4 Chapter 3 Test zone

A tall, well-built, black-haired young man with bright, brown eyes. The person who appeared was clearly not simple, if only because he did not behave like the other participants in the test, who immediately rushed to perform the administrator's task. He stood proudly, spoke confidently and was not afraid to go against the rules, which slightly resembled Ichigo of one aristocrat from his world, though the latter could hardly be attributed to Kuchiki Byakue. And Kurosaki immediately felt a noticeable difference in strength: meanwhile, the "red giant" and this brunette were, if not a big, then a noticeable chasm. Tu Peri Puong, standing opposite Ichigo, possessed some inexplicable charm, some kind of "zest" that made others take his words seriously, only listen to him if he speaks. Kurosaki, only seeing Puong's gaze, already began to realize that just like that he would not lag behind.

- Everything depends on you. With a sigh, Ichigo frowned. This Tu Peri was behaving too calmly, as if he had been in this situation for the first time. But, if he has already passed this test, then why did he stay or is he, like Ichigo, also looking for "suitable people"? - Why do we need to find a common language? - Immediately asked the owner of the terrible certificate. If this Poong pursues a specific or, even more so, similar goal with the goal of Ichigo himself, then it will be beneficial for both of them to find a common language.

- Here is how? - A little surprised family member Tu Peri, looking away and rubbing his head dejectedly. "Well, it will be easier for both of us." - He said more confidently, looking at the red-haired guy. - As I understand it, we are looking for the same thing. - suggested Poong, putting his hands in the pockets of his coat. "Strong associates, those who will not pull us down while we climb to the top." - Smiled a little Tu Peri. "So I suggest you join my little group." - He suggested a bit shyly. Nevertheless, for the first time, he has to personally ask someone for help. In the past, everything was decided for him by the family, but now that he has embarked on the "ascendant" path, he will have to do everything himself and bear the answer for his actions. - I agree?

"The little group, yes?" - Scrubbing his left eyebrow, Ichigo repeated. On his "sensor" there was no one who could pass for a strong man, for example, a couple of dozen weaklings and a few middle peasants, if you compare them with the first. - Who else in your group? "Without showing interest," he said.

- ABOUT! Does this mean that you agree?

- Maybe. It all depends on whether you will be useful or not. - Without hiding some hostility to this spontaneous alliance, Ichigo said. The appearance of this Poong was not just an accident. He was looking for strong people to assemble a team, and then go on together. Knowing the rules of the test, he deliberately did not rush or intervene in the battle, analyzing the situation and looking for potential "comrades." This guy was not stupid, if he really thought of doing so.

- Pretty ... self-confident, I must say. - Slightly tempered his fighting spirit Tu Peri, pulling himself together. "Although, if you can support your words with actions, in the future," as Puong casually emphasized, "I will tell you so. Now there are only two of us: me and my guide, Blus Edrok. As you, I hope, you understand, it is quite difficult for me, an adept of the world, and a guide to fight, that's why I am looking for someone who could pass for the anglerfish. Tu Peri explained, waiting for an answer.

"Not enough brute force?" - I decided to clarify Ichigo. "But do I look like a strong man?" That redskin is much more ...

- Not. - interrupted Poong, confidently looking into the eyes of Ichigo. - At first, I still doubted when Bloom told me to find a man with bright hair and wearing white clothes, but watching from the side how you dodge the strong and, honest, not very dangerous attacks of that red-skinned person for yourself, , I realized that you are much stronger than it might seem at first. You restrained yourself, simply did nothing, waiting for the end of the test.

- Let's say. Ichigo snorted in displeasure. This guy was really quite smart and picky, since he was able to understand all this. And also this "escort." How could he know at least something about Kurosaki's appearance? "But what benefit will I have if I join you?" - He did not want to join the group. This Poong is very strange. Talk so openly, talk about your group to the first comer. He is either strong, or too self-confident, or gullible.

"Don't worry about that." - Enough smiled Tu Peri. "If you join, I will take care of your equipment." I can offer you a "Watch" of the "B" class, which you can hardly afford now, as well as any weapon that we can buy on this or the next floors.

- Equipment? - Ichigo held out thoughtfully. If he is going to rise higher, then his things should be appropriate. Not for nothing that the keeper of the first floor mentioned that the "Clock" is one of the most necessary things in the Tower. And to acquire weapons, too, will not be superfluous. - Good. I agree. But I will have one condition.

- What? - Already almost recruiting a man, Poong tensed a little.

"I will help you, but if I decide to leave, then you will not bother me."

- That's it? - A member of one of the ten great families sighed in relief. - I understand the desire to be independent and so on. Of course, I am not against such a condition, only if it will not endanger the team. But I would like to take a word from you, if it naturally means something.

- What? "Now Ichigo was listening to Tu Peri's demand."

"You will not leave the team in the midst of the test, you will not go over to the enemy during the test, and you will not substitute the team." - seriously demanded Poong.

- Good. I agree to such terms. Ichigo nodded, rising from the boulder. "My name is Kurosaki Ichigo, glad to meet Tu Peri Poong." He held out his hand, smiling faintly.

"I look forward to a long and productive cooperation, Mr. Kurosaki." - Brunet, shaking his hand, called the clock. "Blue, I found a third when the trial begins?"

"Glad to hear that." - There was an excited sigh. "The administrator will conduct a new test in twelve hours, so we still have time to get together and discuss the plan." - The voice of the guide was intermittent, as if he was running now. - Let's meet in the center of the test site, and then we'll figure it out, what to do next? - Suggested by Bloom.

- Good. - answered Poong, disconnecting. - Let's go. - Brunet turned to Ichigo. "The entrance is quite far from here."

- Come on. Kurosaki sighed, waving his hand.

Slowly, as if they were not expected by any Bloom Edrock, the escort, who could be counted on the fingers in the whole Tower, and this one was also from the famous family of escorts Edrok, two young men moved forward.

Looking around, not already on a boulder, Ichigo appreciated the enormous size of the test site on which grass and a few trees grew, above it, in the distance, hovering in the sky, there was some huge structure soaring on a block of soil. It was hung with various posters and advertising signs. Poong explained that, basically, the main test takes place there on which it depends whether you will go to the next floor or not, he added that there is a floor administrator who conducts tests on behalf of the floor keeper.

"There you are, Mr. Poong." - A short man exhaled worriedly, straightening a small backpack. He was wearing a gray shirt, dark pants and boots.

- Yes. This "gnome" is called Bloom Edrok. - Introduced guide Puong. "It was on his orders that I found you, Ichigo."

- As always, you are not serious. - Blusom exhaled hopelessly, missing an already outdated joke about his growth past his ears and going up to Kurosaki. - Glad to meet you. - He held out his hand.

- Kurosaki Ichigo. - According to the young man nodded, shaking outstretched hand. "I was told that you need brute force."

- Yes. This is true. - The guide felt a little uncomfortable, getting the ordinary participant involved in the affairs of the Tu Peri family. "Since my specialization is escorted, and Mr. Poong has been deprived of combat skills from birth," Edrock smiled wryly, hearing behind him the formidable "Who is deprived here ?!", we just need someone who could fight "on the front line".

- I see. - The next nod followed. "But if I fight" on the front line, "Ichigo also emphasized, realizing that the front line in this case would be the whole place of battle for him," do you now need someone with the ability to support? "

- Well, that's me. - A member of one of ten great families waved his hand. "I am an adherent of the Tu Peri family." Let the beginner, but I was specially trained to provide maximum support.

- Yes. It's true. - Shrugged by Bloom. - Mr. Puong's education in the Tu Peri family was not limited to the use of advanced or rear lights, so he is good at everything from analyzing the enemy to applying the available information in practice. But his personal data are far from ideal. - The man sighed sadly, rolling his eyes.

"How flattering you are about me." - The brunette grinned. - Anyway. - He calmed down. - A team of three people is already assembled. Now we just have to wait until the start of the next test and safely complete it. But before that ... - he looked towards the guide. "Blue, give him one of our Hours."

- Sure? - Edrok frowned. "Of course, I understand everything, but this" Clock "was given to you so that you could hand it over to people employed by your family. Will everything be okay? - He worried. The "watches" of the "B" class were less valuable, as, for example, the "A" class, which you won't find during the day, but still remained a rather expensive, rare and very valuable thing, which, incidentally, the Tu Peri family I gave the guide to Mr. Puong with a very precise indication: to give them to the people employed by the Tu Peri family.

- Of course. - Brushed off the brunette. - After all, when we meet with the mercenaries, we will already be on opposite sides of the barricades. Where are the guarantees that they will not betray me or run away when they receive the promised things and money? Isn't it better to put together a team that will pursue the same goal as us? To conquer the Tower, and not work for someone for the money, that's the goal that should come first.

"I think I understand what you mean by that." Ichigo nodded thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. "But is it enough to conquer the Tower with one desire to conquer the Tower?" After all, with the money for which you can buy the best equipment you have, you will be able to conquer new floors faster and with less danger for yourself. So you need to take this money from somewhere. Mercenary is one of the simplest ways to kill three birds with one stone at once: earn money, rise to the floor above and become more famous. Although the latter can be argued.

"You are naive, Mr. Kurosaki." Disagreeingly shook his head with Bloom. - It's so simple now. On the second floor. - he explained. "But if we find ourselves in the twentieth, or maybe even earlier, then you will realize that most of the ascendants have long been lost in small companies of five to seven people and conquer the Tower only with an already tested staff." Some even surrendered, scoring to conquer the Tower. - Edrok's face was weakly tensed while he talked, helping himself with simple gestures. "You will understand that the people with whom you walked a couple of floors can be trusted much more than, according to Mr. Poong, the mercenaries hired by the Tu Peri family." That's why he wants to recruit you into our small group. The mercenaries are waiting for us on the third floor, therefore, although the deadlines are running out, Mr. Poong wants to look at your abilities. In terms of fighting, you showed yourself pretty well. - The guide extended his left hand, on which was a light. - I watched you with the help of one of the lights of Mr. Puong. - Explained by Bloom. - You do not show much desire to show your true strength and the reason for this is clear.

- And you did not waste time in vain. - Ichigo chuckled in surprise. The two were pretty good at learning it. Even more. Although they did not talk about it openly, they probably no longer doubted that he was hiding most of his strength. - You managed to build so many guesses and assumptions just by analyzing my fight with that red-skinned?

- This is my specialty. - Shrugged Puong. "There is nothing to be surprised at." As already mentioned, I am from the Tu Peri family, which is famous for its adepts of light. My family has one of the largest databases in the entire Tower, maybe only the Zakhard family can compete with us in this regard. Anyway. - He said enthusiastically. "Blue, give him one of our watches."

The escort sighed heavily, taking off his backpack and pulling out of it a dark brown "Clock" covered with unknown letters.

- Here. "Edrock gave Ichigo the Clock." "They will replace your old Watch." Do you know how to use them?

- Yes.

"Well, now you need to get a weapon for you." - Encouraged by his small victory, said Poong. "True, it's easier said than done." - His ardor slightly diminished. - The nearest place where you can get at least some kind of weapon is the third floor.

- Yes. This is true. - Confirmed by Blusom. "So we need to pass the test on this floor and immediately rush for weapons for Mr. Kurosaki, otherwise there will be a great chance to meet people hired by the family." It is unlikely that they will be glad that you, Mr. Poong, have found another fellow traveler, and they will have to protect him too.

- If they are against, then just send them and the case is over. - Not worrying about this topic at all, answered the brunette, holding his hands behind his head. - It is unlikely that the family will be against if I decide to conquer the Tower with someone else - this is perhaps the most important factor. In any case, with or without mercenaries, I will receive support from the Tu Peri family. And the opinion of the mercenaries should not concern us at all, so, a secondary task.

- As you know, Mr. Poong. - Surrendered by Bloom. To argue with an adherent of the light from one of the ten strongest families was too tiring. Sometimes even stupid. - I will lead you along any path that you like. But now, is it not better for us to discuss the strategy in the upcoming tournament?

- Yes, here, as it were, everything is so clear. - Sitting in Turkish and resting his chin on the castle from his fingers, Ichigo said. - If both of you are responsible, for the most part, for support, then while I fight, you will cover me, inform me about the enemy's forces, their weaknesses and where they will hide. If they are, of course.

- How confident are you in your abilities? - Seriously asked the guide of the Tu Peri family. He noticed this behavior while he was watching the battle between Ichigo and the "red" in the light.

"Well, I can handle a couple, three, four people." Rest assured. - He added with a grin. "But if there are more of them, let's say five or seven, then it won't cost a little blood." Although all this will depend on the abilities of those against whom you put me.

- It's logical. - Agreed Poong.

- Okay. - The guide decided to dwell on this. They will still have time to get to know the new team member better, but a little later. - Now we can only wait.