Chapter 46

"Now that we have fewer contestants, we can move on to the next part of the tournament. Everyone who has managed to win in the arena they are in, take a step out."

After everyone left the arena's they were standing in, the arena's disappear. In front of them appears a large staircase. "Now some of you might be confused as to why we don't start with this. However you will come to understand soon enough. To continue forward you must reach at least step 20. Warning once you step onto the staircase, we are unable to guarantee your life. Now then if you still want to continue step in front of the staircase."

Wasting no time, Amber arrives in front of the staircase. Behind her the plant girl smiles at her, "Want to see who makes it the highest the fastest?"

Laughing, "Why not I don't see any problem with that."

"By the way my name is Lillan," she reaches out her hand.

"I'm Amber," they shake hands.

"Now then start the climb," the announcer says.

Upon stepping on the first step, Amber frowns, 'What could be special about these stairs? There doesn't seem to be anything different. That warning isn't for good reason. These weren't nearly this tall int hose texts I read. Might only be available at this difficulty. This difficulty is well hidden. They might not want people to know about this difficulty and it's challenges ahead of time."

Stepping onto the next step, Amber speeds through the first 20 steps with ease. Shortly behind her Lillan is shocked, 'This is her first time climbing these stairs. She blew past the first 20 like they were nothing. To think such illusions don't effect her. What kind of training has she done? I've been here a year and haven't been able to progress. This difficulty is unforgiving. I may not get first place once again,' she sighs.

Looking down Amber tilts her head, 'why are they all struggling so much? Could there have been some sort of challenge on those steps.' As she is thinking to herself the announcer says, "She has broken the record for the fastest time to get past the steps of illusion and desire. What a strong mind she has. Now lets see how she will handle the steps of gravity."

Hearing this Amber perks up, 'So it was a test of temptation basically. I barely saw a thing on step 20. It was basically just a huge fight. But that doesn't mean much. Those steps may not have powerful enough illusions to entrap me. However these next steps should prove to be a bigger challenge to me.'

Taking a step she feels the gravity get slightly stronger. 'Well this step isn't much of a challenge. Let's continue forward.' Watching her progress nonstop the audience is flabbergasted. Upon reaching the twenty-ninth step the gravity has become way heavier.

From what was about 4 times it jumped up to five times heavier. 'Now this is challenging,' a smile blooms on her face. The announcer says, "She has made it to the last step of the gravity section. From the looks of it she is finally feeling the struggle. More impressively she hasn't had to utilize her mana or miasma reserves yet. How strong is her physical body?"

Shaking her head she slowly takes one step forward. As she reaches the end of the step, she can feel the gravity become heavier. In front of her instead of a normal sized step there is a massive cliff she has to climb. Planting her feet into the ground she closes her eyes.

After a few deep breathes, she leaps into the air. Grabbing on to the cliff she starts to climb. As she is slowly climbing up the cliff someone else has made it to the gravity steps. Looking up he is shocked, 'Who is that? How is she already up that high? Lillan might know who she is.'

Looking down Amber sees the man who is wearing a grey cloak looking up at here. From underneath the hood she sees his glowing white eyes. After a short look over, she continues to climb up. 'To think she would notice me looking up at her from all the way up there. To think she is able to climb quite quickly.'

As Lillan steps onto the twentieth step, "So Lillan who is that up there climbing that's so far ahead of us?"

"Primar, that is Amber. That is literally all I know. For some reason though, I think neither of us will continue on from this stage," Lillan shrugs shaking her head.

"Amber must be here doing the training program as well then. How long ago do you think she started this?" Primar looka at Lillan.

"I wan't to be logical and say at least three months within this timezone. However, I have a feeling it hasn't been that long for her," she sighs.

"Due to her speed I want to say at most a month. 'we need to ask someone how long she has been at this town," as he finishes talking another man gets up to the step.

"I was here the first day she arrived in town, she has been in town with her panther for two and half weeks or so," the man says.

"Do you know anything more about her?" Lillan asks.

"She paid to use the mana and miasma rooms with monster cores from an average sized herd of gartalems. I went out and there was one less herd of gartalems roaming around. If you want to know more there seems to be three people here who know something the rest of us don't," the man shrugs and gets off the staircase.

"Well then I guess we could either wait for one of them or just wait and see what she can do?" Primar says.

"There is no point in waiting to see who might know more about Amber. We will come to find out soon enough. Her fighting skills are fantastic though. She took out nine opponents by herself even though they teamed up on her," Lillan replies.

"Fair point. She will have to be forced to use her actual strength and ability soon enough at the rate she is climbing, I take it you made a bet with her?"

"Couldn't get to the bet portion. But I will be handing her some monster cores or a rare material anyway. I wouldn't feel good if even though she beat me, I didn't give her anything for the race," Lillan chuckles.

"Well then our bet is still ongoing though. Just stopped to ask you who that was. We will find out more about her soon. See you above," Primar starts climbing up the next set of stairs.