ZINLESTER'S POV

9th Floor

☂☂☂

"I can't believe that we snuck out of there." I commented as I took a sip of my chocolate milk with a sarcastic smirk plastered on my face, remembering past events.

Me and Aguero snuck out from the house we were in with our teammates, or should I say former teammates. The both of us snuck out from the house we guys rented since we're planning to be left behind to create another team and let everyone continue to climb. It's predictable that they will stop us with such invalid reason since we can't tell them about the case of Rachel lying. We have to take the burden, together. After all, Aguero did say last time that we will be each other's stepping stone and that he can share the burden with me.

Shibisu, which now I call 'Isu' cause his name is really long, tried to stop us in the process but Aguero was persistent. Not that I don't understand, but I lowkey wanna stay but I understand that we're doing this for our dear Bam's sake. So, we gotta flee.

Von and Red separated from us once we reached the 4th Floor. They gave us their blessings to continue going up the Tower. I asked them if they were going to live together but they said that they were really planning to go individual, meaning they're not going to be a two-member team. Sadly it may sound, that's what they wanted and all I could do is wish them luck. I actually miss them already.

Aguero rolled his eyes as he took a sip of his coffee in a mug. We're currently here in our new lodging, at the balcony wherein we sat across from each other with a round table in between us. This is where we stayed after separating ourselves from Shibisu and the others. Actually, its already been months since then, I don't exactly know the date coz I'm not good with it and I could care less. Endorsi kept on calling me the next day we snuck out. But of course I had to decline every single call and ignore her messages. She's probably going to kill me once we see each other again.

Rachel's in her room sleeping since its pretty late.

"It's been 3 months already. Can't you get over it?" Aguero grumbled as he folded his arms in front of his chest and leaned back on his chair. His eyes glued onto mine, piercing my soul.

'Oh, so it's been 3 months?'

Letting out a soft sigh, I pressed my lips into a thin line before setting my palms on my lap still holding my chocolate milk and leaned back as well. I leaned my head on the chair's frame and stared upwards, staring at the night sky.

'Night....Bam...'

Whenever its night time, I can't help but think of Bam. I mean, his name literally means 'Night'. Its already been years since then but it's still like it was yesterday since Bam left us.

Noticing my sudden gloomy emotion, Aguero stared at me with those beautiful cobalt eyes of his that are very luring to look at. Even though I'm not looking at him, I could feel his gaze glues onto my figure.

"Staring is rude." I suddenly blurted out, breaking our silence.

"It's also rude to look away when you're talking to someone." My blue headed jerky friend shot back.

The side of my lips rose as I let out a short chuckle. I then lowered my head to face him only to meet his glowing ocean eyes. My sky blue ones stared back as I took in the comforting aura coming from him.

Why do I feel so comforted when I'm around him?

'Should I ask him if there's a possibility that Bam is still alive?-'

'Shut it, Zin. How the heck is that possible? It's already been years, you gotta move on.' I released a sigh as closed my eyes slightly tight.

Gulping a lump, I opened my eyes and pushed the ridiculous thought of mine away before speaking. "You know....we're supposed to create a team. But it's already been months and we got no one." I deadpanned as my eyes drooped.

The blue headed Khun in front of me looked attacked and offended by my statement causing me to giggle. He let out a scoff before clearing his throat with a tint of red on his cheeks.

He stared at the mug of coffee as he talk. "I know, I know. But don't worry, once we pass the Test on the 10th Floor we will get a Fisherman on our team." He informed taking another sip of his coffee with a brow raised, obviously proud of himself.

Because of this unexpected information, my brows rose as I blink my eyes from time to time. "R-Really?" I asked confirming.

He seemed amused with my reaction and himself since he was able to make me impressed with his actions. This means he got a sense of pride. Cocky bastard.

"Yes. Are you proud of me?~" He asked the last sentence with a mocking baby soft tone, as if he was talking to his mommy. With his eyes glinting playfulness and a teasing pout plastered on his annoyingly dashing face.

Rolling my eyes, I clicked my tongue. "No."

"Whatever you say~"

"Tch."

'Just wait and see. I'll make you disappoint yourself.' I deviously thought as I smirked secretly.

☂☂☂

Walking down the street with my black hoodie, white shorts and black sneakers, I turned left and right to look for a certain Regular. A Regular that Aguero has been trying to contact for weeks but would always ignore him.

Humming a certain melody, I turned to a corner headed to an alleyway. And there I saw the man I was looking for.

I held my head high with a smug grin on my lips. "Novick," I called.

The man heard this resulting him to turn his head towards me. His red bloody eyes glowed in the darkness.

".....yes?" He questioned confused with a glint of suspicion.

Taking a step forward, I approached the male as he straightened his body that was leaning on the wall. Once I reached him, he unintentionally towered me with his damn height.

Looking up, I flashed an innocent smile making him flinch. I then held out a hand to him. "Nice to meet you, my name is Zinlester but please call me Zin. A Wave Controller." I introduced out of nowhere.

Not getting why I'm with his presence, the Spear Bearer accepted my hand and shook it.

He stared at me intensely. "I think I won't have to introduce myself, since you already know who I am." Sarcastically, he responded.

I let out a giggle as we both let go of each other's hand. "You're right." I gave him another innocent smile. The male only made a face.

"I'll get straight to the point," I leaned back a little as I shoved my hands inside the pocket of my hoodie with my eyes closed. Then I opened my eyes that glowed in the darkness for unknown reasons. "I want you to join my team." I demanded nonchalantly.

Novick who was stunned, only let out an amused but sarcastic laugh. "You want me to join your team?"

"Yes."

"I don't want to."

"Why so?"

"I only join those who are worthy. Those who are worth to spare some of my time. In short, the strong ones."

"Hmmm..." I hummed in curiousness but with a hint of boredom. So, he only wants to join on a reliable team, huh? We're pretty reliable though, Aguero's part of us.

'But simply telling him that we're above average is not enough to convince him for sure.'

But for some reason, this man in front of me showed a tiny bit of interest as he studied every feature of me. Starting from my hair, studying the tone of my skin, eyes, and also the glitters surrounding me. His eyes kept on darting every part of me, it's not in a sexual way, it's just he's studying me with curiousness at suspiciousness.

'Is he okay?'

A plan then popped on my head. I smirked at the thought. "Well..." I started off and stared at the tall man's eyes with a glint of playfulness and amusement. "Why don't we play a game?" I kindly offered.

"A game....?" He wondered, pausing from him examining me.

Confirming, I nodded as a response. "Yes, a game. You have a skill called 'Crimson Soul Fist' am I right?" Novick was caught off guard of me knowing his skill. "All you have to do is to break this with that skill of yours,"

"What 'this'?"

I smirked secretly. Just then, I stick out my left palm to my left side, a magical circle appeared in front of it. The Spear Bearer's red orbs grew wider. There, came out a small wall of blue crystal that reaches until my neck.

I faced the male. "You only have to break that. If you broke it with your skill, I will accept defeat and let you go. But if you can't break it...."

"....you will join me and realize how stronger I am than you."

Finishing the last statement, I again flashed a bright smile. A completely different vibe coming from me than my previous actions earlier.

Fazed a bit, the man in front of me looked back and forth to the wall I created and to me. "What kind of shinsu quality do you have?" he suddenly asked.

Me who don't mind exposing myself, answered honestly. "It's crystal shinsu, that's all I can tell you."

The Spear Bearer's eyes went wide. "Are you perhaps...."

".......the 'Crystal Shooter'?"

My eyes slightly widened as I raised a brow. 'Is that a famous Regular or something? If it is then their nickname is lame as hell.' My face scrunched as I held in a laugh.

Clearing my throat, my face instantly went back to its stoic yet innocent and cheeky look. "What the freak is a 'Crystal Shooter'?"

He only averted his eyes from me and simply shook his head. 'Hm?'

Me being uninterested in this subject, I just shrugged off and continued to persuade him. "Well, if you're curious about me, you shall have to join my team first."

He scowled. "You have to prove first that you're worthy." With that said arrogantly, he took a step forward, approaching my wall of crystal. I only grinned sarcastically and cockily as I stayed firm on my position. Not even bothering to see if he will be able to break it.

☂☂☂

"I'm back!" I shouted as I entered our lodging.

Sound of fast steps immediately lingered as soon as I announced my presence. Sooner or later, the source of the one making those hurriedly noise showed up in front of me: Aguero. With his dark polo shirt and black pants as his hair is down unlike what his hairstyle usually is.

A grin formed on my lips. "Aguer-"

"Is that Novick behind you?!" Aguero exclaimed, mind-blown as he pointed at the man behind me with a shocked expression read on his face. My grin only grew wider in pride.

Nodding my head, I confirmed his conclusion as I took a step aside to welcome our new teammate. I held out a hand directed the Spear Bearer and introduced our brand new mate. "Aguero, meet Novick," I then shifted my hand to the Light Bearer who is still in shock unlike the Spear Bearer only held an ashamed and frowning look. "Novick, meet Aguero."

"H-How?!" Aguero again asked, still unable to comprehend.

I smirked at him, teasingly. "Are you proud of me?~" I mocked his last statement that was only been said yesterday. The blue haired male only clicked his tongue with a tinge of red flushed his pale cheeks.

Novick then took a step forward to approach Aguero as I motioned him to. He stick out a hand which then was gladly accepted by the son of Khun.

Novick cleared his throat. "Nice to meet you, I'm Novick. A Spear Bearer."

The male in front of him only nodded, already knowing these facts about him. "Yes, I've already heard. My name is Khun Aguero Agnes, call me Khun." Aguero introduced back as the two shook hands before letting go.

"Khun? You're from the Ten Great Families?" Novick questioned, a little stunned.

Aguero again nodded. "Yes. Haven't Zin mentioned it?" he turned to me and then followed by Novick, slightly tilting his head to me.

I shrugged my shoulders as I comb my locks with my right palm lazily. "Well, he was being cheeky and stubborn, saying that he only spares his time to the ones who are worthy. I thought he wouldn't believe me if I just said that a 'Khun' is part of our team, so I did some things." I said cheekily as a playful smirk formed on my lips.

"What are those 'things' then?" Aguero questioned as he narrowed his eyes at me.

Pouting my lips, I gave him a shrug playfully. "Just a little game and he lost. So here we are!~" I answered with a chuckle, it was a little forced though.

"I'll be going then! You introduce him to Rachel or whatever, I'm gonna take a nap." I announced and took my leave with a bright face. Leaving the two males dumbfounded, and secretly my face turned into a frown. Wonder why? Let's just say...

I'm not really in the mood to stay with their presence after what Novick just told me as we were headed here.

☂☂☂

KHUN A.A.'S POV

'That girl....'

Mentally, I cursed at the girl with platinum locks that just left and headed to her room. She seriously got a member recruited before me. My poor pride. She really knows how to tick me off. 'Tsk.'

'But she seemed a little pissed off? I wonder why...'

"Um..." Novick uttered a little hesitant resulting me to snap my head to him. I cleared my throat. "Sorry. I hope you're not pissed by that girl's nasty personality." I pointed a finger to the place where we last saw Zin with a deflated look on my face.

He immediately declined. "Oh, it's alright. I guess she's a pretty....skilled one huh?"

Feeling a little sense of pride of the fact that I'm teamed up with a powerful teammate, I grinned. "Well, of course." Then I realized that I'm basically praising her. I shook my head and grumbled, annoyed.

"............"

"Is she your girlfriend?"

*HUK!*

I choked on my own saliva. God, why did he asked that?!

Startled, the Spear Bearer before me quickly out a hand on my shoulder with an apologetic but surprised look. I only held my chest and looked downward. "O-Oh, I'm sorry-I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine, it's fine..." I quickly reassured as I held out hand and slowly straighten my body while clearing my throat.

"Anyways, I'll take you to one of the rooms here. Then I'll introduce you to our other member." With that I turn back and began heading to a spared room. Novick only followed silent with a nod of understanding.

"....You do know that Zin is very famous, right?" he suddenly asked on the way making me utterly confused.

'Huh?' I snapped my head to face him. "What do you mean?"

He looked a little shocked but then sighed deeply and shook his head in what I assume disappointment. "You both are completely clueless."

☂☂☂

ZINLESTER'S POV

Next day. It's a bright, sunny morning, with the wind gently blowing. Aguero, went out to sign up for the Test. It looks like he didn't want to take any longer. Well, he did said that we're going to get a Fisherman if we pass the to go to the 10th Floor. Plus, we're gonna be so left behind from Isu and the others if we keep waiting.

'Wonder who could that be?'

Right now, I'm in the dining room which is pretty close to the kitchen. Novick and Rachel are still in bed. I took a sip of the glass bottle of chocolate milk in my hands. This chocolate milk is a little different for it's hot chocolate with marshmallows and honey. Yum! Only thing left to make it perfect is s'mores!

'Sugar everyday!'

Out of nowhere, Novick came in with a drowsy look and bed hair. With a mug of what I assume coffee in it, he yawned as he went to sit across from me. Once he completely sat, he took a sip of his coffee and settled it on the table, releasing a contented sigh.

My face turned sour as I stared at the mug of coffee. What's so good with coffee? I get that there are sweet coffees now with the help of sugar but they're still bitter. Really bitter. Although chocolate is bitter too without sugar......but I just really hate coffee. 'It reminds me of goddamn Hansung Yu. Tsk!' I prefer tea to be honest. Even though its sometimes more bitter than coffee.

Why am I talking about this though?

"Is Khun your boyfriend?"

*HUK!*

I choked on my chocolate milk at Novick's unexpected question.

"O-Oh!--I-I'm sorry...you and Khun just seem really close..." Novick then reached out for a tissue and handed it over to me. "Here."

I gladly accepted the piece of tissue. "Thanks..." Flustered, I wiped my mouth with a tint of red n my pale cheeks as I try to avoid making eye contact with Novick.

..................................................................................................................................................................

"....So-"

I immediately know what he was gonna say so I already beat him into it. Giving him a blank look with my face still flushed, I spoke. "No."

He seem to notice with my blank look that I don't want to talk further about it. "Okay." He replied with a nod and continued to take a sip of his coffee.

"......................"

"Can I fight you after this?"

I looked up to him only to be welcomed with his determined eyes. I released a sigh.

"Sure. Let's just see it as our way of welcoming you." After that, I took another sip of my chocolate and we proceeded to our quiet morning.

~END OF CHAPTER 1~