Chapter 52: The Balanced World (1/2)
'Intense!' Jake had only one word in his mind as he bore the full weight of the pressure.
Going by cultivation terms, if a [Realm 1] could lift an object of the weight of 15 Elephants(225,000 pounds), then the estimated weight of the King's aura pressure is about 22 Elephants(330,000 pounds).
That was insane and beyond any [Realm 1] cultivator's limit. That is also why it is the best option for the preliminary stage.
As the King said, he didn't want ordinary people, he wanted warriors, who could persevere in precarious situations.
Especially, in times like this when there is a strange organization hanging by their neck.
Little by little, some of the participants went on their knees.
Even after years of preparation, they failed to endure one minute of the King's aura.
Summoning their courage, they held their ground, quickly standing up.
Some of them thought of what they would say to their parents if they dropped out now.
What would they say to all the medicines they had consumed to get to this stage?
What would they say to all the training they had undergone?
To all the expectant smiles of their family members?
What about the premature party his parents threw to boost his confidence?
”Impossible,” shouted them all.
They firmly stood their ground, ignoring the cracking of their bones.
They ignored the shredding of their muscles, as their veins went on full display in response to their determination.
Massive warning, in the form of headaches, threw their minds disarray, but they disregarded it.
Temporarily forgetting about their body state, they looked at their surroundings, trying to find motivation among their peers, trying to find a sense of justification for their weak bodies.
But Alas, the Heavens are blind!
About 40 of the participants' expressions were tranquil, cool, and undisturbed as if the pressure was just an itch.
”Wrong!” screamed all the struggling nobles.
Did they follow the teachings of their parents?
Did they not train day and night?
Did they not spend almost all of their childhood augmenting their combat skills, risking their lives fighting demon beasts?
Some of them even remembered the time they broke their limbs trying to kill a zombie.
The terror they felt when they realized they might become one.
The way they hid that fear, as it wasn't needed.
The look on their trainer's face when he shouted, ”Again!”
As if by reflex, they instinctively shouted, ”Again!”
Commanding their shaking knees not to break, not go lower!
They, once again, looked at the talented participants, the ones with the higher cultivation base.
Crying, they thought, ”Why?!”
Why after all their efforts, they still failed?
Were they not both humans?
Yet, some were born better than others.
'It's not fair,' they cried as they hallucinated the faces of the talented participants mocking them from a higher peak.
Still, they did not bend, ”I do not accept this!”
While others may think they were just pampered nobles, they weren't. They had responsibilities; responsibilities to their parents, responsibilities to their proud younger sibling, responsibilities to their territories.
Thinking of this, they went past their limit, absorbing [Spirit Essence] crazily in an effort to reinforce their body.
Sadly, whatever is ordained cannot be changed!
The rate of absorption was slower than the rate they expended [Spirit Essence].
Very quickly, they had entered a deficit, and their body started to deteriorate.
They fell flatly, as the last string of their strong will broke, succumbing to fate.
The last thing they heard was the loud voice of their King, ”Flan, Now!” and they closed their tearful eyes.
...…
Flan smiled as he ran around the stages, carrying out the disqualified participants and giving them to a response team who will then transport them to the med bay.
After carrying out the last round of disqualified participants, he went to his King, waiting for the next round of participants to fall.
”Did you record their names?” asked his King.
”Yes, my King,” humbly replied Flan.
The King smiled, ”Good. After the event, give the name list to my brother. He would recruit them to the army.”
”Should we tell them?” pondered Flan.
”No, they do not need to know. It will be my reward to them, even though they failed. Plus, most of them are currently unconscious,” explained the King.
To him, the competition was just for show. He came here to search for the truly brilliant ones, the strong-minded ones.
Talent was like a constant force, only a driving force like a strong will could utilize it best.
It was rare to find talented ones, but it was even rarer to find strong-minded ones.
”Hmm, the remaining ones are feeling comfortable. Perhaps, I should increase the pressure of my aura,” commented the King.
”Yes, my King, the participants are still a bit too much,” agreed Flan.
”Hahahaha,” laughed the King as the cruelty of Flan.
Like that, he increased the pressure!
.....
Compared to others, Jake had it easy.
Though his cultivation base was lower than his peers, it was richer.
He was possibly the only one that had achieved the hidden stage in [Realm 0].
He had unlocked the peak-est form ever, his Ultimate Physique, which was basically an upgrade, but a crazy one at that.
With just his cultivation at [Realm 1 Stage 3], his strength was on par with [Realm 1 Stage 8].
This was what Jake called perfection!
He didn't cheat or consume any demonic pill. He just achieved his best state.
'Hmm, the pressure has increased, ' discerned Jake.
He could feel the pressure coiling around him, trying to force him on his knees, but it failed to do so.
Jake closed his eyes in concentration as he could hear the cries and struggles of other participants.
'That is the reality,' thought Jake.
The world was fair.
It was not white.