Chapter 1998: Tenacity

Perseverance Mountain.

Once a bustling arena of hopeful acolytes eager to prove themselves, now stood relatively quiet. The staff members tasked with overseeing the gates found themselves with significantly less to do. Over the past three weeks, the number of participants in the inner hall test had dwindled drastically, from thousands to mere hundreds, and now only dozens dared to test their strenght.

One of the staff members responsible for overseeing the gates couldn't hide his sigh.

"I hope I don't get stuck with this posting next year," he muttered to his colleague. For him, witnessing the crushing disappointment of countless youngsters giving up on their dreams was the most challenging aspect of the job.

His partner, on the other hand, seemed to revel in the spectacle. With a grim satisfaction, he remarked, "If they don't have what it takes, they should just go back to the hole they came from!" It was clear that he derived a perverse pleasure from witnessing the dashed hopes of the aspirants, finding satisfaction in their failures as they fell short of the academy's rigorous standards.

Annoyed by his partner's cynicism, the other staff member found himself rooting for a particular group of four acolytes from the lower realm who had been persistently tackling the challenge.

"Look, here they come again... They've been at it for two weeks straight. I'm sure they're going to make it," he remarked optimistically.

"Hmph, maybe two of them, but the other two? Impossible," scoffed his partner dismissively.

"Well, a 50 percent success rate is still commendable in my book," retorted the hopeful staff member.

"Ha! Don't hold your breath. I've seen too many hopefuls fail at the Tenacity Peak," laughed the cynical staff member.

The Perseverance Mountain was a grueling test, consisting of 11,674 arduous steps divided into twelve levels of increasing difficulty. However, it was the final challenge that proved insurmountable for many acolytes: a daunting ascent up a sheer vertical cliff comprising 674 steps, all while enduring the crushing pressure of the highest spirit pressure.

Ha Ron, Kingrig, Titus, and Arminius stood resolute at the gate, their determination palpable as they prepared to embark on the three-hour challenge that lay ahead.

"I'm going to conquer this mountain today!" declared Kingrig, his excitement evident in his voice.

Despite Ha Ron's quiet demeanor, there burned a fierce determination within him not to be outdone by the Mayan warrior.

"Let's do this!" exclaimed Titus, his spirit undaunted.

[02:59:59]

With the clock ticking down to the start of their challenge, the four acolytes dashed forward, their movements swift and purposeful. Their steps seemed almost effortless, propelling them forward as they leaped over ten stairs at a time. Within a mere two minutes, they had already ascended to level 2 of the mountain.

As the minutes passed, the challenges grew more arduous, but the group pressed on with unwavering resolve. Five minutes later, they had surpassed the two thousand-step mark, reaching level 3.

With each passing milestone, the pressure increased, but the four acolytes remained undeterred. Thirty minutes into their ascent, they had conquered level 7, having ascended over 7000 steps. However, fatigue began to take its toll on Titus and Arminius, their pace slowing as they struggled to keep up with the relentless pace set by Kingrig and Ha Ron.

[02:28:20]

"Keep pushing forward! Defeat the mountain!" urged Titus, he voiced out encouragement as Kingrig and Ha Ron surged ahead, leaving the centurion behind.

Ha Ron and Kingrig pressed onward, their determination unyielding as they continued their ascent side by side. With each step, the pressure grew heavier, slowing their progress considerably. It took them a full hour to conquer the next 3,000 steps, bringing their total to an impressive 10,000 steps. Now, they found themselves climbing above the clouds, their determination propelling them ever higher.

[01:33:45]

With just under an hour and a half remaining, they faced the daunting task of scaling the final 1,000 steps of level 11. Each step was a test of their endurance, their stamina waning as they climbed, but they refused to relent. Finally, they reached the pinnacle of 11,000 steps, standing atop the tenacity peak, their chests heaving as they gasped for breath.

"We still have 50 minutes left!" announced Ha Ron, his voice filled with determination.

"Let's race!" declared Kingrig, his eyes shining with determination.

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With renewed vigor, the two acolytes began their ascent of the vertical cliff, each stone a challenge as they fought against the relentless pressure pulling them downward. But they refused to be deterred, focusing on their spirit core and pushing themselves to their limits.

"I can do this!!! AARGHH I can!!! !!" screamed the Mayan warrior.

As they reached the halfway point, their fingers began to tremble from exhaustion, but their determination remained unshaken.

"Just a little bit more!" Ha Ron urged, his voice strained with effort.

[00:24:58]

They pushed on, their breath coming in ragged gasps. Each step forward was a struggle, but they refused to give up. Unknowingly, their race against each other transformed into a battle against their own fatigue, their willpower driving them onward.

With just over 10 minutes left, they could see the end within reach, but their stamina was already depleted.

"Why...you... not moving anymore?" Kingrig panted, his voice strained with exhaustion.

"Me..!? what about you!?" Ha Ron retorted

"You.. Give up then!.. You can try again tomorrow…"

"Huh.. me? why don't you give up!"

Despite their refusal to admit defeat, both acolytes knew they had reached their limit. With no energy left to continue, they reluctantly acknowledged that today was not their day.

"Tomorrow... yes... we can try again tomorrow."

[00:5:22]

With only five minutes remaining, they resigned themselves to their fate, preparing to wait out the remaining time.

But just as they were about to concede, they heard movement below them. An acolyte was approaching, climbing with remarkable speed. Before they could even catch a glimpse of the person, it had already soared past them, a long, silvery hair trailing behind as the figure slithered through the mountain.

"A female…" Ha Ron muttered.

The unknown acolyte effortlessly reached the summit, leaving Ha Ron and Kingrig frozen, grappling with a mix of awe and frustration.

How could that girl outpace them so easily?

Yet, it was the biting female voice from above that stirred them from their stupor.

"What are you two slowpokes still doing down there?! What a pair of Morons"

Her taunt lit a fire within them, reigniting their dwindling spirits. With renewed determination, they summoned their strength and pushed themselves forward, and then, finally

[You have successfully passed the Perseverance Mountain]

[Congratulations, You are now an Inner Hall acolyte]

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