CHAPTER 366: STAIRWAY

Orion remained still for a moment, allowing himself time to adapt. He steadied his breathing, slowly and deliberately reinforcing the strength of his physique, solidifying his mental defenses, and stabilizing his elemental resonance.

Gradually, the oppressive sensation lessened slightly, becoming manageable, though still persistently uncomfortable.

Step by step, Orion continued upwards. Each step increased the cumulative pressure, gradually pushing his body, soul, and elemental affinities toward their limits.

By the fifth step, he began to feel the pressure increasing as his muscles strained under the constant, increasing weight, while his soul felt as if it were navigating through dense fog.

Still, Orion persisted, determination burning strongly within his heart, refusing to yield so easily.

By the ninth step, Orion felt the pressure increasing multiple times from when he started. His breathing became slightly rough while his soul and elemental energy felt the invasive pressure of the staircase.

He halted momentarily, steadying his breath, eyes narrowed sharply at the next, crucial tenth step.

Lumi’s voice echoed encouragingly within his Sea of Consciousness, her voice resolute and supportive, sensing the strain Orion faced.

[There will be a major test on the 10th level, Master! Be prepared! (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ]

Orion nodded solemnly, breathing deeply, steeling his resolve. Gathering every shred of strength, he placed his foot firmly upon the tenth step.

Instantly, the world around Orion transformed. An overwhelming, divine Will surged forward, powerful and domineering.

It sought to crush Orion’s very existence, pressuring him with a terrifying force, attempting to subdue and dominate his soul completely.

Orion’s mind reeled from the strength of this mental assault, his instincts immediately rallying as he drew upon his own potent Soul Power, attempting to repel the invasive Will.

To his shock, Orion quickly discovered that his considerable Soul Power proved nearly useless against this force.

Feeling desperation rise, he instinctively reached toward his World Tree Sapling within his Sea of Consciousness, intending to use its tremendous spiritual strength to defend himself.

Yet, despite this instinctive effort, Orion soon realized that even the majestic World Tree Sapling could not assist him here; it remained silent, unresponsive, entirely ineffective against this unique mental test.

Feeling his situation rapidly growing perilous, Orion’s mind raced frantically until Lumi’s voice broke through clearly and urgently, her tone serious and steady:

[Master, this is a Trial of Will alone! You cannot rely on your other powers here. Use your Will, your spirit alone, to fight back!]

Orion gritted his teeth, understanding instantly. He forcibly released control over his Soul Power and World Tree Sapling, choosing to rely entirely upon the strength of his raw, indomitable Will.

Allowing the crushing power of the tenth step to strike fully, Orion’s body shuddered violently under its impact. His vision blurred, knees nearly buckling from the sheer intensity, yet he stood firm.

Gathering the entirety of his unyielding determination, Orion’s mind roared defiantly, his spirit burning brilliantly.

The violent clash between Orion’s indomitable Will and the overpowering divine force raged fiercely, consuming his senses entirely. After what felt like an eternity, the fierce pressure abruptly lifted, signaling Orion’s hard-won victory.

Orion gasped, body drenched in sweat, trembling fiercely, breath ragged and uneven. Slowly calming himself, he looked incredulously toward the people far above on the staircase, climbing upward with relative ease.

Shaking his head in disbelief, he murmured incredulously, ’How the fuck are these people crossing levels like this? I nearly died on the first major trial!’

Lumi remained silent, uncertain of how to respond or comfort him, as even she was baffled by the extreme difficulty Orion experienced.

Taking several deep breaths, Orion steadied himself again, gaze hardening with determination.

Accepting that dwelling on the difficulty served no purpose, he pressed onward, step by careful step, bracing himself for the steadily intensifying pressure.

Each subsequent step was exponentially harder, yet Orion persevered stubbornly, pushing his body, mind, and soul to their very limits. With each arduous step, his resolve hardened further, refusing to succumb despite the unbearable weight pressing upon him.

Finally, after painstaking effort, Orion reached the nineteenth step. His body felt nearly exhausted and his mind fatigued.

With great caution and a deep, calming breath, Orion mentally prepared himself before boldly stepping onto the twentieth step.

In that instant, Orion’s surroundings abruptly dissolved into an endless, featureless expanse of pure white, stretching infinitely in every direction.

There was no horizon, no distinguishing features, only emptiness extending without end. A deep, unsettling silence dominated this timeless void, an absence of sound so intense it pressed heavily on his ears.

He took cautious steps forward, attempting to navigate or reach an edge, yet no matter how far or how long he walked, he made no progress.

The scenery remained unchanged, an infinite, unyielding whiteness. Eventually realizing the futility of movement, Orion sighed deeply and stopped.

He seated himself cross-legged upon the intangible surface, closing his eyes to reflect carefully on his current predicament. ’If physical effort doesn’t help, perhaps mental clarity can lead me to an answer,’ Orion thought, quieting his turbulent mind.

Yet, every attempt at meaningful contemplation was immediately disrupted. The instant he directed his thoughts toward cultivation, meditation, or any form of productive advancement, a mysterious, invisible force intruded.

This strange, elusive energy disturbed his concentration, scattering his thoughts before they could form fully.

Frowning, Orion opened his eyes and carefully searched his surroundings for the source of disruption, but nothing tangible appeared.

Frustrated yet determined, he attempted meditation again, channeling his mental energy. Once more, the intrusive force emerged, dissipating his focus entirely.

After several more unsuccessful attempts, Orion finally understood clearly: this trial forbade cultivation or growth of any kind.

Realizing that productive actions were disallowed, he ceased his attempts, remaining seated quietly at the very center of this infinite whiteness.

Orion’s thoughts inevitably turned inward, questioning himself. "Why am I here? What is this trial testing exactly?" He mulled these questions deeply, yet soon his thoughts began drifting further inward, toward his past, toward both lifetimes he’d experienced.

Old regrets, unresolved emotions, and decisions surfaced vividly, hauntingly clear.

His consciousness became an ocean, turbulent with memories. Past failures from his previous life, bitter arguments, lost friends, tragic misunderstandings, each resurfaced vividly.

The weight of his regrets pressed heavily upon his spirit, testing the resilience of his Will.

A week passed in solitude, then a month, yet Orion’s spirit remained resolute. Time within the boundless mental space was distorted, immeasurable and endless.

Half a year slipped by unnoticed. Orion’s expression was unchanging, contemplative yet resolute, enduring the oppressive solitude.

One decade passed, then another, followed by an entire century. The endless silence stretched relentlessly, each passing moment a test of his resolve.

Orion quietly faced his own regrets repeatedly, never allowing the solitude to break him. Even as years turned into centuries, he clung stubbornly to his indomitable spirit, refusing surrender.

Five hundred years passed unnoticed, a vast ocean of solitary contemplation. Despite the immense length of time, Orion’s inner strength never faltered.

His Will had grown immeasurably sturdy through centuries of isolation. And finally, as he reached this immense milestone, the endless expanse around him abruptly vanished.

Reality restored itself instantly, returning Orion to the twentieth step of the crystal staircase.

His consciousness adjusted swiftly, yet as he rose to stand, the memories of those five centuries gradually faded, becoming foggy, indistinct, dreamlike.

He knew unquestionably that he had spent those long centuries trapped in solitary contemplation, yet the memories themselves became blurred, impossible to recall with clarity.

Orion shook his head slowly, exhaling deeply in disbelief, and murmured with humor, "So long wasted sitting on my ass."

Turning his determined gaze upward, his eyes quickly steadied on the next step, the twenty-first.