บท 1834: Impunity
Three weeks after his confrontation with the Yeon Family on the 21st Floor, Vahn found himself seated atop the palm of a giant statue resembling a hand. Below him, dominating this region of the 28th Floor, countless tents could be seen forming a rather expansive community of Regulars.
For one reason or another, various Regulars had come to reside in the area surrounding the giant statue that was known as the Hand of Arlen. The 'eyes' of the Jahad Empire didn't extend here so it had become a gathering place for criminals and those who wished to escape the pursuit of the Ten Great Families. These were people who had effectively lost the will to climb the Tower, but, fearing persecution within the Middle Tower, they continued to persevere in an environment filled with sex, drugs, and other criminal affairs.
Seeing tens of thousands of Regulars lazily meandering around in hooded cloaks, Vahn couldn't help but release a sigh. He always felt an emotion similar to depression whenever he saw a large group of people who had simply 'given up' on pursuing their dreams. Though this didn't apply to everyone below, the fact they had chosen to reside in such a place all but guaranteed that even the most determined among them would slowly be broken down by the negative energies emitted by the rest of the community.
Unlike his previous Tests, which had required him to save various different peoples, the Guardian Test of the 28th Floor required that Vahn 'cleanse the lands surrounding the Hand of Arlen'. In the pursuit of this objective, he had removed the countless traps and security golems infesting the area, but, even after sweeping through the region numerous times, the Guardian of the Floor insisted his task had not been completed.
To remove any doubt, Vahn had the Law of Identity transform into the monstrous serpent, and, as he had suspected, its true aim was to have him purge the 'slums' that dominated the region around the Hand of Arlen. As for the reason, it was because the Guardian of the Floor had been particularly fond of the woman named Arlen, Baam's mother. It disdained the fact that one of the few remnants of her existence had become a stomping grounds for various criminal organizations, so, without the means to remove the 'cancer' itself, it desired that he act on its behalf.
Though he could empathize with the Guardian's 'plight', Vahn had absolutely no desire to slaughter a bunch of Regulars just because they were considered an eyesore to someone else. As a result, he was currently thinking of methods to either convince or force the Regulars below to abandon their homes. The problem with these options was that the people below didn't really have a place to go, so, if he forced them to flee the City of Tents, their lives and his reputation would both be ruined...
Exhaling a tired sigh, Vahn lay back against the cold stone comprising the statue of Arlen's hand as he dismissed the thought of having Fenrir and the rest scare them away. Though she likely wouldn't even hesitate, he wasn't going to drag her reputation through the mud just to protect his own. She didn't deserve to be seen as a monster while he was touted as a righteous yet ruthless god, so, after a moment of consideration, he ultimately decided to simply ignore this particular Guardian's Test.
Immediately after this thought crossed his mind, Vahn teleported to the interior of one of the many massive skyscrapers that dominated the otherwise desolate 28th Floor. Jahad's forces had brought ruin to the region long ago, so, unless you wandered thousands of kilometers from the location of the Inner Tower, it was impossible to find even a hint of greenery. This was yet another reason to disdain the self-proclaimed 'King' of the Tower, a title that never really makes sense considering his forces were known as the 'Jahad Empire'. Even his primary abode was known as the 'Imperial Palace of Jahad', indicating it was the property of an Emperor rather than a King...
Deciding there was no merit in thinking about the peculiarities of Jahad and his Empire, Vahn shook his head clear of idle thoughts as he made his way towards the Administration Office that managed the Test of the 28th Floor. There, hundreds of other Regulars had formed orderly queues in order to register their respective teams for the Test. They were all eager to either participate in or witness the Workshop Battle, so, with the event less than a month away, everyone was doing their best to reach the 30th Floor.
After waiting for his own turn to come, Vahn found himself standing in front of an expressionless man with dark red hair and a tiny black horn protruding from his right temple. This reminded him of Endorsi, and, as a result, an amused smile spread across his face as he considered how much his young protege must be 'suffering'.
Not expecting his 'client' to suddenly smile, the red-haired Regular's expression somehow became even more deadpan as he asked, "Where is your team? Everyone who wishes to participate in the Test must register. Come back once you have gathered the rest of your group."
Noticing the tell-tale glimmer of 'envy' and 'resentment' contained within the Regular's eyes, Vahn's own radiated a subtle golden glow as he said, "I will be taking the Test alone. Now, do your job and allow me to register."
Though he wanted to give Vahn some 'friendly advice', the man working the counter found himself at a loss for words as an intense shudder ran through his body. He suddenly felt as though he was a tiny animal trapped before an apex predator, a monstrosity that could decide his life and death on a whim...
---
With so many teams participating in the Test of the 28th Floor, it took an additional five days before Vahn was given the opportunity to participate in his own. Unfortunately for his opponents, the only objectives were to either defeat the enemy team or press a small buzzer located in the opponent's base. As a result, it only took 39.04 seconds to complete the test, courtesy of Latias discovering the enemy team's buzzer and pressing it before they could even begin working on a plan of action.
While his enemies were understandably dissatisfied with how quickly things had ended, demanding a chance to 'prove' themselves, Vahn ultimately refused the Test Administrator's suggestion to have them fight it out. He had no interest in bullying the weak, and, unless he agreed to take a secondary Test, there was nothing the Administrator could do to revoke his qualifications. As a result, he soon found himself on the 29th Floor, a region that starkly contrasted the desolation found on the 28th.
Though there was a bunker-like building located close by, Vahn could sense that his surroundings were dominated by plant life. There were lush green forests that seemed to spread out toward the horizon, and, though there were various unique forms of Shinheuh residing within, a very peaceful and serene atmosphere permeated everything in his perception.
Seemingly confused by the fact he was alone, the Ranker that had been sent to explain the rules of the 29th Floor didn't immediately speak out. This gave Vahn ample opportunity to learn everything he needed to know about the man, a relaxed smile spreading across his face as he politely cupped his hands and said, "Though fleeting our meeting, a friend found within foreign lands is an occasion worthy of celebration."
Recognizing the somewhat familiar phrase, the Ranker, adorned with two katanas and dressed in a beige kimono, returned a smile as he emulated Vahn's gesture and mused, "There are more paths in life than grains of sand amidst the black shore. Beneath the gaze of the mighty serpent, who can be strangers?"
Chuckling in response to the man's words, Vahn took the initiative to explain, "I have encountered a number of people from your homeland during my ascent. Were they to know of your existence, I'm certain they would be greatly motivated."
Understanding the meaning contained within Vahn's words, the Ranker couldn't help but sigh as he shook his head and answered, "I fear the opposite. While I was ultimately able to become a Ranker without abandoning my sword, my station gives me nothing to boast about. Even after a thousand years, I have yet to claim even a single victory against the masters of the Arie Family..."
Though he wanted to commend the man for persisting for more than a thousand years, Vahn knew it wasn't what he wanted to hear. Instead, he offered a curt nod before saying, "Try as we might, it is impossible to know for certain what tomorrow brings. Though day must yield for the night, it is only from the darkness that a new dawn might come."
Nodding his head in approval, a smile spread across the Ranker's face as he said, "Well said, young Regular. With that mentality, it is only a matter of time before you reach the top of the Tower. Now, without further ado, allow me to introduce myself and explain the rules of the 29th Floor. My name is Tokisue, Test Administrator assigned to Area 93. That bunker over there will serve as your primary residence for the duration of your stay on the 29th Floor. As for the Test, there are two methods to pass to the next Floor. The first involves locating four enemy bunkers and stealing the central power core hidden within. The second option will pit you against an enemy team in an event known as the 'Battle of Cannons'. Though this is by far the faster of the two options, it is also significantly more dangerous since both teams are provided with mounted Shinsu Cannons, each capable of severely injuring or even killing the average Regular."
Returning a smile of his own, Vahn followed up Tokisue's explanation by asking, "What happens to the teams who lose their power cores? Will they be disqualified?"
Since Vahn was 'alone', Tokisue wasn't surprised by the fact that he wanted to avoid engaging in a battle that heavily favored teams. He was clearly very powerful, but, unless he could blitz the enemy before they could react, it would be very difficult for him to secure victory in a battle that required him to charge into enemy lines while simultaneously protecting an objective.
With an 'understanding' look in his eyes, Tokisue went on to explain, "The only penalty for having your core stolen is that you will be without power until you manage to steal another. You can also wait until the beginning of the month to receive a new power core, but, unless you have the power to protect your base, there is no merit in trying to pass via the gradual accumulation of cores."
Though he was intending to establish contact with the Guardian immediately following Tokisue's departure, Vahn was pleased to know that the enemy teams wouldn't be eliminated if he stole their cores. It would take too much time to find four teams that 'deserved' to be eliminated, so, now that he knew there were no substantial penalties for the opposing party, he could easily send out Latias and Latios to collect cores. He could also go 'hunting' with Fenrir, something they hadn't done in far too long. Either way, his passage to the 30th Floor was all but secured, so, after listening to the rest of Tokisue's explanation, he ventured into his private bunker to inspect the interior before pulling out his Pocket and establishing contact with the Floor Guardian...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn ain't a patsy...!','I half-expected them to begin speaking in haikus...','The victims of Latias are forever increasing xD...')
(A/N: The chapter I posted previously was for yesterday's block. This is the first of the chapters that are meant to be on the new schedule. Since I got an early start, there will be three more before the daily reset tomorrow.)
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