As Valdis approached the final stretch, he could feel it
The mountain no longer felt endless—its oppressive presence, though still crushing, had begun to wane ever so slightly.
The air, though heavy, carried a different quality now, as though signifying that the end was near.
His steps remained steady, though slower than before. As each movement demanded more effort, each breath drawn deeper than the last. The weight on his back felt like a mountain of its own, pressing down on his spine, testing every fiber of his being.
But he didn't stop.
He wouldn't.
The path ahead narrowed further, forcing him into a straight ascent. No room for error. No room for hesitation.
Behind him, only a few remained as the mountain had swallowed the rest.
Most of those who had begun the second phase of the trial were either eliminated, broken, or gravely injured.
This trial was designed to test you in every way possible, and if you couldn't endure the torture, it would leave you broken.
As Valdis approached the peak, the ground leveled, making his final steps easier.
The moment he set foot on the peak of the mountain
The pressure vanished
And for a split second, his body felt weightless. But before he could stretch his tense muscles
The world blurred, and when his vision cleared, he was no longer on the mountain but back in the clearing before the forest.
Valdis stood still, assessing his surroundings. As he turned his gaze upwards, he discovered instructor Alaric still in the air just as they had left him. But this time, he didn't move or acknowledge Valdis ' presence as he stared at the mountain with extreme focus.
Seeing this, Valdis didn't speak; instead, he quietly found a spot and sat down.
His body, which had endured constant strain, finally relaxed. His muscles ached, his breathing deepened, and for the first time since the trial began, he allowed himself to rest.
Minutes passed.
Silence lingered.
Then—
A flash.
Another figure appeared.
The silver-haired girl.
The moment she materialized, her legs gave out.
She dropped to one knee, then to both hands, her breath coming out in controlled but heavy bursts. Sweat covered her face, dampening strands of her silver hair that clung lightly to her skin.
And despite all these, her expression remained the same.
Cold.
Even in complete exhaustion, her expression remained constant
Valdis glanced at her briefly before closing his eyes again, returning to meditate
Moments later—
Another flash.
Silas.
He stumbled slightly upon arrival but managed to steady himself, exhaling sharply as he dropped to the ground in a seated position.
"…That was brutal. Who the hell designed that thing?" he muttered.
As Silas was still grumbling on about the trial's difficulty, two flashes appeared in quick succession.
The twins.
Thorne and Tyras.
Unlike the others, they remained standing for a few seconds, their chests rising and falling as they caught their breath. Though clearly exhausted, there was still a fierce light in their eyes.
"Not bad," Thorne said, grinning slightly.
Tyras cracked his neck.
"Could've been worse."
As they were still discussing, another flash appeared.
Cassian.
He appeared and immediately staggered. Clearly, he was trying his best to remain standing.
But, unlike the twins, he didn't manage to stay on his feet for long. He dropped to one knee, breathing heavily, his usual composure cracked for the first time.
Valdis, watching silently, had a thought 'It seems, although Cassian is stronger than the twins in direct combat, his stamina and endurance cannot be compared to theirs.
Cassian exhaled slowly, forcing himself upright, though it was clear he had pushed himself to his limit.
As he was still trying to get himself together, a mocking voice appeared from the side.
"It seems even a great snake like you can't handle a little weight," Thorne said
Hearing him, Cassian turned toward him with eyes threatening to spit fire, but ultimately, he sighed and sat down to recover lost energy, as the trial had drained him dry.
After him—
Time passed.
A few more minutes.
Then—
Three final flashes.
Three more trainees arrived, and each looked even worse than those who arrived earlier. Due to this, it became clear to all that these three had survived based on willpower alone.
They were barely standing, barely conscious, but they had made it, and that was all that mattered.
A few moments after their arrival, instructor Alaric finally looked at all of them.
Then he spoke.
"The people standing around you are all that could make it through the trial;7 the rest were eliminated."
The words fell like a hammer.
The trainees froze.
Some turned instinctively, as if expecting more to arrive, thinking for a brief second that the instructor was joking.
But none arrived, and then that's when it finally sank.
They had begun this trial as fifty trainees.
Fifty.
Only eighteen had passed the first stage.
And now—
Only nine remained.
A heavy silence filled the platform.
Even the most composed among them felt it.
The weight of the trial.
The brutality of it.
The reality of what they had just survived.
Instructor Alaric spoke again, his voice effortlessly breaking the silence.
"You have all done well to reach this point, and for that you should be proud. As few ever complete the entire trial on their first attempt."
After saying this, he paused for a moment as though he wanted to gauge the reactions of all those present.
"As promised, the first three to arrive will be rewarded."
All eyes shifted towards three people
Valdis.
The silver-haired girl.
Silas.
Alaric raised his hand slightly.
A soft glow appeared.
Three items materialized.
The first—
A fruit.
Deep crimson in color, its surface faintly glowing, as though embers burned within it. A subtle yet powerful aura radiated from it, causing the surrounding air to tremble slightly.
"This," Alaric said, "is a Blazing Meridian Fruit."
Valdis's eyes sharpened slightly.
"It strengthens the body, tempers the meridians, and greatly increases the chances of a successful breakthrough."
Without hesitation, the fruit floated toward Valdis.
He caught it.
Even through his exhaustion, he could feel the immense energy contained within it.
Exactly what he needed.
The second and third rewards appeared next—
Two scrolls.
Their surfaces are inscribed with intricate markings, faintly pulsing with power.
"These are peak second-tier body cultivation manuals," Alaric said. "One technique focuses on explosive speed. The other—on pure destructive force."
The scrolls split.
One floated toward the silver-haired girl.
The other toward Silas.
Both accepted their rewards without a word.
Alaric lowered his hand.
"You will have time to study them later."
His gaze swept across all nine of them.
"For now—rest. Your next instructor will arrive in three hours."
A faint shift passed through the group as some immediately groaned.
Another trial.
Another challenge.
But before Alaric could leave, a voice spoke.
It belonged to the silver-haired girl.
"…What about the others?"
All eyes turned to her.
She stood now, though her exhaustion was still evident.
"Those who failed," she continued. "Will they be joining us?"
Alaric looked at her and sighed softly.
"Of course, they will. Failing the trial doesn't prevent you from attending other classes held by the other instructors."
A few of the trainees relaxed slightly.
"For now, they are receiving medical attention," he added. "Before the next stage begins, they will be brought back."
The tension eased.
At least they weren't gone.
Not completely.
Alaric gave one final glance at the group.
And then
He vanished.
Leaving behind the nine who remained.