Tower of Endless: Death Granted Entry

While everyone was getting seated, betting, discussing, or ranting meaninglessly.

Oblivious to all the discussions going around, Moon stood where he was, unmoving and still.

Evidently unimpressed, through both his face and body language. His mouth curled downwards, having a look akin to disgust more than anything else.

While he was looking, Basil passed by the armored guys, making eye contact with Moon. He made a hand gesture, a T-sign-like shape with both hands.

Moon’s eyes squinted slightly, but his face stayed the same. He understood Basil was in need of time, but didn’t know why.

Though his eyes smiled discreetly.

’Sure, why not?’ he thought to himself.

Though he couldn’t phrase it in words, he was somewhat glad his underling was trusting him enough to request some time for whatever he was doing.

Pleased with himself, his eyes scanned the movements of Basil, Abshi, and everyone else.

He took one step, looking up and down at the audience, making sure it was perfectly slow and discreet enough so that he wouldn’t bring any attention to them.

Yet, his casual-looking actions brought forth the frustration of others.

Zera’s face contorted as he looked at Moon’s curious face studying the audience.

Zera’s anger flared. ”Are we that insignificant?” He spoke loud enough for everyone to hear before he paused, waiting for Moon to turn his gaze back to him, but he didn’t.

Moon checked the familiar faces who were seated but not involved in the fight.

”Or maybe you’re that confident?” Zera’s voice echoed once again across the arena.

Moon followed the movements, not bothered by Zera in the slightest, or so it seemed to everyone.

Moon, on the other hand, was trying to give his underling the time he needed. He once again made eye contact with Basil, whose eyes darted back and forth between the trio doing their job and Moon.

Once their eyes met, Basil shut his eyes tight and clasped his hands tightly together in front of his face.

A pleading face.

Moon saw this and couldn’t help pursing his lips, but as he studied the whole thing getting in motion, he understood they were betting.

Coins were being gathered, a notebook recording. Things were now clear.

’Are they trying to trick these gamblers into believing I would lose?’ he thought to himself.

He rubbed his nose bridge, trying hard not to laugh. ’Well played, beloved henchmen!’ he praised them in his heart.

The fact that Colten’s men were part of the plan made it even more pleasing to watch.

He wasn’t sure how much more time they would need before they were done, but regardless. ’Don’t worry, you can have all the time you need,’ he promised in his heart.

”I’M TALKING TO YOU!” Zera suddenly shouted furiously at Moon.

Moon turned around slowly to finally face him, who was still standing outside the marked area.

He pointed at his own chest. ”Are you talking to me?” he asked innocently.

His actions drew a few chuckles from the audience, especially from Lexie and Nola, but he wasn’t bothered by who laughed and who didn’t.

Zera, on the other hand, looked at him in disbelief. His face reddened as he gritted his teeth.

He couldn’t help taking a deep breath first. ”Is that how you treat people who speak to you?”

”What are you talking about?” Moon asked, his face looking confused.

”I asked you a question.”

”You did?”

”I did.”

”Oh, okay... so?”

”Why won’t you answer?”

”Answer what?”

”The question.”

”What question?”

”ARE YOU TRYING TO HUMILIATE US?” Zera erupted.

Calmly, ”Why would I?” Moon asked as his eyes darted back to Basil, who was also keeping his eye on Moon.

Basil moved his left index finger over the nail of his right index finger, another gesture of needing a little more time.

’This bastard is really testing my trash-talking skills now,’ Moon thought to himself.

Zera still wasn’t done. ”Why else would you ignore your opponents?”

”Opponents what, bruh?” Moon exclaimed, waving his hand in the air.

”Are you sayi—”

”Bruh, could you stop your bullshit?” His casual attitude was suddenly replaced by sharper tone.

His sudden change of attitude took Zera off guard. ”How do—”

”Dude,” Moon cut him off, his voice loud and clear. ”What respect are you demanding now when you brought an armored unit to fight me?” Moon said.

Zera opened his mouth to speak, yet again, Moon didn’t let him. ”You came here with the intent to win, nothing else. You aren’t here to prove you’re stronger than me, but to prove to yourself that I could be defeated.”

Moon’s words resounded across everyone; a few in the audience nodded. ”I heard someone was planning something to win this round, though I refused to listen to the details. Do you know why?” Moon asked Zera.

Moon’s eyes darted again to Basil, but this time Basil was waving his fists up and down like a true fan.

Moon smiled. Zera, on the other hand, asked, ”You already knew?” His eyes opened wide.

”Ah, I heard someone was cooking something. I didn’t bother knowing the details, so... I ask you again... do you know why?”

”I—”

”OHHHH, let me tell you.” Moon cut him off again; he smiled the ugliest he could muster.

”I don’t need any intel; I’m strong, and intel is for the weak.”

Zera stood still, speechless. As voices rose in the audience, they started discussing.

Moon knew his mindset needed to change later, but for this time around, he should enjoy his time.

Though in his mind, he was not truly going to play.

”I didn’t come here to humiliate you, you are here humiliating yourself, right?” Moon stated before turning his attention to one of the men following Zera.

”Hey you,” he pointed at him. ”Were you promised a reward better than the armor?”

The armored featureless follower, ”We—”

”Shut up!” Zera turned around and shouted. ”Don’t you dare say a word.”

Moon saw the scene but wasn’t sure of what was going on. ”Where did you get all these sets of armor though?” he asked.

Looking at them, they weren’t the same.

Some had long plumes, some had it looking like a mane, some had tight-looking helmets, while others looked loose or even flat.

It was like they gathered pieces here and there.

”Did you buy them off the black market... Was there a black market here, though?” Moon thought aloud to himself.

”I’m just letting you all know, you didn’t come here for an honorable battle.” Moon’s tone turned heavy, contrasting with his softly smiling face.

He smiled like he would to a friend. ”I will warn you all once... whatever you were promised isn’t worth it if you step inside this ring,” Moon warned.

In his heart, Moon knew he had a choice. Yet, he also knew that his choice wouldn’t matter much once the battle started.

The setup they arranged would not allow one side to win and one to lose. The arrangement was made to ensure that one side lives, and only one.

He was sure that of them, a few came for a reward or a promise, or were maybe blackmailed or forced. He had seen such things before many times.

”If you’re threatened to join, then leave, and I will protect you,” Moon declared. ”If you came for money or status, it isn’t worth it.”

”If you came for blood,” Moon had a couple of chuckles slip by, ”then please stay.”