Chapter Three: Headon's Floor - Part Two (1F)

Narrator: Yuri Zahard

I watched Baam go into the cage, but I'd started to have second thoughts. Contrary to what Evan said, I did have them. I just had them after I acted.

Maybe Evan might be able to pass judgment. "We let the kid go because of his determination, but this test just seems so bleak." I asked without looking at him. "Hey. You think there might be a way?"

"To be honest, this is a test far too overwhelming for him." Evan replied. "You could only pray for a miracle."

I sighed. "Yeah, I thought so too." It looked like this Irregular might just disappear from the tower without doing anything.

I clenched my fists and watched. Maybe he'd be able to run past the eel. Evan kept on talking about not being able to run through dense Shinsoo. It was true that you couldn't, but his 'limit' was way too low. But Baam didn't do anything, he just stood there as the eel opened its mouth. Was he too scared to move?

"Hey!" I shouted. "Baam! What are you doing?! Run for the ball and pop it for god's sake. Run! You idiot!"

But it was too late, and the eel closed its mouth around him. I ran over to the cage, but Evan held me back. "Let me go!" I yelled at him. "He's fucking crazy! Damn, I have to go and get him out right-"

"No my lady!" Evan yelled. "That's the answer to the test!"

What the hell was this mushroom talking about!? "So the answer of this fucking tests is to let yourself get eaten for their next generation? Huh?"

"No, my lady" Evan cried. "Look"

I turned my head, and saw the eel spit Baam out. That was one insane irregular. "H-he came back out! Stabbing the eel from the inside?" I asked Evan.

He nodded. "Exactly. Without running, facing the eel straight on, that is the only way to pass the test. However, being able to do so requires extreme courage, determination and judgement. That was what the test was for, wasn't it Headon."

Did he do this just for dramatic effects? "Why didn't you tell me this?" I asked him.

He shrugged in that expressionless manner and replied "Even if I'd told you it wouldn't have done any good. A normal..."

Yeah, a normal guy wouldn't have been able to do it. Even that bastard Urek. This guy really was an irregular irregular. Maybe that'd show Headon what would happen if he kept playing around like this. Grinning, I watched as Baam raised Black March and struck at the ball.

But it didn't pop.

What the fuck!? "What kind of ball is that?" I yelled at Headon. "Why the hell isn't it popping!?"

But Headon just shrugged in that oily way of his, and replied "Who knows?"

"Who knows?" I repeated. I was this close to punching him as hard as I could. "I've never even heard of a ball that's fine even after being pierced by Black March!"

Headon's face grew even smugger, although it didn't change. If I could, I'd do an Enryu and change that fucking face permanently for him.

Now, Headon was unable to contain his mirth, and he smiled, exposing sharp teeth in his mouth. "I guess it's a pretty well-made ball..."