Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With tensions steadily reaching palpable levels, Administrator Lero-Ro unhurriedly approached the stage's lectern before adopting a casual smile and stating, "Good afternoon, Regulars. I have been given the privilege of announcing the results of this month's Position Test. Know that, regardless of whether or not you are given the right to move on, you have all accomplished something great by making it this far. Now, if you would all please direct your attention to the display behind me..."Immediately following Lero-Ro's words, the large digital display behind him illuminated to reveal an unnervingly small number of profile pictures and names. In the Fisherman Position, eliciting a happy squeal from Nare; Endorsi, Anak, Chunhwa, and Green had all successfully passed. As for the other Positions, Rak and Aleksai both successfully passed the Spear-Bearer exam while Shibisu, Hatsu, and Nare secured their places alongside Gandr as Scouts. Following them, causing a number of people to sigh, Phae, Khun, and a reptilian man named Levin were the only ones selected for the Position of Light-Bearer. This caused Baam, one of the three passing Wave Controllers, alongside both Vahn and Laure, to tightly clench his fists as an extremely conflicted look appeared on his face.Before Baam could do much the same, one of the Regulars who had failed the Position Test rose to his feet, a fiercely indignant look on his face as he shouted, "What is this!? Why am I out!? Our team passed the Hide-and-Seek Test and my points aren't that low! How did I fail!?"In response to the man's outburst, Lero-Ro adopted an annoyed glower on his face but it was the Test Director, Han-Sung Yu, who answered, "Oh? You don't agree with the results?"Despite the incomprehensible gulf in both power and status, the Regular, one of the two so-called Spear-Bearer Revolutionaries, unhesitantly replied, "Of course not! How did I fail, huh!?"With a smile that wasn't quite a smile, the atmosphere around Director Yu caused all of the Test Admins around him to feel uncomfortable as he patiently explained, "As I said prior to the Final Exam...individual scores and the assessment of the teacher's has the great-"Causing the smile to immediately fade away from the Director's face, the Regular heavily slammed the table in front of him, interrupting the golden-haired man before shouting, "That's bullshit! Quit making excuses and fix my grade! I busted my ass over the last month! I even skipped most of my meals just to save points! If your stupid displays didn't break in the middle of the fucking exam, you would have seen how much effort I put into the last test! Fix it now, you dumb coffee addict...!"With a very tense atmosphere descending on the entire hall, Director Yu slowly rose to his feet, the smile returning to his face as he walked to the front of the stage and gestured to the man to come down. For reasons nobody could understand, the man seemed completely ignorant to the landmine he had just triggered, his expression remaining fierce as he unhesitantly walked down to the stage, hands balled into fists.Displaying a mask of perfect amiability, Director Yu stared up at the much taller man, smiling in a completely disarming manner as he said, "Very well then. If you don't agree with the results, I will give you one last chance to prove yourself. So long as you pass this little test, you will have proven yourself more than capable of climbing the Tower."Though he was starting to feel like something was wrong, the lesser of the two Revolutionaries still stood his ground, asking, "What do I need to do?"Finding the man's reaction rather amusing, Director Yu covered his mouth with his sleeve, giggling like a maiden while simultaneously concealing his predatory smile. Then, in the most genial tone he could manage, he cheerfully stated, "It's simple. You need only leave this platform before you either lose your mind or your life! Good luck~!"By the time the man could utter a confused, "What?" the bones in his right shoulder, impacted by an invisible force, were completely shattered. Immediately after that, Shinsu began to invade each of his joints, forming countless tiny bubbles that subsequently 'popped' to create extremely small explosions. This caused the man to release a sound similar to a pig being slaughtered, his survival instincts kicking into overdrive as he attempted to claw his way off the stage.Seeing the man's fate, the other Regulars who wished to dispute the result of the exam could only ball their hands into fists, resigning to their fates. One of the few exceptions to this rule was Baam, but, before he could find the words to protest, Khun beat him to the punch by casually standing up and saying, "I do not mean to interrupt your fun, Director, but I also disagree with the test results..."With the smile on his face promptly vanishing, Director Yu shifted his attention to the young scion of the Khun family, eyes squinting slightly as he replied, "Very well. Please, come up to the stage to make your case..."Displaying even greater confidence than the burly Spear-Bearer, Khun casually made his way up to the stage, smiling as the Director asked, "So, what are you unsatisfied with? You passed with one of the highest scores. I can't imagine you're here to convince me to fail you..."Chuckling in response to the Director's words, Khun adopted a casual stance, hands in his pockets as he answered, "There seems to be a mistake on your display. Though she is currently hospitalized, I can't understand the reason behind Michelle Light failing the Test. I'm not saying that Levin should be disqualified, he is capable in his own right. However, Rachel should have had more than enough points to pass. I understand there are penalties for sustaining injuries during the Test, but we are all well aware of the circumstances surrounding Michelle's injuries..."Rather than directly dispute Khun's statement, Director Yu responded with a curt nod before going on to explain, "You make a fair point, Mr. Khun. However, you, better than anyone, know that things like betrayal are very common within the Tower. In fact, we even assign and deduct points based on how easily Regulars can manipulate, or are manipulated by, other Regulars. Now, as for Ms. Light's injuries...it cannot be disputed that she is physically capable of continuing her climb. Our judgment, however, is based on the premise that, without 'external assistance', Ms. Light would have assuredly died during the Test. Do you intend to argue that someone should be allowed to climb the Tower solely because they are being aided and supported by others? That doesn't seem particularly fair to everyone else present; people who made a desperate effort, but, because they were unable to make the right connections, now sit silently while you speak for a woman who isn't even here."Though he was a little taken aback by the Director's firm argument, Khun did his best to appear just as calm and casual as before. He even smiled in response to the rather scary man's words, saying, "I understand what the Director is trying to say. Under normal circumstances, I would never even think to oppose your judgment. However, Ms. Light is very important to a friend of mine. Even if it means going against the Administration, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to override your judgment. Let me meet with the Administrator of this Floor...I will take the Guardian Test directly..."In response to Khun's bold proclamation, both the Director and all five Position Instructors showed expressions of shock. Very few people even knew the existence of the Guardian Test, much less had the audacity to actually request it. After all, taking the Guardian Test was essentially going against the will of the Jahad Empire, the organization responsible for the existing system that determines whether or not a Regular is qualified to move further up the Tower...Without minding the reactions from the Administrators, Khun reinforced his confident facade as he went on to state, "So long as I complete the Guardian's Test, your decision disqualifying Rachel will be overruled. Though the Administrators have incredible power on the Floors, their authority is still far beneath that of the Floor Guardians. Even if it is several times harder than a traditional Test, I will prove that I am more than capable of passing. Don't underestimate a direct descendent of the Sixth most powerful High Ranker in the entire Tower..."Amused my Khun's remark, Director Yu couldn't help smiling as he remarked, "My, aren't you a little cocky? Unfortunately, whether or not you are willing matters very little in this case. I'm not sure how you came across this information, but it seems there are a few gaps in your knowledge...I'm sorry to inform you, Mr. Khun, but you are simply unqualified to take the Guardian's Test."Frowning in response to the Director's words, Khun didn't hide his indignation in the slightest as he asked, "What are you talking about? Are you trying to insinuate that a descendent of the Ten Great Families isn't worthy enough to take the Guardian's Test?"Causing Khun even greater frustration, at least during the first half of his statement, Director Yu did not hesitate to nod his head, asserting, "Indeed. Even if you were a Princess of Jahad or a candidate for the Royal Enforcement Division, you would still not qualify to take the Guardian's Test. After all, the Tests proffered forth by the Guardians are not intended for Regulars...they exist for the singular purpose of evaluating Irregulars. Therefore, unless you are an Irregular like Phantaminum, Enryu, or Ureko Mazino, you are simply unqualified to take the Guardian Test."Not expecting such a ridiculous requirement, Khun momentarily found himself at a complete loss for words. Immediately after that, however, he shifted his attention to where Vahn, Phae, and Gandr were seated, a glimmer of expectation appearing within his eyes. He was certain the three of them were Irregulars, and, based on how well they got along with the rest of the group, Khun wanted to believe they would help.What Khun would have never expected, even though he had already made the connection, was for Baam to be the first to speak, slamming the table as he shouted, "I'll take the test...!" with a look of conviction blazing within his golden irises.Showing an unamused expression on his face, Director Yu, much like everyone else present within the room, shifted his gaze to Baam before he plainly remarked, "Was I not clear? Only an Irregular can take-"Causing a visible frown to appear on the Director's face, Baam didn't wait for the man to finish, his voice even louder than before as he exclaimed, "I am an Irregular! Now, please, I beg of you! Let me take the Guardian's Test! I refuse to leave Rachel behind...!"Surprised by Baam's proclamation, nearly everyone within the lecture hall, Administrator's included, showed incredulous, disbelieving, expressions. After all, Irregulars were known to be 'monsters' that defied logic. They were people who possessed unbelievable power, and, though Baam was certainly very talented, he wasn't even remotely what people would consider when discussing Irregulars...While everyone else was still recovering from the shock of Baam's announcement, the briefest trace of a smile could be seen on the Director's face. Even Khun, despite his close proximity, didn't seem to notice this, but, from where they were seated in the stands, Vahn, Phae, and Gandr all witnessed it. The former even produced a smile of his own as he internally remarked, ("It seems like things are finally starting to heat up...I can't wait to see how effective Laev-tan's flames are against a Ranker...")(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'This is a Death-Seeking Revolution!','All this for a thot...','Is Vahn finally going to get off his ass and do something!?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

While Baam was off meeting with the Floor Guardian, the remaining Regulars, being those who had passed the Position Test, had gathered together on the stage. They had all been given the option to either take the test alongside Baam or simply pass on to the next floor. The former would see them remembered as 'traitor's who had aided an Irregular during their climb, a status that risked setting them at odds with the Jahad Empire. The latter, however, meant they would be forced to move on to the next floor without a team, effectively reducing their chances of climbing any higher to zero.Fortunately, thanks to the impromptu gathering within the Medical Ward, the sense of unity within Team Wolf Pack, named as such due to Gandr being designated mascot, was pretty solid. The only Regulars who were on the fence were Chunhwa, Nare, and the 'leader' of the so-called Spear Bearer Revolutionaries, a lanky green-skinned man named Parakewl. As for Green and Levin, neither waited around to discuss the possibility of teaming up. They had never been particularly close any of the other passing Regulars, so, rather than invite guaranteed troubles upon themselves, they decided to risk climbing as a duo.In the end, most of the tensions within the group were the result of fearing the unknown. After that, it was fearmongering by Parakewl, who, despite having no former association with the group, didn't even try to filter himself as he lambasted Baam and tried to convince everyone else to climb up the Tower with him. This served to annoy most of the people present, but, surprising virtually everyone, it was Vahn who silenced the man, stating, "Leave. You contribute nothing to the group. Even if you choose to participate in this Test, I will not allow you to join our party on the 3rd Floor."Though his complexion was similar to a corpse that had been rotting for weeks, Parakewl somehow managed to become red in the face, his mouth far wider than a normal person as he shouted, "Who are you to make such-"Before Parakewl could complete his outburst, an oppressive aura descended upon his body, forcing him to his knees. Following this, Vahn, his tone laden with frosty undertones, stated, "Those who go seeking death should not be surprised to find it waiting for them. I will not repeat myself so choose your next words carefully."Feeling the pressure rapidly fade away, Parakewl released a pained groan as he attempted to rise to his feet. In the end, he was forced to bring out one of his spears to use as a walking stick, as, due to the sudden and intense pressure forcing him to his knees, both of his knee-joints were now riddled with microfractures. This brought him an intense amount of pain, but, other than glare at Vahn with a wrath-filled expression, he made no further comment.Resisting the urge to snort through his nose, Vahn made a mental note to teach the man an even harsher lesson if Parakewl actually ignored his words and tried to leech off the group. The man had no redeeming qualities, and, unlike Hoh, he showed absolutely no remorse for his actions. He was a parasite in the guise of a human, someone who would not hesitate to betray everyone to further his own interests.Deciding to simply ignore the man, Vahn passed his gaze over the other Regulars present, a smile appearing on his face due to how intently they were staring back at him. Phae and Gandr had been hyping him up for quite a while, so, now that tensions were at their highest, it was only natural that their focus was wholly on what he would say next. Even Khun was staring at him with an expression that would have earned Loki's praise, his eyes reflecting a calculating light as he mentally prepared himself to change his plans in an instant.Having learned that speaking less could drastically increase the gravitas carried by his words, Vahn waited until he had made eye contact with everyone present before declaring, "I will participate in the coming Test."Though it was a relatively plain and straightforward statement, Vahn's words brought a mixture of relief and excitement to most of the Regulars present. They could vividly recollect the power he had displayed during the Crown Game, so, at the very least, their chances of success had improved.Cementing this idea within everyone's mind, Gandr showed the most excitement among everyone present, ears perking up and tail wagging as he exclaimed, "Awesome! This next test is going to be a breeze if Master is helping out~!"Nodding her head in agreement, Phae removed what little doubt remained in the hearts of some by saying, "Indeed. So long as my Lord wills it, even a normal person would be able to climb the Tower. In fact, I can't help but feel as though this entire test is rather unnecessary..."Latching onto Phae's words, Khun's expression displayed a mixture of confusion, seriousness, and intrigue as he asked, "What do you mean, Ms. Phae?"Rather than allow Phae to speak for him, Vahn held out his hand in response to Khun's inquiry, a resplendent blue sphere appearing within his palm as he explained, "This is the Little Garden. It is a miniature world contained within my Soul. The Tower's rules and restrictions have no influence over anything placed within."Hearing Vahn's explanation, Khun wasn't the only one stunned into silence. After all, if they were to believe his words, it implied that, so long as they had been chosen by Vahn, 'anyone' would be able to climb up the Tower. This brought to the surface an idea that had been lingering in many of their minds for a very long time, a notion embodied by Khun remarking, "So the three of you really are Irregulars..."With Vahn falling silent once again, it was Phae who explained, "It was never really a secret. Rather, Endorsi, Rachel, and Anak have known about it for quite some time. Administrator Quant had also been made aware of our status on the very first day. We simply didn't advertise it. After all, while it might be a big deal to be an Irregular inside the Tower, it means nothing to those who come from outside. Rather, Jahad and his Ten Great Warriors are obviously Irregulars themselves so it is rather odd for the classification to have a negative context...if I had to say, it seems like they are just doing everything in their power to maintain their stranglehold on the Tower and its inhabitants~."Though she spoke in her words in a slightly upbeat tone, every Regular present could see the rage bubbling within Phae's sapphire eyes. She wasn't the only one either, as, immediately following her musings, Gandr bared his teeth as he muttered, "Corrupt bastards...just wait until my Master comes to teach you a lesson...!"Earning a slightly pointed look from Endorsi, Vahn reached out his hand, patting Gandr's head as he calmly stated, "Stay your anger...you have seen for yourself that there are good people, even among the Ten Great Families. When the time comes, I will deal with those who appear irredeemable. As for the rest, they will serve as the foundation for establishing a better system..."Towards the latter half of his statement, Vahn passed his gaze over Khun, Laure, and Endorsi, a smile appearing on his face to ensure they understood the implied meaning in his words. After all, he had no interest in ruling the Tower, and, unless it could literally elevate him to the peak of the Record, it was only a matter of time before he moved beyond it.From what Vahn could tell, the strongest beings in the Tower were only around Tier 5, so, unless he had seriously miscalculated, it would only take a few decades before he was able to sweep through most of them. This could be expedited by using the Little Garden, but, after exploiting Space-Time Orbs for three Records in a row, he would rather experience a few setbacks than spend decades in isolation just to prevent them.With this in mind, Vahn answered the question Phae had proposed previously, stating, "Though it is possible to circumvent the Tower's rules by using the Little Garden, there is no meaning in climbing higher if you are unwilling to work for it. Power is something that must be obtained, not received."Finished with his words, Vahn allowed the Little Garden to dissipate before closing his eyes, clearly implying the conversation had come to an end. This caused people like Nare to show disheartened expressions, as, for a brief moment, she humored the thought of getting a 'free ride' to the very top of the Tower. As for others, specifically Khun, he had been thinking about the most effective way to expand their forces by concealing people within the Little Garden, just as he had done beforehand using his Manbarondenna...Playing off of Vahn's previous statement, Phae released a slightly melancholic sigh, her usual smile turning sad as she remarked, "That's a shame...I understand your reasoning, but there are so many tragic children among the Regulars here. I suppose I will just have to settle on changing the system rather than caring for everyone we meet during our climb..."Even if he was the one putting on the act through her, Vahn couldn't help feeling slightly guilty in response to Phae's performance. This was denoted by his expression paling slightly, something the more astute members of the group immediately took note of. Endorsi even presented a 'knowing' smile, giggling mischievously like a bored housewife who had just learned a juicy tidbit of gossip...---While everyone else was discussing what kind of Test the Guardian might throw their way, Baam had just emerged from a massive set of stone doors. Waiting for him in the adjoining corridor was none other than Director Yu, who, upon noticing Baam's approach, offered a smile that wasn't quite a smile as he asked, "Tell me, Mr. Baam...did the Guardian give you permission to take the Test?"Showing a mixture of relief and excitement, Baam returned a sincere smile as he cheerfully replied, "Yes! He said it was okay to take the Test with Rachel. As for the conditions, he said they were up to you."Though he already knew what to expect beforehand, Director Yu couldn't help but released a sigh in response to Baam's naivete. Then, after shaking his head, he plainly asserted, "You're a complete and utter fool, you know that? You have a complete lack of awareness and even smile in the face of your enemies...so ridiculous..."Confused by the Director's words, Baam tilted his head slightly to the side, but, before he could ask, the former went on to explain, "Since we have already reached this point, allow me to inform you of a few key facts. You see, Mr. Baam, I have been aware that you were an Irregular from the very start. I am also aware of your relationship with Michelle. Not only that, but this entire series of events has been orchestrated from the very beginning, all to force you into this exact situation..."Feeling even more confused than before, Baam's pupils began to expand and contract rapidly, his complexion paling as he asked, "Why...why would you do such a thing?"Snorting through his nose, Director Yu half-faced away from Baam as he answered, "Because you're a dangerous person. Unlike that trio of monsters, your motivations are incomprehensible, driven by pure insanity. You would genuinely risk, not just your life, but the lives of all your friends just for the sake of a senseless girl's absurd dream. Someone like you isn't qualified to climb the Tower...this is a place where people desperately struggle to make their dreams come true. Now, those same people will be forced to abandon their dreams, overwhelming by your ridiculous talent and the power you have been handed without effort. You will crush the dreams of countless people, people who have struggled for hundreds of years, just to allow a single girl to see the stars...you are utterly insane."Taken aback by the Director's words, Baam ultimately fell silent for several seconds, confusion and conflict visible in his golden eyes. This elicited another tired sigh from the Director, but, before the man could turn away completely, a resolute light flashed across Baam's eyes as he replied, "When I first entered the Tower, I was told that 'everything' could be found at the top. Since you're a Ranker, you must have seen what's up there, right? Tell me, is there really something worth what everyone is risking? Does whatever lay at the top justify all this sadness, pain, and killing...?"Somewhat annoyed by Baam's words, Director Yu frowned slightly before adopting a lackadaisical smile and asserting, "I can't really explain it with words. However, there's more wealth and beauty at the top of the Tower than you can imagine! Everything in this world, no, even more than that...it can all be found at the top of the Tower...everything except what that woman seeks. Those who attempt to reach the top without making an earnest effort will never find what they are searching for.."Though he could understand what the Director was trying to say, Baam still shook his head before calmly stating, "It should not be up to others to determine whether or not someone is making an earnest effort. You cannot objectively measure everyone by the same standards. People are born different, have different desires, and experience things from their own perspective. The system you have created to Test Regulars is not fair to those who are born without the privileges of power and luck. Just because they aren't blessed, you want to say someone is unworthy? To me, that sounds like a convenient excuse those in power have made up to keep 'normal' people in their place...you can call me insane if it makes you feel better...however, from my perspective, it seems like you, and everyone else who has reached the top of the Tower, failed to find what you were looking for. Now, you send other people chasing after dreams they can never achieve thanks to a broken system that prevents them from surpassing the current 'King'...to me, that seems far more insane than wanting to see the stars..."Finished with what he had to say, Baam was the first to turn away, his figure from behind seeming a little larger than it was before. Then, bringing a smile to the Director's face, his voice sounded just a bit deeper as he added, "I will make it up the Tower...if all the people who have already climbed are not lying...what I want 'has' to be up there. I will find it...no matter what..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'This Pickle is pushing his luck...','If Vahn was the leader, the party would be called 'Team Express Train'','A little bit of Baam's Protagonist is leaking out (OwO)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With less than two hours remaining until the results of the Position Test were announced, Khun had asked Gandr, Phae, Endorsi, Anak, Shibisu, Hatsu, Aleksai, and Laure to gather in the Medical Ward's waiting room. Nare and Chunhwa had also been invited, but, for fairly obvious reasons, they wanted to keep to themselves until the results and been announced.Understanding the couple's anxieties, Khun didn't urge them to attend. He did, however, promise to compensate them if they weren't selected to climb the Tower. He knew Nare's goal for climbing the Tower was to earn enough money to open a Shinheuh Breeding Farm. As for Chunhwa, he had been tasked by his village's Elder to climb the Tower in search of his sworn brother. Neither of their goals 'required' them to keep climbing the Tower, so, regardless of the outcome of the Position Test, Khun promised to help them fulfill both of their objectives.---Seeing everyone gathered around, Khun offered a polite smile as he said, "Thanks for agreeing to meet here on such short notice. I'm sure most of you have already realized my intentions so I'll just be out with it...I'd like for us all to form a team. Though our objectives are different, our penultimate goal is the same. By working together, we can drastically increase our chances of achieving each of our dreams..."Never shy in the face of serious situations, Endorsi didn't hesitate to snort in response to Khun's words, a somewhat vicious smile spreading across her face as she retorted, "You're speaking like we haven't already come to a tacit agreement to climb the Tower together. Don't tell me you're actually trying to designate yourself as the leader of our group when there are two Princesses of Jahad and a literal Emperor in our party?"Hearing Endorsi's remark, Khun, and everyone else present within the room, shifted their attention to the aggressively smiling Princess. Under normal circumstances, her posturing would have been rather intimidating, but, due to the previous incident with Gandr, she still had cat-like whiskers and a triangular nose drawn on her face in black marker. She had tried scrubbing it off, but, even after washing her skin until it was tender, the marker neither faded nor smudged. Phae had also refused to help her, pointing out that she knew what she was getting herself into the moment she blew the dog whistle.Though nobody said anything, Endorsi could tell what everyone was thinking as they stared back at her. This caused a burning sensation to flow into her cheeks, but, pretending like their stares didn't bother her, Endorsi crossed her arms before haughtily stating, "I would normally propose that Phae be made the leader, but, considering her relationship with the Emperor, it is only natural that he be nominated for the position. I won't deny that you are a very capable man, especially after your little performance during the Hide-and-Seek Test. However, can you really compare yourself to someone like Phae?"Turning his head to the woman in question, Khun maintained his polite smile as he asked, "What do you think about all this, Ms. Phae?"As Khun had already approached her beforehand, an amused giggle escaped Phae's throat before she replied, "My Lord will undoubtedly have the highest position within our group, but, unless there is a particularly dangerous enemy, you shouldn't expect him to intervene. As for myself, my duty is, first and foremost, to my Lord. I am more than willing to provide support, but, for the most part, my specialty lies in the production of items. I have absolutely no desire to be the leader of the group."Not expecting someone as confident and capable as Phae to immediately step down, Endorsi found herself at a loss for words. Fortunately, before she could completely lose herself to incredulity, Phae smiled back at her, adding, "Don't worry. Khun is a smart young man. He might have a mischievous side to him, but he is also very cautious. So long as my Lord is present, he knows better than to act out...isn't that right, Mr. Khun~?"Feeling the temperature drop around his body, an awkward-sounding laugh escaped Khun's throat as he replied, "Ms. Phae makes a good point...Besides, I'm sure everyone here has already realized that the Emperor intends to make us an offer in the near future. Depending on our decisions at that time, everything we're talking about right now might become irrelevant. All I'm proposing is that we make things official so that, even if something happens to split our party, we can continue working towards the same goal."Unamused by the fact that Khun was already mentioning their party splitting before it had even formed, Endorsi pointedly asked, "What happened? You're keeping something from us..."With all eyes in the room shifting back to him, Khun released an exasperated sigh, falling silent for several seconds before answering, "I've had the feeling that something strange was going on ever since arriving on the 2nd Floor. I don't know what it is, but I feel like something is going to happen that might force us apart. I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page before anything unexpected happens. As for the leadership position...I don't really care about that. I nominated Rak in order to prevent him from complaining about it later. The only thing I care about is making sure we all advance through the Floors as quickly and efficiently as possible. To that end, I hope you'll at least trust my judgment during future Tests..."To complete his statement, Khun lowered his head towards everyone present. He was being sincere for the first time in a long time, so, while he anticipated Endorsi to continue badgering him, he was hoping she could at least intuit he was serious. After all, they ultimately shared the same goal, and, unless something unexpected happened, they would be treading the same path for the next couple of decades, at the very least.Endorsi didn't really like the idea of following Khun's orders, but, convincing herself that Vahn and Phae were ultimately in control, she released an exasperated sigh of her own before saying, "Fine. I never really cared about who was calling the shots. Just remember that I am a bonafide Princess of Jahad. People will naturally assume I'm the leader of the group and we're guaranteed to draw a lot of publicity. Keep that in mind and make sure not to embarrass me. I might not actually care about public opinion all that much, but I still have an image to uphold."Surprised that Endorsi had given up so quickly, Khun was genuinely at a loss for how to respond. A part of him was tempted to point out the marker still on her face, but, rather than complicate things further, he ultimately just smiled and said, "Thank you..." before everyone began to fervently discuss potential team names...---Though Vahn had also been invited to the gathering arranged by Khun, he entrusted the situation to Phae and Gandr before making his way over to where Hoh had been hospitalized. The man had tried to kill himself following his awakening, and, though several people had visited to try and cheer him up, Vahn found the man staring off into space with a blank expression on his face.Anticipating Baam or his former teammate, Serena, Hoh was more than a little surprised when he saw Vahn standing at the entrance to his room. For a brief moment, there was even a flash of life visible in the man's eyes, not due to any kind of hope, but anticipation for his death. He currently had both of his arms strapped to the sides of his hospital bed, so, even if he wanted nothing more than to end his own life, he was powerless to even accomplish that.Without beating around the bush, Vahn walked over to the man's bed, his voice solemn and heavy as he asked, "Tell me, do you regret betraying your friends and murdering one of the few people in this Tower who could empathize with you? Even if you somehow managed to move on to the next floor, how far do you think you would have gotten on your own? People aren't exactly lining up to ally themselves with someone who would murder their comrades for a chance to move up a single floor..."Remembering the look on Grey's face when he stabbed her, tears began to well up inside of Hoh's eyes as he strained against his bindings and shouted, "Shut up! You don't know anything! You don't know what it's like to be powerless! You don't know what it's like to be unable to change your fate no matter how hard you try! Climbing the Tower is the only chance I had left! Everything! Everyone I cared about has already been taken from me! My only hope was to climb the Tower and become a Ranker! Without power, how could I ever hope to kill that fucking monster and avenge my friends!? My family...!?"Hearing the pain and anguish contained within Hoh's every word, Vahn wasn't unable to empathize with the man. That didn't cause the glower on his face to fade away, however, as one's suffering did not give them the right to inflict suffering upon others. Grey had her own tragic background, much like everyone else that had been chosen to climb the Tower. She and Hoh had even been close, yet, in spite of this, the man ended up murdering her in cold blood just for the chance to advance to the 3rd Floor.To prevent the man's continued thrashing about, Vahn pointed his finger toward Hoh, freezing him in place as he stated, "I asked if you regretted your actions. I don't care how you ignorantly justify your actions. If you are sincere and seek to repent, I can offer you the power you seek. However, in exchange, you will live the remainder of your life carrying the burden of your sin. Now, tell me, do you regret betraying your friends and murdering another person...?"Though he couldn't move most of his body, Hoh was still able to produce a steady stream of tears, pain, sadness, and, most importantly, regret visible in his golden irises. This was what Vahn wanted to see, as, regardless of a person's actions, there was hope so long as they sincerely regretted their actions. Hoh was neither evil nor malicious. He had simply been led astray, consumed by his desire for revenge and the despair he felt after realizing he lacked the talent to achieve his goals.With Vahn releasing him from his telekinetic grasp, Hoh's tears flowed in even greater volume as he lowered his head and shouted, "Of course I feel regret! I never meant to kill anyone! Grey...she...I...!"Having no desire to listen to the man's mad ramblings, Vahn performed a hushing gesture with his hand, his aura condensing around them as he said, "That's enough. As I said previously, I don't care how you wish to justify your actions. If you are truly repentant, you will demonstrate it through your actions. So long as you pledge to walk the path of penance in the future, I will grant you the chance to obtain the power you seek. Now, what will you choose? Will you continue trying to flee your sins by taking your own life or will you accept responsibility for your crimes by endeavoring to make the world a better place...?"---Though there was still more than half an hour before the results were to be announced, most of the Regulars began to sparsely populate the once overcrowded lecture hall. They were using the same hall where everyone had originally gathered to learn their Positions. Back then, everyone had been hopeful, confident, and completely sure of themselves. Now, however, their numbers had dwindled considerably, and, by the end of the days, approximately half of them were fated to be ejected from the Inner Tower. Despite this, everyone, including those who were guaranteed to fail, had shown up, each hoping and praying for a miracle as the Test Administrators and Director slowly filed into the room...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Endorsi be like, "Phae is bae."','Phae(Vahn) be like, "Ain't nobody got time for dat...!"','The Path of Penance...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1736: Bold