The next day…
All the Regulars were summoned to a massive room for the next test—Position Selection.
Indrah was the last to walk in, Laure trailing behind. It was the same room from before the Crown Game. Everyone was already inside… everyone except Baam and Ho. Indrah could feel the stares hit him like a wave. Fear, anger, shame… maybe even a few challengers in the mix. He ignored them all and made his way to a corner, sitting down without a word.
A few minutes later, Leoro-Ro stepped in and greeted everyone with his usual cheer.
"Long time no see, Regulars. Did you all get enough rest? I know it wasn't long, but I hope you made good use of it."
He smiled, then raised a hand.
"Now, let's begin today's test. I'll explain everything, so listen up."
He paused for dramatic effect.
"The test you're taking this time… is the Position Test."
"Position Test… which means?" Shibisu asked, scratching his head.
Leoro-Ro nodded, like he expected the question. "I'm sure some of you noticed already—combat in the Tower usually happens in teams. A 'Position' is basically the role each person plays during a fight."
He pointed to a nearby board, which lit up with five categories.
"There are five major positions: Fisherman, Spear Bearer, Light Bearer, Scout, and Wave Controller."
He went on to explain the duties of each one. Fisherman handled close combat. Spear Bearers specialized in long-range offense. Light Bearers acted as the eyes of the team, Scouts provided intel and navigation, and Wave Controllers wielded Shinsu like a weapon.
Indrah leaned back, arms crossed. 'Maybe they'll stick me with Spear Bearer, given how I've been tossing people like ragdolls.'
Leoro-Ro continued, "Starting now, you'll be trained in your assigned position for a month. Only the highest-ranked Regulars in each position will be allowed to proceed to the next test."
He tapped a yellow cube on the table. It expanded and lit up into a glowing screen.
"This table shows your assigned position, based on your performance so far."
Letters flickered onto the screen, sorting into five neat sections.
The room filled with murmurs as everyone looked for their names.
Indrah found his almost immediately—top of the Fisherman section, marked [Best Seed].
"Pheew… thank God I'm not a Spear Bearer."
He smiled, closing his eyes in relief.
"What do you mean, Turtle?! Are you saying this Honorable Rak is in a position you despise?!" Rak bellowed from across the room, huffing like some kind of Tsundere gorilla. The gator was already steaming about not being picked as a Fisherman.
Indrah's lips twitched. How the hell did that Gator even hear him?
He glanced over and caught Khun burying his face in his hand like he wanted to disappear.
"Yeah, Spear Bearer's kinda boring. What's the fun in chucking spears from a mile away instead of going toe-to-toe?" Indrah grinned, throwing some fuel on the fire.
The Spear Bearers collectively glared at him, but none of them dared open their mouths. Not after what he did during the Crown Game.
Rak, though…
"What did you say, Turtle?! I challenge you to a fight! Right now!"
He stood up, fists clenched like he was ready to throw hands.
"Fighting is prohibited outside of tests," Leoro-Ro said flatly, instantly shutting him down.
Khun raised his hand, asking what would happen to injured candidates.
"That's their problem," Leoro-Ro replied. "If they don't show up, they fall behind. Missing attendance will put them at a disadvantage."
He also mentioned the Wave Controller teacher would be arriving late, and those classes would start three days later.
Khun visibly relaxed at that.
"Alright, everyone. Follow your guides and head to your instructors."
With that, Leoro-Ro walked out.
…
In a large amphitheater-like room with a circular layout, all the Fisherman candidates sat around a central stage. Indrah took a seat in the front row.
A woman with a silver mask, a blue top, and a pink skirt walked to the center and introduced herself.
"Hello, Regulars. I'm Hax, your Fisherman instructor. Let's all get along."
Indrah activated his Rinnegan for a quick read. 'Well, she's strong.' Her body was wrapped in Shinsu like a second skin… just like Leoro-Ro. That kind of passive control wasn't something you faked.
She asked everyone to introduce themselves and talk about their combat preferences. It quickly turned into a brag fest. Indrah rolled his eyes halfway through.
Once they got that over with, Hax began the lecture.
"Shinsu is everything. It's the core of all energy here. It helps us breathe, live, fight. Without Shinsu, we're nothing. It can become fire, water, light—its forms are endless. A gift from God."
She looked around.
"But it's dangerous to use. You can't just manipulate Shinsu freely unless you form a Contract with the Floor's Administrator. That contract gives you permission to wield Shinsu on this floor. Without it, your abilities will be restricted."
She walked them through the process and told everyone to begin forming their contracts using their Pockets.
Hax noticed Indrah hadn't moved.
"I believe you already formed your contract with the Administrator?" she asked.
"Yes?" Indrah lied smoothly.
He wasn't about to bind himself like that. He remembered when Baam tried forming a contract—the Administrator called it a shackle, not a strength. Based on everything he'd seen and felt, Irregulars didn't need permission to bend Shinsu. They just did it.
'I'll lose flexibility if I form a contract,' he thought, staring out the window while the others finished.
Hax called it a day once the contracts were done.
…
Back in his room, Indrah found Laure snoozing and Ho still unconscious. At this point, even he started wondering if Ho was actually dead. Only the faint breathing kept that thought from landing.
'Even if he wakes up tomorrow, he won't be able to move for days. He'll be disqualified for missing too many classes anyway. Better off dead.'
He shrugged and went back to his physical training in the corner.
…
On the fifth day, Indrah went to class like usual.
Hax had been drilling them with lectures about what it meant to be a Fisherman—roles, tactics, formations… all theory so far.
"Hey, why don't you buy me lunch?" Endorsi whispered from behind him.
She and Anaak used to challenge him regularly, but every time they did, he'd drop them in one hit and leave them outside their rooms like trash bags. It became routine.
"Ask your lizard friend. I'm busy."
His deadpan tone earned a growl from Anaak.
"Tsk. Boring… and HEY! She is not my friend!"
Endorsi shouted loud enough to earn a glare from Hax—even with a full mask, everyone felt that glare.
Class ended soon after, and Indrah vanished before either of them could latch onto him again.
When he got back to his room, he found Laure helping Ho pack.
Ho had finally woken up that morning… but it was too late. He was officially disqualified. His injuries were too severe, and he'd already missed too many classes.
"May your memory sizzle on the Tower forever," Indrah muttered with a mock salute. "A moment of silence for the brave Ho… the poor bastard who dared challenge the greatest enemy of all…"
He smirked.
"…Plot armor."