Charymos beheld in bewilderment, a cherry-pink dome spring forth from Kaelen’s palm and engulf Veylith’s being.

[...]

[My strength has weakened?]

Veylith gazed at her flexion creases as though peering into an oracle for confirmation.

[This is the same power as back then...]

She recalled. This was the exact same power that had led them to victory against the hordes of Monsters on the First Floor.

[To think I would ever be on the receiving end of your power, Kaelen.]

A genuine, yet eerie smile distorted her usually blank expression, her heartbeat rising to a dull thunder within her chest. Despite her fondness for Kaelen, she was excited to fight him, to test not just him, but herself.

"Here I come, Kaelen."

Clink! Clank!

She spun her chain and the deadly weapons tied at each of its ends —The spiked fundo and the sickle, bashed and scraped the floor, producing vibrant sparks on her sides as she slowly approached.

[It actually worked huh...]

Kaelen smirked as his eyes were illuminated by sparks. Despite being almost certain that the Monarch Aegis’s [Resistance Effect] would work on Veylith, he still had his reservations.

[...]

Kaelen cleared his mind and retrieved his spear, his legs coiled and ready to spring him into action.

Pink Mana seeped from his every pore like steam and gathered at his arms before condensing, coating the entire length of his spear until it trembled like a star nearing the final stages of nuclear fusion.

Seeing this, Veylith responded in kind and coated the entirety of her weapon in Mana as well, and it too trembled, a clear sign that she had long outgrown it. Her weapon could not handle her power just as Kaelen’s spear could not handle his.

Ta!

In a rapid motion that the Mermen’s eyes could not trace, Kaelen and Veylith lunged at one another.

■■ Mana Burst: Blood Fang Blossom!■■

Kaelen thrust his unstable spear.

■■ Mana Burst: Eclipse! ■■

Fwosh!

Veylith swung her chain, unleashing the sickle at its end and...

BOOM!

... The twelve Mermen, despite having stood there like statues, were flung into the glass walls of Charymos’s chambers. Everything within became devoured by the violent, raging Mana that resulted from Kaelen and Veylith’s clash.

"..."

Unbothered, Charymos quietly observed, his eyes still trembling at the sight of the dome.

Clap!

The Kraken Spawn clapped, and the Mana dissipated as though it were never there, alleviating the Mermen who looked terrified.

"I’ve seen enough."

Charymos stood from his throne and analyzed his creations.

[As I thought...]

[I can’t... I can’t bring myself to sell them off to the Sixth and Eighth.]

[I need to first confirm that I can recreate Specimens on the caliber of these two, and it’ll be months before the 21st generation is born... Perhaps the key to the uniqueness of the 20th was their premature birth?]

[No...]

"Sigh... "

[Does it all boil down to that strange power I felt on the day of their birth after all? Just what was it?! I hate unknown variables, they ruin everything!]

"Sigh... "

Charymos heaved yet another sigh, subconsciously quelling the turmoil of emotions within him.

[... And another thing is, I barely have anything left of the DNA I bartered from the higher Floors.]

[Most of what’s left is what Rowena sponsored me with...]

[Ah... But I did acquire some new DNA from those Humans. They are, after all, the blueprint for these children, the Specimens.]

[Whatever shall I do? I cannot stall Veladreth and Skadi, there’s not enough time!]

Feeling a migraine settle, Charymos sat back down on his throne and massaged his forehead.

"... Leave. Go back to your Decadon’s quarters, I shall call for you when the time comes."

He ordered, and the two Homonculi simply bowed and obeyed, promptly leaving the chambers with their palms marked by the ashes of what was once their weapons.

[What exactly am I doing?]

[My lifelong dream is well within reach and yet I...]

The doors closed and so did his eyes, as he rested the back of his head on the rim of the throne.

[Was this not the purpose of their creation? Was I not willing to settle for even the First? Why am I genuinely considering turning down the offer for the Third?]

[Am I really that foolish, me? Charymos?]

[...]

[No, not at all.]

[Is it greed then?]

His thoughts consumed him, drowning him into the depths of darkness as though esnared by a giant squid.

[...]

As he opened his eyes, the darkness that clouded his mind faded.

[Those two... They’re worth far more than any mere Third Floor! And you know it too, don’t you, Skadi, Veladreth?!]

[I deserve much more than that for my ingenious creations! The Fourth —No, the Fifth! I will settle for nothing less than the Fifth Floor, otherwise I shall not give them to you!]

Charymos drooled as dreams of sitting atop Thaldrin’s throne corroded his mind. Despite being aware of his own greediness, Charymos did not think he deserved anything less than that.

And besides, it’s not like those two would be able to force him to give up Kaelen and Veylith. Only he, their owner by way of Blood Pact, could decide their fates. Even the laws of this Tower would support him to this end.

"Kuku..."

The Kraken Spawn cackled, the tentacles on his chin which had gone limp due to his inner turmoil, now vigorous as usual, and a wide, proud grin donned his lips.

The future was surely bright.

"Pest."

Fwip!

The Roach who had been standing behind the throne’s shadow appeared and bowed at Charymos’s feet.

"I have made my decision."

"Send word to the Sixth and Eighth, tell them that I want Thaldrin’s Floor or they should forget about receiving Kaelen and Veylith!"

"No, actually I’ll tell them myself! Send word that I wish to meet them both in person!"

He shouted his order, his webbed hands gripping the arm rests.

[!!]

The Roach flinched upon hearing the order.

"My Lord, if I may —"

"Shut up. You may not. Do as I say or I will rip out your mandibles!"

The Roach silently bowed and exited.

[Lord Charymos... You have doomed yourself.]

For some reason, that revelation brought great joy to the Roach’s heart.