Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

In anticipation of the Final Exam, most participating Regulars retired early, many understanding it would not be easy to get any sleep. Fortunately, the test wasn't scheduled until the afternoon of the following day, giving them plenty of opportunities to sleep in and make final preparations.As one of the few people exempt from the exam, Vahn wasn't particularly worried about the coming day. His only real concern was that 'nothing' had happened over the last month. This implied there would be something going down during the final, or, depending on the circumstances, immediately after it. After all, he still had the Black March in his care after agreeing to return it to Princess Yuri, a major indicator that something 'had' to happen while he was on the 2nd Floor.Fortunately, even if caused him a moderate amount of exasperation, a soft 'pitta-pon' interrupted his evening meditation. He could sense Hwa Ryun on the opposite side of the door, so, after a brief moment of consideration, Vahn fixed his posture before opening the door to allow entry.Without being prompted, Hwa Ryun waited for the door to close behind her before taking a knee and deeply bowing her head. Then, in a highly reverential tone, she stated, "Thank you for allowing me entry into your room."Appreciative of the fact that Hwa Ryun was obeying his earlier decree to not refer to him as her God, Vahn nodded in approval before commanding, "Raise your head and explain the reason for this late-night visit. I'm assuming you wish to discuss the coming exam?"Raising her head, a smile blossomed across Hwa Ryun's face as she replied, "That is, indeed, the case. Now that things have developed this far, there are some concerns I wished to address before crossing the point of no return. I wanted to know your intentions for the boy named Baam. I have also been tasked with arranging a meeting between you and my former superiors..."Having already assumed Hwa Ryun was part of a larger organization, Vahn wasn't too surprised by her offer to meet with members of said organization. Her inclination towards worshipping him all but guaranteed she was a member of FUG, and, based on the natural progression of events, it was safe to assume their current objective was to kidnap and conceal the existence of Baam.Irregulars were considered a major threat by the Jahad Empire, a threat that must be eliminated at all costs. Though the methods they could employ were limited thanks to the structure of the Tower, there were countless Regulars and Rankers who would willingly act in the Jahad Empire's interest to intervene. This included several Test Directors, Administrators, and, at least in higher Floors, various members of the Ten Great Families. The only way to tide through these tribulations was if you were already very powerful, a concept far removed from the current Baam.After sitting in silence for several seconds, Vahn met Hwa Ryun's eye, plainly stating, "You are free to continue with your current plans. However, I will not allow that boy to become the tool of others. The fall of Jahad is inevitable. If your superiors are intelligent, they will bide their time until a power vacuum is created in his absence. If they intend to intervene in my personal matters, they will suffer the same fate as the Jahad Empire. I will not remove one group of tyrants just to replace them with another..."Having closely observed the actions of her God and his vassals, Hwa Ryun had no doubt regarding Vahn's final statement. He was the type that blazed a trail forward while empowering those behind him so they would be able to rule in his stead. He cared neither for politics nor power struggles as his goal lay, not inside of the Tower, but far beyond its confines. She could see the people following him becoming his own variation of the Ten Great Warriors, people who were bound to rule over the Tower following his 'inevitable' conquest...With an expectant smile spreading across her face, Hwa Ryun went on to add, "My current duty has me acting as Guide for a man named Ha Jinsung, a High Ranker of the Ha Family and a member of FUG. He was sent to secure the Irregular-"Before Hwa Ryun could explain further, Vahn silenced her by raising his hand in a stopping gesture. He had his own plans and it was too tiresome to plan around the machinations of others, especially when he didn't particularly care about their objectives. Thus, in response to Hwa Ryun's attempt at clarification, he plainly stated, "Tell your 'superiors' that I will meet with them after passing through the 20th Floor. I currently have no intention of negotiating with a group that has made a mockery of the current system, publically slaughtering countless people in the name of their 'justice'. If their ultimate objective is the death of Jahad and the absolution of the current system, they need only to bide their time. The moment they try to interfere with my plans, they will suffer the same fate as the Ten Great Families. I have no patience for hypocrites who merely seek to replace an existing system of corruption with a version that better suits their interests."Though she wasn't surprised by her God's words, Hwa Ryun couldn't help but feel a bit of concern for him. His current power was great, yes, but he was still far from the point of being able to defeat a High Ranker. FUG would do whatever it took to achieve their goals, so, the moment they heard he wasn't being 'cooperative', things were bound to get messy.Noticing the concern visible in Hwa Ryun's gaze, a very subtle smile spread across Vahn's lips as he said, "You need not worry. Even if my power is currently lacking, there isn't an existence within this Tower that is capable of killing me. They will learn this the hard way if they try to interfere with my progress through the Tower. As for you, I will have you join my group once the events of this Floor have come to pass. Until then, continue performing your original duties."Though her concerns were not completely assuaged, Hwa Ryun did feel a bit of relief in response to her God's words. He seemed absolutely certain, so, rather than question the person she had already dedicated her faith to, she ultimately brought her hands together in a prayer-like gesture, lowering her head as she answered, "I understand. I will continue following this path at your behest."Nodding his head in approval, Vahn gestured for Hwa Ryun to rise before pulling out a tiny figure that vaguely resembled a human, tossing it to her as he explained, "Make sure you keep that with you at all times. It is a special charm that is said to bring good luck to those who possess it. Now, be on your way. It is not appropriate to visit an Emperor's room in the middle of the night."Understanding that her God was making a joke, a smile spread across Hwa Ryun's face as she rose to her feet and said, "I look forward to being able to climb the Tower alongside you. This is the first time I am following the path set by another. My heart races in anticipation of what is to come..."Following her words, Hwa Ryun performed a respectful bow before quickly alighting from the room, Vahn's eyes following her departure until the door inevitably closed. Then, with an exasperated sigh escaping his lips, he fell backward onto his bed, arms spread out as he muttered, "It seems I need to have Phae stick closer to me in the future..."---After a restless night for most and a stressful morning for all, each of the remaining Regulars had been assembled in a floating lecture hall that hovered over a massive arena surrounded by dense jungle. Unlike when they had originally gathered, there were fewer than half of the original Regulars remaining, a total of thirty if you excluded those who had already passed. This meant, of the group who had originally been 'chosen' by Headon, only 5% had made it to this stage of Testing; a value that would soon drop to a mere 2.5%.As part of the group that had passed via Special Test, Vahn, Phae, and Gandr were seated alongside Rak and Ghost at the very front of the room. To further draw attention to themselves, they had each been given a special sash with the word Passed embossed on the front. This earned them withering stares from a few of the envious Regulars who were barely scraping by, a rather curious decision on their part considering five of them only made it this far as a direct result of the quintet qualifying in advance...Once everyone had gathered and taken their seats, Administrator Lero-Ro, who had been standing center-stage at the room's front, cleared his throat before shouting, "Good morning Regulars! First off, let me congratulate each of you for making it this far. Though there is still one final test that will determine your fate, you should all feel proud for having made it this far. Now, without further ado, allow me to explain the conditions and objectives of the Final Exam...!"With a quick press of a button, the display behind Lero-Ro lit up to show two separate columns of pictures and names. Immediately after that, the Administrator went on to explain, "The Final Exam is a joint test to determine the fifteen candidates who will be allowed to move on to the next Floor. As you can clearly see behind me, the thirty of you, excluding those passing vis Special Test, have been split into two teams. All the instructors have come together to ensure the teams are as balanced as possible so there will be no changes. If you are not satisfied with the team you have been assigned, you are more than welcome to pack your belongings and exit the Tower. Now, any questions thus far...?"Seeing that everyone was waiting silently for him to continue, Lero-Ro nodded in approval before adding, "Though you will be evaluated based on your performance as a team, know that you will also be graded individually by your Instructors. This grade will have the most impact on whether or not you pass or fail, so, if you have been struggling over the last thirty days, this is your last chance to make a positive impression. Remember, it is not always strength that determines whether or not someone is worthy to climb the Tower. Now, for details regarding the Final Exam itself, I would like to direct each of your attentions to the gentleman sitting amidst your Instructors. This is none other than the 2nd Floor's Test Director, Yu Han-Sung, the person who will ultimately determine whether or not you qualify to climb the Tower."Hearing Lero-Ro's words, the majority of Regulars present were completely gobsmacked, not by the fact that the Director would be determining their fate, but because the 'gentleman' in question was almost indistinguishable from a beautiful woman. He had an extremely fair complexion, golden hair that was neatly fasted into a bun, and delicate facial features that could rival famous idols within the Tower. In fact, many of them had seen this exact person depicted on various products, specifically a variety of different coffee brands.Further sewing confusion, Director Yu wore a blue and gold kimono that was fastened by a black and gold obi. He didn't even seem to possess an adam's apple, but, the moment he opened his mouth to speak, a deep yet delicate voice could be heard as he said, "Greetings, Regulars. As my colleague has pointed out, my name is Yu Han-Sung, Test Director of the 2nd Floor. It is a pleasure to see each of you once again..."Though they hadn't known the man's identity at the time, Director Yu had been the proctor of the second test most Regulars took upon arriving in the Tower: the Door Test. This was a rather simple test, merely requiring a team of regulars to open a single door before five minutes had passed. In spite of this, only 20-30% of teams ended up passing due to the presence of multiple doors and a series of intentionally vague rules. They were also told they had ten minutes to decide, so, with no clues to go off of, many teams were unable to make a decision before their time had run out. Those who failed were eliminated on the spot, their bodies dumped into a fiery inferno; names forgotten due to their indecision...While many were still struggling with the revelation of Director Yu's gender, the man in question went on to explain, "I'll now inform you of the rules regarding the test. Simply put, each team will take turns playing a game of Hide-and-Seek. In other words, rather than being pitted against each other, both teams will compete individually against a Seeker of our choosing. The rules are simple: choose someone among your Fishermen to be it. If your team's 'it' is able to reach the exit before the Seeker tags them, the entire team will receive bonus points. Inversely, if the Seeker tags the 'it' before they are able to reach the exit, the entire team will have points deducted from their original total. There is also a 'bonus' prize should your 'it' manage to steal the badge in possession of the Seeker. Not only will it be treated as an 'instant win' for the team, but, for the 'it' capable of dealing with our specially-chosen Seeker, they will receive an additional 2000 points, more than enough to ensure a passing grade."Hearing the Director's explanation, all six of the remaining Fishermen adopted serious expressions before four immediately backed down in response to the other two's fiery auras. Anak and Endorsi had been placed on separate teams, so, even if they wanted to be their team's 'it', there was no way they could compete for the position against the two Princesses of Jahad.While the Fishermen were lamenting their fate for being placed into the same group of Regulars as two troublesome Princesses, Shibisu went on to ask, "Director Yu, if you don't mind my asking, who is the Seeker you have chosen?"Smiling in response to Shibisu's question, Director Yu made a mental note to reward the boy an additional 100 points towards his final score. Though not as impressive as the other Best Seed for the Scout Position, it couldn't be denied that Shibisu was qualified for the designation. He didn't mind drawing attention to himself, and, even if it earned him the ire of others, he was willing to do whatever it took to gather as much information for his team as possible.Unfortunately, before Director Yu could answer the young man's question, the box that had been wriggling at his side suddenly exploded as a man with brown skin and fiery red hair jumped up to shout, "Great question! I knew my students were the best...!"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn be like, "Shhh...no spoilers..."','It's a trap...!','RIP Regulars')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the Seeker being none other than the Scout Instructor, Shibisu, alongside the rest of the Scout candidates, were all in a depressive mood. They had witnessed Quant's speed first-hand, so, while it wasn't impossible to secure a victory, they understood just how slim their chances were.Feeling understandably exasperated, Shibisu released a tired sigh before looking around at the rest of his team members, settling on Khun as he asked, "What do you think of this situation? It doesn't seem all that fair to me."Showing none of the concern visible in the rest of his teammate's countenances, Khun just smiled in response to Shibisu's words before answering, "Well, it makes sense when you consider the fact we have two Princesses of Jahad in our group. Unless they made Anak and Endorsi the Seekers, there is no way to guarantee fairness other than selecting a Ranker for the position. Besides, even if we fail to reach the exit, there is a good chance we'll pass so long as we work together. We just need to do our best to demonstrate our capabilities in each Position."Though Khun's words weren't very inspirational, they were more than enough to ease the tensions of the remaining Regulars in the group. This automatically elevated him to a higher position in their minds, so, taking advantage of the convenience of the situation, Khun adopted a confident smile as he said, "Rather than give in to despair, let's focus on the positives. Our opponent may be a Ranker, but the rules prevent him from using any of the items typically associated with the Position. There is also the fact he can only use Shinsu once throughout the entire exam so there is a very real chance we can win if we play our cards right. To that end, I would argue the most important thing, at least for the time being, is designating a leader."Understanding Khun's intentions, Shibisu had to resist the urge to roll his eyes as he stated, "I think you should be the leader. You have more than enough confidence and you're also our team's most qualified Light Bearer. No offense to you, Leon."Hearing Shibisu's remark, Leon, a young man who could always be seen wearing a red beanie, just shrugged in response. As for Khun, he promptly took advantage of Shibisu's words, musing, "That settles it, then, From now on, you should all refer to me as Leader."Though there were mixed responses and a few half-hearted complaints in response to Khun's bold assertion, nobody tried to argue against him becoming the Leader. Because of this, Khun had all the attention gathered on him as he said, "I'm certain you all understand how impossible it would be to escape from a Ranker, much less one in the Scout Position. Thus, rather than focus on fleeing, shall we discuss methods to capture a certain fiery-tempered chibi...?"---With the half-hour allotted for preparations coming to an end, Vahn, alongside Phae, Gandr, Rak, Ghost, and the remaining Regulars from Team B, all observed Team A's efforts from high in the sky via a large digital display. All of the Instructors were also present, but, for the sake of discussion, a membrane of Shinsu had been erected to block sound between the two sides. This was to prevent any of the remaining Regulars from gaining any insight into the criteria used to evaluate the current participants, but, as could be expected, it also caused them to feel extremely nervous.Having already passed the exam, Vahn was completely relaxed as he watched Khun direct his team to split up into three separate groups. One group remained in the so-called 'safe area', the starting location which protected them during the thirty minutes allotted for preparations. The other, much larger group, moved to secure a massive spiral stairwell that led to the upper level, the location of one-of-two exits. It was much further away than the closet exit, but, considering Quant started from the closest one, it was by far the safest route.Near the very center of the arena, a large single-shaft elevator that connected directly to the top floor could be found. On average, this elevator took ten minutes to reach the top, but, from there, you would only need to run ten kilometers to reach the further exit. This meant, so long as you got your 'it' into the elevator and managed to protect the stairwell, you could effectively guarantee your team's victory.As could be expected, Anak was the person chosen to be her team's 'it', but, rather than making a break for the elevator, she teamed up with the first group to form a perimeter within a large area surrounded by tall pillars. This was an arena designed to emulate the section of the Middle Tower that Regulars in the past would have to navigate in between Floors. Thus, as could be expected, there were absolutely no light sources other than the Lighthouses belonging to the Light Bearers themselves.Understanding that Team A was trying to set a trap, an amused smile spread across Vahn's face as Shibisu, seemingly serving as bait, was left to stand in the center of the open area with a Lighthouse shining down on him from above...---In an effort to give the Regulars a sporting chance, Quant decided to limit his speed to around the same pace as Anak, the fastest person on the current team. He didn't want to be accused of using his status as a Ranker to bully Regulars who had yet to even qualify to move up the Tower. Lero-Ro had also asked him to show a bit of restraint, so, out of respect for their centuries-long friendship, Quant decided to take it nice and easy.Unfortunately, as if they weren't taking him seriously at all, Quant quickly came upon the scene of Shibisu standing out in the open. This caused his blood pressure to immediately skyrocket, but, as a responsible adult, he did his best to control his temper as he stepped out into the light, remarking, "I have to say, this is probably the most obvious trap I've seen in my entire life..."Hearing his Instructor's comment, Shibisu rubbed the back of his head, an awkward laugh escaping his before saying, "Well...you know how it is, teach. You're way too fast for us to escape so what else can we do other than buying time for our 'it' to reach the exit?"Never shy in the face of compliments, Quant felt his tensions relax slightly, a smile spread across his face as he mused, "Well said! As expected of my second-best student. Now, out of consideration for your honesty, how about a bonus lesson? I have high expectations for your talent as a Scout so you consider this a parting gift before you climb the Tower."Though he had a bad feeling hearing his Instructor's words, Shibisu managed a wry smile as he put his hand down and answered, "Looks like I'll be in your care, once again..."Amused by Shibisu's reaction, Quant issued a light-hearted laugh before placing his hands behind his back and saying, "Let's see...if I had to guess, you have between four and five teammates nearby, probably two Spear Bearers, a Wave Controller, a Lightbearer, and a Fisherman. If I include you, that makes this a five-to-one situation, at the very least...now, tell me, what do you think a Scout should do in this situation, my dear pupil?"Since his main focus was buying time, Shibisu adopted a contemplative look, remaining silent for several long seconds before tilting his head to the side and replying, "Dance...?"Losing his good mood, Quant deadpanned at Shibisu's response, his tone deepening as he asked, "Are you being serious...?"Offering an awkward laugh in response, Shibisu repeated his action of scratching the back of his head as he answered, "Sorry, I thought the atmosphere was getting pretty tense. I thought it might save me some pain if I lighten the mood a bit...hahahaha..."Finding Shibisu's answer amusing, the smile returned to Quant's face, a light chuckle escaping his lips as he remarked, "Commendable effort...unfortunately, we both know I'm not the type to hold back when it comes to disciplining naughty students. Now, let me show you the real answer..."The moment Quant finished speaking, his body instantaneously turned into a blur as he dashed toward Shibisu. This caused the latter to backpedal as quickly as he could, but, as someone with a relatively 'normal' physique, there was no way for Shibisu to outrun even a restrained Quant. As a result, he was instantly caught up to, but, before the fiery red-head could teach his precious student a lesson, a red spear entered the periphery of his vision, intersecting his trajectory.With his hands still neatly tucked behind his back, Quant easily arrested his momentum, stopping in an instant before kicking the spear away without any effort. In the exact same motion, he vaulted high enough to surpass the Lighthouse floating above, smiling as he said, "Let's see how well your team fights in the dark."Immediately following Quant's words, he kicked the Lighthouse with enough force to crack one of the surfaces. Then, like a meteor descending from the heavens, it crashed into the ground next to Shibisu, shrapnel erupted from both the Lighthouse and the stone ground. A few of these pieces hit Shibisu directly, but, other than a few small scrapes and bruises, he was more shaken than anything else.Without a Lighthouse to illuminate the battlefield, the surroundings immediately descended into pitch-black darkness. From within the darkness, soft footsteps could be heard, not from just a single direction, but all directions simultaneously, This caused another dry laugh to escape Shibisu's lips, a sound that seemed to echo around him before an eerie voice seemed to speak directly into his ear, stating, "In a situation where a Scout is outnumbered, one of the best things you can do is take out the enemy's eyes. Without a Lighthouse, numbers mean very little. Rather, due to the increased risk of hitting an ally, the enemy has little choice but to regroup..."As it was never pleasant to hear a voice directly in your ear, Shibisu's body momentarily tensed up before attempting a roundhouse kick towards the darkness. Unfortunately, his attack his empty air, followed by another laugh as Quant remarked, "This is why you were only second-best. Not being able to see in the dark is an extreme weakness in circumstances like this. Since you lack the inherent ability, make sure you pick up an item that covers for this weakness in the future."Finished with his advice, Quant appeared within Shibisu's blind spot, specifically behind him, while playfully muttering, "Checkmate~." What he never would have expected was for Shibisu to utter the exact same words as a blinding light erupted from one of the surrounding pillars. This momentarily disoriented him, not because of the light itself, but because he was certain the final Lighthouse was with the 'it'.Shifting his attention to the light source, Quant discovered that his intuition wasn't actually wrong. He simply overlooked the possibility that the team's 'it' had never even left. Instead, he could see Anak standing at the top of the pillar with a massive grin on her face as she shouted, "Sorry, but the one who is 'it' is right here...!"Following her outburst, Anak threw a green hook with meteoric force towards Quant. This wasn't her Green April, but she still had more than enough finesse and control with her Reel Inventory to manipulate the line and grasp objects at a distance. As a result, she was nearly able to snatch the badge directly from Quant's chest, effectively ending the game then and there. Unfortunately, she had underestimated the Ranker's pettiness, as, the moment he realized what was happening, Quant muttered, "Black Fish..." before soundlessly fading into the shadows at supersonic speeds.Black Fish was a technique that allowed a Scout to veil their body in Shinsu, effectively becoming invisible in areas with low visibility. This, combined with his Ranker-levels of speed allowed him to easily evade Anak's hook, reappearing to grab it the moment she attempted to reel it in. Then, with an expression that could only be described as 'absolutely livid', a crazed smile spread across his face as he looked at Shibisu and asked, "You're really looking down on me, aren't you? It seems I didn't give you enough love during our classes...hahahahahahahahaha...!"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'I'm the Captain now','Quant be like: "I'm such a good teacher!"','Also Quant: "I'm going to f**cking murder you~!"')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the Final Exam scheduled to take place the following day, everyone was given the day off to rest, recuperate, and make mental preparations. The Administrators had even opened up the part of the Resort that catered to Rankers, allowing Regulars to experience a taste of what it was like to be a part of the most coveted class within the Tower.Though not every Ranker was wealthy, they had access to residences and facilities that were simply unavailable to anyone who was not a Ranker. They were also universally respected within the Tower, some, specifically High Rankers, even being treated like Gods in certain regions of the Tower.After being invited out by Endorsi, Phae was enjoying the relaxing massage of a genderless creature with six tentacular arms and a series of six eyes circling its dome-like head. It was a rather enjoyable experience, but, compared to the [Hands of Nirvana], it was comparatively tame.Following the massage, the two girls met up with Anak, who, despite warnings, had been sitting in the sauna for more than an hour. She had originally been with Rozeal and Nare, but, after spending a few minutes in the steamy chamber, they both went to get their hair and faces done.Seeing Anak 'melting' at the top of the sauna, her towel serving as a blanket, Phae released a small sigh while Endorsi directly remarked, "Oi, lizard-breath. Even if you're not the genuine article, have some dignity as a Princess of Jahad."Hearing Endorsi's remark, Anak turned her head to the side, an exceptionally lazy look on her face as she replied, "Bite me, Ghost-Pepper..."Annoyed by the increasingly-common form of address, Endorsi held up her fist, a smile that wasn't quite a smile appearing on her face as she prepared a rebuttal. Before she could, however, Phae sat down on one of the wooden benches, removing her towel before asserting, "This is neither the time nor the place for bickering. Tomorrow is a very important day for both of you. Take this opportunity to relax both your body and your mind. No fighting."Feeling the wind taken out of her sails, Endorsi briefly studied Phae's naked body before releasing a defeated sigh. Then, after placing her towel down, she also took a seat before asking, "How are you able to keep your breasts from sagging? I've never seen you wear a bra or wrap your chest. It's not fair..."Raising her brow in amusement, Phae mirrored Endorsi's action, briefly sizing up the latter's body before asserting, "You're just being silly. You have a lithe and athletic figure combined with features that would make others green with envy. There is no need to compare yourself to me, Endorsi. You are a beautiful young woman. Be proud of your figure. Just don't be vain."Though she felt gratified by Phae's compliments, a radiant smile spreading across her face, Endorsi still remarked, "I'm more worried about my future than my present. Even if they've yet to start, I still worry about sagging. Tell me, do you have some kind of secret method to keep your breasts perky and full...?"Feeling slightly exasperated, Phae released a tired sigh before staring down at her own breasts, two sizeable melons that, in spite of their volume, had an immaculate shape. She had honestly grown a little fond of them, even if they often required her to periodically stretch just to alleviate the pain in her back and shoulders.After briefly considering her response, Phae raised her head to find even Anak had started listening in on the conversation. This brought an amused smile to her face, as, while she wasn't completely flat, Anak could compete with Fenrir's original form when it came to bust size.Deciding against making a joke at Anak's expense, Phae continued smiling as she said, "There are a countless number of ways to prevent, or even reverse, sagging. When it becomes an actual issue, I'll go into greater detail. Until then, your best bet is to keep growing stronger. The more powerful you become, the less likely you'll have to worry about such things."Though she felt like Phae's comment was a cop-out response, Endorsi decided not to keep pressing the issue, yet another sigh escaping her lips as she muttered, "It is pretty hot in here..."As the sauna was intended to be used by Rankers, it wasn't an exaggeration to say only those with superhuman physiques could stay in for long periods of time. Phae was perfectly fine, for obvious reasons, but Endorsi was still susceptible to the heat. As for Anak, she was a bit of an exception in this particular situation, as, despite not being cold-blooded, her body temperature was a lot lower than normal. This gave her a fondness for warm things, so, even though her body was covered in a rather thick layer of sweat, she continued enjoying the sauna, arms and legs sprawled out as she lay on her stomach with a contented look on her face...Resisting the urge to 'correct' the not-so-young young lady, Phae just lightly shook her head before smiling back at Endorsi and replying, "Indeed..." in her characteristically husky yet soft tone.---While the girls were off enjoying their day at the spa, most of the guys had gathered in the Rankers' recreational facility. There were various activities to enjoy within, including a full-size movie theater, but most of them had gathered to play a game of squash.Squash was a game where 2-4 players hit a durable rubber ball against the back wall of a closed-off arena. The primary objective of the game was to use a racket to hit the ball against the wall in such a way that your opponents would be unable to hit it back. There were various other rules due to the super-human capabilities of Rankers, but, unless you were playing 'seriously', the main goal was to smack the ball as hard as you could in order to bypass your opponent's defenses.After completely destroying everyone he had been matched against, Gandr was currently sitting on the sidelines with Shibisu and Baam while watching Khun and Chunhwa face off against Hatsu and, somewhat surprisingly, Hoh. The latter wasn't particularly known for his physical capabilities, but, as everyone else had agreed not to use Shinsu enhancement, he was able to just barely keep up.Vahn, and, by proxy, Gandr had originally been worried that Hoh was deviating down a very dark path, but, with a few choice words of advice, it seemed like the man had gradually stepped back into the light. He still kept to himself most of the time, but, as part of Shibisu's circle of friends, he would occasionally appear whenever something interesting was taking place.Seeing the effeminate blond smiling as he dashed around the squash court, Gandr had a relaxed smile on his face as he answered Baam's question concerning Vahn's refusal to join everyone else in their recreation games, explaining, "Whenever my Master is around, others find it hard to stay calm. I'm sure you've experienced it during your classes, but he gives off an aura that makes people feel both inspired yet terrified. It's like he can see through everything, and, whenever he takes action, it is always decisive."Remembering how nervous he felt whenever Vahn just looked at him, Baam could understand what Gandr was trying to convey. He wasn't the only one either, as, every time the 'Emperor' was around, it was like everything immediately revolved around him. Whenever he spoke, everyone immediately fell silent, and, whenever he offered advice, it was almost like hearing someone speak an irrefutable truth. Administrator Yuga had even gone so far as to say that Vahn was exceptionally gifted when it came to teaching others, encouraging him to apply to a position within the Imperial Palace once he inevitably became a Ranker.Misinterpreting the look on Baam's face, Gandr lightly nudged the boy as he said, "Hey, you don't have to worry so much. My Master isn't lonely or anything like that. He is just giving Phae and me a chance to get close to everyone. Once we move up to higher Floors, he will probably interact with everyone more often. He is just holding back right now to prevent everyone from grouping around and becoming reliant on him."Though Baam was slightly confused by Gandr's remark, Shibisu had been listening closely from his position at the side, chiming in to comment, "I thought that might have been the case. The way you and Phae treat everyone is a little strange considering how much power you possess. That man, the Emperor, is going to offer us some kind of power at some point. Is that right?"Rather than refute Shibisu's claim, Gandr just laughed before answering, "You can see it that way. In the end, however, your growth will depend entirely on your efforts. I can't go into too many details right now but I can tell you this...all of my skill with the sword is the result of my Master's training. If you have the motive to become strong, there is no faster way than listening to my Master's advice."Having witnessed Gandr's skills throughout the entirety of the Position Test, Shibisu felt a chill run through his body as he asked, "If you were to fight-"Without having to hear the rest of Shibisu's inquiry, Gandr adopted an uncharacteristically serious expression as he asserted, "Even if every single one of us teamed up against him, we wouldn't be able to defeat my Master. Phae might be able to win under certain conditions, but that is because he can't really go all out against her. If it was a real fight, even the Administrators wouldn't be able to defeat my Master...he is an existence most people can't even comprehend..."Though it was a little awkward talking about himself in such a way, Gandr wasn't really lying when he made such bold claims. Their existence as The Path was beyond even the comprehension of an Omnipotent Genius like Da Vinci, and, while it was possible for them to be defeated, it would never be a true defeat unless they 'allowed' themselves to be killed. It didn't really matter how strong the opponent was, they were simply inevitable...Hearing the certainty in Gandr's tone, Shibisu suddenly felt as though the surrounding temperature had decreased substantially. After all, Gandr was close to being able to compete against a Ranker in speed, so, while it was difficult to imagine a Regular being strong enough to take on Test Admins, it sounded a lot more credible coming from the Vanargandr at his side. Vahn's demonstration during the Crown Game was another point in his favor, as, prior to him voluntarily stepping down from the throne, everyone else was powerless to even approach it.Noticing Shibisu's pale expression, Gandr's serious look faded into a relaxed smile as he pat the man on the shoulder and said, "You don't really have anything to worry about. We're already on the same side. Besides, once you learn what my Master has to offer, all your worries will seem pointless. He isn't some demon that offers power in exchange for life force or anything like that. It would be more accurate to say he gives you the opportunity to pursue your own path. You can think of it as a more advanced version of what he has done in the Wave Controller class. He was even the one who asked Phae to help Rachel, hoping it would change the woman for the better."At the mere mention of Rachel's name, Baam immediately became more attentive. Though she was still keeping her distance from everyone, she had come to his room several weeks ago to apologize for lying to him. Since then, they had eaten lunch together a few times, and, though it was different from when they were alone outside the Tower, he felt like things were gradually going back to the way they once were.Since this was his first time hearing that Vahn was the reason behind Phae helping Rachel, Baam's opinion of the man skyrocketed in an instant. Thus, with a smile that seemed to light up the entire Recreational Facility, he happily chimed, "Your Master is amazing, Gandr. I can't wait to become his friend when we reach the next floor!"Shifting his gaze to Shibisu for a brief moment, both he and Gandr smiled wryly before the latter turned back to Baam and replied, "I'm sure he would like that..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Phae(Vahn) over here casually sitting in a sauna with two Princesses...','We are inevitable...','Baam is too pure for this world')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1723: Prelude