Zane stands before a gigantic set of doors, they are majestic and have a divine presence to them, with fine details all over, its perfect, it's as if the gods themselves crafted them and blessed them a thousand times over. Reaching out towards the door, they suddenly open, emitting a magical/divine/enchanting light that engulfing Zane completely.
When he comes to, he is standing in an eerie corridor. His eyes try to take in his surroundings, as even though he knew where he'd be taken it is not 100% certain, but before he can even get a grasp on his surroundings his sight is overwhelmed by the energy all around him.
Zane: "All this Shinsu. So, this is one of my abilities… let's try, this".
He begins adjusting his eyes and getting used to them, time goes by as he slowly gets used to his new eyes.
??: "Hmmm?"
After several minutes he is now able to see the energy in different intensities and see the flow of it, he has also managed to lessen its presence so it doesn't cloud his vision and stop him from seeing other things. He is then surprised as he sees a large amount of Shinsu condensed together that he couldn't see before, and its position is to his right. He tries to stay calm, believing that he knows what it is. Now fully adjusted to his ability he slowly turns his head, looking at this peculiar looking rabbit type creature with no features, aside from a narrow slit that stretches across his face and the yellow pole it carries that has a green ball at either end. Yup, Zane immediately recognises the creature.
The creature then spoke out.
??: "Oh? So, you've noticed me. I wonder. May I ask you what you were so focused doing before?".
Now standing face to face with it Zane replies,
Zane: "I was taking in the sight, it's quite magnificent. Ahem… Anyway, where is this place".
Skilfully answering with a lie the Zane asks a question of his own. Silent for a minute, it then replies,
Headon: "You are on the first floor of the tower. My name is Headon the guardian of this floor. It's been quite a while since someone opened the gate by themselves. What is your name?".
Zane: "My name's Zane Ool'astra".
Zane raises his hand for a handshake. Headon is surprised by this and thinks to himself
Headon: *He is definitely an irregular*.
Raising his hand Headon shakes his hand, and with a chuckle, says
Headon: "You are quite the interesting one. How did you enter the tower?"
Zane: "I pushed open a pair of doors and then ended up here".
Headon: "I see. So do you wish to climb the tower, it is a difficult task, but if you do, wealth, power, glory, whatever you desire, you'll be able to find it by climbing the tower".
Zane: "What happens if I say I don't want to?".
Headon: "Well, you'll simply be disposed of, so… what's your answer"
Headon says while spinning his staff. A white glowing smirk appears on Zane's face,
Zane: *Haha. Really?* "My answer was always yes, so, no need for the theatrics".
Chuckling, Headon replies
Headon "Good, good. Let's give you a little test first, to see if you're qualified".
Headon then explains in minimal detail how tests work in the tower. Appearing out of nowhere, to Headons right a large cage appears, and inside is a large monster resembling a sea serpent with flippers. Gesturing towards the cage,
Headon: "The ball".
Zane: "Hmmm."
Zane walks closer towards the cage, looking at the huge monster swimming about.
Zane: "So what do I have to do in order to pass the test".
Headon: "It's simple, do you see that ball over there".
Zane: "…"
Headon: "You just need to destroy the ball while either outrunning, or defeating that big fish, it's a White Steel Eel".
Looking towards Zane he explains that it lives in the Shinsu flowing through the tower and that usually its very mild tempered, but this time of the year is his spawning season and it hasn't eaten in months, so it is very aggressive right now.
Headon: "It is fairly dangerous and with its pent-up hunger, it's practically a wild beast, which increases its threat, so… are you still interested in taking the test?"
Zane: "Youre quite interesting Headon, did you somehow forget what you told me before. I'm looking forward to meeting you again once I have climbed the tower".
Zane walks past Headon and into the cage. Headon chuckles and thinks to himself
Headon: "You too, are quite an interesting one, but, will you succeed in your climb. Irregular."
Now in the cage, Zane faces off with the White Steel Eel. The Eel charges immediately, not allowing any sort of preparation, it simply wants to eat.
Zane: "I guess it's time to use my abilities, i'll use this test to get a hang of them".
Charging straight ahead Zane's arms begin to lengthen, turning into long whip like appendages, they then sharpen at the edge, turning into whip like swords. Swinging his two arms with force, he clashes with the Eel. His attack lands hitting its face from both sides, but it leaves nothing but two small scratches.
Shocked at its durability, Zane tries to go for another attack using more strength than before, but the Eel is upon him in seconds, opening its mouth ready to bite. Snap! It bites down with incredible speed, Zane is barely able to jump out of the way. He lands on the floor, but is missing his left arm, letting out a pained grunt he looks to his now stump of an arm. Holding his left shoulder he starts getting up, but suddenly his arm starts growing back, within a few seconds it's as if it never got bitten off. Now up on his feet he clenches his fist,
Zane: "Even with my eyes, I could not fully dodge its attack. I'll need to train my abilities."
Looking towards the Eel Zane's white eyes seem to glow brighter.
Headon: "Hmmm?"
Headon watching what's going seems to have become more interested. The Eel, done eating the arm swirls around looking for the rest of its meal. Zane charges at it once again this time he has four whip-swords, two from each arm. He attacks, going for the head, this time doing more damage with each hit, but again lost an arm. The battle continues on for over 10 minutes, going back and forth in attacks with no winner yet.
Zane goes in for another attack with each hand split into four, on one side are pointed tips and the other swords. He pierces it with four, managing to take out an eye. With his piercing vine still attached to it he, goes for the kill.
The Eel is thrashing about trying to get free, it manages to bite two, then charges at him but is stabbed in its gut and head, still alive it roars in defiance, then its sliced two times on the right side of its body. Zane then jumps into the air, stretching his right leg and transforming it into a sword, he looks it in its right eye
Zane: "It's over".
A power rushes towards his leg, enveloping and strengthening it, he delivers a powerful slicing kick that splits the Eel's head in half diagonally from right to left. Landing on top of the Eel's corpse, Zane stands there for a bit to catch his breath. Clap! Clap! Clap!
Looking over to the clapping, Zane sees a woman that looks to be in her early twenties, with black hair tied in a ponytail, red eyes and what seems to be a high school uniform. Zane recognises the person and thinks to himself.
Zane: "Huh? Why is she here, and when did she get here".
Yuri: "Hey, you're quite strong. What's your name".
She shouts towards Zane. He looks towards Headon and the silver haired short man that had come along with woman. He then walks closer and looks directly at her.
Zane: 'Oh, I forgot about the pocket.' "Headon, do you know what she's saying".
Headon looks towards her,
Yuri: "What. Headon you didn't give him a pocket, what kind of guardian are you? You'd have sent him up without a pocket".
Looking back to Zane Headon replies to her.
Headon: "I, simply was waiting to see if he'd pass, then i'd give it to him just before he leaves".
She looks at Headon.
Yuri: "And how would he know how to use it."
Headon continued to look at Zane and ignore the woman. Materialising a pocket, Headon throws it to Zane inside the cage. Catching it, Zane looks towards Headon
Yuri: "Hey, can you understand me now?".
Zane looks over to her
Zane: "Yeah, I can understand you,… So who are you".
Yuri: "I'm Ha Yuri Zahard, and this short guy is Evan"
Evan: "My lady, was there a need for that!?"
Yuri: "Stop whining, anyway what's your name?"
Zane: "I am Zane Ool'astra, nice to meet you".
Yuri: "Yes, nice to meet you,".
They talk for a bit more and she explains the pocket to him.
Yuri: "You know, you're quite level-headed, and you're strong enough to beat that steel Eel, so you probably won't have any problems until you go past the twentieth floors, and you'll definitely get stronger as you climb, so once you make it to floor seventy, I'll come see how strong you are then, but for now climb the tower".
Zane walks to the ball in the cage, he stops at it looks to the others and says
Zane: "I'll be looking forward to the next time we meet".
He raises his arm, turning it into a sword he strengthens it with Shinsu, slicing down in one fluid motion he cuts into it causing it to crack, he is then enveloped in a bright light and disappears. Headon looks to where Zane just stood, staring there for a bit, he thinks to himself,
Headon: "Another monster has appeared, his adaptability will get him far, but will that alone be enough".
Yuri: "Hey Evan, hurry up let's go."
Evan: "Yes, my lady.."
Following behind Yuri he says
Evan: "You seem to have taken an interest in the irregular, why?".
Yuri: "He has massive poten…"
Yuri stops all of a sudden and stares towards something, Evan as well as Headon also stare there too.