The final flight of stone steps before the summit of the Holy Mountain was the most ferocious trial on the entire ascent. Unlike the previous sections, it lacked relatively flat footholds. Instead, it was a narrow path carved into the sheer face of the rock. At its widest, it was no more than one meter and twenty centimeters, while at its narrowest, it could barely accommodate half a foot. On the outer side lay a bottomless abyss – perpetually shrouded in greyish-white mist. Occasionally, a rock would fall from the mist, and only after a long while would a faint impact sound be heard, making it impossible to judge the abyss's depth. Wind, carrying a bone-chilling cold, drilled out from the mist and whistled past the stone steps, like countless icy hands tugging at one's clothes, threatening to drag you into the darkness with the slightest carelessness.
Ghis walked in the middle, his left hand pressed tightly against the rock face. His fingertips clearly felt the rough texture of the rock – the mark of eons of weathering. Tiny gravel and withered moss were embedded in the rock’s crevices, and in some places, he could even feel fine bone fragments, the remains of previous Candidates who had lost their footing. His Rock Adhesion ability had already been silently activated; the moment his palms and soles contacted the rock, a faint suction was generated, making each of his steps exceptionally steady. No matter how strong the wind, his body remained unwavering.
His gaze remained fixed on Leo, who was walking on the outermost edge, only an arm's length from the abyss. Leo clutched a protrusion on the rock face with his right hand, his knuckles turning white from the strain, the fabric of his glove deformed from the grip. His shoulders trembled slightly, not from the cold, but from fear. The image of the wooden spear falling into the abyss replayed in his mind. That spear, which had accompanied him through the Iron Thorn Bone Spur Forest and helped him kill Acid Lizards, had vanished into the darkness without a farewell, leaving him feeling hollow and magnifying his fear of the abyss tenfold.
"Leo, lean your weight a little more towards me," Ghis slowed his pace, moving closer to Leo and gently nudging his arm with his shoulder. "The outer steps are too narrow. Don't put all your weight over there; it’s easy to slip."
Leo turned his head stiffly, his face as pale as the limestone on the platform, his lips dry and cracked. His voice trembled as he spoke, "I... I know, but whenever I see the mist below, my legs go weak. I'm always afraid I'll fall." His gaze swept over the abyss, his eyes darting away, unable to linger. "Just now, when the wooden spear fell, I thought I heard it hit rock. So far away... so deep..."
"Don't think about that," Ghis extended his right hand and gently grasped Leo's left arm. The warmth from his palm, transmitted through two layers of gloves, carried a calming power. "Look, I'm supporting you, and Karen is watching from behind. We won't let you fall. Just focus on the steps under your feet, one step at a time, and we'll reach the top soon."
Karen, walking at the rear, although his ribs still ached faintly, noticed Leo's state. He deliberately quickened his pace by half a step and gently supported Leo's back with his uninjured left hand. His voice carried an affected lightness, "That’s right, Leo. Don't you remember helping me bandage my wound in the cave last time? You're so brave, what is this little stone step to you? When we get to the top, I'll treat you to Compressed Biscuits – I’ve even hidden a jerky-flavored one, much tastier than the usual kind!"
Karen's teasing didn't have the desired effect. Leo managed a weak smile, his gaze returning to the steps below. Ghis could feel Leo's arm trembling slightly, his right hand gripping the rock face tighter, his knuckles turning white again. He knew that fear couldn't be dispelled with mere words; more practical means were needed to steady Leo's mind.
"Leo, look at the step under my foot," Ghis stopped and pointed to a rock he was standing on. "This step has three shallow indentations, made by people before you. Place your toes in the front one and your heel against the back one, and you'll have a stable footing." As he spoke, he adjusted his stance so Leo could see the foothold more clearly. "Try it. Follow my steps. I take one step, you take one step. No need to rush."
Leo nodded and slowly adjusted his footing according to Ghis's instructions. He carefully extended his toes into the shallow indentation in front, pressing his heel against the rock behind. Indeed, the slippery feeling disappeared, and his footing became much more secure. Seeing Leo relax slightly, Ghis continued, "Yes, just like that. Now look at the rock face. Every two steps, there's a protrusion. Grab it with your right hand, and hold my arm with your left. This way, even if the wind is strong, you can maintain your balance."
The other Candidates in the group also noticed the situation. Byron, walking ahead, glanced back. Seeing Ghis patiently guiding Leo, a hint of imperceptible approval flashed in his eyes before he turned his attention back to the climb. The female Candidate in green leather armor slowed her pace, intentionally or unintentionally blocking the wind from Leo's outer side with her body. Although she said nothing, her actions provided help. The man in the grey cloak continued to walk at the edge of the group, his hood pulled low so no one could see his expression, but he deliberately slowed his pace, as if paying attention to the movements behind him.
Ghis noticed the female Candidate's gesture and nodded slightly in gratitude. She also nodded back without a word and continued climbing. In that moment, the sense of competition that had arisen from the selection seemed to fade, replaced by a subtle understanding – on these treacherous steps, everyone was a companion. Only by helping each other could they all reach the summit alive.
Just then, a gust of wind, stronger than before, suddenly surged from the abyss, carrying a large amount of gravel and mist, and slammed hard against Leo's back. Caught off guard, Leo's body tilted violently outwards. His right hand instantly slipped from the rock protrusion, and he himself began to fall towards the abyss like a falling leaf!
"Leo!" Ghis and Karen shouted simultaneously, their voices filled with panic.
Ghis reacted with astonishing speed. The instant Leo's body tilted, his Neural Reflex ability maxed out. He gripped a protrusion on the rock face tightly with his left hand and yanked Leo's arm towards him with his right, while bracing Leo's torso against the rock face with his knee. "Hold on! Don't let go!" Ghis's voice was hoarse from exertion, his arm muscles tensed under Leo's weight, and the guard on his MK0 Carapace Armor was slightly deformed.
Karen lunged forward at the same time, tightly embracing Leo's legs with his uninjured left hand, securing his lower body. His injured right hand dug fiercely into a crevice in the rock, his fingernails embedded in the stone, drawing blood. "Hold on! We'll pull you up!" Cold sweat beaded on Karen's forehead. The injury to his ribs ached intensely from the strain, but he showed no sign of letting go. He knew that if he let go, Leo would fall into the abyss and never return.
Leo's body dangled in mid-air, the wind whistling through his clothes, tangling his hair. His eyes were wide with terror, tears mixed with sweat streaming down his cheeks, dripping onto Ghis's hand. The cold touch sent a jolt through Ghis. "Ghis... Karen... I'm so scared..." Leo's voice was choked with sobs, his right hand flailing in the air, grasping at nothing. "I don't want to fall... I still want to go to Holy Wing Fortress with you..."
"You won't! You won't fall!" Ghis's voice was firm and powerful. He could feel Leo's body slipping, his own arm strength weakening. He had to pull Leo up quickly. "Leo, listen to me. Use your right hand now to grab the strap of my chainsaw sword at your waist, then slowly pull yourself up. Karen and I will help you!"
Upon hearing Ghis's words, Leo seemed to grasp a lifeline. He summoned all his remaining strength, reaching for Ghis's waist. His fingers trembled, missing the strap several times before finally gripping it tightly, his knuckles turning white with effort. "I got it! I got it!"
"Good! Just like that!" Ghis was overjoyed. He exchanged a look with Karen, and they both exerted their strength simultaneously. "One, two, three! Pull!"
Their combined strength, along with Leo's own effort, finally pulled Leo's body back onto the stone steps. Leo collapsed onto the steps, gasping for breath. His face was ashen, his body still trembling. His right hand remained firmly gripping the strap of Ghis's chainsaw sword, as if afraid of falling into the abyss again if he let go.
Ghis sat down beside Leo, panting heavily. In that moment, his heart had felt like it would leap out of his chest. His back was now soaked with cold sweat, the inner lining of his MK0 Carapace Armor clinging to his skin, chilling him to the bone. He patted Leo's shoulder, his voice tinged with lingering fear, "It's okay now, Leo. You're safe."
Karen leaned against the rock face, clutching his injured ribs, grimacing in pain, yet he still managed a smile at Leo. "See? I told you, you're so brave, how could you fall? The way you grabbed that strap just now was more impressive than my first time using a chainsaw sword!"
Leo looked up at Ghis and Karen, tears welling up again, but this time, it was from emotion. "Thank you... If it weren't for you, I would have already..." He choked, unable to finish. He simply tightened his grip on Ghis's chainsaw sword strap, as if holding onto this hard-won bond.
The other Candidates also gathered around, inquiring about Leo's condition with concern. The female Candidate in green leather armor handed him a clean cloth to wipe his sweat. Byron took a small bottle of water from his pocket and offered it to Ghis. "Here, for your throat. The road ahead is long."
Ghis accepted the water, nodded at Byron, then unscrewed the cap and handed it to Leo. "Drink some water, replenish your energy."
Leo took the bottle and took a sip. The cool water soothed his dry throat, bringing a sense of comfort. He looked at the Candidates gathered around him, a warm current surging through him. On this cruel selection path, he had thought everyone would resort to any means necessary for their own survival. He never expected that, in a moment of crisis, they would extend a helping hand. This camaraderie made him feel more secure than any weapon.
After resting for about ten minutes, Leo's emotions gradually stabilized, and his trembling stopped. Ghis stood up, extended his hand, and smiled at Leo. "Let's go. We'll continue upwards. We'll reach the top soon."
Leo took Ghis's hand and slowly stood up with his help. This time, he was no longer as fearful as before; his eyes held a newfound determination. He voluntarily leaned closer to Ghis, gripping his arm tightly with his left hand, while still holding onto the rock protrusion with his right. His steps were much steadier.
Karen also stood up. Although his ribs still hurt, his face was full of smiles. "Let's go! The three of us, no one gets left behind!"
The group set off again. This time, Leo walked in the middle, with Ghis and Karen on either side, forming a protective barrier. The other Candidates also deliberately slowed their pace, maintaining a comfortable distance – close enough to help when needed, but not intrusive. The stone steps remained treacherous, the wind continued to howl, and the abyss remained dark. But now, Leo's heart was no longer filled with fear. He knew he wasn't climbing alone – he had companions he could trust, warm hands, and steadfast gazes. These gave him more strength than any weapon.
Ghis could feel that Leo's grip on his arm was no longer trembling, and his steps were becoming more stable. Looking at Leo beside him and Karen behind, a strong conviction suddenly surged within him: no matter what trials they faced next, no matter how difficult the confrontation assessment, the three of them would get through it together, enter Holy Wing Fortress together, and become true Saint Blood Angel Warriors together.
After climbing for about another fifteen minutes, the stone steps ahead suddenly began to level out. Sunlight broke through the clouds, illuminating a platform ahead, casting the white Statue of Saint Giles in a sacred light.
"We're here!" Karen shouted excitedly, forgetting the pain in his ribs as he quickened his pace towards the platform.
Leo also looked up, gazing at the platform and the statue ahead, his eyes filled with excitement and reverence. He released Ghis's arm, took a deep breath, and walked forward with steady steps. This time, he no longer needed help; he knew that with companions by his side, no difficulty was insurmountable.
Ghis followed behind Leo, a smile of relief on his face as he watched Leo's determined back. He knew that this treacherous stretch of steps had not only tested their bodies but also tempered their spirits. And they had not only passed the test but also gained something more precious than passing the assessment – the bond between companions, a promise not to abandon each other, no matter the danger.
The wind at the summit of the Holy Mountain still blew, but now, it seemed to carry the blessings of Lord Saint Gilles, gently caressing everyone's faces. The confrontation assessment was about to begin, a trial of strength, will, and glory that would soon unfold on this sacred platform. And Ghis, Leo, and Karen were ready to face their challenge.