Tower of Endless: Death Granted Entry

After going back and forth with Moon’s questions about the era, his scepticism about his death, and the bad luck the item could bring, the debate had finally ended, and it was time to explain what the item was.

"So what is that thing for?" Moon finally asked the important question.

Ed rejoiced secretly. "It does what you need exactly right now; it solves your most critical problem."

Moon looked left and right for a moment. "What problem?" he asked with a clueless frown.

"YOU BRAT, ARE YOU TRYING TO DRIVE ME INSANE RIGHT NOW?" Ed suddenly lashed out at him. "What else would the damn problem be?"

Smack~

He hit the armrest. "Your only problem right now is your useless Echo that looks like a damn slime."

"Ah," Moon exclaimed. "But I can use it a little better now," he retorted.

Ed pursed his lips; Moon was indeed improving at practically using his Echo. It was not a pressing, crippling situation as it used to be previously.

Yet, the problem stood as it was.

Moon needed flowing Echo for many things that relied on Echo to be done, normal flowing Echo.

Swallowing his anger, Ed nodded. "You can use your Echo better now, but can you use an item that’s powered by Echo, like know how much Echo they have, for example?"

"Oh, that." Moon dropped his fist into his palm. "I counted the attacks and how long it takes to recharge, so I guess that’s fine for now."

"What if you get a different item?" Ed asked.

"I’ll test it out later." Moon shrugged, not concerned in the slightest.

Ed’s smile turned ugly. "What about the ring?" he asked. "If you want to communicate with others."

"Oh, does—

Ed didn’t let Moon corrupt the natural flow the conversation should have had; he cut him off instantly.

"Do you think the seals you have work and function through breathing?" Ed asked another question.

"About that—

Ed pointed both his index fingers at each side of his temples. "Do you think this seal on your left hand is going to be controlled by your damn thoughts?"

"I didn’t mean it that—

"Your fucking problem is that you lack flowing Echo, not a trace of it." Ed pointed angrily at Moon’s nose. "You understand now?"

Moon went silent for a moment, looking to be in deep thought, before suddenly—

"Bruh, did you have to ruin my mood?" he said. "I was enjoying the victory for a moment," he complained.

"Your victory was awesome; you did awesome," Ed said with a heavy face. "But we also don’t have time; you understand that, right?" he asked.

Moon’s mouth curved downward. He nodded slowly. "I wanted to forget about that part too," he said.

"We can’t," Ed said, his tone more urgent. "Samuel isn’t simply beating you up and cheating; the seals are only getting functional when he activates them, and he needs to charge them with shockwaves in proper ratio to get them balanced and functional for the future," he added.

Moon’s gaze fell to the ground as he leaned forward.

"I wish we had a year, or even one more month," Ed said before he extended his hand and held his face, bringing it close. "I’m not trying to undermine your achievements, but we really don’t have time."

"You saw what kind of things are waiting for you. That Universal Armor is one, Talia and others will also have monstrous strength as you’ve seen, and we haven’t even spoken a word of their Echo and Combat Arts."

Moon looked like he wanted to say something, but he held it back. He didn’t allow the words to come out.

Instead—

He nodded weakly. "Okay."

Ed let go of his face. "Open the box," he said.

Moon held the regular-looking wooden box and rotated it to the opening side before pulling.

Inside, there was a crystal-like object that had a deep, blood-red color. Or rather, had the red flow within as if it were alive.

From the crystal came eight chains, or laces, silver in color. They were also moving, wiggling somehow.

Moon frowned. "What the hell is that thing?" he asked.

"It’s called Symbiotic Spark," Ed said slowly. "What it does is simple; it gives you more Echo."

"What?" Moon didn’t seem to catch the meaning of ’gives more Echo’.

"Exactly as I said. Once it picks a new owner, it binds to him, doubling his Echo with Echo it stores from the environment."

Moon blinked. "I thought it would soften my Echo, or make that ball bigger," he said jokingly.

He moved his gaze away from Symbiotic Spark to Ed. "How did that flamboyant old dude let go of something like this?"

Ed raised two fingers. "Two reasons," he started. "First, I asked him nicely," he clarified.

Moon nodded. "Makes sense, and the second?"

"The item is picky; it refused many new owners, killed a few, or left them crippled," Ed added.

A chuckle escaped his lips. "That’s a cute item." Moon closed the box and stood. "I’m leaving."

"Sit down now. Did you forget what kind of bullshit you have sealed in your left hand?" Ed said firmly.

Moon’s face fell. "What does that have to do with anything?" he asked.

"You stupid brat seem to forget who you’re speaking to after sparring with us while our stats are lowered," Ed said angrily.

Moon sat down again. "For three thousand years, no one could use it?" he asked.

Ed nodded. "But don’t worry too much; Samuel is around anyway. I can also separate it away from you before anything goes wrong."

Ed pointed at the box. "If there’s a chance it could solve a problem, and we can try it safely, then why not?"

Moon nodded. "Aight, aight, fine." His shoulders fell in defeat.

He opened the box again and took a long look at the ominous item inside. "It gives double the Echo, you said?" Moon asked.

"That’s what the records of the Hero say, and Lucen as well," Ed said. "We don’t have but a single user recorded historically, so we have to be careful."

Moon nodded. "Let’s do it then." He studied it, watching it wiggle aimlessly and weakly while the red inside the crystal moved.

Moon couldn’t help feeling like it looked like a beating heart; he pursed his lips. "How do I use it though?"

Ed brought his hand closer to Moon; between his fingers, a sharp-looking needle materialised. "You have to let it first have a drop of your blood."

Moon didn’t oppose or fight back; he let Ed hold his left hand and poke it with the needle swiftly once.

Blood wasn’t drawn instantly; Ed squeezed Moon’s thumb, bringing out a drop of blood.

It fell right on the crystal; for a short moment, no reaction came.

Ed looked; he was about to force another drop, but the item started wiggling violently instead. The chains moved like tentacles and became more energetic, almost violent.

Moon’s face crumbled in disgust. "Is this normal?"

Ed nodded, "As far as I kno—

"WHAT THE HELL?" Before Ed could finish his words, Symbiotic Spark leapt off the box, latching onto Moon’s arm.