The 9th story arc of the Tower of God series consisting of chapters 35 - 51 from the first season. The arc centers around Bam and company being split into two teams to take part in joint tests known as Hide-and-Seek to test the results of their Position training, and the teamwork amongst the Regulars.
Arc 8 | Return to the main Tower of God recap page. | Arc 10
2F - Hide-and-Seek
At the cafeteria, Endrosi and Anaak are now eating with the group, which Bam tells Endrosi the story of how he met Princess Yuri on the 1st Floor. Meanwhile, Rachel's seen getting food by herself; continuing to evade Bam from finding her. Afterwards, Rachel runs into Endrosi in the bathroom. She asks Endorsi to keep her existence a secret from Bam, which Endrosi agrees, but she remains confused as to why Rachel doesn't want someone as cute as Bam to chase after her. Endorsi asks if the top of the Tower is really more important than being with Bam, but Rachel doesn't say anything back.
Meanwhile, Bam continues his Wave Controller class training, which Yuga goes about teaching his students how to make shinsu Bangs that can fire blasts of shinsu at enemies. During his Bang test, Bam struggles to make more than one, but upon seeing that Bam can already make one Bang, Yuga comes to view Bam as a genius since the latter has learned to materialize and control shinsu after just two weeks of training. Watching Bam from afar, Hoh continues to grow jealous of Bam's growth, and starts to wonder if Bam's hiding something. When it's Hoh's turn to try to make a shinsu Bang, he ends up failing the test. Thus, showing that Bam has passed him as a Wave Controller.
After the class, Hoh returns to his room for some rest. He ends up having a dream where an ogre-like creature went about killing a bunch of people that Hoh was trying to show off his shinsu control to. Upon waking up from his dream, Hoh finds a note telling him to cause Rachel to fail the next test, which in turn, will cause Bam to fail as well. Confused as to what's going on, Hoh opens his door yelling to the note-giver for an explanation, but finds no one. Khun's Light-bearer classmate, Full Black, pops out of his room next door wanting to know what's going on, but Hoh just says the weather's nice and returns to his room, much to Full Black's confusion.
Lero-Ro meets with Yu Hansung to discuss the upcoming Hide-and-Seek test. However, he's left stunned in disbelief when it turns that the person going up against the Regulars for the test will be their very own Ranker, Test Administrator Quant. Some time after, Lero-Ro stands before the 28 remaining Regulars that made it through Position training. He shows off a table revealing that the Regulars will be split up into Team-A and Team-B, which the two 14-man-teams will go about taking the Hide-and-Seek test separately. The teams are the following:
- Team-A: Kancho, Anaak, Blarouse, Chichi, Goon, Aleksai, Khun, Leon3, Shibisu, First Emperor King, Sunwoo Nare, Rozeal, Lauroe, Hwaryun
- Team-B: Hong Chunhwa, Endrosi, Death Ryan, Mauchi, Paracule, Michelle Light (Rachel), Full Black, Levin, Hatz, Shopin, Serena, Bam, Grey, Hoh
- Already Passed: Rak, Ghost
Looking at the list, Khun notes that he's been split up from Bam while finding it unbelievable that Rak apparently gets to skip the Hide-and-Seek test. Meanwhile, Bam sees that he's on the same team as Rachel. Along with Lero-Ro, the Position teachers Yu Bok-Dol, Hax, and Yuga, and Test Director Yu Hansung, will be watching the Regulars as the judges. Arriving at the large circular Hide-and-Seek arena, Yu Hansung explains the rules, which is basically that the person the two Regular teams designate as their "Tag" need to reach the arena exit within 3 hours before said person gets caught by the "Seeker," who will be the Ranker, Quant, much to everyone's shock. There's also the out that if the Regulars manage to touch the Seeker's tag, then the Regulars win.
The Hide-and-Seek arena is made up of a safety area in the middle that Quant can't enter, and multiple inner walled circles. The most outer circle housing the two exits at a low area, and across a high bridge. Team-A is first to take the test. In the Team-A locker room, Khun and Shibisu as the two smartest discuss the plan. Khun forces himself into the leadership position yet he decides that they should go after the Seeker instead of running, which shocks the team. Given that Quant was his Scout teacher, Shibisu agrees that they have a better shot at winning by surprising the Ranker with a sudden attack since he knows from training that Quant's the type of person that will go to every length to make sure that they don't reach the exit. Believing that their best bet is to take advantage of Quant underestimating them, the rest of Team-A agrees to attack the Seeker. Khun then states that they need bait.
Shortly after, the Hide-and-Seek test for Team-A has begun. Shibisu ended up in the role as the bait, and is seen walking around on his own in the arena with a Lighthouse providing him light to know where to walk. He points out to Khun that scoring more points from the judges by beating the Seeker will make it worse for Bam to win in the next test, but Khun's okay with it as they have themselves to worry about first, which Shibisu finds cold. Eventually, Shibisu's met by Quant.
Team-B remains in the waiting room as they watch Team-A's Hide-And-Seek test unfold. The Fisherman, Death Ryan, complains about how awful his current team looks, but also tries to suck up to Endrosi knowing that she's a Jahad Princess. Watching Team-A already run into Quant, Endrosi figures that Team-A is going to try to pull something.
Within the test, Quant can tell how obvious it is that Shibisu's acting as the bait, and has several teammates supporting him nearby. As a fellow Scout, Quant uses the moment as an opportunity for a bit of teaching where he shows that the first thing a Scout should do before anything else is charge at the opponent. Seeing Quant charge at him, Shibisu calls for help, which Aleksai throws his spear. However, Quant easily dodges it, and then knocks out the Lighthouse that Shibisu was provided for light. Quant acts as a teacher again informing Shibisu that its a Scout's duty to remove the opposing Lighthouse if enemy numbers are great. As Quant charges in to try to attack Shibisu again, he believes he checkmated the Regular only for Shibisu and Khun to say checkmate in return.
Another Lighthouse on the nearby wall lights up to reveal Quant's location. Anaak, who's been labeled as Team-A's Tag, is seen with the Lighthouse, and extends out her Green April to claim Quant's Seeker tag. This shocks Quant that the Regulars have chosen to go after him rather than run for the exit, which angers him into using his Black Fish ability that makes him quicker and invisible in dark places. Quant quickly disappears, much to Shibisu's confusion, but then reappears having grabbed hold of Green April. Quant starts to get pissed off that the Regulars aren't taking him seriously as a Ranker, which the watching Lero-Ro fears for the worst.
Despite Team-A's plan to attack Quant having clearly pissed him off, said Ranker holds it in to try to play it cool. He instead congratulates them for the attempt while offering the Regulars the chance to run away, and that he will catch up to them after 32 minutes and 12 seconds. Khun accepts the offer, and Team-A retreats. Meanwhile, the watching Lero-Ro and Yu Hansung discuss how surprising it is that Quant, a Ranker, fell for a trap made by Regulars, which they figure is due to Khun's knowledge when it comes to dealing with Rankers.
Team-A continues to run off and get into their positions until Quant has finished counting down to start moving again. Anaak races for the upper arena exit having reached the arena's higher level second circle. Thus, the Regulars next attempt to delay the Ranker at the arena stairwell where Leon3, Kancho, Aleksai, Rozeal, Chichi have been set up as a defensive wall. Quant charges up the stairwell, and easily disposes of the melee tanker, Kancho, while dodging through everyone else's ranged attacks. Aleksai jumps in to replace Kancho as the melee wall, but Quant easy disposes of him as well since Aleksai is all strength but no intelligence. As Team-B (other than Bam) cheers over of the sight of Quant steamrolling Team-A, Leon3 warns his team that their stairwell defense has fallen, and that Quant has disappeared.
After watching the stairwell defense fall, Lero-Ro figures Team-A has now lost since it's obvious that Quant's going to catch up to Anaak at the bridge before the exit. He questions if Khun could pull his duplication trick again to confuse Quant with a fake "Tag," but Yu Hansung reveals that the Tag was made to be impossible to duplicate. Meanwhile in the test, Shibisu's running on his own having to act as the second line of defense. He asks about possibly getting support from Lauroe, but he's told by Khun that Lauroe's just sleeping in the safe area since he's already shown enough beforehand to pass the test, much to Shibisu's anger. He eventually meets up with First Emperor, Sunwoo, Hwaryun, and Blarouse, but to everyone's surprise, Quant's already caught up to them.
Doing what he can to try to keep Quant in place, Shibisu holds on to Quant for dear life. Shibisu screams in pain, which Anaak's about to turn around to possibly help him. However, Shibisu calls out to her to trust Khun, and not worry about him. Shibisu also makes it clear that he doesn't care that Khun has a questionable past, and hopes for Khun to trust him as well. Anaak agrees to continue to the exit as Shibisu continues to hold on to Quant; having caught on that Quant isn't able to use his Black Fish disappearing skill when someone's holding him. First Emperor then tries to attack the Ranker with his enhanced fist, but Quant easily disposes of him. Despite Shibisu's last ditch efforts to distract, Quant ends up racing past everyone. Thus, Team A's second defensive line has fallen.
With Anaak still 15 minutes away from the bridge exit, Khun figures that it's time for himself to step in. Quant eventually reaches the bridge before the exit where he's met by Khun instead of Anaak. At first, Quant's confused as to why Khun's at the exit bridge instead of Team A's "Tag," Anaak. However, he notices the Manbarondenna bag that Khun's holding. Knowing that the bag can store large objects, Quant orders Khun to open it.
Standing opposite one another on the upper exit bridge, Khun informs Quant that the bag theory is wrong since there's a rule that Anaak's "Tag" can't be duplicated. Even getting Yu Hansung's word that Anaak can't be in the bag. Thus, Khun reveals to Quant that what actually happened is that Anaak jumped off the bridge in order to reach the lower second arena exit that's way down below. Quant finds that hard to believe that anyone could survive such a long fall, but Khun assures him that it's possible given that Anaak's a Jahad Princess. Meanwhile, Anaak's seen hiding under the bridge as it turns out that she's standing on top of Khun's floating Lighthouse.
A brief flashback is seen of Anaak running into Khun at the exit bridge. Khun quickly explains the plan to hide Anaak with his Lighthouse, and that Anaak will be free to run for the bridge exit once Quant's convinced to jump off. In the present, Quant finds the idea that Anaak went for the lower exit laughable knowing that the "Tag" is just waiting somewhere on the bridge for Quant to leave. He comes up with the theory that Khun actually has two Lighthouses: the one that Khun's currently using, and a second to hide the "Tag." Quant uses the moment to discuss how Light-bearers use a substance called Suspendium, which is basically the circular limit as to how far out a Light-bearer can control a Lighthouse. He then grabs hold of Khun, and asks what would happen to the Lighthouse hiding the "Tag" if Khun was to fall off the bridge and out of Suspendium range, which freaks Khun out knowing what's about to happen to him.
Quant goes through with it, and pulls Khun off the bridge with him. However, despite Quant figuring out that Khun is hiding Anaak on one of his Lighthouses, Quant failed to see the rope contraption to pull Anaak away from the Ranker while Khun was just acting the whole time, and lands safely on another Lighthouse. This causes Quant to fall to the depths of the arena away from Anaak. Now perfectly safe, Anaak's brought back up to the bridge, and runs toward the exit.
Team-B is left stunned by what they just witnessed seeing Team-A succeed in tricking Quant at the last second. Bam gets excited for Khun and Team A's success, but then apologizes when he sees his teammates getting pissed at him for cheering for the other team. He also realizes that he needs to win given that Rachel's on Team-B. Meanwhile, the judges discuss how interesting it was that Khun managed to pull off such a masterful trick, which Yu Hansung believes that Khun must have stolen a lot of tools from the treasure of his Great Family father, Khun Eduan. Lero-Ro's left amazed that Team-A pulled off the win, but Yu Hansung doesn't seem as convinced, which Lero-Ro finds odd, and goes back to watching what's left of Team-A's match.
In the depths of the arena, Quant remains frustrated that Team-A managed to trick him. Quant's unable to think up any plans to get back up to the bridge in time, but he's suddenly greeted by someone unexpected: Lauroe. For some odd reason, Lauroe offers to use his abilities as a Wave Controller to boost Quant back up to the bridge. Shortly after, Anaak's about to reach the exit at the end of the bridge to win the game. However, Quant suddenly appears and touches Anaak's "Tag;" resulting in Team-A's loss, which shocks everyone but Yu Hansung.
With the first test over, Team-A is back in the locker room unable to understand how Quant got back up to the bridge. Khun apologizes for his failure to bring his team victory, but his teammates all reassure him that they wouldn't have gotten as far as they did against a Ranker without his planning. Unbeknownst to them, Khun gives off a smile underneath his words as his true plan was to help out Bam by assuring Team A's loss.
The Rankers go about their judgements for Team-A, which the most noteworthy part to them was Khun's efforts as a Light-bearer. However, Lero-Ro's left confused by the situation having witnessed Khun and Lauroe making a deal with Quant to get the Ranker back up on the bridge to assure his team's own loss. In return, Yu Hansung reveals that it's because Khun is actually helping the people who he truly considers to be his friends, which some happen to be members of Team-B.
With the next Hide-And-Seek test about to begin, the Rankers return to watching, but are left unimpressed by the group coming up for Team-B. However, given how impressed he was in Bam, Yuga assures his colleagues that they're about to see a Wave Controller of incredible potential. Meanwhile within the test, Quant remains on standby while also getting increasingly irritated over the Regulars toying with him.
Team-B begins their Hide-and-Seek test, but it doesn't go as smoothly as Team-A's start since there's no leadership. As a result, Endorsi as the strongest on the team gives herself the power to assign roles. She names herself the "Tag," and sends the group off in different locations so that they can warn where Quant will appear. Endrosi meanwhile groups up with her fellow fishermen, the sword-user Hong Chunhwa, and her suck-up Death Ryan, while also taking Bam along as they go off down a hallway of the arena.
At the arena stairwell, Hatz is seen having been grouped up with the two Spear-bearer idiots, Paracule and Mauchi, who claim to want to start a "Spear-bearer Revolution." They threaten Hatz to act as the bait so that they can show off their spear-bearer abilities, but Hatz finds the revolution plan idiotic knowing that fighting Quant is a lost cause, and wants no part of it. At another location, Serena is seen grouped up with Hoh, which Serena starts to show a lack of confidence at continuing her Tower climb. Serena goes over her backstory of how she was a thief that didn't mind killing before she was chosen into the Tower, but that she then started to feel differently after seeing Team-A, a group of nice people, working their butts off to succeed. That it made her feel bad that someone tainted like her would be stepping over them in order to climb the Tower. However, Hoh remains adamant about stepping over others as that's just how the Tower is.
Meanwhile, Hatz had easily overpowered Paracule and Mauchi, but his attention is brought to Quant coming towards them. Choosing to fight the Ranker, Hatz agrees to go along with the "Spear-bearer Revolution" to act as the tank while ordering the other two to retreat to a vantage point and provide support as spear throwers. Word is then sent out to the rest of Team-B that Quant has appeared at Hatz' location. As Serena starts moving however, she notices that Hoh had snuck off on his own. Now that he knows that the Ranker won't be near him, Hoh puts his plan to end Bam's Tower climb into action.
Quant first appears at the arena stairwell, which causes the sword-wielding Hatz to square off with the Ranker one-on-one. Hatz manages to put up a decent fight, which impresses Quant as he's found someone to vent out his anger upon. Moments beforehand, Bam continues to walk along with Endrosi, Death Ryan, and Hong Chunhwa. As they move, Bam doesn't understand why Endrosi chose to bring him along when he's so weak, which she reveals that she started off weak just like him.
Endorsi tells Bam about her past, which she was adopted into a Great Family that was so weak that the Family Head was desperate for Rankers and Jahad Princesses. Thus, after being adopted, she was put into a training program with many other adoptees having to start off as the weakest that could only eat stale bread. She then went on to defeat everyone in her family to become the top-dog when she realized that they were getting better food, and was eventually chosen as a Jahad Princess. Back in the present, Endrosi's group gets word about Quant appearing at Hatz's location.
It's at this point that Endrosi reveals her true plan as to why she put all the Fishermen in one place, which she draws a circle on the ground with them inside it. Bam, Death Ryan, and Hong Chunhwa, are left confused by Endrosi's actions, which she claims that anyone who steps out will die. Death Ryan finds it to be a joke, but she shows she's serious by bashing him so hard that he ends up at the edge of the circle. It's at this point that Bam realizes that he's now witnessing the true Endrosi that rose up the ranks in her family.
Readying his sword to fight Endrosi, Hong Chunhwa asks if eliminating the other Fishermen was her plan all along. She admits that it is as her screw up during the Position Test has put her in a bad situation that could result in her failing. She then steps towards Death Ryan and Hong Chunhwa ready to finish them off. The pissed off Death Ryan attacks Bam believing that he's teamed up against them with Endrosi, but she protects Bam by smashing Death Ryan back once more. Endrosi makes it clear to Bam that if he truly desires to chase after Rachel up the Tower, what he's about to witness is how people really climb.
Meanwhile, Hatz's stairwell fight with Quant continues as he tries to use his swordplay to lure the Ranker into a spot for Paracule and Mauchi to throw their spears. Eventually, Quant shoves Hatz against the wall, but Hatz shows his determination to keep Quant stuck in place by grabbing hold of the Ranker, and refusing to let go. Hatz then calls out to Paracule and Mauchi to use the opening to throw their spears at Quant, but as it turns out, the two idiot Spear-bearers had already decided to abandon Hatz, and have run off.
Hatz is left stunned upon realizing that Paracule and Mauchi have ditched him, which Quant proceeds to finish Hatz off. Quant then moves on towards his next Team-B target annoyed that he just witnessed another betrayal, which leaves the defeated Hatz confused as to what the Ranker means by "another." As for Paracule and Mauchi, the former tells the latter the he's come up with a plan for their "revolution," and they head off.
Meanwhile, Endrosi squares off against her two Fishermen classmates, Hong Chunhwa and Death Ryan. However, Death Ryan tries to play dirty by ditching Hong Chunhwa while the former attempts to run away. Endrosi manages to catch him, and beats Death Ryan some more only for Bam to come to his aid by standing between them. Bam remains confused as to why attacking teammates is necessary, but Endrosi remains unconvinced given that they're just a group that was randomly put together. Death Ryan uses the opportunity to try to take Bam hostage, but Endrosi beats him up even more while trying to teach Bam that he should give up on the Tower climb if he can't bring himself to fight others. That he would probably be a lot happier if he just forgets about Rachel.
It's at this point that Hong Chunhwa is seen having finished charging up his sword, Narumada, which turns out to be an Ignition Weapon that can fire blasts of shinsu. Before Endrosi could react, Hong Chunhwa sends the blast of shinsu in her direction. At that same time, Team-B's 3 Light-bearers, Levin, Full Black and Rachel remain confused as to what's going on due to all the problems currently going on with the team. Eventually, Hoh arrives at the location that Rachel set up her Lighthouse, which he attempts to lure her out of it as there's something he needs to tell her in private regarding Bam potentially being in danger.
Hoh manages to convince Rachel to exit out of her Lighthouse, which he's seen with a knife behind his back ready to take her hostage. Sure enough he puts the knife up to Rachel's throat while smugly claiming that the one threating Bam is him. At that same time, Bam is seen having shielded Endrosi from Hong Chunhwa's shinsu blast using his own body, which leaves him injured. He then gets up stating how he doesn't understand why he has to walk over the friends that he was finally able to make in order to climb the Tower since there will be no one left but oneself at the top going down such a path, or why people find things they haven't seen, such as Rachel's desire to see a starry sky, more beautiful than what they currently have. Thus, he's decided that he doesn't want to hurt his friends, and that if he's forced to fight, he will fight to protect what's meaningful to him, such as his friends.
Bam chooses to leave Endorsi behind to go search for Rachel and steps out of the circle, which irritates her that Bam isn't giving up on Rachel when the latter clearly doesn't want to be with him. However, Bam replies that he can't help as his heart still wants to be with her, and walks off. Endrosi's left to continue her fight with Hong Chunhwa and Death Ryan, who joke that Endrosi just got dumped. Now on his own, Bam gets word from his Light-bearer teammates that there's something weird going on at Rachel's Lighthouse that was set up outside the arena's safety zone.
Meanwhile, Hoh holds Rachel captive, and threatens to kill her. Wanting her to answer some questions, Hoh asks her how Bam is such a powerful monster that's been blessed with such talent compared to him. And how unfair it is that Hoh lost everything, yet he's still weak, but Bam seems to have lost nothing, and yet he's been blessed to be powerful. Thus, as he prepares to cut Rachel's neck knowing that it will make Bam suffer like he did, Hoh claims that he will do what God should have done to Bam to make things fair. It's at this point that Quant arrives claiming that the only God currently around is him.
Team-A watches in confusion as the video connection to Team-B's test has been lost due to the hostage situation. Within the test, Hoh remains confused as to how Quant found out about him, which he realizes that Rachel used her spare Lighthouse to lure Quant to their location. However, Hoh finds everything about the current situation odd as if Quant already knew everything he was going to do, and moves to run away with Rachel still as his captive.
Quant charges at Hoh to rescue Rachel, but Paracule and Mauchi arrive to throw a spear at the Ranker, which interrupts Quant long enough for Hoh to fall back to the arena's safe-zone with Rachel still as his captive. In addition, Paracule and Mauchi managed to take Serena, Shopin and Levin captive. Paracule calls over to Hoh to make a deal that given how Endrosi as the "Tag" isn't going to the exit, their only option to win now is to beat the Ranker. Thus, he asks Hoh to act as the distraction in order for them to attack the Ranker. Going along with it, Hoh attempts to buy team threating to kill Rachel if Quant gets any closer, which leaves the Ranker stuck. However, Bam arrives on the scene confused as to what Hoh's doing. Growing even more desperate, Hoh calls Bam a monster, and orders him to attack Quant or else he will kill Rachel.
Seeing Hoh stab into Rachel, Bam stands ready to fight the Ranker, but Quant performs the Immobilization Bang to freeze Bam in place. Quant then whispers to Bam how to properly make one of his own, which Bam accepts that he will do it. Since Quant's unable to enter the safety zone, Quant provides Bam with an opening to go for Hoh while the former deals with Mauchi and Paracule. Bam charges at Hoh, which Quant remains unconvinced that Bam could learn a powerful skill in such a little amount of time. However, to his and everyone's surprise, they watch as Bam manages to pull off the rescue by using his own Immobilization Bang to freeze Hoh long enough to get Rachel away from him while Quant dealt with the others. Hoh's left stunned in disbelief as Quant can't help but wonder if Bam actually is a monster.
Switching over to the Fishermen battle, Endorsi easily beats Hong Chunhwa and Death Ryan. Before going unconscious, Hong Chunhwa calls out Endrosi for betraying her teammates, and avoiding the real Hide-and-Seek test when she's a powerful Jahad Princess that could have completed it the normal way. He also calls her evil, which Endrosi replies that's what they all say, and knocks him out. She then picks up Hong Chunhwa's Narumada sword, and heads off.
Meanwhile in the safety-zone, Bam holds onto Rachel hoping that she's okay, which she just states that Bam shouldn't have come, and falls unconscious. Bam orders Hoh to explain why he would do this, which Hoh states that it's Bam's fault since the goal was to stop his Tower climb. However, Hoh accepts that it's over for himself since everyone now knows about his betrayal, which will result in him failing. Bam remains confused as to why Hoh would do this as he was under the belief that they were friends, but Hoh just laughs at him; finding it hilarious that Bam thinks the two of them are friends when they're enemies trying to climb the Tower.
Hoh reveals to Bam that he lost everyone he cared about before entering the Tower, which left him jealous that he could have saved them if he was powerful like Bam and Lauroe. He then turns the knife he used to threaten Rachel with on himself, and stabs his own body to commit suicide. Bam and Hoh's former teammate, Serena, race over to him not wanting him to die, which despite everything he did to Bam, Hoh in his last moments can't understand why Bam would cry for him as if he just lost a friend. Endorsi then arrives at the safety-zone unsurprised that Hoh ended up dying. She wields Narumada aiming to battle Quant with it.
Serena and company are all pissed about Endrosi's actions, which Endrosi gladly admits to them that she went and defeated their team's other Fishermen for her own sake. In return, Serena proceeds to give Endrosi a slap in the face for the betrayal, but Endrosi ignores it, and heads over to Bam. Endorsi states that she doesn't understand why Rachel's so desperate to see the stars at the top of the Tower, but also doesn't understand why Bam's so desperate to be with Rachel. However, Endrosi admits that she has something similar to what Bam's doing, which is that she has someone (Anaak) that she wishes to climb the Tower with. As she heads over to Quant, Endrosi gives Bam some last minute advice that she's just following her heart, and that Bam should do the same as to whether or not he will respect Rachel's dream to see the starry sky, and climb the Tower with her.
Showing that they each got their respective "Tag" and "Seeker" badges, Endrosi proceeds to duel Quant one-on-one using the Narumada. Bam watches the duel while thinking about how Rachel was basically the star that lit up the world for him in the darkness, and that after what he witnessed from Hoh, he's learned that people don't feel like living anymore if they lose the things they cherish. Thus, he worries that Rachel will do the same if he takes the starry sky dream away from her. As the duel between Endrosi and Quant continues, Bam stands prepared to join in having decided to beat the Hide-and-Seek test.
Endrosi continues to try to hit Quant with the Narumada in their duel, even relying on the sword's Weapon Ignition to try to blast Quant with shinsu. Bam then enters the battle as support for Endrosi, which he uses the Immobilization Bang to freeze Quant, much to Endrosi and Quant's surprise that Bam has already mastered using Quant's freezing ability. Realizing he's in trouble that his "Seeker" Tag could get caught during Bam's freeze, Quant decides to go all out, which Endrosi does the same.
Meanwhile, Serena watches the duel while sitting next to Hoh's corpse. She points how to Hoh how unfair life is as she watches Endrosi wield the Narumada while Bam supports with more Immobilization Bangs. Serena figures that this result was obvious since unlike Endrosi and Bam, she was never capable of fighting desperately to accomplish something, and that her life might of ended up differently if she took risks. Thus, Serena concludes that if she's able to find something to keep going, she will decide to keep on living.
Eventually, the duel reaches the climax where Endrosi and Quant grabbed each other's Tags at the same time. However, Quant turns out to have been tricked as he ended up grabbing Endrosi's same-colored underwear instead that she hid on her shirt. Thus, resulting in victory for Team-B. Watching her team win, Serena closes the eyes on Hoh's corpse asking why he had to die when his whole life was still ahead of him.
After the Hide-and-Seek test, Team-A is shocked to see Hoh's corpse get carried away while Rachel is taken to the hospital room due to getting stabbed by Hoh. In addition, the announcement is made that Team-A failed the test while Team-B passed. Meanwhile, Yuri's expedition with Wolhaiksong continues to make their way towards the 2nd Floor.
Long Summary
At the Floor of Tests cafeteria, Rachel is seen ordering a brochette meal to go in order to continue staying away from Bam. The cook informs her that take out will cost an extra ten Position Test points, but is told by Rachel that she doesn't mind. She then overhears Bam and Endorsi at a nearby table talking about Princess Yuri, and how Bam describes Yuri to be a mob boss with a nice persona.
Endorsi finds it odd the Yuri would actually be nice to someone, and questions if she was brainwashed, which Bam answers that other than being greeted with a kick to the face, she never did anything else to him. Endorsi pities Bam for getting his face kicked, but Bam quickly informs her that there was a legitimate reason for it.
At this point, Rachel is given her brochette meal, but she continues to stand by listening to the conversation. Endorsi asks if Yuri told Bam to not say anything about meeting her, which he answers that Yuri didn't, but she ended up handing him a Pocket, which Endorsi takes as being bribed. Endorsi is next seen in the bathroom washing her hands. Rachel appears soon after, and greets the Jahad Princess, who greets Rachel in return using her fake name, Michelle Light. Rachel informs her that using her actual name when they're alone is fine, and notes how she's noticed Endorsi hanging out with the other Regulars more than usual these days.
Endorsi states that she only goes along with it, because they've been offering her free food. Rachel then asks if Endorsi has been keeping her identity a secret from Bam, which she answers that she has. Endorsi asks in return why Rachel is staying away from Bam, which, despite Rachel saying that she already told her, Endorsi points out that her reasoning doesn't make sense.
Seeing Rachel's confusion, Endorsi explains that it's every girl's dream to have a guy devoting his life to chasing after the girl, and that Endorsi would actually love it if a cute guy like Bam was chasing after her. Yet here she is watching Rachel go to such lengths to hide from Bam that she doesn't understand. Rachel remains silent, but Endorsi chooses to walk out of the bathroom, and states that she is in no position to judge Rachel. However, before exiting, Endorsi leaves off telling Rachel that she hopes that what she desires at the top of the Tower is more valuable than Bam. Rachel, like before, doesn't say anything in return.
Walking away from the bathroom, Endorsi thinks back to the names she saw on Bam's friendship paper, and noticed how Rachel was in the first box. She begins to scratch her head in pity wondering to herself if she should tell Bam.
Another day at the wave controller class, Bam is seen continuing to learn how to control shinsu, and is now able to control a ball of shinsu in his hands. Yuga instructs his students about the basic shinsu units known as Bangs, which are clusters of shinsu controlled by the user to combat enemies.
He informs his students that the size of the Bang is called Myun while shinsu that's injected into the Bang is called Su. Yuga then informs them that while Myun and Su control are important for wave controllers, Bangs are the most important, as the number of Bangs a wave controller can create will help suppress the enemy.
Using Bam as an example, who can only create one Bang at the moment, Yuga explains that if he was to attack Bam with three Bangs, then the boy would have to find another means to defend himself from the two remaining Bangs. Yuga then informs the class that creating additional Bangs alongside the first one is very difficult as you would have to keep the exact amount of focus between each Bang, or else the Bangs that were already created will end up vanishing.
Bam, who had been struggling to create a second Bang, admits to it being difficult stating that it feels like trying to move an extra arm. Yuga reveals to Bam that it took two years for him to materialize his first Bang, which was great enough to be considered a genius. However, Yuga finds it amazing that it's only taken Bam two weeks since learning about shinsu to create, and control, his first Bang, which Yuga questions if he should nickname Bam as a super genius. He warns, and asks Bam to remember, that the talent displayed by the boy is something that many in the Tower would be jealous of.
Seeing Bam continue to improve in the class, Hoh asks his former teammate, Lauroe, if he finds this situation to be strange. He points out how Bam is someone that never knew about shinsu before coming to the inner Tower, or isn't even a part of the Great Family, and yet he's got a talent to learn shinsu control at an incredible speed. Hoh questions if Bam is hiding something from them regarding his true identity, but realizes that Lauroe has been sleeping through his whole deduction. He is then called up by Yuga to be the next to take his Bang test.
Stepping before Yuga, Hoh attempts to make a single Bang, but watches as the ball of shinsu vanishes from his hands. Yuga points out that he's noticed Hoh being in a rush these days, and informs him that he will never be able to control shinsu in such an unstable state. He then asks for Hoh to rest for today, but Hoh rejects the offer stating that he can do this. Yuga warns him to take a rest once more; reminding him that tomorrow will be the final joint test to decide who gets the chosen Positions. He questions if Hoh is willing to ruin his chances after coming this far, which Hoh finally decides to take a nap.
Resting in his room, Hoh remembers back to a dark event in his past before entering the Tower where he's forced to watch a monster kill off, and eat some of the people, that Hoh was trying to entertain with his shinsu abilities. He then hears someone knock on the door, and sees that someone has slid a memo to him through the opening at the bottom of the door. Picking the paper up, Hoh reads on one side a question asking if he wishes to make Bam fail the Position Test. He then turns the paper around, and is informed to make Michelle Light fail the test. Opening up the middle for more writing, Hoh is then told that Bam's desire to climb the Tower is only because of her being here. A P.S. comment is also left stating that no one will suspect Hoh if he was the reason of Michelle failing.
Surprised at what was written, Hoh opens the door yelling for the person who gave him the memo, but finds no one there. A Regular named Full Black from the room nextdoor comes out as well asking Hoh if there was a problem. Hoh remains silent for a bit, but asks Full if he finds the weather nice. Hoh states that he finds the weather to be good, and returns to his room; leaving Full even more confused about what just happened.
Lero-Ro meets with Yu Hansung in the Supervisor room, and is confused at the sight of the papers he's been given. Yu Hansung explains that what Lero-Ro is currently looking at is their final plan for the Position Test regarding the current group of Regulars completing a joint task. Lero-Ro realizes that the test will be Hide-and-Seek, but questions why it's been decided to be used with a Ranker. However, Yu Hansung answers that he's serious about doing it.
At this point, Quant enters the room giving off a huge laugh, and asks if Lero-Ro saw him. Lero-Ro questions why he's here, which Quant answers that its to deliver Yu Hansung his coffee, and to receive a rundown of the Hide-and-Seek test. Lero-Ro questions why Quant bothered to come when he could have just waited for Lero-Ro to provide him the information later. However, Quant answers that it's because he's been tasked to play as the Seeker for the test.
Lero-Ro is left shocked at this revelation, and asks Yu Hansung if Quant speaks the truth, which he answers is correct. Lero-Ro remains silent as he watches Quant hand the bag of coffee he brought to Yu Hansung. An angry image of himself in his mind complains to Quant and Yu Hansung that their idiotic plan is going to get the Regulars all killed. However, Lero-Ro looks down in defeat knowing that he can't truly say it to them.
At a later time within a floating waiting room, Lero-Ro stands before the remaining Regulars giving them a congratulations for making this far. He informs them of the upcoming joint Position Test known as Hide-and-Seek, and states that it will be done with the remaining 28 Regulars that haven't either already passed this test, or failed to reach this this test.
He then informs the group that of the 28 Regulars here, only 14 who come out of Hide-and-Seek will move on to take the final Position Test. Lero-Ro then states to the group that they will be taking on the joint Hide-and-Seek test as two teams, and shows a table to the Regulars displaying how the Regulars will be split.
Team-A
Fisherman: Kancho, Anaak, Blarouse
Spear-bearer: Chichi, Goon, Aleksai
Light-Bearer: Khun, Leon 3
Scout: Shibisu, First Emperor, Sunwoo Nare
Wave Controller: Rozeal, Lauroe, Hwaryun
Team-B
Fisherman: Hong Chunhwa, Anaak, Death Ryan
Spear-bearer: Mauchi, Paracule
Light-Bearer: Michelle Light (Rachel), Full Black, Levin
Scout: Hatz, Shopin, Serena
Wave Controller: Bam, Grey, Ho
Rak and Ghost are seen at the bottom of the table to have already passed, and don't have to take part in Hide-and-Seek, due to completing Yu Bok-Dol's challenge in his spear-bearer class. Looking over the table, Khun is left annoyed that they separated him from Bam, and finds it a lie that Rak has somehow already passed the test. Bam meanwhile looks over in Rachel's direction, and realizes that he's going to be in the same team as her. Lero-Ro speaks out once more to explain that the teams were established based on how the Regulars were evaluated in the previous tests, and informs them that apart from Team A having one extra spear-bearer, and Team B having an extra light-bearer, the positions for each team are same. Hoh is seen looking over at Rachel's direction as well thinking about the memo he received earlier as Lero-Ro states that no one should be complaining about being at a disadvantage due to the teams being equally balanced.
He also informs the Regulars that their performance in Hide-and-Seek will be graded both individually, as well as how good they work in a team, and that the grade they receive here will play a major factor for their final test. Pointing to a nearby table where Yu Bok-Dol, Hax and Yu Hansung are sitting, Lero-Ro explains that their individual grade will be evaluated by the Position teachers while Yu Hansung evaluates the teamwork grades. Lero-Ro next asks for the Test Supervisor, Yu Hansung, to explain the test details.
Answering Lero-Ro's call, Yu Hansung introduces himself to the Regulars again, and begins to explain the Hide-and-Seek test. The Regulars are heard talking to one another about what they think the test means, which Yu Hansung answers that it's basically like the actual game of hide-and-seek.
However, Yu Hansung informs them that the two teams won't be battling one another, but will be working together in two teams in order to hide from the Seeker that they've designated. He then points the Regulars to look outside their floating building at a white circular-like maze, which Yu Hansung reveals to be the arena for their Hide-and-Seek test.
Yu Hansung explains the rules of the game where both teams will chose a fisherman to be the Tag, and if the team is able to protect the Tag from the middle safety zone of the maze to get to one of the two exit doors at the outer ring of the maze, that team will be announced the winner. However, there's a three hour time limit to get a team's Tag to the exit, and the game will automatically end for a team that ends up letting their Tag get caught out by the Seeker. Yu Hansung holds up a red circular-shaped badge, and announces that those chosen as the Tag will have to wear it, and if the Seeker manages to touch it, then the test will come to an end. He also informs the Regulars that the Seeker will wear a badge as well, and that they can try to touch his badge as well. The reward for catching the Seeker being 2000 individual points given to the one who made the touch, and an automatic pass to Hide-and-Seek.
Shibisu questions who they will be facing as their Seeker, and ends up hearing a loud voice congratulating him for asking a nice question. Popping out of a box next to Yu Hansung, Quant reveals himself to be the Seeker, which causes the Regulars to become annoyed as to who they're looking at. This revelation shocks the Regulars seeing that their opponent is a Ranker, and questions if this is a fair match since it's obvious to them that they'll never be able to steal away his badge. However, Quant excitedly gives off a laugh, and states that he will make sure to go easy on the Regulars.
Later on, Regulars for Team-A are brought to the Hide-and-Seek arena. The Regulars are seen sitting in the safety zone, but Shibisu complains that fighting against a Ranker is too harsh of a test. Khun tries to reassure him that they're at least fighting against the weakest looking Ranker here, which Shibisu agrees with despite knowing his strength as his previous scout teacher. Khun informs the group that they still got an advantage having Regulars at all Positions, and that Quant's means of strengthening himself has been limited, but Shibisu reminds him that it's still a Ranker that they'll be fighting against. Khun then changes the subject asking the group who should be their leader, but Shibisu answers that Khun is the best suited being a light-bearer, which the other Regulars of Team-A agree with. Khun accepts being the leader right away, which confuses Shibisu to wonder if this was Khun's plan all along.
To start the meeting as the current leader, Khun questions the group how they will go about catching the Seeker. Kancho questions why they should do that instead of going for the exit, which Khun answers that it would be the much easier task to complete. Shibisu agrees with the statement, which he explains that he knows of Quant's persona as a childish brat very well due to being his scout student. And that Quant made the class all about him even though he was supposed to be teaching the Regulars. Shibisu also informs Team-A that due to his passion of wanting to never lose, his claim earlier about going easy on them was a lie, and that he will go so far as to try to kill them just to make sure that he comes out the winner, and won't be able to escape from him due to his abilities as a socut.
Rozeal is the next to question the plan for Team-A wondering how its easier to try to catch the Seeker, which Khun answers that it's because Quant has it set in his brain that the Regulars won't be able to catch him. The Regulars are confused by the statement, which Khun explains that Quant is looking down on them, and won't actually come up with a plan of defense if a team actually attempts to steal his Seeker badge. Khun informs his team that, because Quant is a Ranker who's been to the top of the Tower already, the Ranker ends up viewing no one amongst this group of Regulars to have the strength to catch him, or even get near him.
Having heard Khun's explanation, the Team-A Regulars begin to agree with the plan. Rozeal mentions that she's in it due to the idea that they'll get 2000 points for catching him. Lauroe is also off on the side holding up a sign telling everyone to shut up, and let him sleep.
Everyone agrees to the plan, and Shibisu confirms that they've reached a full consensus. Khun announces to the team that it's time to catch a Ranker, but first, they need to establish someone as the bait. Some time passes, and, walking out into the Hide-and-Seek maze, Shibisu is left annoyed, and complaining that he's been chosen to play the bait for Team-A.
He looks down the dark hallways, and finds them to be a bit scary knowing that something could be hiding in the shadows, but freaks out when he hears Shibisu contacting him from his lighthouse wondering if he made it through to him. Khun bullies Shibisu asking if the latter got scared of his sudden voice, which Shibisu complains that he knows Khun did that on purpose.
Shibisu brings up how it's too bad that Bam and Hatz ended up on the other team, and envies that Rak someone passed having to do this, but Khun points out that they had no say in it since they were designated. Shibisu next asks Khun if he knows that successfully catching the Seeker could end up causing Bam to completely fail, which Khun admits that he's already taken that into account. He answers Shibisu that it's not in their best interest to give up the test just for Bam's sake, which Shibisu points out that Khun can be cold-hearted sometimes. Khun next asks if Shibisu spotted the Ranker yet, which he answers that nothing's appeared on his observer yet. Shibisu then questions Khun's current plan believing that Quant won't fall for the bait since he's walking around with a light making it incredibly obvious, but Khun answers that he will definitely come.
At this point, Shibisu stops walking, and Khun asks what's wrong. Looking down the hallway, Shibisu informs Khun that nothing's appeared on his observer, and yet he can see two red eyes in the darkness telling him that Quant's appeared before him. Quant walks out of the darkness to reveal himself to Shibisu, which the latter informs Khun that the Ranker is now here.
In the waiting room outside the Hide-and-Seek arena, Team-B is seen waiting for their turn. Looking in Mauchi and Parakawl's direction, Death Ryan states in frustration that he doesn't like this team, and wonders what he can do with all these losers as his allies. However, he also turns to Endorsi stating that the beautiful Jahad Princess isn't a part of the losers, which she thanks him for. Turning to Bam, Endorsi points out that being a glutton isn't her only characteristic, and Death Ryan points out that she's the only hope for their team, which she thanks him for yet again. Meanwhile, Rachel's been looking in their direction, but Bam looks down knowing that she's still trying to evade them. Looking to the Hide-and-Seek arena, the Team-B group notice that Team-A has already met the Seeker. Death Ryan questions if this proves that Rankers are good at searching, but Endorsi assumes that Team-A let Quant find them.
Back to the Hide-and-Seek arena, Shibisu readies himself to fight Quant, who's appeared before him. Quant calls out Shibisu for the bright light figuring that he's telling the world that he's the bait, and that Team-A's plan is to send their Tag out away from him. Quant admits that he finds the plan too by-the-numbers to be interesting, but came out anyway, becaues Shibisu's one of his students. Quant then deduces that he knows the amount of Regulars are here to fight him. He figures that including Shibisu, there's two spear-bearers, a fisherman and a wave controller nearby; making the current fight 5-on-1, and that light-bearer Khun was watching over the fight from his lighthouse.
Shibisu admits that Quant is sharp being able to figure out their trap already. Quant then figures that it will take time for the trap to be established, so he uses this moment to ask Shibisu a question as to what is the best option for a scout in this situation. Shibisu answers to dance, which confuses Quant as nonsense. He then provides the true answer to be to attack Shibisu as he charges in towards the Regular with the purple jumpsuit. Shibisu cries out in fear hoping that Khun will save him, which Khun orders for Aleksai to aim his spear. From a distance, Aleksai throws his spear in the direction of Shibisu and Quant.
However, Quant laughs at the fact that the attack was obvious, and is able to jump onto the tip of Aleksai's thrown spear. Quant then uses the spear to jump high into the air, and destroys the lighthouse light that Shibisu's been using to brighten the area around him. Shibisu watches the light smash into the ground, and dims to the point of the area becoming pitch black again.
Now in complete darkness, Shibisu tries to figure out what he should do for his next action. He realizes that it will take awhile for another lighthouse light to arrive at his location, and is able to hear Quant talking to him somewhere in the darkness. Quant informs him that as a scout, one has to worry about the possibility of confronting multiple enemies at once, but the best way to confuse them would be to destroy their eye of the battlefield, the lighthouse.
The Ranker then explains that as long as the lighthouse is gone, numbers don't matter, and it becomes a horrible disadvantage for the people considered to be spear-bearers. Shibisu questions how he fits into this, which Quant answers that a good scout doesn't need lights, and can read shinsu through the darkness to find the location of the enemy. Red eyes from Quant appear behind Shibisu, who claims that this is now checkmate for him.
However, Shibisu and Khun go about saying checkmate as well as a new light appears to lighten up the area that Shibisu and Quant are standing at. Looking in the distance at a light shining at him from the top of one of the maze walls, Quant is left confused as to why the lighthouse isn't at the location of the Tag Regular. Anaak, who's standing near the light, answers Quant that the Tag's been here the whole time, and launches an extended Green April attack at him. Quant makes sense of the situation seeing that they had no intention of running away while Shibisu acted as the bait, but that their goal was to take his Seeker Tag even if it meant using their Tag Regular to accomplish it. The Green April gets closer to his Seeker Tag as the Regulars of Team-A believe to have won. However, Quant activates a skill called Black Fish to defend himself from the Green April by going invisible.
Shibisu shields himself seeing Quant pulling something off. However, he realizes a moment later that Quant used this opportunity to disappear from the current skirmish. Shibisu looks around trying to find Quant's location, but he quickly realizes that Quant has taken hold of the Green April. Quant then questions if Team-A's goal was to catch him rather than try to run away, and asks the team if they truly believed that it would be this easy. However, Quant answers the questions himself believing that the Regulars are looking down on him as someone who isn't a Ranker, and finds it to be insulting. Meanwhile, Lero-Ro and Yu Hansung are seen watching the Hide-and-Seek match play out over a monitor, but Lero-Ro begins to worry for the Regulars upon seeing that Quant has started to go mad.
Quant continues to laugh as everyone, including the other Test Administrators, watch to see if he explodes in anger. Lero-Ro hopes that it doesn't take a turn for the worst, but witnesses Quant give off a huge laugh, and admits that he's glad that this current group of Regulars has guts. Shibisu and Lero-Ro could tell that the enraged Quant is trying to play it off by acting like he's happy about the current situation, but informs Team-A that their ambush ended in failure. Stating that he's now prepared for the Regulars trying to catch him, Quant asks Team-A what their next plan is, which has Shibisu asking Khun if there's a new plan, or if they should run away.
Quant, stating himself to be a nice person, decides to give the Regulars a 32-minute-13-second timer to run away, which leaves Shibisu to question why the amount is so percise. Khun admits that this is their only option at the moment, and asks for Team-A to run in order to begin their second plan. The Team-A Regulars all leave the area as Quant remains standing in place waiting for his timer to end.
Lero-Ro sighs in relief knowing that it must have been hard for Quant to suppress his rage when he realized that the Regulars were trying to catch him. However, he also feels that something about what just happened seemed off. Yu Hansung questions what Lero-Ro's referring to, which he explains that Quant being a Ranker should have been more than enough to not get caught up in such a simple trap, and for someone to come up with that plan would have to have been someone that knows nothing about Rankers. Seeing that Khun was the only who came up with the plan, Lero-Ro is left disappointed that he came up with such a lousy plan despite being a member of the Great Family. However, Yu Hansung answers that Khun is doing well so far concerning the Hide-and-Seek test. Lero-Ro questions what he's talking about, but Yu Hansung answers that there's no reason, and they should just see how the rest of the test for Team-A goes.
Still on the run, Shibisu asks Khun how much time he has left, which is answered to be a minute before Quant starts moving again. He then asks about Anaak's location, which Khun answers that she's currently heading to the 2nd circle of the arena maze alongside him to reach an elevator to the next area.
Shibisu begins to get excited believing that they can reach the bridge that leads to the maze exit, but Khun informs him that Quant knows what he's doing, and figures that the bridge will be the first area he will attack to try to take their Tag. The time at this point has run out as Khun orders Team-A to get in position.
Khun explains to his team that there are two exits out of the arena, and the closest one to them is the exit beyond the bridge. He states that if they fail to stop Quant, they will have to fall back to defend the Tag to make sure she escapes across the bridge. He also point sout that the route to the bridge has two spots where they can attempt to stop Quant, the first being a stairwell that goes through the first circle. Khun explains that the stairwell is a long narrow area that's perfect for a group attack, and holding Quant there for five minutes is a must.
Above the stairwell, the Aleksai, Rozeal, Chichi, Kancho, Goon and Leon group of Team-A are seen watching over the area. Leon informs the squad that Quant is about to reach the stairwell, and will be working the lighthouse to keep him in their sight. Kancho stands on the stairwell, and is eventually greeted by Quant. The Ranker points out that he can tell that the Tag (Anaak) is already well ahead of him, and needs to act quick to catch up to her at the 2nd circle elevator.
Rozeal prepares to attack alongside Kancho, but Quant points out that it's time for a lesson about how scouts battle. He informs the nearby Regulars that scouts learn many techniques to deal with different situations. One such technique being to use a single Bang to hide in the darkness. He shows off the ability, and completely disappears walking up the staircase.
Leon checks his lighthouse, and realizes that the light from it can no longer spot Quant. He figures that it's the exact ability Quant used earlier to escape Anaak's attempt to take the Seeker Badge, but states that Quant can't use shinsu while using this hiding ability. However, Leon comes to the conclusion that the one Bang Quant created is still usable within this invisible ability of his. Rozeal gets impatient, and chooses to attack a random location to find the Ranker. Chichi and Kancho follow after her, but at this point, Quant reappears near the exact spot he originally disappeared, and knocks Kancho down the stairwell.
Throwing many spears down on Quant, Aleksai drops down from above as well to try to block Quant from running any further up the stairs, and attempts to punch the Ranker. However, Quant easily dodges out of the way, and taunts Aleksai for trying to fight like a scout rather than his spear-bearer Position. Aleksai tries to punch once more, but Quant disappears from sight again. Quant then gives Aleksai a word of advice that being the strongest isn't the only part of battling in the Tower. He then reappears behind Quant, but before he could react, Quant lands a blow on Aleksai's chest.
The Regular than falls to the ground in defeat, and Quant looks up to the top of the maze at Rozeal; asking if this is all they can do trying to hold him back for five minutes. Quant asks for the Regulars to try harder, which Chichi asks Leon how long they've manages to stall him. Leon answers that it's only about a minute, which shocks him and Rozeal. The two try to attack Quant with their spear and shinsu wand, but like before, they're unable to find Quants location.
Returning to the waiting room for Team-B, Bam watches in stunned silence at the current fight as the other Team-B Regulars begin to get excited that Team-A is losing badly to the Ranker. Switching over to Anaak's location, who's making her way to the exit of the Hide-and-Seek maze, Leon calls her up to inform her that the first defense at the stairwell has already fallen, and that they've lost sight of Quant.
Continuing to watch the Team-A match, Lero-Ro concludes that the game is over. Yu Hansung questions what he's referring to, which Lero-Ro answers that the Tag will no longer be able to pass. Lero-Ro explains that Team-A's only option now is to try for the exit beyond the maze bridge. However, the bridge is so narrow, and high up, that Anaak's maneuverability being extremely limited will keep her from escaping Quant.
Lero-Ro then points out that Quant knew he would only have to wait for the Tag to eventually reach the bridge, and used the time limit as a means to test the other Regulars before catching up to Anaak. Lero-Ro concludes that Team-A's failure was assured the moment Quant knew of Khun's overall plan. Lero-Ro questions that there may be a possibility if Khun perhaps used his bag to duplicate another Tag Badge, but Yu Hansung informs him that the badge is impossible to duplicate. Lero-Ro goes back to his original conclusion that Team-A will definitely fail.
At another location in the Hide-and-Seek arena, Shibisu continues to run, and receives word from Khun that the first defense at the stairwell has already fallen. Shibisu questions how he's able to accomplish this so quickly, which Khun answers that he's got some sort of ability that allows him to hide in the darkness. Shibisu complains how that type of ability is considered unfair for this game. He informs Khun that he believes it to be a skill that blocks light using shinsu, and had heard about it in his scout class.
Khun asks if there's a way to stop it, which Shibisu answers that there may be a way, but it will have to be done without lighthouses. Shibisu explains that they will need Lauroe to bypass Quant's invisibility skill, but Khun informs him that Lauroe is still sleeping back at the starting safety zone. Shibisu is confused as to why, which Khun answers that it's because Lauroe figures that he's going to pass regardless of how he performs in this test.
Stuck on what to do next, Shibisu informs Khun that he will do his best to stall Quant on his own. Shibisu reassures himself that he can do this as all he has to to is stall the Ranker from reaching the elevator to the second circle where Anaak's at, but at that moment, a pair of red eyes appears behind him. Shibisu reaches the location of First Emperor, Sunwoo Nare and Blarouse, and informs them that they will be stopping the poisonous toad Regular from going any further. However, the three remain still looking in Shibisu's direction, who asks what they have issue with; not realizing that Quant was right behind him. Seeing Quant enraged at his toad nickname, Shibisu tries to approach the Ranker, and congratulates him for reaching this point. He also asks for Quant to take a break, and informs him that toads are a good symbol of wealth and luck. Shibisu continues to try to save face to the point of saying that he loves his teacher, but Quant is unable to keep his composure this time, and attacks the three Regulars.
Anaak can hear Quant in the distance asking the Regulars at Shibisu's location if they want to die, and hears them screaming in pain. At this point, Anaak stops moving, which Shibisu notices and yells to her to keep running. Anaak answers that Quant will catch up to her at this rate once she reaches the exit bridge, and concludes that her only other option is to fight the Ranker. Shibisu rejects Anaak's answer knowing that she can't win against Quant, and orders her to keep running. She begins to walk towards Shibisu's location, but stops when she hears Shibisu yell her name even louder. Shibisu begs for Anaak to trust Khun's plan, and that they'll stop the Ranker here so that she gets to the exit. Shibisu is seen on the ground holding Quant's leg while the Ranker stomps on his back with his other leg, and yells out to cutie Anaak that daddy trusts she will make the right decision. Anaak and Khun are seen in complete disgust hearing the words come out of Shibisu's mouth.
Shibisu continues to speak stating that he heard from Khun that she knows there's something dark about her past that she's been hiding from them. However, continuing to hold onto Quant, Shibisu informs her that he doesn't care about that, and only cares about her current well-being.
Yelling to Khun that he wished Khun had kept his mouth shut about this, he also yells to Anaak that they're in the same boat, and that they're teammates. Off on the side, Khun is trying hard not to laugh over the thought that the younger Shibisu called older Anaak her daddy. Team-B, such as Hatz and Bam, are seen listening to Shibisu's speech as he states that he will help Anaak deal with her problems whether it be about her past, or something that goes down in the future.
Running out of strength to hold Quant down, the Ranker asks if he's done with the speech, which Shibisu admits to be the case. Anaak stands by in disgust as he listens to Quant beat down Shibisu to the point of hoping that along with Anaak, Hatz also passes the test. At this point, Anaak turns around, and goes back to trying to reach the exit.
Despite being continuously beaten by Quant, Shibisu continues to hold on to the Ranker. Shibisu deduces that as long as he continues to hold on to him, he can make it easy for his teammates to find Quant's location before he uses his light blocking shinsu ability to go invisible again. He next orders for First Emperor to finally show off his power with one of his special super flame punches, who goes in for the punch. However, Quant manages to kick Shibisu off him, and throws the Regular into First Emperor; knocking him out before he could finish the punch.
Shibisu holds his head in pain after being thrown into First Emperor as Quant points out that he can eliminate any Regular without having to rely on his shinsu abilities. Quant reveals that the only reason he's being stealthy is because he doesn't wish to truly injure any Regulars to the point of spewing blood, and asks that they all keep that in mind.
Everyone remains in silence at Quant's words, but Lero-Ro and Yu Hansung being to laugh uncontrollably. Quant blushes in embarrassment asking for the other Rankers to stop laughing, and Shibisu points out that what the Ranker just said sounded really childish. Lero-Ro and Yu Hansung next make fun of Quant's statement wanting to avoid bloodshed, which causes the two to laugh once more. Ordering his fellow Rankers to stop laughing, Shibisu, Blarouse, Hwaryun and Sunwoo use this moment to confront Quant. The Ranker orders them to give up, but Shibisu informs him that he just did something that he shouldn't have done. Quant is left confused at the statement, which Shibisu states that because of him, we can no longer see First Emperor's Super-duper-king-flame-punch.
Annoyed at the fake answer, Quant kicks Shibisu in the head, which forces Shibisu to the ground. Unable to move anymore, Shibisu claims that no matter what, he can't let Quant go, but the Ranker questions why he's so into the test when he in particular has already shown enough to be considered to pass the Position Test. Quant disappears from the area to go after Anaak as the Regulars are left to realize that the Ranker has broken through their second defense.
Leon informs Khun that Quant is on the move again, and is closing in on Anaak. Khun thinks over the current situation, and concludes that Anaak still needs about 15 more minutes to reach the exit beyond the bridge. Knowing that Quant will easily reach her during that time Khun deduces that it's about time for him to fight with his Manbarondenna bag.
Closing in on Anaak, Quant thinks to himself how the Regulars are being cocky thinking that he could be stopped against the losers he ran into at the stairwell and Shibisu's location. Looking through the darkness, Quant assumes that Anaak should be showing up soon, and is finally able to see someone in the distance who he assumes to be Anaak. Catching up to the Regular at the bridge, Quant calls out that he's caught up with the Tag only for him to see that it's actually Khun.
Quant stops running, and is confused that the Regular standing before him isn't Anaak. The Ranker then questions what Khun is, which the Regular answers that he's the light. Quant gets annoyed at the obvious answer given that Khun is a light-bearer, and orders for Khun to tell him where the Tag is, which Khun doesn't answer. Quant next complains that the Tag should be around her given that Anaak's only option was to run for the bridge, and knows that they had no time during the chase to hide her. However, what catches Quants attention is the Manbarondenna bag in Khun's hand; seeing that it's possible that he hid Anaak in it. Thinking that Khun is a bastard for underestimating him, Quant points out that he knows about Khun's tactics when it comes to the Manbarondenna bag, and orders for Khun to stop messing around. He orders for Khun to open the bag, who begins to sweat.
Khun continues to remain still as Quant orders him again to open the bag. The former questions if Quant truly believes that he hid something in the Manbarondenna bag, which the Ranker answers to be true. Khun gives off a grin, and informs him that according to the rules, it's impossible to place the Tag badge into his Manbarondenna bag, which Yu Hansung answers to be the case. Khun informs Quant that she's not here, and while he agrees that Anaak can't be in the bag, he believes she's still around here. Khun agrees that that was the case a few moments ago, but he informs Quant that she dropped off the bridge to the area beneath the bridge.
Looking down into the darkness from the bridge, Quant gives off a laugh claiming that no one is able to make the jump to the bottom from this high up. However, Khun reminds him that their Tag is a part of the Jahad family, and that she knows shinsu abilities to strengthen her body to survive such a jump. Khun explains that she's now down there running to the second exit at a stairwell beneath the bridge, and because its a straight line to the stairs, she doesn't need a light in the darkness to find it. Khun next points out that Quant is unable to jump after her having already used his one Bang limit at another location. So at the moment, he's just a normal human being.
Khun explains further that not even someone from the Great Family would be able to survive the jump from this height if they were forced to rely on just a normal body without any means of strengthening it. Khun and Quant remain silent standing against one another as Anaak can be seen standing on top of a lighthouse under the bridge.
Cutting back to the point that Anaak had arrived at the bridge. She spots Khun tweaking a lighthouse, and questions what he's doing. Khun asks her to come towards him, and despite Anaak claiming that there's no time to play around, Khun grabs her arm, and forces her towards him; claiming that this is his plan to trink the Ranker. Anaak is put on the lighthouse, and is ordered by Khun to remain on it floating underneath the bridge. He informs her that he will get Quant to jump off the bridge, and will help Anaak get back up once the coast is clear. Anaak remains confused about the situation, but is told by Khun that there's no time to explain, and asks her to make a run for it once Quant is gone.
Returning to the present, Quant and Khun continue to stare at one another, but the silence is finally broken when Quant begins to laugh. The Ranker questions if Khun is trying to provoke him into jumping without the help of shinsu, and points out that Anaak must be hiding somewhere ready to cross the bridge once he's jumped off. Khun shrugs it off reminding Quant that no matter what, the Tag is currently running for the entrance beneath the bridge, and asks the Ranker if he's scared of making the jump.
Quant counters by asking where Khun's lighthouse is at the moment, which stalls Khun. Quant points out that he knows that Khun controls two lighthouses, and knows that he's using one to give them light on the bridge, but questions where he's hiding the second.
Khun starts to believe that Quant may have discovered his scheme and tries to deny his need for two lighthouses. Quant starts to walk towards him, and claims again that he's definitely using two lighthouses at the moment. Khun denies it once more, but Quant continues his questioning, and points out that there must have been a purpose to have a light-bearer alongside Anaak at the bridge exit. Quant deduces that it was to hide the Tag the only way light-bearers would be able to, and points to the lighthouse providing light above Khun. Quant's theory is that Khun is hiding a turned off lighthouse beneath the bridge, and has Anaak the Tag standing on top of it. He asks Khun if his theory is correct, which Khun thinks to himself that the Ranker noticed the plan.
Quant continues to explain that there's some cases where a lighthouse could be used as a solid object, which is something that's been written in the instruction books for light-bearers. He asks once more if his theory is correct, but Khun remains silent. Giving off a grin, Quant instructs Khun that the lighthouses light-bearers use are made of a metal called float rock.
The Ranker explains that float rock is a special material that can float in shinsu depending on how pure the substance is, and objects, such as pockets, inventories and lighthouses, are made from it. However, he also reveals that because float rock is expensive due to its hard nature to process, lighthouses are made with just a small percentage of float rock.
He then states that light-bears have to keep within a limited distance of the lighthouse to control the shinsu around them in order to keep the lighthouse afloat, and will end up falling if the light-bearer goes too far from it, or loses control. In short terms, Quant informs Khun that if a lighthouse is outside the light-bearers control area, the lighthouse will fall.
Khun continues not to speak, which causes Quant to grab hold of Khun's arm, and asks a special question as to what will happen to the lighthouse with the Tag on it if he forces Khun to the bottom of the maze along with him. Khun reacts to the statement asking if Quant is nuts, which the Ranker answers that everyone will fall with him.
He then informs Khun that he will no longer be in the range of the floating lighthouse beneath the bridge, and the Tag will fall along with it. Quant begins to giggle, and reminds Khun that he informed him of how Anaak is part of the Jahad Family and wonders who will be dead at the bottom of the Hide-and-Seek maze; him, or the Regulars.
Quant pulls Khun off the bridge with him, and orders for Khun to show off his power of the Great Family. Anaak watches in shock as Khun calls the Ranker a crazy bastard for pulling him. The two of them fall as Quant begins to laugh like a maniac; telling Khun that his actions have made him angry. Quant taunts Khun about how he's showing fear at the moment despite being a son of the Great Khun Family, and orders for Khun to beg for mercy to him. He taunts Khun once more for the Regular to beg him to save his life, and he might do it if Khun does so in while crying. However, Khun pushes the Ranker away from him, which shocks Quant.
Being pushed away from Khun, Quant yells to him if he's choosing to die. However, Khun activates a visibility mode of an item he had been holding, which is revealed to be a floating pulley. Quant continues to drop as he falls by Anaak standing on top of Khun's second lighthouse, and he realizes that the pulley had been holding onto the lighthouse as well. At this point, Khun gives Quant a question of his own asking what happens if he falls with the Ranker while the former is connected to the lighthouse with the Tag using a pulley made of float rock. Quant is left stunned realizing that he's been tricked, and calls out to the cheating Khun that he will kill him later on.
Watching Quant disappear to the bottom of the Hide-and-Seek arena, Khun then answers the question he asked that only the Ranker will fall. Khun's own weight is then used to pull the other half of the pulley upward as Anaak's lighthouse ends up back at the top of the bridge. She then jumps off, and makes a run for the Hide-and-Seek arena exit to end the match for Team-A.
The Regulars of Team-B continue to watch the end of the first team's test, but are confused about what transpired at the end. Mauchi and Paracule are shown to be wondering why Quant jumped with Khun while Death Ryan complains that Team-A's defeat was so close. Bam, who had caught on to Khun's plan, informs his team of what Khun did. That Khun knew of the possibility that Quant would drag the former down with him, and had created the pulley system as a precaution to ensure that he alone would be pulled to safety.
Bam is shown to be happy that Team-A passed the test, but upon seeing that some of the Regulars didn't appreciate the outcome, apologizes to them for being excited about the rival team. Bam realizes that he's not on Khun's team anymore, and wonders if he should have been hoping for Team-A to fail. He then thinks back to Rachel being on the same team as him, and figures that for her sake, he probably should.
The rest of the Position teachers are seen watching the end of the Team-A test. Yuga laughs at the sight of Quant losing, and praises Khun's efforts for continuing to be calm in the face of a Ranker. Hax comments that she finds Khun to be her type, but is disappointed that she never got to be with him due to not being chosen a fisherman. Yu Bok-Dol disagrees with the praise, and comments that he would have preferred to see the men of Team-A attempt to fight more. Hax asks if he considers this to be a failing grade for Khun, but Yu Bok-Dol answers that his skills in planning and trickery is more than enough talent to pass. However, he questions where Khun got all those tools in his Manbarondenna bag from.
Yu Hansung answers that he stole it all from Khun Eduan's treasure warehouse in the past before he was chosen into the inner Tower, which Yu Bok-Dol finds surprising that Khun somehow made it out with the stolen items alive. While the other teachers question what else could be in Eduan's treasury, Lero-Ro is also shown to be shocked that he wasn't able to notice the trick Khun managed to pull off. However, Yu Hansung reminds him that the test still isn't over yet, which Lero-Ro answers that there's no way for Quant to get back up to the bridge when the Ranker isn't allowed to use any more shinsu abilities. Yu Hansung remains silent as Lero-Ro starts to get confused, and goes back to paying attention to Team-A's test.
At the bottom of the maze, Quant is seen yelling upward to Khun, and calls the Regular out for being a liar. Quant then holds his head not wanting to believe that he got tricked, and finds his current situation to be a complete embarrassment. He shakes his head knowing that he can't get back up to the bridge without his shinsu moves, but still wishes to not lose the test just yet. However, Quant is surprised to see a Regular walking towards him, which is revealed to be Lauroe. The sleepy Regular informs Quant that he's the wave that can push the Ranker back up to the bridge.
Running along the bridge towards the exit door that she can now see the light shining from it, Anaak smiles in excitement at the thought that Team-A is about to win. However, she's greeted by Quant at the exit doorway, who easily touches her Tag badge. Anaak is left stunned at the sight of the Ranker somehow having been able to climb back up to the bridge as her badge begins to shine to signal that she's been caught. Team-B celebrates in excitement that Team-A has officially lost due to their Tag getting caught as Bam and Lero-Ro are seen confused at the result. Meanwhile, Yu Hansung gives off a smile to show that he expected something like this to happen.
With their Hide-and-Seek test finished, the Regulars of Team-A are seen catching their breath in a waiting room. Shibisu complains about the ending asking his nearby teammates how Quant managed to climb back up to the bridge, and states that it's unfair that they had to fight such a monster Ranker. The Regulars all remain silent, but Khun speaks first that it was his fault for underestimating, and not fully understanding Quant's abilities. That as the leader, his cockiness resulted in their defeat. Khun apologizes to the team for thinking that his plan to catch the Ranker would actually work, which Shibisu tries to reassure him that his plans were perfect, and that there's no shame having them fail against a Ranker. However, Khun continues to call himself a failure stating that they all failed the test because of him.
The other Regulars, such as Rozeal, Kancho and Sunwoo ask Khun to cheer up as well, while Khun gets angry at Lauroe for continuing to sleep. Rozeal points out that they made a good effort forcing Quant into trouble twice, and figures that Team-B won't be able to pull something like that off, which Sunwoo agrees with. Shibisu excitedly agrees as well, and claims that no matter what, Team-B won't be able to pull off an effort as good as what their team accomplished. Khun continues to look upset, but Shibisu reassures him once more that had it not been for a last second interruption from the Ranker, they practically won the test.
Thinking it over, Khun finally offers his thanks to Shibisu for his words of encouragement. However, before Shibisu could say anything in return, signs pop up behind him from Lauroe to pick on Shibisu; asking if Khun should be called his son from now on. Attempting to continuously stomp on Lauroe, a mad Shibisu points out that the former didn't even appear to help them, and calls Lauroe out for not even trying ot talk to them properly. The Regulars of Team-A all laugh at Shibisu's antics as Shibisu states that they will all enjoy watchign Team-B fail the test. However, Khun, despite continuing to look down, gives off a smile to show that he had planned his team's defeat from the beginning to further a different plan of his. Bam, and the other Regulars of Team-B, are shown getting ready to take their turn for the Hide-and-Seek test as Khun thinks to himself that the ladder for Bam to climb has been prepared for him.
The Position teachers begin their evaluation of Team-A's efforts as Hax is left disappointed that they were so close to winning, but finds it amazing that Quant got back up to the bridge without shinsu usage. Yuga admits that if it were anyone else in that situation other than Quant, Team-A would have come out the victor. He also congratulates Khun for his great performance, but dislikes how one of his wave controllers, Lauroe, did nothing in the test.
Yu Bok-Dol also adds that he found his spear-bearers to not be that impressive. In the end, the teachers are in agreement that their evaluations of Team-A are pretty much the same.
Lero-Ro remains silent throughout the evaluation as Yu Hansung asks if there's a problem. He answers that evaluating the Team-A Regulars isn't an easy task, but Yu Hansung questions how that is stating that this test was obvious to grade. Yu Hansung then questions if Lero-Ro saw the game-changing event with his lighthouse, which was Khun helping Quant get back up to the bridge. Lero-Ro answers that he did. Lero-Ro thinks about what he saw through his lighthouse during the Team-A test, and how Khun was now at the bottom of the Hide-and-Seek arena alongside Lauroe and Quant. Khun is seen explaining his plan to Quant as he points back up to the bridge, and how he used Lauroe's shinsu control to carry the Ranker back up.
Lero-Ro admits that he doesn't understand Khun's actions since it was a complete betrayal of his teammates, but Yu Hansung answers that he never betrayed them. Lero-Ro is confused by the answer, but Yu Hansung shows him Khun's friendship paper to show the names of the ten people that signed it. Seeing Bam's name at the first spot, Lero-Ro questions if Khun ensuring Team-A's loss was so he could help Team-B in some way, which Yu Hansung answers that he believes that to be the case so that there would be a higher chance for those on his friendship list to pass the Hide-and-Seek test.
Giving off a smile, Yu Hansung asks if Lero-Ro finds this situation ironic. Lero-Ro is confused by the question, which Yu Hansung explains that Regulars have entered the inner Tower ready to give up their dreams for the sake of desiring something precious. Yu Hansung compares the Regular's journey to one climbing a mountain that in order to get to greater heights, they have to give up on some things. He states that Khun knows of this concept very well, and that he had already decided on what to give up, and what was deserving to take with him to climb the Tower. He then congratulates Khun for being such a brilliant boy through pride, courage, talent, cunningness and arrogance, and claims that he hopes to one day break Khun to pieces.
Seeing him give off a threatening laugh, Lero-Ro thinks to himself that Yu Hansung is a dangerous one. However, Yu Hansung puts on a smile once more, and states that Khun deserves a great 100 point score for his efforts. Yu Hansung announces that they should all get something to eat before the start of Team-B's test as Lero-Ro continues to wonder if the threat on Khun's life was a joke or not.
Eating their meals, Yuga states that he's looking forward to watching Team-B perform, but Hax and Yu Bok-dol aren't as enthused. Yuga asks what's wrong, to which the two teachers admit that they aren't expecting much from those in Team-B. Hearing Yu Bok-dol finding the spear-bearers of Team-B to be weak, Yuga angrily replies that he shouldn't discriminate against the Regulars. Hax then points out how there appears to be a huge strength difference between the two teams, but Yu Hansung denies there to be foul play. Yuga agrees with the statement, but is shocked to see that the other Rankers are stunned seeing Yuga agreeing with Yu Hansung.
Hax explains her reasoning that while the fishermen of Team-B aren't bad due to having Endorsi Jahad, Team-A were given all the good wave controllers. She asks Yuga if there's anyone on that team that could prove her wrong, which Yuga answers that there's one. Yuga continues his explanation that there's a wave controller (Bam) amongst Team-B that is the most talented of the current overall group. One of the teachers questions Yuga if there really is someone that strong, but Yuga answers that that's not the case. He explains that it's like the lottery, and how the boy he's describing looks exceptionally ordinary to the point of seeming like a harmless nobody. He announces to his fellow Ranker that he's now going to win the lottery, which the annoyed Rankers ask for him to wake up from his dream.
At this point, Team-B enters the Hide-and-Seek arena. Levin is shocked to realize how heavy the shinsu feels, and Endorsi admits that it's been awhile since she's felt such pressure before. Hatz is also seen testing out his sword to see if he can swing through the immense shinsu pressure. Taking a seat at the Hide-and-Seek stairwell, Quant is shown to be extremely annoyed at the fact that he was toyed with by the Regulars of Team-A. He states to himself that things will no longer go so smoothly for the cocky Regulars as Team-B's test officially begins.
Some time later, Bam is seen running down one of the arena hallways with Endorsi, Chunhwa and Death Ryan, as they decide to take a break. Endorsi figures that they've run far enough, and wonders if their plan is working so far, which Death Ryan reassures her that it's working perfectly at the moment. He then asks how Endorsi came up with this plan, which Endorsi answers that it just came to her. Bam thinks back to how their test started, and admits that it started off terribly for them.
Bam deduces that unlike Team-A, their team didn't have someone who could function as a leader like Khun, and that people just ended up throwing out different ideas not being able to agree with anyone. The time limit kept ticking away, and people became more nervous to the point of people shouting at one another, and not being able to get anything resolved. However, it was at this point that Endorsi finally took control of the situation calling out the Regulars for being so frustrating to listen to. She announces herself to be the Tag, and orders for the Team-B Regulars to follow her every order. Asking if anyone has any problems with that, the rest of Team-B remains silent, but Death Ryan speaks out calling everyone out as jerks for trying to come up with a plan without the princess. Death Ryan then apologizes to Endorsi for their behavior, which gets on Paracule and Mauchi's nerves.
Death Ryan gets angry at the two for their disrespect, but quickly apologizes by bowing down to Princess Endorsi. With things finally calmed down, Endorsi laid out her plan for the Regulars of Team-B. Bam admits that they only agreed, because they weren't accomplishing anything else during that time.
Returning to the present, Chunhwa points out that Endorsi's idea is dangerous since the Ranker could find them before they get into position. Death Ryan answers that they have nothing to fear since according to Princess Endorsi, Quant won't go for the Tag until he's examined every other Team-B Regular. Chunhwa then states that a rash judgement could lead to failure, which Death Ryan complains to Endorsi that they have a rebel amongst them.
Endorsi jokes that they should hang Chunhwa for questioning her plan, which Death Ryan happily agrees with. Chunhwa however considers the both of them to be really stupid. Bam continues to watch the three of them arguing as he points out to himself that the three he's travelling with are all fishermen, which was Endorsi's plan to have all in the fisherman Position travelling together for the test.
Elsewhere, the spear-bearers, Mauchi and Paracule, are seen walking at the stairwell location of the Hide-and-Seek arena. The two complain about Endorsi's plan to have the fishermen all together, and state how stupid her plan turned out to be. Hatz, who was also chosen to travel with the two, calls them out that her plan turned out better than theirs, which Mauchi and Paracule complain that he's making fun of their spear-bearer revolution. Continuing to make fun of the two, Hatz explains how their plan to have everyone hold down the Ranker while the two of them throw spears at him was never going to be accepted. He reminds the two that Team-A's test attempt to steal the Tag showed them that it's physically impossible to touch Quant, and that the fishermen moving as a group only to separate based on the Ranker's movement was the plan that made much better sense.
Paracule and Mauchi complain how Hatz can believe he could win after describing how strong the Ranker is. Mauchi then points out that the purpose of the Hide-and-Seek test isn't about winning or losing, but actually how well the Regulars perform in the test. Paracule agrees, and states that Hatz should be the bait in their revolution plan. The two spear-bearers point their spears as at Hatz to force him to listen to them as Hatz remains silent.
At another location of the test arena is Serena and Hoh. Serena gives off a sigh in frustration, but Hoh remains confused by it. She gives off louder sighs, and Hoh ends up even more confused about why Serena wants attention. He asks Serena if she's upset, or worried about something, to which Serena answers that she was singing, which annoys Hoh upon realizing that she was joking with him. Serena rolls on the floor laughing that she got a reaction out of Hoh, who is still trying to figure out what's going on. Not rolling anymore, Serena gets serious this time, and asks if Hoh is trying to climb the Tower. Despite Hoh's continued confusion, she then asks if it's really necessary to go up. Hoh questions why she's suddenly bringing this up, which she answers that watching Team-A perform made her think about some things, and that she's now feeling a bit sad about everything. Hoh continues to watch Serena struggle to get a proper explanation out, but she then states that she's just an ordinary girl.
Serena explains her backstory to Hoh that she was once a thief who stole goods in the middle area of the outer Tower. However, one of her robberies ended up being on a merchant boat that had a Ranker on it. Despite not believing that Rankers were truly that powerful according to the rumors, Serena explains that she watched in horror the Ranker kill her partner in crime.
Serena, who had been hiding from the Ranker at the time, had prayed to God to come save her from this pathetic life. She states that at that moment, a real god (Headon) had appeared before her, and she instantly took the Guardian's hand to enter the inner Tower.
With her story finished, Serena announces to Hoh that her desire was to become a Ranker that could get everything, and kill everyone who got in her way. She reveals that during the initial test to kill off 200 Regulars, she didn't hesitate to do so due to her anger, and felt that everyone she killed was allowing for her to regain control of her life. She then states that she got happier with each 2nd Floor test that she was able to pass, and the thought of eventually making it to the 3rd Floor made her excited. However, that all came to an end when she realized that she was cheering for Team-A to pass the Hide-and-Seek test. Thinking back to the Regulars of Team-A, Serena points out how they were all taking the test so earnestly, and have proven themselves to be a bunch of nice people helping one another pass the test. However, she admits to imagining them at one point as stepping stones she would walk on to eventually reach the 3rd Floor. She informs Hoh that it was at this point that she realized that everything about this sucks.
Having heard Serena's story, Hoh answers that everyone had to prepare for this exact moment of realization the moment they entered the inner Tower, and asks for Serena not to worry about it since they all know exactly what Serena is referring to. Serena questions Hoh if he would blame her if she used Hoh as a stepping stone to climb higher up the Tower, but Hoh answers that he wouldn't since he's already prepared for such an action. Hoh then states that that's been the case since the first day that the two of them entered the Tower, and asks that there's no reason to blame one another for it. From that point on, the two of them remain silent.
Back to the Hatz, Paracule and Mauchi group, Hatz is seen having already taken away the two spears owned by the two spear-bearers. Paracule and Mauchi complain that their spear-bearer revolution has already ended as Hatz also complains that he's wasted energy on the two of them. At this point, Hatz senses something in the distance, and prepares his two swords for combat. Paracule and Mauchi end up scared believing that Hatz was now going to kill the two of them, but is ordered by Hatz to run away.
Looking back at Paracule and Mauchi, Hatz reminds the two that they're trying to create a spear-bearer revolution. He states that he will hold the Ranker here, and asks for the two spear-bearers to find a nearby vantage point that they can then let loose their spears on Quant. Paracule rejects the plan stating that Hatz made it clear earlier that it's impossible for them to fight the Ranker, and while Hatz agrees that he did say that, they should try to fight anyway.
Hatz gets in a sword stance on the staircase, and orders once more for Paracule and Mauchi to run. The two take their spears, and begin running up the stairs as Hatz throws his sword up into the air. Sensing furious shinsu waves in the distance from Quant, Hatz finds it odd that the Ranker doesn't seem to be in a good mood despite winning against Team-A. Beginning to sweat, Hatz admits that he's about to take part in a dangerous fight.
The Regulars of Team-B are informed by one of their light-bearers that the Ranker has finally been spotted. Serena and Hoh ask for Quant's location, to which the light-bearer answers that he's run into the Hatz, Paracule and Mauchi group. Serena asks for Hoh to follow her to their location, but sees behind her that Hoh has disappeared. Hoh, who's now running through the darkness, is seen with a look of rage on his face, and preparing himself to go along with the plan mentioned on the memo he received earlier.
Continuing to stand on the stairwell, Hatz remains standing by with his swords ready to fight the Ranker. As Quant continues to get closer, Hatz orders for his floating light to shine in front of him, and finally spots the Ranker running towards him. Quant instantly appears before Hatz, who admits that the Ranker is extremely fast. Hatz manages to defeat the first couple swings from Quant, but ends up taking one of his punches to the right shoulder. Hatz then tries to go for a stabbing attack with the full power of his left arm, but Quant easily dodges out of the way of his sword.
The Ranker backs off as Hatz takes note on the skirmish as to how Quant reacted to his movements. Quant admits that the last strike was a close, and points out that he knew the sword utilizing Hatz was one of the better Regulars during his scout Position class. He wonders to himself if Hatz's two-sword technique is different than the Arie of the Great Family's swordplay, but concludes that the movements displayed by Hatz is of someone that was born a human, but reached a point where he's no longer human. Giving off a smile, and deducing that Hatz is different compared to all other races in the Tower, Quant informs the Regular that he'll be the perfect candidate to vent his anger on.
Back to Bam's side moments before Quant appeared, Endorsi notices that something's been bothering Bam, and asks him what's wrong. Bam denies that there's an issue, but Endorsi mentions that he's looked down this whole time, and hopes that he will concentrate on the test since she chose him as part of her group because she trusts him. Bam admits that he's confused about why she chose him specifically since he's not that strong or helpful compared to everyone else on Team-B. Endorsi answers that while he's not being manly at the moment, she was once like him.
Catching Bam's attention, Endorsi explains about her past. That her family, before she became a Jahad Princess, was one of the Ten Great Families, but was the one that was looked down upon because it only produced one Ranker; the head of the family. So in an attempt to regain power, the head of her family went about adopting many girls that showed talent in the head's area of expertise in the hopes that a Jahad Princess will be chosen in the family one day. She informs Bam that she was the one that eventually ended up getting chosen.
Remembering back to living in her Great Family home, Endorsi states that it was a disgusting place. How they were seated in the dining room based on the results of their daily training. The reward was that if you were seated at the top spot, you would be given extravagant meals while those that sit in dead last would be given stale bread.
She reveals that she was one of such weaklings that had to eat cold bread for moths, and wasn't even allowed to sit at the table. However, she was one day finally able to best an older woman way bigger than her, and the family began to realize that she was more talented than they though.
Due to the victory, Endorsi got to finally eat at the table for a proper meal which, at the time, was the most delicious thing she had ever eaten. She remembers looking to the family members beside her, and thinking about how much better the higher ranked food tasted compared to hers, and that eating the table food had already gotten her to forget about the taste of stale bread. Eventually the days go by with her gaining more and more strength, and eventually, she was allowed to eat anything at the table that she wanted.
With her story over, Endorsi asks Bam how he believes she was able to accomplish such a feat in her house, but Bam answers that she must have asked the other girls of her family to share with her. Endorsi orders for him to give her a serious answer, but Bam states that his answer was serious. In return, Endorsi asks why she should share stuff that she earned through her own hard working blood and sweat. However, Death Ryan, who had been listen to the story, interrupts by answering that it's because Endorsi is the most beautiful woman in the Tower, and must have defeated all the other girls of her family. At this point, the Bam, Endorsi, Chunhwa, Death Ryan group get word over their lighthouse that Quant has finally appeared.
Death Ryan asks about the Ranker's location, which the light-bearer answers that he's appeared at team Hatz's side. Death Ryan turns to congratulate Endorsi for her plan working, and to continue their journey away from the Ranker. However, it is at this point that Endorsi gives off a devious smile, and states that the plan was indeed perfect. Pulling out one of her small red needles, Endorsi throws them out in a giant red circle around the four of them, and destroys the lighthouses have have been providing the group their light in the process.
Bam, Chunhwa, and Death Ryan are left shocked and confused about Endorsi's actions, which Endorsi announces that anyone who steps outside the circle will end up killed by her. The three of them continue to remain stunned as she informs them that she's a moody person, and may end up killing them anyway. Death Ryan tries to step forward to tell her that this is no time to play around, but ends getting punched away to the outer edge of the ring Endorsi created. Endorsi reminds them that her plan was to have all the fishermen in one place, and to continue watching over the Ranker's movements while they moved, but calls them idiots for actually following such a stupid plan.
At this point, Bam realizes what Endorsi's overall goal was as to why she made sure that all the fishermen Regulars were all in one location. Endorsi announces that because they followed such an idiotic plan, neither of her opposing fishermen deserve to climb the Tower any further. Bam also admits that he's learned what it was that allowed for Endorsi to taste all the food at the table of her household; assuming that none of them deserved to taste the food except her.
Death Ryan, now with a bloody nose from Endorsi's last punch, tries to make sense of the situation as Chunhwa questions if her overall goal from the start was to eliminate her fisherman competition. Death Ryan denies the accusation, but Chunhwa states that he knows for sure that Endorsi never had the goal of winning the Hide-and-Seek test on her mind.
Endorsi admits to it that her actual overall goal is to eliminate her fellow fisherman Regulars, and be the last one remaining to be considered the real winner of the Position Test. Endorsi points out that of the six fishermen Regulars remaining overall, only four are allowed to pass, and states that if she defeats Death Ryan and Chunhwa here, there will be exactly four remaining to pass the test automatically. She also informs them that due to failing the white pillar test in her class, it's not guaranteed that she will pass the Position Test even if Team-B manages to somehow win the Hide-and-Seek test. Walking towards the two fishermen, Endorsi states that she has to defeat them in order to go up the Tower, but asks them not to worry as she won't kill them if they stay in her circle.
Finally seeing Endorsi's true persona, Death Ryan calls out to Bam wondering how he could betray the team alongside the Jahad Princess, which Bam tries to correct him that he isn't part of this. Death Ryan charges at Bam claiming that he will kill Bam for lying to him, but is punched away once more to the edge of the circle by Endorsi. Death Ryan complains about the cheap shot once more, but Endorsi points out that his hand is a tad over the line. He tries to desperately deny that he crossed it as Endorsi asks for Bam to watch her work. Ready to fight, Endorsi states that this is how people make their way up the Tower, and the actions he will have to take in order to follow after the girl he desires to be with. Bam remains confused by Endorsi's words, who informs Bam that if he's willing to do anything, even to the point of stepping over others, to follow after her, then he's someone who can complete that goal.
Back to Hatz's side, he continues to take on Quant one-on-one, and is seen keeping up with him for the time being. Deflecting another punch, Hatz deduces that he will eventually miss one due to Quant's speed, and the only advantage he has at the moment over the Ranker is the reach of his sword. However, figuring that the Ranker isn't anywhere near using his full strength against him, Hatz concludes that Quant could beat him at any time. Trusting that Paracule and Mauchi will be in position to provide back-up, Hatz charges in aiming to finish him.
Hatz and Quant continue to battle sword against punch as the former begins to lead the Ranker down the stairwell. Quant deduces that Hatus is leading him away from his lighthouse to take advantage of the darkness, and admits that the swordsman Regular has guts. Hatz appears out of the darkness to strike at Quant, but the Ranker dodges once more, and grabs hold of Hatz to then smash him into the arena wall of the staircase. However, Hatz manages to grab Quant's arm that's been holding onto the Regular's face, who then informs Quant that he's been trained to hold the sword since the day he was born. Claiming that he will never let go no matter what, Hatz yells for Paracule and Mauchi to throw the spears. However, unknown to Hatz, the two are not in the area anymore.
Still running up the stairwell are Paracule and Mauchi. The latter informs the former that if they go any higher up the stairs, they won't be able to provide support against the Ranker. However, Paracule informs Mauchi that its stupid of him to believe that Hatz could actually hold out against Quant on his own, and that their priority should be to run away while Hatz serves as a distraction. Mauchi admits that his partner's thinking is smart, which Paracule thanks him for. The two continue to run up the stairwell as Mauchi admits that their spear-bearer revolution is still alive.
Confused as to why there hasn't been any spears thrown in Quant's direction, Hatz is shocked to consider the possibility that Paracule and Mauchi had abandoned him. Quant questions if what Hatz said earlier about the spear throws was a joke as he continues to lock the Regular against the wall. Seeing that Hatz has lost the will to fight, Quant lets go of Hatz, and points out that there seems to be several betrayals within Team-B going on, and reminds the bunch that they need to work together if they want to win the Hide-and-Seek test. The Ranker then begins to walk up the stairwell, and states that his mood has actually been getting worse now. Hatz remains sitting in place wondering what Quant is referring to by there being more than just one betrayal.
Having run way as fast as they could, Paracule and Mauchi take a moment to catch their breath. Mauchi asks what they should do next now that Hatz knows by now that the two of them ditched him, which Paracule whispers their next plan to him. Mauchi admits it to be a genius plan as the two go about continuing their spear-bearer revolution.
Back to Bam's side, Chunhwa and Death Ryan stand ready to take on Endorsi two-on-one. Endorsi begins to walk towards them, which begins to frighten the two fishermen knowing that they're up against the strength of a Jahad Princess. Death Ryan tries to confuse her moving all around randomly with a merry-go-round technique, which Chunhwa calls him out for that he's making a fool of himself. Chunhwa then asks if Death Ryan can keep her attention on him, which Chunhwa explains that if he can get just one shot off from his sword, he can finish this fight.
Despite agreeing at first, Death Ryan catches Chunhwa off-guard, and pushes him toward Endorsi; claiming that his agreement with him was a lie. Death Ryan uses this chance to escape, but takes a quick shot to the back of the head from Endorsi, and is forced to the ground again. Unable to react, Chunhwa is shocked to find that she's surprisingly fast despite fighting in an area of heavy shinsu concentration. Death Ryan, who's now bleeding out even worse from his nose, claims that he's had enough, and that he will now kill the Jahad Princess witch.
Endorsi is angered by the nickname, but before she could pummel Death Ryan once more, Bam steps between the two, and asks for Endorsi to stop this. He then asks why she has to fight her teammates, which Endorsi questions how he can consider a random group of people suddenly thrown together having any sort of connection. Bam counters by stating that everyone is needed to achieve their goals, which Endorsi states that her only goal is to climb the Tower.
Before Bam could state another counter, Endorsi gets tired of the argument, and finds Bam to be too naive to climb up the Tower. She asks Bam if his current way of thinking will allow for him to protect the girl he desires to be with, but before she could go even further, Death Ryan picks up his spear, and threatens to kill Bam. However, Endorsi quickly lands a punch to Death Ryan's chest and she finishes her statement that Bam shouldn't be hesitating to hurt others in order to get what he desires.
However, having seen the type of person that Bam is, Endorsi states that Bam is someone that can't hurt others, and unlike her, is someone that shouldn't. She asks for Bam to give up on climbing the Tower, and to find his own happiness without Rachel, but before Bam could answer her, Chunhwa has finished igniting his sword, Narumada, with shinsu. Seeing shinsu overflowing the Narumada, Endorsi and Bam watch as Chunhwa swings the full power of his sword in their direction.
At Rachel's location, she's seen having a meeting with the two other light-bearers of their group, Levin and Full Black. Levin is heard complaining about their current situation if Team-B is actually trying to play the Hide-and-Seek test; confused as to why Paracule and Mauchi ditched Hatz when the latter was able to grab hold of the Ranker, as well as losing contact with Endorsi's group after they broke their lighthouse. Levin continues to yell in frustration until the three of them feel an earthquake. Full Black informs them that it came from the location of Endorsi's group, and states that he will be the one to head over to see what's going on. Levin orders him to hurry, and to make sure that they receive a new lighthouse. At this point, Rachel hears a voice outside her lighthouse. Asking who it is, Hoh greets himself to her. Asking her to be quiet about this, Hoh informs Rachel that there's someone on Team-B that's targeting Bam.
Rachel remains confused, and Hoh asks for her to step outside her lighthouse so that they can continue talking. With sweat all over his face trying to catch his breath from running over to her location, Hoh asks once more for Rachel to come out. Exiting the lighthouse, Rachel questions Hoh what he means by someone targeting Bam, but Hoh tells her to turn off her lighthouse first so that no one else can hear them. Rachel complies to Hoh's wish by turning off her lighthouse, which Hoh, who's hiding a knife behind his back, then asks her to come closer to him so that he can reveal who's endangering Bam to her. Rachel walks up close to Hoh, who places the knife at her neck, and informs Rachel that he's the one threatening Bam.
Returning to Bam's location, he and Endorsi are shown to have withstood Chunhwa's shinsu strike from his Narumada sword. Endorsi is left confused as to how someone had gotten hold of an ignition weapon as she looks over to Bam to see if he's ok as well. Blood falls from his face, and he ends up dropping to his knees. Endorsi asks why he took the Narumada's shinsu attack for her, which he answers that he doesn't understand anything.
Endorsi remains confused by the answer, which Bam explains that he doesn't get why they have to fight even though they don't hate each other, and admits to not being a hard enough person that would step over others to continue climbing the Tower. Bam then points out that the people around him throughout the Floor of Tests is the first group of people he would consider to be his precious friends, and questions if whatever is at the top of the Tower is worth stepping over his friends for.
Endorsi remains silent towards Bam's speech as he asks if the stars above the top of the Tower are truly that beautiful. He questions why people would say that if they've never actually seen the stars to begin with, and wonders why people would give up what they currently have just to see if the rumors about the stars are true. Beginning to walk out of the circle, Bam admits once more that he doesn't get any of it, and states to Endorsi that he doesn't want to hurt his friends over something like this. Bam leaves off stating that if he has to fight, he will do it to protect his precious friends.
Endorsi and Chunhwa watch as Bam reaches the edge of the circle, which annoys the Jahad Princess that she doesn't get why he's doing all this for the short girl with the freckles. Endorsi reminds him that he will need to hurt others in order to protect those he cares about, and that things will actually be easier for him if he just leaves Rachel so that he can live a peaceful life without ever having to climb the Tower. She then drops the hammer statement by informing him that Rachel doesn't actually want to climb the Tower with Bam. However, Bam answers that he knows this, but that his heart moves where his heart wills, which is towards Rachel.
At this point, Endorsi watches in stunned silence as Bam completely leaves her circle. Chunhwa and Death Ryan state in agreement that Bam dumped her, which enrages Endorsi. Death Ryan begins his embarassing merry-go-round technique again, but is asked to stop right away. Chunhwa finds it surprising that Bam was able to take a shinsu attack from his Narumada, and asks if they should check on him. However, Endorsi reminds him that she's a Jahad Princess, and that Bam chose to leave on his own. Thinking back to Bam's speech, Endorsi looks to Chunhwa and Death Ryan, and states that as the bad guys, the three of them will fight it out.
Back to Rachel's location, she remains scared as Hoh is seen covering up her mouth, and holding a knife up to her neck. Hoh asks her to stay still, and states that before he kills her, he would like to know more about Bam seeing that she knows his past. He questions how a monster, such as Bam, was able to learn shinsu so quickly, and orders for Rachel to tell him if he was born a blessed person. Looking deep into Rachel's eyes, Hoh orders her once more to tell her.
Hoh questions what God took from Bam in exchange for the great talent that Bam has to learn shinsu. He reveals to Rachel that what God gave him in return for losing everything was a few parlor tricks, and questions why Bam didn't seem to go through the same misery as him. Hoh continues to question Rachel, and asks how Bam's situation can be considered fair. Putting the knife closer to her neck, Hoh states that this is the right thing to do, and that he will complete what God should have done to give Bam the misery he deserves.
Walking through one of the Hide-and-Seek arena tunnels, Bam eventually comes across one of the lighthouses that the Team-B light-bearers sent out. Levin and Full Black are surprised to have found Bam, and question what happened with the rest of the fishermen. They also inform him that Hatz was beaten by the Ranker, Paracule and Mauchi have run away, and that Michelle had turned her lighthouse off. Knowing that Michelle is Rachel, Bam deduces that something happened to her. Bam begins to walk towards Rachel's location, which the light-bearers inform him that she's still in the starting safety zone of the arena. Running to the location, Bam realizes that he's too far away to save Rachel in time.
As Hoh is about to cut Rachel, Bam begs to himself that Rachel will be safe through this. However, a voice is heard at Rachel and Hoh's location who asks the latter if a Regular like him can truly accomplish what God should have done. A sweating Hoh is confused by the voice, who's revealed to be Quant. The Ranker informs Hoh that he should know better, and that the God of this Hide-and-Seek test is him. In their waiting room, the Regulars from Team-A watch in silence at the sight that they've lost connection to watching Team-B's match.
Seeing the Ranker standing before him, Hoh questions why Quant is here, which he then deduces that he must have followed one of Rachel's lighthouses to lure him to their location. He admits Rachel to be a sneaky one, but questions why the Ranker bothered to follow the lighthouse to the safety zone. Quant questions Hoh's actions as to why he's pointing a knife against a teammate who's not even in the same class Position as him. Hoh struggles to come up with an answer, but realizes that something's off about this situation; that Quant already knew he was going to attempt to threaten Rachel from the start. Preparing himself to fight, Quant asks Hoh how he could pull something like this in a test he's administering, and wonders if Hoh thinks that he's stupid.
Stating that the Regular before him is now doomed, Hoh begins to question if the memo was a trap set for him to see if he would actually follow through with this plan, and begins to freak out wondering why he was picked, and by who. Becoming increasingly frustrated, Hoh begins to run away, but Quant quickly appears before him ready to strike. However, a spear is thrown in Quants direction, and is forced to back off. Re-establishing himself, Quant notices that Hoh has backed off with Rachel into the circle that's been established as the safety area for the Hide-and-Seek arena, and knows that he now can't do anything.
Quant calls out to the one who threw the spear at him, which is revealed to be an annoyed Paracule and Mauchi. The latter is disappointed that they missed, but Paracule informs him that they still have a few captives they can use as bait, which are revealed to be three Team-B Regulars: Serena, Levin and Mr. Shopin. Paracule goes over his plan that they took Serena and Mr. Shopin captive when they arrived to help Hatz, and that they forced Levin into siding with them in order to gain the abilities of a light-bearer.
They were then going to invade Rachel's lighthouse next, but found it lucky that it was being distracted by the Ranker. Quant calls out to them once more realizing that the traitor spear-bearers have appeared before him. Mauchi questions what Paracule's going to do next now that Quant knows they're here, which Paracule announces that he has a plan to eventually get the Ranker by recycling a certain garbage.
Quant continues to yell out to all the traitors that they will be dead soon as Paracule uses this chance to contact Hoh through Levin. Hoh is confused about who's talking to him, which Paracule announces that his side can end the Hide-and-Seek test against the Ranker if Hoh manages to hold Quant in place awhile longer. Paracule continues his attempt to convince Hoh to work with him by stating that because they're all traitors, it's more than enough reason for the two of them to revolt together. He then informs Hoh that since the Tag isn't part of their group, their only chance is to grab the Seeker Tag off Quant to win the test. Paracule asks for Hoh to try to grab the Ranker, and then his side will do the rest, but Paracule also informs him that he doesn't care about what happens to the girl Hoh's been holding.
Sweating even more about the situation, Hoh threatens Quant that if he chooses to go after Paracule's group, he will kill Rachel. Quant is annoyed at the situation that he can't enter the safety zone to save Rachel either. Coming to a breaking point, Quant informs Hoh that he doesn't care if Rachel dies since he's not the rookie here, and that Hoh should go through with it since he claims to have prepared himself to do it. However, Quant threatens all the Regulars in the area that if anyone dies under his watch, the remaining Regulars will die by his hand. At this point, Bam finally reaches the safety zone, and is confused about what Hoh's been doing.
Everyone watches the confrontation between Bam and Hoh as the former asks why the latter has hold of Rachel. Hoh tries to deny there being a reason for it, but Bam asks once more. Unable to hold it in any longer, Hoh reaches a breaking point, and orders for Bam to take hold of the Ranker, or else he will cut Rachel's throat. Quant looks on in disgust as Bam is shocked to hear the traitorous words coming out of Hoh's mouth. Bam tries to walk towards them, but Hoh orders for the monster to back off, or else he will kill her.
Bam is forced to stop as he hears Hoh claim that this is all his fault. He states to Bam that he knows people like him that are born with natural talent; that he can tell that Bam will eventually become arrogant like the rest of them, and turn out to be a complete moster. Stabbing Rachel, he orders for Bam to grab the Ranker once more, or else the next attack will finish her. Bam sees Rachel crying in pain as Hoh asks if he wants her to die as he finally turns to face the Ranker. Quant looks in Bam's direction, and questions if the Regular really wants to do this knowing that nothing about this situation will benefit the boy.
Bam prepares himself to fight, but Quant quickly zooms up to him, and uses a skill that completely immobilizing Bam. Quant then whispers to Bam that he had transferred some freezing shinsu into the boy's body, and asks for Bam to feel the shinsu to create a Bang with said ability.
Informing Bam that he can't enter the safety zone due to the rules, the Ranker orders Bam to use the Bang to strike at Hoh, who's standing inside it. He informs Bam that the Bang will freeze Hoh so that Bam can then save Rachel from death while he goes and takes care of the spear-bearer group. Quant asks if Bam can do this, to which Bam nods that he can.
Freeing Bam from his immobilization, Quant orders him to run; Bam goes for Hoh, and Quant the spear-bearers. Hoh is stunned to see Bam charging towards him, who starts to cut Rachel's neck. Quant begins to take out the spear-bearer group, but calls Bam a fool for believing that he could learn an ability that took him many years to learn. Quant admits that his plan was for Bam to act as a distraction so that he could deal with the spear-bearers. Turning to look at Bam's situation, he figures that if Bam is lucky enough, he could save Rachel in time.
However he is left in complete shock to see that he successfully created the freezing Bang, and was able to hit Hoh with it. Pulling Rachel away from Hoh, Quant remains stunned at the sight, and wonders if Bam actually is a monster. Hoh meanwhile, falls to a sitting position not being able to believe what he just witnessed.
Back to the fight amongst the fishermen, Death Ryan charges at Endorsi with his spear ready. However, Endorsi dodges, and attempts to swipe at Death Ryan's chest, who's forced to back off. Death Ryan orders for Chunhwa to use this chance to attack as he sends another shinsu strike in her direction with is Narumada sword. Endorsi manages to evade the attack, and lands a kick across Chunhwa's face, who goes flying into a wall outside Endorsi's death circle. Seeing Chunhwa's attempt fail, Death Ryan drops his spear, and attempts to run away like usual, but Endorsi gets over to him easily, and lands a blow against his chest this time around.
Death Ryan falls in defeat as Endorsi looks over to Chunhwa sitting against the wall. The Narumada user admits that a Jahad Princess is stronger than he ever imagined, but states that he's disgusted by Endorsi's actions as someone who, despite having so much power, would choose to evade the Ranker, and betray her teammates. However, Endorsi points out that she was never afraid of facing the Ranker, and could nab him at any time if she manages to manipulate a certain Bang against Quant.
Chunhwa calls Endorsi an evil person that doesn't deserve to have the power of a Jahad Princess, which Endorsi agrees with, and informs him that that's exactly what her family said before she was chosen into the Tower. She then smashes Chunhwa once more into making him go unconscious. Having defeated Chunhwa and Death Ryan, Endorsi picks up the Narumada sword, and states that she'll be borrowing it. She then walks away with her next destination being to fight the Ranker.
Back to Bam's location, Hoh sits back and watches the former calling down to the unconscious Rachel, who he's now holding in his arms. Rachel eventually wakes up, and asks why Bam continues to chase after her despite asking him not to. She puts her hand on Bam's face, but ends up falling unconscious once more. Bam begs for her to wake up, but she remains asleep this time around. He then turns in Hoh's direction, and orders him to answer why he did this to Rachel.
Hoh answers that it's all Bam's fault that he chose to go after Rachel. He informs Bam that it was to make sure that he would stop climbing the Tower knowing that Bam would give up if Rachel wasn't there to motivate him to continue going up. Bam asks where he heard that from, to which Hoh answers that he doesn't know, but giggles at the fact that someone would sell Bam out like this.
He then congratulates Bam for showing off his incredible talent once more to save Rachel, but states that he's reached a point where he can't go on anymore now that he's betrayed Team-B, and failed to carry out his plan against Bam. Looking up in defeat, Hoh admits that everything is over for him. Placing Rachel oh the ground, Bam gets up, and asks Hoh to tell him why he had to betray his friends for the sake of going up the Tower.
However, Hoh gives off an uncontrollable laugh at the idea that Bam thought they were friends simply because he signed that friendship slip earlier. Bam admits that he did, which causes Hoh to continue laughing even more. Calming his laugh down, Hoh informs Bam that they were never friends, and that there's no meaning of friendship in the Tower due to everyone seeing each other as the enemy.
He explains that people will beat each other no matter what, and reveals that the ones he actually did care about had all died before he was chosen into the Tower. Hoh states that he's questioned since the day it happened why God gave the monster who killed his friends such incredible power instead of giving it to him so that he could defend his friends from the monster. He tells Bam that he wishes he had the same power displayed by Bam and Lauroe, and if he had it, none of his friends would have died. Pointing the knife towards himself, Hoh answers Bam's original question that he didn't hurt Rachel for the sake of competition, or even as a means of going up the Tower. He did it only because he came to hate Bam for what he was.
Bam calls out to Hoh not to do it, but is forced to watch Hoh stab himself. His teammate, Serena, is seen to be shocked by this turn of events as Quant just continues to stand by to watch it all unfold. Bam, and Serena who is trying to speak to him through her mouth gag, run over to Hoh's location as Bam asks why he stabbed himself. He begs for Hoh not to die, and questions why everyone, who he now sees as his friends, are leaving him. Bam breaks down into tears continuously asking why this is all happening as Hoh looks up at him in pity.
Quant, who had been watching everything from afar, finds it ridiculous that this new group of Regulars would desire to climb the Tower at the cost of their loved ones. He also finds it ironic that God choose to give incredible talent to a boy who would weep about the loss of a friend rather than a rival, but points out how the talent displayed by Bam makes him a baby tiger amongst house cats, and will one day not be able to travel with these people he considers to be his friends for much longer. At this point, Endorsi finally reaches the Hide-and-Seek safety zone location, and points out that she knew things were going to turn out this way. Getting Quant's attention, everyone watches Endorsi, who's wielding Chunhwa's Narumada sword, walk up to them, and state that she never believed there would be a happy ending to this. Quant remains silent, and admits to himself that he completely forgot that there was another tiger amongst Team-B.
Endorsi walks over to Bam's location, and takes off Serena's mouth gag, who had been trying to complain to the Jahad Princess. Serena orders Endorsi to answer where she's been this whole time, and the location of the other two fishermen, which Endorsi answers that she hate the two of them. Serena is left stunned by the answer, which Endorsi explains that she it to be the only other fisherman left to pass the Hide-and-Seek test. However, she corrects herself that she didn't actually eat them, but just beat them up badly enough so that they couldn't take the next 2nd Floor test. Serena questions if eliminating the other fishermen was Endorsi's plan all along, which Endorsi answers to be correct, and that her betrayal was set from the beginning. Serena continues to angrily yell at Endorsi, who swings the Narumada to cut Serena's clothes. However, Serena retaliates by giving Endorsi a slap in the face.
Serena questions why she came back after everything that's happened, which Endorsi answers that they still need to complete the test, or else the people on the ground (referring to Rachel and Ho) will die. Serena then orders for the traitor Jahad Princess not to act like the cocky problem solver here, but Endorsi answers that she's never cocky.
Serena attempts to slap Endorsi once more, but she blocks it with the Narumada sword this time, and asks for Serena to stop vandalizing a cultural asset of the Tower. Asking for Serena to think this situation over wisely, Endorsi walks by her, and Serena finally stops trying to fight her.
Walking up to Bam, Endorsi brings up the moment when Bam told her about how he doesn't understand why Rachel is trying so hard to see the stars at the top of the Tower. Endorsi admits that she doesn't understand it either, but asks for Bam to tell her why he's so desperate to continue following after Rachel. Endorsi also admits that there's someone that she also wishes to climb the Tower with. She explains that this person isn't exactly that close to her, and that they don't get along well, but that she's someone that deserves a chance to live a good life. The image switches over to Anaak, who's getting her hair done by Rozeal, and Shibisu showing the green lizard a mirror; claiming that her daugher looks so pretty. Endorsi explains that in order to climb with Anaak, she had to defeat all the other fishermen who could get in her way. She thinks back to all the members she defeated in her Great Family, and admits that this is the only way she knows how to do it. Endorsi informs Bam that she's not expecting him to understand her, or try to convince him that she's not evil, but that she's telling him this simply because her heart told her to.
Walking towards Quant, she tells Bam that it's all the same, they just desire different things in the end. She asks for Bam to follow his heart as well. Providing Bam with two choices, Endorsi explains that he could either help her defeat the Ranker here so that he and Rachel can continue climbing the Tower together and face many more hardships similar to what he just experienced here, or Bam can use this chance to leave the Tower with Rachel, and completely destroy her dream to see the top of the Tower. She states that whatever Bam decides, it's his choice. Looking in Rachel's direction, Bam thinks back to the memory of when she told him of the starry sky at the top of the Tower. He also remembers how Rachel stated that one day, she will definitely get there.
Quant and Endorsi stand opposite one another as the Ranker states that it's an honor to be fighting a Jahad Princess for the first time. Endorsi thanks Quant for the compliment, but states that he won't be looking at her with those eyes for much longer. The Ranker then asks about the Tag on Endorsi, which the Jahad Princess reveals to him to be on the right side of her shirt. She asks about the Seeker Tag in return, which Quant reveals to be at the top of the right side of his pants.
Endorsi attempts to touch it with one of her red needles before he could finish speaking, but he dodges out of the way. Endorsi then quickly appears behind Quant, and attempts to strike him down with a shinsu strike from the Narumada sword, but dodges out of the large shinsu attack as well. Seeing the match unfold, Bam thinks about his memories with Rachel, and how she always seemed to be looking up at the stars despite being shrouded in the darkness of the caves outside the Tower. Bam admits that every time he looked in Rachel's direction, she always looked so bright and happy as if she could see the stars from wherever she was. Looking down at Hoh's corpse, Bam realizes that people lose the reason to live if the things they cherish are lost to them.
The fight between Quant and Endorsi continues as the Jahad Princess is seen swinging around the Narumada ignition sword. Quant admits that the weapon she brought for their fight is a rough toy to fight against as he takes a brief moment to fix up his hair. Endorsi is suprised to find the Ranker completely fine having a body that can take the full power of an ignition weapon, and remembers back to the fact that he is, afterall, a Ranker that had climbed up to the highest known Floor of the Tower.
Quant states that he doesn't have to be this easy on her, which Endorsi jokes that his life could be in danger if he continues to be easy on her. Quant counters that she should be worrying about her own life as well as they continue the fight from where they left off.
Getting up, Bam tells Hoh's corpse that it won't be much longer. He then turns in the direction of Quant and Endorsi, and prepares himself to fight as well. Endorsi continues to swing the Narumada to try to hit Quant, and eventually launches a large shinsu blast against the Ranker. Bam stands by watching the duel unfold as he gathers shinsu to perform his first attack in the battle. Holding out his hands, Bam makes a command for Quant to stop moving, and is able to immobilize the Ranker. He's then hit back by the next shinsu attack from the Narumada, as Endorsi turns around to find out what Bam did. Shaking off the Narumada attack, Quant walks towards the two, and is shocked to find Bam able to learn his immobilization skill so quickly, and this time, being able to do it at such a far distance. He questions once more if Bam truly is a monster, and knows that he's now in a dangerous position knowing that Endorsi can touch his Seeker Tag if she goes for it will Bam has him frozen.
Knowing that he's used up his limited shinsu for the Hide-and-Seek test, Quant chooses to rely on a plan that would get up risking him hurt someone, and states to Endorsi and Bam that he will be using his full power from now on. Pointing the Narumada towards the Ranker, Endorsi questions if he's gathered the will to make his words true, which Quant answers that thanks to shinsu, his body hasn't aged for hundreds of years, and had actually become tougher than steel. Charging at Endorsi, he claims that nothing's impossible for him.
Meanwhile, Serena takes a seat next to Hoh's corpse, and decides to watch the rest of the fight play out; admitting that they're all complete monster fighters. Endorsi and Quant continue to exchange blows, but eventually reaches a point where the Ranker manages to grab hold of her left arm. Serena then asks Hoh's body if life sucks at the moment; explaining that the world didn't care if she was losing, and yet when she tries to gain something, things start to get in the way. She asks Hoh if he agrees with him that it's all completely unfair, but obviously doesn't get an answer.
Despite grabbing hold of Endorsi, he feels Bam immobilizing him once more as Endorsi uses this chance to kick Quant away from her. Looking in Bam's direction, the Ranker begins to get annoyed, and confused, as to how Bam's been getting more and more accurate to hit him with the freezing Bang. Holding the Narumada, Endorsi claims to have finally gotten the hand of swinging it around, and states that it's finally time for Quant to hand over the Seeker Tag. The Ranker charges as well, yelling for the Jahad Princess to not consider him a toy. Serena continues to speak to Hoh's corpse about how she can't remember the last time she's had to fight this desperately. How she's always made excuses that the world is unfair, and that she's regretted never risking her life to accomplish anything.
Endorsi and Quant charge at each other once more, but Quant tries to speed up at the last second. She orders for Bam to stop him, and manages to do so. Endorsi then uses this chance to reveal a hidden red needle. Swinging the Narumada, the Ranker is forced to choose to dodge it over the needle as Quant realizes that he was forced into a corner.
Endorsi screams in excitement that her needle was able to touch the Ranker's Seeker Tag, but Quant ends up shocking Endorsi as well by upping to a faster speed, and manages to pull the Tag off Endorsi's clothes. Returning over to Serena, she questions what would have happened if she tried to fight the Ranker she was scared of despite knowing the risks. She admits that it would have been a life full of loss, but states that her heart wouldn't have become an empty shell as it is now.
Now standing behind Endorsi with his Seeker Tag pulled off by Endorsi's needle, Quant holds up the piece of cloth with the Tag that he pulled off her, and apologizes to the Jahad Princess that he was faster. The Ranker admits that it was a good plan, but only fell apart because no matter what, she couldn't keep up with his speed. He spots red under Endorsi's skirt, and finds it hot that she's wearing red underwear. However, he takes a closer look at the piece of cloth he pulled off her, and realizes that what he had hold of was a batch of red needles instead. Endorsi pulls up her skirt to show the true location of the Tag, which stuns Quant.
Serena continues her speech that no matter what, they need to keep living, and doing so will perhaps give them another reason to want to continue living even further. Kinda like the Regulars that are currently fighting against the Ranker. She watches Quant scream out in defeat as the buzzer for the Hide-and-Seek test goes off with Team-B being the victors due to successfully touching the Seeker Tag. Bam gives off a smile knowing that it's finally over as Serena puts a hand over Hoh's face to close his dead eyelids. She asks Hoh why he had to leave them so early when his entire life was still ahead of him.
With the test over, the Regulars of Team-A watch in stunned silence at the results of the test for Team-B. Bam, and the other remaining Regulars of his team, remain on standby as they watch Hoh's corpse get taken away, and Rachel getting taken to the Floor of Test infirmary to heal her injuries. Khun, who had been asleep this whole time, wakes up to hear the results of the Hide-and-Seek test; that Team-A failed, and that Team-B passed. An announcement is then made ordering for all Regulars to gather together so that they can be one full group again.
Elsewhere, Princess Yuri is seen with the Rankers of Wolhaiksong slowly making their way to the 2nd Floor; taking a short break after an intense battle against a creature of the Tower. Sitting on top of the dead creature, Yuri is left confused as to why it's taking so long for them to reach Evankhell's Floor. Yuri points out to Evan that she understands the purpose of going the long way to avoid having to fight Evankhell, but asks if they can make it before Bam's tests finish.
Thinking it over, Evan answers that they're very close now to reaching their destination. However, Yuri throws an object at Evan's head in anger telling him that he's said the exact same thing every time she's asked about it. Evan is shown to be bleeding out after receiving the hit.
Hide-and-Seek Tropes
- Backstory:
- Hoh's Dark and Troubled Past is shown here regarding his friends that had been slaughtered by a monster outside the Tower.
- Serena's Dark and Troubled Past is also touched upon here where she was a thief who had to watch her partner die when they one day came across a Ranker, and that her prayer to be saved had been answered by Headon, who brought her into the inner Tower.
- Endorsi's Dark and Troubled Past is also touched upon here being from a Great Family that was looked down upon, and was one of many daughters adopted into the family in the hopes that a Jahad Princess will one day be chosen amongst them. However, Endorsi was considered to be one of the weakest amongst the daughters, and had to eat poor quality food for months until she finally started displaying her talent to rise up in the ranks of her house.
- Character Death: Hoh commits suicide.
- Character Development:
- Bam begins to start standing up against his enemies fighting on his own strength.
- Hoh takes a turn for the worse due to suffering from Can't Catch Up.
- Serena looks back on her life, and begins to regret things that she did and didn't do.
- A Day in the Limelight: The arc serves as this for several characters.
- Standouts include Hoh, Serena and Endorsi, who all reveal their backstories, and get a lot of screen-time and fighting.
- Hatz and Chunhwa also get their moments of battling.
- Same with the Paracule and Mauchi group.
- Exposition:
- How wave controller shinsu Bangs work for combat is explained here.
- Float rock, which is a special material in the Tower, is also explained here, which is what allows certain objects, such as pockets, inventories and lighthouses, to float in the air.
- Foreshadowing: For just a brief moment, Khun is seen tweaking the outside of a lighthouse before Anaak and Quant arrive at the bridge, which is to show that he was connecting the invisible pulley to it.
- Goal in Life: Serena's desire to climb the Tower was to become a Ranker that could have everything. However, she begins to regret it when Serena realizes that she will have to hurt others, even those that have been nice to her, in order to climb further up the Tower.
- Took a Level in Badass: Bam finally begins to show off the results of his shinsu training here; being able to make Bangs based on the immobilization skill that the Ranker provided him that are able to freeze Quant for brief moments during the final Team-B fight.
- Wham Episode: One of the supporting Regulars amongst Bam's group kills himself, and Bam begins to show signs of his monster talent, such as learning Quant's immobilization skill that took him decades to learn.
