Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With tensions steadily reaching palpable levels, Administrator Lero-Ro unhurriedly approached the stage’s lectern before adopting a casual smile and stating, "Good afternoon, Regulars. I have been given the privilege of announcing the results of this month’s Position Test. Know that, regardless of whether or not you are given the right to move on, you have all accomplished something great by making it this far. Now, if you would all please direct your attention to the display behind me..."

Immediately following Lero-Ro’s words, the large digital display behind him illuminated to reveal an unnervingly small number of profile pictures and names. In the Fisherman Position, eliciting a happy squeal from Nare; Endorsi, Anak, Chunhwa, and Green had all successfully passed. As for the other Positions, Rak and Aleksai both successfully passed the Spear-Bearer exam while Shibisu, Hatsu, and Nare secured their places alongside Gandr as Scouts. Following them, causing a number of people to sigh, Phae, Khun, and a reptilian man named Levin were the only ones selected for the Position of Light-Bearer. This caused Baam, one of the three passing Wave Controllers, alongside both Vahn and Laure, to tightly clench his fists as an extremely conflicted look appeared on his face.

Before Baam could do much the same, one of the Regulars who had failed the Position Test rose to his feet, a fiercely indignant look on his face as he shouted, "What is this!? Why am I out!? Our team passed the Hide-and-Seek Test and my points aren’t that low! How did I fail!?"

In response to the man’s outburst, Lero-Ro adopted an annoyed glower on his face but it was the Test Director, Han-Sung Yu, who answered, "Oh? You don’t agree with the results?"

Despite the incomprehensible gulf in both power and status, the Regular, one of the two so-called Spear-Bearer Revolutionaries, unhesitantly replied, "Of course not! How did I fail, huh!?"

With a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, the atmosphere around Director Yu caused all of the Test Admins around him to feel uncomfortable as he patiently explained, "As I said prior to the Final Exam...individual scores and the assessment of the teacher’s has the great-"

Causing the smile to immediately fade away from the Director’s face, the Regular heavily slammed the table in front of him, interrupting the golden-haired man before shouting, "That’s bullshit! Quit making excuses and fix my grade! I busted my ass over the last month! I even skipped most of my meals just to save points! If your stupid displays didn’t break in the middle of the fucking exam, you would have seen how much effort I put into the last test! Fix it now, you dumb coffee addict...!"

With a very tense atmosphere descending on the entire hall, Director Yu slowly rose to his feet, the smile returning to his face as he walked to the front of the stage and gestured to the man to come down. For reasons nobody could understand, the man seemed completely ignorant to the landmine he had just triggered, his expression remaining fierce as he unhesitantly walked down to the stage, hands balled into fists.

Displaying a mask of perfect amiability, Director Yu stared up at the much taller man, smiling in a completely disarming manner as he said, "Very well then. If you don’t agree with the results, I will give you one last chance to prove yourself. So long as you pass this little test, you will have proven yourself more than capable of climbing the Tower."

Though he was starting to feel like something was wrong, the lesser of the two Revolutionaries still stood his ground, asking, "What do I need to do?"

Finding the man’s reaction rather amusing, Director Yu covered his mouth with his sleeve, giggling like a maiden while simultaneously concealing his predatory smile. Then, in the most genial tone he could manage, he cheerfully stated, "It’s simple. You need only leave this platform before you either lose your mind or your life! Good luck~!"

By the time the man could utter a confused, "What?" the bones in his right shoulder, impacted by an invisible force, were completely shattered. Immediately after that, Shinsu began to invade each of his joints, forming countless tiny bubbles that subsequently ’popped’ to create extremely small explosions. This caused the man to release a sound similar to a pig being slaughtered, his survival instincts kicking into overdrive as he attempted to claw his way off the stage.

Seeing the man’s fate, the other Regulars who wished to dispute the result of the exam could only ball their hands into fists, resigning to their fates. One of the few exceptions to this rule was Baam, but, before he could find the words to protest, Khun beat him to the punch by casually standing up and saying, "I do not mean to interrupt your fun, Director, but I also disagree with the test results..."

With the smile on his face promptly vanishing, Director Yu shifted his attention to the young scion of the Khun family, eyes squinting slightly as he replied, "Very well. Please, come up to the stage to make your case..."

Displaying even greater confidence than the burly Spear-Bearer, Khun casually made his way up to the stage, smiling as the Director asked, "So, what are you unsatisfied with? You passed with one of the highest scores. I can’t imagine you’re here to convince me to fail you..."

Chuckling in response to the Director’s words, Khun adopted a casual stance, hands in his pockets as he answered, "There seems to be a mistake on your display. Though she is currently hospitalized, I can’t understand the reason behind Michelle Light failing the Test. I’m not saying that Levin should be disqualified, he is capable in his own right. However, Rachel should have had more than enough points to pass. I understand there are penalties for sustaining injuries during the Test, but we are all well aware of the circumstances surrounding Michelle’s injuries..."

Rather than directly dispute Khun’s statement, Director Yu responded with a curt nod before going on to explain, "You make a fair point, Mr. Khun. However, you, better than anyone, know that things like betrayal are very common within the Tower. In fact, we even assign and deduct points based on how easily Regulars can manipulate, or are manipulated by, other Regulars. Now, as for Ms. Light’s injuries...it cannot be disputed that she is physically capable of continuing her climb. Our judgment, however, is based on the premise that, without ’external assistance’, Ms. Light would have assuredly died during the Test. Do you intend to argue that someone should be allowed to climb the Tower solely because they are being aided and supported by others? That doesn’t seem particularly fair to everyone else present; people who made a desperate effort, but, because they were unable to make the right connections, now sit silently while you speak for a woman who isn’t even here."

Though he was a little taken aback by the Director’s firm argument, Khun did his best to appear just as calm and casual as before. He even smiled in response to the rather scary man’s words, saying, "I understand what the Director is trying to say. Under normal circumstances, I would never even think to oppose your judgment. However, Ms. Light is very important to a friend of mine. Even if it means going against the Administration, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to override your judgment. Let me meet with the Administrator of this Floor...I will take the Guardian Test directly..."

In response to Khun’s bold proclamation, both the Director and all five Position Instructors showed expressions of shock. Very few people even knew the existence of the Guardian Test, much less had the audacity to actually request it. After all, taking the Guardian Test was essentially going against the will of the Jahad Empire, the organization responsible for the existing system that determines whether or not a Regular is qualified to move further up the Tower...

Without minding the reactions from the Administrators, Khun reinforced his confident facade as he went on to state, "So long as I complete the Guardian’s Test, your decision disqualifying Rachel will be overruled. Though the Administrators have incredible power on the Floors, their authority is still far beneath that of the Floor Guardians. Even if it is several times harder than a traditional Test, I will prove that I am more than capable of passing. Don’t underestimate a direct descendent of the Sixth most powerful High Ranker in the entire Tower..."

Amused my Khun’s remark, Director Yu couldn’t help smiling as he remarked, "My, aren’t you a little cocky? Unfortunately, whether or not you are willing matters very little in this case. I’m not sure how you came across this information, but it seems there are a few gaps in your knowledge...I’m sorry to inform you, Mr. Khun, but you are simply unqualified to take the Guardian’s Test."

Frowning in response to the Director’s words, Khun didn’t hide his indignation in the slightest as he asked, "What are you talking about? Are you trying to insinuate that a descendent of the Ten Great Families isn’t worthy enough to take the Guardian’s Test?"

Causing Khun even greater frustration, at least during the first half of his statement, Director Yu did not hesitate to nod his head, asserting, "Indeed. Even if you were a Princess of Jahad or a candidate for the Royal Enforcement Division, you would still not qualify to take the Guardian’s Test. After all, the Tests proffered forth by the Guardians are not intended for Regulars...they exist for the singular purpose of evaluating Irregulars. Therefore, unless you are an Irregular like Phantaminum, Enryu, or Ureko Mazino, you are simply unqualified to take the Guardian Test."

Not expecting such a ridiculous requirement, Khun momentarily found himself at a complete loss for words. Immediately after that, however, he shifted his attention to where Vahn, Phae, and Gandr were seated, a glimmer of expectation appearing within his eyes. He was certain the three of them were Irregulars, and, based on how well they got along with the rest of the group, Khun wanted to believe they would help.

What Khun would have never expected, even though he had already made the connection, was for Baam to be the first to speak, slamming the table as he shouted, "I’ll take the test...!" with a look of conviction blazing within his golden irises.

Showing an unamused expression on his face, Director Yu, much like everyone else present within the room, shifted his gaze to Baam before he plainly remarked, "Was I not clear? Only an Irregular can take-"

Causing a visible frown to appear on the Director’s face, Baam didn’t wait for the man to finish, his voice even louder than before as he exclaimed, "I am an Irregular! Now, please, I beg of you! Let me take the Guardian’s Test! I refuse to leave Rachel behind...!"

Surprised by Baam’s proclamation, nearly everyone within the lecture hall, Administrator’s included, showed incredulous, disbelieving, expressions. After all, Irregulars were known to be ’monsters’ that defied logic. They were people who possessed unbelievable power, and, though Baam was certainly very talented, he wasn’t even remotely what people would consider when discussing Irregulars...

While everyone else was still recovering from the shock of Baam’s announcement, the briefest trace of a smile could be seen on the Director’s face. Even Khun, despite his close proximity, didn’t seem to notice this, but, from where they were seated in the stands, Vahn, Phae, and Gandr all witnessed it. The former even produced a smile of his own as he internally remarked, ("It seems like things are finally starting to heat up...I can’t wait to see how effective Laev-tan’s flames are against a Ranker...")

(A/N: Alternate Titles: ’This is a Death-Seeking Revolution!’,’All this for a thot...’,’Is Vahn finally going to get off his ass and do something!?’)