32 - Crown Game 2

[Kaleidus]

Then when Anak's team was walking back to their room, Anak noticed us through the window, or more specifically, Androssi.

Androssi mouthed something to the fake princess, and Anak's expression turned ugly.

Before she could respond to the provocation, Hatsu put a sword to her neck. "Stop. Don't make any more silly moves that will harm our team."

"What team?" Anak said with a scoff before pushing the blade away, blatantly unfazed by its sharp edge, and walking off.

O O O

When the 3rd round started, four teams tried to go in. Everyone was about to rush the crown, but Khun Aguero Agnis, Baam's other teammate, successfully got there first, when the other teams had barely moved.

Then he threw the crown, taunting the other teams to fight for it themselves. Predictably, they didn't take the bait and instead ganged up on Baam's team.

They did an admirable job fighting off all the other teams despite that. Rak with sheer physical prowess, Khun using his special bag "Manbarondenna" that could suck people inside and a switching trick with his knife and long sword. Just when it looked like a few crafty contestants were about to get the drop on Baam, the weak link in their team that didn't know how to fight, he stopped a bunch of attacks with an unconscious use of Shinsoo.

At the end, all the other teams were defeated. One little guy tried to grab the crown when everybody was distracted.

Then it turned out that Khun had cloned the crown with his bag. Finally, Khun gave the real crown to Baam and sat him on the throne.

O O O

"Not bad…that blue-haired one is pretty smart. But that bag of his is almost cheating. He's from the Khun family, huh…that's the largest of the Ten. That boy with the Black March doesn't seem very strong though," Androssi analyzed.

"It would be unwise to underestimate him. You noticed it, didn't you? The way he used Shinsoo instinctively," I said.

"Was that really him? He looks clueless, as if he didn't even know what happened there."

"He's the one…" Rachel said. "That's Baam. The one that's trying to follow me up the Tower."

"You know him?" Androssi asked with a confused expression. "That's…weird. Regulars aren't supposed to be grouped with people they knew before they started climbing. But then…I guess we're with a different group than we started with."

"So, want to go in yet?"

"When we go in…can you guys please try not to hurt Baam too much?" asked Rachel.

"Don't want to hurt your friend? Well, we're going to let his team win anyways, so whatever. Let's go!" Androssi said, back to a cheerful mood and pounded the buzzer.

O O O

The three of us appeared in the arena.

In this round, Khun would go on to explain how he smuggled some Regulars in through the previous tests via his bag and would be calling in a favor to get them to help in this round, then finish quickly.

Rachel's team wasn't supposed to go in this round, but Androssi was all fired up, and I also had a reason for deviating.

In the next round, Hwaryun's team would go in. But then when she fakes an attack on Rachel, Baam would notice and get in the way, while unleashing another instinctual Shinsoo attack. However, that same attack would also blind one of Hwaryun's eyes.

That would be a shame, considering she was a part of our little conspiracy, and my shield against the more hostile factions of FUG. As a Guide, she couldn't see the Irregulars in the paths, so it was up to me to stop her from getting hurt.

So that was why I agreed to enter in this round.

"Begin!"

Androssi burst forth with extreme speed. She might be able to run faster than I could fly with my un-Reinforced wings.

Like this, she destroyed the competition in one devastating swoop with a combination of direct physical combat alongside some kind of remotely controlled pair of bell-like discs.

Khun's smile fell off as he stared at us in shock. His helpers were defeated effortlessly by Androssi. His plan was ruined.

Now it was just us and Baam's team.

"You guys did well, but you're just out of your league against us," said Androssi after finishing up with the other teams. "I'm sorry to say…but your little bet with that fake princess is off. I'll be taking the Black March!"

"What? How did you know about—" Khun was cut off when Androssi flashed in front of him and he barely had time to put up his bag to defend. He tried to open the suction function but Androssi simply smirked and kicked the bag closed again, putting enough force into it to smack the bag into Khun's face.

"Gah!" Khun went flying into a wall.

"Mr. Khun!" Baam shouted after him, worry clear on his face.

Even Rak was wary as he moved closer to Baam, ready to defend.

"Do you know why we got sent to participate with your group?" Androssi asked with a playful smile.

Khun picked himself up painfully. "Damn. So you guys are the ones from the other test district?"

"That's right. In our first test, we eliminated everyone else. We're the only team left, out of 400 Regulars," Androssi announced to the whole arena. "That's why we're here. And just so you know, my kill count was only 107. If you think I'm strong…let me tell you. My teammate, the big guy back there…" she pointed towards me with one thumb, "…he took down the other three hundred in one move!"

Wow, she was really pumping me up. I could hardly live up to the hype, but I suppose she wanted to spook them into giving up. Or perhaps, she was trying to draw attention away from Rachel, as she knew that Rachel wasn't very strong.

"Why are there such monsters on this floor? This is the goddamn Floor of Tests, the beginning!" Khun asked with a weary voice.

"Don't give up, blue turtle! They still need to get past me!" Rak shouted courageously.

I walked towards him calmly, with Rachel trailing behind. The giant alligator stepped backwards as I approached, pointing his spear at me.

"I'm not scared of you! I'm Rak Wraithraiser, you turtles!"

Then he stopped backing away and instead charged towards me.

I really didn't want to demonstrate my actual physical capabilities, which were lower than Androssi's, so an alternative show of force was in order. Since Androssi hyped me up so much, I'd use that fear to my advantage.

Rak the five meter tall alligator man thrust his spear towards me. He was skilled and would become quite powerful later, but fortunately he was much weaker than me at the moment, without having learned how to use Shinsoo yet. In this group of Regulars, only Androssi and Anak could exceed my level of Reinforced strength and speed. Maybe Hatsu could come close, but not Rak, despite his impressive bulk. He could probably outmatch me if I used only the Armoriont without Reinforcement, but once I boosted myself with magecraft, I should have the edge.

So I didn't dodge, instead, I caught the spear.

"Raa!" Rak yelled while trying to retrieve his weapon from me.

Then I sent mana into it improperly, Breaking it with Reinforcement.

The spear shattered at the point of contact, pieces falling to the ground.

Rak's eyes widened like saucers as he stammered and backed away quickly, seeing me apparently crush the weapon into pieces with my bare hand. "Ah…a super turtle…!"

"Hah! The Black March is mine!" Androssi shouted as she appeared in front of a surprised Baam.

"No!" Khun ran to intercept but was outclassed in speed.

"Ah…!" Baam gasped and flinched while holding the Black March out in front of him.

Suddenly an explosion of Shinsoo sent Androssi rocketing away. She flipped around mid-air to land beside us and held her forehead before shaking it off.

"Unghh. That actually hurt…I'm impressed," said Androssi.

"Was that you, miss Black March?" Baam asked aloud, looking at the needle weapon in his hands. "Thank you!"

"Is he really that clueless? Did he seriously just control Shinsoo without even realizing it?" Androssi said with shock.

"He's a natural," I said. "It won't be as easy as it looks to get that weapon off him, especially if he actually ignites it."

Khun and Rak formed a defensive wall in front of Baam but otherwise made no other moves, watching us warily.

"Do you have any ideas? Can't you do whatever you did back in the first test and take them all out?" Androssi asked me with an expectant expression.

"Hm…" In fact, I'd already started releasing the paralytic virus into the air. But it would take a little while for it to infect them and take effect by spreading through the air and skin contact, so I needed to buy some time.

Compared to using a concentrated blast of the gas agent, the virus worked a lot slower. Its advantage was being able to spread by itself, being more customizable with the effects and timing, and being less traceable as it cleared out from the body's system.

I'd already released it on Androssi earlier, so some of it was probably starting to infect Baam and Khun as well, but it had to grow from very low concentrations after the initial infection. Then there was Rak, whose body was of such size that it might need a much more potent dose to have an effect.

"There's still plenty of time left in this round. Why don't we have some fun first? There are some things I'd like to try out," I said, drawing Derflinger slowly.

As we planned beforehand, Derflinger remained silent, so that he could pretend to be like other Ignition weapons that had to be activated.

"The Black March…just how powerful is a weapon from the 13 month series?" I mused aloud, having drawn all attention to the crystalline sword in my hand.

"Fine. Want me to take care of these two?" Androssi offered.

"No, that's fine. All those Regulars from before died too quickly. I need to know how much to hold back if I don't want to accidentally kill someone. These two will also serve as a useful test," I said, playing up the story Androssi had already told.

"Okay then," Androssi said, before standing back with Rachel. She seemed eager to see me in action as well.

"Blue turtle…do you have a plan?" Rak asked Khun. He still held up the broken end of his spear in a defensive stance.

"Of course, I always have a plan," Khun answered confidently. If I didn't know better, I might have thought he was really that confident. But I could tell from the sweat falling from his head that he was unnerved, even if he did have a plan.

"Ignite, Derflinger. Slash Wave Level One," I said, swinging Derflinger diagonally.

Derflinger glowed with light and an arc of energy was sent out crashing into Khun and Rak.

Khun dodged it by bending down, while Rak tried to block with his broken spear. It destroyed the weapon and hit Rak in the chest, making it smoke with light burns. He grunted in pain, but was otherwise fine.

"Huh? That wasn't so strong!" Rak exclaimed, clutching at the wound.

"Don't underestimate him, Rak! He's toying with us," Khun said.

"Good, good. If you were hurt by something of that level, I'd be very disappointed," I said.

"Hahaha…that was the weakest possible setting," said Derflinger. "Wanna guess how many levels there are?"

"Did that sword just talk?" Khun asked.

"Nope," Derflinger answered. "You're just hearing voices in your head. You took a hard fall back there, kid. Should probably get that checked out soon."

"Very funny…" said Khun.

"The weakest setting…?" Rak said quietly as he rubbed his chest.

"Hehe…that's right. That was one-thousandth of my true power!" Derflinger said in a haughty tone.

"First the Black March, then the Green April, and now there's an Ignition weapon that can even talk out loud?" Khun asked with frustration. "What's with all these ultra rare weapons? Is this supposed to be a test for Regulars or Rankers?!"

"Slash Wave Level Three," I said, swinging again.

This time the arc of energy was much larger. Compared to the Slash Beams I used against the White Steel Eel, these Slash Waves were designed to be larger in area but less concentrated. At Level three, it was already wide enough to be half of Rak's height.

Khun managed to dodge again by jumping, but Rak wasn't so lucky. He tried but was too slow and got blown away, crashing into a wall.

When Khun landed, he stumbled awkwardly with a shocked expression, before shaking his arms and hands as if testing them. Looks like the virus was starting to work.

Rak picked himself up from the wrecked rubble with a groan.

"But I dodged…so why…?" Khun talked to himself, then shouted. "Careful guys, something's strange about his attack! There's an invisible part to it!"

"So you figured it out," I said, confirming his false hypothesis while walking towards the throne. "But it's too little, too late.

Baam gulped nervously at my approach.

Khun dashed over but collapsed midway. "Arghh!"

"Now then, Baam, was it? You should ignite that weapon. Otherwise, you might not survive."

"Huh? Wait a minute, Mr. Axion!" Rachel called out. "Please, don't—"

Baam looked towards the cloaked girl in surprise, seemingly recognizing her voice.

I paid them no mind as I swung.

"Beam, Level Four."

The same level of attack that I'd used on the White Steel Eel was unleashed on the boy.

He turned back to me with widened eyes. "Ig-ignite, please!"

Just before my beam hit, the Black March glowed white and crackled like lightning.

A large explosion rocked the arena. Smoke obscured the whole throne.

"Why…?" Rachel looked stunned.

"Relax, your boyfriend's fine," Androssi said, narrowing her eyes at Baam's position. "He actually ignited it…I can hardly believe it. Some random kid just ignited one of the 13 month series."

When the smoke cleared, Baam was revealed to be still standing on the throne, the Black March crackling with energy.

"Haah…hah…" He panted, as if out of breath. Then his eyes closed, and he slumped back, unconscious, but still on the throne. Looks like the virus got to him. Or maybe he somehow exhausted himself igniting the Black March.

"Baam!" Rachel shouted and ran over to check on him.

I also walked over and took the Black March from his hands. Its glow disappeared and it turned back into its base form as a long black needle.

"Hm…I don't suppose you'd be willing to ignite for me?" I spoke to the Black March.

"Ten bucks says it'll just zap you," said Derflinger.

My vision changed, and I saw a blonde girl with very long hair wearing black and red robes.

It was the spirit of the Black March, conversing with me through some sort of mental connection.

She floated around me, taking a close look.

"You're pretty handsome too, but…I liked that boy," she said.

"Sorry about that I have nothing against him, it was just a competition by the rules of the test. Can I convince you to switch sides?"

She floated higher and held her hands out to the side. "Why do you need me? For what do you fight? Gold and jewels? Magical fruits, heavenly beauties? The taste of power and glory? What is it that drives you?"

She probably wanted a heartwarming and romantic answer like Baam's, but that would be an obvious lie. She would find out soon enough, even if I tricked her now, though I suspected she would know if I lied anyways. Things capable of direct telepathy were likely much better at discerning lies using that mental advantage. There was no telling how much information she could glean from my mind.

And in the long run, there was little point in obtaining a weapon or ally that was unreliable at critical moments. Without a means of forcing obedience, a weapon with free will was only valuable to me if it could align with my interests.

So I gave her something close to the truth.

"All of those, and none of those. Wealth, love, and power, these are all things I may want at various times. But those are just goals and checkpoints on a longer journey. What I really want is the thrill of adventure, and the freedom to live however I want, no matter what forces stand in my way."

"You're certainly different...I might have considered it if I had met you first, but I really did like that boy. Sorry."

The vision ended.

Almost no time at all had passed on the outside. I saw Androssi walking over, giving the still struggling Khun a kick to keep him down—"Urhk!"—and coming towards me.

"A gift for you, my lady," I said while presenting the Black March to her with both hands. If the Black March wouldn't work for me, I might as well give it to Androssi to buy goodwill, though I doubted she could ignite it herself. Canonically, the princess that actually owned it, Yuri Zahard, never managed to ignite it, due to the weapon's preference for men.

She smiled widely and took it. "Thank you! I'll treasure it." Then she swung it around a bit to get a feel for it.

"Ignite!"

Obviously, nothing happened. She scowled. "Ignite! Ignite!"

Then she stomped on the ground while shaking the Black March up and down. "You stupid needle, why won't you ignite?! You'll ignite for some random kid but not me?! Don't you recognize who I am?"

"The spirit of the Black March seems to prefer good-looking men," I told her. "She said she liked the boy."

"A loyal weapon, who would've thought?" Derflinger asked.

Androssi growled in frustration. "Whatever. I'll just keep it until it changes its mind. Even if I can't ignite it, it's still one of the most durable weapons in the Tower."

O O O

A/N: Another new beta, kfkhishou, is helping out now, hurray! There's another reason that MC didn't try harder to keep the Black March, if you haven't guessed it already, it'll become clear in a couple more chapters.

saske92ii: You're right, Rachel gets a lot of flak that other characters don't, despite being similar. It's just the way POV works in stories. Readers almost always sympathize with the protagonists more.

Subscribe: For reasons already explained by Kaleidus in-story, the fact that she did get in that way makes her special in her own way. More so than any other Irregular, who were blessed with talent and power. And even if she isn't particularly useful right now, she has a role to play.

DantalianWright: I skipped over it as much as I could via Kaleidus summarizing, but many readers haven't read/watched canon, so they need some context for Kaleidus and Androssi's comments.

joepaul6: Some things will stay the same, others will change drastically. Things are already changing this chapter. :D