Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though there were countless aspects and theories related to Shinsu and its usage, Administrator Yuga spent the first half of the day covering the very basics. This included a thorough analysis and demonstration of the three values most-commonly associated with the mysterious energy: Baang, Myun, and Soo.The Baang was the unit that represented the number of simultaneous manifestations of Shinsu a person could perform. It was often used to represent a person's control, and, as a Regular who had just started out, it was rare to even form a single stable Baang, much less multiple. Those who could control more prior to becoming an E-Rank Regular were considered prodigies, and, though he was most likely lying, Administrator Yuga confessed to needing more than a decade just to produce two stable Baangs.Though Baangs accounted for the total number of Shinsu manifestations a person could manage, it could be argued that Myun and Soo were more important. The former referred to the size, or, more specifically, the surface area of the basic spherical Baang. Thus, a Baang with a diameter of 1m was represented by a Myun value of 314, quite literally translating into a surface area of 3.14m². As for the unit of Soo, it was used to represent the volume, density, and, most notably, the concentration of Shinsu making up the core of a Baang.Generally speaking, the higher the concentration of Soo within a Baang, the more destructive force it was able to carry. A person was considered a Master at Shinsu manipulation if they were able to completely fill a Baang with Soo, effectively matching the two values. Thus, by having a Myun and Soo of 314 upon entering the Record, there was a case to make for Vahn already being a Master in the realm of Shinsu control. Additionally, he had Ranker levels of mastery in Flow Control, Reverse Flow Control, and Cutting, the three most common ways to manipulate Shinsu.As the name implied, Flow Control was being able to read the flow of Shinsu and being able to manipulate it according to that flow. It was the ability to read the natural currents of Shinsu and alter its direction, effectively 'rerouting' it like a river to crash into your enemies. This was the way of manipulating external Shinsu, and, while a skilled opponent could read this flow to evade or even manipulate your attacks, it was the most common form of Shinsu control due to the availability of Shinsu within the environment.Reverse Flow Control was fundamentally identical to Flow Control, but, as the name implied, it was, very specifically, the ability to reverse the direction of Shinsu. This was considered far more difficult to achieve, as, using a real-world comparison, it was the equivalent of stopping and subsequently reversing the flow of a river. As a result, it had incredible destructive potential, and, though it wasn't practical to reverse the flow of someone manipulating external Shinsu, Reverse Flow Control could be considered the 'ultimate' ability when directly applied to a person's body.Though the most basic application of Reverse Flow Control was briefly stopping an opponent, quite literally freezing them in place, those with advanced mastery were able to reverse the flow of Shinsu within their opponent's body. Depending on their degree of Shinsu Resistance, this was effectively a one-hit kill as the body simply wasn't designed to allow Shinsu to flow in reverse. The best outcome they could hope for was becoming a cripple, but, more often than not, reversing the flow of Shinsu within a person's body led to their heart, quite literally, exploding...---After spending the entire morning learning the basics, the Wave Controller class was given an hour for lunch before regrouping at one of the many training facilities within the Evankhell's Resort. This particular facility was equipped with a machine that produced durable balloons capable of staying suspended in a single location, much like a Lighthouse. There were also several 'tracks' formed by invisible flows of Shinsu, each capable of carrying reinforced discs that allowed the candidates to practice hitting moving targets.With all eyes focused on him, Administrator Yuga waddled to the center of the training field before stopping rather comically using one foot as a pivot. Then, once he was facing the class, he shouted in a cheerful yet slightly creepy tone, "Okay, Regulars, watch carefully! I will now give a very simple demonstration of what Rankers are capable of. Though my power is severely restricted on the 2nd Floor, let this serve as an example to motivate you during your ascent up the Tower~!"Despite the joviality of Administrator Yuga's words, the atmosphere became increasingly intense as he continued speaking. By the end of his speech, the Shinsu around him had become so dense that his aura created a deep depression within the ground; space itself distorting around him. Then, in a flash, seventeen vibrant blue Baangs of Shinsu were produced, each spiraling away from his body at relativistic speeds to shred apart the hundreds of balloons that had been suspended in the air prior to the groups' arrival.Satisfied with his display, the sewn-upon smile adorning the front of Yuga's costume became more prominent, almost as though it was his actual face. He always enjoyed terrifying other people, and, though he held back due to the restrictions of the 2nd Floor, he was hoping at least one or two of the Regulars would pass out from the demonstration. It would be even better if one of them soiled themselves, especially if it was the young-looking girl with a sullen expression...Unfortunately, while most of the Regulars were surprised, none of them had an adverse reaction to the sudden eruption of Shinsu. This was rather disappointing, but, with his costume hiding his true face, none of the Regulars were able to see him frown before clicking his tongue. Immediately after that, however, his voice defaulted to a very chipper and cheerful tone as he exclaimed, "I hope this demonstration will be beneficial to you as you climb the Tower! Now, let's move on to the practical part of today's lesson! Each of you will attempt to form a Baang with enough Soo to destroy one of these balloons. Even if you are unable to achieve this, don't let it get you down. It generally takes a few days for even talented Wave Controller candidates to pop one of the balloons. For this reason, the Special Test only requires that you destroy five balloons simultaneously~!"Though destroying five balloons didn't sound that difficult, the fact they were spaced out meant you would need to create a Baang with sufficient Myun and Soo to destroy all five. You could also produce five Baangs to destroy them simultaneously, but, considering it was rare for even D-Rank Regulars to control five Baangs at once, it wasn't uncommon for years to pass between candidates passing the Wave Controller Special Exam.To prove just how difficult it was, Laure was one of the first people to attempt the Test, not because he wanted to show off, but because he wanted to return to his nap. He managed to create a Baang of Shinsu that was nearly as large as his torso, but, even after spending several additional seconds to increase its Soo, he was still only able to destroy the center three balloons. The 'wave' he had produced was more than large enough to hit all five targets, but, as the density of Shinsu along the periphery was much weaker than the flow in the direct center, his massive area-of-effect attack was more flashy than efficient.Despite his failure, Laure just issued a light hum in response to Administrator Yuga's praise. Then, after retreating behind the rest of the group, he curled up on the ground and promptly went back to sleep. This earned a light chuckle from Yuga, but, rather than admonish the man for his behavior, he just moved on to the next candidate. The quirks of those descended from the Eurasia Family and its associated Branches were well-known within the Tower, thus, even if he wanted to, there was no real argument to make against Laure sleeping in class. After all, due to his unique constitution as a member of the Phonsekal Family, he was able to read the flow of Shinsu and drastically increase his recovery rate whilst asleep...Resisting the urge to release an audible sigh, Administrator Yuga turned toward the man that had just stepped onto the field. This was one of the people he had been tasked to both investigate and observe, so, for a brief moment, the mouth on the front of his costume opened to reveal two eerie blue eyes as he observed Vahn's masterful control of Shinsu. It was like the Shinsu didn't even try to resist him, the myriad currents in the atmosphere coming together to naturally form five energetic blue Baangs...---After hearing about what happened during the Special Test for Fishermen, Phae was seated at the side of a certain green-skinned Princess with a smile that wasn't quite a smile. This caused Anak to visibly pale, unable to meet the usually kind woman's eyes as she hung her head and muttered, "I'm sorry...I just get so angry...I..."Shaking her head, Phae's released a slightly exasperated sigh before adopting a gentler expression and saying, "I understand, Anak. However, if you're truly sorry, you will demonstrate it through your actions, not your words. Though Endorsi has her...quirks...she isn't a bad girl. At the very least, I can see she has no actual animosity towards you. I won't tell you to get along with her, but unilaterally applying your revenge onto an entire group of people is wrong...even in the Jahad Empire, there are plenty of good people. You should know at least one particularly well..."Though there wasn't too much information, Phae had been able to conduct a basic search on Anak Jahad during the first day of class. From the information she had gathered, it wasn't difficult to put all the pieces together to form a unified whole. After all, there were only so many ways things could have played out, most of which could be eliminated by the simple fact that Anak was both alive and in possession of the Green April...Hearing Phae's words, Anak released a sigh of her own as she hung her head even lower. Her fight and subsequent discussion with Endorsi had allowed her to reach a similar conclusion, so, hearing Phae reiterate what she already knew, Anak felt a mixture of complex emotions. Part of her wanted to lash out at the woman, but, the moment such an urge swelled within her, another, much stronger part of her subconscious, quickly suppressed the urge. She didn't know why, but she felt she could trust Phae, and, albeit to a much lesser extent, Gandr and Vahn...Seeing the girl lost in reflection, Phae offered a gentle smile before producing an apple from her Inventory and deftly peeling and slicing it. She knew Anak was rather fond of the fruit, so, with the latter showing positive signs of improvement, Phae was compelled to give her some kind of reward. She was also intending to treat the girl's injuries, but, as pain generally helped people to put things in perspective, she would only do so after the two Princesses apologized to each other.Noticing what Phae was doing, Anak felt a tingling in her nose that gave her a strong urge to lay down and face away from the gently smiling woman. Unfortunately, five of her ribs were broken on the right side, so, even if she wanted to, it wasn't really an option. If not for her high pain tolerance, she wouldn't even be able to remain sitting due to the numerous fractures within her tail. Her only solace was knowing that Endorsi was in even worse condition due to having landed awkwardly on her right leg, shattering her femur and spraining her wrist. If not for the monstrous recovery of a Princess of Jahad, it would be impossible for her to recover before the Final Exam was scheduled to take place.Remembering her 'aunt' writhing about in pain, a vindictive smirk spread across Anak's face before subsequently fading the moment she felt a chill run through her body. She turned her head to find Phae smiling back at her, a dangerous glimmer in the woman's sapphire blue eyes as she used the glistening knife in her hand to continue peeling an apple...Feeling parched all of a sudden, Anak swallowed hard before averted her eyes and doing her best to pretend the scary woman didn't exist...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'This chapter was a real Baanger~!','Vahn over here casually flexing in front of his enemies...','Ara? Is something the matter, Anak-chan~? You seem ill, ufufufufu~')(A/N: Bonus chapter since I was in a good mood (O w O)~!)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

While Phae was looking after Anak, Gandr had been roped into visiting Endorsi's room with a tray of food. She wasn't able to leave her room due to her condition, so, after discussing the matter with Shibisu, Hatsu, Khun, and a visibly depressed Baam, he had been delegated the responsibility of bringing her food in exchange for having her sign everyone's friend list.Though Endorsi had already signed his sheet, Gandr knew she had yet to sign any of the others, so, now that she had 'settled' things with Anak, it was a good time to help her open up to others. These would be the people she climbed the Tower with, and, though there was nothing proving she was a central character to the original plot, it would be very strange if she wasn't. Her status as a Princess all but guaranteed she was a potential love interest for the main character, especially in a Record where such love was forbidden.With everyone else staying out of the camera's field of view, Gandr pressed the small button that served to notify the room's occupant of a guest. Almost immediately after that, the door opened with its characteristic mechanical hiss, followed by a smiling Endorsi remarking, "Oh my, what have we here? Did you finally realize this Princess' charms~?"Seeing the youthful-looking woman with her hair tied back in a small ponytail, Gandr's brows raised before plainly stating, "You look like a completely different person with your hair tied up like that. It gives you a nice, sporty, vibe. I think your original style suits you better, but this one isn't bad at all."Not expecting the usually dense boy to pay her a compliment, Endorsi was momentarily at a loss for words as Gandr set the tray of food down before pulling over a chair to take a seat. Then, with a trace of concern visible in his gaze, he asked, "Are your legs okay?"Remembering the pain she was in, Endorsi released a moderately exasperated sigh before asking, "What do you think? The Doctor's said my femur fractured in six different places. I really owe that little lizard for this one..."Scrunching up his nose slightly, Gandr didn't hesitate to remark, "You shouldn't hold a grudge over something like this. I can tell you don't really hate Anak so this is an opportunity to make amends. I can get Phae to treat your leg if you're willing to apologize. I don't want to see either of you fail the Position Test over something like this..."Having noticed the slight change in Gandr's expression, Endorsi lightly clicked her tongue before crossing her arms in a huff. She actually wasn't that angry with Anak, and, though it was bound to cause her a lot of problems in the future, she had already decided to climb the Tower with her only niece. The problem was, she didn't want to be the first one to compromise, so, rather than agree to Gandr's words, she began tapping her finger on her forearm while considering methods she could use to benefit from this situation...Seeing the tray of food on her nightstand, a brilliant idea danced across Endorsi's mind, her face developing a crafty smile as she said, "Fine. I'll apologize to the lizard. It beats being stuck in bed for the next couple of days...However!"With her smile becoming even more conniving than before, Endorsi held up her finger triumphantly before pointing towards the tray of food and saying, "I'll only apologize if you agree to feed me!"Expecting Gandr to frown or outright refuse her offer, Endorsi was more than a little surprised when he simply tilted his head to the side and answered, "Okay? If it'll end the tensions between you and Anak, I don't see any problem with that. Afterward, I also have a few friend's lists for you to sign. We will all be climbing the Tower together, so it will be better if you can become friends with everyone."Feeling like the wind had been taken out of her sails, Endorsi released a sigh before resting against her headboard and muttering, "You and your friend fetish...shouldn't you be happy that you're the only one with my name on their list? I don't get you..."Though she understood the reasons, Endorsi couldn't help but feel extremely annoyed by the fact that Gandr never treated her like a Princess. At the same time, however, she felt his personality was rather refreshing. Being treated like a Princess all the time wasn't pleasant, so, while it more than a little annoying, she didn't mind his attempts to include her in his circle of friends. She just wished he was a little more 'appreciative' of the fact she tolerated his antics...Seeing the wistful look in Endorsi's ghostly golden eyes, Gandr couldn't help sweating internally as he mentally exclaimed, ("Oh, come on! I didn't even do anything this time...right?")Rather than reprimand Gandr for his behavior, Sis actually giggled in the back of his mind, her voice filled with amusement as she replied, (*For some women, all it takes is treating them like a 'normal' girl to open their heart. Don't worry, Gan-chan, it doesn't seem like she is attracted to you. If I had to guess, she currently sees you more like an adorable little brother, someone she wants to pamper and be pampered by. Since there are so many males within your group this time around, there is a chance she might set her sights on one of them after opening up a little more.*)Though he felt Sis' reaction was a little strange, Gandr released an audible sigh, confusing Endorsi enough to ask, "What's wrong? Is it really that important to you that I sign those pieces of paper? It's not like it changes anything..."Shaking his head, Gandr picked up the chopsticks from the tray of food before answering, "It's not that...I just think you would be happier if you had more friends. Even if we climb up the Tower at a record-setting pace, there is a chance we would be spending the next fifty years together. Though our companions might change over time, it is important to lay the foundation for lasting friendships early on...if you want to protect the things you care about, you're going to need allies you can trust to help carry your burden..."Seeing Gandr's ears drooping slightly, Endorsi began to feel a little guilty, her expression softening despite the visible frustration in her countenance. Gandr was usually so vibrant and full of life so she felt uncomfortable just seeing him like this. To further exacerbate matters, she had a strong impulse to pat his head, but, remembering their previous quarrels, attempting to touch his ears would only make things even worse.Suppressing a sigh, Endorsi adopted an even more annoyed expression as she complained, "You're really persistent...whatever. If it will prevent you from behaving like an abandoned puppy, I'll sign those pieces of paper. It's not like I lose anything by just writing my name down..."Genuinely enthused by Endorsi's words, Gandr's ears immediately perked up as his characteristically mischievous grin appeared across his face. This made Endorsi feel like she had been tricked by the bratty Vanargandr, but, before she could get angry, her tensions relaxed when Gandr softly replied, "Thank you, Endorsi. I promise you won't regret this."Suppressing yet another sigh, Endorsi just crossed her arms in response to Gandr's words, pouting slightly as she said, "Whatever...now, how long are you going to keep me waiting? I might be on a diet, but that doesn't mean I enjoy starving myself. If you don't keep your end of the bargain, I-"Before Endorsi could finish her words, Gandr surprised her by deftly placing a piece of sweet pork into her mouth, smiling as he teasingly remarked, "Less talking, more eating~."---Hearing a familiar 'pitta-pon' echo within his room, Vahn casually opened his eyes before shifting his attention to the Pocket hovering at his side. It was currently 1:43 AM, and, while this wasn't that early, it was an abnormal time for someone to be at his door.Expecting someone like Hwa Ryun, Vahn instantly frowned when he sensed who was outside of his room. Despite this, he still unlocked the door, opening it to reveal a young woman with golden hair and eyes. She seemed surprised by the sudden opening of the door, but, almost immediately after that, a smile spread across her face as she attempted to cross the door's threshold.Manipulating the flow of Shinsu around the door, Vahn created a physical wall to bar the woman's passage as he plainly stated, "I did not give you permission to enter my room. State your business or be on your way, Michelle Light."Without showing any visible signs of perturbation, Michelle, better known as Rachel, performed a flawless curtsy before neatly folding her hands in front of her as she replied, "I understand this isn't the most appropriate time, but I've been wanting to speak with you since before the Crown Game. I also wanted to thank you for everything your vassals have done for me over the past few days. May I come inside...?"Already knowing what Rachel wished to discuss, Vahn very plainly stated, "I have no business with a woman who would abandon the people she purports to care about just to achieve an arbitrary goal. The next time you approach me without first going through one of my vassals, I will assume you are attempting to assassinate me. Now, begone from my sight."Feeling an overwhelming amount of indignation welling up inside of her, Rachel's first instinct was to try and justify her actions, but, seeing the look in Vahn's eyes, she was ultimately able to restrain herself. He wasn't the type of person she could afford to offend, so, after a brief moment of silence, her response was to emulate Phae's bow, quickly apologizing before walking away.Closing the door even before Rachel had completed her bow, a tired sigh escaped Vahn's lips as he muttered, "What a farce...that woman's head is filled with ambition and delusion. I wonder how she expects to convince anyone to team up with her after publically 'discarding' the one person willing to sacrifice everything in order to achieve her dreams...ridiculous..."Though it was a little strange, Vahn had developed the habit of speaking to himself even when he was alone. Vocalizing his thoughts allowed him to better grasp his own intentions. Thoughts, alone, had a higher chance of being misconstrued due to their propensity to 'sound' right whenever they were internalized. It took bouncing ideas off another person to truly grasp where or not they made sense, so, whenever Vahn wasn't speaking to Sis, he spoke openly to himself.Of course, that didn't mean Sis was obligated to remain silent. Rather, if she had something to say about a situation, she could be surprisingly assertive. This time, however, she seemed to share in his exasperation, stating, (*That woman gives off a very dangerous feeling. It's almost like she has the power to subsume or leech off the fate of others. If you're going to continue with your current plan, you need to make sure you take measures against her ability. You don't have a [Fate Severing Knife] on hand to deal with...ah...that might work?*)With the ability to know all of Vahn's thoughts, Sis could sense what he had in mind regarding the troublesome blondette. It was far from the best solution, but, unless Rachel attempted something more 'substantial', it wasn't like he could just kill her to remove a problem. Vahn had never been the type to preemptively eliminate threats since there was no way to know with absolute certainty what a person would choose to do. He also knew everyone had a reason for the way they behaved, so, at least until she had given him something more substantial to act upon, Vahn would withhold his final judgment of Rachel's character. After all, there were countless examples of evil people turning good and vice-versa...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Seems like she is more thirsty than hungry...','I wonder if this is Endorsi's first time having a boy put something in her mouth~?','BEGONE, THOT!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Following the start of the Special Test, Endorsi could be seen idling about with a bored look on her face, lightly tapping the needle she had received against her leg. Like the other Regulars, albeit for very different reasons, she didn't really feel like moving around all that much. Her spar with Gandr had left her body aching in various places, so, after quickly eliminating a few Regulars, Endorsi was intending to just relax until the Test came to an end.Unfortunately, before she could even move from her platform, Endorsi felt alarm bells sounding in her mind, an exasperated sigh escaping her lips as she turned to her side and complained, "Really now...a fake thinks she can overcome the genuine article? You aren't terribly bright, are you? Even though I was going to ignore you, here you are, coming directly at me..."Hearing Endorsi's complaint, a taunting smile spread across Anak's face as she asserted, "I've been looking forward to this ever since I learned about your existence during the Crown Game. Though I don't think you're as bad as some, I can never forgive the Jahad Empire for what it has done. Every time I see that stupid hair ornament on your head, I can't help but want to smash it into pieces...!"Accompanying Anak's shout, the petite Princess charged at Endorsi like a bullet that had just been freed from its chamber. Her figure turned into a literal blur, but, without any perceptible difficultly, the taller of the two Princesses was easily able to evade Anak's attack, deterring a follow-up strike by orienting the tip of her needle in the pursuing path. Then, with a bit of distance between them, her expression became slightly serious as she said, "Even with the Green April, you wouldn't be able to defeat me...don't look down on a 'real' Princess of Jahad..."Emulating a certain fluffy-eared swordsman, Anak tilted her head to the side almost comically, a confused look on her face as she asked, "Oh? Did Jahad actually have a child? Is there finally a 'real' Princess somewhere? Last I heard, there were just a bunch of brats that had his blood injected into their body."With some not-so-pleasant scenes emerging within her mind, Endorsi had to inhale a deep breath just to restrain the urge to turn the girl across from her into a pincushion. She hated anything that reminded her of the process that turned her into a Princess of Jahad. It was for this reason she was unable to get along with Anak, as, despite knowing the latter must have experienced a tragedy of her own, Endorsi believed her personal history was far more tragic.To prevent herself from accidentally killing the girl across from her, Endorsi threw her needle to the side as she said, "Honestly, I never really cared about you calling yourself a Princess of Jahad. If you want to paint a massive target on your head for the Royal Enforcement Division, that has nothing to do with me. What annoys me is how arrogantly you flaunt your power despite having done nothing to earn it. Real Princesses of Jahad have to put in an extreme amount of effort just for the chance to obtain a fraction of Jahad's power...you got it simply by being born. Your existence is an insult, both to the Jahad Empire...and the tens-of-thousands of young girls who are sacrificed in order to create just one Princess of Jahad..."Though Endorsi understood that Anak was just another victim, she hated how the latter acted like she was the 'only' victim. There were countless people within the Tower who had experienced fates far worse than simply losing their mothers. Unlike Anak, however, these people didn't possess the blood of the Tower's 'God' flowing through their veins. They didn't have a powerful weapon passed down to them without having to make any effort to obtain it. Instead, they had to put in an extreme amount of effort to avoid just becoming a victim themselves, many never even having a chance to even think about vengeance.Anak was undoubtedly an unfortunate woman, but, within the Tower, that didn't make you special. The only thing that distinguished her from countless others was that she had been given a power that many desperately sought to obtain. She was allowed to be strong, fast, and durable without any effort and had even inherited a weapon that would turn most Rankers green with envy. In spite of this, she used her trauma as an excuse to behave like an arrogant brat, haughtily flaunting all the things she had been 'given' while treating others, many who had suffered even worse, as beneath her...Taking another deep breath to calm herself, Endorsi stared at the petite woman across from her and said, "I can understand your desire for revenge...I really can...however, if I don't give you at least one spanking, I won't be satisfied. Now, come at me, you fake."Incensed by Endorsi's remark, Anak's expression turned fierce as she launched herself toward the former, shouting, "We'll see which one of us gets spanked...!"Having largely calmed herself, Endorsi chuckled in response to Anak's outburst, deftly evading the straightforward blow with practiced finesse. Then, with Anak chasing after her, she decided to take out a few of the other candidates to prevent any accidents. She didn't mind fighting it out with the bratty lizard, but that didn't mean she would risk being eliminated for the sake of someone else's revenge.While lightly humming a song, Endorsi continued to evade the increasingly-angry Anak's attacks, even going so far as to link her hands behind her back as she gracefully backpedaled. There was a drastic difference in their amount of experience and combat proficiency, so, while Anak was indeed very powerful, she was also 'extremely' predictable.Without having to look behind her, Endorsi easily ducked under the attack of the Regular whose platform they had invaded before giggling at his expense. This caused the man to visibly pale, but, before he could so much as think about a follow-up response, he was sent flying from the platform by a stray punch, courtesy of Anak.Understanding that Endorsi was currently toying with her, Anak's anger continued to rise as she shouted, "Stop running away! Is this how a 'real' Princess of Jahad fights!?"Without missing a beat, Endorsi performed a quick side-step before spinning playfully as she remarked, "Of course. After all, I am an actual Princess. I'm different than a certain blockheaded lizard who only knows how to charge blindly at her enemies. Woh, careful now~."With Anak suddenly throwing her needle like a spear, even Endorsi was a little caught off guard. That didn't prevent her from easily evading the blow, however, a teasing smile on her face as she mused, "There goes your weapon~."Snorting through her nose, Anak leaned forward an amount that was only possible due to her tail serving as a counterbalance. It was a long appendage that was nearly as thick as her leg, so, while it sometimes got in the way, Anak had learned to take advantage of her racial traits to attack in ways that most bipedal creatures struggled against.Though she thought Anak's stance was a little silly, as it would give anyone behind her a full view of the spat-like garment she wore beneath her dress, she didn't underestimate it at all. She could feel the Shinsu in the air gathering around Anak's bare feet, and, after a few seconds had passed, visible white vapor could be seen rising from her skin; comparable to someone who had emerged from a hot bath during winter...Since she had yet to master the basics of Shinsu reinforcement, Endorsi was genuinely surprised by Anak's ability to demonstrated basic proficiency after just two days.As that thought entered her mind, the fine hairs on the back of Endorsi's neck stood on end, her instincts compelling her to dodge before she perceived the attack. For the first time since the start of their little game of cat and mouse, her expression changed to one of genuine shock, as, not only did Anak manage to close the distance in an instant, she was able to instantaneously stop herself by adhering her feet to the platform using Shinsu.With widened eyes, Endorsi exclaimed, "Is that supposed to be your version of Gandr's-" before closing her mouth when Anak charged at her, fist extended. The latter had aimed directly for her face, further increasing Endorsi's annoyance as she put a 'considerable' amount of effort into her physical appearance.Ignoring the pain in her arms from blocking Anak's attack, Endorsi formed a fist with her right hand, shouting, "Where do you think you're aiming, you bratty lizard!?"Having been in the middle of a charge, it was Anak's turn to express surprise as Endorsi's figure, for a very brief moment, seemed to fade away. By the time her brain had processed this information, a powerful impact slammed into Anak's side, forcing the wind from her lungs as a sharp pain radiated from her rib cage.Despite having the wind knocked out of her, Anak managed to flick her tail in a way that helped to counterbalance the rotational force of her body. Unfortunately, this brought her to a stop just over a gap between two pillars, a truth she only realized after gravity began working its magic.Just as Anak thought she was going to be eliminated from the Special Test, the world around her seemed to spin as Endorsi leaped through the air, grabbing her ankle and flailing her body like a lasso above her head. This made Anak feel extremely nauseous, but, in the next moment, she found herself embedded into the surface of one of the pillars, now within bounds.Landing softly on the periphery of the pillar, Endorsi combed back her bangs as she said, "I'm still in the midst of giving you a spanking. Don't think I'll let you fall out of bounds that easily..."Noticing Anak wasn't moving, Endorsi allowed her words to trail off, a frown marring her beauty as a glimmer of concern flashed across her eyes. She could feel a depressive aura suddenly radiating from Anak's body, clearly the result of the girl's cognizance of the fact that she had, once again, nearly lost her chance at revenge due to her anger and short-sightedness.Suppressing a sigh, Endorsi relaxed her guard, placing one hand on her hip as she said, "I'll admit it, you're pretty good. Even I can't use Shinsu to enhance my body just yet so you should feel proud...it seems you inherited more than just the blood of Jahad from your mother, the real Anak Jahad..."Though she heard Endorsi's remark, Anak just continued to stare up into space, slowly acclimating herself to the pain in her body while thinking about her various failures over the last few days. She had nearly been eliminated three times in less than a week. If she failed, it would be impossible to get her revenge against the people who had killed her mother, so, while she was burning up like a volcano inside, she appeared uncharacteristically calm as Endorsi began monologing...Taking advantage of Anak's silence, Endorsi's expression appeared equally calm, her voice filled with certainty as she asserted, "Anak Jahad was a Princess who had climbed the Tower more than three-hundred years ago. She was a powerhouse respected by many, even earning the right to wield the Green April thanks to her prowess. Shortly after that, however, rumors that Anak had eloped with a man began to circulate alongside whispers that she had become pregnant. Though it would have made more sense for her to simply have an abortion, it seemed like Anak couldn't bear to part with her child, so, before members of the Royal Enforcement Division could track her down...she simply vanished alongside the Green April. A few years later, rumors of the sinful Princess' death began to circulate within the Tower, but, even after scouring the Floor where she had been hiding, neither the Green April nor her supposed child was ever found..."Seeing Anak still lying on the ground, Endorsi suppressed a sigh as she averted her eyes to the side and added, "When I had first become a Princess of Jahad, there was a widespread rumor asserting that Anak's child, a young girl, had disappeared along with the Green April. Back then, I didn't think it was possible for some stray brat to escape from the Empire's clutches. Because of this, I'm certain you can imagine my surprise when I found some random girl calling herself Anak Jahad during the Crown Game...truth be told, I decided from that moment on that I wanted to take this Test with you. I had always wanted to meet the girl that managed to escape Jahad's control and survive all these years without anyone learning her location. I wanted to know what kind of person you were, and, if given the chance, I wanted to ask you a question...tell me, daughter of Anak Jahad...tell me why my sister, your mother, chose such a path..."Though she didn't immediately answer Endorsi's question, Anak removed her forearm from her head, sprawling it out to the side as she plainly stated, "She wanted to be happy...being a Princess had never brought her happiness so she married a man who could cook delicious chicken pies...her favorite..."Not expecting such a 'silly' reason, Endorsi couldn't help but frown as she watched Anak slowly rise to a seated position. She wanted to remark that, even if she hadn't been happy, it was still better to be a Princess than a criminal. Her stealing the Green April all but guaranteed she would be hunted down by the Jahad Empire, and, once it was discovered she had actually given birth, both she and her daughter would be brutally murdered. Because of this, Endorsi thought that the original Anak must have had some great reason for doing what she did...she never even considered the fact that this reason would be 'chicken pie'...Noticing the look on Endorsi's face, a smile spread across Anak's as she added, "My mother's only regret was that her favorite chicken pie cook was murdered at the hands of her own sister...one of the few she trusted. I'm here to avenge that chicken pie cook...I'll make sure everyone with the last name Jahad experiences the wrath of Anak Jahad! I will have my revenge, starting with you, Endorsi Jahad...!"Finished with her words, Anak burst forward with enough speed to fracture to the top of the pillar, her palm impacting Endorsi's abdomen and forcing her to take a few steps back. This wouldn't have been a problem under normal circumstances, but, as she had been standing very near the edge of the pillar, Endorsi's eyes widened due to a sudden feeling of weightlessness. She barely managed to avoid falling by bending her knees and performing a half-squat with her arms extended out in front of her. This put Endorsi in a rather awkward position, and, as if to add insult to injury, a wicked smile spread across Anak's face as she extended her hand and attempted to finish what she had started...With her expression both paling and turning red, cold sweat appeared across Endorsi's brow, her eyes seemingly asking, 'This is the thanks I get for sparing you?'.Reading the meaning contained within Endorsi's words, Anak's smile became even more vicious, her own eyes communicating, 'I have no mercy for a Princess of Jahad,' before attempting to knock the former from the pillar. This caused Endorsi's expression to darken in an instant, her body moving faster than it ever had before as she leaned back to evade Anak's second push while subsequently grabbing her wrist and shouting, "If I'm going down, you're coming with me, my bratty niece!"Though Anak tried to break free from Endorsi's hold, the latter's grip could easily crush steel, so, without any suspense, both Princesses were sent tumbling over the side of the pillar, the former shouting explicatives while the latter laughed like a madwoman; both stopping only when they crashed, hard, into the stone floor below...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Oh? You're approaching me?','Endorsi actually has a point...Anak is pretty lucky, all things considered...','Nothing like the good ol' crab bucket mentality...')(A/N: Just as a reminder, I moved my rest days to Friday so that people have more chapters to read on the weekends. This will be the only one I release today as I'm pretty exhausted from increasing the chapter output xD...)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1718: Control