5. Guardian

*Authors note: I was going to release this on Saturday, but I decided to give y'all a little treat to end the school week. Made this chapter 1000 words. That's 2x the amount I've been posting. Enjoy and thanks for reading.*

Lero-ro led them to the 2nd testing area. "Alright, Who wants to go first" a female said.

Hakim's team step forward. There where a mix of feelings between the other regulars; some saw it as brave while others saw it as idiotic.

Inside there was a strangely dressed figure with a lock of lemon-like hair. He introduced himself as the test examiner, Yu Hang Sun.

He could see 12 or 14 blood-red doors. One of the doors seem to be omitting a weird aura. The air itself around seemed to be distorted.

Hakim was completely oblivious to the situation. He was still very drowsy from just recently waking up.

All he was able to understand is that the test involved picking a door. It only took a minute for Anak to figure out.

The swordsman, Hatsu and Anak walked out of the testing area. Hakim was still in a daze. He was currently listening to music.

"Uhm, hello, are you going to follow your team? They already passed" Hang Sun exclaimed.

"Ah I see, thank you" Hakim said with a slight bow. Instead of going out the door that Anak and Hatsu went through.

He opened a completely different door and passed through. The test administrator just stood there in silence.

He started at the door Hakim passed through. With a dumbfounded expression.

"Well that's interesting." Hang Sun thought. He quickly composed himself waiting for the next team to walk through.

Meanwhile, in a separate waiting room. Anak and Hatsu where waiting for Hakim to join them, but alas it never came to be.

The door closed leaving Hatsu and Anak without a teammate. "Where the fuck is he!" Anak screamed in a rage.

Hatsu decided to meditate. He did not want to get involved in the situation. More like he didn't want to experience the girls anger.

Hakim was in a boundless grey sea. "Are you here to make a contract?" A voice asked. Hakim turned towards the direction of the voice.

He could see a giant grey fish. The fish was 100 times the size of a blue whale. Hakim looked at the fish in amazement.

"I don't like repeating myself kid. Are you here to make a contract or not!" The fish said angrily.

"I'm sorry, but what is this place? Who are you, and what do you mean by contract?" Hakim said sounding confused.

"What a fucking headache. How do you not understand what I'm talking about. I'm not someone to be messed with." the fish said.

"I truly don't know any of those things. I walked through a door in the middle of a test and the next thing I'm here".

"Hmm, we'll that certainly interesting." the fish said with one of his fins on his chin. Hakim couldn't hold back his laughter.

"Hahahah!" Hakim yelled out. "Why the hell are you laughing at me!" The aura of the fish turned violent.

"I apologize. I did not mean to offend you, but you just looked cute with that expression. "Cute? I'm the guardian of the 2nd floor. I am anything but cute. The fish looked offended.

"Anyways, what is a guardian?" Hakim said. "I suspected it since you got her, but based on your remarks you are a irregular aren't you." The guardian said in his mystical voice.

"I am" He said. "That explains the lack of general knowledge. I'm a guardian. I am the highest existence on this floor. I rule all of the shinsu of this floor. Hence, in order to use shinsu people come to make contracts.

"I understand thank you" Hakim said with a enlightened expression. "Oh if you're guardian then surely you must know the 135th floor's guardian.

The guardian's expression quickly turned grim at the mention of the Guardian 135. The atmosphere became heavier it was like a ton was on Hakims back.

"What do you want to know about that abomination" the fish said fearfully. Hakim noticing the change asked "Why does every guardian fear him?".

"I'll tell you if you do me favor when you reach the top come back and visit me. I may be the guardian, but even I get lonely" the guardian said. "Deal." He said.

"Alright, long ago, before Jahard and his band of misfits entered. The guardians used to wage war on each other. In other to move up in ranking. One could challenge the guardian in the floor above it. The challenged would be forced to accept. The guardian said.

"If you won you would be able to move up, and the loser would move to the floor below it. However, if you lost you would suffer a restriction on your power and be prone to other guardians".

The guardian looked at Hakim for understanding and Hakim simply nodded back signaling for him to continue.

"We'll the guardian 135 actually ended up killing guardian 136 and 137." The fish whispered.

"For some reason he wasn't able to occupy the floors of the fallen" the fish finally concluded. Hakim soaked up every bit of info. He would need it to complete his task.

"Thank you very much. This information is truly a help. I will make sure to visit you when I conquer the tower. " Hakim spoke with a grin.

"Conquer the tower?" The guardian thought, but before he could ask Hakim disappeared into nothing.

"What a interesting person." The Guardian thought. That was the most the guardian had talked to someone since Jahard.

Meanwhile, Hakim appeared in the waiting room where Anak and Hatsu where. A second later Hakim had to dodge a kick from the Anak.

"Deja Vu" Hakim thought. "Where the fuck have you've been" Anak said. Hakim pondered what he said before answering "I was talking to a fish" he said with a smile.