anticipation

Tama glanced down at his bloody arms and feet, the mountain proving to be more formidable than he had anticipated. The clouds gathered ominously overhead, a harbinger of more challenges to come. With a heavy heart, Tama realized he couldn't continue this uphill battle. The mountain of hell had defeated him.

With a resigned sigh, Tama made the difficult decision to call it quits. He couldn't push himself any further, his body and mind exhausted from the relentless climb. With one last look at the unforgiving terrain, Tama disappeared from the mountain, the weight of defeat heavy on his shoulders.

Meanwhile, on another part of the mountain, Lani faced similar struggles. The elements seemed to conspire against her, every step an uphill battle against the wind and cold. Despite her best efforts, the mountain proved to be an insurmountable challenge. With a sense of defeat settling over her, Lani made the difficult choice to give in.

At the same time, Gregory and Elizabeth found themselves in a similar predicament. The mountain seemed to work against them at every turn, with monster attacks and treacherous terrain making progress impossible. With weary hearts, they too decided to abandon their ascent.

But amidst the defeat and exhaustion, Damien clung to the mountain with stubborn resolve. Despite the odds stacked against him, he refused to give up. Each step was a battle, every handhold a test of his strength and determination. The mountain seemed determined to break him, but Damien pushed on.

His muscles screamed in protest, his body aching from the relentless climb. But Damien's will was unyielding, his spirit refusing to be broken. With gritted teeth and sheer determination, he continued his stubborn endeavor to reach the summit.

As the others disappeared from the mountain one by one, Damien remained, a lone figure against the unforgiving landscape. The mountain of hell may have thrown everything it had at him, but Damien refused to be defeated.

*

The names of the four students ceased to glow on the leaderboard, signaling their departure from the tower. However, their impressive results had not gone unnoticed—they had managed to kick out several members from the top 10. Elizabeth held the 8th spot with a resilience of 30 and an endurance of 42. The twins tied for 4th place, both boasting a resilience of 37 and an endurance of 47. Gregory secured the 7th position with a resilience of 33 and an endurance of 45.

Outside the portal, members of the medical team and priests waited anxiously. Suddenly, the four students appeared, each arriving at different times within a span of 5 hours. They emerged alert, weapons drawn, their senses heightened after living alone for nearly two years. In this unforgiving world, any life form was often perceived as a threat.

Tama wasted no time, swinging his great sword with precision, cutting down everything in his path. The earth seemed to respond to his will, shifting and forming as if an extension of his own body. Earthen spikes erupted from the ground, impaling his attackers with ruthless efficiency.

Gregory, with his massive hammer, slammed it into the ground, causing cracks to form and release swarms of larva-like creatures. With a fierce roar, he swung his huge axe and hammer, cleaving through his enemies with brutal force.

Elizabeth emerged like an asura from hell, her fiery aura blazing through the air. The flames were enhanced by her wind properties, creating a deadly combination. She moved with incredible speed and precision, incinerating anything in her path.

It took multiple teams working together to bring them down, the students fighting with a ferocity born from their time in the tower.

Once subdued, they were quickly taken to an isolated area to recover from their ordeal.

*

Damien could feel the blistering rain pelting down on his back, the exhaustion weighing heavily on his shoulders as he struggled to climb the unforgiving mountain. His fingers slipped on the slick surface, his grip faltering. With a heavy heart, he finally made the decision to call it quits. Looking down at the distant land below, Damien let out a sigh of defeat before disappearing from the mountain.

A week later, Damien emerged from the portal, his body battered and bruised from his encounter with the mountain. It had taken multiple teams working together to subdue him. As a space mage, Damien had unleashed a barrage of lightning bolts, striking from random points in the room.

Those who got too close found themselves facing his deadly mace, a weapon more terrifying than they've ever seen. Elizabeth's flames that had engulfed the area,seems meal compared to the strikes of lightning.

It had taken a group of senior mages to finally restrain him, his powers proving difficult to contain. When the chaos had settled, Damien found himself in second place on the leaderboard. His endurance was an impressive 50, and his mental resilience stood at 39. So close to breaking the highest record.

*

Standing at the edge of the mountain, I gazed out at the breathtaking view above the clouds. The sun beat down mercilessly on my back, the sweat causing my fingers to slip on the rocky surface. Exhaustion weighed heavily on my shoulders, and with a heavy heart, I finally gave in.

I had left Hima at the bottom of the mountain, realizing it was impossible to climb with a huge snake in tow. As I stood there, my body trembling with fatigue, I knew I had reached my limit. The mountain had proven to be too much for me, and I couldn't go on any longer. With a resigned sigh, I accepted defeat and my body feels light.

*

The entire academy was abuzz with shock and disbelief when Selene's results were revealed. Tied for first place with the highest record ever, her endurance stood at an impressive 53, matched by her resilience at 41. It was a feat that left everyone astounded, and rumors spread like wildfire throughout Tavill.

Spies were sent to observe her arrival, knowing that the other members of club Obsidian Order had caused quite a scene. As a precaution, two 7th-year students showed up, accompanied by three times the usual number of medical teams. It was a clear indication of the seriousness of the situation.

Watching from their orbs, the academy members eagerly awaited Selene's appearance, intrigued by what was to come. The anticipation was palpable as they prepared for the arrival of someone who had achieved such remarkable results.