Chapter 22: The second trial IV

An hour later.

The courtyard was quieter, though there was tension in the air. Only nine students remained standing in the center of the yard.

The other thirty-one students, those who had failed, gathered at the sides watching the second part of the second trial about to begin Some whispered and pointed in surprise.

"How the hell is he still here?"

"That defect… he actually lasted?!"

"No way, it must've been luck."

"Luck doesn't drag people across the finish line you idiot, I heard he's awakened now."

"Tch, don't tell me he's stronger than us—"

Riven's name passed from mouth to mouth, but he kept his eyes forward, ignoring every murmur. His face was blank with an unreadable expression, though his fingers twitched faintly.

Leyra turned her head and her golden eyes flashed. For a moment she leaked her aura and the whispers died down immediately.

Gasps rippled through the crowd as they felt their bodies stiffening.

Her voice was cold and clear.

"You still dare talk after losing to the very one you mock… as if he isn't standing right there?"

Silence.

"You all should be ashamed of yourselves."

None dared reply.

At that moment, Arven stepped forward, the courtyard fell into silence. His sharp gaze cut across the nine survivors.

"Welcome," he said, voice low but commanding, "to the second part of the second trial."

His eyes lingered briefly on each of them from Leo who was now fully healed after the exhaustion of the first part and had a calm posture, Kevan who was still a bit pale, Darius whose jaw was set with frustration, Ceyric, was bouncing lightly on his feet as though itching to prove himself; Lynn who looked resolute despite exhaustion; then three others.

Kade, the brown-skinned boy with restless eyes, Malik, the tall, dark-skinned boy with a stubborn grin. Nia, the locked-haired girl, her expression was cool but guarded.

And finally, his gaze fell on Riven, who stared back unwaveringly.

Arven's lips curved faintly. "This part will be different. To pass, you will need to cross… the threshold."

He stepped back. Heavy footsteps echoed as Borah marched forward, carrying a thick iron pole. Without a word, he drove it into the ground before him, the clang resonating across the yard.

The failed students muttered again, confused.

"What's he doing with that pole?"

"Why is he standing so far?"

"What the hell is this test?"

Borah's gravel voice cut through them.

"The distance between you and me is five meters or sixteen feet. Your task is simple. Come as close as you can. Touch this pole… and you pass."

Riven's brow furrowed. He glanced skeptically at the pole.

"…That's it?"

But then his gaze shifted to Corrin and Leyra. Both were smiling faintly, now that told him everything.

'No. Of course it's not that simple.'

Borah's voice thundered:

"Let's begin."

---

He gestured to Kade, the brown-skinned boy.

Kade swallowed, then stepped forward.

Immediately, Riven noticed the boy's eyes widen. His stride slowed, movements trembling as though his body resisted him.

Kevan leaned toward Lynn, whispering, "what the hell is happening? You see that? He's… slowing down."

Lynn narrowed her eyes. "Not slowing per say. Look at the muscle twitches it's more like he's struggling."

Kade forced a second step, then a third. His breaths came in sharp, sweat rolling fast. By the fifth step, his knees wavered, back bending as though he was being crushed.

From the side, Darius snickered, elbowing Ceyric. "Pathetic. Look at him, can't even stand straight."

Ceyric barked a laugh. "Don't fall yet, Kade! Show us something!"

On the opposite side, Malik clenched a fist. "Come on, brother! Push it!"

Nia called out sharply, "Kade! Keep your focus and move!"

But Riven's eyes weren't on Kade anymore. His gaze was fixed on Borah.

So was Leo's. His sharp eyes narrowed, not watching Kade at all, but the immediate surrounding around Borah.

On the sixth step—

The air thickened and a crushing weight slammed down.

Gasps rippled across the courtyard. Riven's eyes widened as he caught a faint shimmer of a pale brown light rippling around Borah like heat haze.

"… So that's what's happening, he's releasing his aura," Riven muttered under his breath.

Kade froze. His body quavered violently, then collapsed face-first into the dirt.

The onlookers erupted:

"What was that?!"

"Did you feel that pressure?!"

"It's his aura, Borah's aura!"

"So that's what it is… he's forcing them to endure his presence while trying to get to the pole and from the looks of it the closer you get the stronger the effects of his aura!"

The whispers grew frantic until Leyra's gaze swept their way again, silencing them.

---

"Next," Borah growled. His eyes fixed on Nia.

The girl inhaled deeply with her lips pressed tight. She stepped forward, each stride deliberate. One. Two. Three. Her locks shifted as sweat dripped along her temple. By the fifth step, her body trembled violently with her knees buckling. She collapsed, fainting before she could attempt another.

Malik cursed under his breath.

"Your turn," Borah said, pointing at him.

A bead of sweat slid down Malik's cheek. His jaw clenched, then he sprinted.

Riven frowned, but then smirked. "Crazy bastard."

The pressure surged, the aura flaring. Malik's sprint faltered at the fifth step, his body quaking as though frozen mid-stride. But he forced another. Then another.

"Six… seven…" Riven muttered under his breath, watching closely.

Leyra tilted her head, amused. "Hmm. Impressive."

Arven closed his eyes. "…Would've been more impressive if he had thought it through." He opened them, sharp. "But he's done."

On cue, Malik collapsed flat at the seventh step, gasping violently.

---

By now, Leo was grinning faintly, rolling his shoulders. He looked ready to go, but Darius was called next.

He had a smug look on his face, he cracked his neck, Ceyric patting his back. "Show them how it's done, brother!"

Darius strode forward confidently. The aura thickened by the sixth step, his pace faltering slightly.

Ceyric roared from the side, "You've got this! Don't stop now!"

"Shut up." The words cut flat and sharp from his side. Leo, eyes narrowed, as hadn't even looked Ceyric's way.

The crowd stirred at his bluntness.

Darius clenched his teeth, forcing his body forward. The seventh step landed and the aura spiked, pressing like stone upon his back. He staggered to the eighth step then his legs gave out, crashing to his knees.

He cursed under his breath as he backed away. "Tch. Higher than those weaklings, but… still not enough. Damn it."

---

"Lynn," Borah called.

Kevan instantly leaned forward. "You've got this."

Riven added quietly, "Don't worry. You can do it."

Lynn gave a sharp nod, determination burning in her eyes. She stepped forward.

The pressure wrapped her immediately, but she pressed on. Step by step.

Kevan muttered, "She's holding up well…" as she cleared the sixth step, sweat dripping.

Riven watched intently.

By the seventh, her steps slowed and her body trembled violently.

From the crowd, Darius smirked. "She won't make it. That's the limit. Tch, tougher than it looks, huh?"

Nia scoffed at him. "You'd think so."

"What—?" Darius turned, then his face froze.

Lynn pushed her eighth step.

Her face twisted with pain as if wading through concrete. She lifted her leg for the ninth and then it hit her. Her throat clenched as if invisible hands strangled her.

Leyra's lips curved. "Impressive. She's still standing after that."

Arven nodded slightly.

Kevan shouted, voice breaking, "Just a little more, Lynn!"

She gasped, her face turning red red. She fell yet she crawled forward. For a moment, the crowd held its breath. But before she could cross the tenth step, she fainted, collapsing mid-crawl.

"Lynn!" Kevan bolted forward, Riven at his side—

—but before either could reach her, a figure appeared infront of them.

Corrin.