New Life After Seventeen Months

Five minutes later, allotted by the floor administrator to search for a team of three, Ichigo, Puong, holding one hand on the escort's shoulder, and the second on Kurosaki's shoulder, and Blusom were transferred to a spacious, bright room. The movement was accompanied by a short blinding flash of light, it happened in a few moments.

- As I thought. - Taking his hands off the shoulders of the members of the group, handed Tu Peri. - A lot of people have passed. Twenty teams, somewhere. Maybe more. - The brunette sighed, counting the number of past.

- So many people are really rare? Ichigo asked somewhat skeptically. Of course, he understood that few people could find a team, and even before that, to survive in the "qualifying part" it was necessary to manage, but not as much.

"Usually forty people go by." - explained Edrok. - These are either pretty smart individuals who can be called "geniuses" in some way, or those who know the essence of the test, like me and Mr. Poong.

- Here's how. - Ichigo sighed. The tower, it turns out, is indeed a cruel place. "You need to be on the alert." The swordsman decided to himself.

- Glad to see an unexpectedly large number of past! - He spoke a loud voice, attracting the attention of a crowd of newcomers. "I am a Tower officer and in charge of the next test, Ji Wan Shi." - with a slight smile, an officer of the Tower introduced himself, taking off his flat cap with a short visor. - Honestly, I have to see so many past for the first time! - Ji smiled broadly, starting to twist the hat on the index finger of his right hand. - Perhaps this is due to the fact that you were slightly less than usual? - He thoughtfully held out, deftly throwing his cap back on his blond short hair. "But I want to believe that you went through your ingenuity, well, or personal qualities, perhaps due to charisma." I do not know. The officer shrugged sharply. - Anyway. I see that few people are interested in my senseless chatter. - He squinted, sparkling unkindly with bright blue eyes, and put his hands in wide pants on an elastic suspender. The crowd, surprisingly, quickly fell silent, looking suspiciously at the plaid short-sleeved shirt.

- Someone he reminds me of. Ichigo whispered, frowning with a suspicious twinkle in his eyes.

- My test is even easier than the previous one. - The officer scratched his head with a guilty smile and extended his second hand forward, slowly spreading his fingers. "You just have to go through the barrier." - Instantly from the outstretched palm a lump of a tire flew off, shrinking and "bursting" in a split second, he created a strong enough shock wave to push all the participants of the test back several meters. "As you understand, it was a shinuza, a force that threw you away." In the Tower, she is everywhere. Thanks to the tire, we breathe, eat and fight. Therefore, those who are not adapted to the tire have nothing to do in the Tower, and we will check whether we are "worthy" or "unworthy" by the means of this barrier. - Watching the participants through a transparent wall that looks like glass, the officer explained. - Who can't get through the barrier, he drops out. - Wan grinned.

- It should not be difficult. - Red-haired frowned, rubbing his right wrist. - Yes? - He looked inquiringly at Edrok's faint nod, and then at Poong, who approached the barrier. - Just go through it and that's it?

"You're right, Ichigo, it's not complicated." - Tu Peri nodded, taking a step forward and passing through the barrier without any problems. - But here there are subtleties. To pass through the barrier, you must have a sufficiently large supply of tire. - Briefly explained the brunette.

"Or her control." - Added Edrok, also without any problems passing the barrier of officer G.

- Incredible! - The voice of the other ascendants was heard. - Who are these two ?!

"Milk skin, short stature, dark hair ..." someone from the crowd listed loudly. - Is it really a guide from the Edrok family ?! - He cried out right away.

"But if that is so ..." the girl frowned, looking a little discouraged at Poong. "So that second one is Poong from the Tu Peri family!"

"You get too much attention." Ichigo shook his head from side to side. Yes, with such popular people, as it turned out, they will have a hard time. "But besides these two options, there is a third." - His hand rested on the barrier. - If you use brute force, the barrier will bend. - The blue chinsa first grabbed her fingers and wrist, then spread to her forearm, and only then covered the whole body of Ichigo. - Here it is. - He breathed a sigh of relief, passing through a barrier that bent inward.

- Awesome! - Wang Shi clapped his hands, approaching the past group. - Not only did you go through, but also explained to the other participants how to do it. - The officer, although he did not show it outwardly, was slightly worried. He was aware of both the guide who was currently working for the Tu Peri family and the young talent of the Tu Peri family, Mr. Puong, but he was most worried about his third person. "You are quite strong," he went to Ichigo, "since they were able to pass through the barrier so confidently, relying only on brute force."

- Not at all. - Fakely embarrassed Kurosaki, rubbing his neck. "I just ..." a few thoughts flashed through my head immediately. To say that he could go "quietly" was to attract even more attention. Not. He does not need it. - I just grew up in rather harsh conditions. I'm just not used to solving problems with my head.

- How interesting. - The officer squinted unkindly, flashing a predatory gaze and slightly baring his teeth in a half-smile. - For a person who is used to solving everything by brute force, you behaved extremely quietly and calmly when you were attacked during your first test, and in the second you already got everything into a pretty entertaining company. Yes, and the barrier was handled perfectly. And I didn't mention that you understood what your allies were talking about without any problems.

Ichigo shuddered. This ... Is the man in front of him? Looks like it. Externally. But his nature is by no means human. This officer was mortally calm, trembling in his knees confident in his words, it seemed that before Ichigo, he was not a young-looking man, but a real millennial ... Spirit? Maybe. If only the people living in the Tower have longevity. It's true that if a shinsu is an analogue of spiritual energy, then this could well be.

- Do not carp at the words, Mr. Officer. - Interceded for Ichigo Puong. - Better tell us what awaits us now. It is unlikely that having passed this barrier, we got a pass to the next floor. - Quite unsuccessfully, as it seemed to him, he changed the subject. Although it is unlikely that the officer will be obsessed with someone like Ichigo for a long time.

***

- And what was that? - Poong smiled a little uneasily. "This officer is pretty annoying, yes, Ichigo?" - He glanced at the red-haired, sitting down on a small sofa.

Now they were in a modest waiting room. The next test will begin in an hour, so those who passed through the barrier had time to rest. The test was called the "Battle for the Crown" and, as Edrock explained, it lived up to its name. The teams will have to fight among themselves for the right to possess the crown, the winners will go further, and the losers will remain here, on the second floor.

- But still. - Thoughtfully rubbed Tu Peri's chin, crooked displeased face. "The battle for the crown?" This is strange. After all, it is carried out only in exceptional situations. So why now?

- Admin's whim? - Definitely snorted at Blusom, shrugging sharply. - These "monsters" have so many c.o.c.kroaches in their heads that even in the lousiest institution they will have fewer.

- So, if we win, then move on to the next floor? - I decided to clarify Ichigo.

- Yes. - Poong nodded. - Such cases, although rare, but they cannot be called a surprise.

- In the Tower, absolutely everything is a "surprise". Will of chance. - The escort responded with undisguised discontent, out of the corner of his eye noting the fact that the room was starting to gradually fill up with new commands.

- It will be fun, I tell you! - Inspired by the adept of light, clapping Ichigo on the shoulder. "Look," he spread his hands, pointing to the participants, "how many murdered killers are here!" ABOUT! By the way! - He jabbed a finger somewhere to the side. "This is that red-skinned one." - Poong shoved Kurosaki with his elbow in the side. "You already fought with him."

- He passed? - Not having time to hide disgust and slight surprise, the swordsman grimaced. - Ha! The tower is really a strange place.

"Now I will explain the rules to you." - Following the last, thirteenth group, Ji entered the test room. - The essence of the test, you guessed it, is the theft of the crown. The teams present will fight for the crown, and the last, in whose hands the crown will be, will be declared the winner. Now for the rules. - One coughed into a fist. - The game is held in five rounds of ten minutes each. No more than five teams can participate in each round. The winner of the round, in whose hands the crown will be, automatically moves to the next round. Five teams also participate in the next round; teams from the previous round can also participate. After five rounds, the one who will be the last owner of the crown is considered the winner. Also note that if you want to participate in a round, then you must press the red button at the exit for each of the teams. If a button was pressed by several teams at once, preference is given to the team that pressed the button more than once in the previous rounds. There is still a way to finish it all at once. It consists in the fact that if one of the participants in the participating team takes possession of the crown and sits with her on the throne until the end of five minutes, then the team that owns the crown is considered the winner. Regarding the rules for movement. The team that received the crown in the previous round continues to own the crown in the new round, but one of the team must sit on the throne with the crown. If he loses his crown or is expelled from the throne, the team will be disqualified and dropped out of the game. If the other team can steal the crown and sit on the throne, then the round ends, and this team is considered the winner. - Wan Shi took a breath. He had not spoken so much in his life for quite some time. - In general, all that is required of you is to pull off the crown, sit on the throne and hold out for five minutes. - He with a smile twisted the cap on his index finger.

After some time, during which teams of three people dispersed into their section rooms, from which the grating door went to a circular platform in the center of which stood a huge stone throne, where the yellow cardboard crown lay, a signal rang that the test began. There was the sound of several doors opening immediately.

- What shall we do? - Ichigo stood near the rods, watching the three teams converge in battle. "You are fumbling in such matters, aren't you?" - He cast an interested look over his shoulder.

"Best of all," began Poong, "wait for the second round, and then grab the crown."

- I think so too. - Supported the guide. - Naturally, it is best to finish everything in two rounds. But since thirteen teams are participating at once, three of which are now fighting, the chances of winning are becoming less and less every minute. Too many participants, it is not profitable to delay.

- So let's get out in the second round? - The swordsman shrugged. "Twelve people, huh?" - He mentally figured the impending problems. - Plus, I don't know their capabilities, and we can only watch these three teams.

"But even so, we have every chance to win!" - Tu Peri did not let up. - When we leave, we will need, first of all, to get rid of a few teams that have just entered the game, and then, as soon as possible, take possession of the crown.

- Here, it means that you came up with. - Kurosaki nodded. "But if we grab the crown, then who will we put on the throne?"

- It is quite obvious that the escort. - Shrugged Puong. - This is the most logical act for our situation. With you at the forefront and with me in support, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to compete with us. - Confidently cut off the brunette.

- I agree. - Bloom, too, did not stand aside. "The lights of Mr. Puong will be able to get the enemy anywhere and wherever he wants." All that remains for you, Mr. Kurosaki, is to restrain your opponents. Although I doubt that we will have any problems on this floor.

- Then let's start. - Poong clapped his hands, approaching the red button. "The first round is over, which means we should go."