Tower of Endless: Death Granted Entry

”What are you talking about?” Moon frowned deeply.

What Ed just said was entirely against everything Uon told him. All he needed to do was draw the pattern in the air, and the Tower would respond to it.

Now Ed was saying this isn’t the entire process, and what he knows—

”Incomplete,” Ed said while shaking his head. ”What Uon told you is incomplete, and I understand why he did it.”

”Just tell me already.” Moon’s brain couldn’t bear the suspense Ed was playing on him any longer.

”Resonance,” Ed answered straightforwardly.

Moon blinked. ”What’s that, resonance?” he asked.

Ed rubbed his chin for a moment. ”Let’s say that drawing the pattern is a suggestion, or application submission,” Ed started explaining. ”It’s like you’re telling the Tower, ’Here I am, I can draw these patterns with my very own Echo, so please grant me access to the power it holds.’”

Moon’s eyes widened at the sudden realization. ”Does that—”

”Yes, it’s exactly what you think... The Tower has denied me, Samuel; even that golden guy you’ve seen before was denied.”

Ed tried to discreetly find a way to prevent the fact that Moon was now an arcanist from leaking. It was still too early.

”You didn’t have to involve me in this,” Lucen’s voice came, but Ed ignored him.

”But why?” Moon asked, still digesting the new piece he never had the chance to know.

”Like hell if I know.” Ed shrugged. ”Some old scholars claimed that the Tower judges your future, what you’d achieve with the power you were granted.

”Some others said it’s the blessing of the Tower, and they were superior beings to all others, believing that those who were born with the talent for Arcane are fated ones.

”Though there were others who claimed it was for the sake of balance, the Tower would allow those who bring balance to the Tower to wield Arcane.”

Ed chuckled. ”Actually, the last one is the one that I came to believe in as I grew older.”

Moon didn’t ask, but his eyes were full of questions.

”Well, you see, kid... We never contributed to the balance of the Tower; everyone I just named, the leaders of most clans. We never once moved in the direction of balance, but victory,” Ed said as he scratched his head.

”Does that mean no arcanist was ever evil?” Moon asked.

Ed laughed lightly. ”Of course not. If someone became an arcanist, they cannot stop being an arcanist; the trait will always be there, so if one goes mad, kills, experiments on people and does every possible thing to his heart’s desire... they would still be arcanists.”

Moon opened his mouth to say something, but Ed spoke first. ”I don’t know what balance is or how we get it, but the Tower has its judgment.”

”As for why Uon didn’t tell you, I’m not sure if he knows or just didn’t want to overcomplicate things for you. I mean, how often can we find a kid on the second floor who never received any proper education or training on Echo, but can control it enough to make the shape?” Ed said with a smile. ”Don’t hold it against him either way.”

Moon’s gaze fell, seemingly in deep thought.

’I only wanted to settle our grudge, bruh... What the hell is that all?’ he thought.

Then again, his mind sought the reason behind this entire situation. The item that unlocked his ability to use Arcane, against all odds.

Considering his Echo’s nature, the Death Echo lurking.

It was virtually impossible for him to become an Arcanist for the next few floors, at least, that is if he didn’t give up on climbing.

The pendant.

It wasn’t on him right now, since it was a quest reward now. But, the question lingered.

’If I can become an arcanist, and even get a 1 value more in Echo... Can I also make others arcanists?’ he thought.

It was against everything Ed said till now. He also wasn’t sure how Samuel would treat it if he spoke of it...

Then again, it was still possible that Samuel knew of it already...

’If he does know, would he try using it himself?’ Moon thought, then again... He thought of the room underground.

He shook his head. ’That old bastard is a problem.’

Ed’s hand found the hilt of his dropped blade. He swung the two of them, producing air-cutting sounds.

Moon raised his gaze at him; his train of thought finally broke apart.

”Should we start?” Ed asked.

Moon blinked once before he nodded. ”Yeah, let’s do it.”

The two of them dashed unhinged at one another, not leaving room for one to take advantage of the other.

It was a completely different setting, and the two of them recognized the goal of it very well. Moon was keen on delivering the highest level of threat he could impose on Ed while his Echo and body were sealed.

As for Ed, he was aiming to catch up to his friend who left him in the dust, but through his own path. The one he recognized as the most suitable method for him to unrust himself.

Before their blades crossed, Moon brought back his head—

Spit~

He spat his hardest at Ed’s face; considering how much taller Ed was than him, his spit did fly a considerable distance.

Ed, who was still dashing his fastest at his current sealed state, sidestepped to the right swiftly without hurting his momentum.

Except—

Moon’s sword stabbed at where his head would be.

Ed gritted his teeth, rooted his feet into the ground, forcing his body into a halt.

Once he did, Moon’s arm straightened, aiming once again for the shortest distance...

”Damn brat!” Ed cursed while his blade moved to defend, counterclockwise.

Moon realized the reason for the direction. The opening it would bring once his arm was forced open wide.

Still, Moon didn’t avoid it—

Shuaa~

Once the blade and sword made contact, the sword was thrown off trajectory, but the blade extended toward Moon’s face.

Moon hopped once to the right, avoiding the incoming attack; Ed’s second blade took the attacking turn.

Now cornered, stepping back would only delay the incoming attack and give Ed room for the next. Moon would lose the initiative he built for himself.

Both Lucen and Ed’s enhanced senses were closely watching, wanting to see what Moon would do now.

What would his next decision be? Would he turn the current disadvantage into an advantage, or would he trip over his own feet?

Under the stunned gaze of both older men, Moon chose a different route.

Moon stepped forward, coming in less than 30 centimeters distance from Ed’s large belly. The hilt of the sword was held in reverse. Stabbing at Ed’s thigh. As for Liquid Mountain—

It flickered, travelling at a blinding speed, aiming for Ed’s chin.

Even if his senses could see, if his body was aware. Even if he knew and watched closely what Moon would or was doing.

The final result wasn’t something his currently sealed body could react to the way it should, not as smoothly or as fast as it should.

A few beads of cold sweat squeezed their way down Ed’s forehead. Thinking of a way to prevent the incoming attack.

”Crazy kid forcing me to do crazy things,” he said as he loosened his grip on both of his blades.