his face. Candace, on the other hand, struggled not to give in to the urge to make him swallow his glasses, her jaw clenched in frustration at hearing his sarcastic laugh.
She made a mental note that after this test, she would make him pay.
"Ah! Ah! Pay attention, regulars!" The voice of the examinator suddenly echoed through the vast, light-filled hall, capturing the attention of all the regulars present. As the crowd began to gather toward the imposing stage, Lero-Ro stood there, arms wide open. "From now on, I'll explain the next test!"
"But first, allow me to introduce myself officially! I am Lero-Ro, the examinator and a ranker of the Tower!" he declared with a bright smile. "Nice to meet you, my dear little ones!"
Most of the regulars gave the examinator strange looks after that last remark, but none dared to react, fearing his wrath. Only Candace, ever insolent, stuck her tongue out in open disgust.
"And now, I suppose you've had enough rest! If so, let's move on to the next test," he continued, his smile still plastered on his face, unbothered by the many piercing stares he was receiving. "But first, you'll need to pass a mini-test! Know that those who fail this mini-test... will be eliminated!"
"What?!" Roa exclaimed, incredulous. He wasn't alone; among the crowd, several gasped at this condition imposed by the ranker, the atmosphere filling with confusion and unease. "But this is like a test, right? It's basically another elimination test!" he realized nervously.
"Don't tell me that yellow-haired jerk saw me stick my tongue out at him? Did I offend him?" Candace mumbled, though she wasn't particularly worried about the mini-test Lero-Ro had prepared. Her elder sister, equally unfazed, listened calmly to the examinator's instructions.
"Haha! Relax, it's really very simple! Come on, take a deep breath," the ranker reassured them upon seeing how stressed the regulars were at the foot of the stage.
"Well, now the trial begins."
Lero Ro's face suddenly darkened, and his smile took on a mischievous turn, a stark contrast to his earlier cheerful demeanor. He extended his arm toward the audience, who watched with curiosity mixed with apprehension, wondering what he was about to do.
With a fluid motion, he spun his outstretched arm while murmuring mysterious words that the regulars couldn't comprehend. Confusion intensified among them until a chilling sensation ran through those most sensitive to the ambient energy. They felt the Shinsu gathering and condensing in Lero Ro's hand.
"Hop!"
Shooooosh!!
At that precise moment, he opened his palm, releasing a wave of Shinsu of overwhelming power. This translucent blue force surged through the entire great hall, exerting a palpable pressure on all the regulars present, enveloping them in an inescapable energetic embrace.
Each of the regulars struggled in their own way to resist this wave of Shinsu, but none were truly able to counter it. The weakest were lifted into the air, like leaves torn away by a relentless gust. Even the strongest among them summoned all their energy just to maintain a semblance of balance, desperately fighting to stay firmly anchored to the ground.
"Urghh! Shinsu?!" exclaimed Deyha, struggling against the powerful wave. She used her sword as an anchor but was inexorably pushed back, just like her twin sister, perhaps regretting having provoked the examinator by acting smart. Roa was not spared; he tried to shield himself with his own Shinsu but instantly faltered against Lero Ro's.
Almost all the regulars were pushed back; only the strongest managed to remain standing. The difference in power between them and the ranker was evident, almost unimaginable.
None could withstand the ranker's force.
Except one.
"Huh!!"
Suddenly, the field of vision of all those still caught in the wave of Shinsu changed abruptly. None of them had anticipated this upheaval in time, as everything turned black—a black so deep it seemed to engulf them in an abyss of unfathomable darkness. It was as if the darkness itself had woven an impenetrable veil around them, plunging them into a blinding and oppressive void.
That wasn't all; a terrifying pressure emanating from this mysterious black Shinsu overwhelmed them, multiplying the already crushing force and annihilating all resistance.
And a fear... an immense fear seized them, as if an invisible hand was gripping their hearts.
For a brief moment, Deyha, Candace, Anaak, Hatz, Rak, Aguera, Roa, and all those still caught in this dark wave believed they were dead, plunged into a chasm of despair. Their minds wavered between anguish and resignation, unable to discern a glimmer of hope in this suffocating darkness.
The radical change in the Shinsu finally made them yield, violently propelling them to the back of the vast room. They joined the rest of the regulars, all stunned, eyes wide with shock. Their gazes were fixed on the spectacular transformation of the Shinsu wave, which had become an even deeper black than they could have imagined.
"W-What just happened?!" stammered Roa, lying on the ground, horror etched on his face after the experience he had just undergone. Cold sweat glistened on his pale face as he meticulously scrutinized the black Shinsu forming a wall that divided the room in two, separating the regulars from the ranker.
Adjusting his fallen glasses, he re-evaluated this black veil. These glasses offered him increased visibility of the Shinsu, enhancing his ability to observe the flow of the surrounding energy.
Roa had never seen such Shinsu, not even in the oldest and most complex encyclopedias in his family's libraries. He could see the Shinsu behaving abnormally, its thick black wisps emanating from the veil twisting and undulating as if they had a life of their own.
However, that wasn't what intrigued him the most. With growing astonishment, he observed the black Shinsu devouring the atmospheric Shinsu like a ravenous beast, voraciously absorbing every particle. This absorption increased the density of the black Shinsu, making it more and more powerful and threatening, as if it was feeding on the very energy of the environment.
Roa was at a loss for words to describe what he had just witnessed. He wondered how such a phenomenon, or rather the very concept of this black Shinsu, could exist in the Tower.
Shinsu was capable of anything, that much he knew; it was common knowledge. However, the phenomenon he observed defied all logic and the conventional understanding of Shinsu he had learned from a young age.
He even questioned how the examinator could possess the ability to produce such an unknown and senseless nature of Shinsu.
Unfortunately, Roa was wrong. Lero-ro was actually the most confused and shocked by this unexpected manifestation. Any trace of a smile had vanished from his face, unable to understand why the quality of his Shinsu had changed so unpredictably.
'Could it be the floor administrator?' he wondered before quickly dismissing the thought. 'No, the administrator wouldn't intervene without reason. I've been doing my job correctly up until now, so how on earth did this happen?'
While Lero-ro pondered over the situation, Candace stood up, her hair disheveled, adjusting her white dress before exclaiming:
"What the hell was that!?"
Her voice broke the heavy silence of the room, betraying both her shock and anger at the unexpected event.
Being naturally reckless, Candace was in a relatively stable condition compared to the others, not as deeply shaken by the situation. However, when her eyes fell on the black wall before her, a slight apprehension washed over her, still remembering the sensation of death she had felt moments before.
Shaking her head to dispel these thoughts, she turned her gaze away from the wall and saw her sister leaning on her sword, sweat dripping down her face. This time, truly shocked, Candace rushed to her sister's side, seeing her in such a pitiful state—something she never thought she'd see again.
"Hey, Dehya, are you okay?!" Candace asked worriedly as she stood beside her slightly trembling sister, holding her arm. "I know that black Shinsu or whatever is terrifying, but why are you so pale?"
Dehya didn't respond to her sister's concerns, her mind weighed down by what she had just experienced. She possessed highly refined instincts and senses, probably the best among the regulars. The experience she had in that void-like wave, one that seemed to drain the very essence of life, was even more oppressive for her than for the others.
'It was the same...' she thought to herself, her hand trembling on the hilt of his sword, still shaken by the pressure of this Shinsu. 'It was just like last time.... I wasn't wrong... there' à monster... hiding here somewhere....'
Just thinking about it only heightened her panic as her suspicions were confirmed.
'A monster... the one we're supposed to find... is here...'
__________
"What the hell was that infernal storm!?"
The shocked female voice came from Aguera, who was rubbing her head after the fall she had taken when the sudden surge of Shinsu's power overwhelmed her. The unexpected force had disoriented her, leaving a lasting impression of confusion and fear.
With effort, she stood on her still-trembling legs from the shock. The raw power of that wave, which had shifted from transparent blue to black while increasing in intensity, had caught her and the crocodile off guard.
Back on her feet, she didn't even want to indulge her curiosity about the black wall that seemed to mesmerize the other regulars with its dark, writhing tendrils. Instead, she focused on her teammates to make sure they were all right.
She observed Rak, who had also gotten up, holding his spear firmly in hand. Despite his imposing stance, Aguera noticed a flicker of fear in the giant crocodile's scarlet eyes—an unusual sight for him.
Rak, like Dehya, had highly developed instincts, which allowed him to sense an impending fear when plunged into that dark and menacing universe, where danger seemed to come from all directions. Although he had recovered more quickly than Dehya, as his pride wouldn't let him dwell on the fear.
Especially since he had felt this sensation not too long ago...
Satisfied that Rak seemed more or less intact, Aguera shifted her attention, searching for their other teammate, the strongest and most mysterious of the three.
'Since the crocodile seems fine, what about—'She cut off her thought as she realized Baam wasn't nearby. 'Huh? Where is he?!'
Puzzled, she scanned all directions, looking to see if Baam was somewhere in the silent crowd, but found no trace of him on the horizon.
Just as worry began to creep in, she stopped abruptly, hearing a familiar voice:
"Excuse me, Mr. Examinator. It seems… your Shinsu didn't push me back."
This neutral voice, coming from the other side of the wall, echoed in the ears of everyone in the room, including Lero-ro. All heads turned simultaneously and almost mechanically toward the source of the voice. It was Baam, standing nonchalantly in the same spot, showing no sign of having been affected by the wave of Shinsu unleashed by the ranker.
His apparent calm contrasted sharply with the menacing black aura surrounding him, giving him a more frightening aspect. This combination, along with his appearance, created a perfect fusion with his silhouette, accentuating the power he exuded.
Every gaze turned toward him expressed the same thing—astonishment.
The term stunning would even be an understatement to describe their reaction to the absurdity of what Baam had just done, something no one had noticed earlier due to their prior shock. Nearly all the regulars had their mouths agape and eyes wide. Their reaction was understandable since Baam had resisted the ranker's Shinsu with unsettling ease—an abnormal Shinsu they had never seen before.
A Shinsu that no regular could withstand—except for him, standing there as if nothing had happened.
The Arie twins, identical in appearance, seemed like one person, their expressions of disbelief mirroring each other.
"It's him... the monster we're supposed to find...!" Dehya whispered softly, almost inaudibly. Her sister, standing beside her, heard her clearly. Any trace of nonchalance had vanished from her face as she looked more seriously in Baam's direction. The black Shinsu swirled around him like a trail, though the shock still lingered within her.
Roa looked even paler as he witnessed the impossible unfold before his eyes. He even took off his glasses to wipe the lenses before putting them back on, wondering if it was his glasses or his mind playing tricks on him.
Lero-ro gradually regained his composure, though he shot a glare so menacing and piercing that it could seem to destroy body and soul. Yet, for Baam, that gaze felt soft and warm. He then asked the next part of his question to the examiner standing above the stage:
"So... am I qualified... or not?"
Baam's cold and emotionless voice surprised Lero-ro, making him flinch despite himself. He quickly recovered, erasing any trace of that moment of weakness, but remained deep in thought, not immediately responding to Baam's question.
The ordinary regulars were filled with questions, wondering what this black Shinsu was or who this individual with the demon-faced mask could be. Their confusion was palpable, each searching for answers to the enigma standing before them.
However, a handful of regulars, including the ranker, understood that the source of this mysterious Shinsu came from Baam, as the aura around him matched the black Shinsu in the veil. They realized with dread that Baam was far from ordinary, far from it.
He was dangerous—extremely dangerous—and that was the only conclusion their minds could reach.
Except for Lero-ro, whose thoughts turned even more dangerous. Something was forming in his mind—something that could not only cost him his life but also shake the very foundations of the Tower.
This single thought sent a cold sweat down his back as he stared into the demon-like mask's hollow eyes:
'A monster beyond monsters has arrived...'
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N/A: Damn, another long chapter huh. But I can't say I cooked it because I find the writing pretty blah, seeing most of the words that are repetitive. You could also see that although my writing doesn't seem to be wanting, I try to put some dynamics and set up my OCs, but hey, I really feel like I'm screwing up a bit on these passages, even our dear Baam with his badass moment (in my opinion lol) seems quite confusing because of the writing. So I'll try to catch up with him in the next chapter.
And yeah, the Baam in this fic is ridiculously powerful from the start, but don't worry, I will make sure that his progression in power not being really very fast (at least for a while).
I hope you enjoy the chapter and I wish you all a good day ;)
Also make the power stones rain pls.