While everyone was thinking just how hard climbing a stairway could be, the old man waved his hand and with a small cracking sound the transparent barrier around the stairway disappeared.
This time the old man’s voice was loud as he said in a commanding tone.
“Start climbing.”
Kyle looked at the stairway. Alec also appeared beside him. He smiled at looked at Kyle.
“Kyle, how about betting on who will reach the top first?”
“Huh?”
Kyle looked at Alec but before he could reply Nine chimed in.
“Of course, I will win, both of you just wait and see. Hahaha.”
Carcel also approached them from behind and said in a low voice.
“If we continue to stand idly and didn’t start climbing, we will probably be last.”
Nine, Alec and Kyle simultaneously gazed at Carcel who was pointing at the stairway.
They looked at the stairway, except for them almost everyone had started climbing.
Jian and Kelvin both were almost on the third stair. Lara and Mia were also seen on the second stair.
The other demi-humans humans and elves were just one step behind them.
Kyle looked at the stairway with squinted eyes before exclaiming with disbelief.
“Bia?”
He hurriedly checked on top of his head not believing what he was seeing.
After Kyle spoke, Nine, Carcel and Alec also looked at where he was staring with wide eyes.
They saw a small red bird climbing the stairway alongside Jian.
After seeing the bird, they burst into laughter.
Nine looked at Kyle with pity while wiping the invisible tear from his eyes.
“Hahaha, It seemed Kyle your pet betrayed you for treasures!”
Kyle looked at Bia and shouted inside his head before running toward the stairway.
‘Bia what the fuck? Weren’t we supposed to climb together? Just when the hell did you start climbing the stairway!’
Alec, Carcel and Nine also followed behind him and started climbing.
After hearing Kyle’s voice Bia looked back and blinked her eyes with innocence.
-‘When did I agree to climb with you?’
Kyle almost tripped but he remained calm because he didn’t wanted to curse in front of so many people.
While everyone was climbing the stairway, the old man suddenly gazed at Alec and a surprised expression appeared on his face.
He mumbled under his breath.
“Why does he have the nature essence within his body? Did something happen outside?”
His voice was too low that’s why no one heard his words.
As everyone climbed the stairway and easily crossed the halfway mark, suddenly a demi-human stopped in his track.
With sweat trickling down his forehead, he dropped to his knees.
Kyle looked at the demi-human with confusion.
“What happened?”
He, Nine, Alec and Carcel were almost at the starting stairs that’s why they were able to see everyone’s situation clearly from below.
The demi-human who stopped had a painful expression on his face. Also, it seemed he wasn’t able to climb any further.
Soon, under their gaze a lot more individuals started sweating and dropped to their knees.
It was like they were experiencing a lot of pressure but the others who were still climbing looked at them with confusion.
Kelvin also stopped walking after the halfway mark. Jian looked at Kelvin who was sweating profoundly.
“What happened?”
Kelvin who was breathing heavily looked at Jian who was perfectly fine.
“Ugh, I don’t know there’s some invisible pressure pressing down on my body. I think if I climb another stair my bones will be crushed.”
Jian wanted to help Kelvin in any way but he wasn’t able to do anything.
In the end, Kelvin asked him to continue climbing because he didn’t wanted him to stop there just because of him.
Also, according to the old man. The higher they climb the more precious treasure they will get. How can he be selfish enough to stop Jian here?
With a reluctant expression, Jian left Kelvin behind.
Just like Kelvin almost sixty person individuals stopped climbing after they crossed the halfway mark. They could do nothing but stare at the others who were still climbing.
After Nine passed the halfway mark he also stopped around the same stair as Kelvin.
Kyle looked back at Nine who smiled bitterly.
“I think I can’t continue anymore.”
“This..?”
Alec who was beside Kyle suddenly spoke seriously.
“I think the golden stairway is testing our talent!”
“What?”
Kyle looked at Alec seriously. If it was true doesn’t that means he just exposed himself?
His talent was recorded as (B)-Rank inside the Academy and now he climbed higher than Nine whose talent was (+S)-Rank?
Still, after a second Kyle clam down. Now wasn’t the time to think about useless things because he needed to climb as higher as possible to get the ‘Elixir of life’.
Also, if Alec’s guess was really right, he knew he won’t be able to reach the top!
With a serious expression, Kyle looked away from Alec and started climbing again.
Alec looked at Kyle back. Now he was hundred percent sure Kyle’s talent wasn’t (B)-Rank.
The system was behaving strangely whenever he tried to use his appraisal skill on Kyle. That’s why Alec was curious about his talent.
After Alec spoke, the atmosphere around the golden stairway turned heavy.
His voice was low but because no one was speaking that’s why everyone heard his words.
Now they all knew what the stairway was testing.
It was their talent!
At the same time, after crossing the eighty percent mark, Lara also stopped in her track. She was panting heavily and was trying her best to maintain her balance. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Mia looked back at Lara, and after two more stairs, she also stopped advancing.
Both of them knew they reached their limits.
Soon, Carcel, Alec and Kyle passed beside them. After glancing at them they continue climbing.
Alec and Carcel both went upward while Kyle stopped at the same stair as Lara.
Carcel and Alec both looked back together. Carcel with surprise while Alec with a raised brow.
Now Alec had an idea about Kyle’s talent.
If he was standing at the same stair as Lara that means his talent was definitely (SS)-Rank!
Lara also looked at Kyle with wide eyes.
Wasn’t his talent lower than hers?
How did he climb so far!
She had so many questions going on inside her mind but didn’t say anything and just gazed at Kyle with a neutral expression.
On the other hand, Kyle wanted to continue climbing but the pressure descending on his shoulder was too huge. He knew he would be crushed if he dared to take another step forward.
Kyle laughed bitterly and looked at the few individuals who were still climbing.
There were a total of seven individuals who were still climbing. Carcel, Alec, Jian, Bia, two elves and one demi-humans. The elf wearing a mask was also among the two elves who were still climbing.