The towering half-beast, half-shadow guardian loomed like a nightmare given form.
Its upper body was humanoid, rippling with corded muscle and flickering shadow Qi, while its lower half dissolved into writhing tentacles of darkness that lashed across the jade platform. A crude energy blade hummed in its massive fist, crackling with unstable power.
Joshua's body screamed in protest — ribs bruised, side still bleeding from the panthers — but he didn't back down. Fracture Sense burned at the edge of his mind, showing him the guardian's weaknesses: faint, jagged seams where its hybrid energy form wasn't perfectly stable.
No voice spoke in his head this time. No ancient amusement or cryptic warnings. Just the cold silence of the Stairway itself, waiting to see if he would break.
He charged.
The guardian swung its blade in a wide arc. Joshua ducked low, the energy edge slicing the air inches above his scalp. He countered with a desperate thrust of his dagger, aiming straight for the largest fracture he could see — right at the creature's core where shadow and flesh met.
Crack.
The blade sank deep. The guardian roared, tentacles whipping wildly. One slammed into Joshua's chest, lifting him clean off the platform and hurling him backward. He hit the jade hard, skidding several feet, pain exploding through his body.
But he didn't let go of the dagger.
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself up and lunged again. Fracture Sense flared brighter than ever. He saw the exact moment the guardian's energy looped wrong — and he struck.
The beast shuddered violently. Its form destabilized, shadow and flesh unraveling into motes of light.
Joshua collapsed to his knees as the guardian dissolved completely.
A surge of power flooded him — stronger than before. His wounds knit closed faster. His muscles felt denser, his Qi and Mana purer.
[Trial 4 Cleared. Excellent performance recorded. B-rank evaluation triggered.]
The notification glowed brighter than any before it.
Then came the second message, one that made his heart skip:
[Stairway Recognition: Exceptional B-rank clearance achieved. Noble Title awarded — Viscount of the Fourth Mortal Realm. Family status in Driftbreak upgraded (resource allocation + protection granted). Title privileges active.]
Joshua stared at the words, chest heaving.
Viscount.
Only 0.1% of climbers ever earned a noble rank this early. And now his family — his parents, Kai, Mira — would finally have more than just survival. Better housing. Better protection. Resources sent directly from the Stairway's rewards.
A small, fierce smile broke across his bloody face.
He pushed to his feet and kept climbing. The stairs ahead leveled out into a wide, glowing rest checkpoint — the first one he had seen. Floating jade stalls lined the edges, tended by ethereal attendants formed from the Stairway's own energy. Low-rank goods hovered in neat displays.
One stall in particular caught his eye: a simple sign reading "Ascendant Status Jades – E to D Rank Available."
The attendant — a translucent figure in flowing robes — bowed politely. "First-time climber? E-rank Ascendant Status Jades are only 50 Qi shards. Shows full profile: name, bloodline, talent rating, current attributes, hidden traits, and potential growth paths. D-rank version adds detailed progression forecasts for 200 shards. Cheaper ones sell everywhere in the Mortal Heavens. Higher ranks… you'll need big cities for C to A, and only Trade Capitals governed by Marquess-ranked experts carry S-rank."
Joshua didn't hesitate. He had just enough Qi shards from the trial rewards. He bought the basic E-rank version.
The jade tablet was cool and smooth in his palm, no bigger than his hand. He poured a thread of Qi into it.
A glowing panel appeared in the air before him:
[Ascendant Status Jade – E Rank]
Name: Joshua Kane
Age: 16
Bloodline: Unknown (Anomaly Seed detected – classified)
Talent Rating: Variable (System Glitch – potential unlimited)
Current Rank: Mortal – Early Stage (post 4 trials)
Primary Abilities: Fracture Sense (Passive/Active – growth potential: Extreme)
Hidden Trait: Anomaly Seed (unreadable by standard systems)
Lifespan: 1,000 years base (extensions applied)
Noble Title: Viscount of the Fourth Mortal Realm
Joshua's eyes widened. The jade even noted the Anomaly Seed — something no one back home had ever been able to explain.
He tucked the jade safely into his jacket. For the first time since stepping onto the Stairway, he felt like he could actually see his own path clearly.
The checkpoint faded behind him as he took the next set of stairs. The air grew heavier again. New mist swirled ahead.
But now he climbed with fresh fire in his veins.
His family was already safer.
And he was only getting started.
Far above, in the distant Divine Heavens, ancient eyes narrowed once more — but no voice reached him. The Stairway remained silent.
The real tests were still waiting.