Tower of God: The Flower of Earth (Slow Updates)

Chapter Fifty-Two

Walking into the light of the fourteenth floor, I blinked to find it was mostly dark, dimly lit by millions of candles that either were floating in the non-existent ceiling, or showing where the paths were, so those climbing the tower did not fall into the frigid waters below.

I looked around in awe, mostly relieved to find that we were no longer in that desert, being chased by whatever beast that nearly swallowed me into it's darkness.

"Hey. Glad to see you all made it." I heard a familiar voice, and turned to see Mercy casually leaning against a lamp post as the lanterns hanging on it swayed slightly in the breeze.

"Mercy!" Kal lit up and ran forward to tackle her, as the guide quickly stepped aside to avoid being pinned as the scout hit the dirt floor. She spat out the pebbles and dirt, before getting up and glaring at our teammate. "You abandoned us! We thought you were dead!" She punched her hard in the shoulder.

She flinched when the flesh shoulder collided with Kal's. "I did not abandon you. The floor administrator informed me that I had to leave the floor and not help you anymore, or I would be removed from the climbing of the tower. The normal ways, anyways."

"Still!"

"Well, personally, I am just glad to see you alive Mer." Edric sighed, and gave a soft smile. Some of the others nodded in agreement.

"So, what is this floor?" Dustin peered around at the sight before him, in awe at the calmness and simplistic beauty of it.

"The floor of the burning candles. A passageway on the path of truth. It is supposed to be a cleansing floor before we reach some of the harder levels, in order to ensure that those who are climbing the tower are true to their path on the tower, and are not here to destroy it, as others have in the past."

"Isn't another name for it, the floor of purification after bad luck? Cause, you know. We just got off the unlucky floor." Weldon tried to joke, but not a single chuckle was heard. "You know what, nevermind." He pouted annoyed.

"So, I guess we just follow the path?"
"Yeah, I sup... Holy Jahad! You are glowing Ewart!"

I turned to look at Dustin and Ewart, seeing the latter's blue crystals were reflecting the candlelight and giving them a glowing hue.

"I wanna lick them..." Dustin leaned closer to him, as Ewrt backed up, weirded out.

"You are not licking my crystals!"

"They look like those glowing salt rocks, but blue!"

"I said no! You are not licking my crystals, and that is final!"

"Salt rocks!"

"Crystals that are growing out of me! No lickies!"

"Boys! Stop!" Noe got between them.

"But I wan..."

"No." She said firmly, as Dustin backed down, seeing the flames reflect in her eyes and honestly creeping him out.

"Okie." He gave thumbs up and ran down the path to get away from her.

I gave a soft snicker, and began to follow, having my lighthouses go into camouflaged mode and float up above me.

Our team made our way before stopping at a tall statue, lit up only by candles and the glowing water that spewed out the hands. The waterfalls fell in a certain way to create a triangular tunnel in which the E-Rank Regulars walked into, each one of their E ranked pockets and a few lighthouses visible as they passed through an invisible wall.

We walked through it, coming up into what looked like a colosseum, with regulars sitting on the stone seats as they looked down at the majestic maze below in the arena.

"This is beautiful... How can this be a floor for testing and not be a floor for living?" Jeonsa whispered softly, but already knew the answer. It was how Jahad and the ten families set it up.

Noe patted her shoulder, and walked with her as the two of them went to go find seats.

Weldon and Ewart went to go buy some food, starving, as Edric and Mercy went another way. I looked at Kal and Dustin who remained, but they had started a conversation and were comparing their weapons.

Giving a sad sigh, I went to go find out what the test for this floor was.

I saw figures racing through the maze in the middle of the dimly lit arena, as figures who were watching were trying to make a map, or create a plan.

I heard rocks sliding and saw the walls move, giving me a hint that this would not be an easy test. The regulars who were testing had no lighthouses nor pockets visible, making me wonder if they were visible for those not testing so they couldn't sneak them in.

They had to be a solo test. Right?

I rubbed my chin, trying to process the idea of what this test could possibly accomplish.

Burning candles. They symbolized many things, particularly light in the darkness. Candles were lit to guide those who died to the afterlife or wherever they went.

'Do not worry. You are safe here.' A soft voice whispered in my ear, as I turned to look but did not see anyone close enough to me.

"Hello? Is someone there?" I whispered in the same hushed tone.

'I know who you are. Jigu Kkoch. Daughter of Jangmi and Abeoji Kkoch, niece to Bul Kkoch.' A little floating flame flickered and danced around me. More joined, before creating a ghostly figure made of light.

"You, know who I am. But I don't know who you are."

I watched the figure, who seemed neither male nor female, as their haunting alto voice.

'I am Harmony. Are you ready to begin testing, Jigu Kkoch?'

The candles around me died down, whooshing out with a gust of wind that made the rest of the arena vanish, spare for Harmony and myself.

I looked around as a doorway appeared behind the test administrator.

Ok. I guess I didn't get a choice on when to start.