Time kept passing on the Evernight Ascension Stairway, and unknowingly, more than eight hours had passed since the trial began.
At that moment, on the seventieth step, the entire Stairway suddenly fell silent; there was no tremor, explosion, or visible phenomenon.
Only an immense pressure seemed to descend from somewhere beyond perception. The remaining participants below immediately changed expressions.
Some collapsed, some coughed blood, and some desperately tried to
raise their feet, but their bodies refused to move.
One participant's eyes widened in despair.
"I... can't..." The moment he uttered those words, his knees struck the stair.
'THUD!'
Another participant beside him gritted his teeth.
"Move!" His body trembled violently, but he couldn't take another step.
Thereafter, the Stairway suddenly glowed, and countless ancient runes appeared beneath the participants who had reached their limits.
