pearl of wisdom

[Season 1] Chapter 1 - Journey of Hope

The gigantic fish flapped its' red-spotted wings, it's body slithering around you as a low growl vibrated through the neon liquid. A roar erupted through it's beak-like mouth as you came face-to-face with the eel, crazed and starved eyes meeting the ocean's will— and all was still.

— —

When you came to being on the second floor after ascending to from the first floor in which golden blades covered the land, a sky of azure danced with pure clouds floating overhead— and only then was a loud blarring buzzing in your ears. "Mic test! Mic test! One two three!! One! two!"

"Hello everyone! All the regulars who have made it to the tower, we sincerely welcome all of you, to the second floor, Evankhell's Floor!" Your gaze flickered to the sky, meeting a golden cube from which the announcements were played— way behind it was a floating building, soil gathering by it's base, pulled along by the limits of gravity. "Also called the Floor of Tests! Because here we carry out the final test to see whether you are qualified to go up the tower!"

"Well, I'll explain the details to you later! First, let's start the first test! It's been a long time since we warmed up! The first test is simple! I'll explain the rules, so listen carefully!" You glanced around you, spotting individuals big and small, plain and extravagant loitering admist the grass, "The rules for the first test is as follows! There are 400 regulars here! Narrow that 400 down to 200!"

"Try every possible means! The test ends when the number of regulars reach 200!" You sighed, dreading the upcoming bloodbath, the inner ring of the catalyst Yuri lent you whirring as though it had a mind of it's own.

"Ready, begin!"

— —

The black-haired woman darted forwards, disregarding the minor cruises and cuts on her limbs- her brown eyes focused on a lone figure trekking through the tall grass, a cold blade on which red liquid blossomed glinting vengefully in her hands.

And when she was about to hear the cries of splitting flesh, she was met with a vivid blue shinsu fish, the concentrated shinsu knocking her knife away from her hand, "Huh!?"

"Are you alright?" You turned to the woman, a quiet smile on your face. "Please hold still, I'll heal you."

The woman jumped away, her fingers twitching under the absence of her dagger, "Hey! We're supposed to be killing each other!"

"Mm. . . that's untrue. We were told to halve our numbers, not to terminate." You responded calmly, the smile unfaltering on you. "To overcome hardship, one must grasp at the big picture and the small details. In this case, for our wellbeing on the next floor, we must not make extra enemies and gather as many allies as you can."

"Our wellbeing!? Hey, I'm not here to make friends!!"

"And. . . I rather dislike unnecessary violence." You admitted, placing a hand to your chest before swiftly summoning your bake-kurage— the jellyfish easily healing the lady's wounds. You smiled pleasantly, "I am [Name], who might you be?"

The woman grumbled, no longer feeling the screaming wounds on her skin, scowling anyways as you kept her dagger away, "Serena Rinnen."

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Serena. Let's move out."

And with that you led to woman throughout the bloodstained field, idle chatter fading into the still clouds.

"Mic test! Everyone stay where you are!! The first test is over now!!" The voice from the golden cube announced. "All remaining regulars, stop what you're doing and listen carefully! Any regulars fighting from now on will be eliminated!"

"To the 200 remaining regulars who passed the first test, congratulations to all of you! It may seem a bit rushed, but a short second test will be carried out right away!" You turned to the cube, placing a gloved hand on your chin, "Don't be so disappointed! The next test is really simple! Now here is the challenge for the second test! The challenge is getting teammates! There are 200 remaining regulars! Among those regulars find two or three to be your teammates! In short, this test is to make a team!"