RUN!

Tang Lin put the qi core into his inter-spatial ring.

"The rest of the monsters will be converging here soon, because of the noise, but this is my opportunity", he muttered to himself.

'Right now, there shouldn't be anything left to block my path to the 93rd step', thought Tang Lin as he sprinted back.

*Ten minutes later.*

*Huff, huff.*

Tang Lin could finally see light shining at the end of the forest.

Finally making it out, he bent his back, while holding his knees as drops of sweat fell from his face to the ground as he caught his breath.

*Clang.*

*Clang.*

*Clang!*

A huge figure stood in front of Tang Lin as it blocked the sunlight.

Looking back up, Tang Lin felt a suffocating pressure as he saw its appearance.

Its whole body was made from minerals, crystals and ores of all sorts. Demonic titanium, azure steel, frozen gold, blazing ruby, mystic sapphire and terra copper to name a few.

'This must be the Earth calamity's incarnation after it reaches the major stage', Tang Lin observed. 

Two pieces of mystic sapphire made up its chilling eyes, while a large blazing ruby formed its heart on the left side of its chest.

'Its qi core?' Tang Lin as he saw it sealed within the ruby.

The rest of its body had a red hue with steam coming out from it as if it was a weapon being cooled down after being forged.

*Exhale.*

A mist of cold air fell onto Tang Lin's body as the metal golem exhaled.

'Move. I need to move-...' Tang Lin thought.

'-... or I'll die', he realised as his heartbeat increased.

However, it was no use, because Tang Lin was currently experiencing something that was deeply-rooted in every living being.

Fear. Faced against the unknown that was a life-threatening existence with an indomitable aura, one would always instinctively freeze in fear.

The metal golem stared at him as he stared back, which was akin to a mouse staring at a lion. What broke the silence was neither Tang Lin nor the metal golem, but the sound of rushing water.

*SCHHHH!*

Startled by the sound, Tang Lin managed to snap out of his fear state as he looked at the forest behind him, where the metal golem was also looking.

'What… is that?' Tang Lin wondered as he gulped.

In the darkness of the forest, the outlines of multiple figures could be seen. As they approached the end of the forest, where the light reached, Tang Lin realised they were the beast and golems he had just escaped from.

'Are they… running from something?' he deduced.

Soon enough, his suspicion was realised as he found the source of the sound of water.

Rising high above the forest's canopy of trees was a tremendous tsunami.

'Another zenithal calamity?! It has also reached its major form. How's that possible? I haven't even made it to the second zenithal calamity's territory, because the 93rd step is past this field here', Tang Lin thought in a panic at the sight of two major stage zenithal calamities.

'Don't tell me-...' he thought as he had a flashback.

***

As he was pushed off the 90th step's safe zone by Xue'er.

"So, think of this as a little gift from me to you", her voice resounded in his ear as she appeared behind him and pushed him off the 90th step safe zone.

***

End of flashback.

'This must've been her actual gift', Tang Lin thought.

'The only explanation is that she pushed me off into the 93rd step from the start. So, I was already undergoing the second zenithal calamity. This must mean that the water calamity was originally the first zenithal calamity I was meant to fight', he realised as he pieced the puzzle together.

'I must've taken too long here, which is why it has caught up to me. However, that doesn't explain why it has already reached its major form. From what I know, all the zenithal calamities evolve at the same rate. The only exception is the Earth calamity, because my presence hastened its growth', Tang Lin analysed in confusion.

"The earthquakes!" he muttered.

'The earthquakes must've affected it, which accelerated its rate of evolution', Tang Lin thought.

"Luckily, I wasn't stuck frozen in fear and already escaped to the territory of the third zenithal calamity, the 95th step", he said with relief.

Not being retarded, Tang Lin had already started running away from the start; instead of standing back there, while thinking about all of this.

As Tang Lin burst through the edge of the forest, relief flooded through him like a cool breeze amidst the scorching heat of the 95th step. 

*Boom*

A fireball had crashed just meters next to him, engulfing the area in a blaze. Specks of cinder splashed onto his skin as he winced.

His lungs gasped for air and his muscles protested from the relentless sprint, but he couldn't afford to stop. He focused on the new immediate threat at hand—blazed hounds that lurked behind the volcanic rocks; their eyes blazing with malevolent intent.

"This is madness," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the crackling flames that licked at the air around him. "How did I end up here?"

Memories of his journey flooded his mind—the aimless labyrinth, the fight against the chimera, Xue'er's cryptic existence, the harrowing encounter with the metal golem and the relentless pursuit of disaster that had dogged his every step. But amidst the chaos and uncertainty, one thing remained clear—he had come too far to turn back now.

With a deep breath, Tang Lin steeled himself for the challenges that lay ahead. The 95th step was no ordinary terrain—it was the domain of fire, a realm of blistering heat and searing flames that tested even the bravest of souls.

And yet, Tang Lin knew that his trials were far from over. Up ahead was the 96th step, the territory of the third zenithal calamity of fire, where the true test of his mettle awaited.

"I have to keep moving," he said, his voice firm with resolve.

With a sense of urgency, Tang Lin darted forward, his eyes scanning the area's perimeters for any signs of danger. The ground trembled beneath his feet, a reminder of the second zenithal calamity's relentless pursuit.

"Give me something to work with man. Fuck me," he grumbled, his words a desperate plea to the fates that seemed determined to thwart his every move.

*Fwoosh*

The tsunami of the first zenithal calamity was coming in hot, its towering waves a grim reminder of the dangers that pursued him.

*ROAR!*

Ten fire-breathing dragons appeared before him, their wings flapping furiously at the number of creatures invading their territories. 

"Pyroars!" Tang Lin exclaimed, stopping him in his tracks as the blazed hounds grouped up behind him as well.

Sweat dripped down his chin as Tang Lin was dumbfounded by how chaotic everything had become. 

"GG", he thought.