Tower of Endless: Death Granted Entry

”Korr?” he called. Only now did he realize Korr hadn’t reacted once. ”Did you miss any of this?”

”Korr, are you listening?” Only now did he take his eyes off the screen, turning his head to look at the silent Ashspawn in evident irritation.

Once his eyes finally left the screen, he found Korr, was still watching intently. His eyes wide open and face frozen unmoving.

There was even a slight shake in his body.

None of these details went unnoticed by Enzo, ”Oh my...” His irritated face smiled again.

”I didn’t have much hope to begin with, but it seems the two of you know each other very well.” He said, patting Korr’s shoulder.

His body shook. ”Sorry?” Korr snapped.

”It’s fine,” He dismissed the screen, ”Do you know why I show you this?” he asked,

Korr closed his eyes for a moment, ”No, I don’t”

”Let me clarify then, that guy” He raised his index finger ”I want him on my side”

Korr watched wordlessly.

”You don’t see excited about him”

Korr again didn’t answer.

”Fine, I will ask you directly,” Enzo brought his face close to Korr’s ”You already know him.” His hand found Korr’s shoulder. He held it firmly ”Right?”

Korr nodded, ”I do”

”Tell me everything you know about Moon.” Enzo ordered. ”He used to be a mercenary; help me recruit him.”

Korr let out a bent-up breath. ”I don’t think I’m the right person for this task.” He answered.

Enzo nodded, though his smile was still there... He didn’t seem pleased.

”I recognize the sincerity in your answer, but...” His hand on Korr’s shoulder tightened ”Are you saying you aren’t willing to help or can’t help?”

His face was still too close, threateningly so, to Korr’s. Who simply shook his head, ”I can tell you everything I know about him; we worked together a few times.”

”Then, why can’t you work together one more time?”

Korr stayed silent for a moment. ”We...” Before pausing again.

”Answer me!”

”Lord Enzo, we have bad blood between us!”

”Hoh!” Enzo’s eyes gleamed, ”how so?”

Korr raised his eyes ”I sent him, along with his entire group to die...” His face hardened ”He shouldn’t be alive!”

Enzo’s face froze for a moment before bursting into a fit of laughter. ”No wonder, now I understand that reaction of yours.” He laughed more.

He finally let go of Korr’s shoulder and stood up,

After a few steps, he halted ”Can you defeat him?” he asked without turning around.

Korr stood up before answering, ”He seems to be far stronger than he was back then.”

Enzo’s gaze fell on Korr again; this time he wasn’t smiling... But evidently irritated, ”Could you defeat him back on the first floor?” He asked, eyes glaring.

Korr shook his head ”No”

Enzo smiled, ”Awesome!”

Korr was puzzled by the reaction, but he didn’t ask. Instead, it was Enzo himself who spoke again, ”I don’t like liars.”

With that, Enzo turned back and started walking on his way.

”Moon still can’t use Echo, I’ll give you everything you’ll need to become stronger than him.”

Korr simply bowed slightly.

He stood unmoving in his place for a very long time; he scratched his scarred cheek once. ”No wonder.” He turned in the opposite direction Enzo walked, returning to the arena.

”The Tower never offers free meals.” He sighed before his Echo materialised again.

Back in the Eastern Branch, Moon was sitting with Uon in Hall 1, trying arcane arts again but with a different approach.

”Look here, I’ll show you a great master of arcane arts. He is Grandmaster Zen.” Uon said as he ran his thumb over his middle finger.

Moon watched intently. ”Give me one of these!” He asked, pointing his finger at the ring.

Uon shook his head ”No, these are expensive!” He dismissed.

”But everyone has them”, Moon retorted.

”Yeah, they’re still expensive. I have to work for a while to save enough money for a new one.”

”But Chef Ed always stares at things there and laughs.”

”That’s brain rot; don’t watch these.”

”What’s brain rot?”

Uon’s voice lowered ”You get moody and easy to anger.”

Moon’s eyes darted, knowing well he just heard something he could live just fine without.

Dismissing the forbidden knowledge, ”Erm, how do I make money then?” He still wants a ring.

”You don’t have any?” Uon asked, sceptical.

”I kinda lost everything I had during that last battle.”

Uon went silent for a moment, seemingly in deep thought. ”I think it wouldn’t work even if you had any from the first floor”

”How so?”

”The first floor is isolated, no Echo, no system, no communication means.”

”What does that have to do with money?”

”Ah, I guess you don’t know about them. The Argent family is one so ancient they controlled the currency exchange within the tower since ancient times. The tower has tower currency, and the first floor is isolated from that.”

”Oh, these Argents must be filthy rich!” His eyes gleamed.

”They are, and they’re also one of the strongest forces in the tower.”

”Whose side are they on?” Moon asked a seemingly normal question but for them it wasn’t.

Uon, as dense as he may be, understood instantly. ”They have always been neutral.” He paused for a moment before adding. ”Unless you meet one of them in trials.”

Moon nodded, but his mind was making its way to another point.

”Brother, what do you think about finding a suitable female for the mating season from the Argent family?” He asked excitedly.

”What are you talking about?” Uon’s face twisted for the first time.

”Brother, listen... I kinda feel it by instinct am close to mating season, so maybe...”

”Shut up, don’t approach them unless you want to die!” Uon got angry too.

’”Why, big brother, I want to make strong children and let them live with lots of money in comfort.” Moon looked evidently confused.

Uon smiled from ear to ear with eye open wide, he looked Moon in the eye ”Are you eager to die?”

Moon felt the dread of the yellow smiling face again; he raised his hands in defeat, ”Alright, let’s not talk about that for now.”

”I’ll prepare a biology class for you.” Uon massaged his nose bridge.

”What’s bah-yo-logoy?” Moon squinted.

Uon thought for a moment. ”First, humans don’t have mating season.”

”WHAA—”

”And you’re still a kid!”

”NO I—”

Uon didn’t leave him a moment to react or answer. ”How old are you?” Before dropping a question.

Moon’s only reference was the system, so he answered according to the system.

”Sixteen!”

”Definitely still a kid!” Uon struck without mercy.

Slam~

Moon slammed the table they were sitting at. ”I’m a grown-up man; what are you talking about?” he retorted angrily, letting a few droplets of saliva slip.

Uon waved his hand, swiftly blocking them with a slight hue of Echo clinging to his sleeves. ”Sixteen is just a kid,” Uon affirmed.

His giant hand found Moon’s shoulder ”A still-growing body.” He ran his finger on Moon’s face ”Not the slightest trace of facial hair.” He tapped His jaw. ”No trace of wisdom tooth.

”I—”

”Not even your voice has matured; you sound like a lizard!” Uon, with eyes closed, index finger raised.

The absolute certainty in his voice assaulted Moon’s worldview.

He didn’t care in the slightest about height, facial hair, or voice.

What makes a man, a man?

The answer was obvious, and that alone would prove him right.

Thus....

Moon stood, ready to prove a point!