Chapter 32: Co-operation

A magma cleft room was what Laurence was confronted with when he arrived at the next testing stage. He and Yun had apparently made good time despite spending a large amount of it messing about and improving in his creative art. He had come a long way, but in his eyes he was still just beginning. To the young boy the limit of his path was endless. The only limit to his path to understanding the world seemed to be his imagination. Working through art and creating tools, he could understand reality more but in the process he would have to learn and experience like Luke had suggested.

Although they arrived in good time, they were only given a day to rest and mull over the products of the trip so far. As soon as the next day rolled around both of them were ushered into a hall with over three thousand people in it. As Laurence scanned the room he was presented with a sight beyond his wildest dreams. At the front there were people of various ages and sizes, even some animals. Matter where you looked you could see unique people. Even now, though, the majority were still human. It seemed like humanity was the most suited to the various planes and realms that littered Babel.

As Laurence stared at the wild and varied challengers in the room a dog-man walked out in front of the thrumming crowd of people. The crowd fell quiet when he showed himself, because through presence alone they could tell that all of the people in the room put together were weaker than him. He was taller than Tony, who resembled a terrier more than anything, and sported a much longer muzzle. His light brown fur set off his deep set eyes, eyes that seemed to exude the presence of a hunter. This man was not one that Laurence wanted to cross.

“My name is Declan Juda Lupe. I am the adjudicator of the fifth floor and will be monitoring all of you through this journey. In a moment I will split you into groups of five for the challenge you will be presented with. You will be pitted against another team in a game of attack-defense. One team must defend a point, object or person, while the other team must take, break or incapacitate the target. If one team ends up being incapacitated instead then the standing team is declared the victor. If you have a companion then you will be paired with them, but if you have more than four then your excess companions will be shuffled into teams together. Remember, as always, companions can pad on their own, but if the leader passes then all pass.”

There was a murmur while Declan explained this round to the challengers. It was surprising to a lot of the contestants that there would be a test so similar to the second floor test, but the smarter people amongst the crowd either knew or quickly realised that the expanded group size, and the fact that they were not looking for a flag anymore, meant that the event could evolve in a variety of ways. Depending on whether the object had agency or not could completely change how parties would have to react.

“You can tell whether something is your target by the fact that there is this symbol upon their form.” He growled and then pointed to the odd flag behind him. Emblazoned on the flag was a very minimalist image of a dog’s head. It was six lines, and at first glance looked like a mountain-range, but with Declan standing below the flag it was unmistakably a dog. “They may wear it on their clothing or have it as a pattern on their cover. You will not be able to tell until you get into the challenge.

“You have absolute free reign to do what you want in the arena, the only real rule is that you can't cover up the mark. It has to be clearly displayed.” With that he began walking off the stage towards the exit, turning round at the doorway to say “Begin.”

The moment he said the word Laurence felt a sense of displacement and then realised that he had been moved into a small room. There were four other people in the room, one was obviously Yun, but there was also a boy about the same age as Laurence, a tall woman, and what looked like a half human woman half bird hybrid. They were an eclectic group, but it surprised Laurence that there was someone else his age near climbing the tower.

The tall woman walked over to Yun and began scratching him between his ears. “You're a beautiful specimen, aren't you? I just want to take you home and use you as a rug.” She grinned at the idea before yelling in pain as Yun snaked down on her hand.

“He can understand you, you know.” Said Laurence, as he walked up to his furry friend and put a hand on his shoulder. “I don't think we like you.” The way Laurence said it seemed to give the woman chills. It was delivered with so little emotion that she could not help but find it unsettling. She quickly retreated back cradling her punctured and bleeding hand.

“Calm down everyone. We have to work as a team if we want to pass this test, so how about we get to know each other instead of threatening to skin and wounding each other.” The bird-woman quickly spoke up, trying to stifle any more sparks that could ruin their chances. “I'll go first. I'm called Louisa, I have been climbing Babel for two years now. My combat capabilities are flight, reconnaissance and high speed assaults.”

Laurence smiled at Louisa. He thought she was nice, so was happy that there was at least one nice person in the group they had formed.

“Sara Loaksang.” Said the tall woman. “Bounty hunter and gladiator. I can track, fight and deal with children who bite off more than they can chew.” She said, shooting a look of pure venom at Laurence. He had no understanding of why she did this, it was senseless to him.

The other child piped in, “I would leave the boy alone. He's obviously a golden child, otherwise he would not be here.”

“So what? What do you think I am? I can take on any child, no matter what colour they happen to be.” Sara frowned. She seemed missing something about the world.

“Oh, you're from outside the tower aren't you?” The boy replied dryly.

“So what if I am. Does that make me worse than you?” The woman seemed to take any form of reproach as an act of aggression, if not all out war. It was becoming infuriating.

“He's just realised that you don't have much local knowledge. That's all.” Said Louise. She was quickly becoming the mediator between the two children and Sara. “A golden child is a special existence, Sara. I expect that both these boys are from large clans. They are likely more talented than both of us, so have been thrown to the wolves to grow.” Louise paused, smoothing down the feathers on her arms. “Sara, how long have you been climbing the tower?”

“Two years and six days. I was told that I can't leave the tower until I get to the tenth floor once I pass the first test. I was hunting a bounty and followed them in here. They had already passed the test by the time I got into the tower, so I had to follow. Unfortunately I caught up with him and then found I could not get back.”

“That's mighty unfortunate. But it took you two years and six days of hard work to get here right? So you have spent six hundred and six days travelling and battling to get here?”

“Yes. Why do you keep repeating the days like I'm an idiot?” Sara flared up again.

“Please, I just want to show you something."

She pointed at the the other boy. He smiled and pulled his white leather jacket taught, removing any creases. Pushing back his blond fringe he said, “My name is Quentin Absolution, I am a golden child of the Absolution clan who is gifted with the «Book of Life». I am a combat medic, and I can fight at super close range.” He puffed up his chest, proudly expressing how excellent he was. “I am eight years old in ten days, and have been climbing since a month after my seventh birthday. I have currently been climbing Babel for two hundred and sixty days.”

The two women showed shock on their faces. They were very fast at climbing the tower, in fact they were better than hundreds of other people who walked through the tower every day. This boy, however, was a true monster.

“You're from the Absolution clan too? That's awesome!” Said Laurence. He had a big grin on his face, as it was the first time he had met a member of his clan, outside if his father. “My name is Laurence Absolution and this is Yun. I guess I'm a golden child too, but I make things. I can also fight with my hammer if we need.” He smiled again. It was hard to tell, but Sara send to shiver every time Laurence smiled. “I'm still seven, but I've been climbing the tower for one hundred and fifty eight days.”

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