Tower of Endless: Death Granted Entry

Chapter 62: Each to Their Own Tradition

Moon decided not to bother himself with the old duo, but regardless... their words found their way to his ears.

"Been a very long while," Lucen extended his hand for a shake.

"You have no reason to visit; you already poached all the good seeds," Samuel ’greeted’ in his own way, extending back his hand.

"You can’t say that, I already picked them long before they became ascenders," Lucen clarified, not bothered by Samuel’s attitude.

"Yeah, for us to run this branch over centuries with nothing," Samuel replied dryly.

"I wish I was enjoying the abundance you think I have." Lucen shook his head, his smile unwavering, indicating that he also was barely having enough... Probably.

He changed the subject before Samuel could cling to the topic. "Anyhow, how have you been?" Lucen asked of his well-being with a genuine tone of concern.

Samuel nodded. "It’s bearable."

"I heard you paid Kohl quite the visit a few days ago," Lucen said, almost giggling.

"I was just passing by," Samuel said flatly, his face unsmiling as ever.

"Don’t be too mad at him; he’s still young." Lucen wasn’t bothered.

"Uneducated, I’d rather say." Samuel didn’t seem too pleased.

"Educate him well then," Lucen said softly.

"Might pay him another visit if fate allows," Samuel said last, before turning around and going back to Moon.

"Would be nice if you changed your mind," Lucen replied.

Moon ignored them and looked in Colten’s direction, only to see him shouting and looking restless for some reason... ’Did that bastard run away?’ he thought to himself.

But Samuel suddenly stopped in his tracks, attracting Moon’s attention back to him.

He raised an eyebrow. "He seems to like you," Samuel said, looking at Moon dead in the eyes.

"Who?" Moon wasn’t sure who he was talking about. Lucen didn’t mention him even once, so it couldn’t be him.

Samuel didn’t answer; he raised his index finger and pointed right next to where Moon was sitting.

Moon followed where the finger pointed and jumped in fright instantly.

He even covered his mouth; he couldn’t get himself to scream like last time.

It was Mishu, who was sitting peacefully right next to Moon, eyes open wide in curiosity.

’Like me not, please, like me not!’ Moon chanted a few times inwardly.

"Haha, it’s good to see you again, Mishu." It was Lucen who spoke, but Mishu didn’t even glance at him. Instead, his tail started whipping, the stone seat cracking underneath it.

Lucen pursed his lips; he shifted his gaze to Moon. "You are Moon, right?" He paused before turning around. "I’m looking forward to your duel."

Moon, who was still sitting on one butt cheek, unable to move in the slightest and fearing this crazy tail would come his way and crack his pelvis or something, wasn’t paying much attention to Lucen or his words.

He, instead, was feeling indignation toward both Samuel and Lucen, who had left him alone in this situation and left after playing cool.

’Uncool old bastards,’ he cursed inwardly.

But while he was looking at Mishu, keeping an eye out for any sudden movements, something passed by further away in the background of his line of sight.

A full-plate silver armor, shimmering under the golden light of the second floor’s sky—a well-dressed knight to be exact, a formal sword on his hips, a helmet decorated with a deep azure flowing plume, and on his back sat a long azure-colored cape.

The chest piece held a crest, a single azure tongue of flames, contrasting the silver color beautifully.

"Dave," Moon excitedly exclaimed.

He started studying the sight before his eyes, investigating what they were playing... and he realised that Dave had either given up his pride or been forced to by Colten into giving it up.

There wasn’t a single visible opening in his armor, other than the eyes and the joints between each piece.

Moon’s eyes dimmed. He looked down at where Mishu was lying, and he started crawling one side of his butt at a time, pulling away slowly not to antagonise the menace in any possible way.

He took a glance at the quest window, and the countdown was nearly there...

0 Hours 7 Minutes 55 Seconds

Now that it was almost time, Moon struggled to distance himself from Mishu, and once he was a little further away after everyone had already left their seats at the sight, Moon stood. He took off his t-shirt, showing a scrawny, bony body that had perfectly trained muscles nonetheless—if not for his ribs still showing, that is. Though, compared to when he first arrived, he had indeed gained some weight.

He then unfastened Liquid Mountain’s sheath from his waist, unsheathing the blade and holding it.

He was now ready. Some habits he acquired on the first floor were hard to abandon, and realistically looking at it... it was also part of his identity as a warrior.

It was his way of replying to that full set of armor they came up with to virtually make it impossible for him to secure a one-hit kill.

Moon was proudly saying he was also following his own traditions; as much as he hated them, they were also what made him what he is today.

Though at this moment, he was oblivious to how many eyes were looking at him; he was locked in his own world, in his own battle...

He was counting the possibilities, all of them—all he could imagine without exception.

Even imagining a possibility where Dave could fight as his equal, he viewed it perfectly and fought still with the intent of killing him in a single strike.

He no longer thought of letting Dave live. It was impossible even if he wanted to... He must kill him, and for some reason...

His decision made his heart finally calmer, eradicating the conflict he had been feeling since last night.

The masses looked at him. Though there were some neutral gazes that held neither malice nor anticipation, there were far more gazes holding scorn.

Some even started betting on who would win, or if Moon would even live since no one doubted Dave. No one doubted him except for a few... including Dave himself.

Dorbish, against all odds, made a bet on Moon, that he would win... But he avoided the quest bet. He also believed it was virtually impossible for Moon to overtake this armor in one strike... Even if Dave was just standing still, or if it was an empty set of armor, he doubted the possibility.

The bets were in various forms, some in tower currency, and some in items... Dorbish for a fact didn’t use his money, but he bet his war-axe instead... It was his family’s and was also very expensive.

Expensive enough for him to win an item he desired if he won... The one betting against him was no one other than Lexie, the girl who was hospitalized recently...

For some reason, when she came out and saw Mishu sitting next to Moon, she started rooting for Colten’s group... her family is well known for their pills and potions, and thus... Dorbish decided to lure her into a bet that was obviously a win, and even at the price of something crafted by his clan.

Then Uon’s voice rang from the center of the arena: "The duel we all have been waiting for now commences."