- Three Routes; Three Trials : Part 3 -

The first time she encountered him was when she was severely injured after being betrayed by her own teammates. She ran and ran without knowing her direction, without knowing the time, without knowing what awaits her in the road that she chose.

Had she encountered an enemy instead, then she would lose her small life. But to her luck, she encountered a savior who she could beg to save her life.

The stranger was puzzled to hear her plea. He pondered for awhile before he spoke, "I could heal the wounds on your body and even give you a stronger power. But if I do that, I'm afraid that you will lose something."

"W- what is it...?"

"Your freedom and your mind."

"What...?"

"My ability is to turn the people who I save into puppets," he spoke earnestly. "Ah, it won't change your body into some sort of doll or robots, but you'll slowly lose your judgement ability. How am I supposed to say this?"

He told his ability to a stranger in ease without needing to worry about being betrayed. To do so, he must be very powerful to not worry about betrayals or he was incredibly stupid.

"You will unconsciously give your loyalty to me. You may not feel it now, but you'll feel it in the future that my words will sound like a law in your ears. If I die, you'll also die. If I find myself corrupted, you'll also be corrupted. You may receive power and immortality, but you won't even able to think straight or grow older."

"With this kind of consequences, are you sure that you still want to accept this offer?" He politely asked and extended his hand to her.

She knew that if she couldn't get a help soon, she would lose her consciousness and die. There was no other choice for her but to held his hand.

"I accept," she spoke firmly.

When he looked at those golden eyes, he knew that she was very determined to survive. He just wondered if this girl truly had thought of the consequences, because this concerned her future and her life.

"Are you sure about this? There's no turning back."

"Yes."

That day, she held the hand of her savior as tight as she can, afraid of letting it go. She was afraid that if she let go of his hand, then she would die.

"Because for me, nothing matters more than my own life and strength," she admitted her ambition. And instead of criticizing it, the man smiled instead.

"You have beautiful golden eyes," he said it suddenly. "Fine. Since you have agreed, then let's make an oath."

The young girl never thought that she would be this blessed to encounter a man like him. She never sought for his heart and his attention, she only sought the ability to protect him because the moment when she encountered him, even before she made an oath of becoming his puppet, she knew that this person was worthy to be protected from the dangers lurking on the corners of the tower.

Perhaps what made his "puppets" willing to serve him to death was not because of his skill, but because of his pure heart.

And when that pure kindness disappeared and cruelty was everything he had left, his words didn't feel like request from a friend, but an order from a tyrant. The day when his gentle smile was replaced with an icy cold expression was the day that she felt pain aching at her chest.

The pain was so unbearable that she wished to be able to dig out her own heart and see what was wrong with it. Her head felt dizzy whenever she was around him.

Something was wrong.

Everything felt so wrong. She knew that something wasn't right. But she didn't know what it is, nor she had enough power to figure things out. That was when the man stepped in the stage and offered to her, "I could give you what you are looking for. If you are willing to help me, then I'll bring him back. But are you sure you are ready to risk your life? There is a high chance... that you might just die..."

Die....

It was something that she used to fear a lot.

But now, as she had found another purpose for her life, death appeared to be very trivial.

She knew that the moment she accept his offer, she would be putting her life in danger to fulfill his request. She might just as well die the moment when she held his hand. Even so, something was telling her that she will regret it if she didn't hold his hand.

The man smiled, "I take it that we have reached an agreement."

The first offer that she accepted made her live a life of peace and happiness and the second offer that she accepted turned her life upside down.

'What is actually the reason for me to accept his offer? For him, I risked my life and unconsciously conquered my fear of death. Is it because the side- effect of our agreement?'

"You will unconsciously give your loyalty to me."

'Or is it because he once treated me very well?'

"You have beautiful golden eyes."

'My head hurts whenever I am near him. Something isn't correct, I must fix it. To ensure his peaceful life, to ensure that he and his family will be safe... I must do something, I must act. But what should I do? Will I regret my decision today? Will this agreement bring me to the answer that I desire? If not, what should I do next? I am afraid that everything will go wrong. I'm afraid he will do more things he'll regret. Everything is strange and weird. I... is this really what I must do? Is... this the right path?'

Until she had fulfilled her task and purpose as both puppet and friend, then those questions will always be hunting for her.

'Please........ don't let everything be in vain.'

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

In the third space of the Hidden Floor, the four warriors who volunteered to lure the scale were standing in a moment of silence.

Khun looked at Rak and asked, "Alligator, why are you here? You still can't even use shinsu properly."

"So what?!" Rak asked Khun, offended. "Do you have a problem with that? I'll be way more helpful than you, turtle!"

"... stop shouting and focus," Rachel spoke in her new body and voice. "We didn't come here so that the two of you could fight. If you are going to fight just go back to the Bug Room. Because as soon as you look into the mirror on that scale, you'll be killed immediately."

As much as the three of them hated it to hear it from Rachel, but they had no way to argue against it as what she said was true. Right now, the four of them were risking their lives in order to lure the scale.

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

Bam could feel that his power was increasing. It was because that even though Zahard kept increasing his power and attack him, the better his defense became.

"You also seem to be quite lucky," said Zahard. He looked a small black ball behind Bam, "Because wherever you fall, there are cores. Although I destroyed the first one, of course. Shall we try leveling up a bit? A bit more drastically this time. I wonder how long you'll be able to keep up with me."

It was the sign that things were going to be harder for Bam.

"To be honest, I'm starting to get my hopes high for you now."

After that, Zahard suddenly appeared before the core and Bam did nothing to stop that. He was a bit startled with Zahard suddenly appearing close to him, but he did nothing but seeing him preparing his attack.

"If you keep zoning out like that, I'll destroy this core as well," he spoke.

Bam didn't say a word.

'Let's face this properly.'

Without moving an inch, he prepared a shinsu attack. But this time, the bang that he created was different. It was no longer colored in blue of water, but it was shrouded with black.

'Without any fear or rage... they're just an illusion created by a "me" who isn't me.'

Zahard dodge his attack in surprise. Bam's shinsu was shrouded with black color and it managed to surprise him and in the same time, destroying the second core. With this, Bam has earned himself a point.

And followed by that, Bam leapt towards Zahard with his palm ready to attack him.

He wasn't zoned out. He was just remembering what he had for his revolution. He didn't see any destiny like what Zahard said, he just saw a monster and his sworn enemy. And what he sought for was not the title 'King of the Tower', but he sought to find himself, the real him in the midst of everything.

He drew a line inside the space. It was just a simple white line, but it was important for him.

"Now, let's call this my power," he said after he drew that line. The others didn't seem to understand it until he explained, "It may look small and insignificant, but I drew this myself. I don't know why I wandered so far away in spite of knowing all of this. I probably wanted some kind of grand answer."

But as a wise man once said, great things start from the small beginning.

"But now I know and this is what I left behind as a proof of myself. So this is me."

[ 25th Bam- Style Extreme : Black Winged Butterfly Attack ]

As he pushed Zahard backwards, from his attack, it seemed like there were black and red wings of butterfly appeared.

"Ha!"

To think that he would be pushed that far by someone who was cornered by him before, he had to admit that his attack was very powerful.

"Now,"

His shinsu attack wasn't the only thing that has changed. On his head, there were red and purple thorns. He was also surrounded by his own black shinsu. Standing on his ground, he declared, "I'm going to fight 'like me'."

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

Charlotte could feel that her blood was dropping on the ground.

How many minutes has the time passed? All she could feel was pain and exhaustion. With her body being held by the chains like this, she had become the puppet's punching bag. No, it was worse than that.

Charlotte looked at the puppet weakly. Her hair was disheveled, her beautiful face was bruised. It was hard even to speak just like usual. But no matter how hard it was right now, Charlotte knew that she shouldn't lose or consciousness.

Charlotte knew that she ended up in this state because she careless. She should have guessed it from the beginning that the puppet must have a hidden card. She lowered her guard down.

'I must delay the time. Delay as much as I can. Only in this way could I perform that skill,' she thought.

"Alright. The time is limited. Seeing you in this kind of state with that appearance makes me feel uncomfortable as well," the puppet said. "I guess you also hate your current condition right?"

Her arms, legs and left shoulders were injured by the chain. Her abdomen, chest and right shoulder were wounded at all by the puppet's sword. On her neck, there was a deep scar. Those deep wounds were more than enough to let her blood continuously flow and to make her felt tormented.

But no matter how tormented she was, she never wanted to give up her life.

'There were times at FUG where I wanted to end my life. I thought that perhaps in that way, I would stop suffering. At the very least, I would be able to escape from their grasp. I don't have to endure those things anymore.'

'But... my life isn't just about "me" anymore.'

'FUG would never let an irregular die in vain just like that. If I die, they'll be sad. The pain that I'll experience before death will only hurt me for a moment... but it will scar them for the rest of their lives.'

She raised her head and glared at the puppet. Those golden eyes regained their light again, looking at the eyes of the one who tormented her and put her in such a miserable state.

'No matter what, I must survive.'

She struggled and struggled to use shinsu, but at the end, it failed.

'To break these chains are not impossible but....'

Whenever she showed the signs of capable breaking the chains, the puppet would swing her sword to prevent that from happening. Her whole body was filled with wounds that the puppet felt that she didn't need to be so alarmed again.

"... I have to ask something first," Charlotte spoke weakly.

"Hm? At this moment, you are asking me questions, is it for stalling the time?"

Charlotte didn't answer her question.

"Well, forget it. Even if you have the method to break those chains, your strength will definitely be exhausted. At the end, you'll either die from blood loss or on my hands," The puppet followed by a laughter. "Charlotte, Charlotte, why must you be obstinate? Are you that afraid of death to the point that you prefer to be tormented instead?"

Again, Charlotte remained silent. She could barely say a sentence clearly, let alone having the energy to argue with someone. She would prefer to save her remaining little energy to fulfill her curiosity instead.

"Fine then. Considering that you've entertained me a lot, I'll answer your question. What is it that you are curious about?"

"... How did you leave the tower?"

The puppet looked surprised to hear that question, as if she didn't expect it before.

"How did I leave this tower, you ask?" The puppet echoed her question before she giggled. "Yes, yes, thinking that you are also an irregular who went through a long process to enter the tower, you must be curious about that thing."

When Charlotte became Bam's sister and had a new body before beginning her journey inside the tower, it was a day before Bam entered the tower. If Bam once recognized the puppet as his sister, then they must have a close relationship. And a close relationship was not something that they could build in just a day.

Even Urek Mazino who was desperate to find the way out the tower couldn't find it after he sought for the path for probably more than a hundred years, so how could a mere puppet find it? That question has been bothering her and she will soon get the answer.

"If I say that I met a man with mysterious power and wonderful strength to enter and leave the tower as he pleases, will you believe in me?"

Her golden eyes widened.

"It seems like you don't," the puppet concluded when she saw Charlotte's expression. "But that's the truth. I was fortunate to encounter two saviors in my life. And I am willing to gave up my life to serve them."

She looked at the shinsu sword on her hand before she pointed it to Charlotte's throat.

"No matter who they ask me to kill, I'll definitely try my best to kill them."

Charlotte couldn't help but to chuckle, "So in exchange for the power you have now, you even sell your own morality and loyalty? I thought that you are a trash, but you are actually a trash among trashes--"

The puppet frowned and half- knelt. She pulled Charlotte's face and held her bruised cheeks tightly. The two of them glared at one another as the puppet argued, "Don't act as if I am the only one striving for power. Every single being in the tower strive to get stronger and more powerful. And not even you are an exception!"

'You shouldn't be an exception!'

"I do seek for power," Charlotte argued. "But I will never sell my loyalty and live as someone else's sword!"

'Reveal to me that ugly side!'

"And do you think it makes you anyone special? You are simply lucky to be born with that kind of talent and strength! Don't forget, you are just a little brat who's afraid to see your own past!"

Charlotte blinked in surprise, "... you, what did you just say?"

"Do you think I challenged you here today without preparations? I have my own ways to investigate your past," she said in a whispering manner. "All in order to find your weaknesses."

"You crazy stalker," Charlotte cursed. The puppet scoffed and let her go in a harsh way.

"25th Bam," she spoke again, mentioning her brother's name suddenly, "For the sake of his obsession, how many people have died in his hands and how many people have he endangered?"

"What are you planning this time?" Charlotte glared at her. "Don't speak about him that way!"

"Your beloved brother Khun Altaira Rain, didn't he also because of his foolishness and recklessness, forced his sister to death? His arrogance led him to believe that he knew what was the best for the others when he was actually harming them. And Khun Aguero Agnes, your best friend... although he's smarter than your brother, but isn't he also a selfish person capable of driving his sister to death?"

She suddenly lean close to Charlotte's face and asked softly, "If he could even kill his sister for his ambition, aren't you afraid that one day he grows tired of you and abandon you as well? The same thing goes to Estelle and Estrella. They were so cold- hearted to leave their mother alone to save themselves. Whenever their team was faced with life- threatening danger, they would be the first to betray the team."

"All your so- called friends are only gathering by your side because of your power. If you don't have my power in your hands, do you think anyone will want to stay by your side?"

The puppet saw Charlotte lowered her head. For a moment, she thought that her trick had worked, when Charlotte suddenly tried to use her teeth and bite the puppet. In surprise, the puppet dodged her sneak attack.

"We've been friends for so many years," she said. "Do you think I'm that stupid to fall for your stupid lies? They won't betray me, I won't betray them! So keep your mouth shut and stop bad- mouthing them!"

The puppet was quiet for a moment. Indeed, from the look of Charlotte's eyes, she wouldn't be shaken easily. Words that were meant to destroy her friendship with her friends held no meaning or use, for she was a stubborn person.

'Unless she sees it with her own eyes, she wouldn't believe it.'

She envied her golden eyes, the eyes that he once praised.

The puppet smiled and agreed, "Yes. All of you are very close."

Charlotte wondered why the puppet suddenly agreed to her words.

"You guys are very close to the point... he could sacrifice his future just to stay with you."

Charlotte was aghast when she heard it. Her desperate- looking expression made the puppet smirk.

"You....... what do you mean by it?"

"You don't know about it, don't you? In order to help you even when he was trapped inside the Hell Train by me, he used a method that could have destroyed his soul. He's fortunate enough that the method only took half of his power, but in the future it will be harder for him to regain them back as the price of it."

Charlotte's eyes dilated.

'Noah... risked his future... for me? Why would he... do that...?'

"I've watched Noah and Celeste since they were small," the puppet said as she stood up again. She turned around and had her back facing Charlotte as she spoke, "Noah may not show it, but he's a rather sensitive but quiet child. I once had high hopes for him because of his talent... but because of you... everything is ruined."

She glanced at Charlotte coldly.

"Do you understand it now, Charlotte? I know that you are a special being, someone from another world, someone loved," the puppet said. "And it's precisely because they loved you that they keep sacrificing themselves for you. You thought that you are a powerful person, but you are also a jinx bringing troubles for your friends."