As Liam surged forward, Caspian let out a roar of frustration. His right foot trembled, hovering over the 812th step, but he couldn't bring himself to set it down. An overwhelming feeling told him that if he took this step, he would be unable to bear the consequences. This sensation was so vivid that he couldn't ignore it.

Caspian's face was a mask of intense concentration, a rare expression for him. He stood on the 811th step, hesitating for what seemed an eternity. Then, with a fierce resolve, he bit down hard and took that fateful step. As his foot touched the ground, Caspian coughed up a mouthful of blood.

His hair disheveled and his face contorted with madness, Caspian continued forward. Each step brought more blood from his lips, but he pressed on, driven by pride and dignity. He couldn't allow himself to be defeated.

Step by agonizing step, Caspian ascended: 817, 818, 839, 841. With a final, guttural scream, he reached the 850th step and pushed on a few more, stopping at the 855th. At that moment, he spat another mouthful of blood and began to fall backward.

The elderly overseer below summoned two clouds, forming large hands that gently caught Caspian, lifting him from the mountain.

Now, the mountain belonged solely to Liam.

The square below was silent. No whispers, no gasps—just the sound of rapid breathing as everyone stared at the solitary figure on the mountain. The first-place contender, Caspian, had reached the 855th step. The second, Liam, was at 807.

Time flowed by, and this night was destined to be extraordinary, far more so than the previous day. It was Liam's night, a night marked by his unyielding resolve.

No one in the square grew impatient. In silence, they waited for Liam to make his move. And then, just before dawn, as the sky began to brighten, Liam moved.

This movement did not cause the heavens to tremble or the clouds to churn, but it sent a storm raging through the hearts of all who watched.

Standing on the 807th step, Liam's body trembled as if it might collapse. Above the 800th step, even with the support of Body Forging, the pressure was unimaginably intense.

After just three steps, Liam felt he had reached his limit. His body screamed in agony, beyond what Body Forging could mitigate. The cracking sounds of his bones echoed in his ears.

Breathing heavily, his heart pounding to the point of bursting, Liam stood still. Even resting was impossible due to the immense pressure. His body shook as he lifted his right foot and stepped onto the 810th step.

As his foot touched the ground, his entire body shuddered, and he spat blood. Yet, he forced himself to remain standing and moved his left foot onto the 811th step.

Exhausted, as if the weight of the entire mountain bore down on him, Liam's world spun. His Body Forging energy was nearly depleted.

At the moment of his leap, as his feet left the mountain, he seemed to be suspended in mid-air. A wild wind howled, blowing his hair in all directions as if nature itself were enraged.

In this instant, Liam's mind cleared. Time seemed to slow, and he felt himself soaring. He saw the sky, the earth, and the towering Mystomount below him.

All eyes in the square were fixed on Liam. Caspian had risen to his feet, watching the cloud hand appear and dissipate, revealing a blurred figure.

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Not just Caspian—everyone in the square, including the Phantasmal Academy disciples who had been observing the competition, now looked on with respect. Those who had given up on the test and those still in the running held their breath, their gazes locked on Liam.

The elderly overseer, his eyes sharp and curious, wanted to see the face of this remarkable individual. Caspian took a deep breath, trying to calm his tumultuous emotions, and focused intently on the approaching cloud hand.

As the cloud hand dissipated and Liam's figure emerged, the entire square fell into an eerie silence. All eyes were on him, his presence commanding their undivided attention.

His appearance was ordinary, his clothes unremarkable, lacking any grandeur or mystery. He did not possess the aura of a star nor the aloofness of a solitary hero. Amidst a crowd, he would be easily overlooked, blending seamlessly into the background. Yet, everyone knew that while this person might have been ordinary before the first test, he now stood out like the blazing sun, stunning everyone with his brilliance.

As the crowd watched, the elder responsible for overseeing the exam suddenly moved forward, seizing Liam's left hand. Before Liam could react, the elder channeled his Arcane Power into Liam's body. After all, Liam's sudden leap from sixth place to first was suspicious, and though cheating on Mystomount was unheard of, as the chief examiner, the elder had to be thorough.

Liam tensed up, trying to pull his hand away, but he was exhausted from the climb, and the elder's strength was far beyond his own. He could only hope that his secret would remain hidden.

After a moment, the elder released Liam's hand, a smile forming on his face. He found nothing unusual. Patting Liam's head, he asked gently, "What is your name?"

Relieved, Liam rubbed his sore wrist and answered respectfully, "Grandfather, my name is Liam. Liam Serenity."

"Liam, you're remarkable," the elder said, nodding with approval before turning to the crowd. "I hereby declare that the first place in this endurance test goes to Liam Serenity!"

The square erupted in thunderous applause, celebrating the thirteen-year-old boy. All eyes, filled with admiration, envy, respect, jealousy, and even budding affection, were on this seemingly ordinary boy.

In that moment, Liam was the undeniable center of attention.

As the applause subsided, Liam slowly walked toward Rowan and the others.

"Liam Serenity!" A voice called out from the crowd. It was Caspian.

Liam stopped and turned, meeting Caspian's gaze for the first time.

"Liam, my name is Caspian Darkwood. I won't forget you!" Caspian's voice was steady, filled with determination and a hint of coldness. For someone like Caspian, who had always been first, this second place was a bitter defeat.

"I won't forget you either, Caspian," Liam replied after a moment's silence, his tone calm and respectful of his rival. He then turned his gaze to his friends approaching him, their faces beaming with excitement.

"You were amazing, Liam! You're the pride of our village!" Little Fat Bill exclaimed proudly, as if he were the one who had taken first place.

"Yeah, Liam, you're so cool! I've never seen you like this before. You're my hero!" Elena gushed, her admiration palpable.

Liam shook his head with a smile, thinking she had plenty of chances to notice him before.

"Are you okay, Liam? I saw the elder grab you, and I was worried…" Finnian asked, his concern evident.

"I'm fine. I think he just wanted to check if I was hurt," Liam replied, feeling a deep warmth in his heart.

Rowan clapped Liam on the shoulder, smiling. "You were incredible. You left us all in awe."

"Alright, let's go. We can celebrate later. I’ve got our room keys for tonight, and I saw some delicious food waiting," Little Fat Bill said, waving the keycards with an eager grin.

"You only think about food…" Elena and Finnian rolled their eyes at him.

Rowan draped an arm around Liam's shoulders and yawned. "Let's go. I haven't had a good rest in days. I'm exhausted."

Liam and his friends left the square, heading towards their temporary lodging at the base of Mystomount. Gradually, the crowd dispersed as well, each person returning to their accommodations, while some Phantasmal Academy disciples rushed to report the results to their mentors.

Finally able to relax, Liam's thoughts drifted back to the mountain and the uncontrollable surge of Body Forging. He had feared his secret might be discovered, but so far, everything seemed to have gone smoothly. Even the elder's inspection hadn't revealed anything unusual. Now, he just had to wait for the results of the next day's talent test.

The first phase of the trial was over. After a night of rest, the next challenge awaited—the talent test at dawn. This test would determine who would officially enter Phantasmal Academy and begin their journey as Arcanists.