Like Ross, every participant was going through their own trials, walking the bridge to cover the steps needed to activate the hidden realms.
However, not everyone was as powerful and as strong as Ross, and although they reached that level, it didn't guarantee they'd overcome the trials ahead.
Hundreds had been eliminated from fighting the constructs on the bridge alone, talkless of venturing into the hidden realm to face whatever trials set up for them.
Some were injured heavily before they entered the hidden realm, only to look on in despair at the difficult situation they faced, and with no way out, they could only push themselves to keep moving.
...…..
Alex had no problem eliminating the constructs thrown his way. He was, however, exposed to the overwhelming oppressive force everyone was exposed to, and just like most, knelt on one leg.
Inside the realm of his first trial, he watched the constant rain of lightning and floating spectres hovering around the monolith.
After taking several minutes to study the lightning strikes, he was ready to tackle the lightning storm.
Awakened like himself had good memories for memorizing stuff, however, this bonus ability varied from person to person.
'The storm itself isn't too much of a problem once you observe long enough. The issue is those spectres. They'd definitely storm me once I move.
'This trial is mostly about finding the pattern in the storm. But those things follow no logic at all.'
His stern eyes darted rapidly as he watched the spectres, finding no sensible rhythm to their movements. And while there was another area free of lightning around the monolith, getting there was the problem.
'But there is no other alternative.'
He returned his gaze to the rain of lightning and pondered for a while before taking out his spear.
"Huu….. Here goes nothing."
Suddenly, he adopted a determined expression and dashed into the lightning storm. He had no reason to test out their power; it was more than clear how dangerous they were.
Alex's speed was explosive and precise. He skillfully evaded the lighting tendrils, zooming from one point to another in a blur.
The distance from the resting area to the monolith was about 250 meters away and because of his evasive movements, it was going to take some time to reach it.
However, what he feared followed as soon as he entered the storm.
The spectres wailed loudly and rushed towards his approaching form, phasing through the lightning storm like it didn't exist.
Their speed was not very fast, however, with the constant dodging Alex had to do, it wouldn't be an issue to assault him once they reached him.
'Here they come.'
His firm gaze watched as they approached him with vengeance. Even then, Alex did not stop moving.
He brandished his spear and channelled his mana as the spear glowed with a subtle hum. Then, he conjured a protective ward of light around his body.
The spectres were finally on him and although not all of them moved, most of them did and they numbered in the tens.
"Come on, uglies!"
Alex bellowed as the first spectre reached him. With absolute ease that showcased his prowess with his spear, he delivered a spiral pierce that ran through the spectre as it wailed and scattered like smoke.
He wasted no time to look at his handy work and continued moving. Then the others arrived, several of them at once.
Yet, Alex made short work of them. While his expression was serious and focused, he felt no fear whatsoever facing the spectres. It was a feeling that surprised him a bit, yet he didn't know where that came from.
But then, after covering another bit of distance dodging the striking lightning, he heard the wailing of spectres from behind him. He didn't even bother to look back.
'I knew those things wouldn't die so easily.'
He gritted his teeth realizing how the issue could spiral out of control if he was surrounded. That was why he kept moving even though he knew they were closing in on him.
The situation was growing worse as Alex now faced spectres coming from the monolith with the ones he destroyed coming from behind.
'Looks like I'd have to destroy them several times. Again, mana is my issue.'
He snorted in frustration as he awaited the spectres to arrive, and the moment they did, Alex spun around as he evaded a lightning tendril before sending a mana-charged kick that conjured a bright curved arc.
The curved arc blade sliced through a lot of the spectres as most turned to smoke while the rest continued forward.
He landed on his feet and spun his spear over his head and created a circular blade of condensed light blade that did a number on the rest; those coming from behind and those from the monolith.
However, the move he pulled to deal with the spectres delayed him by a fraction of a second. A second that a large tendril of lighting fell from above as it rushed towards him.
He cursed loudly as he jumped back, but the small delay was too significant. It was too much time for a lightning tendril travelling at lightning speed.
The tendril struck the condensed defensive ward with a loud boom, shattering it in an instant before striking his left leg.
The massive jolts of energy travelled through his entire body in a split second, shocking him like nothing he had ever felt and his body shuddered from the strike.
"AHHHHH!"
He screamed his lungs out as smoke sizzled from his body through the armour. Luckily for him, the strike would take a few moments to strike again.
Even then, he was not out of the storm yet. The spectres then rushed him as they stretched their arms towards Alex.
Their ear-grating wails awoke Alex from his momentary daze as he turned towards them.
'Damnit!'
He saw the specters already on him, yet he hadn't recovered from the strike yet. He was bound to experience what the specters had in store and it wasn't going to be pretty.