MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

The Age Event came to a close as the ages of all participants were meticulously measured and recorded, each moment of their lives quantified without exception

With a snap of the Overseer's fingers, the Soulflux Prism withdrew, vanishing back into the earth from whence it came.

Its ethereal glow dimmed until it was but a memory.

Despite the gravity of the event, only nine individuals were eliminated, a negligible reduction in their overall numbers.

The Overseer's voice resonated like a calm storm, carrying authority.

"And now, the first trial that will truly diminish your ranks begins. Consider this the opening act of the tournament"

Before questions could form or protests rise, the Overseer snapped his fingers once more.

The fabric of reality trembled. Space itself quaked, groaning as it bent to his will.

From the heavens, something descended, a construct of divine craftsmanship.

Its figure loomed, an imposing presence that silenced all murmurs as it drifted downward.

At first glance, it resembled a staircase, yet its design defied mortal comprehension.

Crafted entirely of radiant runes, its surface flickered and pulsed with a rhythm akin to a heartbeat.

Its pristine, white brilliance seemed untouched by time or imperfection, exuding a silent command of reverence.

The sheer scale of the construct was staggering.

It spanned kilometers in width, its towering height unfathomable despite being composed of a mere hundred steps.

As it halted a few feet above the ground, it hung suspended, frozen in time.

Its radiant presence seemed to reach out, not in words but in an unspoken decree, commanding the attention of all who dared to look upon it.

As the crowd marveled at the construct, the Overseer's voice pierced the air, commanding attention.

"This is known as The Ascension Mirage"

He announced, his tone unwavering.

"It will present you with various illusions drawn from your past, each designed to challenge your resolve. The higher you ascend, the more potent the illusion becomes"

He allowed the weight of his words to settle before continuing.
Your journey continues on empire

"Rest assured, we will not be able to perceive or influence the illusions you encounter. Your secrets remain yours alone"

The Overseer paused, giving the participants a moment to absorb his explanation.

"The Ascension Mirage is comprised of a hundred steps. Only those who reach the 90th step will advance to the next stage of the tournament, though you are free to complete all one hundred if you are capable"

His gaze sharpened, and the tone shifted to one of finality.

"You have only twenty four hours to complete this challenge. Should you fail to reach the 90th step before time expires, you will be disqualified"

As the Overseer spoke of time, an ethereal, illusionary countdown materialized above them, visible to all.

A collective tension rippled through the participants.

Though it appeared to be merely an illusion, they knew that, given the scale of this galaxy wide competition, the challenges it held would be far from trivial.

Without waiting for further questions or hesitation, the Overseer spoke once more, his voice firm and decisive.

"You may begin"

At his command, the timer began its relentless countdown, and with it, the Overseer vanished, leaving only the sense of impending trials ahead.

The participants surged forward, eager to gain an early advantage.

As their feet touched the first step of the Ascension Mirage, they paused momentarily, as if adjusting to the ethereal nature of the construct, before ascending to the next.

Their climb had begun.

Yet, while many rushed ahead, there were some who remained rooted to the spot.

They stood below, watching, confident in their eventual success, certain that the 90th step was within their reach.

Anthony, however, did not join the rush. Instead, a chair materialized before him, and he settled into it, his gaze fixed on the others as they ascended.

Unconcerned, he seemed content to watch the unfolding spectacle.

As he sat, he heard the sound of footsteps drawing near.

There was no need to turn and look, he knew exactly who it was.

It was the same man who had smiled at him twice, the one who had been observing him with a strange intensity, almost as if he were stalking him.

When the man arrived at Anthony's side, he spoke, his voice calm yet curious.

"Hey, is this space taken?"

Anthony looked up at him for a moment before responding.

"I'm not gay"

A brief silence settled between them, the air thick with awkwardness.

The man's lips twitched, and he cleared his throat, seemingly caught off guard.

"Ahem… I also don't swing that way"

Anthony raised an eyebrow.

"Then why have you been staring at me and giving me weird smiles?"

The man shrugged slightly, an easy grin forming on his face.

"I just thought you looked strong. I'm always intrigued by those who possess true strength"

Their eyes locked for a fleeting moment, and Anthony saw sincerity in the man's gaze.

His words held no deceit.

'Is he one of those battle maniacs who get excited at the thought of facing someone strong?'

Anthony thought to himself before offering a casual reply.

"The name's Null Anthony"

He extended a hand in greeting.

"Lucian Darkheart"

The man's handshake was firm and unyielding.

"I hope your heart isn't actually dark"

Anthony joked lightly.

Lucian's face broke into a wide grin, and he laughed heartily.

"No promises, but I like your sense of humor"

And just like that, over twenty hours passed.

Out of the millions who had participated, barely over nine hundred thousand had managed to clear the 90th step.

Some had given up, unable to move any longer, their bodies and minds exhausted beyond measure.

Others had remained stagnant for hours, their feet rooted to the same step, unable to progress.

A few had made it to the 90th step but found themselves trapped, unable to clear it.

As another two hours slipped away, the timer now displaying only two hours remaining, the remaining contenders were few.

Only Anthony, Lucian, and the boy from the Celestial race with his eyes shut remained observing the competition.

By this point, a handful of individuals had already cleared all one hundred steps and now lingered at the summit, their gazes fixed upon the ongoing struggle of the others.

The Celestial champion stood after several minutes of silent observation.

Without hesitation, he began his ascent.

His foot landed on the first step with no pause, his body moving fluidly, as though walking on solid ground.

Without faltering, he ascended the second step, then the third, his pace unwavering and deliberate.

He moved through the steps as if they were no more than a mere staircase, effortlessly gliding upward.

When he reached the 80th step, there was the briefest hesitation, a mere fraction of a second, before his ascent resumed with equal confidence.

When he reached the 90th step, he paused for exactly one minute, grounding himself before continuing on to the 91st.

This pattern persisted as he ascended, each step met with calm precision, until he reached the 100th step, where he spent no more than five minutes in total.

A stunned silence fell over the audience as they watched, awe struck by the display of power and poise.

'Indeed, the Celestials are among the top races in the galaxy'

One of the champions thought, shaken by the man's effortless climb.

While it had taken twenty two hours for even the fastest to clear all one hundred steps, some lingering for more than an hour on the final step, here was a being who ascended each floor with the ease of a casual stroll.

He spent only a minute on each of the 90th to 99th steps, and a mere five minutes on the 100th.

The representative from the Celestial Planet could only grin, pride radiating from them as they watched their champion stand tall, having cleared the entire challenge in a mere twenty minutes.