The sun was unrelenting, as its brilliant rays scorched the great earth. She lay on the ground, next to Eudan and Jahad.

The world is cruel.

The three of them shared their wishes and ambitious.

Eduan wanted to be rich, while Jahad wanted to be strong. Eran just wanted to be beside them forever.

As they climbed the tower, Eran found it harder and harder to stand beside them and not fall behind. With every step in progress, something was lost.

Sometimes, a teammate would die. Others, their wishes died. The higher they climbed, the more their journey lost its meaning. Jahad and Khun wanted to experience the thrill of an adventure, but as they made more contracts and got stronger, the climb got boring.

Eran wasn't sad that she lost her powers. She was sad that she lost her friends, and she could do nothing to save them.

...

Eran slowly opened her eye, and shuffled around. It was then, she realized she was in Bam's arms.

"Was it uncomfortable?" Eran asked worriedly, as she climbed off him. "Sorry, brother."

Bam shook his head. "It's fine. Your rest is more important."

They waited in comfort silence for a while longer.

"I didn't have a bad dream." Eran started. "It was just a sad memory of mine. So you don't have to be so worried."

Eran smiled reassuringly.

"Aw~ My cute brother was worried about me~" Eran teased.

"Ah..." Bam blushed. The two of them then continued this for a while more, before Bam had to take the test.

Bam quietly walked towards the machine that measured strength.

He placed his hand on it, and used one of the techniques he learnt,

It was a violent concentrated torrent of shinsu that was quite powerful.

After that, Bam walked back to Eran, and sat down beside her. "It's your turn now, sister."

"Okay." Eran stood up, and stretched herself a little. She gave cherry , El, and him a headpat, before walking towards the machine.

Thank you for not waking me up.

Eran stood in front of the machine, and asked, "Want me to hold back brother?"

Bam shook his head.

"Okay. Hm..." Eran stood in front of the machine, and kept thinking of what to do.

Ah, I know!

Eran took a step back, and materialised a small hammer in her hands. Compared to Cherry's large hammer, her's seemed small and weak. But, a small hammer was very good at concentrating a large amount of force on a small location.

"

Eran swung her arms behind her. When she stepped forward, she swung her arms forward, and slammed the miniature hammer on the machine. Although she still have the scarf wrapped firmly around her face, her lips were curled up into a content grin. The shinsu in the air actually pulsed, due to the intense force.

When Eran got first place, she turned towards bam, and did a small victory sign. Bam only clapped encouragingly.

"That was fun!" Eran cheered.

"That's good." Bam nodded his head.

... ...

"First place Eran, please come up here." Love, the ranker, said. So Eran did.

"Choose eight teammates to take the test with." Love said.

"Hm..." Eran tilted her head. "No~ I just want to pick my brother, is that okay? Just me and him would be enough."

"The exam is for teams only." Love said. "You must choose seven others."

"There is no one here qualified to be my teammate, except for brother of course." Eran said confidently.

"What do you mean no one can be your teammate! Aren't you too full of yourself!" The pretty flamethrower yelled. "You're a brat with the fake symbol of Jahad! Clinging onto a big gangster with with the symbol of FUG. How can you eliminate people who might pass with you! How can you be proud of that fake symbol! Aren't you supposed to be embarrassed?!"

"..." Eran was silent for a while, before she started speaking again. "But it's real though...? Brother is Jue Viole Grace, a nominee for FUG slayer. He loves to kill Jahad and the 10 families. I am someone who was acknowledged by Jahad himself."

"Are... Are you really..." It seemed like the flamethrower really couldn't believe that.

"So... You can't be our teammates. We are your enemies." Bam finished.

"I understand, Mr Viole, Miss Eran." Love said. "But whoever you are, the rules cannot be changed. It's the absolute rules of the tower after all. And most of the regulars here are willing to make a deal with the devil to pass the test."

"... How about this? You and I, will play a game." Love proposed to Bam. "If you win, Mr Viole, I'll let you take pass the test with Miss Eran.

"... Okay." Bam agreed.

" Alright. Then take a break while I prepare the game." Love said, as he gestured to a door. "Any regular who wishes to take the test, please pass through the gate."

...

Eran soaked in the bath by herself, still with the scarf on her face.

Ah~ This is good~

Eran sank deeper, and deeper, and deeper... Eventually, only her nose was above the water.

Hehe... Bubbles....

Eran was currently the only one in the bath. Hence, she decided to take off the scarf and submerge herself in the water. She then spent the next ten minutes just playing in the water, before leaving.

...

When she went back into her room, she called Jahad. Overtime, Eran's relationship with Jahad deepened greatly. She would just randomly call up Jahad whenever she wanted, and talk about random things.

"Bubbles go bloop bloop!" Eran described. "I felt like a fish hehe~"

...

After chatting for a few more minutes, Eran ended the call, and started searching the room she was assigned to. Apparently, she was the only one with a whole room to herself. In one of the drawers, she found a remote controller and an instruction manual.

Oo~ What's this?