Far off into the maze, two teams were at each other's throats. The crown bearer sat lazily on the floor, his back to the wall as he watched. His partner was engulfed in flames, and the other stood in a readied battle stance.
"Why don't we talk about this? Are you really going to just do whatever the rules say?" The crown bearer spoke. His black hair was rather short, a shave away from being a buzzcut. Though under his slightly large forehead were sharp blue eyes that shone against tanned skin.
His clothes resembled that of a merchant: puffy pants and robes that only a traveler would carry.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" A girl spoke up from the other team, her red hair tied up in a bun. She looked past the two other members guarding him. The tanned-skinned girl and a pyromancer whose appearance is completely covered in flames.
"Think about it for a second. At the beginning of this hellhole, what happened? We were all fed different information on the rules, some more than others, without any warning, leading some of us to die of ignorance."
The three looked to each other; they know that he had a point; he can see it in their gazes. An oni spoke, his voice bellowing deep in his chest, putting his fan to the earth. "And what's your point?"
"Who's to say that they haven't done that again? Are you really going to blindly follow what you know?"
"The rules were as simple as they appear! Grab a crown and get to the exit; nothing more than that!" The girl from the opposing team argued. Her white hair flowering around a crystal horn that poked from her forehead.
"Wrong!" The man snapped, his voice booming across the maze. The opposing team jumped at his sudden outburst.
"There's so much more they didn't specify! Does having the crown for a second count as acquiring it? They never said you have to cross with one in hand! Not only that, can you collect more than one? Why would you award points to something if you couldn't stack it? If just beating this game means access to the tower. Points are meaningless, are they not?! Alliances aren't out of the question either!"
"Besides, my partner here already claimed to find some sort of a safe room, something he hasn't even hinted to."
"Do you really expect us to believe that?" The oni argued.
"Not at all; I'm well aware that asking you to risk your lives on a stupid oversight is a rather careless and stupid thought, and the baseless words of a new room is nothing to take lightly."
The merchant stood, his sandals completely devoured by his puffy pants as he stepped past the safety of his peers.
"However, I'm a merchant first and foremost. Team up with me, and I'll tell you where the easiest crown to grab is!"
"Seven teams, four crowns—we'll take three, and you can have the one you need to pass."
I can assure you, you won't win this without losing an arm or an ally or two. " He stretched his hand towards the oni, showing his sigil. "I know your abilities now, so I can say that for a fact."
"We are KING's patrons after all. Information is what we thrive on in a game such as this."
The oni took a while to consider, his extra arms crossed over his chest as he thought.
"Are you sure about this—your interpretation of the rules…" The oni questioned, his hand hesitantly hovering over the merchant's before taking it in his grasp.
"Gods don't make mistakes or leave loose ends, friend."
"And neither do I."
***
"It's literally impossible to be powerless in a game like this; even if you were powerless in your old life, you're granted one in the game! That's literally the only balance factor this game has." Haru argued.
It was quite clear that they don't buy the story of him being powerless, not for a second. Altheia looked at him, her eyes narrowing for a second before pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Well?" Haru questions, awaiting her response.
"He might very well be—" She muttered regretfully, turning to Haru. "It could very well be a fact that he's stupid and doesn't know what his power is—but considering that's something we all wake up with, it's unlikely."
Ouch—
"So do we give the crown to him?"
"We might just have to."
I can't take that crown! I know it sounds stupid thinking about it—I can't protect anyone, though if I'm caught, I'm done for! It's as clear as day i'll be hunted down for the crown, by that girl—
The image of that girl's deadly stare sent a shiver down his spine; he didn't want to face her anytime soon. Though with a maze as big as this, he's praying he doesn't have to.
"Alright then! Then it's decided—"
"Hold on," Fugi interrupted. The two looked at the boy with confused glances, his hand stretched out towards them as if offering something.
"I have a better thought."