Many champions faced their first encounter with the renowned officers of the Judgment Road. Dozens hastily retreated, while a handful stood their ground, prepared to confront the faceless group enveloped in molten flames.
Several champions surged toward the judges, each unleashing their ultimate attacks. Explosions reverberated, drowning out the screams of those who tumbled from the disintegrating staircase. Despite the chaos, the judges, stationed at the epicenter of the blasts, remained unscathed. Only their feet remained untouched by the encroaching flames. The relentless onslaught of champions persisted, as more joined the initial assault, yet no explosive spells or weapons made a dent in the judges' robust forms.
As the flames consumed the feet of the golden officers, a pivotal moment arrived. The judges, now resembling an abominable legion dispatched from the depths of hell to extinguish all life, sprang into action.
The judges lunged at their adversaries with reckless abandon, wielding their weapons without a hint of grace or technique. Instead, their strikes embodied the sheer brutality of mindless creatures. The air was thick with the scent of fresh blood, mingling with the acrid stench of charred flesh and burnt earth. Echoes of screams harmonized with the relentless swings of the brutal judges, most emanating from the fallen champions or those unfortunate enough to be struck by the massive air balls.
A macabre mountain of corpses grew as the judges spared nothing that showed signs of life. Even those skilled in camouflage and illusion arts were easily obliterated by the marauding officers. The judgment road echoed with screams, and a handful of champions who had fled earlier returned, pursued by another group of fiery judges.
Amidst the chaos, the only champions spared from the massacre were those who had not yet set foot on the judgment road or those still in possession of their beacons. All others faced ruthless and violent purging.
With the fall of the last champion, the judges lifted their heads towards the judgment road. The initial two hundred steps had vanished, and several more teetered on the brink of disappearance. Champions sprinted with unwavering determination, vying for the scarce neon spots dotting the stairs. Those unable to secure a foothold or lingering too long in one place were propelled through the air by rampaging air balls, spiraling down to the ground where the judges eagerly awaited their descent.
One judge diverted its attention from the judgment road, focusing instead on a fellow judge. Extending its free hand, it seized the neck of the judge transfixed by the unfolding events. In this manner, the first judge absorbed the flames of the second, transforming it into a resplendent golden statue. Methodically, the judge approached others and replicated the process, consecutively turning over twenty judges into statues that encircled the now colossal figure. Then, with a crouch, its thighs swelling massively, the flames gathered around its legs.
Several gifted champions had observed the enigmatic judge, perplexed by its ability to consume the flames generated by the other judges. As the judge crouched, their expressions contorted into grotesque masks, betraying a shared realization.
“Please, God, don't let it be so,” a muscular woman silently prayed, her pace quickening as she ran.
The judge leaped, ascending several feet into the air, propelled by flames beneath its feet. It landed meters away from a vanishing step, stunning unaware champions. Positioned directly in the path of colossal air balls, the fiery judge, however, remained motionless.
The airborne orbs collided with the ablaze figure, producing a distinctive clank that reverberated throughout the judgment road. However, the judge maintained an unwavering stance. Despite the repeated impacts of additional air balls, the outcome remained unchanged. The judge of light pivoted its gaze toward the vanishing stairs, then redirected its attention to the judges below. Extending its free hand, its flames momentarily pulsed before unleashing a barrage of fireballs upon the immobile assembly.
A cascade of fiery rain descended upon the judges. Twenty of them instinctively crouched, then propelled themselves into the air, utilizing the flames to soar even higher in a bizarre display of midair acrobatics.
Observing the spectacle, the champions who had escaped earlier purges could only gape in astonishment.
“Holy... is this the madness I signed up for?” muttered a man, his eyes fixed on the ascending judges.
In an instant, the judges materialized in the precarious section of the retreating staircase. The flames that had cloaked the judge responsible for summoning the others flickered out, leaving it frozen like a statue, hand still outstretched. Meanwhile, the newcomers unleashed chaos upon the unsuspecting champions who had believed their only concern was escaping the vanishing stairs and outpacing each other.
At the forefront of the group, the hound extermination crew maintained a significant lead over the other champions. Zara and Scott rapidly depleted stamina bars and downed recovery potions while dodging a barrage of air balls. Slim, in contrast, revitalized himself by absorbing the abundant death energy in the vicinity, simultaneously fueling his bones with nether.
The trio could no longer discern the mountain path below; in its place, an expanse of fluffy gray stretched as far as the eye could see.
“Guys, something's happening with the others. I can hear their screams,” Slim conveyed mentally, tempted to glance over his shoulders.
“Ignore it,” Scott said, his gaze fixed on the skeletal figure ahead. "I can't spot those troublesome orbs up ahead," he added.
“Really?” Zara exclaimed; her excitement impossible to conceal. It felt like she had been trudging through mud while simultaneously battling against a relentless wind.
“Don't celebrate just yet,” Slim cautioned before Scott could respond. “In this place, there might be another surprise waiting for us.”
Zara's enthusiasm vanished instantly, and the brawler once again regarded the path ahead with a stoic expression.
“Zara, halt fifty steps from your current position,” Scott's voice echoed in the mind of the cat girl.
“Huh? Why?” Zara inquired, resisting the urge to turn toward the masked man.
“I can't see anything beyond that point,” Scott replied without hesitation.
Slim interjected, “Buddy, isn't that a positive sign?”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Usually, it would. But I can't see anything beyond the fiftieth step,” Scott explained slowly.
“When you say you can't see anything, are you referring to the stairs or something else?” Zara asked.
“I should have been clearer. After the fiftieth step, the stairs vanish from my sight,” Scott clarified, compounding Zara and Slim's confusion. Despite their ability to see the golden steps extending further into the sky, Scott insisted that it ended after a couple of steps.
“Buddy, are you confident in what you're saying?” Slim asked after a long pause.
“100% confident,” Scott replied without hesitation.
Slim and Zara fell into deep thought again, and Scott remained silent. He, too, couldn't comprehend what lay ahead. Initially, he had seen the majestic steps stretching into the heavens, but moments earlier, it had disappeared, replaced with a vast nothingness that filled him with fear.
“Forget it. What kind of leader would I be if I didn't trust my own minion?” Zara said.
Scott and Slim couldn't help but stare intently at the cat girl. Not only was it the first time they had heard the brawler openly curse, but they also wore wry smiles, wondering how long Zara intended for them to be her minions.
“I trust you too, buddy. Despite being a bit of a weirdo, your judgments are always spot-on,” Slim remarked.
“Wait, what? Is that a compliment or an insult?” Scott suppressed a chuckle. Despite spending considerable time with the skeleton and cat girl, he knew there was still much to unravel about this peculiar duo.
“My leader, we held a minion meeting, and we've decided it's time to announce a new party leader competition,” Slim conveyed through the party channel.
“Never.” Zara laughed, adding, “So, you guys have been conspiring to overthrow me from my position. I can't believe my minions are already plotting against me.”
“My leader, what about democracy?” Slim suggested.
“Forget that, I'm a tyrant,” Zara snickered mischievously. “For attempting to dethrone your magnanimous leader, Slim, you're demoted to Minion 99999, and Scott is demoted to Minion 02.”
“Wait, what? Why such a massive demotion for me?” Slim protested.
“You obviously used Scott’s name in your petition, and who are you to question my leadership?” Zara said, struggling to contain her giggles.
“Corruption! This is corruption and favoritism. We demand fresh elections,” Slim retorted.
“No way!” Zara burst into laughter, yet her running pace and focus remained unwavering.
Scott's gaze shifted from Slim to Zara and back to the skeleton, a myriad of questions racing through his mind. Despite the curiosity, he opted for silence, recognizing the futility of interrupting the duo amid their shenanigans.
In an instant, Zara came to a stop; Slim and Scott swiftly joined her on the same step. The trio stood there, staring ahead at the seemingly innocuous path ahead.
“Buddy, what's our move now?” Slim inquired, glancing at the masked man.
“I honestly don’t know,” Scott muttered, his gaze fixated on the infinite expanse before him. From his perspective, they teetered on the edge of a void, an abyss enticing them to take that one daring step.
Zara furrowed her brows, reaching into her inventory for a stamina bar. Without a word, she tossed the item toward the next step, only for it to collide with an invisible barrier, emitting a dull thump before landing on the golden step beneath them.
“What was that just now?” Slim muttered, instinctively stretching out his arm.
Congratulations! Your party is the first to reach the midway point of the judgment road! Exp: 200!
Please choose one option from the following rewards! Reward 1 Your party can skip the second and third stages, arriving in front of the judgment gate. However, you will not be entitled to any rewards. Reward 2 Each member of your party will be bestowed with six grand boosters to increase your physical traits! Reward 3 Each member of your party will receive two advanced grimoires containing high-tier abilities. Reward 4 Each member of your party can choose to work for the Order of Light. However, you will no longer be able to take part in the trials as a champion, and you will instantly be sent to Light City to be groomed as a potential judge of Light. Reward 5 Each member of your party will receive a one-time purchase ticket from the Tower Trader.
Please choose a reward within the next five minutes!
The trio exchanged glances, a palpable silence hanging in the air before their collective attention zeroed in on the lone, flashing blue screen.
“I'm ruling out the fourth option, no doubt about it,” Slim declared.
“Agreed. But which one should we go for?” Zara's gaze flitted between the enticing rewards, her beautiful eyes contemplating the possibilities.
Scott spoke up in a hushed tone, breaking the silence, “The first one is our safest bet. As Slim mentioned, the fourth option is off the table. While the allure of the second, third, and fifth is undeniable, there's no guarantee we'll survive the remaining trials. Opting for the first may mean forfeiting immediate rewards, but, at the very least, we'll be alive to explore future opportunities.”
Individual party members can choose which reward suits them best!
Scott frowned behind his mask as he saw the new system message. That’s surprising. I was expecting they would let us argue amongst ourselves, but this changes everything. I wonder which decision they’re going to go with, Scott thought to himself.
“Guys, I’m going for the first option. What about you?” Scott said.
“The other rewards are quite tempting, but I’ll choose option one for now. Like you said, there are no guarantees we’ll even live long enough to enjoy the benefits of the rewards,” Zara said.
“I can’t be the odd one out, I’ll choose the first option too,” Slim said.
The trio clicked on their preferred reward and a new system window appeared.
You have chosen to skip the latter stages of the judgment road! You will not receive additional rewards!
Slim pouted and shook his head. Despite the challenging situation, he didn't regret his decision in the least. He raised his head, dropping his right hand onto Scott's shoulder. “Buddy, do you notice anything different now?” Slim asked, gesturing toward the path ahead.
Scott began to respond, but before he could utter a word, an immense force seized the trio, propelling them instantly toward a colossal pearl gate ascending into the skies. Tens of thousands of judges roamed the periphery of the ornate gate, their attention riveted on the trio that had materialized out of thin air.
Congratulations! You have reached the end of the Judgment Road! Exp: 100! Main Quest: Survive the second trial – Completed! Exp: 100! You have received several new items! Main Quest has been updated! You are being watched by the lesser god of illusions!