Chapter 58：The third set of trails (1/2)
”He is already at twentieth floor. Do you think he will beat the others and win first place?”
”I don't know. But he is not faster than others. Maybe he might be same as the other two guys who are in the lead.”
”I think so too.”
”I don't think so. He might even withdraw from the next floor.”
Some candidates and spectators are discussing about Sam as they spectated the tower.
Meanwhile Sam is being under the test that will lead him to the last set of the tests in the tower. The test to enter twenty-first floor.
Sam is sweating all over as he looked at the time as he sat on the platform. His conscious is wide awake. In his mind.
Sam is hanging on to a tall vertical rocky surface. He looked down and beneath him is a pool of hot lava, from which the hot vapours came out searing his skin. He looked upwards towards the mouth of the volcano. He can clearly see a blue sky filled with white clouds.
Sam started climbing. His spiritual energy is sealed and his memory is blank. The only thing he knew is that he cannot hold on to the rocky wall at the same spot if he wants to survive. His body has several cuts and bruises and some of the wounds are bleeding. He slowly started getting near the mouth of the volcano. When he finally placed his hand over the mouth and pulled himself up, a light flashed and he found himself at the point he started.
”Fuck” He cursed out loud as he looked at the pool of lave very near to his legs. This is the fourth time this happened. Every time he climbed up with all his might, he will come back down as if he was struck in a loop and worse every time this happened, his injuries will worsen due to the close exposure of the heat from the lava. He is growing tired and he wants to rest, but something in his mind is telling him that climbing is the only escape route. If he wants to live, he needs to climb.
He started climbing and again reached the top and again came back to the bottom in a flash.
Fifth time.
Sixth time.
.
.
Tenth time. Sam is fully wounded. His skin cracked. He has third degree burns; he is holding the rocky protrusion with all his might. But he refused to give up. His palms are covered with blood and burns. He is hurting all over and he still tried to pull himself up, but this time his hand lost the grip and he fell into the lava pool.
*splash*
Sam opened his eyes on the platform. He is drenched in sweat. His skin became cold.
*pah* *pah* He slapped himself twice to make himself more awake. He looked at the door which just opened and he felt anxious as to what to see in the next round.
His first ten rounds, he was put against powerful enemies, which he cannot win against. But he was given a fighting chance and the next ten rounds, he was put against the nature and was thrown into a helpless situation which he can't even put up a fight with. He really wants to see what would he up against next.
He slowly made his way to the next floor and the style of the runic patterns really changed. He sat on the central platform and closed his eyes. Suddenly a voice came in his mind.
[Oh, another young man. Seems like the younger generation is getting stronger and stronger. In one day, there are already seventh one. Let me see what you have in your head.]
The voice sounded like as if it was belonged to an old man. It sounded coarse. Just as the voice finished, Sam felt someone enter his consciousness and read him like a book. He found an old man's silhouette in his consciousness and all his memories flashed past him one by one and the memories were not just after his rebirth, but also the memories of the previous life. The Old man looked at the memories with a surprised expression. Then he turned towards Sam's conscious and said.
[your soul belongs to another world. I wasn't able to see how you got here; he seems to be of someone who is far more powerful. Anything related to him in your memory is unable to read. Coming back to your situation. You really seem to have gone through a lot in your past life. This might be a bit unfair to you, but I can't do anything about it. I hope your will is strong enough to make it to the top.] The Old silhouette disappeared as soon as he spoke without giving Sam any chance to speak.
Sam again felt a jolt in mind and his consciousness drifted again. He opened his eyes and saw a familiar place, very familiar that it etched into memory and into his very soul.
Sam looked at the shed he was in and looked at the kids of various ages from three years to ten years in ragged cloths. He is right now back to his past, this place is familiar to him, because this is where his four-year-old previous self, lived.
Sam looked at the door and had a bad premonition, he tried to remember why he was back here, but nothing came to his mind, The memory of his was only remained until the situation, the rest of the memory is blank, even though he knew that he got past this, but he doesn't remember how he got past this.
Suddenly, door opened. A young man in his twenties came in with a loud bang and looked around as if searching for someone, when his eyes landed on Sam, he immediately walked towards him and without any word he kicked him in his guts. Sam flew over and landed on the floor all the kids frightened and stood up from the grounds and huddled to other side of the shed.
”You little piece of shit. Why didn't you go to your shift today? Who will pay for the food you are going to eat?” He walked towards Sam and held him by his throat and felt Sam's skin was warmer and his voice grew harsher.