In the morning, Bakugo was greeted by another slip of paper, folded up. He unfolded it and read the contents. He grinned, darkly before shredding it as well, into the garbage bin.
-Heroes of the Tower-
"Good morning, Regulars!" Kaba said over the speakers. "This is Kazue Kaba! Did you all have breakfast? I know yesterday's test was exhausting, but don't just stay in your beds and eat you meals. For your information, all food is now free since the tests are over. For those who didn't eat much to conserve points, please help yourselves. Though, to be honest, the food here isn't very good. Now, to the main topic. Tonight at 6pm, the list of regulars who will take the final test will be announced. All regulars, please come to the first hall by 6:00! Alright, that's it, bye!"
-Heroes of the Tower-
In a cave, somewhere on the second floor, two people meet to make plans for something.
"What do you mean you'll help?" Goro Miura asked.
"I meant what I said. If you want them dead, I can help."
"And why would you do that?" Miura asked.
"This is Evankhell's hell. We sort out those who are a danger to the tower, and I am the deep sea fish, waiting to gobble them up. Give my regards to your commander, Royal enforcement division 67, Goro Miura."
"I will, Yuhan."
-Heroes of the Tower-
Yuhan and Kaba walked down the hallway to the first hall.
"Finally, it's the last test for the regulars, but this crop of regulars were all good. I don't really want to drop any of them. Maybe I've gotten too close to them." Kaba chuckled. "Director?"
"Yes?"
"The dangers to the tower you mentioned before, are there any among these regulars?"
"...Ms. Kaba, do you know why they began these types of tests on this floor?"
"No."
"The tests here used to be similar to the tests on other floors. The administrator's chosen representative tested the regulars Headon chose. This more complex test format was implemented after Phantaminum appeared. You know about Phantaminum's invasion of the Zahard castle? Phantaminum massacred the best of Zahard's renkers. Everyone in the tower was shocked. Then came the irregular, Urek Mazino. He had monstrous power and quickly became an influence. The group he created, Wolhaiksong, is so strong that even the ten great families fear them.
"Through these incidents, the great rulers of the tower realized their precious tower could be brought down by others. If individuals unsatisfied with the tower or individuals with mysterious power were to enter the tower, the balance of power could tip. If the malcontent minority becomes stronger than the ruling elite, the tower's peace will be shattered by chaos. Eventually the rulers made a decision. Here at this place where the regulars first take the test, they would weed out those who posed a threat to the tower and keep them from continuing.
"We say we are testing their talent to see if they are worthy, but the real purpose is to keep the tower from chaos. In other words, this is the seawall to prevent the tsunami that can shake the tower." Yuhan explained.
"...I don't really like that idea. Is it helpful to the tower to sort out those who might be dangerous to the rulers of the tower? A sea without waves is no longer a sea. It's just a pond, isn't it? So rather than facing a slow decay, isn't it better to live fighting the waves?" Kaba asked.
"Ms. Kaba, if you don't like it, you can quit. Even without you, the test floor will carry on unabated. Now, let's get to work. Let's sort out the dangerous ones." The opened the door, as Kaba made a confused and angry face. She covered it with a smile, but she was unhappy. Everyone was present in the first hall. Kaba stepped up to a podium, while the teachers and Yuhan sat at a judging table.
"Good afternoon, regulars. This is Kazue Kaba. Starting now, I will announce the regulars who passed the final position test." the lights went dark and a projection appeared on the wall. It showed the fishermen first. Shiro Yoshikata, Tobe Ai, and Saori Sanada Zahard passed, as well as another, named Kunio Otsuka. He had Black eyes and red hair tied up into a ponytail. He wore a t-shirt provided by the floor with Evankhell's symbol on it, and black slacks.
The spear bearers were next. Yusuke Kida was there along with the guy in the green tracksuit, Takafumi Kurisu, as well as two other Spear Bearers. Konyo Tanaka was a burly man who wore a pair of black shorts and a white t-shirt. He had long blonde hair and green eyes. Mino Ishida was a tall woman who wore what looked like some sort of military gear. She had short, brown hair and brown eyes.
The scouts who passed were Keiji Yamamura and two others, one from Team B, the one who didn't bail, and one from Team A. Both scouts had evankhell outfits on. The first was named Fuuko Oyakawa, and she has had long blonde hair and violet eyes. The second was Erize Watari. She was bald, and had ocean blue eyes.
Second to last were the light bearers. Uraraka Ochako passed, as well as one Ryo Ogawa. Ogawa had glasses covering dark brown eyes, and mid length red hair.
Finally, the wave controllers who passed were Izuku Midoriya and Urumi Zahard. Immediately, someone objected. It was Katsuku Bakugo, who was unsatisfied with the test results. Yuhan got up and walked to the middle of the room, and called Bakugo there as well.
"So, you object to the results of the test? You realize that the results are final, correct?" Yuhan asked.
"Under normal circumstances, yes, but if I take the floor guardian's test as my final exam and pass it, then I can go up to the next floor with everyone else."
"How do you know about that?" Yuhan asked, calmly.
"Doesn't matter, take me to see him."
"There is one thing that you didn't account for, Mr. Bakugo. Only an Irregular can initiate that test."
"Good, cause I am one." The room was in shock.
"No one will help you. You've made a name for yourself, and you won't get a shred of assistance, so you'll be taking the test alone. The guardian may not even let you take the test." Yuhan explained.
"Then let me do it!" Deku shouted as he stood up. "I'm also an Irregular!"
"...come with me...both of you." The two left with Yuhan. Once they were gone, Kaba spoke.
"This presents a unique situation. You, the passing regulars have to choose whether or not to help those two, should they get the approval of the floor guardian. If you don't you will take the normal final test and should you pass you will go to the next floor. If you do help them, you will all pass the test, should the qualifications be met. However, you will forever be branded as those who helped Irregulars, and most of you know the bias against Irregulars." She finished. After a pause, Keiji said,
"The answer's obvious, isn't it? We won't help them."
"Keiji?!" Uraraka yelled.
"Sorry, but you heard them, they're Irregulars. I can't be a part of this." He was punched to the ground by Ai of all people.
"You bastard! You wouldn't help someone who has stuck by you for so long? You said he was one of your first friends in the tower! I don't know about Bakugo, but I'll help Izuku. He's the best of us. He's the kindest person here and the least corrupted by these tests. He at least deserves to go up the tower even if none of us do. So, go. Run away to the upper floors with your tail between your legs. I'm going with Deku."
"She's right, Keiji. You're a coward. I'm going with Deku as well." Yoshikata said.
"Same here." Said the soft spoken Kida.
"I'll go too." Urumi proclaimed with a small blush on her face.
"Well, I have to keep an eye on my sister." Said Saori, noticing the blush on Urumi's face. "So me too."
"It goes without saying, but I'm going, too." Uraraka said.
"I don't know him very well, but if someone that nice is helping someone like Bakugo, there must be a reason. I'll go." Kirisu said. There was a murmur of agreement as the team walked away, going somewhere to train for the final test. Everyone but Keiji and Uraraka left the room.
"Alright, slick. You did it." Uraraka held her hand out to Keiji. She helped him up before giving him a hug.
"Well, there had to be a trigger. If not, then no one would have agreed." The two got the story straight. Keiji was apparently "moved" by the display of friendship and decided to join them with some persuasion from Uraraka. Meanwhile, the two wave controllers entered the door that led to the floor guardian.
"We meet again, boys. I thought you'd be back."
"Y-you did?" Izuku asked.
"Yeah, because you both looked, tasty, succulent and savory." The two stared at the guardian. "I felt it. So, listen well, Irregulars. I prepare the tests. I'll make a test that is of equivalent value to your needs. So, both of you, what is it you are climbing for?"
"I'm climbing to get out of the tower, and save my friends." Deku said.
"I'm climbing to get out of the tower with the power to be a hero." Bakugo said. The guardian seemed to smile. Suddenly they were transported back outside the door.
"So...did he give you permission to take the test?" Yuhan asked the boys. They nodded. "I knew you and your friend Uraraka were Irregulars from the beginning. I knew the relationship between you three. You losing the crown game, and not allowing Bakugo to pass were all part of my plan." Bakugo was steaming, but stayed put. "You're all dangerous. Especially you two. No one in this tower would want you three in it." Izuku was even mad at this point.
"You would know, since you're a ranker. What's up there? What's everyone here risking everything for?"
"I couldn't explain in words! There's more wealth and beauty than you can ever imagine. Everything in this world, no even more than that exists up there!"
"You'd better be right. Because we're going up there and you can't stop us." Bakugo said. The two boys walked away.
—-Heroes of the Tower—-
For the next few months, the regulars had time to train. Deku and Urumi trained with Saori in hand to hand and close range weapon combat. The spear bearers trained with Noriyori Tatsuda to hit further and different placed targets, as well as some short range combat to help them get by. Bakugo trained with the fishermen in short range weapon combat and trained them to use more shinsu. The scouts trained with the light bearers in information gathering. Soon enough, the day of the final exam came.
—-Heroes of the Tower—-
"We will now start the final test." Yuhan said to the group of regulars, assembled in front of him. "This test is called Deep Sea Fish Herding."