Unlike Alex who gave his all to save every single person in the city, the other participants did not push themselves to such an extent.
After all, the chances of losing their lives were high and the people weren't even real. So there was no point in going that far.
Of course, many failed at this stage and while they had do-overs, not many people were able to overcome the challenge, even after five tries.
Yes, the trial of saving the city gave them five tries, well, four if you take out the first one. Even then, many failed even after the clues left behind.
In the end, the number of remaining trial participants went down to a mere 35 from the thousands of students that started the trial.
Ross had been able to pass his trial after the third trial, being able to save more than 90 per cent of the city's populace, including him in the number of students who qualified to move forward.
Another half an hour after Alex completed his trial, those who were left were returned to the suspended bridge in the blank space as they got ready to tackle the next trial.
But there was one thing though…
While Alex had to do with no mana, the others had more than enough to use. But now, that would become a challenge for them as for most of them, they required mana to fight the celestial constructs without wasting too much time.
.....
Standing on the bridge with his greatsword tucked on his wide back, Ross closed his eyes and took deep breaths to prepare for the fight ahead of him.
'I'm sure Alex was able to pass the city trial with ease. Only two more trials left to reach the summit.'
He opened his eyes as determination flickered within them before taking the first step on the next hundred steps.
His sword was held in his right hand as he dragged it behind him like it weighed more than he could handle.
After a few seconds of walking, he furrowed his brows and looked around. He expected the constructs to rush him by now, yet nothing of the sort happened.
'Did something change?'
He didn't dare to believe there would be no fight. His tensed-up body wouldn't allow him to relax even for a second.
The more he moved forward, the tenser he got as he felt that the delay may have something to do with something that would be more challenging to deal with.
Still, after more than half the steps covered, nothing happened.
'….'
With eyes now focused on the finished line a few steps away, he looked around for the last time for any constructs before storming towards the line.
He arrived and still nothing.
"This is odd…"
It would have been a funny situation if he was the only one being this cautious, but everyone was being that careful, well except for one person who confidently walked forward but still found the situation odd.
"Very well…"
With no point in overthinking the matter, he stepped over the mark and his environment changed into a white expansive space.
Ross was taken aback by the sensation that washed over him as he lost his sense of direction. A few moments after looking around, he couldn't tell whether he was up or down, left or right; he was totally.
"What the hell…"
The sensation made him slightly dizzy as well as he held his head in his left hand to regain his senses.
Then, the same sensation he felt when appeared on the bridge for the first time returned.
"Urg!"
He groaned and took a knee without much resistance. The pressure was too overwhelming and heavy.
But unlike the other time where he was cared shitless and while he was still shaken, he knew whatever being it was had no intention of killing him.
He remained quiet and just waited for the heavy voice of the being to resonate.
[Congratulations for making it this far…]
The voice came and Ross simply remained kneeling with his head down like a knight awaiting his king to knight him, yet the sweat on his brows and strain on his face told a different story to how he appeared.
[… However, the trials ahead become more arduous and life-threatening. Should you continue to move further, you also acknowledge to forfeit your life…]
Ross was momentarily confused asto why the voice was stating the obvious. Wasn't every one hundred steps a trial they had to take?
Like everyone else, he expected to see a trial when he arrived here, so the mysterious red eyes and voice were the last thing he expected to encounter.
[… Ross Bongu… Do you wish to forfeit here and persevere your life… or …. Do you wish to continue...]
It wasn't a trial they had to face in the third realm, but a question to determine if they still had the will to continue.
[….]
The unknown entity waited patiently for Ross to make his decision; his life was on the line after all.
They say men die for wealth and birds die for food. In this case, however, the greatest wealth a person could have in the kind of universe they lived in was absolute strength,
Knowing this, Ross hardened his will and made his choice.
"I wish to continue…"
He had made a promise to himself not long ago. If he quit now because things might become too challenging and put his life on the line, then he was better off not being a hunter at all.
[… Very well… You shall advance to the fourth trial directly…]
The voice added before the aura disappeared completely, allowing Ross to regain his composure. He got back to his feet and then stepped forward as his environment changed once again.
Ross had made his choice to advance and so have others. But not everyone had the courage to continue moving forward when the mana they relied on so much was almost depleted.
Because of this, from the remaining 35 participants, only 17 advanced and each one of them could be called the elite of elites.