10 Third Floor of the Tower

***

Going through the doors leading to the next Floor, Poong with his comrades, as well as Saya and his team, were instantly blinded by a bright flash of gray.

***

Opening his eyes, Ichigo sighed heavily, filling his lungs with musty air. For some reason, it was incredibly difficult to breathe, as if something was pressing on his chest, preventing him from breathing normally. Looking down completely meaningless, he saw a black hood, already familiar to him recently, located on his chest, and a bright blade with a flower-shaped guard with five petals and a rough, rectangular handle.

- Saya? - His voice sounded extremely deplorable. The air on this Floor was incredibly dry and hot, which was a kind of fatality for a weakened body. - Wake up! - Ichigo pushed the guy's head from his chest, slowly starting to rise. - Where are we? - Suddenly his head became very sick, he only had to try to remember at least something after they entered the door to the Third Floor.

- Why are you so rude? - Offended Saya, adjusting the falling hood back into place. "By the way, where are we?" - He finally began to realize the situation.

- No idea. Shinigami shrugged, trying to gather a tangle of shinosa in his right hand. Fortunately, he did it, because he did not want to remain without a single "weapon". The tower has already managed to show itself from the "dark side". "Looks like it's some kind of perverse test." - Ichigo looked around, but all he saw was how two incredibly high walls went off into the distance, creating a wide corridor, lit by torches on the same walls. Behind them was a dead end - a wall about five meters wide, on which was written the number "7", also lost its end somewhere above.

"This is the maze of Kearnax." - Say, leaning his back against the wall, said Saya, putting the hilt of a katana on his shoulder.

"Is Kirnax a Guardian?" Ichigo stared questioningly at the surprised guy, waiting for an answer.

- Kernaksu to the Guardian, as an ordinary layman to Andrew. - He smiled, crooked lips in a grin. "Kernaks is the officer, administrator, who conducts and is responsible for the test on this floor." - He explained seriously, catching the unkind look of brown eyes on himself. "You are seriousness, I will look." - Saya frowned, unhappy that his interlocutor was not as cheerful as his hair color.

- And what, should I tell jokes and poison jokes? Ichigo grinned venomously, flashing his eyes unkindly. "We are not playing toys here!" - His serious face immediately changed to surprise. - Damn it. - He sighed, disheveled his hair. - "I'm already turning into an old man!" - He noted not a radiant future.

- And you're funny. - Saya smiled, rising and taking the katana in his hands. "But we need to go." - He finally made up his mind. - It is not known whether this test is a test of time, but it is better for us not to make the administrator wait.

- Good. - Ichigo nodded, silently agreeing to temporary cooperation.

***

"And where are we?" - Looking at the walls, Poong asked his companion in misfortune. "Although, I dare to suggest that this is the maze of Kirnax." - He turned to the girl sitting on the damp ground, right near the dead end wall, and pressed her legs to her chest. "You really are useless."

The girl from the comment of the Adept of the Light seemed to shrink even more.

"Okay, you won't do anything about it." - He reconciled, looking at the starry sky. "What if so?"

Raising his hand, he ordered one of the lights to rise as high as possible, but he, having reached a certain height, flew down.

"So, does this wall mean more than fifteen meters high?" - He mentally compared the distance at which he can control the lights, with the estimated height of the walls. - Not. They are much higher. - Poong examined the fallen lamp, on which some figures were highlighted. - Fifty meters. - The lamp indicated an approximate height. - Get up.

The girl jerked when the guy approached her. The man in the coat looked completely calm, which made her feel insecure. He looked strong and was so when he fought with mercenaries, which only made the girl more afraid of him. In the Tower, it was never that the strong helped the weak for no reason. In this place, people are always looking for benefits, they are always ready to betray, if that is required by the achievement of their goals. The tower is the place where the fittest survive.

"If you don't get up, I'll leave it here."

Poong's ultimatum was not immediately heard, but the girl quickly realized how Tu Peri thought that she would be better with him than staying here alone.

- What's your name? - Brunet finally decided to ask this question. So, just to keep up the conversation, not go in silence. The local environment, the musty and hot air, the eternal stars, which became a kind of legend for beginners, and the moist ground under their feet on which there was not a blade of grass created an impression similar to if they were locked in a cave, deep underground, where there is no place for the sun and fresh air.

- M-Maria. - The girl's voice was quiet, and she herself seemed a clogged sheep.

- Beautiful name. - Poong smiled trying to defuse the situation. The girl looked well-groomed: her hair and face were clean, her clothes looked neat. And outwardly she was beautiful. Blonde, long hair, hazel, frightened eyes, a pretty face and sexy shapes. Tu Peri did not immediately realize why the girl was so unusual, but when she realized ... - Come on, Maria. His lips spread out in a snake grin. Yes, this is the world of the Tower: the strong get everything they want. Whether it's a wildflower or someone else's body.

***

Bloom grimaced displeased, once again plugging his ears with his hands. This ambal was too loud.

- God damn this Tower! - The red-skinned and muscular man, kicking another boulder, stared menacingly at the guide. The big man, dressed in light, leather armor that did not constrain his movements, looked even more close to a short "gnome", whose growth could be compared with two giant swords of the giant. - Where are we? You're kind of a guide, so lead!

"This thought is even more ingenious than the one born by my Mr." - It seemed that Edrok was destined to sigh bitterly all his life, that's how it is now. Although, with such satellites, this is no wonder. "We are now on the Third Floor of the Tower, in the maze of Kirnax." - Keeping the inherent calmness of the escort, Blus explained. - This place is famous for bringing people together, helping new teams to find mutual understanding. Simply put, it makes people more open to conversation. All this thanks to the healthy insects that live here, they emit smells like the truth serum. So do not try to kill these insects! - Shorty said terribly. - Their blood enhances this effect several times.

- The maze? - The giant grimaced, obviously missing most of the explanations. - Puzzle ?! His face twisted, as if he had heard something incredible or something terrifying. "I don't like puzzles and riddles ..." he added a little quieter.

"Don't worry, I'll get us out of here." - Assured the guide. - Still, leading people along the right path is my calling.

Although Edrock said so, it looked more like a sentence than a vocation.

***

- What a disappointment. - Poong discontentedly bit his lower lip.

The discontent of a young member of a great family was provoked by frequent stops at a halt. You see, the girl, his grief partner, is unprepared for long walks!

- Come on, some princess, but no! - He wearily sat down beside the opposite wall from the girl.

Of course, he did not feel much fatigue, since training with the lights took up much more energy, both physical and moral, but these stops ... They just exhausted him mentally.

"At least tell me where you are from?" - His facial features became harsh - affected irritation directed at Mary. "You are this ..." he scratched his head guiltily, realizing that he was getting excited. - Sorry if I offended, but the truth cannot continue. - He desperately sighed. - So where from?

Maria, who had pressed herself hard against the wall, expecting physical punishment to follow after angry words, was bewildered by an unexpected question, and her apologies completely led her out of precarious balance.

"I came from the outside of the Tower." - Her voice was quiet and intense as always. "I was ... a servant." - The brown eyes of the girl treacherously shone.

- "Slave." - Brunet mentally corrected. There are enough punctures for today. "And how did you end up here?" - Tu Peri continued to ask his questions, watching the walls. Although they walked slowly, they passed quite a lot already. And for all this time they turned only three times. Because of this, it seemed that they were going in a straight line.

"My master is dead." She turned away, pursing her lower lip. Her hands shook finely when she spoke, and the girl herself seemed trapped, as if she were being interrogated.

- I see. - Poong sighed, realizing that it was better to be silent for a bit.

Suddenly, a wall a couple of meters from the girl began to move counterclockwise, closing the way forward, but opening the passage to the right.

The girl jumped up in fright, bouncing off the path that had just opened.

- Wonderful. - Tu Peri rose, giving the girl a hand. - Get up, you need to go further, and then you never know what.

Maria stared blankly at the guy's outstretched hand. At first she was frightened, but soon realized that they did not want evil, but wanted to help.

- N-no. - With a negative shake of her head, the girl stood herself, rejecting the offer of help.

- As you know. - Poong just shrugged, and then went on.