Arin stood on the 10th step, his eyes gleaming with the clarity of his Nascent Soul Stage breakthrough, his Fourth Realm aura radiant. The staircase's runes pulsed in sync with his hum, the spiritual pressure gone, as if the trial welcomed his transformation. The Relic's ancient voice echoed, its weathered-stone timbre urging the juniors to complete the ascent within the 24-hour deadline. Lyra climbed on the 43rd step, her Late Spirit Core Stage aura vibrant, while Elira led at the 52nd, her near-Fourth Realm strength unmatched. Kael and Mira, on the 45th and 47th steps, pressed forward, their Late Third Realm auras resolute.
As Arin stepped to the 11th, the absence of pressure confirmed his realization: the staircase was designed to foster breakthroughs to the Nascent Soul Stage, its unique space preventing ejection for those who advanced within its bounds. His insights—circulation and resonance—aligned effortlessly with the runes, his steps unhindered. He glanced at Lyra, her runed sword glinting, and called, "Lyra, the trial's purpose is to reach the Fourth Realm. Break through here, and you won't be ejected. Focus on your core." Lyra nodded, her grin flashing, her aura flaring as she sat to meditate.
Climbing higher, Arin passed Elira on the 52nd step, her golden-brown eyes narrowing briefly. "Elira, break through to Nascent Soul," he said. "The staircase holds you. It's the trial's true test." She gave a curt nod, her stoic mask softening, and sat cross-legged, her aura intensifying. Arin continued, his Nascent Soul aura a beacon, his hum resonating with the staircase's void. Under the juniors' watchful eyes, he moved leisurely, each step as natural as breathing, the runes glowing brighter with his ascent.
By the 99th step, Arin stood alone, the radiant void swirling above, the staircase's peak a platform of crystalline light. He waited, his aura steady, observing the others below. Lyra, on the 43rd, consumed her remaining spiritual fruits—two berries from the squirrel guardian—her core spinning furiously. Within four hours, her aura surged, meridians widening, her core condensing into a nascent soul. The runes flared, anchoring her breakthrough, her Fourth Realm aura igniting. She stood, grinning, and climbed, her steps now effortless, reaching the 99th step as the third to arrive.
Elira, on the 52nd, broke through within an hour, her near-Fourth Realm foundation accelerating the process. Her core reformed into a nascent soul, her aura blazing, the staircase holding her. She climbed swiftly, her golden-brown hair trailing, reaching the 99th step as the second, her stoic gaze meeting Arin's with a nod of respect. Lyra arrived soon after, her runed sword at her hip, her Nascent Soul aura vibrant. "Took me a bit," she said, nudging Arin, who smiled.
The other juniors, inspired by Arin's words and the leaders' breakthroughs, shifted their focus. Kael, Mira, and others meditated, their Late Third Realm cores straining for the Fourth Realm. As the deadline's final minute approached, 10 more juniors broke through, their Nascent Soul auras flaring, the staircase's runes anchoring them. They climbed rapidly, joining Arin, Elira, and Lyra at the 99th step, their faces alight with triumph. The remaining juniors, at Peak Spirit Core Stage, struggled to around the 60th step, their insights insufficient for a breakthrough.
The trial ended with a resonant hum, the staircase's runes blazing. The ancient voice echoed, its timbre like weathered stone: "The trial is complete. Rankings are set. Arin, first. Elira, second. Lyra, third. Mira, fourth. Kael, fifth." The voice listed others, their positions based on steps or breakthroughs, the 99th-step juniors dominating the top ranks. "Rewards are granted by your ascent."
A spiral of light descended, materializing rewards before each junior. Arin received a shimmering Fifth Realm armor, its obsidian plates etched with spiraling runes, pulsing with protective energy. A cascade of 100,000 spirit stones, glowing orbs of condensed spiritual power, filled a jade pouch at his feet. A cultivation technique, a stream of golden runes, flowed into his mind, its principles accelerating Nascent Soul progress, its origins tied to the Vale Founder's legacy. Elira gained 75,000 spirit stones and a Fourth Realm spear, its silver shaft humming with energy. Lyra received 50,000 spirit stones and a runed dagger, its blade enhancing her swordplay. The 10 other 99th-step juniors each got 25,000 spirit stones, along with weapons and artifacts suited to their Fourth Realm cores. Those at the 60th step received lesser rewards, their Peak Third Realm efforts acknowledged but outshone.
Arin stood on the 99th step, the armor's weight reassuring, the cultivation technique a silent promise in his mind. Lyra grinned beside him, her dagger tucked beside her sword. Elira's gaze lingered on the void, her spear in hand. Kael and Mira, with their rewards, stood among the 10, their rivalry tempered by shared triumph. The Relic's hum intensified, and a spiral of light enveloped the juniors, their forms shimmering. In an instant, all were teleported outside, the Relic's crystalline plaza replaced by the familiar Vale mountains, the trial's legacy carried in their rewards and newfound strength.