Tower of Endless: Death Granted Entry

Next to the screaming Basil, Barrett was laughing hysterically, completely against his nature.

”Barrett, bro,” Basil called out before stepping closer and giving him a hug. ”We’re no longer hopeless, bro.”

The two of them had suffered the moment they set foot on the second floor. Once outside the rift, they were spotted by Colten and his group, only to become his disposable henchmen.

The target they were supposed to lose their qualifications or their lives attacking had taken them in instead. He was a good boss for the short time, a little longer than a week, they had been with him.

He allowed them to receive training like proper ascenders, treating them as more than just disposable items.

They had also made a crazy bet and won.

They were experiencing too many emotions right now.

Yet, right next to them, someone was not sharing their excitement. His droopy eyes squinted once again.

Dorbish looked at Moon’s wounds. ”Is it not the same?” he wondered aloud, no longer sure of his previous assumptions.

Basil noticed his whispers. ”Dorbish, bro, thanks for blocking that one for us. We owe you.”

Barrett nodded. ”Mister Dorbish, thanks.”

Dorbish didn’t look at them. ”Don’t worry, it’s between me and your boss,” he assured them.

Away from them, Colten and Roran exchanged glances.

”That was insane,” Roran said, breathing heavily.

Colten was still stunned. ”You know what? If I had known Dara was that strong, I would have placed my money on him,” Colten announced.

”That armor is one thing, but his Echo mastery and methods... I didn’t know someone like that was around,” he added.

Roran was panting; he had been holding his breath for a long time near the end. ”I know, right?”

”Staying inside that defensive technique for so long... If it were me, I would have been reduced to a skeleton,” Roran added.

”The time is almost up. Let’s wait for this round to be officially concluded,” Colten said, seemingly still bitter about not receiving a gift unlike the others.

Though if he knew the truth, maybe it would taste even more bitter in many ways.

On Lexie’s side, she was clapping nonstop, cheering at the top of her lungs without a single pause. Nola, on the other hand, was also celebrating, but with a calmer round of applause. Though she was also unable to stay seated for the last few minutes.

Boa rubbed the bridge of her nose. ”I think I understand now why you want him on our side so badly,” she said.

She watched him mix sand with his own blood to seal his wounds.

He did it like it was the most normal thing in the world, like it was something he did every single day. ”I understand now how cruel the first floor is, and what these scars on his body mean,” she said.

”Someone like him is not only a good fighter; he is also familiar with large-scale battles,” Talia said, before adding, ”He should be our side’s manifestation of survival.”

Boa went silent for a moment before shaking her head. ”Would that guy agree to be under anyone?”

She remembered what he did to Colten. She then remembered how he pulled Zera’s eye out of its socket before throwing it at the suspicious-looking person.

Talia shook her head. ”I heard he said he was a mercenary. Worst case, we can hire him.”

Boa pursed her lips. Her face didn’t look like she liked the idea, but she didn’t say anything.

Talia noticed Boa’s concerns. ”I have an idea anyway. As I said, it is a worst-case scenario. We also have the advantage... I doubt someone like Moon would agree to work with someone as shady as that guy.”

Boa had seen Moon almost lose his momentum to save Basil and Barrett; she ended up nodding. ”I guess Moon seems to care for his people.”

Talia looked Boa in the eye. ”Don’t forget that now, after killing Dara, Moon will be forever hunted by these two clans.”

Further away, where Ed and Samuel were seated...

”Hoooo, that was intense,” Ed exclaimed.

He didn’t dwell on it much, and Samuel didn’t look like he wanted to talk either.

”Anyway, I’m leaving now that things are wrapped up.” He stood up, ready to depart, before suddenly pausing.

He looked down at the ring and squinted. ”What’s that brat doing?”

On the ring, Moon had his own sequence for doing things.

First, winning... Obviously.

Second came taking care of his wounds. He had to treat himself with some care to heal fast and avoid collapsing suddenly.

Third and last...

Looting.

Moon wasn’t interested in anything left on the ring except Dara’s armor itself.

It had made him suffer badly, and it was also far too big for him.

”I’m not sure if I’ll ever get that big, but...” He started flipping the dead body up and down for a couple of minutes.

Moon tried everything he knew to take off the armor.

He twisted the neck around a couple of times. ”So I can’t unscrew it?”

He ignored the popping and snapping noises coming from the body and the gritted teeth of everyone watching the scene.

”How did that bastard get inside?” he cursed.

Trying to take off the pieces around the arms, the legs... He even pulled at the waist.

”FUCK DAMMIT, WHAT’S THAT THING?” he shouted at Dara’s dead body.

Soon he gave up and sat down. ”I’ll ask Uon once we’re done here,” he decided, too tired to bother himself further with anything else.

He decided to relax and catch his breath for whatever time he had left before the quest ending announcement arrived.

He also closed his blurry and hurting eyes to let them rest while he still could.

The damage he received this round was somewhat unusual for him.

He wanted to rub his forehead, scratch his head, and rub his eyes. Yet, all of them were badly hurt.

His face was still bloodied.

”Am I going to go bald?” he wondered after having his hair fall off his scalp.

The thought made him want to punch Dara one more time, and he did clench his fists.

Shuaaa~

A sudden sound came from where the body should be.

Moon opened his eyes. ’A new enemy? Or is that bastard still alive?’

What he saw was more nonsensical than both of his assumptions...

Dara’s armor was gone. Instead, his pain-twisted face and wide-open eyes were now completely visible.

Next to him on the ground lay a small item that looked like a one-centimeter-long armor. As big as a bean.

Moon fished it up and started studying it with difficulty using his blurry eyes.

”The hell?” he exclaimed.

It looked exactly like the armor Dara was wearing; everything was identical.

Moon’s eyes darted back and forth.

”Ah.” He suddenly remembered his Tower status window could identify items. Thus, he brought the armor close to it.

Instantly, a set of data appeared before his eyes.

Surprisingly, the status window wasn’t affected by the fact that his eyes were damaged. He could read it clearly and perfectly without the slightest issue.

But what he saw blew his mind.

[Universal Armor Set]

A set of armor built for the members of the Havoc Clan.

The armor provides absolute defense within the first 5 floors.

Creator: Specter Clan

Grade: None

[Abilities]

-Instant Deployment

This set of armor will equip itself instantly once deployed.

-Instant Retraction

The armor will return to a dormant state once dismissed.

-Size Adjustment

The armor will fit the user’s body regardless of their physique.