22nd November

The sphere condensed cosmium energy. The heat and pressure were unbearable.

Even the burnt bones of Brock wouldn't be found

If the sphere hit.

Suddenly, a palm appeared from nowhere, holding the guy's hand distinguishing the sphere as if it was nothing.

"Benjamin!"

It was a girl.

The guy became frightened

"Ye..es, ma'am."

"It's already enough. Everyone from our team managed to reach the peak. Don't overdo stuff."

"o..ok ma'am."

The girl was a little taller than Benjamin and had the same handkerchief as a mask. Except for her, one also had red bite marks around the snake

They walked away. Before walking away Benjamin glanced at Brock again.

His eyes were saying "Next time you face me, you are dead."

The environment turned normal again. Ryan wasn't harmed much. He stood to his feet. He limped toward Brock.

Something touched his legs. It was the corpse of the girl with the wing.

She breathed her last way ago. Her body turned ice cold. Ryan felt like vomiting but managed himself and reached Brock.

Ryan pulled Brock

"Can you hang on?"

"Yeah. A few of my ribs seem broken. But I can."

"God gracious."

Ryan grabbed Brock and pushed cosmium energy into the ground.

A few roots grabbed them and started climbing up the mountain. The speed was moderate.

"It's slower than our sprinting speed. but at least we can make it."

After a few minutes, they reached their peak.

The secretary of the president welcomed them. She was wearing her usual clothing except for the upper part of the shirt was unbuttoned, exposing her ivory-shaded skin.

"Ah, congratulation. You are 988 and 989th to reach the peak. Oh, you seemed injured. let me help you."

The secretary pulled her gloves. Her mil-white hands with dark polished nails came out.

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The nails were more like an inch long. She dug her nail inside Brock's chest. It entered like a knife cutting a cake.

His chest was smeared with blood.

Brock uttered in pain, "What're you.."

"Shh..."

The secretary didn't let Brock make noise.

It felt as if the nail even pierced through the heart.

His flesh was burning but his ribs were feeling like coming together.

"Well, here you go. The wound can be helped with simple medicines. But the broken bones couldn't be."

"Ugh, Thanks I guess."

"Please enjoy your time with the rest until the next notices come."

Brock nodded

The peak got crowded as well. And among them, a good number of people could be seen wearing the branded handkerchief as a mask.

"Brock!" someone from the crowd screamed. Brock tried to find out who. It was the girl with pink hair from that day.

"You managed?"

"Um..um..yeah."

"Uh, I see."

"You seemed badly wounded then"

"Ah, that's nothing. Just ran into a maniac"

The girl blushed

"thank goodness."

"You haven't introduced yourself yet" Ryan joined

"Ah.ah.I am Ariana."

Brock mumbled, "You want to continue the exams? The exam is scary."

"Uh..uh.Thanks for concerning me. I think I can take care. um..take this."

She pulled out a small bottle from her pocket and offered it to Brock

"It's a ..mm..medicine. It'll heal your wounds."

Brock felt his heart throbbing as well. He thought

"What's with her?"

Brock took the bottle and drank the potion.

"Thanks...I already feel better."

But it was a lie. Brock was still feeling dizzy.

Her face turned red.

Suddenly she pulled Brock

"Look at the sunrise from a rocky mountain. It's so beautiful."

Brock would yell the hell out if anyone else pulled him like that. But he did an exception this time

The yellow glow started to turn into a red sphere of light and hope, rising from the foggy ice-blue mountains.

Brock uttered

"pulchritudinous"