"Destroying a ball? " Shinso asked, feigning dumbfoundedness, though his expression remained indifferent.
"Yes, quite a simple type of test," Headon replied, a sly grin curling on his lips. "The ball you see in there is as large as a person. If you apply a strong enough external force, it will pop."
"You can either ignore the monster and pop the ball, or fight the monster and pop the ball. Either way, you'll pass the test," he added.
"I see... so as long as I destroy the ball, everything will be settled." Shinso nodded in understanding. He paused, letting his thoughts drift for a moment before replying, "In that case, I'll take the test, examiner."
Shinso had already shown his resolve, yet Headon still decided to test him further.
"By the way, it's well past breeding season, and the monster hasn't eaten..." Headon said, his voice dripping with mock concern. "Aren't you worried you might become food?" He was clearly trying to scare him.
But Shinso replied casually. "Well, if I die taking this test, it simply means I'm not worthy," he said with confidence as he began walking toward the monster without hesitation.
"He... he... he's truly interesting, just like that kid back then." Headon chuckled to himself, eyes gleaming with amusement. "I, Headon, sincerely welcome you to the Tower!"
Shinso stepped into the test field, his foot landing on the semi-transparent floor.
A sudden flash of light struck his eyes—and when he blinked, the scenery had completely changed.
The surrounding brown walls and iron bars were gone, replaced by artificial sky-patterned walls, as if he'd been transported into a world straight out of Tokyo Ghoul. The cramped-looking chamber from outside had expanded dramatically; inside, it was surprisingly vast.
'This must be due to Shinsu…' His gaze swept across the area, quietly memorizing every detail that might become useful later. 'It's similar… just like how a lighthouse functions.'
Originally, he had hoped to become a Light Bearer. But because of the template, he was assigned the role of a fisherman instead.
There, he spotted a massive flying fish. Its pectoral fins were almost the same size as its body—likely used to glide through the air. At the top of its head were two large, devil-like red horns. The fish circled a giant black ball, hovering protectively around it as if guarding an offspring.
"To pass this test, I'll need to go all out," he muttered. "Bam managed to pass because of the Black March... I'm not sure how strong that sword is compared to 1% or even Urek Mazino's raw power—but I should be able to at least injure the monster, if not kill it outright."
Shinso clenched his fist, his fingers digging so tightly into his palm that his knuckles turned white.
Despite his confidence, he remained cautious. He estimated a 98% chance he could kill the creature—and a 2% chance he'd only injure it heavily. But the real threat wasn't the monster. It was hesitation. If he faltered for even a second… he could die.
That's why—to avoid such an awful outcome—Shinso began to breathe slowly and deliberately. He inhaled… exhaled… again and again, until both his breath and mind settled into a steady rhythm. It didn't take long for him to calm down.
After observing the situation, he took several quiet steps forward, narrowing the distance between them.
The monster had noticed him the moment he entered, but it didn't attack yet.
Shinso's presence didn't seem hostile, so it simply kept watch cautiously. But now… he was approaching. The creature grew tense. Its light-blue, animalistic eyes locked onto him—hungry, sharp, and unblinking. It watched him like prey.
To protect its "offspring," the black ball, it had endured starvation without roaming far. But now… food was walking straight toward it. She couldn't bear it any longer. She growled—a deep, guttural sound that twisted into a monstrous shriek: "GRRRRRR...!!!—SKREEEEEEONK!!!"
In the face of such a threat, Shinso merely slid his hand into his pocket and shook his head in disappointment.
At first, he had been wary of the flying fish—but now that he'd calmed himself and closed the distance, he already had a solid grasp of its strength.
"I can't believe I'm being cautious... To deal with the likes of you," he said, pointing his index finger at her, "I only need to use 1%." A small smirk formed. "So... how do you like fighting Mr. Finger?"
The monster lacked human intelligence, but even she could feel it—she was being mocked. And she couldn't stand it.
With a guttural snarl, she lunged forward at blinding speed, her wings slicing through the air. Her jaws snapped open—rows of shark-like teeth gleaming as if freshly ground. Most people, even Rankers, might have flinched at the sight. But Shinso remained unfazed. Was it because he'd inherited Urek's confidence? Who knows?
"Tch tch..." He clicked his tongue. "You're pretty arrogant if you think you can take me down." He pulled his clenched right hand from his pocket and straightened up. "This isn't such an easy target ~ Baby."
Using shinsu, Shinso boosted his physical strength; his body grew more durable, and his muscles surged with hidden power. It also reinforced his defense, giving him the confidence to stand against the beast head-on.
And then, he decided to unleash the technique he had just learned. He stepped forward with his right foot, firmly planting it into the ground. Raising his fist to shoulder level, sparks crackled to life around him.
A yellow glow of Shinsu surged up his arm, gathering and focusing at his knuckles. It wrapped around his hand like a glove of living energy. If Urek Mazino were watching… he would've recognized it instantly.
"Emperor's Scorching Fist of Death!"
BOOM!!
Shinso throws a straight right; his fist slams into the monster's open mouth.
A wild explosion erupted on impact—a shockwave tearing through the air like a thunderclap. He had only intended to send it flying across the arena... But to his surprise, the monster burst like a bubble, vanishing in a flash—no blood and flesh remained.
"Huh?" Shinso stared, dumbfounded. He had barely grazed it before the full force of his fist even landed, and it was already gone.
And it didn't end there. The punch's shockwave surged outward, ripping through the test field. The massive black ball was obliterated. Nearby buildings cracked, crumbled, and collapsed.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
As if the sky itself were raining bombs, destruction rippled out for several long seconds—leaving behind only silence, smoke, and a ruined buildings.
"..."
"Oops..." Shinso felt a chill crawl up his scalp. Subconsciously, he glanced toward Headon, who was watching from outside the test field.
"I really hope Headon doesn't charge me for destroying his place... I don't even have any points to pay with."
He acted like it wasn't a big deal—hands in his pockets, eyes half-lidded—but deep down, panic started to settle in. 'I need to start gathering as many points as possible… just in case something like this happens again.' Oddly enough, he was more worried about compensation than passing the test itself.