Tower of Gods End. Chapter 2 (Patreon)

First before I could even open my eyes from teleporting I heard a deep voice speak. "Hmm yet another Challenger for the Tower."

I opened my eyes and standing above me was the form of Headron who was the supposed Tower Keeper and protector. The Tower of God wasn't just a place for humans as many odd races and monsters were within it that were caling it for the power they could aquire. And there was nothing remotely human about Headon.

He wore a sort of suit over his pure white form that was almost rabbit like but with an elongated head as he stood up on two legs and having sharp long ears behind his head. But beyond that he was carrying his customary two sided staff that had balls on each end of the staff that was echoed with the power of Shinsoo.

Sitting upright I took in Headon's form and I responded with a hint of respect. "That is correct Mr. Headon." 

Sure Headon was a snake that tried repeatedly to have Bam the main character of the series killed. But that was because Bam was... Odd for an Irregular and before he did anything to me I was going to play dumb to any bullshit.

As I was well aware that he was far beyond me for now and he was bound by the towers rules not to present impossible challenges to me. 

Headon's head tilted to the side and he said with some amuesment in his voice. "Oh? Is my senses wrong, which floors outer level are you from?" 

'Ah he is suprised I know who he is.' I thought before I shook my head and said frankly. "No Headon. I am an Irregular but I belong to an outside force. I am here just to gain strength not rule the Tower itself."

His form stilled and I could feel his Shinsoo, mana or whatever roiling under his form as he considered my words but then he just chuckled and said. "Well it doesn't matter where you are from. You aknowledge the fact that you are an Irregular and that will bring plenty of trouble to you haha."

He spun around with his baton like staff spun in the air and I shivered feeling his Shinsoo flood the surroundings and then as his staff hit the floor with a loud glass clanking noise a shattering noise rang out with the long dimly lit hallway we were in, shattering like glass unveiling a far larger room.

"Well seeing as you alreadly are here in the Tower to gain strength as you said... Here is your initiation. Whether you are even worthy of climbing the tower and bearing the name of an Irregular." Headon spoke grandly as he guestered to the large fish tank like structure in front of us with grates seperating the thick liquid Shinsoo energy from our forms.

And in answer to Headon's antics a roar rang out and my lips twitched as from above the grates line came a massive serpent with a dragons head that had horns atop its head that radiated danger to me.

Past the Flood-dragon like monster I saw on the back wall was a comically large lever and as I took in the surrounding arena where the Flood Dragon was I listened to Headon speaking in his jovial tone. "Now challenger... I actually haven't gotten your name, anyway your task is to pull down that lever on the back wall! That is all you need to do haha." 

I gave a wry smile as I took in the arena's flat area with the Flood Dragon hurriedly swimming around anxiously as it looked at me with hunger that meant that Headon had obviously been starving the poor bastard.

The more I looked upon the Flood Dragon I could feel its insane hunger as it had been starved for god knows how long so and I realized something... I had been given the potential and knowledge for all water based abilties I could imagine. I just didn't have the mana/Shinsoo in my body accumulated to do much as my body wasn't trained to channel the Shinsoo.

Taking a breath I asked. "Well Headon, my name is Jake. And if its not too much trouble can I at least have a knife or something? I am not asking for a tool to carry me through the test but just any knife or anything will do." 

Headon looked at me and hummed before shrugging with his staffing clinking on the ground and in front of me swirling thick Shinsoo so dense that it transcended the state of water and became completely solid in density. "Hmm, this is a difficult test so that knife can cut through the Flood Dragon's scales. Good luck then young Jake."

I smiled at that and without a moment of hesitation I sliced open my palm making Headon tilt his head in utter confusion as I dropped the knife he made that also broke apart after the single cutting motion but the wound was deep with my blood quickly leaking out.

"What are-"

But I coudn't hear the following words as I stepped past the grate into the thick liquid Shinsoo of the arena/oversized fish tank. And even as the Flood Dragon roared as it circled around to slam into me and eat my form I idly realized that the liquid-dense Shinsoo was like breathing in a light mist for me.

I smiled gently at the furious Flood Dragon that came for me and as it came within but feet of me I spoke softly. "Stop." 

And my voice had a deep reverberation that echoed through the dense Shinsoo surrounding me making the lesser dragon stop as it ran face-first into the solid sound wave that used the thick surrounding Shinsoo as a method to strengthen it.

I took a deep breath as I walked closer to the dragon as I lifted up my hand that was leaking bloody mist into the surrounding Shinsoo water and I spoke again in a calm and gentle manner. "Little dragon, I can see your hunger... Come with me, I can help you feast as much as you desire, and Headon won't be able to kill you after this test." I spoke using the language of water with my very lifeblood filling the water to carry my intent.

I was using the equilvalent of Aquaman's fish control ability but the dragon was far more intelligent and made of an ego than a fish or even a whale so my 'commands' were more suggestions to the dragon. But... It could hear the intent, and truth in my words as they were translated into the dragon's mind and soul.

And as I spoke I even sent feelings of the memories I had of Headon killing the steel eel after Bam's test. And the dragon recoiled as it looked fearfully at the grate where Headon's form stood there like a god with an executioner's axe.

I grimaced as I waved my hand and I could feel my body burn with the exertion as I forced the local Shinsoo into a more solid form and then merging my magical lifeforce-filled blood with the fist-sized glowing drop of my own blood I spoke again.

"Sign a contract with me. I will take you up the tower with me and you will not hunger beside me, I swear it!" The dragon looked between me and the drop of blood and then I could hear a groan from behind me as the dragon came closer and its nose hit the drop of blood with the drop of blood breaking apart and merging over its face as it seeped into her body as we signed a beastmaster contract.

I smiled with the dragon laying down to rest as I sent a mental thought for it to relax as food will come in the next test and I went over to the large lever to pull it down... 

"Oi Headon this is bullshit! I am literally using Shinsoo and water manipulation to pull this but it won't go down!" I yelled in utter exasperation as a large water suit formed around my body to enhance my bodies strength... But the damned lever still didn't go down!

It was only with both my shinsoo water-enhanced form and the now grumpy dragon helping me pull the damned lever that it came down!