Serena Rinnen

"So I really should try living life again with my teeth clenched. If I give it my all - don't you think I'd find at least two reasons to live? Like them."

- Serena to a dead Ho

Serena Rinnen is a Regular who passed most of the tests on the Second Floor and was assigned the Scout position. She ended up failing the Floor.

History
Serena used to be a thief, who raided various merchant caravans for wealth. However, one day she ran into a caravan protected by a Ranker and her whole group was decimated. After she realised the fragility of human life, she was then approached by Headon, who chose her as a Regular and teleported her to the Inner Tower.

Appearance and Personality
She was a plain, ordinary looking woman with brown hair, brown eyes and an ample bust. She wore a plain brown dress-like garment and wielded a small knife.

Upon first coming to the Tower, she was determined to gain power in order to stop anyone who would get in her way and with a resolve never to be as helpless as she was when her friends died. However, once observing Team A's resolve and being part of an existence greater than the individual, she felt repulsed at her past actions. When she witnessed the fight between Androssi and Quant, she then resolved to try harder in life, instead of cowering when things were taken from her so that she might find a reason to live, something she didn't have when she first came into the Tower.

Lero-Ro's Test
Serena managed to pass the first test on the Second Floor, by attacking and dismembering everyone she ran into and then teamed up with Phonsekal Laure and Ho afterwards. During Lero-Ro's Test she and Ship Leesoo initially failed to get through the barrier but eventually managed to push their way through with sheer force of will.

Yu Han Sung's Examination
Her team took Yu Han Sung's Door Test and passed thanks to Laure's laziness.

Crown Game
Serena participated in the second round of the Crown Game with her team and fought against Ship Leesoo alongside Ho. She then surrendered after Anak ignited her weapon while she was fighting Laure.

Hide-and-Seek
For the Hide-and-Seek Test, she was put on Team B. She positioned herself with Ho according to Androssi's plan. She talked to Ho about how she had initially felt great about beating the other Regulars in the first test, but as she got to know those who made it through, she imagined having to kill them to ascend through the Tower and was disgusted at the thought. She then yelled at Ho, who mysteriously ran off. Once alerted of the Quant's presence, she ran and went to help Hatsu, only to get captured and tied up by Parakewl and Mauchi. She then witnessed Ho holding Rachel hostage and then Baam using a strange technique to help in freeing her. She was mortified when Ho committed suicide and when Androssi finally turned up and revealed her real intentions, Serena slapped her for her actions but Androssi calmly retorted with armour-piercing statements. Serena ended up watching Androssi and Quant's fight whilst sitting next to Ho's corpse and then as Team B won.

Last Examination
She was present at a small funeral given to Ho. Later on, Serena ended up failing the Position Test but was present at the party with all the other remaining Regulars. Even though she had failed, her experiences on the Floor of Test had caused her to become a stronger person by that point.

In the anime adaptation, Serena chose not to attend the assembly where the test administrators announced who had passed the Position Test. Quietly leaving the night before this, she was caught by Shibisu who asked her why she would leave without saying goodbye. She replied stating that after sending off Hoh, she has no regrets - only to then say her life has been nothing but regrets. Serena proclaims that she is going to buckle down and give life all that she has got, in hopes that it will uncover the reason why she has survived for so long. Shibisu asks if she will not find that reason by climbing the tower, but Serena ignores the question. She tosses him her knife as a parting gift, telling him not to die no matter what. The two then say goodbye, and then Serena leaves Evankhell's Mothership.

Powers and Abilities
Serena didn't exhibit any special powers or notable qualities and even struggled to get through Lero-Ro's barrier in one of the first tests.

Quotes

 * (To Ho) "I wanted to be a Ranker. I wanted to kill everyone that got in my way. I wanted to reach the top of the tower and achieve everything. During that first brutal test to cut us down to 200, I didn't hesitate because I had so much anger. Everyone was an enemy!! Every time I killed, I felt like I was regaining control of my life, so I was thrilled. And when that was over, I said to myself, "Yes! I did it! I made it!" The next round and the next test, I was lucky enough to pass. The fact that I was getting closer to the next floor made me so happy. But while I was watching team A, I found myself cheering for them. All of them were taking the test so earnestly and they are such nice guys. I imagined myself using them as stepping stones to the next floor and when I realized that was holding me up, I thought "Wow... This sucks." 
 * (To herself while watching Androssi Zahard and Quant Blitz fighting) "Actually, I can't remember a time I had to fight desperately. I always made excuses, saying the world was unfair. I never risked my life. Then I always regretted it after I lost something. What woulf have happened if I had tried despite the risks? I might have been a life full of losses, but if I had at least tried, my heart wouldn't be this empty right now. So we need to keep on living. If we do, we'll probably find one or two reasons to keep going, won't we? Like them."

Alternate Translations

 * Serena Linnen (LINE Webtoon)

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Serena Rinnen